foundation of the world 1 Pet. 1.20 Wherefore Gods loue hath been toward vs from all eternity Now loue as wine doth receiue the greater prayse by the age of it old wine is the best and antient loue is the most approued How much doe we esteeme of such a friend as hath borne vs good will for some twenty or fourty yeares together The more reckoning should we make of Gods loue which hath been eternall Then also it is most free And most fâ—ee for before Christ wee were enemies to God there was nothing to be seene in vs but sinne and misery nor any thing to draw Gods affection toward vs but his own free and good pleasure now that loue which we haue deserued we the lesse esteeme but such loue as is freely conferred on vs we do make more store of And this is the excellency of Gods loue vnto vs that it is most free and gratious no way procured by our selues who were children of wrath no nor by Christ himselfe in the first motion of it but it did giue Christ as a pledge thereof and a meane to make way more plenâ—ifully to poure out it selfe vpon vs. Fourthly 4. Doct. Our redemption by Christ doth best of all manifest Gods loue Whereas God louing vs giueth Christ vnto vs wee are to obserue that this course of redeeming vs by Christ is most answerable agreeable with the loue and grace of God True it is if Gods absolute power be considered and the freedome wherewith hee inclined to all which from eternity he decreed we may say Another way was possible but this most fit hee could haue taken another course for our redemption But if a way be considered wherein his iustice eâ—pecially his loue might be made manifest this is of all most fit and expedient For it followeth as heâ—re you see on Gods loue as if loue it selfe had designed it and he hath chosen this way who as hee is most powerfull so is not his wisdome any whit inferiour to his power And that this point may bee the more cleared as also that we may see that when Paul falleth into the argument of Gods loue hee doth not without cause speak so loftily we will sift these words somewhat more narrowly Setting ouâ— Gods loue in foure circumstanceâ— Wherein foure circumstances are to be noted whereby the loue of God is much amplified First the partie louing Secondly those that are loued Thirdly the thing giuen Fourthly the manner of giuing First in this that God loueth 1. In â—oâ— who first sought loue when wee gaue the â—â—â—st offence his exceeding grace is not a little commended For when two men are at variance if the partie wrongfully offended do seeke him who gaue him the offence how is his meekenesse and gentlenesse thereby declared Euen thus the case standeth twixt God and vs we had prouoked his displeasure he procureth our reconciliation and attonement And for this cause our righteousnesse and Redemption is said to be made of God to vs. 1. Cor. 1.30 Saint Iohn also expending and weighing this thing doth from it magnifie the loue of God 1. Iohn 4.10 In this is loue not that wee loued God but that he loued vs. Secondly 2. In the persons loued vâ—z our selues being sinners his enemies to consider the persons loued is no lesse argument whereby this loue may be extolled For whoÌ„ loued God Vs saith Iohn Being now like the world no better then the Reprobates when our deeds words and wisest thoughts were enmitie against him then I say did God regard vs. From hence Paul bringeth in the loue of God most gloriously cloathed saying that it was great loue and rich mercy in God that he did then quicken vs when we were dead in sinnes and trespasses Ephes 2.4.5 And Romanes 5.7 from hence also doth hee extoll it In this God setteth out his loue vnto vs that when we were his enemies Christ died for vs. The third circumstance is the thing giuen 3. In the thing giuen viz the onely begotten Sonne of God that is in this word the only begotten which is a vvord putting a difference betwixt this person and any other Euery where in Scripture excellent priuiledges are bestowed on Gods children but so that Christ hath still the preheminence Wee call God Father as Christ teacheth vs Mat. 6.9 and this Abba Father is the voice of the Spirit which is in vs. Gal. 4 6. Yea so did the Church when this spirit of adoption was not so plentifully powred out Isay 63.16 Thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of vs and Israel know vs not But Christ calleth God as the Iewes rightly gather Iohn 5.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is his owne his proper father Vnto whom God is a proper father in such a sort as no man else did or could otherwise they would not so haue stormed at him So wee by nature are the sonnes of wrath yet by faith we haue this priuiledge to be the sonnes of God Iohn 1.12 But Christ is called his owne proper Sonne He is Gods proper Sonne Rom. 8.32 who spared not his owne Sonne So we are begotten not of bloud nor of the will of the flesh Iohn 1.13 but God of his owne will by the word of trueth hath begotten vs. Iam. 1.18 And oneâ—y begotten Not because of the strange framing of his humane nature As Seruetus falsely But Christ is the only begotten euen from the Father Ioh. 1.14 Where by the way we may not vnfitly consider Seruetus his exposition who saith that Christ is said the onely begotten of God onely in regard that his humane nature was framed in a sort proper to himselfe But this is but a fiction For first consider what it is to beget and Christ cannot in regard of the humane nature be said begotten To beget is ex substantia gignentis proferre simile secundum substantiam that is Out of the substance of the begetter to bring forth a like thing according to its substance But now the humane nature and diuine essence are wholly different Secondly he should rather in this respect be the onely begotten of the holy Ghost For that person immediately and determinatiue did frame of the substance of the Virgin that immaculate masse and vnite it to the diuine nature Thirdly Adam and Eue might thus as well be said the onely begotten of God who were after a proper manner made of God Fourthly Christ as man hath alwaies beene held as without father and ergo vnbegotten For these two stand in relation one to the other Fiftly the Scripture auoideth this phrase saying of Christ Iohn 1.14 that he was made flesh and Rom. 1.3 made of the seede of Dauid and Galathians 4.4 made of a woman 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is sometime vsed but it signifieth nothing but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be borne Mat. 2.1 and so Ialad is vsed answerably with the Hebrew If this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
not to abolish but to fulfill the law and the Prophets And therefore Paul doubteth not to say that the righteousnesse of the Law is still fulfilled in vs. Rom. 8.4 Namely Euangelicè and applicatiuè according to the tenour of the Gospell by application but in Christ legaliter and inhaesiuè according to the Law inhaesiuely in himselfe 3 Causeâ— wâ—y in Scripâ—â—râ—â—â— so small mention of Câ—â—â—stâ— actâ—ue obâ—dâ—eâ—ce Why then will some say doth the Scripture speake so little of this kinde of obedience and so much of his passion There are sundry causes of it First because That of his Passion was most sensible and exposed to the eyes of all Secondly because that the Ceremoniall types had in that their accomplishment Thirdly because his Passion hath in it the chiefe actuall obedience See Chrysostom in the second homily on the Acts. The third degree of the giuing of Christ 3. In his death to suff r for 〈◊〉 which standeth more agreeably with this place is the giuing of him to be lifted vp vpon the tree that there in his bodie hee might beare our sinnes 1. Pet. 2.24 For in his lifting vp which phrase noteth the manner of his death hee answereth to the type of the brazen Serpent Iohn 3.14 Which as whoso looked on had cure for the stings of the fierie serpents so wee looking on Christ by faith are cured of the sting of that old serpent sinne and death Of this giuing Paul speaketh Rom. 8.32 He hath giuen his own Sonne for vs all Which iâ— the height â—f Godâ— louâ— And the Epitasis and height of Gods loue is made manifest in it that our hearts should burne within vs. Yea with the Spouse in the Canticles Cant. 2.5 we should swoone to consider it For what vnspeakeable loue is it that Almightie God a father so glorious and full of Maiestie should giue his onely Sonne a sonne like and equall to himselfe for his enemies to be made vnder the Law yea the curse of the Law and to be deliuered vp to the powers of darknesse This doctrine hath foure vses Vses 1. To make vs mourne for our â—â—nnes First it serueth to shew vs how horrible sinne is to engender in vs godly griefe and to make vs studiously auoide it Such Epicurisme is in vs that wee count sinne a light hurt which any thing will salue But whoso duely weigheth this that sinne ere it could bee done away and satisfied hath made the Lord of glory to empty himselfe of his Maiestie the Son of God to walke as a seruant God himselfe to shed his bloud this will make his heart to melt bleed within him for his sinnes and to water his cheekes with teares no lesse aboundantly then he hath before laughed merrily and blithely I will poure saith the Lord Zachary 12.10 vpon the house Dauid and vpon the inhabitants of Ierusalem the spirit of grace and compassion and they shall looke vpon mee whom they haue pearced and they shall lament for him as one mourneth for his onely sonne and be sorry for him as one is sorry for his first borne c. If once the Lord make vs turne our eyes to Christ and to regard what he hath suffered for our sinnes nothing will more then that humble vs with godly sorrow and bruise our hearts for them For what sorrow can we thinke deepe enough what teares sufficient for our sinnes which haue pearced the Sonne of God vvith extreame sorrowes and put him to most base vile and painefull sufferings And this grace also will curbe a man most effectually from breaking forth into euill and â—o curbe vs from sinne As Tit. 2.11 12. The grace of God which bringeth saluation vnto all men hath appeared and teacheth vs that wee should deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts What is this grace of God but that fauour and loue vvhich God hath shewed vs in the sufferings of Christ then the vvhich there is no better master to teach vs and to presse vpon vs this lesson of vsing all endeauour to shunne sinne For therein as in a cleere glasse may we contemplate and behold what Christ hath endured to free vs from it what fearefull torments it deserueth how odious and hatefull it is to God which he would so seuerely punish in his owne Sonne And lastly into vvhat horrible misery it will eternally plunge vs if we doe not shake it off and abstaine therefrom 2. To comfort in temptation Secondly it is comfortable in temptation For when Sathan shall trouble our mindes and charge vs with our sinnes and vvant of righteousnesse there is nothing in the world that can quiet our mindes and stop his mouth but this that Christs righteousnesse and satisfaction is ours Shewing Christ to be ours and that by his death we are acquitted from our sinnes and by his righteousnesse made righteous before God But how is Christs righteousnesse and satisfaction made ours Euen by the gift and donation of God For as wee haue heard By Gods gift God hath giuen vs his Sonne and if Christ himselfe be giuen vs doubtlesse vvith Christ wee haue all the merits of his obedience conferred on vs by the same gift And what better right and title can we haue to him and his righteousnesse then this that God who is the sole owner possessour of him hath bestowed him on vs 3. To make 〈◊〉 trust to God â—or all other good things Rom. 8 3â— Thirdly it is a ground of hope in all our vvants that God vvill supply vnto vs all things good and needfull For hath God giuen vs Christ his Sonne How shall hee not with him giue vs all things also No man vvhose kindnesse and loue to vs hath beene so great as to bestow on vs the best and dearest thing he hath vvill hold backe any thing that should make that gift sure and behoouefull to vs or see vs in distresse for want of smaller matters Loe God hath giuen vs his Sonne the most excellent deere and precious thing he had And can wee thinke that his loue is so cold as that hee vvill sticke to bestow vpon vs earthly things that are toyes and trifles to this great gift if he see them fit for vs or that he will not giue vs faith and other graces whereby this gift should be made certaine and of vse vnto vs 4. To â—ssuâ—e vs of the continuance of â—oâ—s loue herâ—a â—er Fourthly it doth assure vs of Gods loue for the time to come If when we were enemies vvee were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne much more being reconciled shall wee bee saued by his life Rom. 5.10 If a man out of loue haue sought the friendship of his enemie and vsed meanes to be reconciled to him is it not likely that he will be constant in this loue and take all waies to maintaine it vnto the end But howsoeuer it fall out with man who is variable most sure it is that GOD
And how can any conceiue it otherwise to bee made ours but as by faith it is apprehended of vs Heere the Papists say that Christ is our righteousnesse How Christ is our righteousnesse Not by sanctification two waies First because he meriteth the pardon of sinne which is reckoned ours Secondly because he worketh righteousnesse in vs. Answ It is very true that Christ doth sanctifie vs notwithstanding hee doth not make vs righteous before God by this inherent righteousnesse For wee are the righteousnesse of God not in our selues as we should be if this infused righteousnesse were the matter of our iustification but in him 2. Cor. 5.21 And Phil. 3.9 But by imputation when Paul doth oppose the righteousnesse which is of Christ and of God to that of the Law which also he doth call his owne as being inherent in him hee doth cleerely shew that Christ is not our righteousnes by that righteousnesse which the spirit doth beget in vs for that is legall but by another righteousnesse resting in his owne person and not transfused but imputed to vs. Reason 2. Secondly Faith and workes in this matter of iustification are alwaies opposed Ephes 2.8 9. Rom. 2.27 But now if faith iustifie vs as a worke they are not then opposite but may well stand together Reason 3. Thirdly when we say that faith doth saue iustifie and purifie vs if we vnderstand this of the inward act of beleeuing wee are made our owne Sauiours and sanctifyers For it is cleere that wee saue our selues when from our selues doth proceede that act by and for which we are saued Reason 4. Further the least true faith though it be vnperfect doth iustifie It cannot then bee that it doth this by its owne value For how should a weake and small faith that is as a graine of mustard seede be of equall value to a greater measure of the same when things of the same kinde differ in value according to their quantitie as there is much odds in worth betweene a mite and a massy wedge though both be of the purest gold Wherefore this excellent worke of iustification must be ascribed vnto the thing beleeued on that is Iesus Christ which a small and weake faith doth as truely apprehend and possesse vs of as a stronger Reason 5. Lastly it was an errour which the Gnosticks held that their faith did iustifie for the excellency of it Vses 1. It cleereth obiections about this doctrine First this doth serue to cleere some obiections about this doctrine For to some wee seeme not well aduised to exclude workes from iustification when faith is an habite and worke of the soule as is loue and other graces of the spirit and others may think that wee prize faith at too high a rate to make it that which doth giue vs righteousnesse and procure vs title to that super excellent waight of glory It vvere somewhat that these say if we did reach that faith did iustifie as a worke or should make faith it selfe our righteousnesse vvhich formally doth so present vs to God But that is farre from our minde It is Iesus Christ onely that is our righteousnesse it is onely his obedience by and for which we are righteous before the Lord. Faith hath no further hand and stroke in this weighty worke then as it doth looke to Christ lay hold and possesse vs of him that wee may haue him vvith his merits to present to GOD in our behalfe 2. It comforteth the weake in faith Secondly this doctrine doth not a little comfort those that are weake in faith Weakenesse of faith is a want that many of Gods people doe bewaile in themselues and for which they do wel-nigh despaire of themselues And it is a worthy grace to be strong in faith as was Abraham For by it the heart is stablished against all assaults and is filled with peace and ioy in all estates and the more our faith is the more doe we abound in the assurance of our iustification and the pardon of our sinnes Notwithstanding let not any be out of heart for the small and scanty measure of his faith if he haue true faith It is not the excellencie and great measure of his faith that doth make him righteous before God Since faith is not our righteousnesse But Christ but â—hrist whom faith doth receiue and apprehend which a weake faith can doe as well as the strongest Say not then my faith is weake and feeble Is it a true and sincere faith which renouncing all other matter of righteousnesse doth depend and cast it selfe on Christ for pardon of sinne and saluation Be then of good comfort thou art as fully and perfectly righteous before God as he that hath the strongest faith in the world For thou hast Christ who is righteousnesse and perfect righteousnesse to euery one that doth beleeue euen as well to him that beleeueth with a feeble faith if a true one as to him that beleeueth with a strong faith Who is apprehended by a weake faith as wel as a strong Euen to saluation Looke not then on thy faith but consider him that is Iesus Christ on whom thy faith doth looke and repose it selfe and know that he is righteousnesse alsufficient to thee They that did looke on the Brazen Serpent but with one eye yea but with halfe an ey were as well and fully cured of the deadly stings of the fiery serpents as those which beheld it with both If the Prince bee disposed to bestow on sundry male factors their Pardon or some precious Iewels vpon Beggers they are as fully acquitted from their sinnes and made as rich by the possession of that Iewell which accept of these albeit with shaking and trembling as they that receiue them with lusty and strong hands Euen so is the case heere Hast thou but a dimmish faith yet such a one as doth looke vp to Christ and onely to him for saluation Hast thou but a weake trembling faith yet such a one as thou doest reach out to receiue Christ that rich Pearle of heauen and the pardon of thy sinnes offered in him and doest claspe it about him with all thy feeble strength Make no doubt but that thou art iustified in the sight of God doest stand clearely acquitted from all thy sinnes and shalt be healed of all their deadly stings It is the possession of the Iewell not their strong holding of it that doth make those beggers rich and the Kings Pardon that doth discharge Malefactors from the danger of the Law so they be willing to accept and pleade the same And so it is not our strong Since the true possession of him saueth vs not our strong hold of him or weake faith that is our righteousnesse and discharge before God but Iesus Christ and his obedience This onely is required on our part that we accept him offered vs in the Gospell and relye on him for full righteousnesse and redemption which
we hauing right thereunto wee haue the accomplishment of glory when wee beleeue in regard of right and propriety thereunto When first wee beleeue then we are intituled to life euerlasting Euen as the title to an outward inheritance followeth vpon the birth so the right and hope of this kingdome doth follow our spirituall birth By our spiritual birth None that are not begotten of God by water and the spirit shall enter into the kingdome He hath begotten vs vnto an inheritance 1. Pet. 1.3.4 Now the Lord begets vs his sons daughters when he giueth vs to beleeue For first the good pleasure of God resteth on his naturall and onely begotten Sonne on whom when we come to lay holde by faith we are then made sonnes Iohn 1.12 Yea sons accepted Eph. 1.6 And being sonnes accepted vvee are heires As Gods sons and heires euen ioynt-heires with Christ. Rom. 8.17 The glory of heauen is therefore called by the name of Adoption because it followeth thereon and is the thing to which we are adopted By faith therefore when we obtaine to be the sonnes of God wee also thereby obtaine that euerlasting life which is to be reuealed Which truth that wee may cleare somewhat better obserue with me briefely these three things First then Christ hath merited life euerlasting no lesse for vs For Christ hath merited it for vs. then righteousnes as Heb. 10.19.20 By the bloud of Iesus we may be bold to enter into the holy place by the new liuing way which he hath prepared throgh the vaile that is his flesh And Heb. 9.15 Through the death of the Mediatour wee which are called receiue the promise of the eternall inheritance Secondly 2. Faith doth apprehend it also as well as righteousnes faith applies and apprehendeth the one as well as the other We are saued by grace through faith Eph. 2.8 It is the Apostles meaning that faith doth looke vnto and lay holde euen of saluation it selfe which we haue of Gods grace as well as of any benefit tending thereunto And if it be obiected that hee speaketh not of life euerlasting which is laid vp for vs in due time to be reuealed but of the present saluation and redemption whereof heere wee are partakers I answer It is manifest in the verse going before what he meaneth by saluation euen specially the treasures of glory God hath raised vs vp together and made vs sit in heauenly places c. For wee are saued by grace through faith 3. Faith doth euer rest vpon it vntill wee come to enioy it Thirdly Faith doth not onely beginne to apprehend it and then leaue vs to workes that wee may attaine it but faith doth still apply life vnto vs till wee are iustified and saued By faith we stand and reioyce vnder the hope of the glory of God Rom. 5.2 Wee are kept by the power of God through faith vnto saluation which is to be reuealed 1 Pet. 1.5 So that our faith neuer giueth ouer till wee haue this saluation euen the end of our faith And these considerations doe sufficiently shew that faith is it or rather Christ receiued by faith by for which we are righteous and accepted yea and at length attaine life euerlasting The opinion of the Papists touching life eternall Now let vs consider a little what is the sentence of the Papists in this poynt The Papists then confesse that life is merited by Christ and is made ours by the right of inheritance so farre wee go with them Yea touching works they holde many things with vs that no works of themselues can merit life euerlasting 2. that works done before conuersion can merit nothing at Gods hand and merit of works much lesse life euerlasting 3. that there is no merit at Gods hand without his mercy no exact merit as often there is amongst men all these are true The point whereabout wee dissent Our dissent from thâ—m is that with the merit of Christ and free promise they vvill haue the merit of works ioined as done by them who are adopted children That which directly must be opposed vnto this is that Gods gracious promising Gods grace and any merit of workes cannot stand together and giuing it to vs in Christ cannot stand with the merit of our workes And the Scripture herein is so euident As it is euident by the Scripture that some of the Papists are forced to deny this coniunction of a double title vnto life eternall For in the fourth of the Romanes 4. the wages cannot be counted both by meere fauour and also by debt and desert and Rom. 11.6 If it be of grace then not of workes for grace then were no grace In which place obserue this that fauour and grace are meant and to bee taken for the rich grace of God which is now made manifest in Christ For otherwise there is a grace which may stand with workes It was grace that God did couenant with man in Adam that had hee stood in righteousnesse hee should haue deserued eternall life but the riches of grace of meere grace cannot abide one worke as meritorious to be coupled with it If any heere except The Apostle speaketh of workes of the Ceremoniall Law or done by force of nature not by the grace of Christ I answere that in the first place Workes of grace being excluded from iustification the Apostle reasons of the workes of Abraham being now iustified and euen in the flower and prime of workes Further we may see plainely Ephes 2.8 9 10. that grace doth exclude al works of regeneration We are saued saith the Apostle by grace not by workes What workes Such as are ceremoniall or done in our naturall state No nor by workes of regeneration euen such good workes as we are created to in Christ Iesus And marke heere the reason of the Papists All our workes say they come from the grace of God in vs and are from Christ dwelling in vs Ergo it hindreth not the grace of God nor Christs merit that we haue them and merit by them Now the Apostle doth inferre the quite contrary Our workes euen our best workes cannot saue vs. Why For they are not ours but they are of God whose workemanship we are being by him created vnto them Gal. 3.11 12. And faâ—th and the Law being opposed Further The iust doth liue by faith Ergo he cannot liue by doing For The Law is not of Faith Nor is faith of the Law neither can these two be conioined As Gal. 3.18 If the inheritance be of the Law it is no more by the promise but God gaue it freely by the promise Marke heere that there is such opposition betweene workes and grace that a thing cannot bee together a donatiue of mercy and deserued by working If any thing bee ioined with Christ as together meritorious of righteousnesse and life it abolisheth Christ But why then doth God promise life euerlasting to