righteousnesse And all this is because wee should rest in full assurance of safety without feare or doubt because hee promised to preuent all occasions whence any feare should arise And so he deliuered them out of the hands of their enemies without feare and Christ died that he might deliuer them who for feare of death were all their life time subiect to bondage and now wee haue not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare any more but the spirit of adoption to cry abba Father for God hath not giuen vs the spirit of feare but of power and of loue and of a sound minde for there is no greater bondage then that feare when we are vncertaine what shall become of vs but he said Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to giue you the Kingdome Now that other commendable feare doth not shake assurance of saluation but the faithfull finding that in him doth gather the greater assurance to himselfe For the punishment of God is fearefull vnto him that dreades Gods iudgements abhorreth wicked courses laboureth in righteousnesse is strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and doe work their saluation with feare and trembling with humility and acknowledgement of their own frailety and neuer to commit themselues to themselues but to him who hath wrought all our workes for vs for by his owne might shall no man be strong Now there is difference betwixt absolute doubting weake assenting and interruption in assent with some feare for the seeds of all impiety land in the corruption of the heart whereby we are assaulted with doubt of the principall poynts of our beleefe the wisedome power iustice mercy of God yet do not wholly relinquish the assent thereof CON. 27. In application of our generall faith to particular occasions wee many times goe halting and lame and stagger somewhat at that whereof our faith should giue vs full assurance by the will of God EXPLA. Thus did Sarah cast doubt of Gods promise touching the hauing of a child who yet is said through faith to haue receiued strength to conceiue when she was past age because she iudged him faithfull that had promised Thus did Moses call in question the power of God as touching prouiding flesh for the people of Israel when God promised so to do So Dauid and Habacuck staggered as touching the prouidence of God and his care of the iust and righteous men So did the Disciples murmure concerning the Godhead of Christ and the hope of redemption by him which before they had imbraced surely when we look vnto our selues in our greatest perfections we are subiect to that amazed distraction as to say Who shall ascend into heauen as if Christ were not ascended to make way for vs and Who shall descend into the deepe as if Christ had not died to deliuer vs from thence we can neuer satisfie our selues how either to escape the one or to attaine the other CON. 28. They are not faithlesse which are weake in assenting to the truth EXPLA. As many as hold the foundation which is precious thogh they hold it but weakly and as it were with a slender thread although they frame many base and vnsutable things vpon it things that cannot abide the triall of fire yet shall they passe the fiery triall and be saued which indeed haue builded themselues vpon the Rocke which is the foundation of the Church CON. 29. The foundation of faith is not onely the generall ground whereupon we rest when wee beleeue the writings of the Prophets and Apostles but also it is the principall thing which is beleeued that is Christ. EXPLA. There is a foundation of our faith God manifested in the flesh iustified in the Spirit and this Thou art the Sonne of the liuing God thou art the King of Israel and that of the inhabitants of Samaria This is Christ the Sauiour of the world Which who directly doth deny doth vtterly rase the very foundation of faith for Christ in the worke of mans saluation is all without our workes for hee is that seede in whom all the Nations of the world shall be blessed and among men there is giuen no other name vnder heauen whereby we must be saued other foundation can no man lay CON. 29. The holy Spirit in the very moment when first he is giuen of God bringeth with him infused vertues proper and peculiar to the Saincts of God EXPLA. There bee two kindes of christian righteousnesse the one without vs which wee haue by imputation the other in vs which consisteth of Faith Hope and Charity as Abraham had not onely the one because the things beleeued was imputed to him for righteousnesse but also the other because he offered vp his son They are both Gods gifts and the first by accepting vs for righteous in Christ and the second by working christian righteousnesse in vs by the spirit of adoption which we haue receiued into our hearts which maketh two kindes of sanctifying righteousnesse habituall and actuall CON. 30. The wicked haue not such faith as that wherewith a Christian man is iustified EXPLA. It is the Spirit of God which worketh faith in the Elect the things which they beleeue are not apprehended onely as true but also as good and that to vs as good they are not apprehended by the wicked as true they are The Christian the more hee increaseth in faith the more his ioy and comfort aboundeth but they the more sure they are of the truth the more they quake and tremble at it for the wicked doe rather wish that they might then thinke that they shall ceasse when they ceasse to liue because they hold it better that death should consume them into nothing then God reuiue them vnto punishment On the contrary to the Elect there is no grief nor torment greater then to feele their perswasion weake in things whereof when they are perswaded they reape such comfort and ioy of the Spirit CON. 31. Faith giueth vs the comfort of saluation because it beleeueth that which the word of God hath deliuered concerning them in whom the signes marks of our Election are found EXPLA. Faith giueth assurance of saluation by the Word of God not only by apprehending the promise of life and saluation but also obseruing such marks and tokens as the Word of God setteth down to discerne them vnto whom this saluation doth appertaine and therefore it doth not onely looke to that which Christ saith that whosoeuer beleeueth shall haue euerlasting life but because Christ also saith hee that is of God heareth Gods word therefore the faithful man delighteth in the word of God beleeueth concerning himselfe that he is of God because the Apostle saith Euery one that calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saued and this also doth the faithfull man vnfaignedly calling on the name of
God beleeue of himselfe that he shall be saued And also the Apostle saith that we know that we are translated from death to life because we loue the Brethren all those things we know because our faith beleeueth all that which the word of God hath taught vs in this behalfe CON. 32. The effect of faith is to giue assurance of the present state and of perseuerance also to future glory EXPLA. As many as receiued Christ to them he gaue power to bee sonnes euen to them that beleeue in his name Now to receiue is to take in particular to a mans selfe to apply to himself to apprehend or lay hold of him with all his benefits to make particular vse of Christ so that true faith according to the measure of it assures infallibly not in general only by principall but in particular also by conclusion and application to it selfe and as of his owne good will hee hath begotten vs by the word of truth that we should bee as the first fruits of his creatures so by the same true grace of God that comfort is ministred vnto the faithfull to say Behold what loue the Father hath giuen vnto vs that we are called and are euen now the Sons of God! and we know that when he shall appeare we shall be like vnto him For thorow faith we receiue the promise of the Spirit That is Faith is the very hand into which being holden forth vnto God hee giueth the Spirit which hee had promised CON. 33. When God giueth vs this light and feeling that he is our Father there followeth necessarily a certificate that we are his children this testimony cannot be counterfeited EXPLA. Neither the spirit of man himselfe nor any other spirit can giue man that spirituall eye of the inner man whereby to looke vpon God as a Father that sincere and pure affection and inuocation wherewith the faithfull soule tendereth it selfe vnto God but onely the Spâ—rit of God himselfe which beareth witnes vnto our spirit that wee are the Sonnes of God and because we are the Sonnes of God he hath sent forth the spirit of his Sonne into our hearts crying Abba Father Now this Spirit that beareth witnesse is truth being the Spirit of Truth and therefore beeing sent for a comforter surely in comforting he telleth and testifieth nothing but the truth if then the Spirit of God beare witnesse vnto vs that we are the Sonnes of God wee know that it is true and wee are sure wee are the Sonnes of God And this witnessing properly standeth in the true spirituall inuocation and calling on the name of God whereby vpon all occasion as children to a Father make our recourse vnto him for it is not incident vnto vs to haue in our hearts conscience that familiar and louely accesse vnto the Throne of Grace but vpon coÌ„science of the spirit dwelling in vs for this spirit of praier doth witnesse vnto the elect that they are the Sons of God CON. 34. If God hath once giuen thee assured signes of his fauour hee will neuer change EXPLA. The Testament of Christ is still new yea though it were from the beginning yet it is still the same and the day passes not in which it was giuen but it endureth still with the age of man And thus it is not possible that our works should iustifie which waxe olde and are forgotten So that the righteous man of an hundred yeares old if hee leaue his righteousnesse it hath no account the saluation of the world is not thus but alwayes new If once I bee in the couenant it is an euerlasting couenant I was not taken vnder condition of time nor no time shall preuaile against mee the saluation it selfe is not changeable as Adam was in Paradise but it is made sure in the body of Christ vnited with the person of his Godhead So the wayes also in which wee are led vnto it they are iÌ„mutable our faith is not quenched our loue not extinguished our hope faileth not nor the holy Spirit can neuer be taken from vs but still they are new euen to eternall life CON. 35. We are ioynt-heires with Christ and must attaine to our inheritance that same way which he did beeing first partakers with him in suffering as we shall be afterwards in glory EXPLA. Faith expecteth all these things from God because it is giuen vnto vs for Christs sake not only to beleeue in him but also to suffer for his sake beeing strengthned with all might thorow his glorious power to all patience and long suffering with ioyfulnes To this end as the sufferings of Christ abound in them so hee causeth their consolations to abound through Christ their hope is stedfast in this behalfe because they know that as they are partakers of the sufferings so they shall be of the consolation for faith resteth vpon that which is written hee hath said I wil not fail thee nor forsake thee therefore wee may boldly say The Lord is on my side I will not feare what man can do vnto me he hath predestinated vs to be made like to the Image of his Sonne and therefore hauing receiued the spirit to reueale vnto vs this secret of predestination wee stand assured that accordingly he will accomplish in vs the Image of his Sonne that together with him wee may beare the crosse and together with him also weare the crowne and therefore shall so order all things that there shall be nothing to come that shall separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. CON. 36. The cause of life spirituall in vs is Christ not carnally nor corporally inhabiting but dwelling in the soule of man as a thing which when the minde apprehendeth it is said to inhabite or possesse the minde EXPLA. The minde containeth Christ by hearing and beleeuing the Doctrine of christianity with particular apprehension as the light of nature doth cause the mind to apprehend those truthes which are meerely rationall so that sauing truth which is farre aboue the reach of humane reason cannot otherwise then by the Spirit of the Almighty be conceiued as in these sentences The Spirit is our life or the Word is our life or Christ our life the meaning is that our life is Christ by the hearing of the Gospell apprehended â—s a Sauiour and assented vnto by the power of the holy Ghost CON. 37. The motions and operations of life are sometime so indiscernable and so secret that they seeme stone dead who notwithstanding are still aliue vnto God in Christ. EXPLA. The first intellectuall conceit and comprehension of Christ is the seede whereof wee bee borne new our first embracing of Christ is our first reuiuing from the state of death and condemnation Hee that hath the Sonne hath life and hee that hath not the Sonne hath no life therefore if hee which once had the Son may cease to haue
CON. 3. The assurance of our saluation is many times accompanied with feares doubts which doe perplex the soule of the most righteous EXPLA. The true worke of Faith is to assure vs of Gods loue and to enioy that comfort without let to cherish the same and resist the contrary but the weaknesse of our faith and strength of corruption is such that we doe not alwayes attaine these but as in the practice of good actions we sometime reioyce and finding great infirmity in sinning wee mourne for them such change by turnes are in the most regenerate so in faith wherein we receiue a Testimony of Gods loue there is a change because we apprehend not this assurance immediatly as a principle but by collection or conclusiō so the alteration is in apprehēding of the premises wherupon the cōclusiō arose for Gods promises and effects of grace appeare not alwayes the same yea sometimes contrarie CON. 4. The seedes of vnbeliefe are naturally sowne in vs which euer casteth vp obiections EXPLA. Our heart by nature is full of mire dirt which trouble the springs of the water of life and therefore the dayes of faith are like the dayes of the yeere some faire some foule some times in hell as it were sometimes mounted to heauen some times triumphing sometimes striuing euer counting what it hath felt striuing to the same again euer in feares running vnto God expecting better seeing a glimpse of light in darknesse of hope in despaire of comfort in distresse of life in death of heauen in hell and if they lose the sight hereof yet recouered it soone againe CON. 5. Often God leaues vs to our selues that wee may take the faster hold when we returne againe EXPLA. The taste of loue is the sweeter and the ioy the larger when we come to it out of the flouds of tentations For afflictions brings forth patience and patience experiēce and experience hope while by this meanes the loue of God is spred abroad in our hearts by the holy Spirit which is giuen vs the more trees on the tops of hils are blasted the deeper roote they take CON. 6. True faith euer giueth assurance which is the greater by how much our faith is the greater and weakenesse of our assurance argueth the weakenesse of faith EXPLA. Euen in the true faith there is degrees for there is variety of gifts which how little soeuer it be yet is able to saue vs that thou mayst learne what it is whereunto thou art to striue reioycing in that thou hast atttained to already and to pray for that which is behinde that God would increase thy faith feeling of imperfections is the common frailety of all Gods children and faith that it may bee strong must haue time to grow and haply seemeth weake to thee when it is strong to God For the ioy of the faithfull is as a garden enclosed CON. 7. As faith is by hearing so it is ordinarily increased by preaching whereunto the weake beleeuer must attend EXPLA. Preachers are Proclamators which teach euery beleeuer their interrest in the matters of saluation which apprehend the promises vpon conscience of their owne repentance and faith for where the seede shall grow there it shall bring forth the fruite of faith and it shall bring forth eternall life for this assurance is giuen by the mouth of the Minister by the word of Christ which the faith of the hearer apprehendeth the man warmeth the bed the bed warmeth him euery man hath not accesse to the priuy seale but by the imprint there of in waxe he knoweth it to be the priuy Seale CON. 8. It is the Lord that giueth a heart to heare the voyce of Christ deliuered by the minister out of the Gospell EXPLA. My owne heart could neuer minister comfort vnto mee which is deceitfull aboue all things and is rather cast downe with acknowledgement of misery and therefore wee must dicerne betwixt the true assurance of the heart from carnall presumption floating fancies swimming in the head for true assurance is accompanied with the Spirit of grace and prayer by which the heart is conformed to the voyce of God with ioyfull acceptance and affectionate desire of that which is vttered thereby which is the fruite of the spirit of adoption which beareth witnesse vnto our spirit that wee are the sonnes of God and beareth record that God hath giuen vs eternall life for he is God that doth neitherly nor change whose foundation is sure for hee knoweth them that are his CON. 9. Thou mayst be assured of the perpetuity of thy faith for God will not forsake the worke which hee hath begunne EXPLA. The reason is because that he who beleeues in Christ shall neuer be confounded and his sheepe shall neuer perish but he will giue them eternall life and although the godly oft times fall yet God is faithfull in his promise to them I will put my feare in their hearts and they shall not depart frō me resting in this that they not onely apprehend Christ but much more that they are apprehended of Christ and not that they know God onely but that they are knowne of him for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance so that whether they liue or die they are the Lords for nothing can separate them from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus and therefore doe they boldly say thy louing kindnesse and mercy shall follow mee all the dayes of my life and I shall dwell in the house of God for euer CON. 10 Faith taketh hold of the particular apprehension as to beleeue that God is my God my life peace strength deliuerance and my saluation EXPLA. We must not beleeue only that he is these things in himselfe but that hee is indeed the same to vs for because God is ours whatsoeuer is his is ours for vs and for our vse his mercy his power his prouidence to watch ouer vs both in life and death for by couenant hee bound himselfe to the heires of promise I will bee their God and they shall be my people and againe Loe this is our God and wee haue wayted for him and hee will heare vs we will reioyce and be ioyfull in his saluation for that Christ hath already done for thee is a greater matter then that he promised so thou beleeue not onely that thy sin may forgiuen thee by his mercy which is a beginning or foundation of Christ but also that thy sinnes are forgiuen thee CON. 11. Faith is the fountaine of our loue towards God for while wee beleeue he is so mercifull vnto vs it swalloweth vp our affections and draweth our loue to him EXPLA. The loue arising of faith so much felt in vs assureth vs that wee are beloued of God who loued vs first and therefore place we the confidence of our saluation in him onely to whom wee are vnited and
receiue the righteousnes of God euen as wee receiue himselfe who so becommeth ours as that we abide in him and hee in vs wee are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones we are really and truely by the power of his Spirit one with him and he with vs yet he is not personally and bodily brought vnto vs faith seeketh Christ and findeth him and holdeth him in the Virgins wombe in the manger in the garden vpon the crosse in the graue in his Resurrection and ascension to heauen and in his now sitting at the right hand of God making intercession for vs. Euery where faith embraceth him and in euery of these seeth him to bee ours as hauing vndertaken and atchieued al these things for our sakes CON. 55. For a speciall aptnesse in faith hath God appointed it to be the instrument for applying vnto vs the whole benefit of Christ. EXPLA. The will and ordinance of God doth not without cause appoint one cōdition when as well it might appoint another neither appointed any thing to bee done which is not more fitly to be done that way that he appointed then any other way But beside this our iustification is by faith that it may be by grace for faith is the fittest meanes to set forth the grace of God Secondly that the promise might be sure to all the seede for no otherwise can we rest assured of the promise of God but as it is of Grace who in our workes can finde nothing to assure our selues Thirdly faith is specially appointed to exclude boasting that no man should glory in his own doings but that God should haue the glory of mans saluation CON. 56. That man cannot haue fellowship with Christ by iustification who by sanctification also hath no fellowship with him EXPLA. Doe not thinke that hee that hath such a faith as whereby being iustified hee hath to reioyce with God can together therewith haue vnrighteousnes for if he that beleeueth that Iesus is Christ is borne of God and he that is borne of God sinneth not and if he doe sinne that is giue himselfe to sin it is certaine that he beleeueth not certaine it is that hee that truely beleeueth doth work the work of faith and righteousnesse and all goodnesse The root of all is faith by which alone we are iustified and so the barre of sinne is taken away that before diuided betwixt God vs that so the sanctifying Spirit of God may haue accesse vnto vs to work in vs the good work of God so to prepare vs to that inheritance to the hope whereof hee hath called vs. The theefe in his short time being vpon the crosse had with his faith many good workes the feare of God hope repentance confession of sins loue towards God and his neighbour in reprehending his fellowes blasphemies and defending of Christs innocency The good workes of the godly are glorious and acceptable in Gods sight for Christs sake being done in his name and offered vpon the Altar of faith in him the imperfection thereof is accidentall taketh not away the nature of a good worke but maketh it an vnperfect good worke which imperfection notwithstanding were sufficient to make the worke to be reiected if in rigour and extremity God shuld weigh the same which hee doth not but mercifully pardoneth it for Christs sake CON. 57. The righteousnesse wherby we are to be iustified before God admitteth no encrease as sanctification doth EXPLA. It admitteth no encrease because it must bee perfect and the righteousnesse of Christ is alwayes vniforme and alike if any thing bee taken from it it is not perfect and if it be not perfect it cannot iustifie before God but to the first grace of sanctification and all the succeeding increase thereof is of grace for God to the thankfull receiuing and vsing of his gifts doth adde greater measure thereof for to him that hath shall bee giuen yet that which is added is grace for grace and the rendring of one gift for another gift God giuing occasion himselfe by one gift of the bestowing of another as he giueth faith and to faith that which we beleeue as he giueth vs to pray and so praier giueth that for which wee pray so in all the rest hee giueth grace and giueth to vse wel the grace he hath giuen and to the wel vsing thereof hee giueth also further measure increase of grace that both in the gift in the increase al praise glory may redound to him The meanes in vs whereby this increase is wrought is faith which as it first receiueth the spirit so receiueth also the increase of it whilest by the growth thereof we grow more into Christ and thereby more more partakers of his life By imputation of the merits and obedience of Christ a man is a righteous the first day of his conuersion as hee is in the end of his life howsoeuer as touching sanctification and inherent righteousnesse he grow much and therein be renued from day to day in putting off the old man and putting on the new and stil cleansing from all defilement of the flesh and of the spirit finish his sanctification in the feare of God for euery one that beareth fruit in me my Father purgeth that hee may bring forth more fruit We must then grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ not as though I had already attained or were already perfect but one thing I doe I forget that which is behinde and endeuour my selfe to that which is before and follow hard toward the marke the price of redemption in the shedding of the blood of Christ one and alike to all and euery faithfull man but yet it is not alike apprehended by euery one There is perfect righteousnesse required of vs and the same is yeelded vnto vs in Christ there may be a difference in vs but Christ cannot be diuided neither is there in him any difference from himself where hee goeth hee goeth whole and therfore what he is to the strōg the same he is to the faint and feeble soule there is greater and lesse assurance but the matter whereof each doth take assurance is the whole mercy of God in Christ. CON. 58. When we teach Christ alone wee exclude not our faith vnto iustification or Christ excluding our owne works vnto sanctification for charity is inseparably with faith in the man that is iustified EXPLA. Faith is the onely hand which putteth on Christ vnto iustification and Christ the only garment which being so put on couereth the shame of our defiled natures hideth the imperfections of our workes preserueth vs blamelesse in the sight of God before whom otherwise the weakenesse of our faith were cause sufficient to make vs culpable yea to shut vs out from the Kingdome of heauen whither nothing that is not absolute can enter so Christ without any associate finished all the parts of redemption