borne of the virgine Mary that he the promised Messiah is their king priest and prophet and by his obedience vnto death hath wrought their full Redemption and made their reconciliation with God these through faith in his bloud haue Christs righteousnesse imputed to them for the attaining of saluation these haue a ioy glorious and vnspeakable these cleaue to God in true holines and in the end for this their Mediators sake receiue a crowne of righteousnesse and the blessednesse promised that lasteth euermore This litle Treatise will so far lay open vnfold these three profound mysteries as may giue occasion to the well-minded readers to make further search into so high holy and necessarie doctrines as are primary pillars of true Religion And now worthie Madame in that I commend vnto you my poore endeuours contained in this litle booke it is out of a good desire to further you in the best things to procure you some litle helpe to get greater increase of the chiefe blessings to cast in my myte by writing also to adde that way somewhat to your spirituall treasure of knowledge holinesse and comfort as one desirous to be thankfull to God for his manifold mercis to you in that since your coming among vs you make it daily euident that you haue a hearty loue to true Religion and take much comfort in the Ministery and publike worship of God established as also that by your good example blamelesse conuersation you grace your holy profession going before many in many Christian duties Assure your selfe your careful labouring to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ will giue you an heauen vpon earth and shall be your crowne in the day of the Lord when all those that suffer their hearts to be stolen away from God and godlinesse by excessiue cares or pleasures of this world shall haue their sorrowes come vpon them like armed men and their end shall be fully miserable Mind you it well I pray you Eccl. 8.12 Though a sinner do euill an hundred times and his daies be prolonged yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that feare God which feare before him But it shall not be well with the wicked neither shall he prolong his dayes which are as a shadow because he feareth not before God Earnestly constantly seeke after those lasting ioyes where is mirth without all mourning life without vexation eternall happinesse by a blessed communion with the eternall God who wil be all in all to them that loue him Passe ouer no day wherein you call not to minde the many sweete free blessings of the almighty bestowed vpon you but by them prouoke your selfe to offer to him the heartiest sacrifice of thanksgiuing that you can attaine to accōpanied with hūble faithful feruent prayers for increase of his best blessings to you and yours that your happinesse begun here may be continued euerlastingly Act. 20.32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you vp and to giue you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified 1. Thes 5.23 And the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout and I pray God your whole spirit and soule and bodie be preserued blamelesse vnto the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ Amen Be thou faithfull vnto the death and I will giue thee a crowne of life Reuelation 2.10 THE BLESSEDNES OF THE VIRGIN MARIE the Mother of our Lord IESVS CHRIST LVKE 1.28.45 Blessed art thou among women Blessed is she that beleeued THE holie Euangelist Saint Luke Luke 1.28 writing the miraculous Incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ that is his wonderfull Conception and Birth describeth the messenger that manifested these glad tidings to be the Angell Gabriel the woman that should be mother to Iesus by name Marie by condition a Virgin affianced to Ioseph of the house of Dauid the place of their dwelling Nazareth a towne of Galile in the land of Iudaea the time in the dayes of Augustus Caesar the child to be conceiued and borne of her by name Iesus by office and dignitie a King ouer the house of Iacob for euer by nature the Sonne of the eternall God by speciall fauour and in regard of his humane nature the sonne of the Virgin Marie conceiued in her wombe the holie Ghost comming vpon her and the power of the Highest ouershadowing her she thrice by holy Oracle assured that she is exceedingly blessed The Virgin Marie lineally descending from the royall Kings of Israel found grace and fauour with God was freely beloued of him precious and honorable in his sight had great honour put vpon her was exceedingly blessed by Gods speciall loue to her euen blessed aboue all women Maries blessednesse is twofold The first is singular and proper to her selfe a prerogatiue granted to her alone and neuer to any other creature euen to be the Mother of Iesus Christ the Sauiour of all the Elect the mother of Emmanuel God-with-vs euen God manifested in the flesh Thus saith Gabriel from heauen Blessed art thou among women Luke 1.28 thus saith holy Elizabeth on earth Blessed art thou among women 42. and blessed is the fruite of thy wombe The second is that hauing obtained like precious faith with the Saints in the common saluation she with them abiding in the truth of Religion did beleeue and waite for the promised Messiah and her owne saluation by him as in her holy prophecie she acknowledgeth Luke 1.47 My soule reioyceth in God my Sauiour She had also a peculiar proper holy faith in a peculiar promise which was made to her alone Gen. 3.15.12.3 which was That the blessed seede in whom all the families of the earth should be blessed should be her seede that the Sonne of God would become her sonne and be borne of her wombe and of these holy Elizabeth the mother of Iohn Baptist Luke 1.45 saith Blessed is shee that beleeued Blessed art thou among all women The singular blessednesse and rare prerogatiue that Marie at once is a maide and a mother beareth a sonne and is still a Virgine is both a daughter of God and a mother of the Sonne of God is a wonder of wonders a strange miracle glorious and comfortable not fruitfully beleeued of any but of them that are taught of God who maketh knowne the mysteries of his kingdome to babes and little ones according to the good pleasure of his wil and this part of the sauing truth he writeth in our hearts by his Spirit and the manifestation of it is in his word thus recorded by the Euangelist Saint Luke In the sixt moneth Luke 1.26 the Angell Gabriel was sent from God vnto a Citie of Galile named Nazareth to a Virgine espoused to a man whose name was Ioseph of the house of Dauid and the Virgins name was Marie and the Angell came in vnto her and said Haile thou that art
the necessitie of it for receiuing Iesus our Sauiour to be our owne and in him to haue and enioy free full and eternall saluation Looke we carefully into the gracious dispensation of our blessednesse and we shall find it both plainly and plentifully taught in the word of grace Life is primarily in the Father from him in the Sonne and that for as many as receiue him The Father hath life in himselfe Ioh. 5.26 and he hath giuen to the Sonne to haue life in himselfe but not onely for himselfe but for all that beleeue on him This is the record 1. Ioh 5.11 that God hath giuen TO VS eternall life and this life is in his Sonne Now if it be giuen to vs we must receiue this life and blessednesse and Christ the giuer to dwel in our hearts by faith Eph. 3.17 By it we haue a neare vnion with his person as members of his body whereof he is Head giuing vs life as feeling and motion are from the head to all the naturall bodie And communion with all his graces to our full blessednesse And that it is the proper act of faith alone to RECEIVE is thus taught The true Light came vnto his owne and his owne receiued him not Ioh. 1.12 but as many as RECEIVED him to them gaue he power to become the sonnes of God euen to them that BELEEVE on his name Paul thus speaketh Gal. 3.14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Iesus that we might RECEIVE the promise of the Spirit THROVGH FAITH In the same sence the word of laying hold on is vsed expressing the nature and act of true faith in this exhortation Fight the good fight of FAITH 1. Tim. 6.12 lay hold of eternall life whereto thou art called Faith is not a disposition to holinesse or a beginning of other vertues which vnited together might be meritorious of life and glorie as some haue greatly mistaken it but it is a receiuing apprehension laying hold on and applying of Christ vnto vs for whom and by whom we are acceptable to God and heires of blessednesse Our iudgement and faith must be grounded on Gods holy word which is most plaine and cleare in this great mysterie It is no where said thy faith hath begun vertues in thee though indeed there is no true vertue but which floweth from faith but it is said by the Lord himselfe Luke 7.50 Thy faith hath saued thee as also 1. Ioh. 5.24 He that beleeueth hath passed from death to life And the holy Apostles in like manner set forth the sweete and comfortable fruites of faith Heb. 10.39 We follow faith to the conseruation of the soule In another place he saith Rom. 3.24 We are iustified freely by his grace through the Redemption that is in Iesus Christ whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud to declare his righteousnes for the remission of sinnes that are past through the forbearance of God to declare at this time his righteousnesse that he might be iust and a iustifier of him which beleeueth in Iesus To this agreeth that in Peter 1. Pet. 1.9 Receiue the end of your faith euen the saluation of your soules Christ Iesus is the obiect of our faith which assureth vs of our adoption iustification and full blessednesse and hath his seate partly in the vnderstanding partly in the heart In the mind and vnderstanding faith is a sure knowledge and apprehension that Iesus Christ the sonne of the Virgine Marie is the eternall Sonne of God the long promised blessed seed the Sauiour of all his chosen And in the heart it is a true and sure perswasion wrought also in vs by Gods spirit a confident application that I haue right to him as giuen to me waiting for all my blessednesse through him relying and casting my selfe wholly vpon him So I put to my seale Ioh. 3.33 that God is true iust and gracious infinitely good that extendeth such mercie to me freely for his beloued Sonnes sake neither dare I do that wrong to God and my selfe as to mistrust and doubt of his gracious promises He that shall beleeue and be baptized Mar. 16.16 shall be saued Ye are of God in Christ Iesus who of God is made vnto vs 1. Cor. 1.30 wisedome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption Hauing Christ to be ours in whom the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelleth we haue by him free pardon of all our sinnes and vnrighteousnesse the imputation of Christs righteousnesse to be ours by his free gift redemption through his bloud freedome from the curse and rigor of the Law from guiltinesse bondage and punishment of sinne from condemnation and hell torments By him we haue Reconciliation and Attonement sure sweet and lasting peace with God boldnesse with confidence to come to the throne of grace the spirit of Adoption whereby as deare children of God we call him our Father ioying in his presence desiring to do his will we haue prosperitie and aduersitie sanctified vnto vs to further vs to grow vp to full holinesse we haue peace of conscience sense of Gods loue ioy in the holy Ghost the Spirit of Christ dwelling in vs teaching enlightning guiding vpholding and comforting vs repairing the image of God in vs setting beauty vpon our soules giuing grace to be fruitfull in holy desires and meditations in all good words and workes strength to perseuere in the knowledge loue of the truth and carefull practise of all pietie to fight the Lords battels valiantly prosperously to get Satan trampled vnder our feete to triumph in Christ and finally with him to bee partakers of glorie and eternall blessednesse An obiection and doubt From these words of the Apostle Now abideth faith 1. Cor. 13.13 hope charitie these three but the greatest of these is charitie If charitie be greatest say some how then doth faith iustifie and assure euery beleeuer of his blessednesse Let such be put in mind that although charitie in two respects be greater then faith yet is it not that grace which receiueth iustification and life but the excellencie and greatnesse of it is seene in other things First charitie is greater then faith in continuance of time neuer falling away neuer ceassing but lasting euer more as may appeare in the words going before from 8. verse Faith and hope bring vs to Christ possessing him and with him full blessednesse there will be no more vse for them twaine Like as a man got into his countrey arriued where he will euer abide needeth no more a ship to passe ouer the seas Faith hope end with time Charitie ouer liueth all time When faith and hope ceasse with the world charitie then commeth to a fuller perfection Secondly charitie is greater in fruitfulnesse to do good to Gods people the proper worke of faith being to fetch comfort from Christ and conuey it into our owne soule
the name of his elder brother and in his clothing so we putting on the Lord Iesus Christ Phil. 3.9 may be found in him not hauing our owne righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ and may say with the Church or seede which the Lord hath blessed I will greatly reioyce in the Lord Isa 61.10 my soule shall be ioyfull in my God for he hath clothed me with the garments of saluation he hath couered me with the robe of righteousnesse as a bridegroome decketh himselfe with ornaments and as a bride adorneth her selfe with iewels Now concerning faith we do not teach nor beleeue that we are iustified or saued for our faith or the worthinesse of it but we cleaue to the word and beleeue as therein we are taught namely Gal. 3.11 The iust shall liue by his faith We are iustified by faith haue peace with God Rom. 5.1 Gal. 3.26 We are all the children of God by faith in Christ Iesus To him that worketh not Rom. 4.5 but beleeueth in him that iustifieth the vngodly his faith is COVNTED to him for righteousnesse And that comfortable bill of acquittance Act. 13.38 Be it knowne vnto you men and brethren that through this man is preached vnto you forgiuenesse of sinnes and from all things from which ye could not be iustified by the law of Moses by him euery one that beleeueth is iustified Vnderstand for a fuller clearenesse in this point that like as it is said of Timothie continuing in holinesse and sound doctrine 1. Tim. 4.6 In doing this thou shall saue thy selfe and them that heare thee It is not meant that Timothie or any Minister doth saue otherwise then as instruments Who is Paul 1. Cor. 3.5 or who is Apollos but Ministers by whom ye beleeued So though no other faith iustifieth but that which worketh by loue the same neither iustifying together with loue nor faith hauing his efficacie from loue yet faith which saueth Eph. 2.8 Ye are saued by grace through faith and not of your selues it is the gift of God saueth not as it is a worke or as it worketh by loue but as it receiueth Christ Iohn 1.11 that in him we may be righteous Euen as fire giueth comfort to the frozen and be nummed with cold not by the light thereof but by the heate of it As God giueth his Sonne vnto vs and in him eternall life so giueth he also to euery of his faith to be as a hand to receiue the gift so that they which receiue abundance of grace Rom. 5.17 and of the gift of righteousnesse shal reigne in life by one Iesus Christ It is true that true faith is neuer alone that is it is not fruitlesse barren or idle as that in Hypocrites but it is effectuall or there is a worke of faith 1. Thes 1.3 and labour of loue Yet it alone and no other grace iustifieth as to them that will be wise according to the word it is very manifest Gal. 2.16 Knowing that a man is not iustified by the workes of the Law but by the faith of Iesus Christ euen we haue beleeued in Iesus Christ that we might be iustified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the Law for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be iustified This needeth no further declaration but is as cleare as that short speech of Christ to the same effect Mar. 5.36 Onely beleeue And that also Luke 8.50 Feare not beleeue onely and she shall be made whole And this doctrine maintaineth Christs honour and extolleth his bountie who giueth to the thirstie of the fountaine of the water of life freely Reu. 21.6 And it giueth to the broken in heart and sorrowfull soule much and sound comfort in greatest conflicts and terrors of conscience and when for sinne Satan would draw vs to despaire Let vs then cheare vp our hearts refresh our fainting spirits with the holy harmonie of the Apostles all of thē so sweetly sounding out this learning of our blessednesse by faith in Iesus Christ Saint Iude thus exhorteth Iude 21. Build vp your selues on your most holy faith looking for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ vnto eternall life Iames requireth we aske in faith Iam. 1.6 nothing wauering Iohn assureth vs that it is the commandement 1. Ioh. 3.23 that we should beleeue on the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ Paul setteth downe very briefly the summe of the Gospell Beleeue in the Lord Iesus Christ Act. 16.31 and thou shalt be saued Peter in a great assembly taught Act. 15.9 that God put no difference betweene them and vs after that by faith he had purged their hearts Why tempt ye God to lay a yoke on the disciples necks which neither our fathers nor we are able to beare but we beleeue through the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ to be saued euen as they do Yea To him giue all the Prophets witnesse Act. 10.43 that through his Name whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall receiue remission of sinnes A fourth obiection If good works do not answer the righteousnesse of Gods Law nor iustifie nor satisfie nor merite before God it may seeme they are vile in your eyes or at least you make small account of them and you set a doore wide open to carnall liberty and all licentiousnesse of liuing O be it farre from all that professe Christianitie so to thinke or speake for good workes are a maine part of that worship of God which he commandeth and will call vs to account for they are the end of our Election assurances of our Calling companions of our Iustification the practise of Sanctification forerunners of Glorification the effects of grace the life of Religion the beauty of Christianitie witnesses of faith nurses of hope fruites of loue euidences of thankfulnesse our sacrifice to God our acceptance with men the difference betweene Saints and reprobates the truth of repentance a turning from dead workes preseruatiues from scandals a lasting debt and dutie they adde honour to our profession peace to our consciences further our reckning they are seales of saluation the way to the kingdome follow vs to Gods tribunall they are our walking in the waies of God and our blamelesse conuersation without which we are as fruitlesse trees fitted for the fire and hypocrites that without all helpe shall be cast into hell for as the word of truth teacheth Heb. 12.14 Without holinesse no man shall see the Lord. Take knowledge then and be minded that we beleeue and teach both a necessitie of good works and sundry excellent vses of them A necessitie of good works we do beleeue First because of Gods commandement Psal 119.4 Thou hast commanded that we should keepe thy precepts diligently Leu. 19.2 Be ye holy for I am holy This is the will of God 1. Thes 4.3 euen your
THE BLESSEDNES OF MARIE the Mother of IESVS LVKE 1.28.45.48 Blessed art thou among women Blessed is she that beleeued All generations shall call me blessed ANCHORA SPEI LONDON Printed by RICHARD FIELD dwelling in Great Woodstreete 1618. TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL AND WORTHY LADIE Ladie DOROTHY ZOVCH the vertuous wife of Sir EDWARD ZOVCH Knight at Oking IOHN SHAW desireth increase of all true comfort here and hereafter euerlasting blessednesse THe Scripture of truth wherein the mysteries of Religion are treasured vp hath three amongst others not a litle more eminent most worthie of our daylie and holiest meditations They are by some called Bernardus in Vigilia Natalis The wonders of wonders are in themselues most admirable and surpassing comfortable for vse manifested by the Highest Ioh. Heid feldius for the sure blessednesse of all Gods children without which all men had perished eternally Not to speake of the blessed Trinitie the greatest of all mysteries the three here meant are three Vnions or Couplings in one of things in themselues most different The first is the Vnion of the Godhead to Manhood in the person of Iesus Christ whereby he is God and man Immanuel God with vs. The second is the Coupling of Motherhood and Virginitie in one woman the blessed Marie whereby her Sonne is called The Sonne of man The third is the begetting of Sauing-faith in the soule of sinfull man whereby a sonne of Adam becometh a childe of God an heire of saluation The first and third of these mysteries are ioyntlie declared by Paul in these words Great is the mysterie of godlinesse 1. Tim. 3.16 God was manifested in the flesh Beleeued on in the world The second was foretold by the Prophet Isaiah Isa 7.14 Behold a Virgine shall conceiue and beare a Sonne These are comfortable secrets which none fruitfully know but the Lords heritage that are taught by his Spirit These manifest how God is neare vnto vs and dwelleth with vs and in vs as in his holy Tabernacle These are the appointed means of our saluation and blessednes These mysteries so high and holy must be sought into by humble and earnest prayer with much reuerence of heart by reading hearing and intentiue meditation we must beleeue them and reioyce greatly in the sound and lasting consolation they bring vnto vs. When man by his sinne was wofully fallen from God and the blessednesse wherein he was set and by his Apostasie had cast himselfe and his posteritie into the state of damnation then euen then did God manifest his vnspeakeable loue in restoring him againe into the fauour of his Creator and to the hope of a greater blisse then that which he had lost It was agreeable to the Lords holynesse for manifesting his mercy and iustice that as man made the fault so man should make the amends But man alone could not do it the Creator onely could repaire the creature God therefore becometh man that so he might throughly do it And he was manifested in the flesh not for a small time as he appeared to the Patriarches but the second Person in Trinitie Iohn 1.14 The WORD euen the only begotten of the Father was made flesh and dwelt among vs full of grace and truth That man might be made partaker of the diuine nature enioy eternall peace with God The Captaine of our saluation tooke not on him the nature of Angels Heb. 2.16 but he to tooke on him the seed of Abraham in all things it behoued him to be made like his brethren that he might be a mercifull and faithfull High-priest in things pertaining to God to make Reconciliation for the sinnes of the people This is the first high glorious and comfortable mysterie The second craueth of vs like holy admiration and firme faith Will God dwell in a Tabernacle in a Temple or as Salomon saith 1. King 8.27 Wil God indeed dwell on the earth will he that made the heauens take flesh of the wombe of a Virgine haue her indeed to be his mother and yet she continue a pure and vndefiled maide Yes assuredly it is a wonder without all example and a miraculous worke of him Psal 146.4 that alone worketh wonders Motherhood and virginitie meete in Marie the most blessed of women in her alone And hath correspondencie to that admirable Creation in the beginning where Eue the mother of all liuing was miraculously made out of the side of man alone so of the wombe of a woman alone was borne the holy Messiah euen Iesus Christ our Lord for the fulfilling of the Couenant of grace which God made with man The womans seede shall bruise the serpents head Gen. 3.15 This is the second secret and high mysterie of Christian Religion The third wonder is that faith and mans soule so meet that man who is a sinfull sonne of Adam by faith becometh a child of God according as it is written Gal. 3.26 Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Iesus Here we may take vp Dauids words and say Psal 144.3 Lord what is man that thou takest knowledge of him or the sonne of man that thou makest account of him The difficultie of sound beleeuing in the Messiah the Sauiour of his elect and the wonderfull mercy of God in that rare grace will better appeare if we call to minde how that euen in Paradise man beleeued not God when he said Gen. 2.17 Thou shalt die the death and did beleeue the diuel Gen. 3.4 Ye shall not surely die Now that man is fallen from integrity and captiued in Originall and Actuall sin to beleeue a promise of eternall life that God will make him an heire of heauen for Iesus sake is aboue all humane learning sense and reason And this hope and confidence is onely in that litle flocke where Gods Spirit doth powerfully worke it How few beleeue Isaiah complaineth Isa 53.1 Who hath beleeued our report and to whom is the arme of the Lord reuealed How great a work of God faith is Paul witnesseth Who beleeue according to the working of his mighty power Ephes 1.19 which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead Certainlie as there was a darknesse in all Egypt that might be felt Exod. 10.22 but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings Euen so all the chosen Israel of God now haue Christ the light of the world dwelling in their hearts by faith But the whole world of Hypocrites and vnbeleeuers loue darknesse and abide in it for euermore Hereupon it followeth that Iewes Turkes Pagans Vnbeleeuers and Hypocrites who haue no communion by faith with the Sonne of God manifested in the flesh abide vnder the curse and wrath of the Almighty But the chosen litle flocke to whom the mysteries of Christs kingdome are known who soundly and with all their heart beleeue in Iesus Christ the Son of God conceiued by the holy Ghost
shall alwaies behold God in his glorie and be satisfied with his likenesse Psal 17.15 yea conformed vnto him and partakers of a ful and endlesse glorie It is the bounty and kindnesse of the Highest to all his chosen little ones Tit. 3.7 That we should be iustified by his grace and be made heires according to the hope of eternall life Rom. 8.15 that we be annexed heires with Christ Psal 16.11 and possesse the pleasures at Gods right hand for euermore Now let it be carefully obserued and well remembred that while we so highly commend the sauing-faith that ascribeth glorie to God and bringeth such comfort to mans soule we arrogate nothing to our selues as if it were in our owne power to beleeue but we acknowledge it meerely to be the free gift of God as we are taught Heb. 12.2 That Iesus is the author and finisher of our faith We may not say that it is attained by mans skill and industrie but that it is a peculiar gift to Gods elect as the holy word teacheth vs Phil. 1.29 To you it is giuen to beleeue in his Name It is a work of God neither common nor small Ye beleeue according to his mightie power Eph. 1.19 And when God by the ministerie of his word and power of his Spirit hath wrought it in vs yet through our infirmitie it is weake imperfect such as standeth in need of daily increasing and confirming so as that the Apostles of Christ prayed Luk. 17.5 Lord increase our faith Euen where faith is in truth and sound it is but as a beggers hand to receiue a Kings bounty or if you would haue a gayer similitude to expresse it it is like the firie chariot that caried Eliah vp to heauen or like a gold ring that hath a pearle or rubie set into it the worth of the ring not being from the gold but from the precious pearle in it Excellencie of faith is in apprehending and applying to vs the most precious Obiect of it that is Christ Iesus and in him eternall life which the word doth plainly say is the gift of God Rom. 6.23 giuen onely to beleeuers yet not for the worthinesse of their persons or faith but meerly of Gods loue and free fauour as inheritances befall to men for whom they are prepared 2. Sam. 9.7 As lame Mephiboseth was set continually at the kings table not for any worth in him being also a deformed cripple but onely for Ionathans sake so we find acceptance with God but altogether because he hath loued vs in his beloued So that both the blessing Ephes 1.6 to be made capable of it is his most free gift We see that Kings suffer their Nobles to enioy much honor and great prerogatiues yet they will suffer no fauourite to weare their crowne So the Lord out of his infinite and most rich grace bequeatheth to vs in his holy Testament the legacie of eternall life and putteth faith into our hearts to seale the assurance thereof vnto vs yet the honor for the exceeding gift he reserueth to himselfe Isa 45.25 and will giue it none other We are all equally vnder the curse but when God calleth outwardly by his word and inwardly by his Spirit giuing to vs faith to beleeue in Christ our righteousnesse our hearts are much comforted and we greatly reioyce in the Lord. He that spared not his owne Sonne Rom. 8.32 but deliuered him vp for vs all how shall he not with him also freely giue vs all things Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect It is God that iustifieth who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen againe who is euen at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for vs. If the Sonne of God obey the Law for vs die for vs make intercession for vs why should we doubt of blessednes by him seeing he casteth off none but such as cast him off through their vnbeleefe Heb. 3.18 To them that beleeued not he sware they should not enter into his rest Dare man commit his life that is so precious vnto him to a ship made by the skill of man in it to passe ouer the wide stormie seas and shall we not boldly commend the whole safegard of our soules and bodies to the Sonne of the euerliuing God that laid downe his life for the sauing of vs Dare Benhadad put his life into the hands of his enemy vpon this ground that he had heard that the Kings of Israel were mercifull 1. Kin. 20.31 and shall not we that are professed Christians and desire to be accounted for the children of the Highest confidently fully and ioyfully resigne our selues to Iesus Christ to claime the mercifull promises made vnto sinners especially seeing he is at peace with vs is our peacemaker and taught vs that he came to saue sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 Gal. 3.26 and that he hath made vs the children of God by faith in Christ Iesus Ioh. 6.47 with a Verily verily I say vnto you he that beleeueth on me hath euerlasting life Among all the seuen nations of the Cananites that for their abhominations were destroyed the Gibeonites onely were wise and escaped deserued destruction Ios 9.13 for they sought and obtained peace with the Israelites and yet had nothing to pleade for themselues why they should be spared but put themselues vpon their mercie pretending that they came from a very far countrie shewing their old garments old shoes old bottels mouldie bread So of all the people on the face of the earth they onely will be found wise and happy that distrusting their owne works done before grace as altogether sinfull and those done after grace receiued as very faulty for not right vsing of them wholly despaire in themselues relie vpon trust to and cast themselues fully on the rich mercy of God and the holy merits of Iesus Christ and firmly beleeue that it is a true saying 1. Tim. 1.13 and worthie of all men to be beleeued that Iesus Christ came to saue sinners As Ionas was willingly cast into the sea Ionas 1.12 to stay the raging of it that all in the ship with him might not perish and they vpon his suffering enioyed a calme and desired safetie so Christ Iesus to appease the wrath curse that would haue fallen on vs suffered and gaue himselfe for vs Ephes 5.2 an offering to God for a sweete smelling sauour by it Gods iustice is satisfied his wrath appeased and all beleeuers reconciled As he that was guiltie of manslaughter though he could make no satisfaction for the bloud he had shed yet if he sought to the appointed citie of refuge by Gods mercifull dispensation and pardon he was set free Num. 35.28 but it was at the death of the High-priest So we that can pleade nothing for our selues being guiltie of many and great sins
reioyceth in God MY Sauiour It was no affectation of singularitie in that gracious woman to say MY Sauiour as though he had bene hers alone But so she well expressed the life of true and liuely faith vnto vs. And after her example euery Christian for himselfe is to beleeue his owne saluation building his assurance first on Gods loue in Christ 2. Cor. 5.19 reconciling vs to himselfe Secondly and on the truth of Gods free and vnchangeable promises sealed in our hearts by the spirit of adoption We receiued not the spirit of the world 1. Cor. 2.12 but the spirit which is of God that we might KNOW the things that are freely giuen vs of God It is a conceit without warranty to think this was a prerogatiue granted to her alone or to Peter Paul or some few that haue it by reuelation for euery one that is effectually called doth particularly with such application to himselfe so beleeue as she did and hath no sound and certaine comfort till he so beleeue Marke it heedfully how Paul so applieth to himselfe the promise of life and then to all euery of the faithfull that loue Christs coming I haue kept the faith 2. Tim. 4.8 henceforth is laid vp for ME the crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue ME at that day and not to ME onely but to ALL them also that loue his appearing He that doth not beleeue particularly and faithfully that Christ Iesus is His Sauiour his beleefe is no better then the faith of diuels they beleeue Christ is a Sauiour to some men but they beleeue not that he is their Sauiour As of old euery one that sprinkled his dore posts with the bloud of the Paschall Lambe Exod. 12.13 was assured by the promise of God that he should escape the destroying hand of the Angell so euery one is baptized seuerally that he may haue a personall beleefe that His sinnes are washed away in Christs bloud and He shall escape the wrath to come Philip will not baptize the Eunuch till he professe such a faith Act. 8.37 Thou mayest be baptized if thou beleeuest with all thine heart We haue a cloud of witnesses of the holy ones that thus apart to themselues applied the promises of God whose steps we must follow if we wil haue true peace in our soules Iob expresseth his faith apartly and particularly thus Iob. 19.25 I KNOW that MY redeemer liueth In Isaias we reade My soule shall be ioyfull in MY God Isa 61.10 In Abacuk I will reioyce in the Lord Abac. 3.18 I will ioy in the God of MY saluation In Zacharie I will say it is my people Zach. 8.8 and they shall say the Lord is MY God So Dauid Psal 27.1 The Lord is MY light and MY saluation Elizabeth the mother of Iohn Baptist Luke 1.43 Whence cometh this to me that the mother of MY Lord should come to me Thomas the Apostle after he was healed of his vnbeleefe could say MY God MY Lord. Ioh. 20.28 Paul most holily acknowledgeth I liue by the faith in the Sonne of God Gal. 2.20 who hath loued ME and giuen himselfe for ME. It is no presumption to beleeue all that God hath promised nor to waite for all he intends to giue vs. But it is the great sinne for which the holy Ghost will reproue the world Because they beleeue not on Christ Ioh. 16.9 As a wounded man hath not comfort of his incarnatiue plaister till it be laid on his sore so haue we no fruit of Gods sweete promises till we apply theÌ„ close to our soules Who knoweth not that the commandements Thou shalt not kil nor commit adulterie nor steale are giuen to euery of vs as if he had said Thou Iohn Thomas Peter c. shall obey me when I say Thou shalt not kill c. So the promises of saluation for comfort are spoken to vs as if he named euery beleeuer seuerally It will do thee no good nor put any comfort into thy soule to beleeue the resurrection of the dead and life euerlasting except thou beleeue that thou thy selfe shalt at the end of the world rise againe and enioy life euerlasting â—â—ias prophecying of the coming of the Messias into the world Isa 9.6 saith not onely A Child is borne but vnto VS a childe is borne vnto VS a sonne is giuen So the Angels that were messengers of glad tidings say Luke 2.11 Vnto YOV is borne this day a Sauiour which is Christ the Lord. So the Prophets and Apostles lay downe to their hearers their particular sinnes particular punishments and particular comforts when they repent Our dutie and comfort it shall be where God speaketh to all his generally to apply it our selues particularly As Seeke ye my face my heart answered vnto thee O Lord Psal 27.8 I will seeke thy face The third vse and fruite Is comfort and reioycing for the certainty of blessednesse by faith in Christ Iesus So the Virgine Marie hauing much assurance of her owne saluation Luke 1.47 Her spirit reioyced in God her Sauiour So the Lord bad his seauentie disciples Luk. 10.20 Reioyce that their names were writtten in heauen Now reioycing which God commandeth is for good things that are certaine and not vncertaine Be it so that such as know not that the Lords loue is towards them are euer full of doubting and vncertaintie and say the Apostles Disciples of Christ by Christs reuelation might be sure and certaine of their owne personall and seuerall saluation but so cannot others Let such be put in mind that where true faith is there is also a true assurance of blessednesse the holy Ghost teaching vs that faith assurance and reioycing in the Lord go together Rom. 5.1 Iustified by faith we haue peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ by whom also we haue accesse by faith into the grace wherein we stand and REIOYCE in hope of the glorie of God Phil. 4 4. Againe Reioyce in the Lord alway Agreeable whereto is that in Peter 1. Pet. 1.8 In whom though ye now see him not yet beleeuing YE REIOYCE with ioy vnspeakeable and full of glorie And for assurance and certaintie the holy exhortation is Heb. 10.22 Let vs draw neare with a true heart in full assurance of faith We could not attaine to this assurance of Gods loue But that we haue receiued the Spirit which is of God 1. Cor. 2.12 that we might KNOW the things that are freely giuen to vs of God He it is that perswades our hearts infallibly enabling vs to beleeue the power truth and loue of God to vs. 1. Pet. 1.5 We are kept by the power of God through faith vnto saluation What more assurance can we desire or what surer ground of reioycing then to know that we are kept for saluation and saluation kept for vs as it is there also said
who in their owne sense were miserable when their wiues and children and all that they had were caried a way captiues and yet behold after carefull vsing of good and discreete meanes 1. Sam. 30.3.19 recouered all that the Amalekites had taken away So though for a moment we are deiected and seeme to be forlorne yet God in his time Psal 63.5 which is alwaies simply best giueth a recouery with comfort and reioycing in the Lord. Noahs arke may be much tossed rocked and shaken but drowned it cannot be so the faith of the Saints is assaulted weakened and battered but neuer finally and wholly ouercome 2. Cor. 4.8 We are troubled on euery side yet not distressed perplexed but not in despaire persecuted but not forsaken cast downe but not destroyed The bush burned and consumed not Exod. 3.2 for God was in the middest of it To draw to an end that the called chosen and faithfull may haue sincere rest tranquillitie comfort of mind and conscience a true and vndoubted assurance of eternall blessednesse by Iesus Christ God that is the giuer of the gift giueth also witnesse thereof Rom. 8.16 Gods Spirit beareth witnesse with our spirit that we are the children of God 1. Ioh. 3.24 And as Iohn saith who most clearely and often teacheth this infallible certainty Hereby we know he abideth in vs 4.13.5.13 euen by the Spirit which he hath giuen vs. Now the fruits of our spirit renewed by his Spirit though they are not all in all beleeuers in like measure and at all times yet are they of such power as giue vs comfort and discerne vs from the vngodly and wicked they are to vs pledges of Gods loue and as the gate of heauen as namely a searching out of our sinnes and defections a groning vnder the burthen of them an hatred and abhorring of them a striuing against them a labour and watchfulnesse to preuent sinnes and timely to cut off the occasions of them a mourning for the sinnes of the land an hungring after righteousnesse true loue to God and his children and the word of his grace patient hope waiting on God knowing that he will blesse both prosperitie and aduersitie vnto vs a desire aboue all things to please God vprightnesse of heart without hypocrisie and endeuour to keepe a good conscience to walke in our calling faithfully and chearefully boldnesse with God in humble prayer thankfulnesse for all his goodnesse to vs these and the like do assure vs that we are borne of God As for our certainty to perseuere in grace the foundation of it is not on the earth for so it would fall but on the Lords faithfulnesse He now hath the keeping of vs and of our blisse it is not in our hands as it was in Adams who quickly lost it He will confirme you to the end 1. Cor. 1.8 that ye may be blamelesse in the day of our Lord Iesus Christ God is faithfull by whom ye are called vnto the fellowship of his Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Yea he hath made a sure Couenant so to renew vs Iere. 32.40 that He will put his feare into our hearts that we may neuer depart from him Maruellous is the light that God hath put into mans eye whereby he seeth the earth about him and the heauens aboue him without paine in a moment but more admirable is the sight of faith which can see before the world God electing vs to saluation in his Sonne our head in the world redeeming vs by his Sonne our Mediator after the world glorifying vs with his Sonne our King in the heauens for euermore The loue of God which is our life is ancient free sweete constant great vnspeakable incomprehensible and eternall God hath giuen his Sonne to be our Sauiour his Spirit to be our Comforter Isa 60.19 and he will be our glorie eternally Let all the Lords redeemed say and that continually with deuout and religious hearts My soule doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit reioyceth in God my Sauiour Blessing and glorie Reu. 7.12 and wisedome and thanksgiuing and honour and power and might be vnto our God for euer and euer Amen The comfort of a Christian by assurance of Gods loue to him MY peace of heart my happinesse My sweetest ioy is this Ephe. 1.4 That God me lou'd ere world was made And purpos'd me to blisse Iohn 13.1 This sure decree for lasting life This bountie great and free Ephe. 1.5 Iohn 6.39 Rom. 5.12.17 He hath fulfild in Christ his Sonne Whom he hath giuen for me Our fall in Adam fearefull was We left a cursed race Yet Christ our King the Lord of life Act. 15.11 Iohn 5.25 Hath sau'd vs by his grace A powerfull voice his Gospell hath To raise vp dead in sinne 2. Thes 2.14 Act. 11.17 Whom he doth call effectually Are strongly brought to him I call'd I come I runne with ioy I haste Lord vnto thee Mar. 10.49 As Bartimeus boldly went When Christ said Come to me Act. 11.18 Repentance thou doest giue to life The seale of thy sure loue Mat. 21.32 By it I stand in state of grace As new-borne from aboue When Law doth giue me sight of sinne Rom. 7.7 1. Chro. 34.27 My soule doth melt and rent My troubled sp'rite and broken heart Doth grieue and much lament Iob 33.27 Ier. 31.19 Psal 32.5 1. Tim. 1.13 I am asham'd of all my faults To God I them confesse I iudge my selfe a wickedwretch And of my selfe helplesse When sinne and Satan bid despaire Gods voice speakes to mine eare Beleeue in Christ his grace is great Act. 16.31 Shake off mistrustfull feare He mercie shewes to humbled men Heart-wounded he doth cure Luk. 4.18 Luke 1.53 He fils the fainting soule with ioy Their comfort he makes sure He great he good he slow to wrath Exod. 34.6 He kindnesse shewes to all He casts-off none that seeke to him Iohn 6.37 Yea he doth sinners call All ye that wearie are of sinne Whom it doth lode and quell Come ye to me I will you ease Mat. 11.28 My peace with you shall dwell These gracious words of Christ my Lord Cant. 5.2 Ier. 31.3 These comforts strongly pierce This Gospell moues my heart to bleed My sobs for sinne increase Psal 51.4 That I my God my Father deare With sinnes should so prouoke Gen. 39.9 And hauing found such mercy rare Should so cast off his yoke Iere. 9.1 A floud of teares I do desire To weepe both night and day Ephe. 4.30 Thaâ— I haue grieu'd the spirit of grace And turn'd his face away In stead thereof some holy flames Are kindl'd from aboue Luke 7.47 And many sinnes to me forgiuen My God I do much loue My selfe my seruice ioyfully Psal 119.106 A fresh to him I vow With setl'd heart to tread the path That he doth best allow Gen. 5.22 My