so liue eternally Amen Your calling and election sure Doctrine YOur calling that is which you haue tasted of by the ministry preaching of Gods word giue all diligence to make it sure see it be not vocall but effectuall not a calling to an externall profession but to an internall sanctification blossoming forth in good workes Make this sure but doe you aske how How to make our calling sure by good workes that is by knowing feeling and euer retaining such graces as are Gods good workes wrought in a man effectually called at the time of his conuersion The true knowledge of By knowledge the Lord Iesus is a worke of God in a mans conuersion Act. 9. 5. 18 who openeth the eies of the blinde turneth men Ier. 31. 33 from Satan to God from darknes to the light Act. 26. 18 True sight of sinne with humiliatioÌ„ for the same is an other HumiliatioÌ„ when certaine were conuerted they saw their sinnes confessed them left them Act. 2. 37. and. 19. 18. Faith in the Lord Iesus is an other the first grace of one truly standing in the state of grace for he is not by the word called effectually that beleeueth not faithfully for hearing bringâ— beleeuing and such as are Rom. 10 14 called of God beleeue in the sonne Ioh. 8. 30. Act. 8. 37 After this followeth a plyable hart to obey God the stony heart remoued in stead thereof God giueth a heart of flesh yielding subiection to God his word and spirit Eze. 36. 26. 27. This will make Paul going to persecute ignorant of Christ after one question made and answered Who art thou Lord I am Iesus whom thou persecutest Act. 9. in the next place to say Lord what wilt thou that I doe not making any more resistance This made Dauid ready to do any thing willingly at Gods bidding yea and it causeth vs humbly to condiscend to his good pleasure and say with Ezechias The word of the Lord is good with Ely It s the Lord let him do what seemeth him good and alwaies with Iesus Christ Father not my wâ—â—â—ut thy will be fulfilled Lastly the Vnion with Christ Lord worketh an vnion of hart spirit with other in Christ * â—er 32. 40 wherby it coÌ„meth to passe that we do conioine in one together one with another thus Act. 2 42 the church is set forth in that verse are 8 graces of the Church their constancy in this word they coÌ„tinued in the next word The eight graces of the Church daily their seruencie with one acord their vnitie in the Temple their audacitie in other words following their charity familiarity alacrity sincerity vnto which by the voice of Christ they were called and wherewith we must be endued and therein continue else we cannot make our calling sure Vse Therfore such as remaine in blindnes such as are not humbled for sins neuer came to the sight of them neuer sorrowed or sought for pardon for theÌ„ but liue in their lusts loden themselues with iniquity such as giue not credyt to the word of God beleeue not his faithfull messengers such as be obstinate stubborne refusing the easie yoke of Christ or to draw with the godly therin but rather mocke at holy exercises raile on such as desire to please God endeuor to bring trouble vniustly vpon them these though they be come to externall bare profession yet sithen they are not come to reformation by their calling they cannot bee sure that they are saued they may liue in the Church but yet are none of it tares they be but none of the Lords wheat they are in that number of the many called but not of the fewe that shall bee saued they are like the guest comming in without his wedding garment whom the Lord one day will command to bee bound hand and foote and to be cast into vtter darkenes where is weeping and wayling and gnashing of teeth Calling and election In the order of Exposition causes election is before vocation for therefore are we called because wee are elected Rom. 8. but in searching out our saluation according to the work wroght vpon vs and the same felt in vs calling must be before election so is it in iustification and sanctification that is before this if we note the cause and effect but this must wee finde in vs before the other for our owne assurance sanctified we be in our owne persons but iustified onely in Christs righteousnes Election is secret in God and by effectuall vocation knowne and reuealed to vs and the first sensible worke of GOD vpon vs touching soules safety God commeth forward beginning in and from himselfe to doe vs good wee to find this must goe backward from within our selues by sanctification to iustification by vocation to election and thence conclude our eternall saluation Therefore Esay 43. 1. is it that here the holy Ghost hath thus set downe the words and the like else where The wisedome of God doth nothing without iust cause he breaks not order as ignorant of order neither sets downe matter as mistaken but euer to teach vs from thence somewhat which by the help of Gods spirit we vnderstaÌ„ding may further to saluation Doctrine From this order first wee learne how to make sure our election if wee haue made sure our vocation There is no doubt of the former where wee make certaine the latter and hee that cannot finde himselfe called cannot possibly be truly perswaded that he is one of the elect for he hath not the next and immediate worke of God following election going before iustification Vse Therfore to know our election watch for our Rom. 8. 30. calling follow the meanes the ministry and preaching of Gods word the ordinary means to bring men to Christ It pleaseth him by the foolishnes thereof to 1 Cor. 1. 21. Rom. 1. 16 saue them that beleeue It is the power of God to saluation where this is carelesly neglected such shall finde no other means to be saued and such as persecute it may feare iustly to be damned Sythen our election is made sure by our calling and our calling confirmed to vs as is said I neede not say more of this yet because the word affordeth vs more marks to settle our selues in better assurance a word thereof or two also Our election is further made sure by Markes of election other markes of the elect if we find them in vs they euer remain vpoÌ„ vs which is to be sanctified 1. Pet. 1. 2 fruitfull in good things Iohâ—â— 16 sequestred from the world Ioh. 17. 6. 15. 19 a note which is notto be loued of the meÌ„ of the world perseuerance Ioh. 15. 16 following after Christ Ioh. 10. 28 without departing from him 1. Ioh. 2. 19 loue to the godly 1. Ioh. 3. 14 faith in Gods promises and a holy reuerence to Gods ordinaÌ„ces his word and sacraments and he that
continueth herein vnto the end shal be saued Again this order obserued preuenteth Another vse how to preueÌ„t the abuse of that holy doctrine of PredestinatioÌ„ presumption in the doctrine of predestination If I be ordained to a certain end saith the wicked wight and that Gods decree must stand theÌ„ it s no matter how I liue it s all one to serue God or to liue as I like best if I be ordained to be saued I shall not be damned if to daÌ„nation it s in vaine to hope for heauen It is true that Gods decree shall stand but it s a desperat spirits collection to hold therefore that we may liue as we list Election is secret so Gods decree his will vnreuealed whence wee may gather nothing but as the scripture the written word his reuealed will teacheth It auoucheth predestination Gods vnchaÌ„geable decree but it saith Work out your saluation with feare trembling so beareth downe presumption It talketh of reprobation but not to make meÌ„ desperat for touching euery mans self in particular he is to hope the best may say with the king of Niniuie Who can tell if God wil turne and repent and turne away Ionah 3. 9. froÌ„ his fierce wrath that we perish not Euery man in particular by the reuealed will of God is commanded to liue religiously and so bound to beleeue his owne saluation this word are wee to liue after and striue we must to go in at the strait gate hoping to finde passage Math. 7. No man is to iudge himselfe to be damned whilst he here liueth in the way to be saued if hee wilfully refuse not the meanes None will so reason from Gods decree concerning the bodie It is said that mans daies are determined the number Iob. 14. 5. of his monthes are with God that hee hath appointed the bounds which man cannot passe who hereupon will thus resolue then will I be carelesse of my life I will neither eate nor drinke nor vse meanes of life because I cannot liue beyond my appointed time Herein is none so madde but for all this will vse the meanes which God hath appointed to liue by for that his time is kept secret from him and onely knowne to God euen so should we do in this case for our soules vse the meanes to liue for euer so are wee commanded this wee know but whither God hath reiected vs before the end we know not neither may any one herein make search but vnderstand in sobrietie that which is meet obey what is commanded beleeue what is promised and cease to imagined desperately and sinne not presumptuously hope well in the end And so shall wee make sure to ourselues that which is euer certaine and vnchangeable with God this note And thus much for the exhortation the reason followeth For a note of a reason of the exhortation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Enim which goeth before concluded as an vse from the former arguments a graÌ„maticall obseruation in this coÌ„iunction to be well marked there is differeÌ„ce between for therefore both in this verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quapropter for sheweth the reason of that which goeth before therfore concludeth somewhat from the antecedent by necessarie consequent The thing chiefly herein to What to be obserued as the doctrine from the Apostles practise be marked is that the Apostle neither exâ—orâ—eth to practise but vpon manifold instructions before neither endeth the vse in the exhortatioÌ„ without shewing also further reason why Thus he guardeth before and behinde his words vrging by reason as did Iohn Baptist and our Sauiour to well doing that so they might take place He well knâ—w mens slownes to practise and that they neede haue good grounds laid before them to build thereon the exhortation to obey and also reasons after to perswade thervnto All of vs naturally affect to know but without loue to doe whence it is that men vnregenerate can run to heare sermons of coÌ„trouersies such as preach by sentences that can now and then satisfie fantasie with some noueltie returne with their mouthes full of praise applauding the person who hath â—ailed happily to presse all to practise and sanctification of life Learning is Gods good gift eloqueÌ„ce a singular blessing wit and memorie rare â—auours to make men amongst men honourable but vnlesse these be employed in the ministry to make men vertuous as the Apostle doth here Saint Paule in his Epistles as the Prophets did and profound I see with his admirable eloquence we may heare learne speake and admire as without obedience so without hope of that heauenly inheritance Vse Therefore let our wit for inuention of reasons our learning to collect sound grounds bee guides to our liberty of speech in vtterance and this gift end in exhortation to good workes and to make men zealous So deale we faithfully the people shall reape benefite and we that preach gaine great comfort by our labours in winning soules which onely we ought to aime at and therein reioice If yee doe these things The conditionall word If in the Original is not expressed nor the person Yee the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Haec facietâ—s beeing These doing but the person and the condition is necessarily vnderstood and therefore expressed in the translation very fitly which wee following in the diuision of the Text do take as granted implied in the text Doctrine Whence we learne that God so promiseth assurance of saluation as we haue care in vs to liue well and to keepe the condition the one cheareth the heart but least we be wanton the other is added to keepe vs in awe but neuerthelesse here may we not thinke therefore that Gods gift is not free or that it is changeable except we make it sure no such end of the condition GOD first bestoweth freely without any thing on mans pâ—â—t so hee gaue Adam first 〈◊〉 preheminence ouer all his other creatures and placed Gen. 1. 26 him freely in Paradise without any forenamed condition then afterward expresseth he mans duetie to be performed not as a cause procuring or continuing Preuention goodnes but as an effect of loue in harty thankfulnes or as a token and signe by which we may know God to be so long in vs and with vs God promised Christ of his mere good pleasure Adam neuer once desiring noâ— at all deseruing Ioh. 3. 16. that fauourâ— Christ came in the appointed time and was freely giuen for vs of loue in mercie and compassion all this done truely fully and absolutely on Gods part yet after commanded hee the obedience of faith and promiseth saluation with condition of beleeuing Mark 16. 16. on our behalfe not as a cause but as a signe by which men may know to whoÌ„ Christ is freely giuen of the father and in him haue eternall life It is then as if â—eter had said If ye do these things
you thereby haue a true signe and token from God of his loue euerlasting and shall neuer fall from him the like is that in the Psalme 15 6. He that doth these things shall neuer fall Vse Therefore to attaine to the benefite of this promise let vs here looke to the condition which is carefully to exercise our selues in these vertues afore mentioned First well doing keepeth vs from euill euery gift of grace is a sentinell to First reason watch against the opposite vice seeking entrance to the heart Hold sobriety drunkennesse getteth no place chastity preserueth from dishonesty feruency of spirit cannot abide luke-warme to lodge with it light liketh not of darknes righteousnes of vnrighteousnes knowledge of Ignorance nor godly humility of Sathanicall pride and arrogancie looke how much we haue of goodnes so much aduantage get we against wickednes euery vertue aduancing it selfe and keeping it proper place in the soule when the contrary vice asâ—aileth it Sathan suggesting and by outward obiects inticing the heart to yield thereunto Secondly these vertues are the fruits Second reason of the spirit whence a maÌ„ may coÌ„clude that hee hath the spirit and hee which hath this hath Christ without whom no redemption no saluation These vertues are pleasant flowers which gathered are asweete nosegay to garnish our soules with for the Lords delight They are the guarison of the holy Ghost lodged in the soule to keepe out such euils as yet haue not entrance and to bridle ill motions of the heart daily arising that we perish not Thus much of theÌ„ in generall But let vs if but briefly weigh them in particular and the goodness of them will more allure vs to loue them Faith is the crowne of graces and the The commendations of seuerall vertues Faith roote of vertues it maketh morality by the lawe to turne into Christianity by the Gospell without it we caÌ„not please God by it we make the word preached profitable and by it wee apprehend Christ who satisfieth iustice asswageth wrath bringeth downe mercy and heauen gates are open for vs and wee enter and take possession Vertue integrity the generall word Vertue for a speciall which is the brest-plate of righteousness keeping countenance without blushing it is the ioy of the spirit and maketh men bold as a Lyon it dare answere at the barre to the best say truely Not guilty it desireth tryall and therein alwaies getteth approbation and credite of euerie cause not fearing malice though lying and deceipt manage the matter with all the friends that may be made it maketh man looke vp chearefully vnto God and so resteth quiet in his owne innocency Knowledge it is the candle of the soule Knowledge the rule of actions the discerner of causes the Iudge of controuersies the guide of affection the bridle for the tongue and the life of conscience and the first motor to obedience it saueth from errour condemneth heresie and standeth alwaies for verity if peruersenesse of spirit turne it not into sophistry Temperance knowledge is the first motor this is moderator it qualifieth TeÌ„perance allayeth extreames it is in nothing violent it preuenteth liking before lookeing it stoppeth rage of lust and brideleth appetite it discusseth causes with deliberation it ordereth words with discretion hot spirits by it may expostulate iniuries done without contention by it knowledge telleth his tale wisely and integrity is bold with safety Patience is the mother of peace a strong back to beare all burthens it Patience saith nothing to reuiling speeches and is not an auenger of priuate iniuries it waiteth for accomplishment of promises long it is the daughter of humility and the safe conductor of integrity by it we possesse our soules and the enemy getteth not aduantage it is neuer in want dwelling alwaies with contentment Godliness this is the chiefe goodness Godliness by sense we are better then the creature sensless by reason better then the beast by religion better then man onely hauing reason but godlynesse is the quintessence of religion it is the especiall fruit of faith sincerities comfort the principall end of all learning the perfection of all knowledge the creatures admiration and here to the mightiest in the world their highest exaltation godlinesse is great gaine it hath the promise of this life and of the life to come Brotherly kindnes the procurer of loue Brotherly kindness the disposition of the heart to doe good to other it graunteth fauour to euerie frined it liueth euer in charity it is mercifull and lendeth it is ready to doe pleasures and liberall without delay it is the goodnes of a mercifull heart pliable to euery good worke Loue is the last which is the fruit of Loue. 1. Cor. 13. brotherly kindness the grace which the Apostle so highly extolles and neede not here to be stoode vpon but I will conclude it with that absolute commendation that Loue is the fulfilling of the lawe And thus we see what reason there is for vs to haue these excellent vertues and to exercise our selues in them that we may neuer fall otherwise we are without certainty of our saluation and tokens of eternall comfort The loose and careless liuer the vicious Reproofe to the leud vicious and leud man is heere vtterly left hopeless he cannot looke for heauen the scripture tels him that there hee hath no enheritance he that committeth sin is of the Diuel the reward is death the 1. Iohn 3. 8 Rom. 6. 23. Psal 9. 17. wicked shall goe into hell and all the people that forget God If any for better satisfaction would know for what sinnes in particular death is threatned and for which men are denyed heauen they shall finde that euery sinne vnrepented of procureth damnation but it pleaseth the holy Ghost to number vp many particulars the places not vnfit to be mentioned to see and consider of them Rom. 1. 29. 30 are reckoned vp Rom. 1. 29. 30. reckoned vp 23 sins three and twenty sins Vnrighteousness fornication wickedness couetousness maliciousness full of enuie of murther of debate of deceipt taking all things in euill part whisperers backbiters haters of God doers of wrong proud boasters inuenters of euill things disobedient to pareÌ„ts without vnderstanding couenaÌ„t breakers without naturall affection such as can neuer be appeased mercilesse for which not onely they that doe them but also that fauour them that doe them are worthy of death In 1. Cor. 6. 9. 10. are set downe ten kindes 1 Cor. 6. 9. 10. ten sorts of vicious persons of vicious persons Fornicators idolaters adulterers wantons buggerers theeues couetous drunkerds raylers and extortioners which shall not inherit the kingdome of God In Galathians 5. 19. 20. Gal. 5. 19 20 workes of the flesh 17. are particularized seauenteene workes of the flesh Adulterie fornication vncleannesse wantonnesse idolatry witchcraft hatred debate emulations wrath contentions seditions heresies enuie murthers drunkennesse
hearts that they neuer depart from him Ier. 32. 40. Lastly we may establish our thoghts vpon the ground of a mans saluation The foundation of God remaineth sure his 2. Tim. 2 19. free mercie in Christ Iesus chusing some to euerlasting life no inducement in maÌ„ before we haue being our end is appointed nothing good foreseene in vs mouing God no way in vs is there cause at all of our happines but begun froÌ„ Gods free good pleasure and established in Christ out of whom wee may not suppose any least thing that may be beneficiall to worke mans saluation or to procure good to vs which is not freely giuen of God and obtained by Christ alone without any respect of vs at all Whence a penitent sinner may thus coÌ„fortably reason Gods I was before I had my beeing in my beeing by corruption of nature hee found me his enemy yet did he not hate me but shewed his mercie vnto me he ordained me before the world that caused him in time to bring me into the world my sinnes did not hinder the passage of mercy because in Christ he would be satisfied for mee I will therefore surely conclude that God remaining one in mercie Christ Iesus alway wel-pleasing to his father the cause of my saluation beeing stil one and the same I will not doubt damnation for falles of infirmity when as Gods mercie and Christes merit preuented the same in mine obstinate standing in rebellion Thus by meditation may wee strengthen and settle our selues in assurance to be saued Praise the Lord. It pleaseth God to afford his childreÌ„ By diuine inspiration more in musing on heauenly comforts then when mens thoughts are bestowed vpon other things he aydeth them with his spirit who openeth our eies to see the secrets of the kingdome of God and to know the things that are giuen vs of God 1 Cor. 2. 12. Rom. 8. 10. who giueth testimony to our spirit that we are the children of God which witnes also is true and not lying as Iohn saith This is the spirit of adoption by which we are sealed and the earnest which he giueth when he taketh vs to be his Haue I then the spirit of Christ I am Christs and in him there is no coÌ„demnation Rom. 8. 1. Now least we be misled by Satans delusion and take it for the holy spirits inspiration By sanctification How to know the perswasion of Gos spirit from Sathans delusion see Rom. 〈◊〉 2. 5. 11. 15. 16. there is a third thing to be added that is sanctification For if we haue the spirit of God we are led by it wee walke not after the flesh but sauour the things of the spirit which quickneth our mortall bodies by it wee doe mortifie the deedes of the flesh by it we are without feare and dare come to God cry Abba father this spirit helpeth our infirmities in prayer it maketh request for vs with sighes that cannot be expressed This is the witnessing of Gods spirit with our spirit it is not a bare motion but a true perswasion from the effectuall graces which it worketh in vs causing vs to liue in newnesse of life This spirit witnesseth not to our spirit if it bee adulterous nor to our drunken spirit nor to our sweating lying blasphemous and rayling spirit nor to our prophane and mocking spirit if such we be that we are the sonnes of God no no for our conscience telleth vs that such are the sonnes of the Diuel and all perswasion of saluation is but Sathans deceiueable delusions to secure vs in sin The holie spirit will not say wee are coheires with Christ certaine of heauen whilst we walke on in wickednes hee teacheth in the scripture the contrarie and sheweth that there is no peace Esai 57. 21. Psal 9. 17. Mat. 25. to the wicked they shall go into hell and all the workers of inâ—quity Vse Therefore let vs not think otherwise but it is the spirit of Sathan and not the holy Ghost that worketh an imagination of any certaintie of salâ—ation whilst wee liue vnsanctified in our thoughts vnchanged in our speech and vnreformed in our conuersation We see that assurnace may bee had by the foresaid meanes it must make vs striue by these means for it which if we obtaine O blessed are we saluation is come vnto vs the comfort of all comforts Through this assuraÌ„ce thogh we fall we rise againe and doubt not of The benefits which arise vnto vs by hauing assurance mercie when we repent We ioy to heate of death because we are perswaded to be with Christ which is best of all we feare not man that onely can kill the bodie for that our soules are in safety This maketh vs desire to bee taken from hence and to be dissolued This maketh vs loue and long after the comming of the Lord Iesus saying how long Lord wheÌ„ Lord O come Lord Iesus come quickly Reue. 6. 10. 22. 20. This to conclude freeth vs froÌ„ all dread of any euil that may befall vs from the rigour of the law it caÌ„not condemne vs if it do Christ Iesus acquiteth vs froÌ„ terror of conscience it dare not accuse vs if it do Christ will speak for vs froÌ„ deaths sting dead stroke it hath not right to rule ouer vs if it do it s but a while Christ hath got the victory froÌ„ the fierce wrath of the Iudge in the last day when he shal be before vs Angels on one hand diuels on an other about vs the world burning in millionâ— of thousaÌ„ds conscience accusing crying out to the mountains to couer them hell gaping ready to deuoure all to whome Christ shall say Go ye cursed with the Diuell his angels Math. 25 But what terrour can this be to the penitent assured of life none at all The Diuels cannot daunt vs the repentant hath his pardon Angels will not disclaime vs they here haue waited vpon vs God will acknowledge vs we haue his spirit the assurance of his loue And can the Iudge Iesus Christ condemne vs who is our sauiour and hath by his death acquited vs Lastly we are freed from the horrour of hell where Diuels damned ghosts bee where paine is endless the place darknesse the persons punished with fire and brimstone remedilesse their noise is hydeous weeping and wayling for time lost and not recouerable howling lamentably crying for time present and paines intollerable they gnash with their teeth one vpon an other their conscience accusing coÌ„ntinually tormenting They languish with paine wishing to die but they shall remaine and euer bee though liuelesâ—e that their torment may be endless Sithen assurance of saluation here deliuereth vs from the dread of these things what cause haue wee to vse all meanes to get so great and vnspeakable a good Oh let vs then meditate seriously pray for the spirit ardently and liue here conscionably that wee may bee therefore certaine of our saluation and