and redeemed it promiseth the grace of sanctification by the spirit whereby they are inabled in some measure to worship God in honesse and righteousnesse Wee doe also confesse that a greater measure of knowledge and obedience is required of the faithfull vnder the Gospell then was vnder the Law because to whom more is given of them more is required and the greater benefit requireth the greater duties of thankfulnesse But when the question is of the matter of our iustification and merit of our salvation whereby wee being sinners and lost in our selues should bee iustified before God and entituled vnto the kingdome of heauen what that is whereby we are absolued from our sinnes and accepted as righteous and as heires of eternall life what that is which will stand in iudgement before God and which wee may trust vnto when we appeare before the iudgemens seat of God why the sentence of condemnation should not bee pronounced againstvs what that is whereby wee are reâ—eemed from death and reconciled vnto God or as the Scripture vttereth the same thing in other tearmes whereby we haue remission of sinnes it is most plaine that the doctrine of the Gospell placeth the whole matter of iustification and merit of salvation in the righteousnesse and obedience of Christ alone by whose blood as the Apostle speaketh and by whose obedience wee are iustified As for that righteousnesse which is inherent in our selues though infused of God and that obedience which is performed by our selues though proceeding from grace the Gospell teacheth vs in the question of iustification to esteeme it as drosse and dung yea as losse that we may gaine Christ and may bee found in him not hauing our own righteousnesse which is prescribed in the law but that which is through the law of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God through faith This therefore is the liberty which we haue by the grace of iustification that we are freed from that miserable bondage of the law which exacteth an obedience and righteousnesse inherent vnto iustification which no man is able to performe and therefore holdeth men in 〈◊〉 to damnation engendring with Agar as the Apostle speaketh none but servants which shall not inherit with the children of the free woman that is who are begotteÌ„ by the Gospell to be the heires of that righteousnesse which is by faith And thus much of the liberty of iustification as it is an immunity For as it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or right it also containeth many notable priviledges First that we are not only freed from the guilt of sinne but also are accepted pronounced iust by imputation of Christs both passiue and actiue obedience made rihgteous which immediately followes vpon the former so that by our iustification we are not only made not guiltie but also stand righteous before God and that by the righteousnesse of Christ. Secondly what we are not only freed from the curse of the law but also are made paâ—takers of the blessednesse promised to Abraham viz. that in hâ—s seed which is Christ the faithfull of all nations should be blessed But this will best appeare in the particulars for the faithfull are not onely freed from the euils of this life whether corporall or spirituall as they be curses but they are all turned into blessings vnto them For this is the priviledge of the faithfull that the Lord causeth all things whether good or bad To worke together for the good of those that doe loue him In which sense Dauid saith that all things succeede well with the righteous man As for afflictons he both professeth in particular of himselfe that it was good for him that he had beene afflicted and also in generall pronounceth the man blessed whom the Lord doth chastise and teach in his law Againe corporall death is not only no losse to the faithfull but also an advantage because in it they change a sinfull and mortall life for a life blessed and immortall It is not only no curse but also a blessing for it is not only the end of sinne and miserie but the beginning of perfect and everlasting happinesse wherevpon the holy Ghost pronounceth them all Blessed that die in the Lord. Neither are the faithfull only freed fom feare of damnation but also are put in assurance of euerlasting life being saued in hope which is the cheife happinesse that can be enioyed in this life Thirdly we are not only freed from the sentence of the law exacting of vs perfect obedience vnto iustification but we haue also liberty to plead the righteousnesse propounded in the couenant of grace and to appeale from the sentence of the law to the promise of the Gospell from the tribunall of iustice to the thâ— one of grace and in the question of iustification not at all to regarde our owne obedience but wholly to rest vpon the mercies of God and merits of Christ our Sauiour Vpon this liberty of iustification follow other priuiledges For first whereas by nature we are the children of wrath now being iustified by faith we haue peace with God through our Lorâ— Iâ—sus Christ who hath reconciled vs to 2 Whereas sinne maketh a separation betweene God and vs so that naturally we shunne the presence of God as of a seuere Iudge being iustified by the righteousnesse of Christ we also haue free accesse vnto God by faith and haue liberty with boldnesse and assurance that we shall be heard to make our requests to God in the name of Christ. 3 Vpon our iustification by faith we are endued with the spirit of adoption which assureth vs of Gods fatherly loue towards vs teaching vs to crie in our hearts Abba Father by which being the earnest of our inheritance we are sealed vp vnto the day of our full redemption 4 With the hope of salvation which is a companion of iustifying faith a consequent of iustification whereby we liue in expectation of euerlasting happinesse 5 With ioy in the holy Ghost which Peter calleth ioy vnspeakable and glorious For the Apostle denying that the liberty of Christians doth cheifly stand in meat and drinke and in the free vse of outward things sheweth also wherein it principally doth consist For the kingdom of God saith he is not meat and drinke but righteousnesse which is the priuiledge of iustification it selfe and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost which are consequents of the former Lastly with perseuerance For as the Sonne abideth in the house for euer being safely kept by the power of God through faith vnto saluation For if sonnes then heires heires of God and coheires with Christ c Now I come to the liberty which we haue in our sanctification and so farre forth as we are sanctified Now our sanctification in this life being but in part so is this liberty which as it is an immunity
the worst No man is so wicked that hee is addicted to all kind of vices for there is an Antipathy betwixt some vices But remember that Christ saith Except your righteousnes exceede the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees yee shall in no case enter into the Kingdome of Heauen Consider with your selues how far you come short of the Pharisees in fasting praying frequenting the Church and in giuing of Almes Thinke with your selues how many Pagans who neuer knew Baptisme yet in morall vertues and honesty of life doe goe far beyond you Where is then the life of Christ your Master and how far are you from being true Christians A true Christian must haue respect to walke in the truth of his heart in all the commandements of God alike for hee that shall offend in one point of the law is guilty of all And Peter bids vs Lay aside not some but all malice guile and hypocrisies One sinne is enough to damne a mans soule vvithout Repenâ—â—â—ce dreame not to goe to Heauen by any nearer or easier way then Christ hath trained vs in this world The way to Heauen is not easie or common but streight and narrow yea so narrow that Christ protesteth that a rich man shall hardly enter into the Kingdome of Heauen and that those who enter are but few and that those few cannot get in but by striuing and that some of those who striue to enter in shall not be able This all Gods Saints whilst they here liued knew well when with so often fasting so earnest prayers so frequent hearing the word and receiuing the Sacraments and with such abundance of teares they deuoutly beg'd at the hands of God for Christs sake to be receiued into his Kingdome O then trie your spirits whether they are of God deceiue not your selues by diffidence despaire or too much fidelity dote not too much vpon these wodden cottages these houses of moulding clay which are but the tents of vngodlinesse the receptacle habitation of sinners but looke rather and long for this Heauenly citty whose builder and maker is God which he who is not ashamed to be called our God hath prepared for you By all these things which haue beene deliuered to you you may easily perceiue how destitute naked mankind is of all good things and how he wanteth all helps of saluation Wherefore if he seeke for releifes whereby he may succour his necessity hee must goe out of himselfe and repaire to the fulnesse of riches laid vp in Christ. This is afterward declared to vs that the Lord of his owne free will and liberality doth giue himselfe to vs in Christ in whom he offereth vs instead of our misery felicity instead of our need wealthinesse in whom hee openeth to vs all heauenly and celestiall treasures that ouâ— whole Faith should behold his beloued sonne and so bee filled with all manner of diuine pleasures at his right hand and drink out of the riuers of pleasures that vpon him our whole expectation should hang in him our whole hope should rest This verily is the secret and hidden Philosophie which cannot bee wrung out with Logicall arguments but they learne it whose eyes God hath opened that they may see light in his light But since wee are taught by faith to acknowledge that whatsoeuer wee haue neede of whatsoeuer is wanting in vs the same is plentifully in God and in our Lord Iesus Christ namely in whom the Lord willed the whole fulnesse of his largenesse to rest that from thence wee should all draw as out of a most plentifull fountaine now it remaineth that wee seeke in him and with prayers craue of him that which we haue learned to be in him Otherwise to know God to bee the Lord and giuer of all good things which allureth vs to pray to him and not to goe to him and pray to him should as little profit vs as if a man should neglect a treasure shewed him buried and digged in the ground Therefore the Apostle to shew that true Faith cannot bee idle from calling vpon God hath set this order that as of the Gospell springeth Faith so by it our hearts are framed to call vpon the name of God And this is the same thing which hee had a little before said that the spirit of Adoption which sealeth in our hearts the witnesse of the Gospell raiseth vp our spirits that they dare shew forth their desires to God and stirre vp vnspeakable groanings and crie with confidence Abba Father It is meete therefore that this last point because it was before but onely spoken of by the way and as it were lightly touched should now bee more largely treated of Wherein I will briefly shew you some particular and especiall commodities which the faithfull by constant feruent and earnest prayer attaine at the hands of the Almighty This we get by the benefit of prayer that wee attaine to those riches with are laid vp for vs with the heauenly Father For there is a certaine communicating of men with God whereby they entring into the sanctuary of God doe in his owne presence call to him touching his promise that the same thing which they beleeued him affirming onely in word not to bee vaine they may when needâ— so requireth find in experience Therefore wee see that there is no thing set forth to vs to bee looked for at the hand of the Lord which wee are not commanded to craue with prayers for true it is that by prayers are digged vp the treasures which our faith hath looked vpon being shewed to it by the Gospell of the Lord. By prayer wee are enriched with all the graces of the Almighty and in our distresses and calamities both quieted and releiued what blessing soeuer wee would haue or from what plague trouble or necessity soeuer bee deliuered we may procure from God by faithfull prayer By prayer we doe as by the hand of Faith violently seize and take possession of Heauen for our inheritance make our selues free Citizens of the heauenly Ierusalem where all the elect shall enioy these excellent prerogatiues 1. They shall bee all Kings and Priests Spirituall Kings to raigne with Christ and to triumph ouer Sathan the world and Reprobates and spirituall Priests to offer vnto God the spirituall Sacrifice of Prayse and Thankesgiuings for euermore And therefore they are said to weare both Crownes and Roabes Oh what a comfort is this to poore Parents that haue many Children if they breed them vp in the feare of God to be true Christians then are they parents to so many kings Priests 2. Their bodies shall shine as the brightnesse of the Sunne in the firmament like the glorious body of Christ which shined brighter then the Sunne at Noone when it appeared to Paul Act. 12. 6. A glimpse of which glorious brightnesse appeared in the bodyes of Moses and Elias tranfigured with our
in the Scripture is called sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the spirit of bondage and sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the spirit of feare from which we are delivered when wee receiue the spirit of adoption and sanctification whereby wee are enabled to worship God in holinesse righteousnesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without servile feare according to the covenant of grace made with Abraham Luk. I. And in this sense it is said that the Law is not imposed on the iust to whom being as it were a law vnto themselues willingly performing that which is right the terror and coaction of the Law so far foâ—â—◠〈◊〉 they are regenerate is needlesse Thirdly as we are freed from the coaction and terror of the Law so also from the exaction and rigour of the Law which they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which though it be a liberty of sanctification and appertaining to our new obedience yet it dependeth on the liberty of iustification For as there we were freed from the Lawes exaction of inherent righteousnesse to the acceptation of our persons so heere we are freed from the lawes exaction of perfect obedience to the acceptation of our actions So that whereas the law condemneth every the least imperfection or defect not agreeing with that perfection of iustice which it prescribeth as a sin or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and pronounceth the party in whom that defect or imperfection is accursed notwithstanding the new obedience of Gods children wrought in them by the spirit of God and performed according to the measure of grace received though defectiue in it selfe and stained with the flesh is accepted of God who covereth their imperfections with the perfect obedience of Christ and not so much respecteth the perfection of the outward act which hee doth not expect from such weaknesse as the integrity of the heart the vprightnesse of the will and desire the sincerity of the indevour which if it bee not wanting the Lord accepteth the will for the deede and true endeavour striuing towards perfection for the perfect performance In which respect the Lord according to his gratious promise vseth clemency towards vs as a tender father vseth clemency towards his sonne taking in good part the childish endeavour of his children proceeding from an vnfained desire to please him But our liberty in sanctification is not only an immunity but also an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or right consisting of great priviledges For first wee are not only freed in part from the corruption of sinne which we call mortification but are also positiuely made righteous being as the Apostle Peter speaketh made partakers of the divine nature in that flying from the corruption which is in the world by lust we are renued according to the image of God in holinesse and righteousnesse For as the sacred oyle being powred on the head of Aron who was a type of Christ distilled vnto his lower parts so the oyle of grace wherewith Christ our head was annointed without measure is derived even to his inferiour members here on earth who are also therewith annointed receiuing of his fulnesse even grace for grace Neither are we only freed from the servitude of sin Satan and the world but in Christ our King who hath overcome the world and triumphed over sinne and Satan wee are also made Kings with assurance to bee coâ—querers of all the enemies of our salvation And as touching the Law we are not only freed from the irritation thereof wherevnto our owne corruption did make vs subâ—ect as vnto a husband who begot foule issue of vs tending to death and so left at large but we are also ioyned to another husband which is Christ by his Spirit whereby he produceth in vs the fruits of the spirit to the glory of God Neither doth the law only cease to provoke vs vnto sinne but when we are once sanctified it becommeth as David speaketh a counsellour vnto vs and a directour vnto good things Neither are we freed only from the spirit of bondage and feare but are also indued with the spirit of liberty and grace the spirit of adoption the spirit of power and of loue and of sobriety which spirit hauing shed abroad the loue of God in our hearts testifying vnto vs our adoption and as an earnest assuring vs of our inheritance and enflaming our hearts with a reciprocall loue of God and of our neighbour for his sake we begin to delight in the law of God as concerning the inner man neither are the commandements of God grievous vnto vs we begin to serue the Lord not only without feare but also with willing mindes and vpright hearts For those who are redeemed sanctified by Christ are 〈…〉 a people of willingnesse a people peculiar to himselfe zealous of good workes And lastly concerning the rigour of the Law we haue not only this immunity that the imperfections of our sincere obedience are not imputed to vs but also this priviledge that our imperfect obedience which in it selfe is worthy to bee reiected notwithstanding is both accepted of God and rewarded For Christ hauing washed vs with his blood and sanctified vs by his spirit hath made vs both kings as I said before also Priests or as Peter speaketh a royall and holy Priest hood to offer spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God by Iesus Christ the sacrifice of obedience whereby we offer our selues as a liuely holy and acceptable sacrifice vnto God which is our reasonable service the sacrifice of almes whereby wee offer our goods with which sacrifices God is well pleased the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart which is to God in stead of all sacrifices the sacrifice of prayer which is accepted as incense as the euening sacrifice the sacrifice of praise that is the fruit or as Hosea speaketh the calues of our lips which the Lord preferreth before the sacrifices of goats and bulles all which though in themselues defectiue and imperfect are notwithstanding acceptable vnto God through the mediation of Christ who making intercession for vs perâ—umeth all these sacrifices of ours with the odours of his owne sacrifice that so they may bee acceptable and sweet smelling favours vnto God Neither are they only accepted but also rewarded For our obedience our confidence our patience our praiâ—er fasting almes and charitable deeds haue their rewards in so much that a cup of cold water giuen in charity shall not lose his reward In respect whereof we may well say with Dauid vnto thee Lord mercy for thou rewardest a man according to his worke Which plainly proueth that the reward of our obedience is not to be ascribed to the merit of our works which in themselues cannot stant in iudgement but to the mercies of God in Christ.