Ioh. 5. 11 12. and withall he hath giuen me a heart to heare his voyce with delight Iohn 10. 27. 28. so that I shall neuer perish yea my faith herein is such that I account all things but losse and dung in respect of Christ Iesus my Sauiour Phil. 3. 9. and al the troubles of this life Rom. 8. 18. not worthie the glorie Phil. 3. 13. 14. that shall bee then reuealed vnto me so striue hard forward towards this marke labouring alwaies to keep a good coÌ„science both toward God man Luk. 20. 35 that I may euer be prepared for the ful fruitioÌ„ hereof couÌ„ted worthy to enter through the gates into the Citie Apoc. 22. 14. This is the victory that ouercommeth the worlde euen our faith 1. Ioh. 5. 4. Be thou faithful vnto the death and I will giue thee the crowne of life Apoc. 2. 10. Here is the patience of Saintes here are they which keep the commandements of God and the faith of Iesus Apoc. 14. 12. I haue sworne and will performe it that I will keepe thy righteous iudgements alway Psal. 119. 160. Then shall I not be confounded when I haue respect to all thy commaundements Psal. 119. 6. Lorde increase my faith Luke 17. 5. Mar. 9. 24. The benefits of this practise of examination to incourage vs vnto it sith it is wearisome and vnpleasant to flesh and bloud 1. Performing it aright wee shall avoid al hardnesse of heart luke warmnesse Ps. 119. 6. 80. 101. 104. sleeping in any sin and preuent an euill conscience with many other punishments of sinne Lam. 3. 39. 40. and withall we shal be able to recouer our selues forth with out of euery grosse sinne and from Sathans power yea euen from the gulph of deepest dispayre Psalme 32. 4. 5. 2. We shall dayly be putting off the old man and putting on the newe strippe vs off the ragges of our sinnes and put on our wedding garment Eph. 4. 21. 22. 23. 24. to make vs still more glorious in the eies of our bridegrome yea we shall caste away the workes of darkenesse and put vpon vs the armor of light Rom. 13. 12. 3. Being thus armed wee shall be so inabled to watch continually Eph. 6. 11. 22. 13. 14. 15. c. and defend ourselues against Sathan Mat. 4. 11. and all his power that he shall neuer giue vs any deadly wounds Iam. 4. 7. but we shall put him to flight RoÌ„ 16. 20. and in time trample him vtterly vnder our feet 4. We shal be able to see the good way and wherein the perfection of a Christian consists Pro. 2. 9. with his true glorie and felicity in this life Psa. 1. 1. 2 and to reioyce in them that are such 1. Ioh. 1. 1 2. 4. and withall to behold the feareful state of the world Ps. 119. 136 to mourne for it with iust Lot 2 Pet. 2. 7. 8 so to iudge aright betweene the godly and the wicked Luk. 19. 41. 42. and specially to iudge for our owne estate Phi. 1. 9. 10 5. We shall be fitted in some measure according to our place and calling as wee are Christians to teach conuince admonish reproue exhort and comfort both our selues and others 6. We shall be inabled to pray for our selues and others Rom. 15. 14. with the whole Church of God 1. Thes. 5. 11. 24. according to our seuerall necessities Ioh. 15. 7. 1 and after the will of God in faith 1. Ioh. 5. 14 â—â— 3. 22. and withall to make a most sound confession of our sinnes generall or particular with feeling and so most seweet thankesgiuing for all mercies with a like comfortable profession of our faith 7. We shall so grow in Christ and repayre his image as by beholding obseruing our selues 2. Pet. 1. 10. 11. we shall get most strong consolation 1. The. 1. 3. 4. 5. that wee are true branches of that holy vine liuely meÌ„bers of Christs body Iohn 15. 1. 2. 7. 8. the very sheepe of his fold to stand at his right hand and hence most certaine assurance of eternall life sealed vnto vs by his holy Spirit 1. Tim. 4. 8. hauing in the meane time all the promises of this life 1. Cor. 3. 21. 22. 23. and that to come all being ours and for vs. 8. Seeing our growth in grace perceiuing what sinnes wee haue ouercome Rom. 5. 10. and what graces we haue obtained Gal 3. 3. we shal be incouraged to striue forward to perfection Heb. 10. 32. 33. vntill wee obtaine the ende of our strife 2. Tim. 4. 7. 8. the crowne of glory Apoc. 2. 9. 10. 9. Wee shall shine as starres in the world Phil. 2. 15. to the greater glory of our god the comfort and good ensample of Gods seruants 1. Pet. 2. 12. 15. the conuersion of the wicked or stopping their mouthes and leauing them more without excuse 10. We shall increase the brightnesse of our glorie in heauen Dan. 12. 3. as wee haue more glorified God in the earth Rom 2. 6. 7 for the practise of this examination in the course of our life Mat. 19. 28. 29. is a spirituall sowing 2. Cor. 9. 6. whereof wee shall in due time reape a plentifull haruest if wee faile not Gal. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Wee shall be sure to gette and keepe a good conscience wherof such peace boldnesse securitie and heauenly ioy will follow in vs Pro. 15. 15. as passeth all vnderstanding Rom. 5. 3. 2. 3. and no carnall man can possibly feele Phil. 4. 7. but onely those for whome the kingdome is prepared 2. Cor. 1. 12 because it is the beginning of it in this world Ro. 14. 17. 12. Briefly which is the summe of all we shall get this assurance that Iesus Christ is our Sauiour anointed for vs our King Priest Prophet hauing made vs also Kings and priests Apo. 1. 6. to our God for euermore 1. Pet. 2. 9. Some necessary questions appertayning hereunto 1. Of senselesnesse in sinne Quest. Can any man liuing without feeling of his sinne and misery by it or of his spirituall pouerty haue any sound hope of his saluation by Christ Ans. No. Christ is a phisition onely to them that are sicke Luk. 4. 18. a deliuerer to them who feele themselues in prison Esa. 61. 1. calls them only that trauell Mat. 11. 29 30. and are ready to faint vnder the burthen of their sinnes Of obstinacy in sinne Q. Can any who continue stubbornely in any one sinne not submitting themselues to bee ruled by the word of Christ and his ministers in all things hope for eternall life by Christ or the fauour of God A. No Mat. 16. 24. 25. they that come to Christ must followe him forsaking themselues Luk. 9. 23. taking vp their crosse dayly
mens bare wordes or actions without their intent and meaning wresting or any way peruerting them as the false witnesses against our Sauiour Iewes against Stephen 9. Bearing false witnesse or accusing falsely as Haman against the Iewes Amazia against Amos as also the accusations Amo 7. 10 against our Sauiour Ieremie Paul 10. Lying which is very falshood in word or deede with purpose to deceiue This is a principall sinne of Sathan Ioh. 8. 44. who was a lier from the beginning and the father thereof 11. Vniust or rash arbitrement or giuing iudgement as the Elders against Naboth 12. Malicious accusations not of any conscience to God or for amendment of the partie or good of others but of spite as Doeg 13. Betraying others or their cause craftily vnder pretence of friendshippe or otherwise as the Herodians intended and Iudas delt with our Sauiour 14. Bewraying the secret or infirmitie of our neighbour to his discredit which wee might well haue concealed Mat. 18. 15. 15. Lightly beleeuing flying tales or suspitions Psa. 15. 3. against our brother as Saul against Dauid and the Priestes much more spreading them or adding to them 16. Flattering as Corah and his company did the people and as Absolon or the false Prophets crying peace which is to lay nets for men and to be huntsmen for Sathan 10. Com. Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house wherein the Lord requires our very hearts to be vpright towards our neighbour Here we must examine our hearts how we grow 1. In intertaining only holy thoughts purposes and affections for the good of all men 1. Th. 5. 23 2. In suppressing euill thoughts and motions Zach. 7. 10. that we may neuer giue any consent Rō 7. 7. 20 23. 24. nor take the least delight in thē but labour to the vtter burying of all concupiscence vntill we be perfect in the heauens The glasse of the Gospell or the examination of our faith according to the Articles of faith which containe the summe of the Gospell Rules 1. THe measure of our faith is according to the measure of the power therof in comfort and sanctification 1. Cor. 4. 20 issuing from euery article 2. Tim. 3. 5. except in the time of temptation 2. Cor. 1. 22 2. All the benefits contayned in the articles of faith 2. Cor. 1. 20 are ours in through Christ onely when he is ours 3. Let vs proue our selues therefore whether we are in the faith let vs examine our selues 2. Cor. 1 3. 5 knowe wee not our owne selues how that Iesus Christ is in vs except we be reprobates 4. And if Christ be in vs Rom. ◠10. the body is dead because of sinne but the spirit is life for righteousnesse sake 5. For the Kingdome of God is not in word but in power 1. Cor. 4. 20 6. We must therefore shew our faith out of our workes for as the bodye without the spirit is dead euen so faith without works is dead I am 2. 18. 20. 26. 1. Article I beleeue in God 1. This is my faith that though by nature thorough Adam I the whole Church are Apostates from God Eph. 2. 13. and enemies to him his law yet by grace thorough the secōd Adam Iesus Christ God is our God and we his people reconciled vnto him Heb. 8. 3. to serue him in newnesse of life all our dayes Luk. 1. 74 75. 2. This is my comfort hereof that God is my God and hath sealed mee for himselfe Ioh. 20. 28. 29. and therefore I am most blessed being in such a case Psal. 144. 15. 3. This giues mee further assurance that this my faith is sound because together with this comfort he hath giuē me since I beleeued in his name a heart desirous to depart from all iniquity 2. Tim. 2. 29. Father 1. This is my faith Gal. 3. 22. 26. that though I was a child of wrath yet by grace in Christ I am the child of God Ier. 4. 19. and God my louing father 2. This comfort I receiue hereof that I being thus his child shall lacke nothing because my heauenly father doth tender me much more Mal. 3. 17. then any earthly father his child Esay 46. 15. 16. 3. This is my assurance that my faith herein is sincere Mal. 1. 6. because together with this comfort Mat. 12. 50. I feele my selfe affectioned to reuerence Gal. 4. 5. 6. loue and obey him as my most deare father and am inabled by his spirit to runne to him with boldnesse in al my wants crying Abba oh my father Rom. 8. 15. Almighty This is my faith that though I be weake and vnable to resist my enimies bodilie or spirituall no way able to helpe or prouide for my selfe yet my heauenly father is of all maiesty and power Mat. 8. 2. guiding continually men Angells Psa. 23. 4. deuils and all creatures to serue for his owne glory and the good of his children 2. This comfort I receiue hereof that he doth will continually make all things worke togither for the best vnto mee Rom. 8. 28. not only the holy meanes appointed thereunto 1. Cor. 3. 20 21. 22. but also myne afflictions Acts. 4. 28. yea my greatest enimies Sinnes and Sathan himselfe vntill I be perfected in the Heauens Gen. 50. 20. 3. This also doth further assure mee that he thus works for mee because he hath first shewed the same mighty power quickning and raysing mee vp from the death of sin Eph. 1. 19. 20. which he shewed in raysing my Sauiour from the graue and secondlie for that I haue sensibly felte all things thus working togither for my saluation Maker of heauen and earth 1. This is my faith that though thorow Adam I had lost the right both of heauen and earth and of euery creature so as I could haue no comfort in the vse of thē but terror as an vsurper being cast forth off the earthly paradice Gen. 3. 24. lest as an heire of the curse yet thorough my Sauiour the second Adam Rom. 5. 17. 18. since I truely beleued in him I am restored to a farre better estate Heb. 1. 2. being made in him a right heyre of all Rom. 8. 17. neuer to be cast forth off my inheritance any more 2. This comfort I receiue hereof that heauen is mine and all the ioyes thereof Eph. 2. 6. and that I am set already in the heauēly places in Christ my head who reserues the full fruition for mee And secondly that all the creatures in heauen and in earth bee they good or bad Iob. 5. 23. are at a league with mee 1. Cor 3. 21. 22. 23. to helpe for my good so far as may stand with his glory my saluation and the good of his Church Hos. 2. 18. 3. This is also my assurance that my faith is sincere herein because that
multitudes in all places ordinarily thrusting themselues vnreuerently into the presence of the Lord to the word sacraments and all other exercises of the seruice of God without any examination or preparation of their hearts before to the prouoking of the grieuous wrath of the Lord thereby Now for these I say and for al other whose desire is to walke with God and be pleasing vnto him finding the true felicity that is in godlinesse I haue thought my selfe bounde by the Communion of Saints to offer this my poore labour which first was vndertaken for my selfe and some few of my christian friends the better to preuent all the former euills and for the more easye obtayning the benefits following such a carefull watch Herein I haue vsed the helpe of sundry learned and godly diuines following chiefely the direction of these two holy men of GOD Maister Greenham and Maister Perkins whose writings were the first occasions of thinking hereof M. Greenhā in the comfort of an afflicted conscience pag. 130. the one requiring this examination necessarily vnto true and sound repentance M. Perkins of the practise of repentance cap. 7. the other for the thorough curing of the wounded conscience And hence also I haue bin more incouraged to make this publike not vpon any vaine or by respect but by some gracious experience of the profit hereof in both accordingly especially in restoring some of no meane note from much trouble and horrour of conscience to exceeding ioy and strong assurance when all other means haue fayled Neither can this seeme strange to any considering it aright for what is it that brings that peace and ioy of conscience passing all vnderstanding to a Christian soule but an assured testimony of our conscience that we doe not lie in any one sinne so farre as by wise searching wee are able to finde it out but hate and abhorre euen the very least and contrarily that we haue begun and so striue on forward to walke in euery commandement of God without reproofe and that of true loue to our Lord and Sauiour for to such a soule onely all the promises doe appertaine as they are applyed thorough the whole Booke of GOD. In a word I haue beene more imboldened by obseruing dayly how on the one side the godly preachers vpon euery occasion calling men to repentance exhort all earnestly with the Prophet Ieremy to examine and try their wayes Lā 39. 40. turne againe vnto the Lord if euer they will find mercy with him which worke of examinatiō hardly one of a thousād knoweth how to performe in any good measure as may bring true cōfort vnto their soules And on the other side how many of our simple seduced brethrē haue bin drawn to a dislike of our religiō a liking of popery by this especially because ours as they say is a religion of carnall libertye theirs of holinesse ours full of diuisions and vncertainty theirs of perfect vnity that they also may see hereby that ours is indeede a religion of perfect holinesse and vnity prescribed by the Lord himselfe whereunto so many of vs as are truely called to the sound profession of it do striue instantly to attaine day and night so worshipping the God of our fathers in spirit and trneth walking in the selfe same narrow way of eternall life And that all their imagined holinesse is nothing for the most part but meere superstitiō in outward shewes of mens inuentions concerning which GOD will aske them one day Esa. 1. 12. who hath required thē at their hands Deu. 4. 2. 12. 〈◊〉 32. altogether neglecting most of the duetyes of true piety as those of the first table that so they perceiuing how they haue beene dedeluded Act. 13. 48 may at least some of them whom God hath ordayned vnto life come out off the snare of the deuill 2. Tim. 2. 25. 26. and ioyne themselues to vs againe Ap. 14. 9. 10. 11. so to escape that torment which all that receiue the marke of the beast by any such submission to that Romane Antichrist must eudure for euermore Pardon mee therefor that I haue presumed to offer this vnto thee seeing that how plaine so euer it is yet it may proue profitable as I hope to manye thousand poore soules who want leasure or ability to search greater volumes being so briefe and easie for all and also that it may be to mee as the widowes mite throwne into the treasure of the Lord If thou be one who by reason of thy ripenesse and perfection despisest it as hauing no neede of any such a helpe yet haue compassion of thy brethren neither knowest thou what a day may bring forth or if thou seest the good that may come to very many by such a course helpe to perfect that which is here thus begun or at least if God shall perswade thee of the benefit which thy selfe may reape hereby spend one houre with mee constantly euery weeke in trying thy wayes and turning thy feeete vnto the testimonies of the Lord. And then as I cannot doubt of thy prayers for me so I assure my selfe that the chiefe comfort and blessing shal turne into thine owne bosome thy Lord and Sauiour shall bee glorified by thee the godly edified by thy holy ensample the wicked conuerted or at the least haue their mouthes stopped and be left more without excuse Meditate seriously of these worthy places of scripture Let not this booke of the law depart out off thy mouth but meditate therein day and night that thou maiest obserue and do according to all that is written therin for then shall thou make thy waies prosperous then shalt thou haue good successe Ios. 1. 8. Blessed is the man that doth not walke in the councell of the wicked nor stand in the way of sinners nor sit in the seat of the scornefull Psal. 1. 1. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night 2. For he shal be like a tree planted by the riuers of water that will bring forth her fruit in due season whose leafe also shall not fade so whatsoeuer he shall doe shall prosper 3. The wicked are not so but as the chaffe c. 4. VVhete withall shall a young man redresse his way in taking heede thereto according to thy word Psa. 119. 9. I considered my wayes and turned my feete vnto thy testimonies vers 59. I made hast and delayed not the time to keepe thy commaundements 60. Oh how loue I thy law it is my meditatiō continually 67. By thy commandement thou hast made me wiser then mine enimies for they are euer with mee 98. I haue had more vnderstanding then all my teachers for thy testimonies are my meditation 99. I vnderstood more then the ancient because I kept thy precepts 100. I refrayned my feete from euery euil way that I might keepe thy word 101. Thy word is a lanthorne vnto my feete and