dead it is dead indeede touching the guilt but it is not yet dead as touching corruption and infection and therfore doth infect the works of the most regenerate for none is perfect as long as he continueth in this life Indeed God hath quickened vs together with Christ and hath raised vs vp together and hath made vs sit together in the heauenly places in Christ Iesus but that is not yet really but in hope yea in our prayers there is much weaknesse and imperfections and distractions yet God respects the truth and not the measure of our faith pardoneth the same for Christs sake who is our high Priest to beare the iniquity of our offerings to make them acceptable before the Lord therfore the godly say Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant O Lord for in thy sight no man liuing shal be iustified The righteous fall seuen times a day and dayly prayeth for forgiuenesse and when by frailty he doth fal God doth in mercy looke vpon him as he did vpon Peter and cause him to rise againe CON. 51. Faith created in our hearts is the onely sufficient supernaturall instrument to apprehend the free couenant of grace in Christ that is Christs righteousnesse for our iustification EXPLA. Faith is the instrument to receiue because it is the hand which wee stretch to heauen to take holde of Christ and to hold him sitting there it is the mouth whereby we eate and drinke Christ because to beleeue is to eate it is the stomack whereby we digest him for he is to be digested by faith it is the foot wherby we enter in possession of the benefits of Christ and possesse so farre as we stretch the same it is the vessell whereinto God putteth the oyle of his mercy it is by faith wee touch him and looke how much faith we bring to receiue so much we draw out of the abundant grace of God Now that whereby we are iustified is the obedience of Christ for by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous and his obedience is his righteousnesse and wee are made the righteousnesse of God in him by apprehending and receiuing the righteousnesse which is in him He is called the Lord our righteousnesse not who maketh vs righteous only but who also himselfe is our righteousnes and how should he be our righteousnes but by his righteousnes therefore in apprehending receiuing Christ by faith we apprehend and receiue the righteousnes of Christ to be our iustification before God which is that merit and obedience of Christ imputed vnto vs. The efficient and finall cause of iustification then is God in Christ Iesus for our saluation the glory of his name the Materiall is the merit obedience of Christ the Formall cause is Gods imputation apprehended and receiued by vs the instrument of this apprehension is faith alone CON. 52. Iustifying faith is euer accompanied with godlinesse and care of godly life EXPLA. As naturall birth draweth not onely guilt but also corruption so faith wherein is our new birth giueth not onely forgiuenesse of sinne to iustification but also sanctification to holinesse and newnesse of life In the iustified man faith onely is the seat and fountaine of spirituall life because as the quickning faculty and power of the liuing soule dwelleth in the heart so Christ who is our life dwelleth in our faith or in our hearts by faith But yet we consist not spiritually of faith onely but many other vertues and graces are required to make vp the perfection of a Christian man to which as to the other members frō the heart so from faith life is imparted and communicated that in them wee may bee aliue to God which are signes and tokens of a iustified man not any causes of iustification but a declaration and testimony of his being formerly iustified by the faith of Iesus Christ. So good workes follow a man being iustified but are not precedent to iustification and nothing that man can doe either by nature or grace concurreth to the act of iustification as any cause but faith alone for our hearts are purified by faith by faith we reeiue the promise of the spirit and the Law of the Spirit of Christ which is in Christ Iesus deliuered vs from the law of sinne and of death Neither is the very act of faith any part of our righteousnesse but onely the merit and obedience of Christ apprehended and receiued by faith but as the heart giueth life to the body not by the substance of it selfe which is but flesh as the rest of the body is but by the vitall and quickning power of the soule that is seated therin and as the hand feedeth the body not as beeing it selfe the food of the body but by receiuing and ministering vnto it meate wherby it is sustained euen so faith iustifieth and giueth life by receiuing Christ to bee our righteousnesse and life in him receiuing forgiuenesse of sinnes inheritance among them that are sanctified vnto eternall life CON. 53. When God promised tied the effect of his promise to the beleeuing of it not to beleeue that in beleeuing whereof wee are partakers of that which we beleeue is to make God a lyar and to frustrate that which he hath promised EXPLA. By faith onely we accept of a promise in all the benefits of God wee are the children of promise heires by promise heires of promise expecting all things by the gracious promise of God by promise to be partakers of the diuine nature the blessing by promise the spirit by promise the inheritance by promise life eternall by promise by promise a new heauen and a new earth wherein righteousnesse dwelleth all which be promises in Christ and are yea and in him amen that is for his sake first made and for his sake to bee performed also Now seeing God hath taught vs that by faith wee obtaine the promises that wee receiue the promise of the spirit by faith that the promise of blessing is giuen by the faith of Iesus Christ to them that beleeue that as we beleeue so it shall be vnto vs that whatsoeuer wee desire when wee pray if we beleeue we shall haue it it shall be accordingly vnto vs. Why should wee then not beleeue such God hath promised Christ to bee our righteousnesse and that by the faith of Iesus Christ that is by beleeuing in him to bee that vnto vs which God hath promised surely in beleeuing him to bee our righteousnesse hee is our righteousnesse and we are made the righteousnesse of God in him CON. 54. The righteousnesse and merit of Christ is spiritually and really ours within and without in spirit and body and soule to sanctifie and cleanse vs vnto God EXPLA. And this is indeede not by receiuing Christs righteousnes really into vs but by hauing righteousnesse imputed vnto vs for his sake for we
euery one that shal follow him So that this is our glory in afflictions we are fashioned by them into the similitude of Christ and wee are made like vnto him So it pleased God when hee would bring many children vnto glory to consecrate the Prince of their saluation through afflictions and to make both him that sanctifieth and them that are sanctified all one that they that suffer with him should also liue with him So we when we feele many troubles to rest vpon vs we may say now we are like vnto Christ especially when wee feele the greatest trouble the minde oppressed it maketh vs like vnto him and to say Now we supply in our flesh the remnant of the afflictions of Christ in nothing in this world as wealth honor c. can I behold the liuely Image of Christ. Affliction and trouble a minde broken with the remembrance of sinne a troubled spirit horrors of death and a conscience burdened with the wrath of God here light shines out of darknes and hope out of despaire When I thinke my selfe furthest off from the Lord them am I neerest vnto him and when I thinke my selfe fullest of confusion then the Image of Christ is most liuely within me The Lord may hide his face for a while for a moment in his anger aâ— he did from Christ but hee will returne vnto me with euerlasting mercies for the Image of his Sonne is cleere within me Wee are afflicted one euery side but not so as that wee are shut from hope wee are in pouerty but not ouercome with pouerty we are persecuted but not forsaken we are cast down but wee perish not wee are troubled in all things fightings without and terrours without but God that comforteth the abiects he will comfort vs. Vnto this he hath predestinated vs that we should bee like vnto his Son in afflictions and so be glorified with him in the day of honour CON. 80. God sendeth vs sundry chastisements especially the anguish of heart and affliction of the soule that we should be warned how to be free from the plague when it commeth EXPLA. The iudgements of God daily preached vnto vs pierce deepe into the hearts of the true beleeuers and the word that they heare it worketh mightily in them more sharpe in their eares then a two edged sword and it entreth through them euen to the diuiding asunder of the soule and of the spirit and of the ioynts and of the marrow and examines all the thoughts and the intents of the heart so that it is impossible that any part of theÌ„ should be hid but they are al open vnto iudgement and heare the voice of the Lord. Then their sinne is reuiued in the middest of their bowels their conscience hath no rest they feele death working in their hearts and hell is before them they see sin on their right hand and Satan on the left shame vnder their feete and an angry Iudge aboue them the world full of destruction without and a worm gnawing the heart within the poore sinner knoweth not what to doe to hide himselfe it is impossible and to appeare it is intollerable then hee breaketh out into loud crying O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death He giueth no rest vnto his eyes nor sleep vnto his eye-lids vntil he find that which is able to saue him from this wrath In his bed by night hee seeketh him whom his soule loueth in the streetes and open places hee enquireth after him and after many daies in which hee cannot finde him Christ sheweth himselfe at the last a perpetuall deliuerer a victorious Lion of the Tribe of Iuda in whom he hath strong saluatioÌ„ when he hath mourned because of the plague that was before him Christ will approch neere and wipe away al the tears froÌ„ his eies So said he When I heard the word of God my belly trembled my lips shooke at the voyce rottennesse entred into my bones and I trembled in my selfe that I might finde rest in the day of trouble So is it with vs all the plagues of God because they are pronounced against iniquity maketh the childe of God to feare that foreseeing the harme he might prâ—pare himselfe For though Christ hiâ— himselfe at the first the wounded spirit and troubled spirit must needes finde him out We are ful of griefe but we are chastised of the Lord because we should not be coÌ„deÌ„ned with the world we dye with Christ because we should liue with him we lament and weepe but because Christ might wipe away all teares from our eyes wee are deliuered vnto death for Iesus sake but because the life of Iesus should be manifest in our slesh We beare about vs the mortification of our Lord Iesus but because also the life of Iesus might bee manifest in our bodyes We haue anguish of spirit and vexation of minde for this cause that when destruction shall come vpon the careles world wee might lift vp our heads and behold our redemption at hand let vs then in patience poffesse our soules for for these causes wee are now afflicted that wee may receiue mercy and finde grace to helpe in time of neede and for this cause we tremble and are affraid that after many prayers wee might bee deliuered from the things which we haue feared CON. 81. That our life is in the hand of God that we shold not be pleased with it but as it pleaseth him ready to lay it downe when it pleaseth him EXPLA. This is the great commandement to loue God aboue all and this is the greatest obedience required of man to be ready to dye at the will of God Against this commandement the nature of man striueth the delights of this life rise against it we are loth to make our beds in the darke we would see the Sunne our eares would heare worldly elements our flesh indeed is grasse yet grasse hath a flowre and our frayle bodies haue vanishing fantasies agreeable vnto them from which we cannot bee pulled away So Patriarches and Prophets were afraid yea Peter and Paule loued that life which they saw in hope but they did feele the death which did fight in their members they were men as we are yet obtained at last to bee dissolued and bee with Christ. If we be weaker then they the graces of God shall bee more exalted in vs and wee shall also say at the last Let thy seruant O Lord depart in peace And â—â—ough wee feare for a little â—â—ile yet feare shall bee cast out and we shall say with a free spirit O death where is thy sting Our greatest enemy last is troden vnder our feet what else can hurt vs The Lord of life hath crushed him in pieces vnder vs. It is a blessed day that bringeth vs into this battel a blessed sicknesse that maketh vs indure this fight and most blessed end in which wee get victory This doth he
sins My soule is heauy vnto death yea he was astonished at his griefe at the very entry at it for his sweat was drops of blood falling from hâ—m and God sent an Angell from heauen to comfort him Was this for the death of his body His seruants that receiue of his fulnesse doe they not easily despise this death that either they desire to be with Christ or reioyce in the middest of it before the persecutor The Apostles did sing in prison Paule gloried in his tribulations which were many And did hee cry out my God my God why hast thou forsaken me Here is no comparisoÌ„ that which made him tremble wold haue crushed them that which made him sweate blood would haue made them sinke into the bottome of hel and that which made him cry would haue held both Angels and men vnder euerlasting woe But Christ was as water powred out and all his bones out of ioynt his heart like waxe molted in the middest of his bowels his strength was dried vp like a potsheard and his tongue cleaued vnto his iawes hee was brought with his sorrowes to the dust of death for hee bare our sinnes in his body he submitted himselfe to the death of them and by the wounds of his stripes we be healed For our sinnes deserued not onely a bodily but also a second death in hell fire hee suffered the torments of body and the anguish of the soule the wrath of his Father which wounded his flesh spirit vnto death would haue holden him in that condemnation for euer if he had not bene stronger then we that had deserued it but beeing the Sonne of God in whom the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelled bodily the eternall Spirit that was within him did loose the chaines of death and hell of which it was impossible that hee should bee holden and hath left his enemies the Deuill death and hell in ignominy and darknesse and hath abolished them for euer CON. 76. We are presented faultlesse before the presence of Gods glory by beeing made one with Christ. EXPLA. Of Christ onely is it true This is my well-beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased this is the Saluation wee haue by him to bee grafted in him and made partakers of his life All the faithfull before Christ were righteous in him for wee must leaue all our works in the earth where they were done and they must dye with the corruptible hands and feete with which they are wrought we must go naked and bare and offer nothing but that which is Christs yea our selues wee must present in his body for in our owne persons wee cannot possibly be accepted Euen as the Vine branch can haue no life except it abide in the body of the Vine no more we either life or righteousnesse except wee be and abide in Christ. He is our substance and being in the inheritance of glory his righteousnesse is ours his loue ours his life our life his Spirit our spirit of his fulnesse we receiue all This is a great mistery which the eye seeth not nor heart can vnderstand yet it is a reall ioyning with him faith comprehendeth it and when wee shall see that wisedome which is called vnity in one person God and man wee shall see the wisedome which hath made vs all the body of that head and members one of another In him he is well pleased I say with vs. If that couenant wherin it was once promised to Abraham to giue a land vnto the Iews and all their rebellion could not falsifie his promise in him wee haue a couenant greater and better therefore let vs trust vnto his promise which cannot change his grace nor repent him of his mercy for euer for this is a holy couenant which shall not be broken but God will make all our enemies our footstooles and will surely take vs vp into his glory and briefly the presence of God to which Christ leadeth vs is a throne of Grace for by his merits we bee brought vnto God as before a Iudge who from his tribunall Seat doth acquit vs for euer of his own grace and free mercy For whosoeuer looketh to bee iustified by any other thing the Lord can no more shew mercy vnto him then he can change the property of his Iudgement seate to make it no more the Throne of Grace CON. 77. A perfect beauty of all excellent loue appeareth in the great worke of Christs mediation for hee became man Secondly Hee was ordained to accomplish whatsoeuer was betweene God and man Thirdly This was giuen to Christ by God both by word and by oath and all was to haue compassion on vs. EXPLA. Neither Angell nor Archangell nor Principalities nor Powers can doe this worke to present flesh and blood vnto the Maiesty of God when themselues are but spirits He tooke not the Angels nature but the seede of Abraham But in his sufferings his loue is most euident in that it was so feruent and so deepely rooted that neither feare nor trembling nor any anguish of spirit could make him shake nor the force of death nor any bloody sweats could pull it out of his bowels this is the depth of the Gospell which the Angels doe desire to behold it skilleth not how many our sins are and how great in our eyes the Lord will scatter them as the clouds from the heauens and they shall not turne away his louing countenance from vs if our sinnes bee as scarlet and not ours onely but the sinnes of the whole world they rested all vpon Christ he prayeth for deliuerance and hath obtained and therefore we may say with boldnesse forgiue vs our trespasses We then which are laden but with our owne sins should lift vp our hearts in the great assurance of hope and heare with ioyfulnesse the word of promise I will be mercifull to their vnrighteousnesse and I will remember their sins and iniquities no more There is nothing comparable to his passions by whose stripes we are healed and therefore may bee fully perswaded that nothing shall separate vs from the loue of God in Christ for the Lord hath appointed to giue to all that mourne in Sion beauty for ashes the oyle of ioy for mourning the garment of gladnesse for the spirit of heauinesse for hee was wounded for our transgressions and broken for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was vpon him his prayers are ours his supplications for vs availeable for more sins then we are able to commit This is the victory that shall ouercome the world euen our faith For his Father hath broken him with one breaking vpon another so he kindled his wrath against him and accounted him as one of his enemies hee cryed out aloud in silence he could finde no ease his face was wrinckled with weeping and the shaddow of death was vpon his eyes wheÌ„ he was the brightnesse of glory and the Sunne of Righteousnesse that
SPIRITVALL ENCREASE OR Conclusions for pacifying the perplexed Conscience of the weake Christian. To him that hath shall be giuen LONDON Printed by NICHOLAS OKES for William Lee and are to be sold at his shop in Fleete streete at the signe of the golden Buck neare Seriants Inne 1621. ⧠TO THE GODLY AND euer-honored Lady Anna Lady Caluart wife to the right Hon Sir George Caluart Knight one of his Maiesties principall Secretaries and of the most honorable priuy Councell MADAME AS Piety and Righteousnes are two noble vertues of the Regenerat part of the soul so Humility and Loue are the neuer-perishing fruit of such euer-blessed trees The eminency of these in your Honor hath encouraged mee but alas what am I to entreat your Honor to shelter this vnpolished Treatise vnder the shaddow of your Honors Patrocinie In it your Honor may finde selected medicines out of Scripture and the godly and learned of our time for the restoring of the Christian his weak conscience not embellished with deceitfull cauillations of humane wisedome but arayed with the Euidency Nakednesse and Simplicity of truth In it your Honor may finde I say the wauering faith confirmed not with cordialls of foolish empiriacks but with the al-curing Balme of Gilead froÌ„ Gods Sion which dignifieth all mens actions here crowneth them in Christ hereafter Thus Madame wishing eternall continuance of your Honors good and happy beginnings euer seconded with the fauour of God in Christ I commit your Honor to him who is able to doe aboue all we aske or thinke Your Honors remembrancer at the Throne of Grace B. R. The Contents of this Booke A ASsurance of the perpetuity of faith fol. 13. Con. 9. fol. 21. Con. 13. fol. 33. Con. 18. fol. 38. Con. 20. fol. 66. Con. 32. The true vse of afflictions fol. 72. Con. 35. C Christ dwelleth in vs by faith fo 30. Con. 17 fo 75. Con. 36. Christ's obedience is ours fol 99. Con. 46. To knowe the sufferings of Christ is our greatest consolation fol. 184. Con. 75. Confession of sinne a ready way to saluation fol. 179. Con. 73. The benefits of Gods chastisements fol. 196. D Doubtfulnesse accompanies our saluation fol. 4. Con. 3. fol. 55. Con. 27. The benefit of desertion fol. 7. Con. 5. Degrees of faith fol. 23. Con. 14. Man must not depend on himselfe fol. 89. Con. 41. Doubting accompanies faith fol. 147. Con. 62. E Great difference of errors fol. 83. Con. 39. Experience of God is goodnesse strength and faith fol. 163. Con. 68. F The Christian is faithfull in weakenesse fol. 2. Con. 2. fol. 58. Con. 28. How faith and feare be in a Christian. fol. 51. Con. 26. The foundation of faith is Christ. fol. 59. Con. 29. Difference of faith fol. 62. Con. 30. Faith sufficient to apprehend righteousnesse in Christ. fol. 115. Con. 51. Death not to bee feared fol. 198. G God not changeable fol. 70. Con. 34. God will not forsake vs. fol. 79. Con 38. God offereth assurance of his fauour in the first entrance to his seruice fol. 91. con 42. The Elect are Gods free gift to Christ. fol. 182. con 74. H Hunger for Christ is a possession of him fol. 1. con 1. A heart to hear the gift of God fol 11. Con. 8. Hope and patience beareth the crosse fol. 97. Con. 45. L Faith the fountaine of our loue to God fol. 16. Con. 11. They liue to God who appeare in themselues to be dead fol. 76 con 37. By the Law of faith God pardoneth sin fol. 105. con 48. God will haue them that walke in light to feele what it is to sit in darkenesse fol. 151. Con. 64. Excellent loue appeared in Christs sufferings fol. 192. Con. 77. M Gods mercy fol. 47. Con. 24. Markes of our election fol. 64. con 31. fol. 68. con 33. Christs merits most seene in our vnworthinesse fol. 102. con 47. Ordinary meanes must bee vsed for the strengthning of faith fol. 167. con 70. O There is a remainder of original corruption while we are here fol. 112. con 50. Our faith hath priuie operations secret to vs. fol. 154. con 65. Preaching increaseth faith fol. 9. con 7. Particular apprehension fol. 15. con 10. Faith assures prayer fol. 26. con 15 fol. 49 con 25. Particular application requisite to saluation fol. 95. con â—4 R One righteousnesse here another in the world to come fol. 43. con 22. Remission of sinne is iustification before God fol. 108. con 49. S Saluation hangeth not vppon any sufficiency in vs. fol. 17. con 12. fol. 28. con 16. con 23. The holy Spirit is giuen to the Elect. fol. 36. con 19. fo 60. con 29. No man voyd of sinne fol. 41. con 21. Sanctification and iustification euer goe together fol. 1â—8 con 52. The Serpent laboureth to peruert the simplicity of faith fol. 156. con â—6 We neede not feare sinne for Christ hath abolished it fol. 169. con 71. T Trouble shal be rather matter of ioy then of displeasure fol. 174. con 72. V Weake assurance argueth weakenesse of faith fol. 8. co 6. Vnbeleefe is naturall to vs. fol. 6. con 4. Saluation not of our works fol. 86. con 40. fol. 92. con 43. By our vnion with Christ we are faultlesse before God fol. 188. con 76. Conclusions for pacifying the perplexed Conscience of the weake Christian. CONCLVSION 1. Hunger and thirst after righteousnesse and faith is a sure possession of some measure of them EXPLANATION IF man bee grieued for his vnbeliefe and wish striue that it may bee otherwise he hath the roote of faith in him from whence commeth this but from a secret loue and liking which hee had of those things that are beleeued no man can loue things which in his owne opinion are not and if they thinke those things to be which they shew that they loue when they desire to beleeue them then must it needs be that by desiring to beleeue they proue themselues true beleeuers for without faith no man thinketh that things beleeued are This Argument all the subtilty of infemall powers will neuer be able to dissolue CONCLVSION 2. Man may remain faithfull in weakenesse though weake in faith EXPLANATION Such is our weake and weaning nature that wee haue no sooner receiued grace but wee are ready to fall from it for many and grieuous downe-falls haue beleeuers yet still continue inuincible though we finde in our selues a most willing heart to cleaue inseparably to God euen so farre as to think vnfainedly with Peter Lord I am ready to goe with thee into prison and death yet how soone and how easily vpon how small occasions are wee changed if wee bee but a while let alone and left vnto our selues for the higher wee flow the nereer we are to an ebbe if men be respected as meere men according to the wonted course of their alterable inclination without the heauenly support of the Spirit
made one with him in whom we are incorporated as members of his body we dwell in him and hee in vs and as a faithfull Mediator will performe the will of his heauenly Father For of all that he hath giuen him hee will lose nothing but shall raise it vp at the last Day CON. 12. Our saluation hangeth not vpon the sufficiency of our faith repentance or righteousnesse for they are neuer such as they ought to be EXPLA. It is not the valew or worth of any thing in vs that can merit pardon but in faith there is a sincerity and truth required For wee are Iustified freely by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Iesus whom God hath set forth for an attonement for vs by faith in his blood onely by faith I say thaâ— it may bee of grace that the promise may be sure to the seede that through the name of Christ euery one that beleeued in him shall haue forgiuenesse of sinnes for as many as are vnder the workes of the Law are vnder the curse for it is written cursed is euery one that continueth not in all things that are written in the booke of the Law to doe them now the Law is not of faith but he sayth he that doth these things shall liue in them Yee are voyded of Christ yee are fallen from grace that will bee iustified by the Law for if they which bee of the Law bee heires then faith is made voyde and the promise is made of none effect if the inheritance bee by the Law it is no longer by promise but God hath giuen vnto vs eternall life and this life is in his Sonne So eternall life is the gift of God through Iesus Christ our Lord. Neither yet shall we euer haue that fulnesse of grace here to keepe perfectly the commandements yet as grace increaseth so wee increase in keeping of them in this life and in the end sinne being wholly abolished for euer we shall bee fully conformed to the Image of righteousnesse that God desired in the Law Now Christ was circumcised for vs and he that is circumcised is made debter to the whole Law in the which circumcision hee entred bond for vs and shed fewe drops of blood as a pledge hee would shed all the rest for vs thereafter CON. 13. By the grace of God begunne in vs though mixed with many imperfections our faith receiued further confirmatioÌ„ that he which wrought this beginning of life will go forward therewith to the end EXPLA. God who made vs partakers of one part of his promises will also make vs partakers of the other while wee take these first fruits of sanctification as a pledge froÌ„ him of the performance of the whole for if wee hunger and thirst for righteousnesse hate sinne grone vnder the burden of it hanging so fast on this light of saluation shining in vs though not fully cleere may bee ouercast with clouds yet neuer shal haue any night for God doth accept our endeuour and pardon our defects and not onely by Christs death as by the death of our sacrifice by the blood of his Crosse as by the blood of the Paschall Lambe the destroyer passeth our vs and we shall not perish but also by his death as by the death of our high Priest for hee is Priest and sacrifice both we are restored froÌ„ our exile euen to the former forfeited estate to the laÌ„d of promise CON. 14. Our faith it selfe is as infallable as the word of God that assured vs of it but not alwayes so in our apprehension and feeling for though the principall be true which wee beleeue yet are wee iealous lest wee haue mis-applyed it to our selues EXPLA. There are diuers degrees of faith little faith great faith full assurance of faith euen as a weak eie a strong eie he weake eye seeth weakely and vnperfectly and the strong eye seeth strongly and more fully discerneth the thing seene a little faith beleeueth faintly though truely greater faith beleeueth more stedfastly full assurance of faith beleeueth vnder hope against hope they were as wel saued from the biting sting of the venimous serpents which were young and could not well perceiue and the old which were bleare and sore-eyed when they looked vpon the brazen Serpent as they that were vigorous strong and of most quick sight This we see in the Apostles We beleeue say they and know that thou art Christ the Sonne of the liuing God which 〈◊〉 was soone shaken and therfore our Sauior telleth theÌ„ that hee did forewarne them of his death and resurrection that when it was come to passe they might beleeue not with a new faith but repaired and increased Peter vpon Christs word beleeued that he should bee saued in the water but the faintnesse of his faith made him begin to sinke and said Master saue me to whom he answered O thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt and so another time to the Disciples which said Master saue vs we perish Christ answered Why are ye fearefull O ye of little faith So this little faith is not voyd of doubt or feare which is yet true faith and maketh vs run to Christ for sometimes the godly by hasty cogitations questioned their faith and are ouer-taken as Dauid in that case sayd I am cast out of the sight of thy eyes and therefore wee ought to pray Lord increase our faith that we may reioyce vnder the hope of the glory of God which is the proper effect of faith and to know by faith that wee haue eternall life howbeit by occasions wee bewray great infirmitie in the apprehension thereof CON. 15. Alwayes pray and by faith rest assured that vndoubtedly we haue that for which we pray according to his will EXPLA. We pray for forgiuenesse of sinnes not for that wee haue not assurance therof but for that we desire greater assurance that our hearts may bee enlarged that the testimony of the Spirit may more freely sound into vs Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee for our faith hath sometimes a full sometimes a wane as Peter confesseth Christ to be immortall another while he is afraid Christ should die Now here we walke by faith and not by sight and doe pray for the sight of that which we haue but by the comfort of faith hope so doe we beleeue that wee are redeemed both in body and soule and still yet we sigh in our selues wayting for the â—â—demption of our bodyes So the Lord hath taken away Dauids sinne and yet hee prayed Haue mercy vpon me O Lord according to thy great goodnesse according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away my offences then doe wee pray we may inioy by realitie possession that which we beleeue we already haue in Gods affection CON. 16. We must withdraw our eyes from our selues and assuredly beleeue that
wee shall receiue in him that promised EXPLA. If we consider our meriâ—â— we must despaire but wee must depend vpon his promise and his oath that by two immutable things wherein it is vnpossible that God should lye we might haue strong consolation which haue our refuge to lay hold vpon that hope that is set before vs and this is a commendable presumption when wee challenge God vpon his owne bond and not vpon any sufficiency of our workes Wherein notwithstanding faith receiueth comfort and strength by the good fruits and effects of grace in the feare and loue of God in faithfull care and conscience duty towards God and men tokens of Gods secret election foreâ—â—kens of future happinesse so that a man called to God by fear and framed to righteousnesse by loue presumes that hee is of the number of them that shall bee blessed CON. 17. To proue whether wee be in the faith is to prooue whether Christ be in vs for truly faith is that whereby Christ dwelleth in our hearts EXPLA. Wee haue receiued not the spirit of this world but the spirit which is of God that wee may know the things that are giuen vs of God The originâ—â—â— of all other gifts is the giuing of Christ vnto vs For vnto vs a child is borne and vnto vs a Sonne is giuen in whom all the promises of God are yea and amen and for his sake first made and in him performed whom the Father giuing to vs and for vs had altogether with him giuen vs all things the gift of the Spirit the gift of repentance the gift of faith the gift of righteousnesse the gift of loue the gift of suffering for Christ the gâ—ft of all things pertaining to life and godlinesse the gift of eternall life yea all manner spirituall blessings in heauenly thing these be the vnsearchable riches of Christ preached â—â—to the Gentiles a mystery which from the beginning of the world was hid in God and not opened to the sonnes of men nay not to the very Angels was it knowne so that when it was done they did euen desire and delight to looke vnto it the accomplishment of which riches is in the ioy of heauen And so now we are the sonnes of God but yet we know not what wee shall be for sinnes depriued vs of Paradise a place on earth but by the purchase of his blood wee are intitled to a farre higher euen the Kingdome of heauen and his blood is not onely the blood of remission to acquit vs of our sins but the blood of the Testament to bequeath vs and giue vs estate in that heauenly inheritance and all these things wee haue by faith in him by which hee purified our hearts and dwelleth therein by his Spirit whose Temples we are CON. 18. As wee haue a measure of true righteousnesse against sinne wherein wee doubt not but God accepted vs so haue we also a measure of true assurance against all feare and doubt whereby our hearts rests perswaded that God will for euer preserue vs. EXPLA. God our wise father both giueth comfort to his children and also prouideth to keepe them within their bounds that tasting of the ioy of saluation and finding it thence-forth bitter and grieuous vnto themselues to be distracted by perplexities and feares from the quiet enioying thereof they may the more carefully endeuour to cleaue fast vnto him beware of any thing that should interrupt their ioyfull peace We are ready by corruptioÌ„ to abuse comforts and therefore God so ordereth the same that they are euer out of our owne nature or afflictions nipping and snipping vs that wee grow not proud and rely on our selues to the destruction of our selues God maketh sin the whetstone of righteousnesse and affliction trouble of minde by distresse and fearefull doubts whetteth and sharpeneth our faith and assurance which by fighting increased and the longer it wrastled the stronger it waxed as a man in danger of drowning catcheth for hold to saue himselfe so God sendeth variety of disturbances that the minde should not gnaw and waste it selfe away whereof the one is drawne away with the other that wee should not be steeped and dissolued with sorrow for if God correct with the rod of men his mercy hee doth neuer take away CON. 19. By this wee may know we are in God and God in vs because hee hath giuen vs of his Spirit which promised to men fellowship with himselfe immortality to vs mortall Iustification to sinners glorification to vs being abiects EXPLA. The originall of all this consisted in Gods election wherein he hath made vs his children and heires touching the hope of euerlasting life which we expect by title of inheritance not by purchase of merit hauing receiued for earnest and pledge therof the spirit of Christ sanctifying and preparing vs thereto for not of the works of righteousnesse which we haue done but of his mercy hath hee saued vs. Iohn the Baptist sayd he was not worthy to loose the lachet of his shooe who can then be thought worthy of that heauenly Kingdome The Centurion of whom Christ gaue testimony that he found not so great faith no not in Israel coÌ„fessed of himselfe I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter vnder my roofe who then is worthy to enter vnder the roofe of heauen but euery faithfull man may say with Daniel To thee O Lord belongeth righteousnesse but vnto vs belongeth confusion of face and with Dauid Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant O Lord for in thy sight no man liuing shall bee iustified and againe If thou straitly marke what is done amisse who shall bee able to stand CON. 20. By what our faith assures vs of present standing by the same and as farre it secures vs against future falling EXPLA. Faith looketh vpon God as a Father who himselfe teacheth all his children that they may be sure to learne as a good shepheard that so gathered the sheepe that none of them shall bee lacking as a good husbandman that so senced his vine keepeth it night and day that none assault to hurt it as a Rocke strong sure that the gates of hell shall not preuaile against the Church of the faithfull that are founded and builded vpon it It lookes vpon Gods promise I will put my feare into their hearts that they shall not depart from me It looketh into the Mediation of Christ who had not prayed for Peter onely That his faith might not faile but for all that beleeue in him Holy father keepe them in thy name wherefore wee are kept by the power of God through faith vnto saluation Hee that keepeth vs by faith must be vnderstood to keepe our faith not by any power of ours but by his onely power for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance whom hee called
righteousnesse And all this is because wee should rest in full assurance of safety without feare or doubt because hee promised to preuent all occasions whence any feare should arise And so he deliuered them out of the hands of their enemies without feare and Christ died that he might deliuer them who for feare of death were all their life time subiect to bondage and now wee haue not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare any more but the spirit of adoption to cry abba Father for God hath not giuen vs the spirit of feare but of power and of loue and of a sound minde for there is no greater bondage then that feare when we are vncertaine what shall become of vs but he said Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to giue you the Kingdome Now that other commendable feare doth not shake assurance of saluation but the faithfull finding that in him doth gather the greater assurance to himselfe For the punishment of God is fearefull vnto him that dreades Gods iudgements abhorreth wicked courses laboureth in righteousnesse is strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and doe work their saluation with feare and trembling with humility and acknowledgement of their own frailety and neuer to commit themselues to themselues but to him who hath wrought all our workes for vs for by his owne might shall no man be strong Now there is difference betwixt absolute doubting weake assenting and interruption in assent with some feare for the seeds of all impiety land in the corruption of the heart whereby we are assaulted with doubt of the principall poynts of our beleefe the wisedome power iustice mercy of God yet do not wholly relinquish the assent thereof CON. 27. In application of our generall faith to particular occasions wee many times goe halting and lame and stagger somewhat at that whereof our faith should giue vs full assurance by the will of God EXPLA. Thus did Sarah cast doubt of Gods promise touching the hauing of a child who yet is said through faith to haue receiued strength to conceiue when she was past age because she iudged him faithfull that had promised Thus did Moses call in question the power of God as touching prouiding flesh for the people of Israel when God promised so to do So Dauid and Habacuck staggered as touching the prouidence of God and his care of the iust and righteous men So did the Disciples murmure concerning the Godhead of Christ and the hope of redemption by him which before they had imbraced surely when we look vnto our selues in our greatest perfections we are subiect to that amazed distraction as to say Who shall ascend into heauen as if Christ were not ascended to make way for vs and Who shall descend into the deepe as if Christ had not died to deliuer vs from thence we can neuer satisfie our selues how either to escape the one or to attaine the other CON. 28. They are not faithlesse which are weake in assenting to the truth EXPLA. As many as hold the foundation which is precious thogh they hold it but weakly and as it were with a slender thread although they frame many base and vnsutable things vpon it things that cannot abide the triall of fire yet shall they passe the fiery triall and be saued which indeed haue builded themselues vpon the Rocke which is the foundation of the Church CON. 29. The foundation of faith is not onely the generall ground whereupon we rest when wee beleeue the writings of the Prophets and Apostles but also it is the principall thing which is beleeued that is Christ. EXPLA. There is a foundation of our faith God manifested in the flesh iustified in the Spirit and this Thou art the Sonne of the liuing God thou art the King of Israel and that of the inhabitants of Samaria This is Christ the Sauiour of the world Which who directly doth deny doth vtterly rase the very foundation of faith for Christ in the worke of mans saluation is all without our workes for hee is that seede in whom all the Nations of the world shall be blessed and among men there is giuen no other name vnder heauen whereby we must be saued other foundation can no man lay CON. 29. The holy Spirit in the very moment when first he is giuen of God bringeth with him infused vertues proper and peculiar to the Saincts of God EXPLA. There bee two kindes of christian righteousnesse the one without vs which wee haue by imputation the other in vs which consisteth of Faith Hope and Charity as Abraham had not onely the one because the things beleeued was imputed to him for righteousnesse but also the other because he offered vp his son They are both Gods gifts and the first by accepting vs for righteous in Christ and the second by working christian righteousnesse in vs by the spirit of adoption which we haue receiued into our hearts which maketh two kindes of sanctifying righteousnesse habituall and actuall CON. 30. The wicked haue not such faith as that wherewith a Christian man is iustified EXPLA. It is the Spirit of God which worketh faith in the Elect the things which they beleeue are not apprehended onely as true but also as good and that to vs as good they are not apprehended by the wicked as true they are The Christian the more hee increaseth in faith the more his ioy and comfort aboundeth but they the more sure they are of the truth the more they quake and tremble at it for the wicked doe rather wish that they might then thinke that they shall ceasse when they ceasse to liue because they hold it better that death should consume them into nothing then God reuiue them vnto punishment On the contrary to the Elect there is no grief nor torment greater then to feele their perswasion weake in things whereof when they are perswaded they reape such comfort and ioy of the Spirit CON. 31. Faith giueth vs the comfort of saluation because it beleeueth that which the word of God hath deliuered concerning them in whom the signes marks of our Election are found EXPLA. Faith giueth assurance of saluation by the Word of God not only by apprehending the promise of life and saluation but also obseruing such marks and tokens as the Word of God setteth down to discerne them vnto whom this saluation doth appertaine and therefore it doth not onely looke to that which Christ saith that whosoeuer beleeueth shall haue euerlasting life but because Christ also saith hee that is of God heareth Gods word therefore the faithful man delighteth in the word of God beleeueth concerning himselfe that he is of God because the Apostle saith Euery one that calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saued and this also doth the faithfull man vnfaignedly calling on the name of
whereby wee are iustified cannot faile EXPLA. The seed of God that is the first grace which God powreth into the hearts of them that are incorporated into Christ because it is an aduersary vnto sinne we do therefore thinke we sin not but otherwise by a distrustfull and doubtful apprehension of that which stedfastly we ought to beleeue we are amazed yet they that are borne of God do neuer so sin as it doth extinguish quite grace Our faith when it is strongest is but weake yet euen then when it is at the weakest is so strong that vtterly it neuer faileth it neuer perisheth altogether no not in them who thinke it extinguished in themselues howbeit through extremity of griefe many times in iudgement the Elect are so confounded that they finde not themselues in theÌ„selues for that which dwelleth in their hearts they seeke it abideth worketh in them yet still they aske where still they lament as for a thing that is past finding they mourne as Raâ—hel and refuse to be comforted as if that were not which indeede is and as if that which is not were as if they did not beleeue when they doe and as if they did despaire quite when they do not For truely where faith maketh any doubt there the sense is neuer satisfied CON. 64. God will haue them that still walke in light to feele now and then what it is to sit in the shaddow of death EXPLA. A grieued spirit is no argument of a faithlesse mind men iudging by comparison either with other men or themselues at some other time being more strong they thinke imperfection to be a plaine depriuation weakenesse to bee vtter want of faith and therefore in heauinesse of spirit suppose they lack faith because they finde not the ioy delight which indeede doth accompany faith The Apostle Paule prayed The God of hope fill you with all ioy in beleeuing which is not an vnseparable companion therewith for the light would neuer bee so acceptable were it not for vsuall entercourse of darkenesse too much hony doth turne to gall and too much ioy euen spiritually would make vs turne wantons Happier a great deal is that mans case whose soule by inward desolation is humbled then hee whose heart through abundance of spirituall delight is lifted vp and exalted aboue measure better it is sometimes to cry my God my God why hast hast thou forsaken mee then to say with the Pharisey I thanke God it is not with mee as it is with other men God will haue them that should walke in light to feele sometimes what it is to sit in darkenesse yea God sendeth variety of disturbances that the minde should not gnaw nor waste it self away that wee should too much with Iob and Ieremy grieue and lament Thus hee driueth away griefe often with ioy that wee should not bee steeped and dissolued in sorrow CON 65. Our faith here may haue hath her priuie operations secret to vs yet known to him by whom they are EXPLA. Men do fasten their minds vpoÌ„ the distrustfull suggestions of the flesh whereof finding great abundance in theÌ„selues they gather thereby vnbeleefe hath full dominion and plenary possession of theÌ„ not marking the things of the spirit and of the flesh because they be buried and ouerwhelmed with the contrary when notwithstanding the Apostle doth acknowledge the spirit groanes and that God heareth when we doe not A man deceiued by a too hard opinion of his faith will scarce bee comforted yea it doth augment his griefe and will say I haue sifted all the corners of my heart and I see what there is in me neuer seeke to perswade mee against my knowledge reason not with flesh blood dispute neuer with Satan neuer doe yeeld much lesse giue ouer beleeue the word and giue place to prayer and exhortation and thou shalt finde light in thy greatest darkenesse The comfort of the spirit may for a season be intermitted but neuer the spirit of comfort shall leaue thee CON. 66. Besides our corrupt nature the serpent laboureth continually to peruert the simplicity of faith which is in Christ. EXPLA. I am iealous ouer you saith the Apostle with a godly iealousie for I haue prepared you to a husband a pure virgin vnto Christ but I feare lest as the serpent beguiled Euah through his subtilty so your mindes should bee corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ. This simplicity of faith taketh the naked promise of God his bare word and on that it resteth which simplicity the Diuell ceasseth not to ouerthrow corrupting the minde with many imaginations of repugnancy contrariety between the word of God and his promises therein and those things which sense or experience or some other fore-coÌ„ceiued opinion and perswasion had imprinted The word of promise vnto his people is I will not leaue thee nor forsake thee vpon this the simplicity of faith resteth and it is not afraid of famine But marke how the subtilty of Satan doth corrupt the mindes of that rebellious generation whose spirits were not faithfull vnto God they beheld the desolate state of the desert in which they were and by the wisedome of their sense concluded the wisedome of God to be but folly Can God prepare a table in the desert Againe the word of the promise vnto Sarah was Thou shalt beare a sonne faith is simple and doubted not of it but Satan to corrupt this simplicity of faith entised the minde of the woman with an argument drawne from common experience to the contrary An olde woman Sarah will shee bee acquainted with forgotten passions of youth So the word of the promise of God by Moses and the Prophets made the Sauiour of the world so apparent vnto Philip that this simplicity could conceiue no other Messiah then Iesus of Nazareth the Sonne of Ioseph but to stay Nathaniel to come and see and should also beleeue and so be saued the subtilty of Satan casted a mist before his eyes put in his head against this the common conceiued opinion of all men against Nazareth Is it possible that a good thing should come from thence Thus he bereaueth men for the time of all perceiuance of that which should releeue them and be their comfort yea it taketh all remembrance from them euen of things wherewith they are most familiarly acquainted The Israelites might know that hee that led them thorow the Red Sea was able to feede them in the wildernes Sarah was not to learne that with God all things were possible Therefore diligently marke the conceit of repugnancy beleeue not those things which are obiect to the eies but that which faith vpon promise of God doth looke for CON. 67. The promises of Grace protection fauor which God in his law makes vnto his people doe not grant any such immunity as can free exempt them from all chastisements EXPLA. God hath said I will continue my mercy for euer towards them so
Apostle I know whom I haue beleeued and I am sure that hee is able to keepe that which I haue committed vnto him against that day euen my selfe my faith my hope my prayer my soule my life knowing my selfe to be a very vnsure keeper of my selfe Thus faith yeeldeth a man to say Behold O Lord for I am thy seruant I am thy seruant O giue me vnderstanding that I may keepe thy commandements enter not into iudgement with thy seruant And because the faithfull is willing to beleeue that hee shall haue that that hee prayeth for hee prayeth for perseuerance because Christ saith Beleeue that yee shall haue it and it shall bee done vnto you For God giueth to them that beleeue so that hee that receiues beleeueth himselfe to receiue For this is the assurance that we haue in him that if we aske any thing according to his will he heareth vs and if we know that hee heareth vs whatsoeuer we aske wee know that we haue the petitions that we haue desired of him CON. 42. God euen in the very first entrance to his seruice offereth vs assurance of his favour and our saluation EXPLA. At the first entrance hee saith to thee as to the Iaylor Beleeue in the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shall be saved And from the beginning as our faith is greater or lesse so either strongly or weakely apprehendeth and embraceth this assurance and in this assurance we labour and endeauour to grow and to goe on from faith to faith from strength to strength till wee learne to set the world at defiance saying Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect Who shall separate vs from the loue of Christ CON. 43. Our faithfull seruice or good behauiour can neuer make vs assured of our saluation EXPLA. God made that promise by former couenant Hee that doth these things shall liue in them and it auailed not for they continued not in my couenant And I regarded them not saith the Lord. Therefore the Lord made another couenant or promise not like the former or conditionall vpon faithfull seruice or good behauiour but absolute and without condition the performance whereof should depend wholly and onely vpon mercy So that he would not expect as of vs but doth vndertake to giue vs and to worke in vs whatsoeuer faithfull seruice and good behauiour should be necessary thereunto Therefore he saith I wil put my Law in their minds and in their hearts will I write them and I will bee their God and they shal be my people they shal all know me for I will be mercifull to their vnrighteousnesse and I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more And so if wee intirely consider the whole worke of our saluation it issueth absolutely out of the purpose and promise of God who intending the end disposeth and worketh himselfe whatsoeuer belongeth to the accomplishment and attainement of the end CON. 44. By beleeuing the Gospel I beleeue that Christ is giuen a Sauiour vnto me to saue me being one of his people from my sinnes frō the wrath to come EXPLA. The Gospell is the glad tidings of great ioy that vnto vs a Sauiour is borne vnto vs a child is borne vnto vs a Son is giuen that is vnto vs that beleeue and how beleeue I vnto vs if I beleeue not vnto me The Gospell is that through the name of Christ euery one that beleeueth in him shall haue remission of sinnes euery one that beleeueth in him shall not perish but haue euerlasting life If I beleeue the Gospell I beleeue this For hee that beleeues not God makes him a lyar because hee beleeues not the record that God witnessed of his Sonne and this is the record that he hath giuen vnto vs eternall life and this life is in his Sonne If then I beleeue in the name of the Sonne of God and do not beleeue that God hath giuen me eternall life I make God a liar in not beleeuing the report that God hath witnessed of his Son Therefore he addeth These things haue I written vnto you that beleeue in the name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye haue life eternall CON. 45. Faith beleeueth the promises of God concerning our happinesse and hope waiteth and looketh for the Lord to reueale his righteousnesse and to make the truth of his word and promises fully to appeare and in this expectation is content with patience to beare the crosse which is incident to the profession of the name of Christ. EXPLA. Confidence and reioycing of hope groweth from the full assurance of faith whereby seeting aside the respect of our own impeachments of our selfe wee beleeue with Abraham vnder hope against hope resting vpon his promise who had taken vpon him to be the shepheard and Bishop of our soules and is able to doe exceeding abundantly aboue all that wee aske or thinke according to the power that worketh in vs. Whereby as he hath already wrought in vs the like great worke as hee hath wrought in Christ whē he raised him from the dead in that he hath raised vs vp being dead in sinnes and trespasses vnto the life of God So wee rest perswaded that hauing begunne this good worke in vs he will performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ not for our sakes but for my owne sake will I doe it saith the Lord. CON. 46. Christ immediately and wholly is our saluation and righteousnesse in whom and not in our selues wee are made the righteousnes of God his obedience was wrought in our name and for our behalfe is imputed vnto vs by faith in his blood EXPLA. For Christs sake and in him God blessed vs with al spirituall blessings in heauenly things for he is made vnto v◠of God wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption that is all in all that hee that reioyced may reioyce onely in the Lord. And this saluation vnto which hee entitled vs by faith in Christ consisteth not onely in the remission of sins but also in destroying the body of sinne and restoring in vs the Image of God in righteousnesse and holinesse of truth hee hauing giuen himselfe to purge vs to bee a peculiar people vnto himselfe and to make vnto himselfe a glorious Church not hauing spot or wrincle or any such thing And all this is begun and in doing but is not yet finished and done in vs it shall be fully perfected in vs at the Resurrection of the dead In the meane time he giueth not vnto vs a full immunity from sinne that he may take away from vs all reioycing in our selues that we may know at that day that not for the workes of righteousnesse which we haue done but of his owne mercy hee hath saued vs. And yet no man is iustified by the righteousnes of Christ who is not also sanctified by the Spirit of Christ.
Yea and the elects sinnes doe euen worke for their good which are made a Triacle or preseruatiue against sinne for they neuer so fall but that his seede remaineth in them and his hand is vnder to lift them vp againe Thus the Lord is our righteousnesse Christ is to vs a Iesus a Sauiour by sauing vs immediately himselfe not by giuing vs power to saue our selues or to be our Sauiours CON. 47. The worth of Christs merits is most cleerely seene in the true acknowledgement of our vnworthinesse EXPLA. Gods light is most cleerly seene in our darknesse his power in our weakenesse his goodnesse in shewing vs mercy that are euill his righteousnesse in the confession of of our shame God hath appointed vs to be for the glory of his grace and therfore he disposeth that no flesh shal reioyce in his presence and that he onely may be exalted in that day and reioyce that we haue found mercy with the Lord who couereth our sinnes with the mantle of his righteousnes who seeth no iniquity in Iacob nor beholds transgression in Israel God seeth sinne with the eye of his knowledge but by reason of that couerture will not see it with the eye of his iudgement he seeth it with a discerning but seeth it not with a reuenging eye for the iustified man delighteth in the Law of God as touching the inner man yet hee hath still in his members the law of sinne hanging fâ—â—st on and lusting and rebelling against the Law of the spirit of life For though he hath within him an army of vicious desires yet hath hee a will and desire of righteousnesse hee hungreth and thirsteth wayting to be satisfied because according to his promise wee looke for a new heauen and a new earth wherin righteousnesse dwelleth the purpose of his life tendeth wholly to it it is grieuance to him that he failed to performe it and maketh him to cry out Wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from the body of death And therefore though he sinne he sinneth not maliciously purposely and with desire and delight in sinne but of ignorance and infirmity by occasion and by the creeping and stealing of sin vpon him CON. 48. By the Law of faith God pardoneth sinne EXPLA. God is a iust iudge as wel when hee iudgeth by lawes of mercy as when he iudgeth by the lawes of extremity as well in the law of faith as in the law of workes by the law of faith God forgiueth and considereth with fauour and if there bee a willing minde it is accepted according to that a man hath not according to that that hee hath not And all this hee doth as a iust Iudge because by law he doth whatsoeuer he doth but in the rigor of the Law which is the law of workes he remitteth nothing but requireth all to the vttermost farthing nothing pleafeth but what is exact and perfect and fully answerable to the rule So Paule expected that God as a iust iudge would yeeld vnto him the Crowne not by the Law of workes but by the Law of faith wherin God crowneth in mercy louing kindnesse because his crowne is a crowne of Iustice not of Pauls owne Iustice but of the Iustice of God for it is iust with God to pay that he oweth and he oweth that which hee hath promised which is mercy to the beleeuing penitent for Christs sake For all wee like sheepe haue gone astray and the Lord hath laid vpon him the iniquities of vs all for hee bore our sinnes in his body vpon the tree Thy righteousnesse couereth in mee a multitude of sins but in thee O Lord what but the treasures of piety the riches of Goodnesse CON. 49. Wee are reputed iust by the forgiuenesse of our sins and this is iustification in the sight of God EXPLA. What are wee but iust in the sight of God when there is taken from vs the imputation of all sinne To be iust is the same as not to be a sinner and in the way of faith they to whom their sinnes are not imputed are accounted not sinners and therfore are accounted iust for all the commandements of God are reputed to bee done when that which is not done is pardoned and hee who is reputed to haue done all the commandements of God is reputed iust Hee therefore to whom God pardoneth that which hee hath done is reputed iust and that which God determineth not to impute is all one is if it had neuer beene for wee are iustified through the redemption which is in Christ and redemption is by forgiueness of sinnes and the not imputing of sinne is the imputing of righteousnesse without workes now forgiuenesse of our sinnes is yeelded vnto vs by vertue of the merit and righteousnes which Christ hath wrought for vs who was giuen for vs and gaue himselfe for vs who was made vnder the Law to redeem vs and therefore is iust and righteous for vs and whatsoeuer he hath done he hath done for vs hee hath shed his blood for vs died for vs rose againe for vs and hath fulfilled all righteousnesse and obedience to his Father for vs and so very iustly is accounted ours Whatsoeuer hee hath done for vs is no lesse then if wee our selues had performed the same for our selues And thus by the imputation of Christs righteousnesse our sinnes are couered pardoned and forgiuen and we are reputed iust by the righteousnesse of Christ because in the righteousnes of Christ is the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and thereby no accusation is liable against vs either as hauing done that which we ought not to haue done or done that which we ought not to doe for who shal lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect And as Adam did beare the person of all mankinde and wee all were that one man and therefore what hee did was as done by all and euery one So did Christ beare the person of all the Elect and faithfull and was accounted as them all in one not one that made the forfeiture and another the satisfaction because one Christ is both the head and the body and therefore what hee did is likewise as done by all and euery one of vs. CON. 50. In the Elect with sanctification there is still a remainder of originall corruption EXPLA. Iustification in the sight of God by the imputation of Christs merits is alwayes accompanied with the sanctificatioÌ„ of the holy Ghost whereby the inward quality of the man though not wholly yet in part is altered and changed and is thenceforth further to bee renued from day to day In part I say because together with their sanctification there is still remnants of originall corruption by the touch staine whereof the holinesse newnesse that is wrought in vs is defiled for although originall corruption hath receiued a deadly wound yet it is not wholly