blasphemers of the holy Spirit who doe not onely fulfill the full measure of those Pagans sinnes but contemne also the Graces given vnto them the knowledge whereto they haue beene called and that good Spirit whereof the Pagans were never made partakers Now looke we backe for a while to those markes wherewith they are noted against whom our Apostle in this place denounceth If they bee duely considered they will moue our hearts to wisdome One is they haue beene once lightned that is they haue been endued with the knowledge of God and that not onely by the heavens though they b Psal 19 ◠declare Gods glory nor only by the firmament though that sheweth his handy worke nor onely by other his creatures though in them also his eternall power godhead appeareth and shineth for of this light all nations are made partakers but they haue beene lightned also with his holy word This hath beene a c Ps 119 105. lanterne to their feet and a light vnto their paths When they found it they did greedily tast of it and it was vnto them the ioy and reioycing of their hearts And can we think that any thus lightned are neere vnto cursing Yea the d Heb. 6.7 Scripture telleth vs that they may so fall away as that it shall be impossible for them to be renued againe by repentance Heb. 6.6 Indeed the earth which drinketh in the raine that commeth oft vpon it and bringeth forth hearbes meet for them by whom it is dressed shal receaue a blessing of God but that earth which beareth thornes and briers is reproued is neere vnto cursing the end thereof is to bee burned Presume wee not then beloved in the Lord. Whosoever 1. Cor. 10.12 thinkes he standeth may fal O! worke we out our salvatiō with feare trembling An other marke of theirs is they haue tasted of the heavenly gift This heavenly gift is eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6.23 It is that great salvatiō that is in Christ Iesus so called by Christ himselfe speaking to the woman of Samaria Iohn 4.10 This gift they haue not only knowne but haue also tasted of it Would you know what taste this is One expounds it thus Suppose a banquet provided wherein are many sweet pleasant and dainty meates At this banquet the bidden guests must be set downe they see the meats they taste thē they eate them they disgest them they are nourished strengthened by them The vnbidden guests it is not so with them They indeed may see the meates yea more then so happyly they may be permitted to handle them and taste of them to feele how good they are but eate or feed of thē they may not Apply this and in the vnbidden guests tasting of those dainety meates you shall perceiue this taste of the heavenly gift resembled They haue tasted of the heavenly gift that is they haue gladly sometime receaved it and reioyced in it like Herode who did gladly heare Iohn Baptist preaching Mark 6.20 like the second kinde of naughty ground that ioyfully receaved the seed Mat. 13.20 Herod may willingly heare the preaching of the word and yet be accursed the naughty ground receiving the seed with ioy in the end may be burned Many may haue a taste of eternall life of that great salvation which is in Christ Iesus and yet may finally fall away Presume wee not then beloved in the Lord. Whosoever thinkes he standeth may fall O! worke we out our salvation with feare and trembling Their third marke is they haue beene made partakers of the holy Ghost that is many graces of the spirit of God haue beene given vnto them They may repent like Iudas Mat. 27.3 confesse their sinnes like Pharaoh Exod. 10.16 loue God as Saule did 1. Sam. 10.9 They may desire to be like Gods children in happinesse as Balaam desired when he said O let my soule die the death of the righteous let my last end be like his Num. 23.10 They may shew liking to Gods Ministers reverence them and feare to displease them as Simon Magus did who at Philips preaching beleeved wondred at his miracles and kept cōpany with him Act. 8.13 They may be zealous in the profession of the gospell as the Galatians were who receaved Paule as an Angell and if possible would haue plucked out their eies to haue done him good Gal. 4.16 Thus may they be qualified yea much better then thus and yet may finally fall awaie Presume we not thē beloved in the Lord. Whosoever thinkes he standeth may fall O! worke we out our salvation with feare and trembling Their last marke for I omit the rest as being all reducible to these fowre their last marke is They haue receaved the knowledge of the truth that is they haue caused their f Ezech. 3.3 bellies to eate and haue filled their bowels with that sweet roule as sweet as any hony in their mouthes they haue receaved the word of God in their hearts in such abundance as that they are become preachers of the word for they haue g Heb. 6.5 tasted of the good word of God and of the power of the world to come they haue tasted it indeed but only haue they tasted it Here let me once more remember you of the resemblance of tasting You know that Cookes which are busied in preparing of banquets haue commonly as much feeling and seeing of the meates as any other and yet there is none that eateth lesse of it then they their stomackes are so cloyed with the smell taste thereof so is it here it may come to passe that the preacher which dresseth and provideth the spirituall food may eate least of it himselfe so labouring to saue others himselfe may proue a reprobate It hath beene thought that some of them which built the Arke were not saved in the Arke but certaine it is not only thought so certaine it is that diverse spirituall builders of Christs Church shall not be saved with the Church They may by vs be takē for Gods sheepe because they are kept in the same pastures and folded in the same fold with vs they may by vs be taken for Gods sheepe though indeed they be very Goates There is a day to come wherein the h 2. Pet. 3.10 heavens shal passe away with a noise and the elements shall melt with heate the earth with the workes that are therein shall be burnt vp then may Demas alleage for himselfe his old and once-true religion and Iudas for himselfe his Apostleship and many others for themselues their prophecying in Christs name but al in vaine For that iust Iudge will professe vnto them i Mat. 7.23 Luk. 13.27 I never knew you depart from me yee workers of iniquity Presume wee not then beloved in the Lord. Whosoever thinkes he standeth may fall O! worke we out our salvation with feare and trembling Having thus considered their markes finding that they haue
farre hath this boldnesse thrust it selfe as that now bee there any talke of Divinitie it is thought but a small matter for such whose neckes are as sinewes of Iron and browes like brasse I meane for carelesse hearts and venterous tongues to be vp with predestination or the Sinne against the holy Ghost To such what shall I say Even as one said in the like case it were better for them they had neither tongues in their heads nor hearts in their breasts then that they should delight in their so vnreverent and vngodly vsage For hereby what doe they else but blaspheme the eternall wisdome of God It is a faithfull lesson for servants to be obedient to them that are their masters according to the flesh in feare trembling you may find it Eph. 6.5 And shall we servants to that great LORD our master according to the spirit when we enter talke of his word not feare shall we not tremble shall we at his greatest mysteries be carelesse mockers The knowledge of Gods predestination should cast downe our proud reason even to the ground it should make vs confesse before him that all his doings are secret all his iudgements vnsearchable all his waies past finding out yet we like fooles vnwilling though wee should bee brayed in a morter to let our foolishnesse depart from vs doubt not at all to examine the high iudgements of God as if they were pliable to our foolish reason And so likewise the Sin against the holy Ghost is mentioned to make vs feare to work in vs the feare of the LORD which is as a well-spring of life to free vs from all the snares of death to make vs loue the LORD learne al his iudgemeÌ„ts to assure vs so farre of his favour as that we cannot possibly sinne against his spirit yet we as discontent herewith put all feare apart make no end of questioning whether the Sin against the holy Ghost be this sinne or that sinne when God knoweth at al sinnes we make but a iest Iustly may we feare lest God say to vs as once he said to the wicked Psal 50.16 Quid tuâ vt enarres decreta mea Gods ordinances being holy pure should not come into mouthes given to filthinesse With what face then dare men of vncircumcised mindes and mouthes medle with such holy mysteries either publikely or privatly Quid tuâ vt enarres decreta mea What hast thou to doe to declare mine ordinances Doth it belong to thee to take my covenant in thy mouth saith the Lord. You see how farre too much boldnesse carieth vs headlong The other fault I spake of was too much feare Some there are and they none of the worst of vs who by the singular mercies of God haue so beene humbled as that they cover their faces and hang downe their heads at the remeÌ„brance of their sinnes To such every sound of the Sin against the holy Ghost is a piercing of their hearts they stop their ears at the name of it they would not haue it spoken of at all for feare lest themselues should bee holden in the transgression In which their opinion they seeme to accord with those who hold of predestination and election that they are matters not to be thought of too high for mans learning Which conceite was first founded in the forge of a Popish braine thence hath beene derived to vs. Hence sprang that their comfortlesse lesson hope well and haue well and that their assertion leading vnto wilfull blindnesse it is not the dutie of a man to knowe his election In the 2. to the Corinth 135. it is thus written Proue your selues whether yee are in the faith examine your selues knowe yee not your owne selues how that Iesus Christ is in you except yee bee reprobates Consider the words Shall God here by his Apostle bid proue and dares man say doubt Shall God bid examine dares maÌ„ advise vs only to hope Shall the spirit of truth command vs to knowe our salvation and dares a lying spirit in the mouthes of false prophets account it presumption to knowe our salvation To this purpose is it that S. Iohn exhorteth you 1. Iohn 4.1 Trie the spirits whether they are of God or not As for those in whose eares the naming of this Sin against the holy Ghost soundeth harshly Christ hath said the summe of all that hath beene said c Luk. 12.32 Feare not my little flocke for it hath pleased your father to giue to you a kingdome not momentary but eternall purchased not with gold and silver but with the most precious bloud of his only sonne and therefore may yee well be assured that he will also giue you victory over sinne death This great and heinous Sinne bee it what it will let it never discourage you it cannot hurt you it is none of yours This sinne is the sinne of those that haue despised knowledge but like as the Hart desireth the water brooks so doe your soules thirst after more knowledge of the Lord. This sinne is the sinne of such as haue contemned the Crosse of Christ but the delight of your liues is therein This sinne is the sinne of such as haue made the world their God but your God with whoÌ„ yee walke in whose feare you liue hath had such mercy on you as that yee account all the world but dung to the end yee may winne Christ And therefore I say againe this great and heinous sin be it what it will let it never discourage you it cannot hurt you it is none of yours Wheresoever they dwell that haue thus sinned and are in this condemnation be of good comfort God himselfe beareth you witnesse that their tents and their tabernacles are not neere you Thus haue wee beene warned touching Gods holy mysteries that we be neither too bold nor too fearefull let vs now walking in the midst betweene both betweene feare boldnesse drawe neere with reverence and with glad and faithfull eares abide we the hearing of this sinne let vs not bee so foolish either to feare the smoake since the fire cannot hurt vs or to wade too farre since the depth may devoure vs. Now then not to trouble you long with those d Desperatio Praesumptio Impoenitentia Obâ—tinatio Impugnatio â—eritatis agnitae Invidia gratiae fraternae Angelus del Pas â—nchirid Scholast Theolog. Sect. 2. lib. 2. c. 1. p. 56. six kindes of sinnes against the holy Ghost much spoken of by the Schoolemen as namely presumption of Gods mercies and Despaire coÌ„trary to presumption and the Oppugning of the known truth the Envying of all the good gifts and graces in our brethren and Obstinacie Impenitencie let it bee sufficient for vs to vnderstand that in the word of God there is mention of one onely sinne so called In Mat. 12.31 as also in Mark 3.29 and Luke 12.10 it is called the blasphemie against the holy Ghost You shall finde it at large described if
seene the difference betweene despaire the Sinne against the holy Ghost as also what cōfort what ioy may from thence shine vnto feeble and weake spirits Now seeke we farther into this sinne Let vs first consider what manner of rebellion it is Secondly in what regard it is so named Thirdly what obiect it hath The manner of rebellion namely how farre they fall awaie who haue fallen into this sinne we shall perceiue if we looke vnto the beginning of the sixt chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrewes There verse 1.2 the Apostle speaketh of repentance frō dead workes of faith towards God of the doctrine of baptisme laying on of hands of the resurrection from the dead and of eternall iudgement All these he calleth the beginning the foundation of Christianity Then verse the 6. he speaketh of an apostacie of a falling away from all these points even from the foundatiō and first beginnings of Christian faith giving vs thereby to vnderstand that they who are holden in this transgressiō haue sinned this sinne haue forsaken all the principles of religiō haue lost their former light haue departed from their first vnderstāding As for repentance they cast it behinde them and the first faith they regard it not they esteeme baptisme no more then the washing of their hands neither care they to be received in to the Church of God the resurrection of the dead that feedes them with many a merry conceit they thinke pleasantly with thēselues what manner of bodies they shal haue of what age these their bodies shall be whether they shall haue haire and nailes and the like But the eternall iudgement the remembrance indeede thereof sometimes frighteth them yet are they incouraged againe when they think how farre of it is So preferre they darknesse before light ignorance before knowledge errour before hope infidelity before faith shame before glory a cursed death before eternall life They are fallen away from repentance and therefore impossible shall it be for them to repent they are fallen away from faith towards God and therefore never may they hope to beleeue againe they are fallen away from the doctrine of baptisme laying on of hands and therfore are they not likly any more by those meanes to be illuminated they are fallen away from the doctrine of resurrection and therefore though they rise againe it shall be to their owne confusion they are fallen away from the doctrine of eternal iudgement and therefore shall eternall iudgement swallow them vp It is no more but thus they haue fallen away wholy from CHRIST they haue despised the sweet graces of the HOLY SPIRIT wherewith they once were lightened and therefore shal they be fed with wormewood and be made to drinke the water of gall and not this only but let all the rivers and streames of fresh water which glad the city of God and comfort the soules of the faithfull runne also into their soules they will resist them and driue them backe they will admit no entrance for any perswasion of the graciousnes and kindnes of the Lord though it be preached a thousand times They haue sinned against the holie Ghost and condemnation is their portion You see in the manner of rebellion how farre they may fall away now for the name It is not called the Sinne against the holy Ghost as if it were against the Godhead of the holy Ghost for the same God is also father and sonne The godhead of the Father of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost is all one their glory is equal and their maiesty coeternall nor is it so called as if it were against the person of the holy Ghost for that is no greater then the person of the father and of the sonne The whole three persons are coeternall together and coequall Nunquid alia est offensa filij alia spiritûs sancti saith S. Ambrose De spiritu sancto Lib. 1. cap. 3. His answer is Sicut vna dignitas sic vna iniuria Can the holy Ghost bee grieved and the sonne well pleased No Sicut vna dignitas sic vna iniuria The Father Sonne and holy Ghost haue all one glory therefore an iniurie done to one is done to all Trium personarum non sunt divisae offensae saith the Master of the Sentences Lib. 2. Dist 43. art 4. It is impossible that a sinne committed against the holy Ghost should not also bee committed against the Father and against the Sonne yet saith he Peccatorum genera distincta sunt you may vse a distinction betweene sinnes where he sheweth that although power wisdome goodnesse be one and the same in all three persons yet sometimes in a more peculiar sort there is ascribed power to the father wisedome to the Sonne and goodnesse to the goly Ghost and hence ariseth this distinction of sinnes If a man sinne through infirmitie he may be said to sinne against the Father for in him is power he is the father of might If hee sinne through ignorance he may be said to sinne against the Sonne for in him is no want of knowledge he is the wisdome of the Father If he sin through wilfull malice hee may bee said to sinne against the holy Ghost for in him is all goodnesse his office is to sanctifie You see then why this Sinne is called the sinne against the holy Ghost not because it is against the Godhead of the holy Ghost nor yet because it is against the person of the holy Ghost but because it is against the goodnesse of the holy Ghost against the goodnesse that is against the graces of the holy spirit given vs to the setting out of the praises of the LORD For whosoever shall despise those good graces turne them to the contempt of Gods maiestie and glory and tread thē vnder foot and account them prophane and purposely and wilfully Heb. 6.6 and malitiously carry them away to all wantonnesse hee crucifieth againe vnto himselfo the sonne of God hee despites the spirit of grace he sinnes against the holy Ghost I shall not need to speake of the obiect which I proposed vnto you in the third place the two former notes haue made it sufficiently manifest that the malice of this sinne is directed against the whole TRINITIE against the very maiestie of God himselfe and against his Christ it directly respecteth the first table of the morall law it is not any particular slipping aside it is a generall defection a generall apostacie from God and that totally Here should I shew you what punishment is provided for such sinners but that discourse is better fitting the later words of my Text. Yet that wee bee not swallowed vp by secure and carelesse living as long as we heare nothing of any punishmēt due for so great a sinne let it not be troublesome to vs at once to take a view of it Certaine it is an end shall come vpon them yet never shall they end death shall take them away yet never
Testament because as Theophylact and Aquinas do both note the new Testament was confirmed by the blood of Christ And this is the Testament After those dayes saith the LORD I will put my lawes in their mind Heb. 8.10 10.16 and in their heart will I write them and I will be their God and they shall bee my people and I will bee mercifull to their vnrighteousnes and their sinnes and their iniquities will I remember no more This new Testament by which that other is disanulled and waxed old is confirmed by the blood of Christ Now may we be bold to enter into the holy place a new and living way is prepared for vs through the vaile which our Apostle Heb. 10.20 affirmeth to be the flesh of Christ With this blood of the covenant the sinner against the Holy Ghost is in my text said to bee sanctified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with which blood though now he account it common and prophane he was sanctified I may not stand to remember you of the many significations by which in many places of the Holy Scriptures these words Sanctus and Sanctificare are expoūded diverse of them are impertinent and should bee wrested to the place we haue in hand for the vnderstanding of which it may suffice if we cōsider first that God alone is properly holy secōdly that all mans holinesse is from God God must not onely helpe but doe also all in all or else man cannot be sanctified These points are vndoubtedly beleeued of vs and neede no proofe Yet for explications sake wee may briefly note that whatsoever men doe truely call Iust the same in relation to God must be called and is truely holy and therefore that God being alone absolutely Iust must of necessitie alone be absolutly Holy that is God being Iust with that vniversall and most perfect Iustice yea himselfe being his owne Iustice it must needs be that he is as the Seraphins Esai 6.3 and as the foure beasts Revel 4.8 haue made proclamation Holy Holy Holy LORD God Almightie thrise holy that is most Holy I will not here dispute whether in those places the Spirit of God noteth the three persons in the Trinity by thrise repeating the word Holy I knowe that many of the ancient and some of our later writers haue so iudged of those places and vsed thē as testimonies to confirme so maine a point of religion Vnto whose iudgements herein I need not doubt nor will refuse to yeeld reverence Yet may I wish and I shall wish no more thē Calvin doth on Esay 6. that if at any time we are to deale with Arrians and are against them to maintaine proue three persons in one divine essence that we would be carefull to vse testimonies of greater strength For those enimies of the blessed Trinitie when they are assayled with such testimonies which may as naturally bee expounded otherwise are so farre from yeelding to the truth of that doctrine as that they become much more obstinate and overthwart But to our purpose the Seraphins and the foure beasts proclaiming the LORD God Almightie to be Holy holy holy doe testifie that all the waies of God even all his most severe iudgements are iust and vpright and holy howsoever they may seem vnto men This threefold repetition of the word makes the sense to be as if they had said God of all is most Holy and to bee hallowed of all Neither is this kind of speech altogether without example For God willing to let Zedechias vnderstand of the vtter and finall ruine of his kingdome bids the Prophet say from him vnto the prophane and wicked King Ezech. 21.27 I will overturne overturne overturne it and it shall bee no more vntill the Messiah come his right it is and I will giue it him as if the Lord had said assuredly and without repentance will I overturne and bring to ruine the kingdome of Zedechias such force doth the repetition giue the speech And as there so here God is Holy Holy Holy without doubt Holy onely Holy most holy Holynesse becommeth the house of God for ever so wee read Psal 93.5 I will not restraine it to any particular house Vnderstand it if you will of the palace and basilicke of the great King or of the Temple of Ierusalem which the childrē of God in former times had respect vnto or of any other Temples on the earth now consecrated to the service of God or of your private selues for your selues also are the Temples of the Lord the saying stands firme without contradiction Holynesse becommeth the house of God for ever And hereby hath God set a barre about his Temples as he did about the mount to keepe out beasts and brutish men For as his Temples vpon the earth none should so that other farre more sacred which is in Heaven none shall ever enter into that is vnholy and vncleane The Apostle Heb. 7.26 describing the sanctity of Christ saith that such an high priest it became vs to haue which is holy harmelesse vndefiled separate from sinners and made higher then the Heavens Where the latter attributes doe only expound the former and it is as if the Apostle had said to be holy is nothing else but to be harmelesse vndefiled and separate from sinners for whosoever is harmelesse vndefiled and separate from sinners he is already made higher then the Heavens Thus we see that God alone is naturally properly and absolutely Holy Wherevpon it followeth necessarily that all mans holynesse is from God Which was the second point to lead vs to the vnderstanding of this place where the wicked are said to bee sanctified It is a true rule which may be collected out of Saint Cyrils treasurie lib. 3. cap. 1. Quae in Deo sunt naturaliter ea in creaturis esse posse participatione Such things as are naturally in God may be in Gods creatures by participation as when we doe participate the effects and similitudes only of those attributes which essentially and naturally are in God So may we be said to be partakers of the divine nature when those most great and precious promises are given vs 2. Pet. 1.4 There he teacheth vs that we haue all good things from Gods free promise thereby are we delivered from the corruption of this world frō those sinnefull lusts which we carry about vs and so are made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 partakers of the divine nature in a sort like vnto God For by divine nature in that place is not meant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods divine essence but participatio qualitatum certaine qualities which the power of God hath wrought in vs that by them his image in vs now a long time defaced may be restored againe In the Scriptures we are charged to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect to be mercifull as he is mercifull to be Holy as he is Holy Where we must not thinke we are enioyned to haue such perfection mercifulnesse holynesse as is essentially
in God that is not communicable to any creature but then are we perfect mercifull and holy according to that charge when we are fulfilled with the effects with the image and similitude of that perfection mercifulnesse and holynesse which is in God The same may be spoken of wisedome goodnesse iustice other like proprieties of God We are then wise then good then iust when there appeareth in vs the image and similitude of Gods wisedome goodnesse and iustice It being true then that God alone is Holy and man not holy but by participation only as if it shall please God by his power and grace to sow in the hearts of sinnefull men some seedes of his owne sanctity and to effect and to make to shine in their liues conversations the image and similitude of his owne holynesse it remaineth a truth not to be contradicted All mans holynesse is from God Now because the Spirit of God commeth to and worketh in diverse men diversely and in diverse measures we must know that holynesse a gift of that Spirit is not in all mē after one sort We may therefore note a generall sanctity and a speciall sanctity appliable to the differēce of such as liue within the bosome of the militant Church wherein there are not only godly men and holy men but counterfaits and hypocrits not only gold but drosse too not only wheat but chaffe also The speciall sanctity I call that by which the true beleevers in Christ are truely properly indeed sanctified before God by the holy Spirit They in whom this sanctity shineth were elected from everlasting according to the purpose of him which worketh all things after the counsell of his owne will and according to that his purpose are they called and so are iustified and by the Holy Ghost are not only taught the trueth in vnderstanding but also in heart are truely renewed and regenerate It is manifest by that indissoluble chaine of fiue linkes Rom. 8.29 30. For whom God knew before them hath he predestinated them hath he called them hath he iustified them hath he glorified This true holynesse is meant by the Apostle Eph. 1.4 where he saith That God hath chosen vs in Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be Holy And what is this to be Holy It is expounded in the same place even to be without blame before God in loue The same is meant Ephes 5.26 there it is said that Christ gaue himselfe for the Church that he might sanctifie it And what is this to sanctifie the Church It is expounded in the wordes following even to cleanse it by the washing of vvater through the word that he might make it vnto himselfe a glorious Church not having spot or wrinckle or any such thing but that it should be holy without blame Other like places might be alleaged out of the Holy Scriptures which I omit By these we see that speciall sanctity making vs spotlesse and without blame before God what it is The generall sanctity I call that by which the Church visible and militant consisting of good and evill of dissemblers and hypocrites as wel as of the Godly is called though not truely and properly yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a figuratiue kind of speech tota sancta the Holy Church and that especially in regard of him the holy of holies that most Holy one who dwelleth in the Church and sanctifieth them that beleeue in him againe in regard of such as in the Church are in deed and truely holy Neither should this seeme strange that hypocrites dissemblers and godlesse men are called holy For whosoever giue their names to Christ and are baptized into his name though all of them be not truely grafted into Christ nor all of them be truely baptized into Christs death and resurrection that is though all of them be not new borne regenerate yet in the Scripture phrase after the custome of the Scriptures they are al called Holy and haue other such titles given them as indeede may beseeme the blessed of the Lord. In this sense St Paule saith that all the Romanes are Saints beloved of God Rom 1.7 and that all the Galatians are sonnes of God Galat. 3.26 and that all the Corinthians are washed and sanctified and iustified 1. Cor. 6.11 And so saith St Peter of all the Iewes which dwelt here and there throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia that they were a chosen generation a royall priesthood a holy nation a peculiar people 1. Pet. 2.9 The Scriptures are very plentiful in gracing the sonnes of darknes such as fall away from the truth with beautiful and glorious titles to take from them against that great day all excuse In Heb. 10.26 they are said to haue receaved the knowledge of the truth in my text they are noted to be sāctified with the blood of the Covenant In Heb. 6.4 5. they are reported to haue been once lightned to haue tasted of the heavēly gift to haue been made partakers of the Holy Ghost and to haue tasted of the good word of God and of the powers of the world to come In 2. Pet. 2.20 we read that they haue escaped from the filthinesse of this world through their knowledge in our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ In Mat. 12.43 44. wee finde that they haue swept and garnished their houses after the departure of the vncleane spirit And in Mat. 13.20 Christ telleth vs that they heare the word and incontinently with ioy receaue it This at the first sight may seeme to be that vesture of needle-worke wrought with diverse colours Psal 45.14 wherewith the Queene was cloathed it may seeme to be that roabe of Adam that his roabe of innocencie of holynesse and of the grace of God wherewith before his fall he was invested To haue receaued the knowledge of the truth to bee sanctified with the blood of the Covenant to haue beene once lightned to haue tasted of the heavenly gift of the good word of God and of the powers of the world to come to haue beene made partakers of the Holy Ghost to haue escaped from the filthynesse of this world to haue the vncleane spirit departed from vs to heare the word incontinentlie with ioy to receiue it are they not sweet blessings descending frō the LORD of lights What could God haue done more vnto his vineyard then he hath done vnto it Yet see the crookednesse of the nature it hath in steed of good grapes it brings forth wilde grapes briars and thornes The Queene may be stript of her Iewels Adam spoyled of his roabes and the soule of man may be robbed of her ornaments rich attire For all those before recited graces may be lost the possessours of them may so fall away as that it shall be impossible for them to be renewed againe by repentance And then for their sinne there remaineth no more sacrifice but a fearefull looking for of iudgement and violent
saith the Apostle vnto the Hebrewes ch 6.8 where see how one plague followeth vpon the necke of another first reproving then cursing then burning and all for the ground that beares bryers and thornes The Apostle in the verse following modestly kindly qualifieth his speech But saith he beloved we haue perswaded our selues better things of you though we thus speake Should we thus speake of these vnprofitable dayes we are perswaded better things Doubtlesse wee should seeme to you to walke before you in the spirit of falshood and flatterie For you know that wee cannot but knowe that ignorance in the most and Atheisme in many growes to a head and doth advance it selfe I shall not need for ignorance to want witnesses I will content my selfe only with the servants of your families Some of them I doubt not are better learned in the schoole of Christ then their fellowes but I feare me it may too truely bee verified of the greatest part of them which Christ spake of the Samaritans that they worship that which they knowe not and it is credible that in their hearts there is an altar erected ignoto Christo to the vnknowne Christ For the advancement of Atheisme I need no witnesses Too many now haue put on the cloake of policie they finde so good patrons They are content to confesse Christ yea and doe willingly also receiue him into their vnderstanding that they may be able to talke of him they would forsooth be like Christians if for nothing else yet only for preferment sake Wo vnto such professours of Christ they are that bad ground which beares briars and thornes and therefore may looke for the plagues attending them they are reproved are neere vnto cursing and must be burnt As for vs beloved in the Lord let vs be thâ—t good ground spoken of by the same Apostle Heb. 6.7 The raine that most sweet raine distilling from no clowdy region but from Gods most gracious fâ—vour This Sermon was preached Ian 1599. hath now these forty yeares and better watred this our ground why then shoulde it not bring forth hearbs meete for the husbandman that dressed it Let vs doe our best to plucke vp by the roots â—ll briars and thornes and weedes that the hearbs may be seene For it is warranted by the Holy Ghost that the earth which drinketh in the raine that coÌ„meth oft vpon it and bringeth forth hâ—arbs meet for them by whoÌ„ it is dressed shall receiue blessing of God Since then by Gods gracious favour we haue receaved Christ into our mouthes to confesse him and into our vnderstandings to knowe him let our hearts be opened and enlarged to embrace him So shall we be sanctified in mouth in minde in heart and be most willing to runne forward in that race of righteousnes wherin through Iesus Christ God hath freely placed vs by whose spirit beeing guided to walke in good workes we leaving farre behinde vs all reprobates shall make our calling and election sure Now God graunt vs so to do for his welbeloved Sonne Iesus Christ his sake Amen THE EIGHTH SERMON HEBR. 10. VER 29. 29 Of how much sorer punishment suppose yee shall he be worthy which treadeth vnder foot the Sonne of God and couÌ„teth the blood of the Testament as an vnholy thing wherewith he was sanctified and doth despite the Spirit of grace OF the first marke by which the sinner against the Holy Ghost cannot be discerned from one truely elected and of the first question grouÌ„ded thervpon I spake vnto you in my last exercise out of this place as God enabled me At this time of the other three markes by which he may be knowne to be a vessel of wrath and not of mercy by Gods gracious assistance The first marke by which men swallowed vp of so monstrous a sinne may hence be knowne to be such as they are is proper to themselues Gods elect haue no part with them Everie one of them treadeth vnder foot the Sonne of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â— notable patterne of the disposition of those plants which must be rooted out Mat. 15.13 because they are not planted by God the Father They are among the number of those many that are called Mat. 2â— 14 but God never vouchsafed them his Holie Spirit in so great measure as to seale them vnto the day of redemption And therefore this calling hath not that effect in theÌ„ which it hath in Gods chosen The chosen of God wheÌ„ they are called do speedily answere and haue ready hearts to come vnto the Lord. The Lord can no sooner say of his little remnant which he bringeth through the fire and fineth as silver and tryeth as gold it is my people but they shall say againe the LORD is my God Zach. 13.9 And he shall no sooner say vnto them Seeke yee my face but their hearts shall answere him againe like Davids heart Psal 27.8 O LORD I will seeke thy face Farre otherwise it fareth with them whom the Father hath not given vnto Christ For when they are called either they readily make answere like one of those Lords who Ierem. 2.31 told God to his face we are Lords wee will no more come at thee or else in outward shew only they yeeld obedience to the calling of God I say in outward shew only for their hearts are not vpright with God He that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and sees and knowes their hearts knowes they are but hypocrites Hypocrits they are howsoever their conversatioÌ„ for a time yea even vnto the howre of their death may be such as that by vs they must be taken for true members of Christ This impossibility to discerne betweene such Goates and Christs Sheepe made St Paul to say of al the Romanes that they were Saints beloved of God Rom. 1.7 and of all the Galatians that they were the Sonnes of God Gal. 3.26 and of all the Corinthians that they were washed and sanctified and iustified 1. Cor. 6.11 It made St Peter also to say of those Iewes in Pontus Galatiae Asia Cappadocia and Bithynia of all of them with out exception that they were a chosen generatioÌ„ a royall priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people 1. Pet. 2.9 In this very regard the Holy Scriptures in many other places haue graced such sonnes of darknesse with glorious titles In Mat. 12.43 44. they are said to haue swept and garnished their houses after the departure of the vncleane spirit In Mat. 13.30 Christ saith of them that they heare the word incontinently with ioy receiue it St Peter Ep. 2. chap 2. ver 20. recordeth of them that they haue escaped from the filthinesse of this world through their knowledge in our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ The writer of this Epistle to the Hebrewes chap. 6 vers 4 5. noteth of them that they haue been once lightened that they haue tasted of the heavenly gift of the good word of God of the powers of the world to come that
of his Bishopricke lurked after that foure yeares in a monastery neere vnto Antiochia was thence by the Emperours commandment sent an exile to the vttermost borders of Egypt and Africa I need not I say bee long in telling you of all this the thing I note is his ende In this his banishment when he was full of yeares that some memorable example as in Corah Dathan Abiram of his so great and so impious blaspheming against Christ might remaine vnto posteritie it pleased God in iustice that first wormes should eate and consume his tongue and then that the earth should open her mouth swallow him vp 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Even so let all thine enimies perish O LORD Now followeth the third marke by which men holden in that vnpardonable sinne the sinne against the holy Ghost may be made knowne to the world in these words And doth despite the Spirit of Grace The Holy Ghost is here called the Spirit of Grace ab effectu by reason of that it worketh in vs. By it we receaue grace offered in Christ Iesus It enlightneth our minds by faith it sealeth to our hearts the adoption of God it regenerateth vs into newnesse of life it engrafteth vs into the body of Christ in a word by it Christ with all his blessings benefits is made ours Now if a man that is made partaker of this holy Ghost shall greedily wilfully and purposely make the good graces of God within him to be fruitlesse who shall plead for him Surely no man For he it is that is here noted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 iniuriously coÌ„tumeliously to vse impudently to abuse and to despite the Spirit of Grace Here may the faithfull well be put in mind of their owne estates to consider whether they be not in perill of falling away from God since it is a truth not to bee gainesaid that the very faithfull doe oftentimes diminish and lessen the good graces of God within them I doubt not should you be called to witnesse but that every one of you taught by your owne experience would beare record to this truth If not that exhortation of St Paule made vnto the Ephesians and that his other vnto the Thessalonians doe strongly confirme it In the bowels of compassion he couÌ„selleth the a Ephes 4.30 EPHESIANS not to grieue the Spirit and the THESSALONIANS not to b 1 Thess 5.19 quench the spirit Well knewe the blessed Apostle that the Holy Spirit vseth to be grieued and the fire thereof to be quenched whensoever wee put away from within vs the care of Gods word not regarding the sanctified motions of our hearts the sanctified words of our lips the sanctified actions of our hands but entertaining the contraâ—y corrupt thoughts evill words wicked actions Now if there be no man that can truely say Ever hitherto my thoughts haue beene pure my wordes vndefiled my deeds iust let this truth stand without contradiction The faithfull doe oftentimes diminâ—sh lessen the good graces of God within them And therefore as I said they may here well bee put in minde of their owne estates to consider whether they bee not in perill of falling away from God A consideration beloued in the Lord if wee are chosen out of the world if in CHRIST wee are annointed and sealed if our building be of God not made with hands but eternall in the Heavens a consideration I say that must needes make vs doe our best in working out our salvation in attaining vnto faith in dying vnto sinne in liuing vnto newnesse of life For when wee see that men sanctified with the blood of CHRIST may not only tread vnder foot the Sonne of God despise him nor onely account the blood of Christ to bee common blood and prophane as it were the blood of any other man but also despite the Spirit of Grace and vse it with all iniurie and contumely will not our hearts burne within vs What are we but men sanctified with the blood of CHRIST Let vs then in all humblenesse of mind walk as it becommeth men so sanctified and never giue eare to such deceauers as would therefore perswade vs to liue without all care in this world because if wee are of the faithfull it is impossible we should fall away Touching the elect I grant it to bee very true that though they may fall grievously and dangerously yet they cannot fall finally in the end nor vtterly at any time though they may 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes 4.30 grieue the Spirit yea though they may 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Thess 5.19 quench the Spirit for a time yet can they not like the sinners whose markes I haue now in some measure opened 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they cannot doe contumely vnto nor can despite the Spirit For by it are they sealed vnto the day of redemption What of all this what if they that are once written in the booke of life can never be razed out thereof What if they that are once in the state of grace shall be in the same for ever Shall we that are written in the booke of life and doe stand by grace therefore not care how we commit sinne God forbid This truth namely that not one of the faithfull shall perish may bee a comfort to vs that haue already sinned but surely no encouragement to them that will sinne hereafter But grace aboundeth aboue sinne Very true Yet if we therefore sinne that grace may abound accursed are we And how shal we that are dead to sinne yet liue therein St Paul holds this for an impossibilitie Rom. 6. Knowe yee not saith he that all wee that haue beene baptized into Iesus Christ haue beene baptized into his death Why then are wee buried by baptisme into his death that as he was raised from the dead so we also should walk in newnesse of life Are wee not forbidden to doe evill even then when we are assured good may come thereof How then dare wee make the mercies of God a defence for our sinnes But there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus Rom. 8.1 though they fall seaven times a day Neither is there Rom 8.4 For they being in CHRIST doe walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit But may not wee repent hereafter though now we liue in sinne Thou foole how knowest thou that this night Luk. 12.20 they will not fetch away thy soule from thee What now remaineth but that we all take al possible heed lest at any time there be in any of vs an evill heart vnfaithfull to depart away from the living God And since wee are sanctified with the blood of the Testament beseech wee Almightie God that he would perfect his good worke begun in vs and never suffer vs through the deceaueablenesse of sinne to be so farre seduced as to tread vnder foot his eternall Sonne to account his blood common or to despite the spirit of Grace SERMO