true holinesse and righteousnes before God and men all the daies of our lif Redemption because that by offeriâ—g vp himself once vpon the altar of the crosse he hath redeemed vs from sinne and set vs free from the diuell and eternall condemnation keeping vs so in his hands that none shall pull vs out of the same vntil the full manifestation of our adoption shall appeare euen the deliuerance of our bodies from all corruption and sinne at what time hee shall returne our redeemer â—rom heauen and shall change the bodies of our basenes that they may be made like vnto his glorious bodie To conclude it hath pleased the Father that in him should bee hidden all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge and that in him should all fulnes dwell yea the verie fulnes of his godhead bodilie and of all other good things whatsoeuer that so the Church which is his bodie euery particular sound member thereof might receiue of his abundance as it is writen Of his fulnes haue wee all receiued and grace for grace that is grace vpon grace or as a man would say graces heaped one vpon another and that so he should be the beginning and ending yea the very yea and Amen of all Gods Promises To know these things in such sort as before is declared yea and in more ample manner than is here set downe and not to haue the particular feeling of them in a mans owne conscience is to little or no purpose at all vnlesse it bee more and more to afflict the conscience for want of comfortable feeling of them and to plung vs into a more great and grieuous iudgment because he that knoweth the will of his Master and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes Wherefore it greatly behooueth vs to striue to attaine the meane whereby we may lay hold of them and that meane yea the only meane is nothing else but a true and liuely faith for by faith Christ and we are lincked together he and all his merites being become ours and we his whilest he purgeth our hearts by faith yea dâ—elleth in them and maketh vs fruitfull â—o all good workes This faith sealeth vp in our hearts forgiuenes of past sinnes Freedome from condemnation to come and assurance of eternall life pacifying our consciences towards God and instructing vs to apply particularly vnto our selues Christ Iesus and all his merites And by this faith it pleaseth almightie God to purifie and purge the corruption of mans heart and to frame it and fashion it to new obedience Yea it is appointed by God to bee a necessarie instrument whereby wee may ouercome the world and as a shield of steele by which we may quench all the fiery dartes of the wicked and in which being stedfast we must resist and vanquish the diuell Other singular effects and fruites of this liuely faith are largely reckoned vp in the Epistle to the Hebrues chap. 11. But this faith is not of all men that is most true yea wee affirme that no man hath it by nature arte wit or any such other meane in man but that it is the onely free and gracious gift of God to his owne children alone For the effecting of this precious grace in them the Lord himselfe vseth two effectuall instruments to worke it in their hearts by The one is inward and the same most powerfull namely his most â—â—ly and blessed Spirit speaking for knâ—â—â—â—dge peace and all good graces more effectually to our hearts than the outward sound doth to the eare The other outward and that is the whole ministerie of truth whether it be in the Word Sacraments Prayer c. wee diligently subiecting our selues thereto carefully receiuing the same and daily growing in grace thereby as wee doe in yeeres and strength in the bodie This Spirit is called the spirit of adoption because it beareth witnes vnto our spirits that God hath adopted vs to be his children and heires of his kingdom teaching vs also with confidence and boldnes to crie Abba Father This Spirit is called the Comforter because he ministreth vnto the children of God in all their heauinesses and distresses whatsoeuer either outward or inward vnspeakable ioyes He is called the Spirit of truth because he alone doth not only free vs from the errors of the wicked and the darknesse of our owne hearts but also inlightneth our vnderstanding and leadeth vs into all truth He is called the Spirit of sanctification because he frameth them in whom he dwelleth to sanctification and holinesse and fitteth them indeede to all good workes He maketh vs able to search into and to vnderstand the deep things of God yea such deepe and hidden secrets as the eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither haue they entred into mans heart He frameth and fashioneth in vs vnfained loue to God and to his people for his sake working also in vs a sound minde in al the duties and seruices that we doe either to God himselfe in heauen or to men vpon earth This Spirit helpeth our infirmities teaching yea inabling vs who know not what to aske or pray as wee should to send foorth requests vnto God with sighes and groanes which cannot be expressed Also when or wheresoeuer it be bestowed it bringeth with it a most holie and heauenly libertie because if the Son by his blessed spirit make vs free we shall be free indeed Lastly he is as it were the very earnest penâ— and assured seale or pledge of the trueth of the gracious promises which Almightie God hath made vnto vs in Iesus Christ generally for all good things and especially for our eternall election in Christ before the foundations of the world were laid Touching the word I take it in generall to be the ground and foundation of our faith and that therefore it is rightly called the arme of the Lord as vpon which onely we must leane But most specially I meane that part which containeth Gods most louing promises made vnto vs in Iesus Christ and is rightly called the Gospell And this Gospell is the glad tidings of great ioy and the mightie power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth Yea it is indeed the message of peace becauâ—e it offereth quietnes of conscience through the forgiuenes of sinnes to those that are farre off and to those that are nigh It is called the word of grace as well because it is freely bestowed vpon vs as also because it offereth vnto vs the grace of God It is the word of truth because it manifesteth to vs all truth both of faith and obedience and setteth out before vs the truth of God in the accoâ—plishing of his promises It is also the word of life not onely because it offereth life euerlasting for that it doth to al in the Church but also because that being rightly and reuerently
euill both against themselues and others If to them in whom regeneration is begun yea and it may be also much aduanced and who are in the word indeed called the Saints of God they accuse themselues of wonderfull euils and manifold imperfections saying from a free heart that all their righteousnes areâ— as filthie and stained clouts and againe the good they shoâ—ld doe that they doe not the euill that they should not doe that doe they and therefore are not so much as willing to take such an office vppon them though wee would a thousand times giue it them If we would giue al that we haue vnto the Lord for a ransome for our own sâ—ns or others yea if wee would giue our first borne for our transgressions and the fruits of our bodies for the sinne of our soules as many idolators haue done heretofore it will not auaile vs for it is nothing nay as a polluted thing in his fight and besides it hath no power to purge away sinne or to purifie conscience If wee would cleaue to outward and feigned holinesse as the Pharisees haue done and the hypocrites of all ages do wee must make this account of it that though it bee neuer so glittering and glorious in maÌ„s sight which is not able to discerne of spiritual colors or things yet it is abbomination before God to whom and before whom both wee our selues and all our actions must stand and fall If we stand vpon the perswasion or practise of superstitious and idolatries deuised by man we must needs fall for besides that they are so many corruptions and defilings of Religion and seruice that we performe vnto God which is and ought to bee pure and simple as himselfe God himselfe also reiecteth them as things vile and displeasing in his blessed presence Whither shall we then goe to Christ onely we must needes come and why to him First because in him dwelleth the fulnes of all goodnes yea chefulnes of the godhead bodily and God hath giuen him to vs to the end that beleeuing in him wee should not perish but haue eâ—erlasting life How shal we know that By the Lords own word and voice from heauen who hath said and therefore we may nay we ought to beleeue it that he is his welbeloued sonne in whom he is well pleased Secondly because our Sauiour himselfe so graciouslie calleth vs saying Come vnto me all ye that trauaile be wearie and are heauy laden and I will ease you But when we come we shall find nothing in him Yes verilie for through him apprehended and appropriated to our selues by faith we shall find eternall peace to Godward and life and immortalitie brought vnto the beleeuers In this our Christ let vs for our comfort instructioÌ„ coÌ„sider first the names and titles giuen him which are not bare or idle or expresse graces in and for himselfe onely but are full of fruit and efficacy and that for vs and our good specially for spirituall comfort here and eternall saluation in the life to come He is called Iesus that is to say Sauiour because he alone and no other doth and shall saue all his people from their sinnes He is called Christ that is annointed and sealed by his father to be our King Priest and Prophet By his kingdome establishing his double gouernment one inward in the hearts of his children by his holy spirit and the other outward in the Church by the scepter of his word and his owne discipline By his Priesthood offering himselfe vp once for all as a full and sufficient sacrifice for all the sinnes of his people And his Prophecy he being become the only law-giuer to his Church so as the godlie now are not to hearken to anie â—oice doctrine or spirit but to him aâ—one and those that speake according â—o his truth Secondly let vs consider his person which consisteth of these two natures â—he Godhead and the Manhood As he is Godâ— he hath power in himâ—elfe to doe whatsoeuer pleaseth him both in heauen and earth and all deepe places yea to ouercome all our enemies specially spirituall which are so manie and mightie as none can encounter with much lesse vanquish but God onely alone belongeth mercie and forgiuenesse of sinnes â— as the scripture saith And as he is man hee is both sufficiently able and also very willing to endure and suffer for vs whatsoeuer was for our sinnes to be laid vpon him yea and also willing to haue compassion on thâ—â— that are ignorant and that are out of the way â—â—â—ng made man like vnto vs in euery respect sinne only excepted and therfore being both compassed with infirmity and tempted himselfe is the better able to pitie and succour them that are infirme or tempted So that God manifested in the flesh iustified iâ— the spirit seene of Angels preached vnto the Gentiles beleeued on in the world and receiued vp into glorie is hee that wee must cleaue to alone for the peace and comfort of our consciences and the saluation of our soules because there is none vnder heauen giuen vnto vs whereby wee must bee saued but onely the same of Iesus Thirdly let vs earnestly behold what â—ingular effects he worketh in his children what wonderful graces he freeâ—y bestoweth vpon theÌ„ He is the Lambe of God that alone taketh away the sinnes of the world he is he alone in whom it hath â—leased God to reconcile the world vnto himselfe he is he that is made of God vnto vs wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Wisedome because he is the eternall wisedome of the Father from before all beginnings and because comming out of the bosome of the Father he hath declared vnto vs all the councels of God concerning our instruction and comfort and that in far greater both plenty and plainnes specially plainnes than the Fathers before his comming had Righteousnes for these respects first â—ecause he hath fuâ—â—y satisfied the iustice of God being wouâ—ded for our transgressioâ—s and broken for our iniquities carrying also the chastisement of our peace vppon him and healing vs with his stripes bearing vpon his backe and shoulders the course of the law due to vs for our sins and ouercoÌ„ming the same in redeeming vs from it and secondly because that through his obedience and fulfilling of the law wee haue iustification imputed vnto vs before God and iâ—â—choated in our selues and before men in the world and so obtaine at the last the blessing of the law which is eternall life Sanctification or holines because it pleased God the Father in the riches of mercie to send his owne Sonne in the similitude of sinfull flesh and for sinne condâ—mned sinne in the flesh and not onely to impute vnto vs his holines and to cloath vs with the same but also through the mightie working of his holie Spirit to frame vs to walke in
must carefully striue by al holy meanes and the diligent and often vse of the same with earnestnes to pursue them and to bring them to good effect But we cannot performe these holie duties That is true indeede for we are not sufficient of our selues as of our selues to thinke a good thought much lesse to doe any good deede but all our sufficiencie is from God to whom alone we must haue recourse by earnest supplications and heartie prayers that by him we may be made able not onely to know what that good holy and acceptable will of his is but also be strengthened from him from whom alone commeth euery good and perfect gift to accomplish and performe the same And because wee are very dull and sluggish to performe this as all other holie duties the Lord hath â—ot onely giuen vs certaine sharpe spurres to prouoke vs thereto as his holy commandement which wee ought carefully to obey his comfortable promises which wee ought stedfastly to beleeue the pledge of his blessed spirit which assureth our spirits that wee are his children and stirreth vp in vs those groanings that no tongue is able to expresse a true taste and feeling of our owne miseries and wants and of the miseries and wants of our brethren both in respect of our bodies and of our soules but also hath taught vs such a short and yet notwithstanding so sufficient a forme of prayer as doth briefly comprehend in it al such points and matters as be meet and lawfull for vs to demaund therefore wee should continually labour rightly to vnderstand it and carefully to put it in practise all the daies of our liues But before wee enter into this or any other prayer it shall bee good for vs to consider some circumstances and to obserue certaine rules to the end that we and our prayers may by that means be fouÌ„d more acceptable in Gods â—ight As first how great and wonderfull our wretchednes miserie and pouertie is without the which as wee may easily be puffed vp with pride in our selues so cannot our prayers be piercing because a full belly despiseth a hoâ—y combe as the holy Ghost saith Also what is the excellencie maiestie power and goodnes of Almighty God to whom we pray for if that be not setled in our hearts we shall without reâ—erence yea in a certaine kinde of hypocriticall and superstitious boldnes rush into his maiesticall presence as the horse doth into battell The earnâ—â—t and deepe weighing of both which points may work in vs true and vnfained humbling of our selues in his presence and also a certaine assurance that our prayers and requests shal be granted so farre foorth as shall bee expedient for his glorie and our comfort because wee come to him that hath the fulnes of all will and power in himselfe to performe any thing that we shal demaund according to the same Besides wee must know and beleeue that wee must pray vnto this alsufficient God onely as well because hee alone knoweth the things wee stand in neede of as also because he alone can help vs and yeeld reliefe and supplie when and as best pleaseth himselfe And that our prayers must bee made vnto him in the name of his dearely beloued Sonne Iesus Christ onely because it pleased the Father by him alone to reconcile all things to himselfe both which are in heauen and in earthâ— and to appoint him to be the onely Mediatour betweene God and vs. Also that wee must aske good things onely for it is vnreasonable yea irreligious to make the most good and holie God a slaue to satisfie our corrupt affections now wee haue said before that nothing is good but that hee alloweth and liketh of by his will reuealed in his word And we must aske these good things to good and holy vses onely as the aduancement of his glorie the helpe and comfort of our brethren and our owne good and not to consume them on our lusts as wantonnes gluttonie drunkennes enuie abominable idolatrie and such like And lastly that we must not pray only with our mouth and lips after the manner of hypocrites but must yeeld consent to the same in our vnderstandings hauing indeede the summe of euery petition in our hearts as we readily haue the words thereof in our mouthes otherwise all that we do in this behalfe will be but lip-labour yea lost labour For outward behauiour in our prayers it is seemely and meete that wee should order our selues reuerently and religiously in humble kneeling vpon our knees in stedfast holding vp of our hands and earnest lifting vp of our eyes to heauen ward and in disposing euery part and member both of our bodies and of our mindes in such sort that wee our selues may feele and others that be present with vs may sensibly perceiue that wee reuerence his Maiestie before whom we appeare and rightly vse that exercise that hee hath enioyned vs as a special peece of his seruice euen for our owne health and welfare as well â—s for his glorie Vnderstand me as I meane My purpose is not to tie men to that forme of prayer alone or to teâ—â—â—â—hem to vse only those gestures aboue prescribed for that were to limit the Spirit and to represse occasions and prouocations giuen vs from God and felt in our selues to holy prayer but that euery one shuld striue because of that rebellion that is in our harts as much and as effectually both in word and deede to humble our selues before God as possibly wee can least otherwise God resist vs for he resisteth the proud and reiect our prayers Now let vs come to a short opening of that prayer which the Lord himselfe hath taught vs. The preface or beginning thereof is this O our Father which art in heauen Out of which words wee may learne many things as first in this word O the earnest affection that ought to bee in them that pray who must bring with them mindes not onely farre remoued from earthly and carnall things but so stedâ—astly set vpon those heauenly and spirituall graces that at that present they demaund that they minde nothing but those alone Secondly in 〈◊〉 word our the vnfained loue and feeling that ought to bee amongst Christian brethren no man praying for himselfe onely but praying as carefullie for others as for themselues Thirdly in this word Father his fatherly prouidence and assured fauour and good will towards his children in Christ on the one side and their sincere loue and hearty obedience towards him on the other side according to that of the Prophet If I be your Lord where is my honour and if I be your father where is my loue Fourthly in these words which art in heauen the exceeding Maiestie power and glorie of God aboue all things which if wee respect not in prayer and feele in our selues to appertaine to vs