of life and out of the Holy City and from the things that are vvritten in this booke BOOKE II. CAP. I. THE STIPVALATION of Faith by â—â—e Sacraments The answer of a good conscience toward God The Creed The Sacraments Baptisme Poedobaptisme Anabaptisme Confirmation and penance Communion No transubstantiation Participation by faith Communion in loue The law conditioned The covenant indissoluble How is the covenant transacted betwixt God and vs BY the word of God on his part The Answere of a good conscience as hath beene declared in the two Testaments which being accepted on our parts by faith that worketh by loue and resteth in hope is mutually sealed and confirmed on both sides by two Sacraments a Heb. 4.2 The word preached profiteth not vnlesse it be mixed with faith in them that heare it nor faith professed vnlesse it worke by loue in them that haue it nor haue we then attained but rest still in hope of the glory of God to be revealed in vs. Faith in a larger sense and not vnvsuall implieth the other graces being a full assent to the word of truth accepting the grace offered in the Gospell vpon trust answering the law by loue which is the fulfilling of the law and the end there of For b 2. Tim. 1.5 the end of the commandement is loue out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith vnfaigned Which when all is done expecteth the full accomplishment of the promises but of the law and of the Gospell in hope a Heb. 10.36 waiting with patience that after we haue done the will of God we may receaue the promise Thus we stipulate with God b Rom. 12.2 proue his will what is that good that acceptable and perfect will of God and c Ioh. 3.33 set to our seales that God is true * Rom. 1.17 And thus the righteousnesse of God is revealed from faith to faith From the truth of God a faithfull creatour to our faith in him his vnworthie creature And in vs from one degree of faith to another vntill we receiue the end of our faith euen the saluation of our soules The faith more especially is that whereof we make confession THE CREED saying I beleeue in God c. according to the Apostles Creed So it is called not only because it agrees with the Apostles doctrine being the very summe and substance thereof and might happily be d Russinus in Symbol Isiod l. 2 de Eccl. officiis c. 23. Aug. ser 131 Ambr. ser 38. agreed vpon by themselues as the absolute e 2. Tim. 1.13 forme of sound words and the rule of the f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Athan. erat 4. coutrà Arianos analogie of faith but principally because it is the very forme of the g 1. Tim. 6 3. words of our Lord Iesus Christ the great h Heb. 3.1 Apostle and high Priest of our calling Which besides his generall doctrine he seemes to haue expresly committed in trust to the Apostles in the very same order instituting the two Sacraments to bee administred by them and their successours in his Church for euer i Eph. 2.20 Which is built vpon the foundation of the Apostles Prophets Iesus Christ himselfe being the head corner stone a Regulam veritatis immobilem per baptismum accepimus Iraen adv heres l. 1. c. 1. Baptisme in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost takes vp the former part of the Creed to the holy catholique Church which is holy being b Eph. 5.26 sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water by the word And it is catholike admitting all commers by baptisme as the Lord appointed saying c Mat. 28.19 Goe teach all nations baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost * Vid. Martin procatech tract 4. Which part of the Creed being at first expressed in those few words and aunciently so vsed in baptisme was after enlarged with more articles especially concerning the second person by occasion of heresies that did arise The supper of the Lord which the Apostle calls d 1. Cor. 10.16 the Communion beginning with the communion of saints includes it and the articles following For Christ instituting this sacrameÌ„t cals e Mat. 26.28 the cup the blood of the New Testament saying expresly that it was shed for many for the remission of sinnes and for the other two benefits of communion in the body and blood of Christ namely the resurrection of our bodies and life everlasting St Iohn reports them plainely from Christ his owne mouth saying a Ioh. 6 5â— whosoever eateth my flesh drinketh my blood hath euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day as he doth in like manner speak of our regeneration by baptisme c. 3. For S. Iohn onely of all the Evangelists doth not expresly report the very institution it selfe of the Sacraments but insteed thereof as it seemeth the spirituall graces intended by them Christ therefore himselfe is the author and finisher of our faith Who gaue vs his word by the Apostles wherevpon we beleeue according to their Creed the b In ea regula incedimus quam ecclesia ab Apostolis Apostoli à Christo Christus â— Deo tradidit Tertul. de praes c. 14. badge and cognisance of the Church catholike and Apostolike for ever c 2. Cor. 4.13 So they beleeued and therefore so spake and wee hauing the same spirit of faith doe also beleeue therefore so speake And so it must bee in the couenant of grace for God will write it in our hearts Euery man must haue as it were by heart the copy of grace the evidence of his saluation the charter of life the counterpane of the couenant betwixt God vs as it were a duplicate of the proued will of God to produce the same for himselfe in his owne person assenting to the truth and consenting with the Church rather then barely to alledge God his word for it although the word of God be the ground of our faith for hee may alledge the word that never beleeues it or else perverts it as they that are d 2. Pet. 3.16 unlearned and vnstable doe to their owne destruction But the iust shall liue by his faith Vpon these tearmes the couenant passeth by a Sacramenta mutuambabent relationem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mutuall stipulation The sacraments betwixt God and vs in the sacraments which are certaine b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fidelia seu pignora b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ipsasacrificia per quae faedera intercedente iureiurando sanciebantur b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer Iliad 2. mysticall acts and deeds thereof on his part by his word and institution and on our parts by faith and acceptilation As in ciuill contracts besides the bookes drawen and agreed vpon there
abrogated by Christ Nor by his Apostles The Iewes typicall vse thereof abolished The Christian sabbath day within the compasse of the commandement The Lords day designed by himselfe for our sabbath It hath euer beene obserued as the sabbath by the Church It respects the kingdome of God The Perfect will of God to bee done on earth The heauenly conuersation How doth faith worke by loue According to the law teaching vs to doe what God hath commanded The law established by faith Although faith rest not in our workes which the law requireth yet are a Eph. 2.10 wee Gods workemanship created in Christ Iesus vnto good workes which God had before ordained not only in his counsell but by his law that we should walk in them And b Gal. 3.12 although the law bee not of faith that is of things to bee only beleiued but to be done for the man that doeth them shall liue in them yet doth the law require faith c Heb. 11.6 without which it is impossible to please God Therefore the law prescribeth faith in the first place and throughout namely that wee acknowlege god the lawgiuer to be the lord our God the only true God and performe that faith vnto him by an vniuerfall vniforme obedience to the whole law and euery title thereof in regard of him that commandeth Which iustifieth our faith to be in God when it answereth his d Servus qui ex domini iussu ea facit tantummodò quae vult facere non dominicam implet voluntatem sed suam Salv. l. 4. de guber Die whole will as well of command as of promise as well in one duety as in another When God gaue the law to the Israelites hee made himselfe knowne vnto them by his wonderfull deliuery of them out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage thereby to binde their obedience in faith to him the only true God Which was but a type and figure of the great saluation from the power of satan by Christ Iesus By faith in whose name thorough his spirit wee truely know and rightly acknowledge the only true God And the faith of God his loue to vs in Christ knits our hearts againe in loue to God and for his sake towards all men as he hath commanded improues the formall worship of God vnto all sincerity in spirit and in trueth and the common ciuility of the world vnto Christian charity zealous of good workes for his glory that hath called vs to the knowledge of his grace For if God so loued vs as wee beleiue then ought we also to loue one another much more him who is the God of all grace and loue Neither doe we beleiue indeed if wee loue not Wee beleiue not Christ his incarnation death passion resurrection and ascension c. Vnlesse e Phil. 2.5 c the like minde bee in vs that was in Christ Iesus Who to redeeme the glory of god in vs laide aside his owne glory equall with the father and humbled himselfe in the forme of a seruant vnto the death of the crosse As the fathers loue to the sonne begat in him the like affection towards vs so doth Christ his f Nullaest maior ad amorem inuitatio quam praeuenire amando Nimisque durus est animus qui delectionem si nolebat impendere nolit rependere August de catèch rud cap. 4. loue if wee embrace it by a true and a liuely faith worke in vs the like loue towards our bretheren for his sake g Iohn 15.9.10 As the father saith hee hath loued mee so haue I loued you continue you in my loue If you keepe my commandements ye shall abide in my loue euen as I haue kept my fathers commandements and abide in his loue It is all one in the law to loue God and to keepe his commandements And h Iohn 14.23.24 if you loue mee saith Christ keepe my commandements Which because we can in no sort doe of our selues Gods law our prayer i 2. Cor 3.5 who are not able as of our selues so much as to thinke any good therefore being preuented with his grace k Phil. 2.13 who worketh in vs both to will and to doe of his good pleasure wee desire of God by prayer as Christ hath taught vs what he doth require of vs by the law l In omnibus enim monitis dei atque mandatis vna cademque ratio est divinae gratiae humanae ebedientiae Nec ob aliud vnquam datur praeceptum nisi vt quaetatur praecipientis auxilium Prosp Who therefore commandeth that wee may know what to craue of him And it is our faith which by prayer obtaineth what the law requireth The graces inspired of God faith hope and loue breathe all againe vnto godby prayer m Rom. 8.26 the spirit helping our infirmities with groanes that cannot be expressed For as the naturall life so the spirituall confists in respiration by hearing and praying without the which there can be no true life and well doing Therefore n Phil. 1.9.10 this we pray that our loue may abounde yet more more in knowledge and in all iudgement that wee being instructed out of the law may approue the things that are more excellent that wee may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ being filled with the fruites of righteousnesse which are by Iesus Christ vnto the glory and praise of God o Rom. 10.14 But how shall they call on him in whom they haue not beleeved By faith in the sonne of God wee know and beleeue in him the only true God and worship him in spirit and in truth p Gal. 4.6 Who hath sent downe the spirit of his sonne into our hearts Faith in the trinity denyes not the vnity of God crying Abba father Doth our faith now in the trinity contradict the vnity transgresse the commandements Thou shalt haue no other Gods but me Nay the trinity of persons establisheth the vnity of the Godhead whilest himselfe is acknowledged the author mediator and doer of all in all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plato in Philebo in Timaeo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quo sensu vide Proclum Is autem dicit Triadem exse omnia efficere Who being infinit is not confined by any person and the persons being distinct are not confounded in God ſ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Serapidis responsum Thuli in Aegipto De his vide August lib 10. de civ Dei cap. 23. In deo vnasubstantia sed tres personae in Christo duae substantiae sed vna persona In Trinitate alius atque alius non asiud atque aliud In saluatcre aliud atq aliud non alius atque alius Vincent Ler inens cont Her cap. 19. The father is God in his infinit essence or being the sonne the same God in his infinit presence and glorious appearing the holy ghost the same
the close Glory be to God on high as it were an Eccho or report to that word of vvisdome povver goodnes wherby they were all made d Psal 145.10 All thy vvorks praise thee O God the more excellent the worke is the more it e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Si Phidiae esses effigies meminisses vtique tui ipsius atque etiam sculptoris 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Talis artificis cùm sis opificium quarè id ipsum dedecoras Arrian Epict. l. 2. c. 8. cōmends the Maker Yet is al this but in dumb f Psal 19.1 V. 3. The Heauēs declare the glory of God the firmament shevveth his handywork But there is no speech nor language vvhere their voice is not heard vnlesse it be the g Rom. 8.22 v. 21. groaning of the Creation vnder the burden of corruption all abased being abused by sinne to the dishonour of the Creatour Wherefore it earnestly expecteth v. 19. and vvaiteth for the manifestation of the Sonnes of God that it may bee deliuered in their glorious liberty Of all the creatures v. 21. man only in this inferiour world was made with an vnderstanding heart to know God with speech to praise him which was his excellency aboue other creatures In which respect the holy king cals h Psal 108.1 his tongue his glory accounting this vse thereof when we blesse God the greatest happines i Psal 84.4 Blessed are they that dwell in thine house they shall bee euer praising thee Now the whole world is Gods house for there his k Esa 6.1 temple is wheresoeuer he manifesteth his glory which wee may behold contemplate in his workes whithersoeuer we looke l Gen. 28.17 Surely this is none other but the house of God And the large volume of nature if there were none other is it not a faire copy of Gods glory laide before our eies in his temple that we should reade it and praise him Which he hath written with his owne finger as it were in emblemes hieroglyphikes even things themselues Euery vvorke of God being a vvord for hee spake things euery day a line there is not a day without a line m Psal 19.2 Day unto day vttereth speech night unto night sheweth knowledge n v. 4. their line is gone out through all the earth And the whole text fairely continued in the course of nature notwithstanding the many parenthesies of miraculous euents our cōtinual digressions But if this volume be too large read man the epitomy of all know thy selfe know all And who can hide such knowledge in him but it will breake forth into the o Ego conditoris nostri verum hymnum compono existimoque in co veram esse pietatem nō taurorū hecatombas ei plurimas sacrificari casias aliaque sexcenta odoramenta ac vnguenta suffumigari sed si noverim ipse primus deindè aliis exposuerim quaenam sit illius sapientia quae virtus quae bonitas Hoc autèm omne invenisse quo pacto omnia adornarentur summae sapientiae est effecisse autèm omninò quae voluit virtutis est invictae ac insuperabilis Gal. l. 3. de vsu part c. 10. praise and glory of God that made him p Psal 139.14 I will praise thee O Lord for I am fearefully and wonderfully made Yet are there greater wonders then this which God hath made knowen vnto vs. q 1. Tim. 3. v. 16. Without controuersie greate is the mystery of godlines God was manifest in the flesh iustified in the spirit seene of Angels preached vnto the Gentiles beleiued on in the world receiued vp into glory And all this to bring vs vnto the same glory whereof wee are assured by his spirit And now what greater happines than to haue our hearts full of ioy our mouthes of r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arrian Epict. l. 1. c. 16. praise vnto our God in whom we enioy all good Such was the happines of man and his cheife delight in the state of innocencie who called all things as they were presented to him by their ſ Gen. 2.19 names speaking of them no doubt to the glory of God the Creatour And such is the glory happy estate of the Saints Angels in heaven who cease not day and night saying t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Hominem Deus animal praestantissimum et vt suae naturae respondens ita vniuersi constitutionis oculum in mundo collocavit Quamobrem hic rebus imposuit nomina quarum fuit signator Euryphamus Pythagoricus l. de vita ex Stobaei Ser. 101. holy holy holy Lord God Almigty which was and is and is to come u Rev. 4.8 Thou art worthy O Lord to receiue glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created x vers 11. All the glory that we can do our God heavenly Father is only in his name which he hath How wee should glorifie God prescibed by the law of Nature as it were gotten by himselfe by his y Exod. 33.19 workes and published by his word z c. 34.5.6 proclayming his name The Lord the Lord c. we can adde nothing to his glory in Person who is aboue all glory and praise a Psal 50.23 Who so offereth praise he glorifieth God Yet must vvee glorifie him not only in word praising his workes but in deed also doing his word b Mat. 5. c. 16. That others seeing our good workes may glorifie our Father which is in heaven c Mich. 6.8 Wherefore he hath shewed thee O man what is good whose d Dei voluntas est non tantum recta sed etiam regula Bonav in sent lib. 1. dist 41. q. 2. in conclus will is the rule of all good who only knowes how himselfe will be served Which he hath prescribed at first by nature since by the law giuen in ten cōmandements as it were e Exod. 34.28 ten words requiring so many duties forbidding so many sins in generall with all their particulars accessaries A perfect law for man to haue liued by to the glory of God the law-giuer Which hee thereby prescribes in the same manner and order as wee are taught to desire the same of God by prayer For the hallowing of his name in heart word and deed he gaue vs the three first commandements that wee should know and acknowledge him the only true God with faith feare and loue and none other by that name or with any such religious honour and affection f Esay 42.8 This is my name saith he and my glory will I not giue vnto another The fourth commandement prescribes his kingdome and the other six his will to bee done by vs in earth as it is in heaven Yet so as that the glory of God is interessed
him in whom he foresaw all things before he made them from euerlasting * Antiqui praedestinationem ad electos vt plurimum restrinxerunt Fr-Iun Thes Theol 10. §. 2. vid. Hypognost l. 6. Inter gratiam praedestinationem hoc tantum interest quod praedestinatio est gratiae praeparatio gratia verò jam ipsa donatio Aug. de praedest sanct c. 10. those he did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son in their order and time that he might be the first-borne amongst many brethren i Eph. 1.4.5 And againe he hath chosen vs in him before the foundation of the World that we should be holy and vnblameable before him in loue hauing predestinated vs to the adoption of children by Iesus Christ to himselfe according to the good pleasure of his will Now Christ is the Mediatour by whom all things are done as they were purposed in him the mirrour from euerlasting Hee was the Mediatour of creation k Ioh. 1.3 by whom all things were made and without him was not any thing made that was made l Col. 1. v. 16. For by him all things were created that are in Heauen and that are in Earth visible and invisible whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers all things were created for him by him He is the Mediatour of conseruation m Heb. 1.3 vpholding all things by the Word of his power n Col. 1. v. 17. For hee is before all things by him all things consist as well men as Angels o C. 2. v. 10. for we are all compleate in him which is the Head of all principality and power And he is the Mediatour of redemption for the sons of men A different manner of mediatiō by Christ for effecting that one eternall election of men and Angels in him By whom they were confirmed that they should not fall wee are recouered though wee did fall at once in Adam and doe often fall foule our selues d Col. 1.18 For he is the Head of the body the Church who is the beginning the first borne from the dead that in all things he might haue the preheminence None could bee the Lords Christ to performe the offices of Iesus the Sauiour implyed in that title e Mat. 1.21 to saue his people from their sinnes from the power and dominion of sinne from the punishment damnation for sin but the Sonne of God himselfe f C. 3.17 in vvhom alone he is vvell pleased and by whom all the powers of Satan could be conquered g 1 Iohn 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God vvas manifested in the flesh that hee might destroy the vvorkes of the Deuill and deliuer vs into the liberty of the sonnes of God * Iohn 8.36 Now if the Sonne make vs freee then are vve free indeed Therefore the Sonne of God The son of man the middle Person of the three in order became a middle person betwixt God and vs by participation of each nature that he might be a fit meanes and all-sufficient Mediatour of our reconciliation and redemption h Gal. 4.4 When the fulnes of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman as was promised from the beginning i Gen. 3.15 The seede of the woman shall breake the serpents head and was afterwards more plainely prophesied k Es 7.14 Behold a Virgin shall conceiue and beare a son thou shalt call his Name Immanuel The blessed Virgin Mary l Luke 1.35 by the power of the Highest through the vvorking of the Holy Ghost m Non autem omnes sunt sicut Maria vt dum de Spiritu Sancto concipiunt verbum pariant Ambros l. 2. in Lucam Vbi virgo benè credula mentē suam ossuum aperuit yt diceret Ecce ancilla c. mox iuxtà dictum Angeli Spiritus Sanctus superveniens in eam per apertas fidei ianuas sese infudit quò autem nimirùm priùs in sacrarium pudici pectoris deindè in templum sacri vteri ut Christi matrem faceret c. Rupertus l. 1. de operibus Sp S c. 9. c. 10. conceptusiste Spiritus Sancti non generatio sed operatio est conceived bare and brought forth our Saviour in the flesh n Luk. 1.35 Therefore also that holy thing vvhich vvas borne of her is called the sonne of God As at the first o Gen. 1.2 God spake the vvord and the spirit moned vpon the deepe working therein an obedientiall power to be what God would So in the fulnesse of time the Word himselfe was made man of the blessed virgin a Hunc ergò cum confiteamur natum de Spiritu Sancto Maria-virgine quomodo non sit filius Spiritus Sancti sit filius virginis Mariae cum de illo de illa sit natus explicare difficile est Proculdubiò quippe non sic de illo ut de patre sic autem de illa ut de matre natus est August Enchir. ad Laurent c. 38. by the ouershadowing of the same spirit which wrought b Et idem lib. 1. de peccatorum meritis remiss c. 29. Non concupiscentia carnis sed obedientia mentis virgo concepit c. faith and obedience in her heart whereby shee became indeede the mother of the Sonne of God At first shee doubted at the Angels message c Luk. 1. v. 34. Non dubitat esse faciendum quod quomodò fiat inquirit Ambros in Lucam l. 2. obstabant quidem adhùc multa quae carnis rationi dubium mouere poterant sed procul explosis illis omnibus diuinae voluntati sese committit et it à ex fide concipit sicut de Sarah in epistola ad Hebraeos scribitur Gualte◠hom 3. die conceptionis How shall this bee seing I know not a man But d Atque iam tune spititu donatam fuisse Mariam non est dubium Sed significatur singularis efficacissima Sp. S. operatio ut supra Samp. et prophet ib. vvhen the spirit of God came vpon her which might well be even whilest the Angell was speaking e Acts 10.44 As vvhilest Peter yet spake the Holy Ghost fell on all them vvhich heard the vvord then shee beleeued what was told her that the Sonne of God should become her child assuming flesh of her then shee said f Luk. 1.38 Contingat mihi secundum verbum tuum conceptus est voti Ambros l. 2. in Lucam Be it vnto me according to thy vvord She conceiued the Word first in her g Deum verum prius mente quà m ventre fuscepit virgo Rupertus l. 1. de operibus Sp. S. c. 9. Mente prius quam carne concepit Gersontin prooem centil Responde O virgo Verbum et suscipe Verbum profer tuum et suscipe diuinum Bern. hom 4. supermissus c. Responde Verbum et suscipe Filium
the just shall liue by his faith The state of Grace for it shall bee vnto him according to his faith which is of life from God the father in Christ Iesus his sonne our saviour by the Holy Ghost quickning the Holy e Habet popusus Dei plenitudinem suam quāvis magna pars hominū salvantis gratiā aut repellat aut negligat in electis tamen praescitis atque ab omnium gegeneralitate discretis specialis quaedā censetur vniversalitas vt detoto mundo totus mundus liberatus de omnibushominibus omnes homines videantur assumpti Ambr. de vocat Gent. lib. 1 c. 3. Catholique Church which is his body f Eph. 1.23 the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all A life of grace here by reconciliation and communion with God and a life of glory hereafter thorough the forgiuenesse of sinnes and resurrection of our bodies to eternall life The g 1. Pet. 3.7 grace of life in Christ worketh in vs a life of grace by his spirit For the sanctifying graces of GOD rest not in the habit but are in action h 1. Thess 1.3 The worke of faith the labour of loue the patience of hope i Heb. 11. By faith A bell by faith Abraham by faith every one of the holy men in the cloud of witnesses did some notable worke which did evidēce their faith to be indeed as they professed k v. 16. Wherefore God was not ashamed to be called their God l Iam. 2.22 Faith wrought with their works for m Heb. 11.6 without faith it is impossible to please God n Iam. 2.22 by workes was their faith made perfect For the perfection of vertue consists in action So must o c. 1.4 Patience haue her perfect worke p 1. Ioh. 3.18 So must loue be not in word neither in tongue but in deede and in trueth q Iam 2.15.16 If a brother or a sister be naked and destitute of dayly foode and one of you say vnto them depart in peace bee you warmed and filled notwithstanding you giue them not those things which are needfull to the body what doth it profit r 20.26 Faith without workes is dead and so is loue no faith indeede but a bolde presumption no loue indeede but a meere pretence ſ Iam. 2.18 Shew mee thy faith by thy workes but do thy workes before God in faith By faith our selues are iustified before God by good workes our faith and profession are iustified and approved vnto men For thereby it appeares that wee are in the faith and that our faith is in God t Tit. 3.8 This therefore is a faithfull saying that they which haue beleeued in God bee carefull to maintaine good workes u Iam. 2.26 For as the body without the spirit is dead so faith whithout workes is dead also And if our faith be dead whereby wee liue how dead are we * Iud 12. twice dead plucked vp by the roots x Rom 3.4 5. C. We are justified by a liuely faith sayth Saint Paul y Iam 2. We are not iustified by a dead faith saith St Iames wherefore little children z 1. Iohn 3.7 Let no man deceiue you saith St Iohn Hee that doth righteousnesse is righteous even as hee is righteous a 1. Tim 1.14 Now the grace of our Lord is exceeding abundant with faith and loue which are in Christ Iesus b 2. Pet 1.3 According as his Divine power hath giuen vnto vs all things that pertaine vnto life godlines through the knowledge of him that hath called vs to glory and vertue Now although the whole Church and euery true member thereof whom the Father hath chosen whom the Sonne hath redeemed whom the Holy Ghost hath effectually called through sanctificatiō sprinkling of the bloud of Iesus bee holy in Gods account although God bee glorified in his Saints here vpō earth by their blessed cōmunion with him with all men in loue wherby they are also highly dignified in a manner diefied c 2 Pet. 1.4 being made partakers of the divine nature so that they doe far excell al the world besides d 1 Iohn 5.19 that lieth in wickednes e In hac vita multi sine crimine nullus vero esse sine peccatis valet Greg. in Moral Vae etiam laudabili hominū vitae si remota misericordia discutias eam Aug. l. 9. confes c. 13. Nemosine peccato Negare hoc sacrilegium est Solus enim Deus sine peccato est Confiteri hoc Deo immunitatis remedium est Ambros in Ps 118. v. vlt. yet whē all is done we beleeue confesse that we haue stil need of farther grace mercy euen the forgiuenes of our sins if by any meanes we may attaine the resurrection of our bodies to eternall life Wherfore as on the one side f 1 Iohn 1.6 If we say that wee haue fellowship with God walke in darknes we lye doe not the truth So on the other side g V. 8. If we say that we haue no sin wee deceiue our selues and the truth is not in vs. But if we confesse our sins he is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sins to cleanse vs frō all vnrighteousnes If any man think that being of the Church in the cōmunion of Saints hee needeth not the forgiuenesse of sins to the last let him also raise his own body frō death to life h Phil. 3.20 21. But wee looke for the Sauiour the Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it maybe fashioned like vnto his glorious body inheriting eternal life Which begins so soon as we beleeue i Iohn 5.25 for the houre is come that the dead heare the voice of the son of God they that heare it liue neuer ends nor shall euer be quite interrupted by sin nor death k V. 24. For he that beleeueth hath euerlasting life shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to life The briefe of all is The praise of the glory of Gods grace that l Habak 2. The iust shall liue by his faith which the Prophet Habakucke receiued of God like as Moses receiued the Law namely vpon his watch-towre with expresse charge m v. 2. to write it and to make it plaine on tables And the Apostle hath giuen vs the constat thereof purposely n Gal. 3. comparing the two covenants together o v. 11. That no man is justified by the Law in the sight of GOD it is manifest For the Iust shall liue by faith p v. 12. And the Law is not of faith but the man that doth them shall liue in them q Rom. 3.27 Where is boasting now It is excluded By what Law By the Law of workes Nay but by the Law of faith r 1 Cor. 1.31 That according
therefore his will is a law to vs and our obedience is true loue vnto him And weebeing many are thereby knit together in one body holding the vnity of the spirit in this bonde of peace Wherefore as wee vowe in baptisme that we will keepe Gods holy will commandements and walke in the same all the daies of our life so by this other sacrament wee renew the same vow so often as wee receiue it repenting our sinnes past the transgressions of that righteous law resoluing and stedfastly purposing thorough Gods grace to leade a new life in all thankfull obedience vnto him and true loue and charity amongst our selues Wherevpon we receaue the blessed sacrament of Christs body blood most deepely binding our selues thereby to performe the same and in the assured faith of Gods grace and helpe that wee may walke in the strength of this spirituall food the way of life by the law prescribed vnto vs. When first the couenant was confirmed by Moses with the Israelites at Horeb The Law conditioned God gaue them the law they accepted saying a Exod. 19.8 all the words which the Lord hath commanded wee will doe and be obedient And when he renewed the same couenant with them in the land of Moab they gaue their faith that they would obey And so doe wee b Deut. 26.17.18 They avouched the Lord to be their God and so doe we the Father Son Holy ghost and God auoucheth the holy catholike Church as then he did them to be his people They promised to walke in his waies and to keepe his commandements and his iudgements as they expected his blessing c c. 27. they bound themselues with an oath and with a curse all which in effect wee likewise doe to liue as becometh his saints euen as wee expect his mercy to forgiue vs our sinnes and the power of his grace to bring vs to ternall life Wherevnto we binde our selues by vow and consignation and as it were by contesseration in the sacraments The law was not only giuen and required by God but approued accepted by them in their hearts to doe it as their mouthes professed In which respect Moses said d Deut. 30.14 the word is very nigh thee in thy mouth and in thine heart that thou maist doe it Howbeit they breake their faith giuen and their spirit was not stedfast with God a Ps 78.37 Their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his couenant But now hauing renewed his couenant as he promised b Gal. 3.7 with the children of Abraham that are by faith the holy catholike Church that they shall be his people and that he will be their God c Ier. 31.33 Lex dei in cordibus scribitur non quia per naturam praeventa sit gratia sed quia per gratiam reparata est natura August de ver a innocent cap. 258. hee puts his law in their inward parts and in their hearts he writes it euen the communion of saints thorough faith that worketh by loue For beleeuing in Christ Iesus we doe thereby acknowledge that the Law is holy iust and good Holy in respect of the things commanded else were not wee sinfull who haue disobayed nor needed wee a mediatour Iust in respect of the penalty inflicted else why should Christ haue dyed that wee might be deliuered Good in respect of the end purposed life to the doer Which Christ hath done and liues for euer and wee also by faith in him If the same minde be in vs that was in Christ Iesus to be obedient to the will of God vnto the death d Cant. 8.6 Loue is stronger then death The couenant indissoluble that neither life nor death can dissolue the communion betwixt God his church or any true member thereof Whom hee hath set as aseale vpon his heart as a seale vpon his arme to loue and to defend for euer For so hee saith e Heb. 13.5 I will neuer leaue thee nor forsake thee f c. 6.7 And being willing more abundantly to shew vnto the heires of promise the immutability of his counsell he hath confirmed his word by the sacraments in his blood g v. 8. That by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lye wee might haue a strong consolation who haue fled for refuge to lay holde vpon the hope set before vs. We may therefore be bolde vpon it if need be to lay downe our liues for his sake in whom our life is hid with God knowing that euen in death wee shall be more then h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.37 conquerours thorough him that loued vs. i Mat. 20.22.23 Can ye drink saith Christ of the cuppe wherof I shall drinke and can yee bee baptized with the baptisme wherwith I shall be baptized And they said we can And hee said yee shall So must all a 2. Tim. 3.12 Act. 14.22 suffer affliction some way or other that will liue Godly It is the portion of our cuppe and calling conditioned by God vndertaken by vs in these sacraments whereby we are assured that b 2. Tim. 2.12 if we suffer with him wee shall raigne with him Wee are baptized into the death of Christ And the holy communion is not only a sacrament of the grace of life vnto vs but a sacrifice of vs vnto God and a protestation of our seruice vnto him euen vnto the death after the example of Christ Iesus In c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Monumenta salutaris passionis Basil in cannonditur 1 Cor. 11.26 commemoration of whose meritorious sufferings with a thankfull remembrance thereof wee c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Monumenta salutaris passionis Basil in cannonditur 1 Cor. 11.26 se◠forth his death vntill he come d Rom. 12.1 offer vp our selues a liuing sacrifice holy acceptable vnto God thorough Iesus Christ consecrating vowing our selues whatsoeuer we are whatsoeuer we haue wholy to his seruice who hath redeemed vs. e 2 Cor. 5.14.15 For the loue of Christ constraineth vs because we thus iudge that if one dyed for all then were all dead and that hee dyed for all that they which liue should not henceforth liue vnto themselues but vnto him that died for them and rose againe f Heb. 13.15 By him therefore let vs offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruite of our lips giuing thankes to his name v. 16. not forgetting to doe good and to communicate for with such sacrifice God is well pleased CAP. II. Faith working by loue according to the Lawe The Law established by faith Gods law our prayer Faith in the Trinity denies not the vnity of God Christ the only image of God to bee worshipped by faith in his name By Prophanenesse Hypocrisie Blasphemy the name of God vnhallowed The Christian sabbath of the holy catholike Church The sabbath not
is b Heb. 11.1 v. 27. the evidence of things not seene we may discerne being now otherwise vnto vs invisible And wheresoever we are if we beleeue in Christ we shall neuer bee far to seeke where and how to worship God c Ioh. 4.21.23 The houre is now come when as our Saviour told the superstitious woman neither on that mount nor at Ierusalem but the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth d 1 Ioh. 5.20.21 In hoc quod fecit hunc munduÌ„ coelo terraque conspicuum antequam imbuereatur in side Christi not us omnibus gentibus Deus In hoc autem quod non est iniuriis suis cum dtis falsis colendus not us in Iudaea Deus In hoc verò quod pater est huius Christi per quem tollit peccatum mundi hoc nomen cius prius eccultum omnibus aunc manifestavit iis quos dedâ— ei pater ipse de mundo Aug. tract 105. super Iohan. The Father in the sonne who is the truth by the holy Ghost For we know that the sonne of God is come and hath giuen vs an vnderstanding that we may knowe him that is true and wee are in him that is true even in his sonne Christ Iesus This is the true God and eternall life Babes keepe your selues from Idols e Phil. 2.10 11 At the name of Iesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confesse that Iesus Christ is the Lord to the glory of God the Father At his name not at his picture in his name not by his image all prayers and praises offered vp to God the Father are accepted with him f 1. Tim. 2.8 And now we pray every where lifting vp holy hands g Mal. 1.11 and from the rising of the sun vnto the going downe of the same the name of the Lord is great among the Gentiles And in every place incense is offered and a pure offering euen h Rev. 8.4 the prayers of the Saints by the hand of the Angell of the couenant Christ Iesus at the altar of God his presence For the i Ps 141.2 powring out of our prayers is as the incense and the lifting vp of our hands as the evening sacrifice But k Lev. 10.3 God will be sanctified of all that come nigh vnto him Prophanesse Hypocrisie Blasphemy l 2. Tim. 2.19 Let everyone therefore that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquitie m Heb. 12.29 For our God is a consuming fire and will consume those with fire of his indignation n Le. 10.1 that offer strange fire vpon his altar He is a iealous God and will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine Which we doe if either we take notice of his word and works without due affection whereby he makes his name knowne or if we vse any notification of him but in his worship or to his honour with true religion and devotion The Philosophers o Rom. 1.21.22 who professed themselues wise became fooles Because when they knewe God by his workes of creation they glorified him not as God neither were thankfull But the due notice of God his workes by his word thorough the working of his spirit begets faith in vs and that faith restraines from all evill by feare and prouokes by loue to p Igitur qui innotentiam colit domino supplicat qui iustitiam deo libat qui frandibus abstinet oropitiat deum quihomineÌ„ pericuto surripit opimam victiimam caedit Min. Fael oct good workes that we may q 2. Cor. 6.1 not receiue the grace of God in vaine nor take his name in vaine cause it to be euilspoken of r Is 29.14 Mat. 25 8. Hypocrites draw neare God with their mouthes and honour him with their lips but their hearts are farr off Å¿ Ezek. 33.31 running after couetousnesse t Ps 66.18 But if I regard iniquity the lord will not heare me u Ps 50.16.17 To the wicked God saith what hast thou to declare my statutes or to take my couenant in thy mouth seeing thou hatest to bee reformed * Prov. 28.9 The very prayer of the wicked is abominable euen a mocking of God to his face as the x Mat. 27.29.30 souldiers bowing the knee mocked Christ saying haile king of the Iewes and smote him with their hands Wherefore Solomons counsell is god y Eccl. 5.1 v. 2. keepe thy foot when thougoest into the house of God and bee more ready to heare then to offer the sacrifice of fooles for they consider not that they doe euill And that our mouthes be not rash nor our hearts hasty to vtter any thing before God Dauid his resolution is good in our greatest passions and perturbations z psal 39.1 I said I will take heed to my waies that I offend not with my tongue Least by cursing swearing forswaring wee pull downe the curse of God vpon vs and cause a Zach. 5.2.3.4 the flying roule to come forth to enter into our houses to consume theÌ„ with the timber therof the stones thereof to cut vs off on this side on that side according to it Yet are there greater prophanations then these whereby the name of God is blasphemed b Iob. 34.18.19 Is it fit to say to a king thou art wicked and to princes yee are vngodly How much lesse to him that accepteth not the persons of princes Yet desperat forelorne malecontents c Es 8.21 will curse their God and their king and looke vpwards when they are hardly bestead And there are worse blasphemers then these the bloody persecutors of God his seruants sticke d Iames 2.7 not to blaspheme that worthy name of Christ whereby wee are called e 1 Cor. 12.3 But no man speaking by the spirit of God calleth Iesus accursed And yet there are worse blaspheamers then they f Heb. 6.4 who hauing beene made partakers of the holy ghost fall away desperately malitiously to blaspheme g Manifestê° est a side lapsus crimen maximae superbiae vel a scripto recedere vel non scriptum admittere Basil sermo de fide the known truth the spirit of truth being possessed with a spirit of contradictions for whoÌ„ there is no mercy h Heb. 6.6 no place for repeÌ„tance The prophane vnbeleeuer i Acts. 7.51 resisteth the spirit of God the formall professor k Eph. 4 30. greiues the spirit of god the lewde liuer l 1 Thes 5.19 quencheth the spirit of God but the blasphemous apostata m Heb. 10.29 doth despite vnto the spirit of grace But if we beleeue indeed as wee were baptised haue professed in the name of the Father Sonne and Holy ghost our hearts and tongues and deeds will all ioyne together with the blessed Angels and all the powers of heauen crying holy holy holy lord God of saboth
ratione praedita 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quidninominet quispiam eum filium Dei Arrian epise l. 1. c. 9. sons of God y Iames 1.17 who is the Father of lights And againe wee are his sonnes by grace who of his owne will z Iames 1.18 begat vs by the word of truth through faith in his Sonne a Iohn 1.12.13 For to as many as receiue him to them he giues power to become the sonnes of God euen to them that beleeue on his Name which are borne not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Who for his part failes not to provide for our good both in the course of nature and in the state of grace For if an earthly father knowes how to provide good things for his children how much more doth our Father which is in Heauen b Acts 14.17 vvho neuer left himselfe vvithout vvitnes doing good And if hee make c Mat. 5.45 his sunne to rise on the euill and on the good and send raine on the iust and on the vniust hee will certainely cause the d Mal. 4.2 sunne of righteousnesse to arise and e Es 60.1 shine vpon his gracious children and will f c. 44.3 send downe sweete dewes of his spirit into their hearts And g Rom. 8.32 he that hath giuen vs his Son how shall he not with him giue vs all things also Nay our heauenly Father preuents vs with all good things both of nature and grace and all to this end that we should haue the good nature or the grace to vse all to the praise of his glory Which whilest we principally intend wee may be well assured that in the end wee shall be no loosers both because our true happinesse consists naturally in the h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deus salutaris est sed bonumipsum salutare Arrian Epict. l. 2. c. 8. Summum amare bonum summa est beatitudo August epist 111. ad Iulian. fruition and admiration of Gods glory according to the covenant of nature i Levit. 18 5. Rom. 10.5 doe this and liue and also because the glory of God is ingaged vpon the saluation of his faithfull people by the covenant of grace k Habak 2.4 Rom. 1.17 The Iust shall liue by his faith In assurance whereof the faithfull children of God haue beene well content The true Zelotes of God's glory not onely to frame their liues to his glory but to lay downe their liues for his sake putting the last adventure of their soules that they could make in well-doing l 1 Pet. 4.19 into the hands of God a faithfull Creatour The Lord Himself m Phil. 2.6 being in glory equall with God the Father that without robbery was willing to be abased in the forme of a seruant to the pit of hell that the will of GOD might be done on earth by man for the redeeming of his Kingdome in vs to the glory of his holy Name For although the flesh was weake which for the time put him in a terrible agony yet he soone resolued being strong in the spirit n Luke 22.42 Not my will but thy will be done * Iohn 12.27.28 Now is my soule troubled and what shall I say Father saue mee from this houre but for this cause came I to this houre Father glorifie thy Name And at this marke of our high calling his zealous Saints resolued by his grace through faith presse hard in hope and loue Abraham was content to submit so farre to the will of GOD as to o Gen. 22. sacrifice his sonne Isaacke whom he loued and with him for ought that appeared his owne and all mens expected happinesse For the promise that in his seed all the Nations of the earth should be blessed was before restrayned to Isaacke p Gen. 21.12 Heb. 11.17.18 In Isaacke shall thy seed be called Only he beleeued that God was able to raise him vp from the dead q V. 19. from whence also he receiued him as in a figure Moses wished to be r Ex. 32.32 rased out of the Booke of life rather then that God should not maintaine his owne glory in the safety and prosperity of his people Israel whereon his glory lay ingaged Iob resolueth in his greatest affliction ſ Iob. 13.15 though the Lord slay me yet will I not forsake him The three children Shadrach Mesach Abednego were resolute not to giue the glory of God to Nebuchadnezzar in his golden image whatsoeuer came of them though they perished t Dan 3.17.18 Our God say they whom we serue is able to deliuer vs out of thine hands O King and hee will deliuer vs but if not bee it knowne vnto thee O King that wee will not serue thy gods nor worship thy golden image which thou hast set vp St Paul was content to be u Rom. 9 3◠Anathema from Christ for his brethrens sake not in mere naturall affection to them though it were great but in a feruent zeale of Gods glory which now might seeme to lye at stake with thē Because x V. 4. to them belonged the adoption the glory the covenant And generally all the new borne which onely are the true borne children of God seeme to bee of the same minde Christianos dicit Plinius Secundus omnia vitia detestari sanctissimè vivere hoc solum in eis posse reprehendi quod nimis faci è pro Deo suo profundant vitam quodque horis antelucanis furgant ad canendas laudes Christi l. 10. ep 97. ad Traian who reioyce not only in hope of the glory of God but euen in their greatest tribulations y Heb. 10.34 suffering ioyfully the spoiling of their goods yea of their z Heb. 11.35.36.37 liues vvith most exquisite torments because the a Rom. 5.5 loue of God is shed abroad in their hearts b 1 Pet. 1.8 vvhom hauing not seene they loue in vvhom though novv they see him not yet beleeuing they reioice vvith ioy vnspeakable and full of glory Nay euery creature doth euen by nature spend it self to set forth the glory of the Creator in some sort or other To glorisie the creatoris the glory of the creature being then most happy when it can serue best and is most vsed to that end for which it was made c Iob. 12.7 Aske now the beastes and they shall teach thee the foules of the aire they shall tell thee Or speake to the earth it shall teach thee and the fishes of the sea shall declare vnto thee If wee were not dull of hearing might we not perceiue an * Cicero in Somn. Scip. harmony of the Spheares the Earth below with a deepe base in consort to the Heauenly quier euery creature of God bearing his part all cōming in with a full Chorus to
Deo per lignum accipiamus nostri debiti remissionem Irenaeuslib 3. cap. 17. For he hath redeemed vs from the curse of the law being made a curse for vs. For it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on tree And wherefore was the death on the tree accursed aboue all kindes of death but as the serpent was accursed aboue all beastes of the field Both for the first transgression whereof the serpent was the instâ—â—â—â—t the tree the occasion The father of all mankind would needes eate the sinfull fruite of the forbidden tree and the sonne of man must needes tast the deadly fruite of the cursed tree to recover our saluation as it were back againe by the same way h 1. Cor. 15.22 Wherefore as in Adam all dyed so in Christ shall all be made aliue Who hauing on the tree satisfied the law k Colos 2.14.15 blotted out the had writing of ordinances that was against vs and tooke it out of the way nayling it vnto his crosse And hauing so spoyled principalities powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it For when the law was satisfied and cancelled Satans commission for l Quomodo mors à capite superata videtur quae tanta adhuc libertate saevit in membra victa planè mors opus diaboli peccati poena victum peccatum causa mortis victus malignus ipse peccati author mortis Nam peccatum licet simul cum Christo cruci ipsius non dubitetur affixum adhuc tamen interim non regnare quidem sed habitare etiam in ipso dum viveret Apostolo permittebatur Sic mors ipsa minimè quidem adhuc abesse cogitur sed cogitur non obesse Bernard serm in transit S. Malachiae death which he had by the law expired m 1. Cor. 15.55.56.57 O Death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victory The sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the law But thankes bee to God which giueth vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ Thus the grace of God The spirit of Grace that bringeth saluation hath appeared vnto vs in Christ Iesus by which n Eph. 2.8 grace wee are saued through faith and that not of our selues it is the gift of God who worketh all grace in vs by his spirit As by the word spirit of God every thing was made at first as God would haue it So now he calleth men a Deus quos dignatur vocat quem vult religiosum facit Ambros l. 6. in Lucam c. 46. whom he pleaseth out of the world that lyeth in wickednes they b Hic absque cmendicatisaliunde suffragijs quos coÌ„pungit inungit quos invitat consummat quod praecipit efficit Arnold Bonav lib. de operibus sex dierum cap. 2. moued enlightened by his spirit belieue come c Haec erit vis divinae gratiae potentier vtique natura habens in nobis subjacentem sibi liberam arbitrij potestatem quod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur Tertul de an cap. 21. Without whose grace wee haue no present faculty or ability by nature to make meanes for grace or of our selues to vse the meanes being offered d Eph. 2.1 c 4.18.19 Being dead in sinnes and trespasses alienated from the life of God past feeling For although wee haue the same e Potentias habemus potestatem amisimus powers of nature as at the first yet haue we not the same natur all power to vse them being in our selues vtterly indisposed and disabled as paralytikes haue little or no vse of their limmes and sences And is it not often so with perfect men f Potentia prima secunda that they haue not the power as wee say to doe on a suddaine an ordinary thing at hand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrisost in â—ad Corinth hom 24. or to make vse of that which is their owne g Eccl 5.19 Every man to whom God hath giuen riches and vvealth and hath giuen him power to eate thereof and to take his portion and to reioyce in his labour this is the gift of God And if it bee so with vs in these naturall things and temporall how much more h Neque fideles fiunt nisi libero arbitrio tamen illius gratia fideles fiunt qui eorum a potestate tenebrarum liberavit arbitrium August ep 107. ad VitaleÌ„ mox ab initio in things spirituall and eternall i 1. Cor. 2.10.11 Againe what man knoweth the things of a man which is in him Even so the things of God knoweth no man but the spirit of God by whom they are revealed vnto vs. For k v. 9. they are such as eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither haue entred into the heart of man And naturally nothing enters into the heart but by some sense whereby wee haue all our intelligence Now l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Haec absque meliori afflatu acâ— diviniore virtute non posunt venire in contemplationem hominum Origen l 4. contr Celsum the things of God are not perceiued by sense nor comprehended by science but by manifestation of the trueth to every mans conscience in the sight of God through a priuate intelligence betwixt him vs by his spirit whereby he revealeth himselfe in the word m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Neque enim ab vllis perspici aut intelligi possunt nisi quibus Deus Christus eius concesserit intelligentiam Iust Mattyr in Dialog cum Triphone Iudaeo to whom he pleaseth from vnder the letter as Christ did sometimes manifest himselfe to be the word the Sonne of God from vnder the flesh n Prou. 17.16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a foole to get wisdome seing he hath no heart to it o 1. Cor. 2.14 For the naturall man receiueth not nor indeede perceiveth the things of God both because all our p Iam. 3.15 naturall wisdome being carnall is earthly and sensuall if not deuillish and because the things of God are supernaturall But q 1. Cor. 2.14 they are spiritually discerned by the same spirit whereby they were revealed r Iob. 32. v. 8. Surely there is a spirit in man but the inspiration of the Almighty giueth them vnderstanding Every grace of God in vs Preventing Grace is the impresse of the like grace of God towards vs expressed in Christ Iesus s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vocat Chrisost eiusque discipulus Isiodor Pelus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrisost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 impressed on our hearts by the Holy Ghost the almner dispenser of the manifold gifts and graces of God t 1. Cor. 12.11 dividing to every man sueuerally as hee will u Eph. 4 7. according to the measure of the gift of Christ * Iob. 1.16 Of whose fulnesse we all receiue euen grace
for grace but every grace in its order first faith then those that are of faith to wit loue and hope x 2. Cor. 3.18 For we all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of God namely y c. 4.6 in the face of Iesus Christ z v. 4. by the light of his glorious Gospell a c. 3.18 are changed into the same image frō glory to glory euen as by the spirit of the Lord. God that spake things at the first when he spake them their being still b Rom. 4.17 calleth things that are not is if they were anon they are so c Hos 2.23 ◠Pet. 2.10 He saith to thē that were ' not his people thou art my people and they moued by the holy Ghost say Thou art my God d Gal. 4.9 Now we know God by faith * Ab initio fidei misericordiam consecutisumus non quia fideles eramus sed vt essemus August ep 105 ad Sixtum Fidem vocat Clemens Alexand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 primam salutis inclinationem l. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fides est prima quae subjugat animum Deo August lib. de agone Christiano c. 9. or rather we are knowne of God in Christ e 2. Tim. 2.19 hauing this seale The Lord knoweth who are his f 1. Iohn 4.10 And herein is loue not that wee loued him but that he loued vs sent his son to be a propitiation for our sins a Non habet homo vnde diligat Deum nisi ex Deo Aug. l. 15. de tri c. 17. Tales nos amat Deus qualesfuturi sumus ipsius dono non quales sumus nostro merito Conciliū Arausicanū 2. can 12. vid. plur c. 25. Amor Dei quo pervenitur ad Deum non est nisi à Deo patre per Iesum cum Spiritu Sancto Per hunc amorem creatoris benè quisque vtitur creaturis Auglib 4. cont Iul. c. 3. ad caleem When wee were not louing vnto him nor any thing louely in our selues but b Ezek. 16.6 lay weltring in our blood were c Colos 1.21 enemies in our minds by evill workes then he reconciled vs vnto himselfe in Christ d Ezech. 16.6 passing by said vnto vs liue yet now having e Rom. 5.5 the loue of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is giuen vnto vs f 1. Pet. 1.8 we loue him also though wee haue not seene him g Rom. 5.2.3 wee reioyce not onely ' in hope of his glory but in our afflictions for his sake with ioy vnspeakeable and full of glory h 1. Pet. 4.14 because the spirit of glory of God resteth vpon vs. And still wee follow after in hope God succouring vs with his grace i Phil. 3.11.12 if hauing not yet attained wee may be any meanes apprehend that for the which wee are apprehended of Christ Iesus k Eph. 1.13.14 In whō after that we beleiued we were sealed with that holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the purchased possessiō vnto the praise of his glory l Reu. 22.17 Now the spirit the bride say come let him that heareth say come And let him that is a thirst come and whosoeuer will let him take the water of life m Ideogratia quia gratis datur ideo gratis datur quia non quasimerces redditur post discussionem metitorum sed donum datur post delictorum veniam August de verbis Domini serm 61. freely If it were in man to prevēt God by preparing disposing himselfe vnto grace or any way to make himself more worthy thereof thē others why should not m Rom. 9.13 Israel that followed after the law of righteousnes haue attained to the law of righteousnesse Because they sought it not by faith True but why did they not beleeue because they n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrisost homil 30. in acta At post had not the grace o Matth. 13.11 For to them it was not giuen to know the mysteries of of the kingdome of heaven And for them who receiued the Gospell vnto salvation Saint Paul who was p Phil. 3.5.6 an Hebrew of the Hebrewes and concerning the righteousnesse which is by the law blamelesse professeth saying q Tit. 3.5 not by the worke of righteousnes which we haue done but according to his mercy he saved vs. And how did r Rom. 9.30 The Gentiles which followed not after righteousnes attaine vnto righteousnes evē the righteousnes which is by faith ſ Rom 10.20 Esaias is bold saith I was found of those that t Fides erat quę data est non oranti quae vtique nisi data esset orare non posset quomodo enim invocabunt c. Aug. ep 105. ad Sixtum sought mee not I was made manifest to those that asked not after mee v 1. Cor. 1.26 And why are not many wise called * Deum praeterijsse multos philosophos homines acuti ingenij eximiae eruditionis praeteriisse etiam multos qui si civiles mores spectes innocentes erant vitae probatae vt enim divitias misericordiae suae patefaceret id magis consequitur si eos adducat qui magis reluctentur propter vitae merita ab ea magis sint alieni quam si eos qui humanae rationi videntur esse aptiores August 1. lib. ad Simplicianum quaest 2. many who haue the same meanes and far better naturall parts helpes of art and commendations of life then some poore Publicans and sinners Wee see our calling How that x Mat. 20.16 many are called but few are chosen as it pleaseth him y 2. Tim. 1.9 who hath saued vs and called vs with an holy calling not according to our workes but according to his owne purpose and grace which was given vs in Christ Iesus * Electi sunt ante mundi constitutionem ea praedestinatione in qua Deus sua futura facta praescivit electi autem lunt de mundo ea vocatione qua Deus id quod praedestinavit implevit August de praedest sanct c. 17. before the world began z 2. Thess 2.13 Wee are bound therefore to giue thankes vnto God alwaies for the beloued of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen them vnto salvation through sanctification of the spirit and beliefe of the trueth wherevnto wee are called by the Gospell Whilest many others stand a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iud. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 proscripti Plutarch in Syll. p. 825. 863. proscribed by the law whereby they were of old fore written to condemnation For the law remaineth an b Col. 2.14 hand-writing against them vncancelled c 2. Thess 2.10 who receiue not the loue of the truth that they might be saued d Hab. 2.4 Now
die excitatum atque in saecula manens Greg. Nazianz orat 43. it s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 698. as the temple of his body excelleth the body of the the temple as much as a spirituall house of liuely stones excelleth a materiall house of earthly stones as much as the Church Catholike excelleth the narrow compasse of Iury. At this time by meanes of these and the like predictions which could not but bee generally rumored abroade the desire of all nations was kindled and the expectation of all people was awakned k Pluribus persuasio inerat antiquis Sacerdotum literis contineri eo ipso tempore fore vt valesceret Oriens profectique Iudaea rerū potirentur Tacit Hist lib. 5. Percrebuerat Oriente toto vetus constans opinio esse in fatis vt eo tempore Iudaeâ profccti rerum potirentur Sueton. lib. 10. It was common throughout that part of the world that the Lord of the whole world should come forth of Iudea as the Heathen writers together with Iosephus doe witnesse whose testimony in this case cannot be suspected Now the time was come that the desire of all nations should come in whom they should all bee blessed l Malach. 3.1 And the Lord himselfe whom they sought came suddenly into his temple even the Angell of the couenant whom wee delight in m Luke 2.28 c. Wherevpon the just old Simeon hauing Christ in his armes sang his Nunc dimittis Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes haue seene thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people to bee a light to lighten the Gentiles and to bee the glory of thy people Israell For this was their glory and the glory of their Temple that n Rom. 9.4 to them pertained the adoption and the glory and the covenants and the giuing of the Law and the service of God and the promises Whose are the fathers and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came who is ouer all God blessed for euer Amen Many other things were foretold of him that should come which were accordingly fulfilled in Christ Iesus o Act 7.24 For all he Prophets from Samuel those that follow after as many as haue spoken haue likewise foretold of these dayes Whos 's other predictions of temporall things also were all generally subordinate to things spirituall and eternall in Christ Iesus So it pleased God to temper them together as the promise of an abundant seede to Abraham and the gathering of the Gentiles in him the promise of the land of Canaan and of an heauenly kingdome the perpetual succession of Davids race in the kingdome of Israel and the eternall kingdome of Christ in his Church the prophesie of the Iewes deliverance from their captiuity and of the generall resurrection Christ his prophesie in the Gospell of the destruction of Ierusalem and of the end of the world p Prophetiae in vicem sibi tempora concinunt vt aliquādò ex futuris praeterita aliquandò ex praeteritis futura probētur Greg. praef in Ezech. that by the event of these temporall things in their seasons they and wee might be the better assured of the eternall to be fulfilled in the end and that by the hope of things eternall we may be comforted howsoeuer it goeth with vs in the meanetime Is it not the word of God who speakes things and they are so Hee foretold things to come in the old Testament but by the new he brings thē to passe For q Rom. 1.16 the Gospell is the power of God vnto saluation to every one that beleeueth The power of the Gospell effecting that in vs which it tels vs. The glutton in the Gospell was perswaded that r Luke 16.30 if one might come from the dead his brethren would beleeue him though they did not hearken to Moses and the Prophets Behold Christ risen from the dead how by vertue of his quickning spirit in this word of life he gaineth every where infinite beleeuers and so recovereth them from death to life Behold so many ſ Ipse modus quo mundus credidit si consideretur incredebilior resurrectione viz mortuorum invenitur Incredibile est mundum rem tam incredibilem credidisse Incredibile est homines ignobiles infirmos paucissimos imperitos rem tam incredibilem tam efficaciter mundo in illo etiam doctis persuadere potuisse Aug lib. 22. de Civ Dei c. 5. c. 8. Quisque adhuc prodigia vt credat inquirit magnum est ipse prodigium qui mundo credente non credit Aug. l. 22. de Civ Dei c. 8. witnesses come from the dead all giuing testimony to the word of God The Gentiles t Luke 1.79 who sat in darkenesse and in the shadow of death and sinners of all sorts who had u Eph. 2. c. 3.19 beene dead in sinnes and trespasses alienated from the life of God and past feeling Never did the word of any man or any oracle gaine that generall credit and beget such a new life in men so holy so happy nor all that ever men and angels could speake did make such a blessed change throughout the world as the Gospell hath done and that by most vnlikely meanes and motiues A few simple plaine illiterate men telling plainly what they must loose and what they must suffer in the world whosoever would imbrace their doctrine Neither could the most obstinate vnbeleeuers potent adversaries and desperate enemies of the Gospell though they conspired and practised against it never so maliciously ever bee able to suppresse or withstand the mighty power of God his word but it certainely prevailed to their vtter ruine and confusion Neither is it therefore any preiudice to the power authority of God his word although it obtaineth not the same effect with all men x Is 55.10 For it never returnes void but effecteth that for which it was sente y 2 Cor. 2.16 being the savour of life vnto life in them that are saued and the savour of death vnto death in them that perish z C 4.4 In whom the God of this world hath blinded the mindes of them which beleiue not least the light of the glorious gospell of Christ who is the image of God should shine vnto them a Esdras 4.41 Great is the truth and it prevaileth Now is the effect shewes the vertue of the cause but giues it not so doth the Church The Church the professed company of beleeuers giue testimony but not authority to the truth of God his word b 1. Tim 3.15 For the Church is the pillar of truth not that the truth of God his word relyeth on the Church but because the Church is inlightned by the word of truth whereby it reflecteth light againe vnto the word being in the world as c Exod. 13. the pillar of light that went before the Israelites in the wildernesse d
Phil. 2.16 For the sonnes of God shine as lights in the world holding forth the word of life Especially the faithfull ministers of the word whom Christ therefore calleth e Mat 5.14 the light of the world And if their f Reu. 2.5 candlesticke be set vp in a setled and flourishing Church great and glorious is the light thereof especially in the holy assemblies and most principally in generall counsels A faire way-marke and a forcible inducement to way-fairing men to bend their course that way But yet all this cannot make one true beleeuer g Quis enim imponat mihi necessitatem vel colendi quod nolim vel quod velim non colendi Lact. lib. 5. de vera sap cap. 14. Religionis non est cogere religionē quae sponte suscipi debet non vi Tertul. ad Scapulam No authority of the Church can command faith in a man vnlesse h Hos 2.14 Cathedram habet in coelo qui corda docet Aug. God speake to his heart muchlesse doth it giue truth to the word They both are the proper worke of the same i Sicut Christus legis prophetarum impletio est ita spiritus Evangelij Chrisost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Basil in ps 95. spirit of truth expressed in the Scripture impressed on the heart of euery true beleeuer k 1. Iohn 5.6 It is the spirit that beareth witnesse because the spirit is trueth l 1. Cor. 14.37.38 Wherefore if any one thinketh himselfe to be spirituall let him acknowledge the things that are written even the scripture to be the word of God But if any will be ignorant let him be ignorant still m 1. Corinth 14.23.24.25 The comming together of the whole Church in some place suppose it be in counsell or for diuine service occasioneth one that beleeueth not or that is vnlearned to come in but it is the word there preached that entereth into him and convinceth him and iudgeth him that openeth the secrets of his heart and then falling downe on his face he worshippeth reporteh that God is in them of a truth n Euangelio non crederem nisi me Catholicae Ecclesiae commoueret authoritas August The Church being more sensible may happily first moue a man but o Ego solis canonicis Scripturis sine vlla recusatione debeo consensum Idem August contr Pelag. de natura grat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ego in sola Scriptura acquiesco Theodoret Dial. 1. c. 6. the Scripture being most certaine doth at last resolue every beleeuer They who liue in some low bottome may take notice that the Sunne is risen by the shining thereof vpon some high and eminent Church but who so getteth vp thither sees the Sunne it selfe risen and perceiues with his owne eyes that hee is in the hemisphere of light and sayth as the men to the woman of Samaria p Iohn 4.42 Now I beleeue not because of thy saying I haue heard it my selfe and know it indeed that it is the word of life q 1. Ioh. 5.9 If we receiu the testimony of men the testimony of God is greater r v. 10. He that beleeueth hath the Testimony in himselfe he that leeueth not hath the testimony against himselfe because ſ Iohn 12.48 the word that hath beene spoken that shall iudge him at the last day In the meane time Christ the Testator hath appointed some with power and authority in his Church to publish and require his word The Administrators and overseers as administrators and ouerseers to his Will and Testament The ministers of the Gospell are to administer the the same with the Sacraments as the t 2 Cor. 5.20 Ambassadours of Christ and u 1 Cor. 4.1 stewards of the mysteries of God hauing charge * 1 Tim. 4.16 Act. 20.28 to looke to themselues and their doctrine and to all the flock ouer which the holy Ghost maketh them ouerseers For the commission once giuen by Christ to the Apostles was not to cease with them but to continue euen x Mat. 28.19.20 so long as the precept bindeth and as his promise supporteth which is vnto the worlds end Wherefore they ordeined others by laying on of hands to succede them in that office and ministery with power also to doe the like so to deriue the same by a perpetuall succession to all posterity y Per ministros dispares Dei munus aequale est quia non illorum sed ejus est August contra Crescon lib. 3. c. 6. loquitur de Bapt. Now though the ministers of the Gospell be all of the same order with equall power to administer yet are they not all of the same degree as ouer-seers But some are in higher place z 2 Tim. 5.22 Tit. 1.5 to ordeine Elders a 1 Tim. 1.3 to charge the Pastours to teach no various doctrine b ch 5.19.20 to heare and to censure them c Tit. 1.11 to stop their mouthes and to silence them d ch 3.30 And after the first and second admonition vtterly to reiect a man that is an hereticke Who hauing this speciall power of Iurisdiction reserued to them for e 1 Cor. 14.40 decency and order sake are therefore called Bishops by an excellency that is f Speculatores Inspectores Vid. Duaren de sacr Eccl. minist ac benef lib. 1. cap. 7. ouerseers Besides these whose speciall office is in the Gospell God hath also ordayned the civill Magistrate from the beginning g 1 Pet. 2.13.14 whether the King as supreame or the governours that are sent by him h Custos vtriusque tabulae Vid. Duarenum de sacr Eccl. Minist ac benef l. 1. c. 5. 6. to administer his Law and to ouersee the due performance and execution thereof with power of life and death according to the Lavv of Nature euer in force i 1 Pet. 2.14 for the punishment of euill doers for the praise of them that doe well Whereunto all Nations euen by the light of Nature haue submitted k V. 13. but wee must submit our selues to euery ordinance of man for the Lords sake l Rom. 13.4 The Magistrate is the m Hoc jubent Imperatores quod jubet Christus quia cùm bonum jubent per illos non jubet nisi Christus Aug. ep 166. Minister of God to thee for thy good if thou doe that which is good but if thou doe that which is euill bee afraide for hee beareth not the sword in vaine These two ministrations the one ciuill the other Ecclesiasticall doe by mutual offices as the Law and the Gospell jointly and mutually support one another for the building vp of the body of Christ his Church and kingdome The * Vos Episcopi estis corum quae in Ecclesia sunt agenda ego verò episcopus extra Ecclesiam a Deosum constitutus Constantinus Imperator vt refert Eusebius in ejus
that beare witnesse in earth The spirit and the water and blood and these three agree in one For Christ m Eph. 5.26 sanctifieth clenseth his Church with the washing of water by the word that is by his blood thorough the spirit whereof the water and the word are the most significant signes and instrumentall meanes n 1. Iohn 5.6 This is he that came by water and blood euen Iesus Christ not by water only but by water and blood and o Es 53.12 poured out his soule which is in the blood for vs. And now he a V. 10. seeth his seed b Psal 22.30 a seed that serveth him accounted to him for a generation c Ioh. 6.63 It is the spirit that quickneth them euen the renewing of the holy Ghost by the washing of regeneration And d 1 Ioh. 5.6 it is the spirit that beareth witnesse vnto them because the spirit is trueth For e Eph. 1.13.14 Vnde tanta virtus aquÄ™ vt corpus tangat cor abluat nisi faciente verbo Non quiadicitur sed quia creditur Aug. tract 80. in Iohan. after that wee beleeue we are sealed with that holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance the pledge of our adoption The minister indeed baptiseth in the name of the Father and of the sonne and of the holy ghost by vertue of God his word and of the commission giuen by Christ Iesus But it is God himselfe that giues the blessing As by Aaron and his sonnes he ordained the blessing of the children of Israel saying f Num. 6.27 They shall put my name vpon them and I will blesse them In a Church once planted Poedobaptisme baptisme is administred vnto all that come or are brought therevnto even to new borne infants by Christ his ordinance and may not be neglected or needlesly deferred First because we haue g Omnis anima eousque in Adam censetur donec in Christo recenseatur Tert. lib. de anima c. 40. need to bee regenerated so soone as wee are borne being still borne in sinne which h Crescit cum aetatibus culpa Ambr. lib. de Noe Arca c. 22. groweth every day stronger and stronger vpon vs. Secondly children haue right of admission into the couenant and Church of Christ Iesus so soone as they are borne i Act. 2.39 For the promise is made to vs and to our children I will be thy God and the God of thy seed and not to ours only but to all afar off For now all nations are called and by baptisme to be admitted k Math. 28.19 Goe teach all nations baptising them So that in what nation soeuer the Gospell is preached generally receaued all therein may be baptised being presented therevnto by the Church Wherein some especially who a Accommodat illis mater Ecclesia aliorum pedes vt veniant aliorum cor vt credant aliorum linguam vt confiteantur Aug. ser 10. de verb. Apostoli present them vndertake for them as it were new parents in the Lord. For he is a father that doth a fathers part as in the Gospell b Luc. 10.29 c. he is a neighbour that doth the part of a neighbour Thirdly baptisme is presently due because Christ hath set no time for it whereas the eight day was appointed for circumcision but hath indefinitely commanded saying c Mark 10.14 suffer little children to come vnto me for to such belongeth the kingdome of heauen And so it seemes the Apostles did for they baptised whole d 1. Cor. 1.16 housholds amongst whom it is more then likely there were some children Lastly as children haue need and are capable of baptisme so is it profitable vnto them principally as a meanes of regeneration ordained by Christ through the grace of God and withall because their godly parents they who sustaine that place are bound thereby and made more carefull to teach them and themselues are occasioned to enquire and learne what d As the Israclites of the Passover Exod 12.26 that solemne service meanes and to performe the same As for the vow in baptisme g Sicut ergà secundum quendam modum sacramentum corporis Christi corpus Christi est sacrameÌ„tum sanguinis Christi sanguis Christi est ita et sacramentum fidei fides est Aug. ep 23. ad Bonifac. it e Sequitur in corde conversio cuius mysterium pracessit in corpore Aug. l. 4. de bapt c. 24. respecteth the time to come whereof we are capable from the first as f 1. Sam. 1.11 Samuel was vowed by his mother before he was borne and wherein we must bee answerable to the last For the faith required wee are baptised into it For God preventeth vs with his grace and thereby inableth vs to be his schollers h Tit. 2.11.12 The grace of God that bringeth salvation teacheth vs i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 28.19 Goe teach saith Christ or make Disciples baptising them and bee k Act. 2 38. baptised say they every one of you and you shall receaue the gift of the holy Ghost And so likewise for repentance it is indeed conditioned in baptisme a Ibid. Repent and bee baptised Whereof such as be of age must giue present b Vid. Mat. 3.6 testimony with c Act. 8.37 confession of their faith But for little children they are baptised innocents in Christ as they are borne peccants in Adam and for actuall transgressions which repentance doth properly respect they are called innocents I am sure their cause is much better in that respect then in elder age when by repentance we must vndoe as much as is done of our liues Wherefore Christ saith d Mat. 18 3. Quantò magis à baptismo probiberi non debet infans qui recens natus nihil peccauit nisi quod secundum Adam carnaliter natus contagium mortis antiquae prima natiuitate câ—ntraxit Qui ad remission em peccatorum acâ—ipiendam hoc ipso facilius accedit quod illiremittuntur non propria sed aliena peccata Cypt. in ep ad epis Fidum de infant bapt Except yee become as little children yee cannot enter into the kingdome of heaven Baptisme being the Sacrament of inititation is but once into the couenant and state of grace Anabaptisme which is but one for all men being once administred as Christ hath instituted Not e 1. Cor 1. one of Paul an other of Apollo another of Cephas an other of Christ as if Christ were divided or we baptised into any mans name sect or faction We beleeue one baptisme for the remission of sinnes f Eph. 4.5 One Lord one faith one baptisme And that but once g Sicut generatio carnalis vna est nec repeti vterus potest ita regeneratio spiritualis Semel enim nascimur semel quoque renascimur Aug. tract in Iohan 11. cap. 12. Once
they who most presume of their workes whilest they liue are glad if they haue the grace to dye in the faith renouncing all merit of workes to fly vnto the throne of grace for mercy h Iud. 20. v. 21. And yee beloned saith Saint Iude building vp your selues on your most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost keepe your selues in the loue of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ vnto eternall life Yet is not our saluation the lesse certaine because the finall accomplishment thereof is expected by hope and is not presently put into our owne hands For as our faith is so is our hope i Heb. 11.1 faith being the ground of things hoped for and the reason of the hope that is in vs both of them therefore are firme and sure because built vpon the rocke Christ Iesus k Mat. 16.18 Vpon this rocke as Saint Peter beleeued and confessed Thou l v. 16. art Christ the sonne of the liuing God the holy catholicke Church is built m v. 18. against which the gates of hell shall not preuaile but that euery true member thereof liuing and dying in the communion of saints shall notwithstanding sin death attaine by forgiuenesse of sinnes and the resurrection of the body eternall life And therefore n Rom. 5.2 wee reioice in hope of the glory of God as if wee had already attained To beleeue and hope as a Christian is not as the termes are vulgarly vsed and may perhaps sound in prophane eares to haue an vncertaine opinion and doubtfull expectation which indeed can bee no better in the things of men subiect to falshood and vanity But it is to be certainely assured fully perswaded and firmely resolued o 2 Tim. 1.12 knowing whom wee haue trusted that he is able to keepe that which wee haue committed to him against that day No weake nor vncertaine hold but p Heb. 6.19 an anchor of the soule both sure and stedfast entring into that which is within the vaile whither the fore runner euen Iesus is entred for vs. Faithfull hope is such an assurance q Rom. 8. as Saint Paul professeth by the helpe of Gods spirit knit together and firmely bound vp with that r 28.29.30 golden chaine of the certanity of saluation in Christ Iesus Wherevpon with a bold confidence he bids defiance to all the enimies of grace ſ v. 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect c. I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angells nor Principalities nor powers nor things preset nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. As our faith and affiance is more and more fixed in God thorough Iesus Christ by his spirit and approued vnto him by loue in well doing so is t Si quis credit etdiligit bene agendo prae ceptis obtemperando efficit vt etiam speret se ad id quod credit esse ventutum August de doctor Christ l. 1. cap. 37. the assurance of our saluation more and more confirmed in vs. For true u 1. Tim. 4.8 godlinesse hath the promises both of this life and of that which is to come Of this life * Mat. 6.33 Seeke ye first the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof and all these things shill be administred vnto you And for the life to come x Pl. 50.23 To him that ordereth his conuersation aright will I shew the saluation of God Therefore as wee beleeue so wee pray in hope which is our last refuge that our heauenly Father who knoweth whereof we stand in need will in his ordinary prouidence giue vs things needfull for this life to whom hee hath giuen grace first to seeke his kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Est autem duplici honoris muneris genere homo affectus quod ipsesolus poenitentiâ veniam peccatorum impetrat et eius vnius corpus quamvis mortale caducum aeternll immortale redditur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quorum alterum quod ad corpus pertinet propter animum alterum quod ad animum propter corpus consecutus est Nemesius lib. de natura hominis c. 1. And that he will freely and fully forgine vs our daily sinnes and trespasses of his meere grace in Christ Iesus remembring whereof wee are made to whom he giues this grace for his sake to forgiue one another Farther wee beleeue and pray in hope that he will guid and keepe vs ever hereafter by his spirit in the way everlasting though it please him to lead vs thorough manifold temptations and that he will deliuer vs in the end from all evill even from death it selfe and from him that hath the power thereof that is the Divell by the resurrection of our bodies to the eternall praise of his kingdome power and glory in the life to come z The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me Thy mercy O Lord endureth for ever Forsake not the workes of thine owne hands Bread the a Lev. 26.26 staffe of life Our daily bread being the most necessary of all temporall things implies the rest It was God his decree that in b Gen. 3.19 the sweat of our browes wee should eat our bread and it is the Apostles iniunction in the name of the Lord Iesus c 2. Thes 3.10 that if any man will not work he shall not eat wherevpon hee exhorteth every one d V. 12. with quietnesse to worke and to eat his owne bread Although it bee our bread our owne bread yet it is Gods gift without whose blessing e Ps 127.2 it is in vaine to rise vp early and so late to take rest to eat the bread of carefulnesse f Iam. 4.2 Yee lust and haue not yee kill desire to haue and cannot obtaine yee fight and warre and yet yee haue not because yee aske not yee aske and receaue not because yee aske amisse that you may consume it on your lusts which should bee for our dayly and necessary vse Some haue not of their own to eat g Ps 128.2 But thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands O well is thee and happy shalt thou be others haue not the h Eccles 4.8 power to eat of their own either not the health or not the heart i 5.19 this is also the gift of God And he giues it power to k Ps 104.15 strengthen mans heart and to sustaine our life from day to day Therefore it is called l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 6.11 daily bread adsubstantiall or supersubstantiall bread because being digested into our bodies it adds daily beyond its owne nature and substance thorough the blessing of God to our substance what the labour of life daily consumes What is there in