haue beleeued wee are sealed by the holie spirit of promise which is the earnest penie of our inheritance Ephe. 1.13 vntill the redemption of the possession purchased to the praise of his glorie First he sheweth there that faith is as it were the seale whereby the Holie ghost imprinteth in our hearts for our assurance that wee are the children of God Furthermore as in a thing that is bought there is somtimes giuen an earnest penie to wit some part of the monie agreed on as well for the beginning of the paimēt as by consequent for the assurance that the bargaine shall be held firme so the holie ghost who by faith ingēdreth peace and ioye in the hearts of the faithfull is the earnest penie assuring vs by this beginning of the spirituall blessings which God promiseth to his children that he holdeth vs for his possession purchased to the praise of his glorie and that at the length he will gather vs into the full inioying of the inheritāce of heauen Hereunto it is also that goodly gradatiō leadeth vs which is proposed of the same Apostle Rom. 8.28 saying Those whō God hath before knowne those hee hath also predestinate to be made like vnto the image of Iesus Christ and those whō he hath predestinate he hath also called and those whom he hath called he hath also iustified and those whō he hath iustified those he hath also glorified For all will confesse that those that are elected and predestinated to be made like vnto the image of Iesus Christ are the children of God as also they who in his eternall counsel and decree are glorified Now they who being lightened with the knowledge of the Gospell beleeue that their sinnes are washed away by the bloud of Iesus Christ through his satisfaction and so are called and iustified are elected and glorified before God as S. Paule teacheth here it followeth then that they are the children of God And this is so certaine that the Apostle opposing the will power of GOD against all impediments addeth If GOD bee on our side who shall bee against vs Rom 8.30 Bern. ser 5. in dedica templi S Bernard teacheth the selfe same thing verie aptlie saying we are certain of the power of God to saue vs but what shall we say of his will who is he that knoweth whether he bee worthie of hate or of loue who is he that hath knowne the will of the Lord or who hath bin his counseller It behoueth that herein faith helpe vs and that trueth succour vs. That that which is hid concerning vs in the heart of the father may bee reuealed vnto vs by the spirit and his spirit testifying vnto vs may perswade vs that wee are the childrē of God that he perswade it vs I say in calling and iustifying vs freelie by faith which is as it were a meane or passage from the predestination of GOD to the glorie of the life euerlasting The same thing is it which S Augustine meaneth saying Aug Hom. in Ioan. 35. Wee are come into the way of faith let vs hold it constantlie it shall leade vs from degree to degree euen vnto the chamber of the heauenlie King where all the treasures of knowledge and wisedome beeing hid wee may learne and behold the reuelation of our election From hence proceedeth yet another fruite seruing vs for a marke to assure vs more more that we are the children of God when we loue God and our neighbours for his sake whereof also followeth the hatred of euill and an earnest desite to render obedience to God For if it be so as Saint Iohn saith 1. Ioh. 4.19 that our loue to God commeth of this that he hath first loued vs The loue that we beare vnto him is a testimonie that he loueth vs. As also Iesus Christ maintaineth and sheweth that by the signes of loue Luk. 7.47 which the sinful woman gaue him God loued her greatly and had forgiuen her manie sinnes So the brightnes of the Moone is a certaine argument that the Sunne ministreth whollie to her for otherwise she hath no brightnes at all And in sommer the heate that is felt in the stones set against the Sunne is a signe that the Sunne shineth vppon them Of our owne nature and first generation we are vnprofitable to all goodnes and inclined to al euill Rom. 3.10 as Saint Paule very largelie setteth forth vnto vs writing to the Romanes If then on the contrarie wee walke in the feare God giuing our selues to his seruice and occupying our selues in all good works is not such a chaunge a testimonie of our regeneration and consequentlie of our adoption The tree is knowne by his fruit saith Iesus Christ Matt 7.17 If then wee beare the fruit of iustice holines and of charitie wee are trees planted in the garden of God by his holie spirit and so consequentlie the childen of God Charitie saith Saint Iohn 1. Ioh. 4.7 is of God and he that loueth is borne of God and knoweth God As then the heate and light of a coale is a signe that it hath fire and as the moouing and actions of the bodie are certaine signes that it liueth that the soule is within it so the testimonie of the holie ghost in our hearts the peace quietnes of our consciences before GOD feeling our selues iustified by faith this loue towards God and our neighbour this chaunge of our life and desire to walke in the feare and obedience of God are assured tokens of our adoption as also this that we are members of the Church of Christ hearing his word participating with the holie Sacraments and calling vppon God in the name of Iesus Christ are testimonies that wee are the children and houshold seruants of God and heires of eternall life How euerie member of the Church ought to applie vnto himselfe the tokens of it to assure himselfe of his adoption and saluation CAP. 3. NOw although the tokens before mentioned are certaine to assure vs that wee are the children of God yet there are two sorts of temptations which aboue all other tend to shake vs. The one proceedeth of our selues either for lacke of applying to our selues the testimonies which God giueth to the members of his Church to assure them of their saluation or through the feeling of a want as wee thinke but rather of the smalnes or weaknes of those tokens of adoption here aboue alledged The other temptation commeth vnto vs frō some other where and cōsisteth speciallie in two points To wit in the reuolt of some hauing made profession of the true religion and in the grieuous and long afflictions which are ordinarie to those that followe the doctrine of the Gospell Now as there is nothing of greater importance than the saluation of the soule so there is nothing that doth more grieuouslie afflict and trouble the tender consciences desirous of eternall life than the doubts feares not to
by their incredulitie the grace which GOD offereth them should their incredulitie make thee call in doubt the trueth of God and the testimonie of his good will towards thee If some few among these banished not trusting the pardon published by a true and faithfull Prince doo him this dishonor to compt him as a deceiuer or lier acknowledge thou that iustlie and by good right they remaine banished But thou seeing that faithfull Prince Iesus Christ hath sent to pronounce vnto thee a generall pardon and namelie hath giuen thee his letters sealed by the Sacraments commaunding thee to beleeue and promising thee that it shall bee vnto thee according to thy faith Assure thy selfe Matt. 9.29 that his will is that thou shouldest be his child and heire of euerlasting life See how euerie one should assure himselfe by the preaching of the Gospell and the vse of the Sacraments the true markes of the Church that being a member of it he is the child of God and consequentlie an inheritour of his euerlasting kingdome True it is that faith is the gift of GOD yea proceeding from the operation of the mightie power of his strength Phili. 1.29 Ephe. 1.19 as S. Paule speaketh And this is it which he maketh vs to feele in this difficultie of apprehēding by an assured faith so manie so cleare and so certaine testimonies of his good will towards vs touching our adoption It is therefore needfull that he worke farther with vs by his holie spirit which without ceasing asking of him in the name of Iesus Christ we are assured by his promise that he will giue vs and that so ioyning with the power and efficacie of his spirit the preaching of his Gospell and the vse of the Sacraments he will giue vs grace to applie vnto our selues by a true and liuelie faith the testimonies which he hath giuen vs of our adoption to our saluation and euerlasting life How although the markes of our adoption bee in vs but small and feeble yet wee ought and may assure our selues that we are the children of God CAP. 4. I See well will some say that I haue iust matter to beleeue it therefore am I the more sory that I feele not faith in my self to assure me without doubt that I am the child of GOD which thing troubleth mee greatly so as I feare least by this mine incredulitie I reiect the grace of God But vnderstand I pray thee for thy comfort that there is great difference betweene vnfaithfulnes and weaknes of faith The vnfaithfull man or infidell careth not for his saluation or The first temptation proceeding of the small feeling of our faith reiecting the saluation which is in Iesus Christ alone seeketh saluation other where Contrariwise the faithful desire saluation he knoweth that his saluation is in Iesus Christ alone he seeketh it in him and feeleth a desire to increase in assurance that he hath saluatiō in Iesus Christ though he doo not yet feele this peace ioy in the holie Ghost so manifestlie as faith bringeth it forth at the last Also it is not written he that feeleth but hee that beleeueth hath euerlasting life Iho. 3.36 Heb. 11.1 Rom. 8.23 And indeed as faith is of things that are not seene so the vnderstanding of it consisteth more in certaintie than in apprehensiō In this complaint of Dauid yea and of Christ himselfe My God my God why hast thou forsakē me Psal 22.1 Mat. 27.46 We heare the testimonie of faith by these wordes my God my God but without apprehēsion or feeling of fauour or ioy as this complaint why hast thou forsakē me sheweth Also our faith may bee so small and weake as it doth not yet bring forth fruites that may be liuelie felt of vs. But if such as feele themselues in such estate desire to haue these feelings if they aske them of God by praier This desire and praier are testimonies that the spirit of God is in them and that they haue faith alreadie For is such a desire a fruite of the flesh or of the spirit It is of the holie spirit who bringeth it forth onlie in such as he dwelleth in He dwelleth then in them In like manner is not this praier the worke of the holy ghost in thē For it is the holy ghost saith S. Paule which praieth for vs Rom. 8.25 and in vs with grones that cannot be expressed Againe none can come to God by praiers if he haue no trust in him Then these holie desires and praiers being the motions of the holie ghost in vs are testimonies of our faith although they seeme to vs small and weake As the woman that feeleth the mooning of a child in her wombe though verie weake beleeueth and assureth her selfe that she is with child and that she goeth with a liue child so if we haue these motiōs these holie affections and desires before mentioned let vs not doubt but that wee haue the holie ghost who is the author of them dwelling in vs and consequentlie that wee haue also faith And we must vnderstand that the faith of the children of God ceaseth not to bee a true faith although they feele doubts feares mistrusts For if they delight not in such infirmities Rom. 7. to nourish them but are sorrowfull and resist them with desire to feele their saluation in Iesus Christ behold a battaile in them and betweene whom Betweene the spirit and the flesh betweene faith and mistrust There is then in them faith assailed with doubts and the spirit fighting against mistrust and labouring to ouercome it These doubts mistrustings and incredulities are the fierie darts which Satan throweth against our faith the which bearing the blowes as a buckler as S. Paule saith thrusteth them back and quencheth them so as they pearce not to the heart Eph. 6.16 What deuises or assaults soeuer the diuel make against vs faith S. Augustine so he occupie not the place of the heart where faith dwelleth he is driuen backe Incredulitie then assaulteth vs without but woundeth vs not deadlie It troubleth onlie or so woundeth as the stroake is yet curable And such temptations and assaults are common to the most faithfull excellent seruants of God If wee consider the continuall course of the life of Dauid there is no mirrour of faith better to bee noted than in him And yet was not he assaulted with great feares and doubts What cōplaint maketh he in the 77. Psalm Hath the Lord forsaken for euer Psal 77.8 9 10 11 vers will he no more shewe me fauour Is his mercie cleane gone for euer Is his promise come to an ende for euermore Hath God forgotten to bee gracious Hath he shut vp his louing kindnes in displeasure And to conclude he holdeth such a course as a man desperate saying This is my death Where was then in Dauid the feeling of his faith For al this he had not lost it And indeed all these words were
Spirit and there is no condēnation to thee as is saide If thou delight as touching the inward man in the obedience of the commaundements of GOD hee accepteth thee for holie and iust receiuing this desire to obey him for an obedience acceptable vnto him He accepteth his owne worke in thee and pardoneth thee thine Continue in this holie desire fighting against the flesh and the world strengthening thy self by feruent praier to the Lord. And behold the certaine testimonies of thine adoption But thou wilt say 3. Temptation because the seeling of the fruit of our prayers is so long deferred because of the weakenesse of them I haue of long time asked of God and do daylie aske his holie Spirite the encrease of faith and grace to be obedient vnto him yet I feele no manner of fruite of my prayers If GOD loued me and accounted mee for his childe woulde hee not heare mee It is the same complaint that in old time past Dauid made saying I am wearie of crying my throat is hoarse mine eies are failed Psa 6◠4 while I wait on my God And in another place My God I crie by day Psa 22 2 and thou answerest not and by night and I haue no rest Now in saying he had no rest he sheweth that he did continue in prayer Also Iesus Christ exhorteth vs to this diligence by the example or similitude of the importunate widdow Luke 18.1 crying still vpon the wicked Iudge to do hir right and at the last obtaining by her importunacie And besides that hee waketh vs vp saying Heare what the wicked Iudge saieth Because shee troubleth mee I will doe her iustice And God which is your Father and Sauiour who is iust and loueth righteousnesse Psal 11.7 shall not hee heare the crie of his children crying vnto him night and day Verely I saie vnto you Luke 11.5 that hee will doe it and that quickely Hee that went by night to his neighbor to borow bread continuing still his request though the other alleadged many excuses yet at the length he obtained what he would Continue then in praying to GOD without discouragement This perseuerance in prayer is an euident and vehement testimonie of thy faith For that is not founde but in the children of God guided by his Spirite especially seeing thou askest the holie Ghost Luk. 11.13 whom Iesus Christ promised thee thou askest that which by his promise is due vnto thee without doubt he will giue it thee And seeing thou askest the increase of faith and grace to obey him thou askest that which he commandeth thee to haue and so that which he liketh and is pleased withall Be then assured that thou shalt be heard Beholde sayth Saint John Iohn 5.14 the confidence that wee haue with GOD that if wee aske anie thing according vnto his wil he heareth vs. And if wee know that he heareth vs whatsoeuer we aske wee knowe wee shall obtaine the requests that we haue asked His promises can not faile nor deceiue Yea bee thou certaine that before thou hast ended thy prayer hee hath heard thee as Esay saith Esa 65.24 For our God is a God that heareth prayers sayth Dauid But thou owest him this honour to submit thy selfe to his wisedome as touching the time of feeling or receiuing the fruite of thy prayers If Iesus Christ had healed the daughter of the Cananite at the first petition Mat. 15.22 her Faith had not beene so kindled in her nor so commended in the Church vnto the ende of the worlde The fruites of all trees are not ripe in one daie In some they doe ripen sooner and men waite patiently for the other which ripen in the latter season Luke 1.13 Zacharie and Elizabeth thought that they had prayed in vaine asking of GOD posteritie in their youth And when they were olde and without all hope for to obtaine it the Angell of the Lorde saide vnto Zacharie Thy prayer is heard not that prayer which hee made then for he thought not nowe to haue issue but the prayer which hee made long time before That which is more doe wee not aske of GOD manie graces the which wee knowe well that wee obtaine either in part or in hope onelie the enioying or full accompliss ment whereof is deferred either vntill death or euen vntill the day of the resurrection In the Prayer of all Prayers taught by Iesus Christ wee do aske of GOD that his name may be sanctified Matth. 6.9 his Kingdome may come his will may bee doone in Earth as it is in Heauen And when shall wee see the full accomplished effect of this prayer but in Heauen when Christ hauing gruen vp his kingdome to GOD his father wee shall loue him perfectlie and praise him euerlastinglie Furthermore he oftentimes heareth vs so as Saint Augustine saith not according vnto our will but as is most for our profite giuing vs better thinges than those that wee expresselie aske The Iewes desired the comming of the Messias and asked it of God He deferred it of long time at the last hee sent him but not such a one as al as it were and the Apostles themselues looked for Act. 4.6 to wete victorious in battaile as Dauid to deliuer them from the yoake of the Romans triumphing in riches worldlie glorie as Salomon but such a Messias as obtaining victorie against the diuell death and sinne hath established a spirituall kingdome in euerlasting life and glorie Iesus Christ feeling and apprehending the terrible gulphes of the fearful wrath of God vpon him for our sinnes Mat. 26.39 prayed with strong cries teares to God his Father that he might not enter into the deepe pit of death The Apostle to the Hebrewes saith Heb. 5 7. that he was heard and yet notwithstanding he entred and dranke the Cup of the wrath and of death which the Father had giuē him But he was heard saith the same Apostle as touching that which in making his praier he fered to wit frō being swallowed of death In like manner S. Paul praieth to God oftentimes that he 2. Cor. 12. would deliuer him from the Angell of Sathan that buffeted him but GOD much better as he himselfe confesseth gaue him to vnderstand that the power of God was made perfect in his infirmity so as he protesteth as it were enioying the frute of his praiers thogh otherwise than he thoght that from that time forth he would reioice in his infirmities woulde take delight in them forasmuch as being weake in himselfe he was strong in God So wee will demaund manie times commodities concerning this life as health goods parents friends or our country and God depriuing vs of them giueth vs spirituall graces patience faith contentment in God and other like yea and our prayer tending onely vnto the preseruation and enioying such commodities appertaining vnto this life alone GOD contrariwise depriueth vs of them to keepe them
OF The markes of the children of God and of their comforts in afflictions To the faithfull of the Low Countrie By Iohn Taffin Ouerseene againe and augmented by the Author and translated out of French by Anne Prowse Rom 8.16 The spirit beareth witnes to our spirit that we are the sonnes of God If we be sonnes then are we also heires the heires of God and ioynt heires with Christ so that we suffer together that we also may be glorified together AT LONDON Printed by Thomas Orwin for Thomas Man 1590. To the right Honorable and vertuous Ladie The Countesse of War wicke FOrasmuch as it hath pleased almightie God of his infinite goodnesse to giue vnto the glorious Gospell of his eternall sonne so long prosperous successe in this our Countrie it is now time right Honorable and my verie good Ladie for euerie one that is a true professor of the same all carnall perswasions of humane reason deluding the soule being set aside to prepare our selues to the day of trial For although it pleaseth God sometimes for the gathering of his Church to giue vnto it as it were Halcyon daies yet common it is not that it should any long time continue in rest and pleasure Nay by the word of GOD wee know by experience sometimes of our selues her Maiesties royall person not excepted and now of our neighbours round about vs we see that the Church of God in this world as it euer hath bin so must it euer be vnder the crosse And therefore if wee will bee compted of the Church indeede and glorie in that excellent name of a Christian let vs knowe assuredlie that vnto vs euen vnto vs that haue so long liued in rest and pleasure if wee be the children of God in some sort and measure a triall must come For if God chastise euerie sonne whom he receiueth and euery member of Christes body must be fashioned like vnto the head if the afflictions of this world are manifest tokens to the children of God of his fauour and loue towards them and sure pledges of their adoptiō how can we looke or how can we desire to bee exempted from this common condition of God his owne children and household To this end therefore right Honorable Ladie I haue translated this little booke first to admonish some who for lacke of experience neuer feeling other daies than these full of peace and quietnes that they learne to applie vnto themselues whatsoeuer they heare or reade of the triall of GOD his children least falselie imagining it to appertaine either to the times that are past or to other Nations it fall sodainlie vpon them as a theefe in the night they be destitute of all hope and comfort Secondlie to awake others abounding both in knowledge and other graces whom notwithstanding satan by the deceaueable lusts vaine pleasures of this wicked world hath so rockt a sleepe that they seeme almost as they that are diseased with the Lethargie to haue forgottē both themselues their holie calling and profession Last of all to comfort an other sort whome it hath pleased GOD so to presse downe with sorrowes and to exercise with the continuall afflictions and calamities of this mortall life as no times seeming fauourable vnto thē they can scarse receiue the words of any comfort And because your Honor hath been of long time not onlie a professour but also a louer of the trueth whom the Lord exalting to an higher place of dignitie than many other hath set vp as it were a light vpō an high candlesticke to giue light vnto manie I haue especiallie dedicated vnto your Honour this my poore trauaile humblie beseeching the Lord to make it no lesse comfortable to your Honour and to those that shall reade it than it hath been vnto me who haue translated it Euerie one in his calling is bound to doo somewhat to the furtherance of the holie building but because great things by reason of my sex I may not doo and that which I may I ought to doo I haue according to my duetie brought my poore basket of stones to the strengthning of the walles of that Ierusalem whereof by grace wee are all both Citizens and members And now to returne to those whō experience hath not yet taught and whom prosperitie will not suffer to awake I earnestlie beseech them both in the Lord no longer to deceiue themselues with vaine imaginations neither to suffer their hearts so to be tied to earthlie vanities that they should despise or neglect those things that cā truely make them happie indeed When it shall please GOD to open their eyes to discerne betweene heauenlie and earthly betweene things transitorie and things euerlasting I know they will of themselues bee ashamed of this their negligence For what are all the pleasant things of this world which most bewitch the minds of men if they be compared with heauenlie and eternall things If statelie sumptuous buildings do delight what building is so statelie and glorious as newe Ierusalem If riches what so rich as that whose pauemēt is of pure gold whose foundations and walls of precious stones gates of orient pearles If friends kinsfolke and neighbours what Citie so replenished as this where God himselfe in his Maiestie Iesus Christ the head of the Church in his glorie all the holie Angels Patriarchs Prophets Apostles and Martirs do dwel together in happinesse for euer If honor what honor comparable to this to be the seruant and child of so mightie a King and heire of so glorious a kingdome where neither time doth consume nor enuie depriue of honour nor power of aduersarie spoyle of glorie that is endles incōprehensible If then there be no comparison betweene things heauenlie and things that are earthlie and no man can attaine to the things that are heauenlie but by the same way that Christ himselfe attained vnto them which was by the crosse why casting off all impediments that presseth downe doo we not runne on our course with cherefulnes and hope hauing Christ so mightie a King for our Captaine guide who as the Apostle saith for the glorie that was set before him indured the crosse and despising the shame sitteth now at the right hand of the throne of God How slowe and dull of heart are wee if as Esau who for a messe of pottage sold his birthright wee are contented for a small and short pleasure in this wicked world to leese that incomparable and euerlasting glorie which Christ the sonne of GOD with so great a price hath purchased for vs. The Lord giue vs wisedome to vnderstand grace to heare his voice while it is saide to day that when daies and nights times shall cease wee may without time enter into his ioye and rest which neuer shall haue end The Lord euer preserue your Honor and adde vnto a multitude of happie yeares spent in his feare a continuall increase of al spiritual graces to his glorie
and your endles comfort Your Honors in the Lord most humble A.P. To the faithfull of the Low Countrie IT is not without reason right deare and worshipfull bretheren that the Church of Christ is called militant vpon earth and compared as well to a woman in trauaile of child from the beginning of the world as to a ship vpon the sea tossed with tempests and to a field tilled vpon which the plowe is drawne to cut it The present estate of the Church exercised by so manie dissipations assailed so mightelie by continuall warres the mother and nurse of all calamities and afflicted by reuolts by Libertines by people prophane and by so many heretiques is to vs a liuelie mirrour a manifest seale and an example good to be marked Now as the infirmitie of the flesh which dieth not in the verie children of God but at their death taketh from thence and from other matter occasion of temptations most dangerous and many assaults so the bounden duetie affection which I beare towards you driueth me to testifie vnto you the feruent desire which I feele continuallie in my heart of your comfort constancie and perseuerance in the way of saluation For this cause it is that in my voiage frō Germanie I made this little treatise Of the markes of the children of God of their consolations in their afflictions the which being GOD be thanked returned J was willing with the aduise of my brethren and fellowes in the holie Ministerie to put to light dedicate vnto you to the end that reading it you might knowe and feele more and more the incomprehensible grace of GOD towards you by the testimonies of your adoption and the full assurance of the certaintie of it and that in the middest of your so long and heauie afflictions you might bee partakers of the vnspeakable comforts which GOD setteth forth to his children in his word whereby also you feeling your selues truelie happie you maie constantlie perseuer in his holie trueth and obedience of his will aspiring with contētment and ioy of the holie Ghost to the inioying of that kingdome of glorie the right and possession whereof is purchased for you and kept in your head Iesus Christ Finallie J pray God with all my heart to shewe me this fauour that this my little labour may bee acceptable vnto you and that it will please him to blesse it by the efficacie of his holie spirit to your comfort and saluation and to the aduancement of the Kingdome of our Lord Iesus Christ Harlem 15. September 1586. Your humble brother and seruant in Christ Iohn Taffin Minister of the holie Gospell in the French Church at Harlem The matters that are handled in this Treatise 1 OF the great and incomprehensible happines of the life euerlasting promised to the children of God 2 How wee knowe that wee are the children of God 3 How euerie member of the Church ought to applie to himselfe the markes of it to assure himselfe of his adoption and saluation 4 How wee ought may assure our selues that wee are the children of GOD although the markes of our adoption be in vs but small and weake 5 That the Apostacie and reuolt of some who haue made profession of the true religion ought not to cause vs to call in doubt either the doctrine or our adoption 6 That afflictions ought not to make vs doubt of our adoption but rather to confirme vs. 7 That the afflictions which come vnto vs were foretold and therfore they ought to confirme vs in the assurance of our adoption 8 That the children of GOD haue at all times been afflicted and yet beloued of God 9 That the common afflictions of the children of Adam are to the faithfull because of the excellent fruites of them testimonies of their adoption and of the loue of GOD towards them 10 Of the afflictions for Christes sake and of the fruites of them 11 Other fruites of the afflictions for the name of Christ 12 An exhortation to perseuer constantlie in the trueth of the Gospell in the time of persecution not to feare death for man to keepe himselfe from Apostacie and dissimulation To vse the holie Ministerie To walke in the feare of God and to pray vnto him 13 Holie meditations and praiers Of the markes of the children of God and of their consolations in their afflictions To the faithfull of the Low Countrie Of the great and incomprehensible felicitie of the euerlasting life promised to the children of God CAP. 1. SAint Paul hath verie aptlie set forth vnto vs the incomprehensible excellencie of the felicitie of the childrē of GOD saying That the eye hath not seene 1. Cor. 2.9 the eare hath not heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man what things God hath prepared for those that loue him According to this sentence Saint Augustine tending to the same butt saith of the goodnes of grace Aug. Enarrat 2. Psal 26. Tom. 8. Let your hearts goe beyond all that you are able to comprehend and stay not your selues at the greatnes and excellencie of it which you imagine but say yet this is not it for if it were it it could not enter into thy thought and heart This happines then cannot bee comprehended by vs according to the greatnes and excellencie of it so long as wee dwell in these earthlie mansions 2. Cor. 5.1 1. Cor. 13.9 where we knowe God but in part and darkly Notwithstanding seeing the same Apostle addeth that the holie Ghost who searcheth the most deep things of God 1. Cor. 13.12 hath giuen vs some reuelation 1. Cor 2.10 Seeing also he praied to God for the Ephesians That he would open the eyes of their vnderstanding Ephe. 1.18 that they might knowe what is the hope of their vocation and what are the riches of the glorie of his inheritance among the Saints we should be too vnthankful to God and enemies of our owne comfort if wee should make curtesie or refuse to vnderstād that which it pleaseth him to reueale vnto vs by his word Now in it this felicitie is oftentimes signified by the promise of life euerlasting and not without reason For in our felicitie Life euerlasting comprehendeth the felicitie of the childrē of God two poynts may and ought speciallie to bee considered first the greatnes and excellencie of the good thing secondlie the long continuance and surenes of it Now both the one and the other is noted by these words life euerlasting For by life is signified the greatnes of the felicitie and by euerlasting the infinite length of it As touching life wee may consider three degrees as wel in the bodie Three degrees of life to the body and to the soule as speciallie in the soule The first degree of life as touching the soule The first degree of life is ment by this peace of conscience and ioy of the holie Ghost which wee receiue and feele being reconciled to God in
true faith cannot be without good works Now I feele my selfe so miserable a sinner that it maketh me to doubt of mine adoption Indeed this is a thing greatlie to be lamented that we render no better obedience vnto God that there is in vs no greater zeale of his glorie nor more feruent charitie towards our neighbours and to be short no better amendement of life But if thou hast begun to hate flee sinne if thou feelest that thou art displeased at thy infirmities and corruptions If hauing offended God thou feele a sorrowe and griefe for it if thou desire to abstaine if thou auoidest the occasions if thou trauailest to doo thine indeuour if thou praiest to God to giue thee grace All these holie affections proceeding from no other than from the Holie ghost ought to be vnto thee so manie pledges and testimonies that he is in thee Rom. 8.5 As also Saint Paule teacheth vs saying that as those that delight in the workes of the flesh are of the flesh So on the other side those that delight in the workes of the spirit are of the spirit These holie desires then to the workes of the spirit are testimonies of the spirit dwelling in thee So as being thus led by the spirit of God thou art the child of God saith Saint Paul Rom. 3.14 Rom. 3.10 And indeed seeing the children of Adam are naturallie inclined to all vices and corruptions it is a marke of regeneration so of being the child of God when contrarie to nature we are displeased with our infirmities and fighting against them wee desire and indeuour to fashion our selues according to the will of our GOD. Mat. 22.37 God hath commaunded vs to loue him with all our heart with all our vnderstanding and with al our soule Now as we cannot know God in this life but in part and darklie so we can not loue him but in part 1. Cor. 13.9.12 Aug. ad Bonif lib. 3. ca. 7. yea verie little The perfection is reserued for heauen as also S. Augustine saith All the faithfull ought earnestlie to aspire to this that they may once appeare before God pure and without spot But for as much as the best and most perfect estate that we can attaine vnto in this present life is no other thing than to profite from day to day then shall we come to this marke when after putting off this sinfull flesh wee shall cleaue fullie to our God Therefore also as the same author saith when men speake of the perfection of the children of God in this life to this perfection is required the acknowledging of their imperfection It is as well in trueth as in humilitie that the Saincts acknowledge how imperfect they are God deferreth the accomplishment of our holines and charitie vntill the life to come to the end that this pride which taketh force through the increase of vertue should not ouerthrowe vs but that walking in humilitie God might accomplish his mercie in pardoning vs 2. Cor. 12.9 his power in sustaining vs and his truth in sauing vs. And in deede there is nothing more weake saith S. Augustine than the proude nor more strong than the humble For as the proude trusting in himselfe who is nothing but vanitie hath God his aduersarie who resisteth the proude 1. Pet. 5.5 Iam. 4.6 so the humble mistrusting himselfe hath God for his strength and saluation God indeede in his lawe requireth a perfect obedience But that which he looketh for of vs his children in this life consisteth more in the desire to obey than in the obedience it selfe Rom. 8.5 According whereunto hee saieth by his Prophet Malachi I will spare them Mal. 3 17. as a father dooth his owne sonne that serueth him If a child take paine to write well or to do as he should do anie other seruice that his father hath commaunded him although there be great want both in the writing and in the other seruice yet in bearing with him hee praiseth him and saieth that hee hath written well hee had doone his duetie Godlines the loue towardes God and the obedience that we owe vnto him is often signified by the feare of God the which also Dauid calleth the beginning of Wisedome Psa 111.10 And those that haue this feare of God are acknowledged called the children of God Then if thou feel such loue reuerēce toward God that thou feare to offend him thou art the child of God Psa 112.1 But then thou fearest to offend God when thou shunnest the occasions and inticements to sinne and when hauing offended thorough ignorāce ouersight or other infirmitie thou feelest sorrow and displeasure to raise thee vp againe being resolued to sin no more and praying to God that he will cōduct thee by his holy spirit that thou maist walke constantly according to his worde 1. Iohn 3.9 S. Ihon saith that the children of God sinne not not that they offend not God euery day or that they commit not sometimes most greeuous offences as Dauid and Saint Peter 2. Sam. 11 Mat. 26.74 And as dailie experience dooth too much conuict euerie one of vs. But he saith that they sinne not because they loue God and are afraideto offend him and doe not willingly giue themselues to doo euill but haue sinne in such detestation that they feele in themselues that conflict which Saint Paule setteth foorth vnto vs in his owne person Rom. 7 in as much as they woulde doo the good which they cannot doo and doo vnwillingly the euil which displeaseth them whereof it followeth as the Apostle concludeth that if they doo that which they would not doo it is no more they which do it but sinne which dwelleth in them which on the one side ought to giue thē occasion to mourne and to crie wyth the Apostle Alas wretch that I am who snall deliuer mee from the bodie of this death But on the other side they ought to feele the comforte which hee addeth saying I thanke my God through Iesu Christ And wherefore Rom. 8.1 Because there is no condemnation to those who thus fighting against the flesh walke after the spirit and consequently are in Iesus Christ For therest when thou feelest a doubt of thine adoption through the want of rendering to God such obedience as thou oughtst knowe that Satan is at hand with thee falsifying the gospel in persuading thee that thou shouldest bee saued by thy workes or willing to make thee blaspheme Iesus Christ in making thee beleeue that thou mayest and oughtest to be at the least in some part a Sauiour of thy selfe and so a companion of Iesus Christ Answere to this temptatiō that thou arte a poore sinner 1. Tim. 1.15 Matt. 9.13 Rom. 8.5 Rom. 8.1 Rom. 7.22 but that Christ came to saue sinners and that there is saluation in none but in hym Furthermore if thou feel a desire to the works of the Spirit thou art of the
Then thou must cōtinue also accustome thy selfe to read heare the word of God thinking alwaies that God speaketh to thee for the saluation of thy soule praying him that he will giue thee grace by his holie spirit to profite to his glorie and thy saluation And thou shalt feele at the last that which is said to sicke men that haue lost their tast that thy appetite will come to thee by eating And that the word of God and the participating of the bread and wine in the holie supper shall be to thee more sweet Psalm 119.103 than honie to the mouth Psal 19.11 as Dauid saith Manie sicke persons hauing neither taste nor appetite eate notwithstanding and receiue noriture So though in reading and hearing the word of God and communicating at the Lords supper thou feelest not any tast or appetite yet in continuing thou shalt receiue some noriture for thy soule And if it seemeth to thee that thou forgettest by by that which thou hast read or heard practise for thy soule that which thou dooest for thy bodie because the meates digest abide not in the bodie thou returnest to eate meat again euerie day So be thou so much more diligent to heare and reade the word and to communicate at the holie supper without leesing anie one meale for thy soule when GOD offereth it thee And as the corporall meate though it passe away yet there remaineth alwaies some noriture for the bodie so shall this spiritual meate be to thy soule Yea it may be that at one sermon thou shalt heare and remember one sentence which shall serue thee as it were for a passeport a ladder or wings at thy neede to conduct thee by and by comforting strengthening thee to lift thee vp into heauen If then when thou goest to reade or heare the word of God or to communicate at the Lords supper thou praiest to God as thou oughtest daylie to do that he will giue thee his spirit that thou maiest profite and so doest continue cōstantlie in these spirituall exercises This disposition this holy affection obedience shal serue thee for sure testimonies of thine adoption thou shalt without doubt feele increase of the graces of God Finally there are some who hauing had liuely feelings of their faith with cōfort ioy in their cōsciences The fift temptation by the interruption of the graces of God walking besides in the feare of God are afterwards greatlie troubled when these graces seem to be dead in them falling into doubt mistrust of their saluation or into crimes sinnes too vnworthie the childrē of God For satan hereby indeuoureth to perswade them either that they neuer had the true faith or that God hath cast them off taking from them the gifts and graces of his holie spirit but both the one and the other conclusion is as false as the author of them is a great lier And indeede if the trees which haue flourished borne their fruite in sommer are in winter without fruite without leaues yea and without apparance of life dooth it followe therefore either that they had not life in sommer or that they are dead in the winter When men go to bed they rake vp the fire which did burne if thou marke it verie neere there is no apparance either of heate nor of brightnes dooth it followe therfore that there had been no fire or that it is then quenched or dead Contrariwise hauing been couered ouer night men kindle againe in the morning the same fire that was hid couered and the trees that seemed to be dead in the winter flourish and beare fruite a while after If thou seest a drunken man not hauing for a time the vse of reason nor anie feeling of it wilt thou say therefore that he neuer had a reasonable soule or that hauing had it it is now dead A bide a fewe houres and thou shalt be conuict of the contrarie And so of that that thou hast not presentlie the feeling or effects and fruites of faith can it followe that thou neuer hast had them or that hauing had them thou hast lost them Matt. 26.74 When S. Peter renounced Iesus Christ three times cursing himselfe was his faith quenched On the contrarie Iesus Christ hauing praied to God that his faith should not faile Luk. 22.31 and being without doubt heard faith remained in him but verie weake and sore beaten but not destroyed nor quenched Dauid hauing committed adulterie murther Psal 51. acknowledged his sinnes and offences praying to God that he would not take his holie spirit from him Then he had not lost it rather it abode in him but as a fire couered with ashes so as it is said without hauing anie feeling of it to keepe him from such a headlong fall Faith then may bee in a man without kindling and being kindled it is not out although it be not perceiued for a time Yea but wilt thou say the Apostle to the Hebrues sheweth that there be some Heb. 6 4 5 6. who hauing been lightened hauing tasted the heauenlie gift hauing been partakers of the holie ghost and tasted the good word of God and the power of the world to come fall backe and leese these graces yea without hope euer to recouer them againe What assurance then can I haue that faith abideth in me and that GOD will yet make me to feele it hereafter For as he hath shewed mercie vnto Dauid and to Saint Peter so dooth hee exercise his iust iudgemēts vpon other as vpon those of whome the Apostle spake before Wee denie not but that there bee reprobates that are greatlie lightened in the knowledge of the mysteries of saluation which the Apostle termeth here to bee partakers of the holie ghost and yet that such apprehensions tastings and feelings as he proposeth followe not thereof For reading or hearing the testimonies and representatiōs of the mercies of God toward his Church of the loue of Iesus Christ towards his elect and of the excellencie and felicitie of eternall life they conceaue these things in their vnderstanding for the greatnes of them they are after a sort moued and when they talke of them they seeme to be partakers of them But the difference that there is betweene them the children of God lieth chieflie in this that the apprehensions and feelings of the reprobat are such as a mā may haue in the reading or telling of an historie which toucheth vs nothing at all but the feelings of the children of God are as of a matter that toucheth themselues Let vs consider for example the historie of Ioseph Who is hee that reading attentiuelie how Ioseph was sold of his brethren Gen. 37. carried into Aegypt put in prison and the sorrowe that Iacob had Gen. 39. vnderstanding that he was deuoured of a wilde beast that would not bee mooued with compassion towardes Ioseph and Iacob Who is hee that reading how Ioseph
vs to leane vpon Now our God takeing away these vayles and carnall leaning stocks maketh vs to feele the weakneise of our faith to humble vs and to constraine vs to looke vnto him with a pure eye to cleaue vnto him alone and wholly to depende vppon him According to that Saint Paule saith That hee had receiued the sentence of death in himself 2. Cor. 1.9 that he might haue no confidence in the sleth but in him that raiseth vp againe the dead This is it also which Saint Peter teacheth by the similitude which hee proposeth in the first chapters of his first Epistle and the seauenth verse comparing the afflictions to fire faith to the golde for as golde is put into the fining pot and furnace not to consume it but to trie and purifie it so our faith is tried and purified in the fire of tribulations For as it hapneth to him that is quiet and at his ease that he falleth soone asleepe and hauing an apple or anie other thing in his hand it falleth or is easely takē frō him so the ease of the flesh bringeth vs a sleep in the world causeth vs to leese the spiritual good things and to suffer them to fall to the ground On the contrarie side the more one forceth to take away a staffe which I holde in my hand while I am awake so much the faster I shut it in hold it the harder that it may not be taken away from me Euen so the more the diuell indeuoureth to take faith from vs by tribulations so much the more doo wee meditate on the promises of God to holde it fast and the more he thrusteth at vs to ouerturn vs so much the more strongly we leane vpon the staffe of faith to ouercome his assaults 4. In Inuocation and praiers From hence also proceedeth this excellent fruite of inuocation of the name of God And surelie in the time of prosperitie when we are at our ease wee pray not ordinarilie but of custome and for fashion but being pressed with necessitie being assailed on all sides finding no comfort in the earth and feeling that we perish if God doo not strengthen aide and deliuer vs Then it is that with all our hearts wee crie vnto the Lord that wee protest that he is our father and sauiour and that our trust is in him as the feeling of our diseases is it that maketh vs runne to the Phisition The historie of the booke of Iudges sheweth by manie examples that the people of Israel being in peace grewe corrupt but after beeing afflicted they had recourse to GOD asking of him deliuerance When God slewe them saith Dauid then they sought him Psal 78.34 turned them selues and rose earlie in the morning to seeke after God and then they remembred that God was their rocke and that the high and mightie GOD was their redeemer Ose 5.15 7.1 I will goe saith the Lord by his Prophet Osee and returne to my place vntill they confesse their fault and seeke my face They shal seeke me diligentlie in their trouble saying Come let vs returne vnto the Lord for it is he that hath spoiled vs and he wil heale vs he hath striken vs and he will cure vs. So long as the prodigall sonne had meanes Iuk 15.11 he continued in his disorders but beeing brought to extreame pouertie he remembred his fathers house and returned vnto him Furthermore our patience is prooued and augmented by troubles 5. In patience and hope Rom. 5.3 as S. Paule teacheth and by the experience of GOD his assistance our hope groweth in so much as making vs in the time of need to feele his goodnes his power and his trueth in strengthning and sustaining vs in assaults and conflicts and in deliuering vs out of our afflictions he sealeth in vs the assurance of this his promise Ioel. 2.32 that whosoeuer calleth vpon him shall be saued And he that shall put his trust in him shall neuer be cōfounded Ro. 10.13 For this cause S. Paule teacheth vs to reioyce in our tribulatiōs adding that tribulation bringeth patience Ro. 10.11 Rom. 5.3 and patience experience and experience hope And S. Iames exhorteth vs to compt temptations for matter of great ioy Iam. 1.2 forasmuch as the triall of our faith ingendreth patiēce By the same meanes he trieth our obedience and fashioneth vs. For when God intertaineth vs in prosperitie according to the flesh 6. In obedience because he that afflicteth vs is first our creatour it is easie to submit our selues to so sweete handling and to frame our selues according to his will with acknowledging of his goodnes and loue towards vs. But when he afflicteth vs with sicknes pouertie reproach and other calamities Then to feele that he loueth vs to like this handling to subiect our selues to this his will herein consisteth true obedience Then Rom. 12.1 he afflicteth vs to trie vs and to fashion vs in this obedience in as much as working in vs his children by his spirit he maketh vs to cōmit our selues to his gouernment to depend vpon him to suffer our selues to be guided by his hand offring our selues as a liuing sacrifice holy and acceptable vnto God considering that it is reasonable that wee being his by right of creation and redemption he may dispose of vs as it pleaseth him And herein there are two things to be considered First in as much as hee is our creatour wee ought to practise that which Dauid saith Psal 39.10 Lord I haue held my peace and haue not opened my mouth because it is thou that hast done it shewing thereby that whether he tie vs to our bed by sicknes or bring vs to pouertie or driuing vs from place to place he bring vs to many discommodities or euen make vs to languish in prison or passe through the sword or fire we must thinke and say Lord I hold my peace and will not murmure against thee but render thee obedience because it is thou that hast done it for thou hast all authoritie ouer me in as much as I am thy creature And indeed if after the similitude of a potter who is able to make of the selfe same lumpe of earth some vessells of honor and others of dishonor Saint Paule sheweth that God hath authoritie to chuse some to saluation Rom. 9.20 and to reiect others so as they that are reiected to be damned eternallie haue no cause to replie or murmur how much more ought wee to hold our peace obey when he disposeth that we shall be afflicted but for a little time and that in the bodie onelie But that in this obedience wee may feele indeed that we are happie 2. Because he is our father and redeemer we must marke an other poynt that he which doth afflict vs is not onelie our creatour but also our redeemer not only God but also our GOD and father And that same assureth
vs to keepe vs in his seruice and in his house promising vs euerlasting life Now the Church is his house and this good GOD hath called you my brethren thither and hath receiued you He hath nourished you in it sometime He hath there giuen you the seale of your adoption He hath begun to clothe you with the liuerie of his children and hath fashioned you like to the image of Iesus Christ A great part of your way is past In this your trauaile of childhood you haue passed manie torments If the greatest tormēts come the happie deliuerance approacheth He that shall continue vnto the end Mat. 14.13 shall be saued They that are reuolted and doo reuolt make you to feele in their vnhappines how happie you are to be the children of God elected to eternall life 3. To keep our selues from apostacie and dissimulation For it is vpon this election and so vppon the good pleasure of God that your perseuerance doth depend Acknowledge in it both his infinite mercie supporting you and pardoning you daylie so manie faults and sinnes and also his incomprehensible goodnes leading you as it were by the hand to the inioying of eternall life Abhorre you and detest that miserable yea cursed and vnhappie state of these Apostates that ye may also hate and detest the ambition and the pride the euill conscience the despising and abuse of the gifts of GOD the loue of the world and those other vices which threwe them headlong into ruine And on the contrarie loue search and follow all that which God hath ordained to nourish godlines faith charitie humilitie in vs and other gifts and graces which proceed from the election and are meanes ordained by the prouidence of GOD to guide vs to the happines promised to those which shall continue vnto the end Keepe your selues hereafter from these false Nicodemites who to auoid the crosse will abandon by a sacrilege vntollerable their bodies to idolatrie and so consequentlie to the diuell in reseruing as they say their hearts vnto God Will the most careles husband among them content himselfe if his wife giuing ouer her bodie to whoredome should say vnto him that she keepeth neuerthelesse her heart vnto him 1. Cor. 6.19 Ye are not your owne saith S. Paule yee are bought with a price Then glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which both appertaine vnto God Againe 2. Cor. 7.1 Clense your selues from all filthines both of bodie and spirit finishing your sanctification in the feare of God Perseuer constantlie in the Church which is your mother 4. To vse the holie ministerie that you may bee the heires of the father It sufficeth not to keepe your soules from poyson ye must nourish them that they may liue Rather than we will suffer our bodies to die of hūger wee will sell all to get bread and wee would runne through the fire in such a case to saue it At the least let vs followe those that in the time of famine forsake their Countries to finde foode The soule is more precious than the bodie Ioh. 6.27 And therefore must wee labour more to haue the bread abiding vnto eternall life than for it that perisheth Alwaies thinke with your selues our soules must liue and it is to tempt GOD to desire to liue without foode Therefore wee must seeke foode that wee maye liue Now true it is that to reade and meditate the worde of GOD in the house and to keepe there the familie is a holie exercise and very profitable for the noriture of the soule Col. 3.16 Psa 1.2 Act. 17.11 Deut. 6 Psa 119 Act. 2.42 It is cōmaunded of GOD and such as are negligent in this duetie shewe that they haue no care of the life of their soules yet this doth not suffice Wee must confesse the name of God and call vpon him in the assemblie Wee must heare the sermons 1. Tim. 3.15 and communicate at the holie Sacraments wee must ioyne and keepe our selues vnited with the Church which is the piller and sure ground of trueth and the mother of the children of God This onelie title of mother giuen to the Church Gal. 4.26 teacheth vs that there is no entrance into the life that Iasteth euer except wee bee conceiued in the wombe of this mother that she beare vs and bring vs forth giue vs sucke of her breastes finallie except shee hold and keepe vs vnder her conduct and gouernment vntill being vnclothed of this mortall flesh we be made like vnto the Angels Act. 11.26 In ancient time the faithfull were called disciples For the Church is also called the schoole of Christians wherein according to the infirmitie that is in vs we must be the disciples of Christ all the daies of our life This Church is also often signified by a Temple and the holie ministerie is ordained of GOD to build it Therefore whosoeuer despiseth it 2. Cor. 3.6 cannot be builded in this Temple to be there a liuing stone 1. Tim. 3 15 Heb. 3.6 Ephe. 2.19 2. Cor. 3.8 This Church is the house of God the faithfull his household seruants children Therfore whosoeuer doth not enter and abide in the Church cannot call himselfe the child or household seruant of God The preaching of the Gospel is the ministerie of the holie ghost of life of glory whosoeuer refuseth to heare it hath not the spirit of Christ and consequentlie pertaineth not vnto him Rom. 8.9 so abideth in death and euerlasting shame See how ye must thinke in your selues of the benefite vtilitie yea and the necessitie of the holie ministerie to say with Dauid Psal 84.2 O Lord of hosts how amiable are thy tabernacles My soule desireth greatly yea and longeth after the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh reioyce in the liuing God Blessed are they which dwell in thy house and praise thee continuallie Let the tast and need of this spirituall food cause those that are now depriued of it to say with Dauid Like as the Hart desireth the water brookes so longeth my soule after thee O God My soule is a thirst for God Psal 42.1 yea euen for the liuing God saying Alas when shall I come to appeare before the presence of God When we shal be depriued of our countrie wife husband traffick goods dignities and other thinges pleasant to the flesh let all these bee nothing to vs but let vs say with Dauid I haue asked one thing of the Lord which I will still require that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my life Psal 27. to behold the faire beautie of the Lord and carefullie to visite his temple If Dauid a man excellent in faith and all vertue a prophet and as an Angell amongst men confesseth so roundlie and so often the neede that himselfe had to bee in the Temple of the Lord feeling himselfe as it were rauished with a most
feruent desire of this benefite what ought wee to feele in our selues who are yet so ignorant so weake so corrupt in the middest of so manie dangers Say then from the heart with the same Dauid Psal 26.8 O Lord I loue the habitation of thy house the place where thine honour dwelleth And that good God and almightie father who hath care to nourish our bodies yea and prouideth for the nourishment of the little birds will without doubt heare your desire and wil prouide for the nourishment of your soules Moreouer accomplishing his promise made by Esay Esay 44. of powring out of waters vpon the drie ground hee will make you to growe as the grasse and as the willowes by the riuer sides for the ioye and comfort wherof one shall say I am the Lords another shall call himselfe by the name of Iacob an other shall subscribe with his hande I am the Lords and shall call himselfe by the name of Israel 5. To walk in the feare of God But vnderstād farther that the Gospel wherof ye make profession is a doctrine not to flie about in the vnderstāding but to take seate in the hart not in the tongue to talk onlie but in the life and holie works Then be ye doers of the word not onlie hearers deceauing your selues God hath adopted you for his children Iam. 1.22 but on this condition that the image of Christ may shine in you God hath chosen and called you to be his Temples and to dwell in you by his holie spirit 1. Cor. 6.19 1. Cor. 3.16 Remember yee that the temple of God is holie and that it is not lawfull to defile it nor to put holie things to prophane vses God hath created you for his glorie and Christ hath redeemed you that ye might be his Remember then that you must bee consecrated and dedicated vnto God neither to thinke say nor doo anie thing but to his glorie Ye are dead to sinne Rom. 6. but liuing to GOD by Iesus Christ Applie not then your members to bee instruments of of iniquitie to sinne but applie you vnto God as being of dead made aliue and your members to be instrumēts of righteousnesse to God Rom. 6.18 Yee are made free from sinne by Christ but it is to bee seruants to righteousnes Remember that which S. Paul saith that if ye liue according to the flesh ye shal dy Rom. 8.13 but if by the spirit ye mortefie the deeds of the flesh ye shal liue they that are of christ Gal. 5.24 haue crucified the flesh with the concupiscēces of it If ye liue in the spirit walke also in the spirite Gal. 5.25 As out of fire proceedeth inseperablie heate and brightnes in like manner if ye haue receiued Christ for iustification ye must haue him also for sanctification If yee haue hope to see Christ as hee is 1. Cor. 1.30 1. Iho. 3.2 3 Heb. 12.14 purifie your selues as he is pure following peace with al men and holinesse without which none shall see God Remember what the faithful soule saith I haue washed my feete Can. 5.3 how shall I file them againe The band betweene GOD and vs is holinesse inasmuch as it appertaineth to his glorie that hee which is holie haue no acquaintance with iniquitie and vncleannes 1. Pet. 1.15 2. Cor. 6 Be ye then holie for I am holie saith the Lord. What participation is there saith Saint Paule of righteousnesse with vnrighteousnes what fellowship hath light with darkenesse what agreement hath Christ with Belial or what part hath the beleeuing with the infidel or what agreement hath the Temple of GOD with Idolls For yee are the Temple of the liuing God wherefore depart from amongst them and separate your selues sayth the Lorde and touch not anie vncleane thing The ende of our regeneration is that there may appeare in our life an holy melodie and consent betweene the righteousnesse of GOD and our obedience Yee haue vnderstoode here before that the desire of the heart to consecrate your selues to God is a marke of your election and adoption But see yee that this desire may shew it selfe by the workes of godlines and charitie If you make profession that ye know Christ Ephe. 4.20 know ye according to the doctrine of S. Paul that yee haue not knowne him as ye ought if ye mortifie not the olde man Col. 2.13 and put on the newe walking in righteousnesse and true holinesse God hath drawne you out of the power of darkenesse and hath transported you into the kingdom of his beloued Sonne Walke ye then as the children of light Renounce this cursed boudage of Sathan Shew that ye are faithfull and not traytours to Iesus Christ Be ye without reproch and single harted The children I say Phil. 2.15 of God vnreproueable in the midst of this crooked and peruerse nation Among whom ye shine as lightes in the worlde which beare before you the worde of life Tit. 2.11 Shew your selues to feele the wholsome grace of God which teacheth you to renounce all infidelitie and worldlie lusts to liue soberly iustly and godly Thinke in your selues that the friendship of the world is enmity to God And that ye cannot be friendes to the world Iam. 4.4 but that yee must needes be enemies to God Eph. 5.11 Haue no fellowship with the vnfruitful works of darknes but rather reproue them so as your holy conuersation may serue for a reproofe and checke to such as walk disorderly Iob. 28.28 Remember what God said to man The feare of the Lord is true wisdom Esay 33.6 to depart from euil is vnderstanding Let the fauour of God be our treasure walke as it were before him Gen. 17.1 as he cōmanded Abraham Think that ye are not your own to liue for your selues according to your owne wisdome pleasure but that ye appertaine vnto God that ye might liue vnto him and according to his wisdome and will reuealed vnto vs in his word That man hath much profited who knowing that he is not his owne hath taken away from himselfe and his owne reason all lordship dominion to resigne it to God to suffer himselfe quietlie to be guided according to his pleasure There is no vice more common more pernicious or more hard to cure than the loue of our selues and therefore there is no lesson more necessary than it which Iesus Christ taught his apostles That to be of the nūber of his disciples Mat. 16.14 we must renounce our selues Renouncing then your selues hate ye that which is euill and cleaue vnto that which is good inclined by brotherly charity to loue one another Procure things that are good Col. 3.12 not onely before God but also before men If it be possible so much as in you lieth haue peace with al men Be yee as the elect of God holy and beloued clad with the bowells of compassiō
aduauncement of his Church so mightelie assailed on all sides and particularlie to bee mindfull of mee in your prayers that it may please the Father of light from whence all good gifts doo come to continue his mercies towards mee and to guide mee alwaies with his holie spirit with the increase of his giftes and graces to accomplish the rest of my life seruing faithfull and holilie to his glorie the aduauncement of the Kingdome of our Lord Iesus Christ Amen Holie meditations and praiers CHAP. 13. O Lord God almightie al good and all wise we are confounded before thy holy maiestie not ô Lord for the troubles and extreame calamities wherewith we are oppressed in these daies full of tribulations anguishes and teares but forasmuch as we haue offended thee for asmuch as our sinnes our ingratitude rebelliōs haue kindled thi wrath against vs and chiefly forasmuch as the wicked and infidels take occasion by thy iust iudgemēts corrections to blaspheme thy holy name Alas Lord wee yeelde our selues guilty before thee confessing that we are inexcusable and vnworthie to be named thy children yea wee are worthie to bee reiected of thee wee are worthie of hel to be creatures accursed for euer For ô our good God whē we were the children of wrath thine enemies abādoned to all euil thou hadst pitie vppon vs poore and abhominable sinners Thou hast cast the eyes of thy fauour vppon vs. Thou hast giuen thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ to the shameful and cursed death of the crosse for vs. Thou hast giuen vs thy holy gospell that blessed and ioyfull tidings of our saluation Thou hast accompanied it with thy spirit to lighten vs to draw vs vnto thee to make vs partakers of the treasures of thy Kingdome of eternall life Thou hast stretched out thy hand from heauen to the depth of hell to pul vs backe and to make vs thy happie children Thou hast done according to the good pleasure of thy will inasmuch as thou shewest mercie on whom thou wilt shewe mercie Alas Lord ought not we to acknowledge the daye of thy visitation and the time of saluation Ought not we to feele the abundant riches of thy incomprehēsible grace towards vs to loue serue praise and adore thee to renounce our selues the world and the flesh and all that which is contrarie to thy glorie yea to abhorre all that doth displease thee to walke as the children of light and to consecrate our selues vnto thee to bring foorth fruites worthie of thy Gospell and becomming the Children of such a Father to be as bright lights in this darke world to giue light to the poore ignorāt ones to drawe thē with vs into the way of saluation But alas ô Lord our God we quite contrarie hauing brought into thy Church the world and the flesh haue kept in our selues these enemies of thy glory these plagues of our soules haue serued them Our infidelitie our flesh haue made vs loue the earth more than the heauen the world more than thy kingdome the filthines and dust of vaine riches more than the treasures of heauenlie and eternall good things the smoke of humane honors more thā the glorious estate to be thy childrē brethren of thy sonne Iesus Christ Couetousnes the roote of all euill hath hardened our harts to despise thy poore ones euen Iesus Christ in his members Wee haue slaundered thy holy Gospell by fraudes deceipts robbings occupying our traffique and doing our affaires as people hauing no knowledge of thee The aire in the Cities where thy word hath bin preached hath bin stinking infected with the whoredomes adulteries and other infamous acts that there haue bin committed Gluttonie drūkennes haue made brutish those that for thy blessings and bountie ought to haue praised thee Euerie man thinking onlie how to profit aduance himself in this world to the despising of thy holy seruice the building of thy Church The profession of thy holy religion hath serued many but for the cloke of their iniquities Wee haue put out trust in the arme of flesh in brokē reeds seeking cōfort for thy Church of the enemies of it in forsaking the fountaine of liuing waters and the almightie Crimes trespasses blasphemies and iniquities haue bin winked at supported in defiling the seate of thy iustice without punishmēt thy threatnings promises reiected as vanities the holy Ministerie of thy Word despised the chastisements which thou hast exercised on our brethren neglected without thinking what our selues haue deserued Wee haue not felt sorow for the afflictions of thy children to mourne with them and to feare thy iudgements And what shal we say more ô Lord Our iniquities are as mountaines our ingratitude and rebellions as the great deepe our whole life before thee being nothing else but a cōtinuall sinne and despising of thy holy Maiestie If they who neuer heard speak of thy sonne Iesus Christ and that haue not knowen thy will are iustly punished in thy wrath what iudgement what condemnation what hells and cursses haue we deserued hauing so villainously so long so obstinately despised thy holy instructions thy promises thy threatenings and the examples of thy iudgements which thou hast exercised before our eyes Also the voyce of our ingratitude is ascended before thee our iniquities haue and doo crie vengeance against vs. These are the procurers and aduocates of thy iustice soliciting these iudgements against vs. Our sinnes haue strengthned our enemies haue made them conquerours ouer vs. We haue sowen iniquitie and we haue reaped afflictions as thou seest ô Lord our God that thy children are banished spoyled and impourished that they are cruellie dealt withall trodden vnder foote and exposed to the laughter of thine enemies Our persecuters make a scorne of those ouer whō thy name is called on they make their boast of the euill that they doo They scatter thy flockes They throwe downe the scepter of thy sonne Iesus Christ They depriue thy children of the pasture of thy word Those temples O Lord those temples where not long since thy praises did sound in which thy holie Gospell was preached the Sacraments purelie ministred thy name religiouslie called on These temples O Lord are now defiled with Idols and idolatrie the abominable Masse is established againe false tales and lies are preached These temples where thy people assembled in so great number to praise thee and to behold thy louing countenance are now filled with people blaspheming thy holie name and treading vnder their feete the bloud and glorie of thy sonne Iesus Christ This youth of orphanes fondlings and others that went to schoole being brought vp in the knowledge of thee nourished in thy feare is now giuen vp to the enemies of thy trueth to be instructed in the damnable doctrine and seruice of Antichrist O good God our sunne is turned into darknes the Moone into bloud our health into sicknes our life into death And yet if thou shouldest