yet I had a good meaning I intended it at that time well that is not enough If thou hadst faith thou wouldest doe it indeed doe not say I had a good meaning for if thou hadst faith it would not onely worke a good meaning in thee but it would worke power in thee to doe this that thou wouldest be able to mortifie these affections it would worke a reall and an effectuall change in thee Consider how faith doth it faith takes CHRIST when you haue taken CHRIST as soone as euer you haue him he sends his Spirit into your hearts and the Spirit is able to doe all this and doth as Saint Paul saith when hee had CHRIST once I am able to doe all things through Christ that strengthens mee So certainely when thou hast CHRIST as thou commest to take the elements of Bread and Wine if thou hadst taken him indeed thou wouldst be strengthned to doe all things thou wouldst finde thy heart able to doe this thou shouldest finde a change in thy heart that thou wouldst doe it without difficulty thou wouldest finde thy selfe turned and changed thou wouldst haue new affections and a new life And if thou doe not finde this know that thou hast nothing to doe with the Sacrament know it before-hand and know that thou hast had warning giuen thee that thou receiuest vnworthily and art guilty of the body and blood of CHRIST that is thou committest such a sinne as those did that killed CHRIST What was their sinne that killed him They despised him they mocked him they knew him not to be CHRIST they made no account of him their greatest worke in killing him was they despised him they mocked him So thou commest and art bold with him here it is a despising of CHRIST If thou didst reuerence him if thou didst feare him if thou didst tremble at him if thou didst know him to be such a one as he is thou wouldst not be bold to doe it And therfore if thou wilt venture vpon small grounds to goe on in sinne and yet come and receiue the Sacrament the Apostle saith thou art guilty of the body and blood of Christ that is thou committest a sinne of that nature and therefore looke to it Secondly if thou wouldst know whether thy faith be true or no consider whether thou hast this consequent of it the Spirit of Prayer for wheresoeuer there is a Spirit of faith there is also a Spirit of prayer that is marke it and you shall see the reason why I deliuer this to be a signe of faith Faith you know is wrought in vs by the Spirit of Adoption Now what is the Spirit of Adoption but the Spirit that tels you that ye are sonnes as in Gal. 4.6 So many as are sonnes receiue the Spirit of sonnes Now whensoeuer the Spirit tels a man he is a sonne that is workes faith in his heart the second thing that the Spirit doth it teacheth him to pray and therefore those words are added that you cry Abba Father that is the Spirit neuer doth the one but it doth the other if it be the testimony of the Spirit And therefore this is the second signe If thou haue such a perswasion that the Spirit haue spoken to thee if thou wouldest know whether this be a delusion or no thou shalt know it by this If thou haue the Spirit it will make thee able to cry Abba Father it will make thee able to doe two things First it will make thee able to cry that they shall be earnest prayers which thou makest thy prayers shall be feruent they were cold before thou camest to performe lip-labour thou camest to doe the duty to performe it perhaps euery day but alas what prayer was it This shall make thee cry But againe which is the maine not onely so but thou shalt speake to him as to a Father that is thou shalt goe to GOD and looke vpon him as one doth vpon a Father as one lookes vpon one whose loue he is sure of of whose fauour he doubts not one that hee knowes is readie to heare his requests It may bee thou hast prayed before but not to him as to a Father all the while that is the worke of the Spirit if it euer giue thee testimony of thy sonneship it will make thee pray feruently and it will make thee pray to God as to a Father that is to be made able to pray But you will say euery body can pray Is that such a signe is that such a distinguishing marke and character to bee able to pray My brethren be not deceiued in it you must know that prayer is not a worke of the memory or a worke of the wit A man that hath a good wit or a ready invention or a voluble tongue may make an excellent praier in his owne esteeme and in the esteeme of others but this is not to pray Prayer is the worke of a sanctified heart it it the worke of GODS Spirit There is a double prayer Rom. 8. there is one praier which is the voice of our owne spirit there is a second praier which is the voice of Gods Spirit in vs that is when the Holy Ghost hath so sanctified the heart when hee hath put it into such a whole-frame of grace that the heart comes to speake as it is quickned as it is acted and moued from GODS Spirit Now saith the Text there God knows the voice of his own Spirit for that makes requests according to his will he heares that prayer But now the prayers which are made by the voice of our owne spirit he knowes not the meaning of them that is he heares them not he hearkens not to them Consider whether thy prayer be such or no consider whether thy prayer bee the voyce of Gods Spirit in thee But thou wilt say How should I know that Thou shalt know it by this as I said before Dost thou come to him as to a Father Another man prayes to GOD it may be all his life but hee comes to him as to a stranger yea sometimes he may be very earnest when it is no prayer but when he is put to an exigent he may be earnest as a Thiefe is earnest with the Judge to spare him there may be much earnestnesse although this may bee farre off from prayer But canst thou come to GOD as to a friend Canst thou come to him as to one whose fauour thou art assured of Canst thou come to him as to a Father Except thou canst doe this know that he regardeth not thy prayers And this me thinkes now when we consider we should not deferre our repentance and thinke with our selues I will repent when I am sicke I will goe to GOD in the time of extremity Well it may be thou maist doe it but alas canst thou come to speake to God now as to a friend when
what Ibid. Alone Faith worketh best alone 1.68 How God is to us alone 3.158 Amisse God heares not when wee aske amisse 2.194 Anger Tryall of our love by anger 3.87 Anger what 3.88 Many men are but angry with sinne 3.97 See hate Application see Offer Approbation There may be approbation of that which is good in an evillman 3.192 Argument see Spirit Ashamed Love is not ashamed 3.76 Assaults We meet with new assaults daily 1.135 True peace hath assaults 2.110 Assent Assent of three sorts 1.47 Assurance Wee should labour to grow in assurance 1.129.2.72 Two wayes to increase assurance 2.76 Assurance of Gods love begetteth love 3.110 143. Meaneâ— to get assurance 3.144 B. Baptise Baptising what meant by it in Marke 16. 1.54 Baptisme what 2.97 Beleeve It is not in mans power to beleeve 2.48 If â—e beleeve God is ready to helpe and why 2.173 See Spirit Benefit Benefit in taking Christ. 1.33 Benefits by Christ may be looked to 1.54 91 97.2.14 Benefits by Christ draw the will 1.106 Benefits by Christ must not onely be looked to 2.119 Benefit to crosse our selves in it a signe of love 3.64 Benefit to us that we love Christ. 3.175 Best Best thing in man is love 3.47 Blessing Blessing of God 2.180 Blood Blood of Christ not shed in vaine 1.111 Blood of Christ to be guilty of it 2.103 Boast Salvation is of gift that none might boast 1.8 45 Boldnesse We should apply the promises with boldnesse 1.86 Gods free promise should give us boldnes 1.88 Boldnesse in prayer from the spirit of adoption 2.104 Boldnesse the parent of love 3.105 Bondage The spirit of bondage requiâ—ite 2.49 Bounty Love is bountifull 2.127 3 60 Tryalls of the bounty of love 3.64 Busie Being over busie in worldly things a sign of too much love to them 3.124 Build Built When a man is said to be well built 2.34 How Ministers should build 2.74 C. Calling see Diligent Care Care required and forbidden what 2.115 Carnall Ioy of an hypocrite carnall 2.134 Certainty Certainty of obtaining Christ if we seeke him 1.33 109 See Promise Change Change the necessity of it 1.58 Chearfull Chearfull service an argument of loue 3.66 Chearfullnesse why God requires it Ibid. Christ. Christ the reiecting of him 1 28 Christ what we have with him 1 31 Christ 3 considerations to move men to take him 1 33 Christ his willingnesse to receive sinners 1 110 Christ his riches and excellency 2 50 Christ the end of his comming into the world 2 57 Christ good workes evidence our right in him 2 70 Christ hee that loves not is not in him 3 5 Christ two things to make us love him 3 15 Cleare The righteousnesse of Christ manifested more cleerely in the Gospell than formerly 1 4 Coldnesse Coldnesse in Christian profession a cause of the plague 3 93 Command Love an affection that commands the rest 3.8 87 Hee that neglects Gods commands loues him not 3 115 Keeping Gods commands a signe our loue is diligent 3 173 Comfort We should set faith on worke to comfort us 2 142 Considerations to helpe faith in comforting 2 149 Company To company with the Saints a signe of loue to Christ. 3 102 Complacency Loue of complacency 3 9 Loue of complacency onely to Saints 3 102 Compell To compell men to come in what 1 114 2 56 Communion Prayer bringeth to communion with God 3 50 Competition Tryall of loue in case of competition 3 123 Comming The end of Christs comming 2 59 Desire of Christs second comming a tryall of loue 3.71 Comming of Christ how to know wee desire it 3 72 Preparation for Christs comming 3 172 Complaint Complaint double 1 74 Compleate Compleate will in taking Christ. 1 22 Concupiscence Loue of concupiscence 3 9 Condition Conditionall Conditionall covenant 1 38 Condition required by God easie 3 44 Confesse Confessing of Christ. 2 158 Constant. Constant cleaving to Christ. 2 118 Constant good carriage a signe of love 3 130 Constant love to God must be love above all other things 3 165 Content The nature of holy men apt to take content in outward things 2 161 Love content with nothing but love 3 66 Constraine How love constraiâ—eth 3 29 Cost God observes what cost wee are at in his service 3 63 Covenant Covenant 〈◊〉 1 38 Covenant not broken by infirmities 1 131 2 152. 3 147 Covenant ought to be renewed 3 215 Crosse. Crosse may meete a man in Gods worke 2 201 Cruell Hatred more cruell than anger 3 98 Curse Curse upon him that loves not Christ. 3 18 To be cursed what 3 176 Curse of God in foure things 3 177 D. Damnation Damnation to be preached to men out of Christ. 3 33 Danger Danger in not taking Christ. 1 33 Danger how faith guides in it 2 161 Danger in not loving the Lord. 3 176 Deare We must part with that which is deare for Christ. 1.115 117 Deceive Men apt to deceive themselves 2 4 See Taking Deferre We must not deferre to take Christ. 1 31 Degree Faith admits degrees in â—oure respects 1 117 We must grow in the degrees of â—aith â— 127 Our love to God not alwayes in the same degree 3 170 Delight Delight in worldly things a signe of love to them 3 122 Deliverance Delivered Deliverance Gods children put to waite for it 2 123 Deliverance instances of Gods deferring it 2 172 Faith once delivered 3 210 Deliberate Deliberate will in taking Christ. 1 22 Denie Deniall By denying our selves wee enioy our selves 1 116 Faith will take no deniall 2 120 Dependance Love of dependance 3 9 Desire Desire after Christ. 1 30 Desire the strength of it how tryed Ibid. Desire tryall of love by it 3 27 Desire when it is right God takes the will for the deed 3 202 Death Dead Die Death of Christ the end of it 1 36 As great a worke to moue the heart to Christ as to raise the dead 2 55 Faith ineffectuall is dead 2 58 Faith without workes dead 2 64 69 Backwardnesse in the Saints to die 3 72 Difficulties Faith admits degrees in regard of difficulties 1 123 Difficulties wee must labour to beleeue notwithstanding them 1 128 Difficulties how faith guides in them 2 158 Difficulties God can helpe in them 2 174 Diligence Diligence a tryall of love 3 26 Diligence in our calling an argument of love 3 77 Diligence of love 3 172 Diligence of love wherein it is Ibid. Direct Direct and reflect act of faith the difference betweene them 1 63 Discourage Those that have weake faith should not be discouraged 1.130 The Divell labours to discourage 1 133 See God Disease A mans carnall selfe is his disease 1 116 Discretion Discretion 3 209 Divell What faith the divell hath 2. 59 63 Doe Done What is to bee done by those that have Christs righteousnesse 1 15 Readinesse to doe for Christ. 1 24 That the Lord hath done for us a motive to loue him 3 47 Love ready to doe for them
of it for as soone as thou art his he will giue thee another spirit he will enable thee to all things Ioh. 1.16 To as many as receiued him to them he gaue power to become the sonnes of God What is that Is it an empty Title No he made them sonnes not borne of the flesh or of the will of man but of God It is true with thy owne heart thou art not able to doe it but what if GOD giue thee a new heart and a new spirit When the match is made and concluded betweene him and vs he sends his Spirit into our hearts and this Spirit giues vs ability making vs like CHRIST changing vs and causing vs to delight in the duties of new obedience in the inner man Therfore take not care for ability onely labour for an honest heart armed with this resolution I am resolued to take Christ from henceforth and you shall finde another Spirit to enable you exceedingly And now that we may not let all this goe without some application wee will heereof make two Vses First this great Vse is to be made of it To learne hence to see how great the sinne of men is and how iust is their condemnation for the same that when this righteousnesse of God is reuealed from heauen by this Gospell which we now preach they resist it casting it at their heeles not regarding it but despising these glad tydings of saluation which is so glorious a mysterie This very thing that we preach to you is it that was so many thousand yeeres agoe fore-told and as long expected being the greatest worke that euer God did This is it which Paul magnified so much and stood so amazed at Therefore if you reject it know that your sinne is exceeding great we that preach the Gospell are Messengers sent from the Father to inuite euery one of you to come to the Marriage of his Sonne If you will not come as some of you are yong and minde other things others of you haue gone long in an old tract and will not turne some haue married a Wife others haue other businesse and therefore you will not come or if you doe come it is without your Wedding Garment you come not with a conjugall affection I say if you refuse the LORD will deale with you as with them in the Gospell hee will haue you brought and slaine before his face And we come not from the Father onely but we are also sent from the Sonne hee is a Suitor to you and hath dispatched vs as Ambassadours to wooe you and to beseech you to be reconciled if you will come he hath made knowne his mind to you you may haue him if you will not come you will make him angry and you had neede to kisse the Sonne lest he be angry though hee be so mercifull as not to quench the smoaking Flax nor to breake the bruised Reed yet notwithstanding that Sonne hath feete like burning brasse hee hath a two-edged Sword in his hand and his eyes are like flames of fire So you shall find him to be if you refuse him As he is a corner stone for some to build on so he is a corner stone to grinde them to powder that refuse him When the better is the suitor and is rejected what wrath what indignation breedes it among men And so take all the sinnes you haue committed there is none like this none shall be so much laid to your charge at the Day of Iudgement as your rejecting of the Sonne and of his righteousnesse reuealed and freely offered to you What Christ said It shall be easier for Sodome and Gomorrah then for such a City I may apply to euery one that 's come to heare me this time If you will not giue eare to my inuitation it shal be easier for Iewes and Turkes for the Saluages at the East-Indies then for you It had beene better for you that Christ had neuer come in the flesh that his righteousnesse had neuer been offered to you Therefore is that added Mar. 16. He that beleeues not is damned Of such consequēce is the Gospell When Moses was on Mount Ebal he set before them a blessing and a curse life and death so doe I now If you will not accept of CHRIST you are cursed Therefore when you heare this offer Let euery man examine himselfe how he stands affected vnto it For all hearers are diuided into these 2 sorts some are worthy and some vnworthy As when Christ sent away his Disciples if any were worthy their peace was to rest vpon them if they were not worthy they were to shake off the dust of their feete against that Citie I say consider if you be worthy of this righteousnesse for if you finde your hearts to long after it if you find you prize it much so that you can reckon all as drosse and dung in comparison of it and will sell all to buy this Pearle then are you worthy But if when you heare of it you neglect it and attend vnto it coldly you are vnworthy and against such we are to shake off the dust of our feete that is God shall shake you off as dust when you come for saluation to him at the day of Iudgement If in examination you finde your selues vnworthy that this worke hath not bin wrought in you wherein it is your best way to deale plainely with your selues then giue no rest to your selues but enter into a serious consideration of your sinnes attend on Gods Ordinances make vse of all that hath beene deliuered concerning humiliation and giue not ouer vntill you haue attained this eager desire after Christ. Indeed this is wrought by GOD himselfe but giue not you ouer This is it S. Iohn cals drawing none can come to me except the Father draw him and that is done when GOD giues another will when on the propounding of Christ he giues agninam voluntatem the nature of a Lambe changing the heart and working such an inclination to Christ as is in the Iron to follow the Load-stone which neuer rests vntill it be attained Thus it was with the Woman of Canaan she would haue no denyall and Cant. 3. with the Spouse that would not be at quiet vntill she had found her Beloued seeking him day and night finding him not within shee enquires of the Watchmen and neuer giues ouer till she hath found him whom her soule loued As GOD puts an instinct in the creature such a violent strong impetuous disposition and instigation is in them that shall be saued and belong to CHRIST GOD puts into them such a disposition as was in Sampson when he was athirst giue me water or else I dye so are they athirst after CHRIST giue me CHRIST or else I dye And this you must haue for GOD will put you to it he will try whether you be worthy commers or no. Commonly at the beginning he is as a man that is in bed with his
goest and nothing but death shall part betweene me and thee When Naomi saw that she was stedfastly minded she tooke her along with her So if GOD should receiue men at the first many men would come in and take hold vpon Christ and make a profession of his Name but they would not hold out to the end with him But when CHRIST shall tell them I haue not so much as a place to lay my head in if thou wilt haue me thou must deny thy selfe and take vp thy Crosse and thou shalt finde a great deale of trouble and suffer persecution If a man now notwithstanding this will not be beaten off from Christ but though Christ turne the deafe eare to him for the present and present to him all manner of difficulties yet if he will notwithstanding all this be constant still in importuning God to haue CHRIST when GOD shall see that his mind is thus set he will take him along with him hee will be thine and thou shalt be his his people shall be thy people this is it that knits the knot betweene you My Beloued is mine and I am his his Word is passed for it he hath promised his consent now if we will giue ours the match is made If it were doubtfull whether wee should haue his consent it were another case but we haue a sure Word for it wee should learne therefore to importune him Now when we haue done this when wee are come with this boldnesse and haue laid hold vpon CHRIST then let vs looke to the priuiledges then let vs take the pardon of our sinnes adoption and reconciliation and all things else only remember that condition of after-obedience that though wee may come freely and come with this boldnesse and though nothing be required but that we take this Sonne of GOD that is offered yet I say there is a condition of after-obedience wee must resolue to serue him and to loue him with all our heart we must resolue to doe that that Ruth promiseth to Naomi to liue with him and to be with him and that his people shall be our people c. But you will say I am willing to doe this to part from my lusts and to be to CHRIST alone but I am not able my lusts are strong and preualent To this I answer If thou bee but willing Christ desires no more I would but aske thee this Suppose that thou wert able to ouercome those lusts take a man that is strongly giuen to good-fellowship as they call it to company-keeping that is giuen to fornication to swearing or whatsoeuer the sinne bee take any preualent lust that is in any man that now heareth me I would aske him this Question Put the case thou wert able to get the victory ouer thy lust wouldst thou be content to part with it and to take CHRIST If thou sayest No I had rather enioy the sweetnesse of my lusts still Art thou not now worthy to be condemned But if thou answer I would vpon condition I were able to ouercome my lusts I assure thee GOD will make thee able GOD requires no more but a willingnesse to come and take CHRIST the other is Gods worke I but I haue tryed and haue not found it so I answer it cannot be thou hast not yet solued to part with thy lusts thou hast not yet set downe this peremptory conclusion in thy selfe that thou wilt forsake euery thing that you may haue CHRIST If any man say he is willing to take CHRIST and to part with the sweetnesse and the pleasantnesse and the profitablenesse that his lust brings to him if he could get the victory if hee were freed from the sollicitations of them Let me tell thee thou must first resolue to take Christ vpon his owne conditions and for the other GOD hath promised to doe that himselfe 1. Cor. 8.9 God will confirme you and keepe you blamelesse for he is faithfull that hath called you to the fellowship of his Sonne As if hee should haue said Doe you thinke that GOD will call men to CHRIST that he will beseech men to take his Sonne will he call you to the fellowship of his Sonne and will hee not keepe you blameles he hath promised it and sworn it if he should not doe it hee should be vnfaithfull when GOD calleth you to come vnto Christ he promiseth that the vertue of Christs death shall kill sinne in you and that the vertue of Christs Resurrection shall raise you vp to newnesse of life GOD hath promised that he will giue the Holy Ghost for he neuer giues his Sonne to any but he giues them the Spirit of his Sonne too Now Hee that hath called you is faithfull and he will doe it So that I say if thou wilt come in that is if thou wilt accept of CHRIST vpon his conditions it is certaine GOD will receiue thee and if thou find thy selfe troubled with the violence of any lust or of any temptation presse vpon GOD vrge him with his Word and promise that he would assist thee by his own strength that he would enable thee to ouercome that he would giue thee the Spirit of his Sonne and resolue as Iob Though he kill me yet will I trust in him for I haue a sure promise Heauen and Earth shall passe but not one tittle of his sure Word shall passe till it be fulfilled Now because this is a point of much moment this laying hold vpon the promises and because it is a thing that is not easily done therefore I will shew you these two things The first is this that the vnderstanding must be rightly informed what ground a man hath to doe it when a man comes to beleeue the forgiuenesse of his sinnes let him not thinke I haue a perswasion that my sinnes are forgiuen therefore they are forgiuen but a man must labour to see the ground of it for a thing is not true because wee are perswaded it is so but the thing is first true and then we beleeue it GOD hath first offered forgiuenesse of sinnes to you and then you looke vpon his Word and so beleeue it But I say when a man is perswaded in a confused manner without any iust ground without a cleere knowledge of the progresse of faith how it goeth along this is not right this keepeth many from assurance because they are not cleerely instructed in it For to the end that faith may take hold of the promise that it may be sure to vs we must conceiue of the right method and that stands in these foure things First we must see our owne condition we must be sicke before we can seeke to the Physician we must see our selues to be condemned men that there is nothing in vs to helpe our selues wee must be broken in heart in some measure wee must see our selues to bee children of wrath and then we will come and seeke for a remedy and that
when there is more things reuealed to them and I take it this place will carry that the righteousnesse of GOD is reuealed from faith to faith that is the righteousnesse of CHRIST was reuealed in the time of the Law and the Prophets it was reuealed obscurely and there was a little saith among them to beleeue it was enough to saue them but when the time drew neerer there were greater reuelations as we know in the time of the Prophets their faith was great as there were more reuelations so there was more faith So I say it admits degrees in regard of the extent of reuelation as the Apostles when CHRIST was vpon the earth they had a degree of faith but when Christ ascended then there was more reuelations then they grew from faith to faith because they grew from reuelation to reuelation then the Spirit of God was sent into their hearts to reueale all things and to leade them into all truth you know they had abundance of reuelations afterwards So in this regard in regard of the extent faith receiues degrees not because the habit is increased but because the reuelations and objects are more And therefore that is the comfort of poore Christians those that are yet ignorant they may haue a true habit and as true a grace in the heart and though a man bee more conuersant in Scripture and knowes more then they he hath more reuelations and in that sense though he haue a greater faith then the other yet the other hath a like precious faith with him in regard of that grace So wee see how faith receiues degrees in these three respects Now last of all that faith that giues assurance that pacifieth and comforteth the heart which is nothing but a reflect act by which we know and are perswaded that wee haue taken CHRIST and that our sinnes are forgiuen this admits of degrees of proofe And here as the euidences of sanctification are more so is the assurance as the Apostle saith the Spirit witnesseth to our spirit he discouers good things to vs wee had neede of the light of the Spirit to iudge aright of the sincerity of the graces that wee haue we shall goe amisse else we shall not be able except wee haue the Spirit to helpe and assist vs and so wee grow from assurance to assurance Now for the second part that wee must grow in all these First as faith admits of degrees so we must labour to grow in all these degrees First labour to grow to a more full and firme assent by that meanes we shall draw neerer to CHRIST and receiue him in a greater measure Marke this very act of taking CHRIST that immediately iustifies but it is fed with assurance in the vnderstanding it is that which doth increase and strengthen and supply this action of the will in taking CHRIST So that the more strong assent the minde and vnderstanding of a man giues to those truths which concerne iustification deliuered in the Scripture the stronger his will is in taking Christ As in the Act of marriage a Woman takes such a one to bee her husband but yet there are degrees in the will one may take him with greater greedinesse with a more full perswasion that it is best for her with more loue and with more resolution So the stronger the assent is that we giue to the promises of GOD wherein he assures vs of the pardon of our sinnes wherein CHRIST is offered freely vnto vs the more we take CHRIST and so the vnion is greater betweene vs wee are linkt and knit together and married as it were in a greater degree Secondly in regard of difficulty which is the second thing wherein faith admits degrees when we beleeue hard things or easie things propounded with slender arguments Labour to grow in this for this is very profitable for you I will giue you but these two instances You know what Moses lost and what Abraham got Moses lost Canaan he lost the honour of carrying in the people he lost the honour of concluding his worke when hee had taken so much paines and all because he did not beleeue when he strooke the Rocke for want of faith Abraham now that beleeued things that were of a high of a difficult nature you see what hee got by it for this cause saith the LORD I will doe thus and thus because thou hast not spared thine onely Sonne which is repeated Rom. 4. Abraham being strong in faith gaue glory to GOD. And therefore you see Abraham is set aboue all men he is the Father of all the faithfull he is the head the top of those to whom GOD shewed mercie he shewed mercie to all for Abrahams sake Abraham Isaac and Iacob Abraham is first this did Abraham get for euer because he beleeued in God in so great a matter this you shall gaine if you will beleeue it will bring a great reward yea it will not onely bring a reward such as Abraham had but it will bring increase of the same faith God will reueale more to you and giue you more of his Spirit as he did to Nathaniel Beleeuest thou for this saith Christ thou shalt see greater things then these If we beleeue in difficult cases GOD will make vs with facility to beleeue them another time Thirdly for the multitude of reuelations for the extent of faith that way we should labour to be filled full of faith as Barnabas is said to be full of faith And how is that By studying the Word much for therein will GOD reueale this this is it that Paul magnifies so much in 2 Cor. 12. that which he gloried in he doth not name it in his owne person but saith I knew a man in CHRIST had such a reuelation he glories not in this that he had wealth or honour but in the multitude of reuelations that of all other might haue exalted Paul but he was wise he knew what he did when he was so apt to be exalted in that it seemes there was some extraordinary excellency in it Lastly labour to get full assurance the more assurance you haue the more loue Againe you shall doe the more worke when once we are assured that our labour shall not be in vaine in the Lord as 1 Cor. 15. vlt. it will make vs abound in the workes of the Lord. Againe it stablisheth a man in well doing he shall neuer hold out and be constant till he come to haue assurance that he shall not lose his reward I cannot stand on this point I will name the Vses that so I may not leaue the point vnfinished The first is a Vse of much comfort if there be such degrees in faith then let vs not be discouraged though we come not to the highest if we haue but a little yet since there are degrees this is enough to make vs partakers of the righteousnesse of CHRIST and of saluation The end of this is to comfort those which are apt to be
himselfe put not his hand to the worke no man is able to beleeue You may thinke when you see such generall propositions as these that Christ is offered to euery creature vnder heauen and that whosoeuer beleeueth shall be saued you may thinke I say that it is easie to bring this home in particular to say Surely this pardon belongs to mee My Brethren it is another thing for a man indeed to beleeue for him to take CHRIST so as to deny himselfe for him to take him so as to mortifie his lusts so as to take vp his crosse so as to obey CHRIST to follow him in all things this is a thing that no man is able to doe vnlesse GOD enable him to it with his almighty power For the heart of euery man by nature is so shut vp against CHRIST that it will giue no entrance to him he may stand and knocke long enough vnlesse GOD himselfe shake off the bolts and open the gates and breake open these euerlasting doores that the King of Glory may come in we will not admit him but keepe him out Euery man naturally hath a hard heart that cannot repent that cannot turne from sinne he will bee content perhaps to take Christ for a Sauiour but to take him so as to obey him and feare him so as to loue him this no man will doe or can doe vnlesse the Holy Ghost enable him But you will aske How doth the Holy Ghost doe it The Holy Ghost doth it by these three acts First by putting an efficacie into the Law and making that powerfull to worke on the heart to make a man poore in spirit that so he may be fit to receiue the Gospell For the Law though it be fit to humble a man yet it is no worke of sanctification If a man were able to doe any thing he were able to see the righteousnesse the Law requires and how far he is from it and to discerne the curse vpon the not doing of it and yet this he is not able to doe without the spirit of bondage the spirit of bondage must make the Law effectuall as well as the spirit of Adoption doth the Gospell That is except the LORD himselfe presse the Law on our hearts so as to cause it to make sinne appeare to vs wee that are the Ministers of GOD may discouer your sinnes we may shew you the rectitude required in the Law we may shew you the danger yet all will be to no purpose vnlesse God awaken you if he will set sinne vpon the conscience to worry a man to plucke him downe when GOD shall charge sinne on him that he shall feele the weight and burthen of it when he shall sharpen sinne and cause it to vse its sting this makes a man fit to receiue CHRIST otherwise if the sonnes of Thunder should speake to men if we should come in the spirit and power of Eliah nay if GOD himselfe should thunder from heauen all would not moue the heart of a man all would not awaken him to see his sinnes till God himselfe shake the heart To conuert the Gaâ—ler in Acts 16. the foundation of the Prison was shaken which was a resemblance of the shaking of his heart wee may as well shake the Earth as strike the heart of a sinner without the worke of GOD. For though the Law be a sword yet vnlesse GOD take that sword into his hand and strike therewithall himselfe it shall not be able to wound a sinner Therefore the first worke of the Holy Ghost is to awaken a sinner to set sinne vpon him that he may be fit to receiue CHRIST Secondly when this is done that the heart is thus prepared by the Spirit then the Holy Ghost shewes vs what we haue by CHRIST he shewes the vnsearchable riches of CHRIST what is the hope of our calling and the glorious inheritance prepared for the Saints and what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power in them that beleeue I say we neede the Spirit to shew these things But you will say a man may see these things without the helpe of the Spirit It is true in some manner you may but not in such a manner as shall affect you For there is a manner of seeing proper onely to the Saints and that is the proper worke of the Spirit in them when wee shall so see them as to be affected with them Otherwise you may reade the Scriptures a thousand times ouer you may vnderstand them yet you shall not bee affected with them till the Holy Ghost shew them vnto you This is the secret of GOD that he reuealeth to those whom he meaneth to saue that is when hee presents these spirituall things prepared for vs in Christ in such a manner as that we shall loue them and embrace them when we shall not only see the truth of them but the goodnesse of them when GOD shall not onely shew vs the aduantages we haue by Christ but the excellency of Christ so that we shall be in loue with his person as well as to be ready to receiue the priuiledges with him Now this is done by the Spirit 1. Cor. 2.12 Wee haue receiued the Spirit of GOD by which wee know the things that are giuen vs of GOD and they are reuealed to vs by the Spirit They are two or three times repeated in that Chapter as if he should haue said If you saw them no more then other men doe then naturall men doe you would bee no more affected with them then they are but when you haue the Spirit of GOD to shew you the things that are giuen you of GOD that is the thing that workes vpon you and affects you And so in Ioh. 14.21 saith CHRIST I will come to him and shew my selfe to him When CHRIST sheweth himselfe to a man it is another thing then when the Ministers shall shew him or the Scriptures nakedly read doe shew him for when Christ shall shew himselfe by his Spirit that shewing draweth a mans heart to long after him otherwise we may preach long enough and shew you that these spirituall things these priuiledges are prepared for you in Christ but it is the Holy Ghost that must write them in your hearts we can but write them in your heads Therefore the Lord taketh that as peculiar to himselfe I will write my Law in your hearts That is I will make you affected with the things that I shew you and this is the teaching of GOD. There is a teaching by men and a teaching by GOD that is when God shall enable a man to see things in good earnest otherwise it will be but as a man that sees a thing when his minde is vpon another matter so wee shall see and not see but when the Holy Ghost shall shew you these things you shall see indeed till then you may heare oft enough of these things but your hearts
them And so when men can make their recreations to serue their turnes for better purposes when a man not onely ouercomes them gets the victory of them but makes them seruiceable so a man make aduantage of the World Againe when thou wouldest haue thy sanctification increased increase thy faith The more thou beleeuest the more the Spirit of Christ is conueyed into thy heart The stronger thy faith is the more the winde of grace the sappe shall flow from CHRIST into thy heart As old Adams corruption it is with the grace of CHRIST when thou commest neere thou art ingraft into the similitude of his death that is there comes a gift from him he sends his Spirit into thy heart that doth make thee ioy in him that causeth thee to dye to sin and to liue to righteousnesse This I thought to haue opened But so much shal serue for this time and for this Text. FINIS OF LOVE THE FIRST SERMON GALLAT 5.6 For in Iesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but Faith which worketh by Love IN the fourth verse of this chapter the Apostle affirmes that there is no justification by the law for saith hee If you be justified by the law you are fallen from grace that is you cannot be partakers of that justification which is by grace Because for to have it by the law and to have it by grace are opposite And he gives a reason for it because saith he Through the Spirit we waite for the hope of that righteousnes which is by faith and not by the law When he had expressed himselfe so farre which is the righteousnesse received by faith that is that righteousnesse which is freely given by God offered to us wrought by Christ but taken by faith on our parts Thus saith he you must be justified Now to confirme this he gives a reason in this verse that I have read for saith he In Christ Iesus that is to put a man into Christ Iesus or to make him acceptable to God through Christ Iesus to doe this neither circumcision availeth any thing or uncircumcision That is neither the keeping of any part of the ceremoniall law or the omission of it nor the keeping of the morall law or the breaking of it will helpe to ingraffe a man into Christ or to make him acceptable to God through Christ What will doe it then nothing saith hee but onely faith Now lest we should be mistaken in this as if he should require nothing at their hands but an empty idle faith hee addeth further it must be such a faith as is effectuall as is working And that is not enough but it must be such a faith as workes by love So that you have two parts in this Text One is a removall or a negation of that which doth not ingraffe us into Christ or that makes us not acceptable to God through Christ it is not being circumcised or uncircumcised or any thing of that nature The other is the affirmative part What is it that doth it that makes us in a glorious condition that makes us sonnes of God saith he it is onely faith and love it is such a faith as is accompanied with love and good workes so that you see hee removes all workes of ours all workes of the ceremoniall law circumcision is nothing it is as good as if you were not circumcised it is all one And by the same reason that circumcision is excluded all other is And not onely workes of the ceremoniall law but all the workes of the morall law also considered as the meanes of justification because they are opposite to faith they exclude faith and faith excludes them so as they are as well to be shut out as the workes of the ceremoniall law None of these saith the Apostle will doe it For you must know the way to salvation is contrary to that of damnation Looke how you lost the kingdome of God so you must get it looke what gate you went out at by the same gate as it were you must come in at What was it that lost all mankind the kingdome of heaven You know it was not our particular breaches of the morall law but it was the fall of Adam and when the root was dead you know all the branches died with it Well what way is there then to regaine this losse We must goe in againe into Paradise by the same way that wee went out that is by being borne of the second Adam and by being made partakers of his righteousnesse By being borne of him or ingrafted into him As you communicate of the sinne of the other because you are his children so you must partake of his righteousnesse Againe saith the Apostle it is the Lords pleasure that you should be saved after this manner because he would have it to be of grace If you should have beene saved by any workes of your owne you would have imputed it to your selves and to your owne strength But the Lord would have it to be of grace of his free will and therefore hee will have it meerely of faith by taking the righteousnesse of the second Adam which he hath wrought for you Againe he would have it sure to all your seede if it had beene by workes it would never have beene sure unto you you could never have kept the law so exactly But since Christ hath wrought righteousnesse and you have no more to doe but to take it now it is sure or else it would never have beene sure Againe if it had beene by workes the flesh had had wherein to rejoyce it might have something to boast of But the Lord will have no man to rejoyce in the flesh but let him that rejoyceth rejoyce in the Lord. Now if it had been by works if it had beene by any inherent righteousnesse by any ornament of grace that the Lord had beautified us with we had had rejoycing in our selves but now that it is by the second Adam by comming home to him by taking him by applying his righteousnesse Now no flesh can rejoyce in it selfe but now whosoever rejoyceth rejoyceth in the Lord. Therefore saith the Apostle you must know this truth you can never be saved by doing these actions no nor you shall not lose salvation by omitting them for this is not the way that the Lord hath appointed mankinde to be saved by But the way by which mankinde must be saved is by receiving Iesus Christ and his righteousnes But you must remember that you must take him so as to love him And it must be such a love as is fruitfull in good workes and not an emptie and idle love that is a love in shew onely but it must be a love in deede and in truth Now in the handling of these words we will begin with the affirmative part because though the other be put first yet the affirmatiō you know in order of nature is before the negation therfore I wil begin with
actions that is they are likewise precious Therefore let no man say he hath faith and love and as good a heart as the best though his actions be not so good though he be not so strict in his carriage for it cannot be my brethren For first of all if a mans heart be good hee hath the spirit of God dwelling there now saith the Apostle 2 Tim 1.6 The spirit is not a spirit of feare or a spirit of weaknesse a spirit that onely makes attempts and is not able to bring things to passe but it is a spirit of power a spirit of a sound minde That is doe not thou pretend thou meanest well and desirest well and thinke it is sufficient but stirre up the gift that is in thee set thy selfe on worke doe the actions that belong to thee in thy place and doe not say I am not able to doe it for wee have not received a spirit that is weake but a spirit of power the same I may say to every Christian If ye be in Christ yee have the spirit which is a spirit of power So you have it likewise Gal. 5.25 If you live in the spirit walke in the spirit that is if you have so much of the spirit as to make you living men shew it by walking in the spirit by following the spirit by doing that which the spirit guides you to therefore it is impossible that a man should have a right minde but that his workes also will be good because grace is strong in 2 Tim. 2.1 And thou my sonne be strong in the grace received c. As if hee should say grace is a strong thing it strengthens every man that hath received it if thou professe thou hast received the grace of Christ to regenerate thee to change thee and to make thee a new creature let that appeare by shewing thy selfe strong in thy actions able and ready to doe every thing that belongs to thee in thy place Indeede flesh is weake so much flesh so much weaknesse for that is weake and fading and withering and mutable it is grasse and all the purposes of it and the desires of it are no better but the spirit is strong and grace is strong quite contrary to the flesh as the Prophet speakes Isa. 31.3 Yee are men and not Gods flesh and not spirit when he would shew their weaknesse as if weaknesse were a concomitant of the flesh and strength a concomitant of the spirit Therefore if you have the spirit of Christ in you there will be strength to goe through good workes not onely to intend them and purpose them and resolve on them but you will put those resolutions and purposes in execution Secondly it must needes be so because there is a chaine betweene good workes and the inward rectitude of the heart a chaine that cannot be disjoyned for ye shall finde that these three things alwayes goe together First as that indeede is the beginning of every mans renewing there must be a knowledge a man must be enlightened hee must be renewed in the spirit of his minde as the Apostle saith Now if the knowledge bee right if it bee a convicting knowledge a sanctifying knowledge a knowledge to purpose it will draw on affections it cannot chuse they are never separated you are never truly enlightened by Gods spirit but affections follow necessarily and then if the affections be right if knowledge draw on holy affections love and feare and desires c. affections are the immediate principles of actions there is no man that hath right affections but good workes will follow so that these three are never disjoyned sanctified knowledge draweth on holy affections and holy affections draw on good actions as yee have it in Matth. 13.5 Their hearts are waxed fat and their eares are dull of hearing and why you shall see the chaine there lest seeing with their eyes they should understand with their hearts and be converted and I should heale them Marke it if they should see with their eyes the Lord hath given them up to judge amisse of things that seeing they doe not see that is they see not to purpose they are not convinced they doe not judge for if they did see with their eyes that is if they did see indeede they would have understood with their hearts their affections would follow in their hearts and if they were set aright then they would be converted that is their lives would be turned to God and if these three were done he must needes heale them but saith God I am resolved not to heale them therefore they shall see as if they did not see for these will draw on one the other So I say if the heart were right if there were faith and love good workes would follow therefore let no man say hee hath grace hee hath love and faith except his life also be holy and good Lastly wheresoever there is faith and love there is a change of nature for you know that wheresoever they come faith that is effectuall and love that followeth from faith it makes a man a new creature they are the very things wherein a new ereature consists Now when a mans nature is changed it must needes be active for that which is naturall to a man he doth without unevennesse there is no inequality in his doing it he doth it constantly where there are naturall principles of actions the actions flow like water from a spring indeede where the nature of a man is not changed that is where there is onely good purposes and good desires and no alteration of nature there actions doe not come as water from a spring but as water from a pompe that is forced and extorted but where there is a change of nature there is no difficultie a man doth it with facility and with desire it is his meate and drinke to doe the will of God Therefore I say good workes will follow there will be the same degree of holinesse of rectitude in your lives in your actions as there is of grace as there is of faith and love in your hearts And this is enough to make the point plaine to you the maine businesse will be to make use of it and to apply it to your selves And first let us make this use of it not to content our selves with good meanings onely as it is the fashion of men to say my heart is as good as yours and my meaning is as good as yours though I be subject to infirmities though I cannot make such a shew though I cannot doe so much as others doe this is the common objection and though men say it not constantly yet they thinke it otherwise they would not content themselves in such a condition as they doe But I say deceive not your selves in this for my brethren you must know that you may have good purposes and good meanings we will not deny you that you may have these
in their places to every man to contend for the common Faith and know this my brethren that their are certaine opportunities which the Lord giues you and you must take heed of neglecting them it may be to let a thing goe some times it will never be recovered againe Therefore looke that you be diligent in it stirr up your selves to doe it while there is occasion offered In other things men are apt to be men of action they would have imployment and worke that they may bee some body in the world and it is very well there is something in that it is a noblenesse of disposition so to doe but alas what poore and weake reward haue you for that it may be a little vaineglory it may be some applause from Princes or people it may be some emptie airie preferment To doe the will of the Lord the worke he hath given you to doe it is no matter what it is for a servant must not chuse his worke I say whatsoever it is though in never so meane a thing the greatest excellencie is to do his will that makes us Kings and Princes to him that makes us partakers of the Royall bloud as Christ saith These are my brothers and Sister and Mother that doe the will of my Father It is this doing of his will this action that puts you into a high condition I see not that Paule was ambitious of any thing but of this that he might be doing that he might liue a usefull a profitable life in the 15. Rom. 20. I was ambitious saith Paule to Preach the Gospell even where it had never been preached this is all my ambition to put my selfe upon the hardest taskes so it should be your ambition to doe some thing for the Church When you reade the storie of Moses that He was mightie in word and deede of David of the Iudges and the Worthies of the Church they should be so many incentives to you to stirre you up to be doing in your place But this is not all that we would commend to you at this time to be men of action and to observe the opportunities but there is an other thing and that is this that likewise the season cōmends to you that is to fast and pray as in husbandry so in the Church there are certaine seasons of actions and those seasons must not be omitted Marke what the course of the Scripture was in every calamitie in Ioel when there was a famine begune Sanctifie a fast saith the Lord call a solemne Assemblie when their is a plague comming when there are great enterprises in hand when there is any thing plotting for the advancement of the good of the Church doe you not think now that the omission of opportunities are sinnes for you to neglect this dutie doe you not thinke the Lord will require it It is true indeed it is a businesse that is not ordinary it is extraordinary but doe not extraordinary times and occasions call for it Againe is it not evill in such extraordinary cases to omit such an extraordinary duty As wee finde in Scripture when the Lord would call for fasting and they did it not Indeed to turne it to jollity and feasting is another thing a sinne of a greater nature but now the very standing still and omitting of this duty is disobedience to the Lord and to be guilty of the judgements that are upon a people I say the standing still and not hastening to the gappe What shall we say then of those that resist this course and thrust men out of the gappe Consider it therefore seriously this is a speciall duty required the season lookes for it that we should humble our selves before God Againe there is one thing more that wee will speake of but in a word that is that every man for his owne particular renew his speciall Covenant with God concerning the amendment of his life in particular for I finde that in all times when the Lord hath stretched forth his hand against a Church and Nation that this hath beene required that they should come and enter into a Covenant with God You shall finde that Asa did it 2 Chron. 16. that Nehemiah did it that it was done in Ieremiahs time when they had warres in hand Wee have many examples of it in Scripture every man did it and because every man could not come to doe it personally the head did it for the rest I say the Lord lookes for this from every man in private that he should doe this in a particular manner to consider what have I done amisse in my life what have I done to provoke the Lord What sinnes of commission and what of omission Have I beene colde and lukewarme Have I beene too much conformable to the times For this is it that brings judgement upon a people the Saints when they are not zealous when they fall from their first love may helpe forward a judgement as well as grosse sinners yea and more too let every man therefore stirre up himselfe to doe his dutie In a word wee should strive and contend for the advancing of Christs kingdome for the furtherance of the Gospell for the good of mankinde for the flourishing of the Church wherein our owne good consisteth and we should doe it earnestly wee should contend for it contend with God in prayer contend with our Superiours by intreaty with our adversaries by resistance with colde and lukewarme men by stirring them up by provoking one another to good workes These are the workes that we exhort you to and thus you shall be assured you have faith that workes by love Learne this to joyne these together And so much shall serve for this time and this Text. FINIS THE TABLE A. Part. Page Absolute COvenant absolute Part. 1. Pag. 38 Acquaintance How to draw neere in acquaintance with God Part. 3. Pag. 105. Act Active Action Act of faith double Part 2. Pag. 64 Habit serveth for act p. 2. p. 140 Love active 3.85 Pleasure in action 3.206 See Faith ADAM A parallell betweene the two ADAMS 1.5 Adoption Spirit of Adoption what 2.104 Adulterer Adulterous Hee that loves not God is an Adulterer 1.20 Love to the creature when it is adulterous 3.107 Affections Affections follow the understanding 2.98 Affections all hang upon love and hatred 3.8 Affections how our love is tried by them 3.24 Affliction Afflictions how made easie 2.146 Christians happy in afflictions 2.192 We neede afflictions 2.206 Afflictions good to the godly 2.207 Difference betweene Saints and others in afflictions 2.208 All. Christ offered to all in 4 respects 1.10 All must be parted with for Christ. 1.23 Christ all in all 1 78 Tryall of love by loving all Saints 3.101 Love God with all the heart 3.157 Why God is to be loved above all 3.164 166 Love is that may be given by all 3.175 Alexander Alexander an example of trust 2.168 Almighty God is Almighty 3.38 Almighty
excellency and the riches of Christ. Eph. 1.18.19 opened Obiect Ans. No man can so see the riches of Christ as to be affected with them withâ—ut the helpe of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.12 opened Ioh. 14.21 opened Ier. 31 33. opened 3 By assuring vs that these things are ours This also must be wrought by the Spirit The testimony of the Spirit wrought two waies 1 By clearing the promises 2 By an immediate voice Ioh. 16.29 Isa. 57.19 opened All arguments without the Spirit preuaile not Eph. 1.19 opened Act. 2.39 Luk. 14.23 opened That men are compelled to come in what it implies What is implyed by drawing Ioh. 6.44 opened How the Holy Ghost draweth Cant. 1.4 Eph. 1.18 4 Why God will accept no faith but that which is effectuall 1 Because else it is not faith because it is dead Similes 2 Because such faith hath no loue Rom. 8.28 3 Because the Deuils haue such a faith 4 Because it workes no mortification 5 Because else Christ should lose the end of his comming into the world 6 Good workes are the way to saluation Eph. 2.10 Rom. 2.6 Mat. 26.35 39. Vse 1. To try our faith whether it be sound Simile Iam. 2.14 Simile Exod. 34.6.7 Obiect Ans. Fiue arguments of Saint Iames against worklesse faith Note Vse 2. To judge our conditions by the efficacy of our faith Not to beleeue all that say they haue faith nor all that say they haue none Act of faith double Simile A man may haue faith though he want feeling Of those that say they haue faith but haue not Simile Psal. 119.7 Vse 3. To iustifie the Doctrine of good workes against the Papists slanders Difference betweene vs and Papists in the Doctrine of iustification Obiect Ans. Iustification double Rom. 4. Note Simile Answ. Faith made perfect by works what Simile 3 Obiect Ans. What meant by these words Faith without workes is dead 4 Obiect Ans. Why good works are required seeing they iustifie not Rom. 6.1 2. 1 They euidence our right in Christ. 2 God rewards according to our works 1 Pet. 1.15 3 Good workes necessary though not to iustification Different rise of good works in Papists and vs. An hypocrite cannot doe things out of loue to God 2 Cor. 13.2 Vse 3. To labour to grow in faith and assurance What course to take in weaknesse of grace Simile Labouring to strengthen faith of much vse 1 In getting assurance of pardon after sin is committed 2 In conflict with strong lusts 3 In want of graces How Ministers should build Simile Simile Vse 4. To looke to faith in our search Two wayes to increase assurance Simile Vse 5. To learne to iudge aright of our workes Iames 2.22 God accepts our workes no further then he findes faith in them Mat. 15.26 27. Heb. 11. God accepts the gift for the giuer To doe a thing by faith what Godlinesse what Heb. 11.6 Rom. 13. We must reckon common actions in our callings to be good workes Vse 6. To try if we haue faith 1 Triall A secret perswasion of the Spirit Reu. 2 17. Hidden Mannah White stone what it signifieth Gods manner of working faith Alike trouble of Spirit in conuersion not necessary to all and why Simile Soft voice what 1 Part of the soft voice a clearing of the promise Though the promises are neere vnlesse God cleere them we see them not Luk. 24. 2 Part of the soft voice the immediate testimony of Gods Spirit Rom. 8. Obiect Ans. How to know the testimony of the Spirit from a delusion How faith is wrought Whence longing after Christ comes Ioh. 19. How to know whether faith be wrought in vs. A beast cannot reflect vpon his actions as a man can How to know that the promise is cleared to vs. Rom. 8. The match betweene Christ and the soule reciprocall Fiue signes of effectuall faith 1. Signe True faith purifieth the heart Acts 15.9 Acts 26.18 Faith and repentance put together in the Scripture why True faith hath repentance Faith what it is Obedience Heb. 8.8 A Couenant what Generall reformation Christ dwels in the heart as the soule in the body Gal. 2.20 Isay 57.13.18 opened Simile How to know if Christ dwell in the heart Acts 8.37 opened Baptisme what Taking Christ deceitfully To take Christ with the whole heart what Act. 2â— 17 18. To turne to God what Faith and the desire of satisfying lusts cannot stand together Ier. 3. Men deceiued in the definition of faith Try faith as we doe other things Similes Digression for application to the Sacrament Rules of examination before and after the Sacrament Where Christ dwels indeed he giues power against sinne Phil. 4.12 To be guilty of the body blood of Christ what Quest. Answ. 2 Signe A Spirit of Prayer Spirit of adoption what Gal. 4.6 The Spirit of adoption maketh vs 1 Earnest in Prayer 2 Bold and confident Obiect Ans. True Prayer what Rom. 8. Prayer double The voice of Gods Spirit in vs what Quest. Ans. How to know the voyce of Gods Spirit in our prayers Wicked men come to God as a stranger the Saints as to a friend Hosea 7.14 opened Eph 3.7 3. Signe of faith Peace Rom. 5.1 Obiect Ans. Exod. 14. Psal. 3. 2 A twofold peace The third marke of faith it brings peace Phil. 4.6 opened Mat. 6. Ioh. 3.12 Gen. 24.7 4. Signe of effectual faith To hold out in cleauing to Christ. To hold out implyeth 3. things 1 To cleaue constantly to Christ. which noâ—e can doe that take Christ 1 Out of mis-information 2 Out of feare 3 Out of loue to his and not to him 4 Out of slender and slight grounds 2 To take no denyall 3 To be content to waite Hab. 2. Iam. 1. 5. Signe of effectuall faith the concomitants of it which are 4. 1 Loue. 2 Pet. 1.8 Gal. 5. 1 Cor. 13. Obiect Ans. Quest. Ans. Tryals of loue 2 Hope 3 Ioy. Rom. 15.13 1 Pet. 1.8 Obiect Heb. 6. Ans. Tryals of ioy Rom. 5.3 1 Pet. 1.8 Simile Heb. 6. opened 4 Humility Isay. 6. Vse To act and exercise Faith or to set it on Worke. Obiect Ans. Simile Simile Rom. 2. Heb. 11. Quest. Ans. How to vse Faith 1 In comforting our selues Gal. 3. opened Ioh. 16. Simile Considerations to helpe Faith in comforting the Soule Micha 7.8 Psal. 41.7 Quest. Ans. Eph. 4. 2 Tim. 2.19 2 Pet. 1.13 2 Vse of faith to guide and order our liues Simile Instances of faith guiding a man in difficult cases 1 Instance Ioh. 12.12 2 Instance 3 Instance 4 Instance Ier. 42. Ier. 42. 43. Obiect Ans. Ier. 26. 5 Instance Acts 6. 6 Instance Quest. Ans. 7 Instance 8 Instance Quest. Ans. 1 Tim. 4.10 Quest. Ans. To trust in GOD what Quest. 2 Cor. 1.10 opened Answ. Zeph. 3.12 Quest. Answ. 1 Tim. 1.5 2 Chro. 14.11 Quest. Ans. Obiect Answ. 2 Kings 5. Hester 6. Obiect Answ. 1. Isay 7. Isay 9. Answ. 2. Consisting of 3. parts Obiect Ans.
offer the day may come when you would be glad to haue it You that are now in the height and flower of your youth and you that are more ancient liuing in health and wealth and hauing your fill of pleasures it may be for the present you haue other things to take vp your mindes but the time will come when the Bridegroome shall enter in and the doores shall bee shut when your Houre-glasse shall be out and your time spent and then this relation of righteousnesse and remission of sinnes now offered would be reckoned glad tydings but take heede that it be not too late beware lest you cry and GOD refuses to heare Not but that GOD will heare euery man if his cry comes from vnfeigned faith and loue but it may be GOD will not giue thee that vnfeigned faith and loue when you be come to that extremity seeing you would not come when he called it may be he will not come when you call it may be he will not breathe the breath of life nor giue such a spirit and disposition as he will accept of Christ dyed to purchase to himselfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes and not onely to saue men He dyed for this end that men might doe him seruice and if you will not come in now in time of strength and youth when you are able to doe him seruice I say in his ordinary course he will reject you now in your extremity you may not then expect mercie at his hands Therefore doe not say I will follow my couetousnesse and idlenesse my pleasures and businesse my lusts and humours and heereafter come in for you are not to chuse your own time If he call you and you refuse to come take heed lest in his wrath he sweare that you shall not enter into his rest FINIS OF FAITH The second Sermon ROM 1.17 For by it the righteousnesse of God is reuealed from Faith to Faith As it is written The iust shall liue by Faith THe next point that these words affoord vs is this that Faith is that whereby the righteousnesse of God is made ours to saluation The righteousnesse of GOD saith the Apostle is reuealed from faith to faith That is it is so reuealed and offered by GOD that it is made ours by faith we are made partakers of it by faith you see it ariseth cleerely from the words Now for the opening of this point to you you must vnderstand that there are two waies or Couenants whereby GOD offereth saluation to men One is the Couenant of workes and that was that righteousnesse by which Adam had beene saued if he had stood in his innocencie for it was that way that GOD appointed for him Doâ— this and liue But Adam performed not the condition of that Couenant and therefore now there is another Couenant that is the Couenant of Grace a Board giuen vs against Ship-wracke Now this Couenant of Grace is double Either absolute and peculiar Or conditionall Absolute and peculiar onely to the Elect so it is expressed Ier. 31. I will put my Lawe into your inward parts and write it in your hearts and I will be your God and you shall be my people So likewise in Ezek. 36. I will giue you a new heart and put a new spirit within you and I will take your stonie hearts out of your bodies Heere the Couenant is expressed absolutely and this is proper onely to the Elect. But now beside this there is a conditionall Couenant of Grace which is common to all and that is expressed in these termes Christ hath prouided a righteousnesse and saluation that is his worke that hee hath done already Now if you will beleeue and take him vpon those termes that he is offered you shall bee saued This I say belongs to all men This you haue thus expressed in the Gospell in many places If you beleeue you shall be saued as it is Mark 16. Goe and preach the Gospell to euery creature vnder Heauen hee that will beleeue shall be saued he that will not beleeue shall bee damned It is the same with that Rom. 4.5 To him which worketh not but beleeueth in him which iustifieth the vngodly his faith is accounted righteousnesse Marke it To him that beleeueth on him that iustifieth the vngodly that is there is a certaine iustice or righteousnesse that CHRIST hath prepared or purchased for men though they be vngodly he requires nothing of them before-hand though they be wicked and vngodly yet this righteousnesse is prepared for them that which is required of them is onely that they take it Now hee that will beleeue GOD that he hath prepared this for him and will receiue it it is enough to make him a righteous man in GODS acceptation so that this is the onely way now by which men shall be saued The worke is already done on Christs part there is a righteousnesse that GOD hath prepared which is therefore called the righteousnesse of GOD and there is nothing precedently required or looked for on our part but taking and applying of it But you will say Is there nothing else required of vs Must GOD doe all and must we doe nothing but onely take that righteousnesse that is prepared for vs I answer it is true indeede we must lead a holy life a religious sober and righteous life for for this end hath the grace of God appeared saith the Apostle yet you must know withall that we cannot worke in our selues this holinesse this religious and sober conuersation that must be Gods worke altogether we are onely to take this righteousnesse and the other is but a consequent that followeth vpon it To illustrate this vnto you by a similitude A Wheele or a Bowle runneth not that it may be made round that is the businesse of the workeman who makes it round that it may runne So it is in this case GOD doth not looke that we should bring holines and piety with vs for we haue it not to bring we are at the first onely to beleeue and accept this righteousnesse that is offered vs when that is done it is Gods part to frame vs and to fit and fashion vs for a holy life such a kinde of speech you haue it expressed in Eph. 2.10 We are Gods workmanship fashioned in Christ Iesus to walke in good workes which he hath ordained c. Marke it it is not an action of our owne but GOD is the workeman we are the materials as the clay and the wood that he takes into his hands when wee haue but taken this righteousnesse that is offered it is Gods worke to cast vs into a new Mould to giue vs a new heart and to frame a new spirit within vs that so we may walke in good workes before him this is the great mystery of godlinesse for we haue much adoe to perswade men to beleeue that the righteousnesse prepared by CHRIST
should be offered to them and nothing be required but receiuing of it this will not sinke into the hearts of men by nature they thinke they must doe something precedently or else this righteousnesse is not offered them But my beloued we must learne to belieue this and know that it is the worke of GOD to sanctifie vs after hee hath iustified vs. I confesse it is not so in other things there is still some action of our owne required to gaine this or that habit or ability as you see in naturall things there are some kinde of habits that we get by some precedent actions of our owne as the learning of Arts and Sciences to learne to write well c. here there is some action of our owne required to fit vs for it and then we get the ability to doe it But besides these there are other habits that are planted by nature in vs as an ability to heare to see to taste c. Now for these we neede not any action of our owne for the attaining of them because they are planted in vs by nature So it is in these things that belong to saluation It is true indeede we may get habits of morall Vertues by labour and paines of our owne there are actions of our owne required to them and in that the Philosopher said right that we learne to be temperate and sober and chaste c. But now for the Graces of the Spirit there it is not so those habits that nature hath planted in vs we exercise them naturally without doing any action of our owne to attaine them as we doe not by seeing oft learne to see but it is a faculty naturally planted in vs so it is in all the workes that we must doe which are the way to saluation GOD workes them in vs he infuseth those habits into vs. Therefore this conclusion is good that it is faith alone by which this righteousnesse is made ours to saluation This is euident by the Apostle Gal. 2. vlt. Saith he it is not by the Law If righteousnesse had beene by the workes of the Law then Christ had dyed without a cause As if he should haue said saluation must needes be by one of these two Either by something that we doe our selues some actions that we our selues haue wrought or else it must be meerely by faith Now if it had beene attainable by any worke of our owne CHRIST dyed without a cause as if he should say CHRIST could haue giuen you ability to doe those workes without his dying but for this very cause Christ came into the World and dyed that he might worke righteousnesse and make satisfaction to God so that you haue nothing to doe for the first attaining of it but to receiue it by faith And if you would know the reason why GOD that might haue found out many other wayes to leade men to saluation yet hath chosen this way aboue all others to saue men only by faith receiuing the righteousnesse of CHRIST which he hath wrought for vs you shall finde these foure reasons for it in the Scriptures Two of them are set downe Rom. 4.16 Therefore it is by faith that it might come by grace Marke it This is one reason why GOD will haue it by faith that it might be of grace For if any thing had beene wrought by vs as hee saith in the beginning of the Chapter it must haue beene giuen as wages and so it had beene receiued by debt and not by fauour but this was Gods end in it to make knowne the exceeding length and breadth of his loue and how vnsearchable the riches of Christ are his end was to haue his Grace magnified Now if there had beene any action of ours required but meerely the receiuing of it by faith it had not bin meerely of grace for faith empties a man it takes a man quite off his owne bottome faith commeth as an empty hand and receiueth all from GOD and giues all to GOD. Now that it might be acknowledged to be free and to be altogether of grace for this cause GOD would haue salvation propounded to men to be receiued by faith onely Secondly as it is by faith that it might come by grace so also that it might be sure that the promise might be sure if it had been any other way it had neuer beene sure Put the case that GOD had put vs vpon the condition of obedience and had giuen vs grace and ability as he did to Adam yet the Law is strict and the least fayling would haue bred feares and doubts and would haue caused death But now when the righteousnesse that saueth vs is wrought already by GOD and offered to vs by him and offered freely and that the ground of this offer is the sure Word of GOD and it is not a conjecturall thing now we may build infallibly vpon it for vnlesse faith haue footing on the Word wee cannot say it is sure all things else are mutable and subject to change therefore when GOD hath once said it we may firmely rest in it and it is sure And this is the second reason why it is onely by faith Thirdly it is by faith that it might bee to all the seede not onely to those that are of the Law but also to them which were strangers to the Law If it had beene by the Law then saluation had beene shut vp within the compasse of the Iewes for the Gentiles were strangers to the Law of GOD they were vncleane men shut out from the Common-wealth of Israel but when it is now freely propounded in the Gospell and nothing is required but onely faith to lay hold vpon it when there is no more looked for but beleeuing and receiuing hence it comes to be to all the seede for Abraham himselfe before he was circumcised he was as a common man the vaile was not then set vp yet euen then his faith was imputed to him for righteousnesse The last reason why it is of faith is that no man might boast that no flesh might reioyce in it selfe for if it had beene by any other means by any thing done in our selues we had had cause to reioyce in our selues but for this cause saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 1.30 Christ is made to vs wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption that he that reioyceth might reioyce in the Lord. As if he had said if GOD had giuen vs a wisedome of our owne wee had had cause to haue reioyced in our selues but we are darknesse Eph. 4. there is nothing but foolishnesse and weaknesse in vs to the end that no flesh might reioyce in his presence Againe if we had had grace put into our selues though it had beene but little for which GOD might haue accepted vs the flesh would haue boasted therefore his righteousnesse is made ours But when this is done yet if after iustification it had beene in our power and ability