consideration of our vnworthinesse in the meane time out of the meditation of the promises of God ought there neuerthelesse a firme confidence to arise Therefore God hath comfort from the hidden seat of his maiesty and hath manifested his will in his word that wee might bee sure of his will Therefore God hath promulged not onely legall promises which haue added vnto them the condition of perfect obedience and therefore to vs are made vnprofitable but also Euangelicall which are frée that with firme confidence of heart we might relye vpon them Rom 4.16 Therefore of faith fréely sayth the Apostle that the promise may bee firme Psa 116.11 Mens promises are vncertaine and doubtfull because euery man is a lyar but the promises of God are certaine and vnmoueable because God is truth it selfe As God is true in threatnings so is he also in promising As without Christ certaine damnation doth hang ouer al vnbeléeuing impenitent persons so in Christ certaine saluation is proposed to all that are conuerted vnto God and beléeuing Cypr. serm 4. de morta pa. 209. Doest thou doubt that these things will come to passe which God promiseth which is true whose word is eternall and firm to them that beléeue If a graue laudable man should promise thée any thing thou wouldst put trust in his promise neither wouldst thou thinke that thou shouldest be deceiued of him whom thou shouldest know to be constant in his words doings Now God speaketh with thée and doest thou perfideously wauer in thine incredulous minde Furthermore attend to the stabilitie of the oath of GOD I liue saith the Lord Ezech. 33.11 I will not the death of a sinner but that hee may be conuerted and liue Verely verely I say vnto you sayth Christ hee which heares my word Iohn 5.25 and beleeues on him which sent mee hath life eternall and shall not come into condemnation but hath passed from death to life Verely verely I say vnto you if any man keepe my word hee shall not see death for euer Ioh 8. â—1 This hath God sayd this hath hee promised if that be little hee hath sworne it August in Psal 88. Blessed therefore we for whose sakes God sweareth but O most wretched if we do not beléeue GOD then when hee sweareth Tertul. lib. de poeniten Acknowledge therefore the wonderfull and neuer sufficiently praised mercy of God that he willing to shew more abundantly to the heires of the promise the immutabilitie and immobilitie of his counsell hath added an oath Heb. 6.71 vers 18. that by two vnmoueable things for it cannot come to passe that God should lye we might haue most strong comfort which haue fled to lay hold on the hope that is set before vs. XXVII The want of due preparation The Tempted ALL these things doe easily perswade with me that I doe not doubt of the firmenes of the promises of God in themselues in the meane time I am yet vncertaine whether they be so firme and vnmoueable to me and whether I am in the number of them to whom God doth promise and offer so great things The Comforter NAy but because God promiseth these things to all that flye vnto Christ with true repentance and faith 2 Cor. 4.13 therefore also he promiseth them to thée séeing thou also beléeuest in Christ Attend therefore farther to the inward sealing of the holy Ghost for the spirit doth not only testifie outwardly in the word but also inwardly in thine heart Rom. 8.16 The spirit it selfe giues testimonie to thy spirit that thou art the son of God Gal. 4.6 therefore also an heyre Thou hast receiued the spirit which is of God that thou mayest know the things which are giuen to thée of God He which doth confirme and strengthen thée with all that are truly godly in Christ and hee which hath annoynted thée is God which hath also signed thée and confirmed thée as it were with his seale and giuen the earnest of the spirit in thy heart Because thou art the sonne of God 1 Cor. 2.12 therefore God hath sent the spirit of his sonne into thine hart crying Abba Father Beléeuing the word of truth and the Gospell of saluation thou art sealed by the holy spirit of promise Cap. 4.30 which is the earnest of thine inheritance for the purchased redemption by which thou art sealed against the day of redemption Euen as the Bridegroome which hath giuen the promise of marriage to the Bride giues her an earnest which is a pledge of the marriage to come so God hath espoused or betroathed himself to thée in faith Ose 2.19 he hath betroathed himselfe to thée in mercy Apoc. 19.7 but as yet the marriage of the Lambe doth not appeare therefore hee giues vnto thée the earnest of his holy spirit by which thou mayst be confirmed concerning the fulfilling of the promises and the leading to the heauenly marriage which is to come This is the spirit of Adoption because it doth witnes that thou art adopted for the Son of God This is that seale by which the promises of God are sealed in thy heart this is that earnest by which the word of trueth is confirmed vnto thée 1 Iohn 4.13 By this thou knowest that thou abidest in God and God in thée because he hath giuen to thée of his spirit XXVIII The doubting of the inhabitation of the holy Ghost The Tempted BVT from whence may I be certaine that my heart is the temple and house of the holy Ghost the spots of sinne do cleaue vnto me and I feele that in my flesh dwels no good how therefore shall that holy Spirit which is holynesse and puritie it selfe dwell in mee The Comforter Rom. 8.23 WE receiue the first fruits of the spirit onely in this life wee expect the full measure and perfect tenths hereafter in the life eternall there remaines in this life the wrastling of the flesh and the spirit Rom. 7.14 we remaine as yet in part carnall and sold vnder sinne yet neuerthelesse for the benefit of regeneration and renouation wée are temples of the Holy Ghost Furthermore from thence thou mayest know that the Spirit of God dwels in thée because thou dost bewaile and detest thy sins Sapi. 1.4 2 Cor. 4.13 because that holy Spirit dwels not in the body subiect vnto sinne because thou dost beléeue on Christ and louest him for it is the spirit of faith because thou callest vpon God the most benigne Father with earnest sighes Zach. 13.9 for it is the spirit of grace and prayers and crieth in the hearts of the godly Gal. 4.6 Abba Father because thou art led with the desire of all good for they that are the temples of the holy Ghost are led by him surely to good because thou oft times dost féele a foretaste of eternall life in thy heart Rom. 8.14 for the kingdome of God is not meat and
drinke Rom. 14.17 but righteousnesse peace and ioy in the holy Ghost Wherefore if thy soule hath sometimes felt in the secret of thy conscience the spirit of the Son Ber in Can. serm 8. col 509. crying Abba Father let her presume that she is beloued with a fatherly affection when shee perceiues that shee is affected with the same spirit with which is also the sonne In the spirit of the Son shée may know her selfe to be daughter of the Father the spouse and sister of the sonne And although all these things are sometime weake and languishing yet be not out of heart but aske for increase of the spirit Luk. 11.13 for God will giue this spirit to those that aske him Stir vp the gift 2 Tim. 1.6 that frée and gracious gift of the spirit which is in thée that is by asking by séeking by knocking by meditating on thâ— word by resisting euill concupiscences There is here no perfection but a continuall way to perfection Beside this inward seale and testimony of the holy spirit God hath giuen thée the Sacraments which are the seales of the heauenly promises the waggons of the benefits of Christ bringing them vnto thée and the meanes of the begetting cherishing confirming of thy faith that thou mayst be sure that the benefits of Christ doe pertaine in speciall vnto thée Cypr serm de mort pa. 209. Thou wert receiued into the Church by baptisme and fed in the Lords Supper with the body blood of Christ being confirmed by these seales beléeue the word of the Gospell surely and without all doubt Why doest thou doubt why doest thou wauer this is that God should not altogether be this is to offend Christ the Master of beléeuers with the sin of incredulity this is for him that is placed in the Church not to haue faith in the house of faith Attend moreouer to the infallibility of the promised hearing God hath promised euen with an oath put thereto that he wil heare our prayers that whatsoeuer we aske according to his will shall be giuen vnto vs Verily verily I say vnto you saith Christ whatsoeuer yee shall aske the Father in my name Ioh. 16.23 Mat. 18.19 hee will giue vnto you If two of you shall consent vpon earth on any manner of thing whatsoeuer they shal aske it shal be done to them of my Father which is in heauen This is the trust which we haue vnto God 1 Ioh. 5.14 if we aske according to his will we shal obtaine it The very same which hath promised hearing hath coÌ„manded vs to aske forgiuenes of sins therfore what place of doubting will there remaine of the remission of sins how should Christ haue commanded to ioyne to prayer the word Amen if hee would haue had vs to doubt of hearing To conclude attend to the property of true faith as by which we haue accesse vnto that grace wherein we stand and glory of the hope of glory Heb. 4.16 promised of God through which wee come with trust vnto the throne of grace that wee may attaine mercy and finde grace through which we are kept by the power of God vnto saluation 1 Pet. 1.5 through which we know that we are translated from death to life 1 Ioh. 3.14 through which wee are most certainly perswaded that neither death Rom. 8.38 nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present vers 39. nor things to come neither height nor depth nor any other creature can separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. August in Psal 148. Weighing all these things let thy frailtie lift it selfe vp let it not despaire let it not bruise it selfe let it not turne it selfe away Christ hath promised thée that thou shalt bee there where hée is What hath God promised vnto thée O mortall man that thou shalt liue for euer Doest thou not beléeue beléeue beléeue it is more now which hée hath done then what he hath promised What hath he done he hath died for thée What hath he promised that thou shalt liue with him it is more incredible that the eternal hath died then that the mortal can liue for eternitie Now thou holdest that which is more incredible why doest thou doubt of that which remaines God hath promised thée heauen he hath giuen thée his Son which is a greater gift then heauen and earth XXIX The doubting of perseuerance The Tempted TRuly I doe nothing doubt but that by my Mediator Christ there lyes open to me accesse to GOD I surely trust that I am in the grace of God yet I cannot but doubt of perseuerance Matth. 10.22 cap. 24. v. 46. I know that it is perseuerance alone that is crowned I heare that they onely which shall perseuere to the end shall be saued Not to haue begun well but to goe through well is the part of vertue Aug. Ser. 8 ad frat in Erem Hiero in Epist ad furiam Theol. myst Harp c. 34. Neither is the beginning but the end required in Christians Iudas began well but he ended ill Paul began ill but hee ended well Without perseuerance neither he that fighteth obtaineth victory nor the Conquerour the palme I heare the ouer-seer and appointer of our masteries crying hold that which thou hast least another take thy crown I heare and I feare I feare and I doubt Apoc. 3.12 I doubt and I cast away the confidence of my heart The Comforter Bern. Serm. 3. de sep frag miser Col. 183. COnsider thrée things â—n which thy whole hope doth consist the charity of the adoption the truth of the promise the power of performance Now let thy foolish thought murmure as much as it will saying who art thou and how great is that glory or by what merits hopest thou to obtaine it and doe thou answere confidently I know whom I haue beléeued and I am sure that in the aboundance of his charitie he hath adopted me that he is true in his promise that hée is powerfull in performance This is the thrée-fold cord which is not easily broken which I pray thée that thou holde firmely fast being let downe to thée out of our Country euen into this dungeon that it may lift thée vp that it may draw thée euen to the beholding and sight of the glorie of the great God This is the most firme Anker of thy hope these are those thrée pillars on which thou mayest relie against the flouds stormes of doubtings that is to say the good will of God adopting his sure faithfulnesse promising and his infinite power to fulfill his promises The good GOD hath promised good things Phil. 2.13 hée hath begun to worke a good worke in thée hée that hath begun will performe it according to his good liking The good GOD hath promised good things 1 Cor. 10.15 he that hath promised is faithfull and true he
and the reward of eternall life that notwithstanding thou become not thereby carnally secure The infallible promises of God doe frée thée from doubting the exhortations and comminations of God doe free thée from carnall securitie There is securitie no where in this life but in the hope of the promises of God alone August in Psal 94. Id. 2. de bono perseuer c. 13. In this life which wholy is a tentation vpon earth he that séemes to stand let him take héede least he fall therefore those that will not perseuere are mingled by the most prouident counsell of God with those which shall perseuere that we may learne to be not loftily wise but agréeing with the humble and worke out our saluation with feare trembling Therefore with one eye of thine heart behold the mercie of God but with the other the iustice of God out of the faithfull beholding of the mercy of God let there arise in thine heart the confidence of perseuerance out of the feare of the iustice of God let there arise in it the flight of carnall security Let the feare of God wound thy flesh least the loue of sinfull flesh deceiue thée Psa 147.11 The delight of the Lord is in them that feare him and hope in his mercy Let the inward man hope and trust let the outward man feare and tremble XXXII The doubting of the writing in the Booke of life The Tempted THey alone doe perseuere and receiue the Crowne of perseuerance which are written in the Booke of life But how may I know that I am written in that Booke The Comforter Apoc. 13.8 cap. 21.27 THat Booke of life is Christ from whence it is called the Booke of life of the Lambe The writing into this Booke of life is nothing else but the election of the beléeuers in Christ to eternal life Eph. 1.5 Apoc. 17.8 For euen as the faithfull are said to be chosen in Christ before the foundations of the world were laid so their names are said to be written in the booke of life from the beginning of the world Therefore we must iudge as of election so also of the writing into the Booke of life not from that which goeth before but from that which followeth after Bern. Serm. 1. Septuag There are manifest signes and tokens of saluation giuen so that it is without all doubt that he is of the number of the chosen in whom those signes shall remaine For as many as are elected from eternity to life they doe heare the word of saluation in time they beléeue on Christ they shew forth the fruits of the spirit they perseuere in faith 1 Ioh. 5.10 He therefore which beléeues on the Son hath the testimonie of God in himselfe for the holy Ghost doth testifie in the heart of beléeuers that they are the Sons of God Rom. 8.16 and written into the Booke of life Those whom God hath predestinated from eternitie Luk. 10.20 Rom. 8.29 whose names he hath written in heauen those doth he call in time by the word iustifie by true faith on Christ that faith shewes it selfe forth by true inuocation of God by patience in the Crosse by the study of holines Therfore let the holy wholsome meditation of election and the Booke of life begin from the wounds of Christ hanging on the Crosse hée that beléeues on him and perseueres in faith is iustified and written into the Booke of the liuing Rom. 10.9 Hast thou not béene receiued by Baptisme into the couenant of grace washed with the blood of Christ from thy sinnes regenerated and renued by the holy Ghost This is an euident signe that thou art written into the booke of life Gal. 3.26.27 For we are all the Sons of God by faith séeing as many as are baptised haue put on Christ How commeth it to passe that falling into sinne out of infirmitie after Baptisme thou hast not béene bruised Sauanar in Psal 31. who hath put vnder his hand who hath receiued thée againe into grace who but the Lord This is a great signe of thine election the elect when he shall fall shall not be bruised God hath written not the Tables of the destinies or the decrees of Rhadamantus but the Booke of life when he chose vs in Christ before the foundations of the world were laide Therefore séeke in Christ by faith the election of thée to life and writing of thée into the Booke of life walke by faith that thou mayest come to predestination Ex Aug. Lom 6.1 sent dist 41. D. They which rashly and without the limits of the word doe search the depth of God are plunged at length ouer head and eares into the déepe XXXIII The feare of Death The Tempted IT is good for mee to cleane vnto Christ I will not let him depart out of my heart before hee blesse mee I haue decreed with true faith to perseuere in Christ that it may be my lot to raigne together with him In the meane time I confesse that I am not yet free from all terrour of death neither doe I feele so great strength and helpe of the Spirit that with the Apostle I desire ardently to be dissolued The Comforter INdéede this is the infirmitie of our flesh and propertie of our corrupt nature that we are more desirous of this life fading then of the life to come that is not flitting Hence comes that feare and terrour of death which that thou mayest ouercome by the power of the spirit and mayest grow in the strength of the inner man waigh those things diligently which I shall propose vnto thée out of the store-house of the heauenly truth First Math. 10.30 Iob. 14.5 it is certaine that euen the haires of our heads are vnder an account with God the number of our moneths is appointed of him he hath set vs downe a bound which wée can by no meanes passe a◠our dayes were written in his Booke Psa 139.5 before any one of them was Therefore good reason thou shouldest rest thy selfe in this fatherly will of God of his grace he gaue thée life hée brought thée forth wonderfully out of the close places of thy Mothers belly as long as he would haue thée to be in life he hath kept thée safe and sound from a thousand dangers hée doth now aske againe the soule which heretofore he hath giuen thée surely he doth not take away that which is thine but he askes againe that which is his owne now what action can there lie against him which askes for that againe which he hath lent Furthermore the soule which hée doth require of thée hée doth translate into the ioyes of the heauenly Paradise and wil restore the same againe to the body in the time to come adorned with greater glory and with more shining gifts That body which is reposed into the Chamber of the graue shall in time to come be a farre more glorious worthy and
death take héede thou doe not so loue thy wife and children that therefore thou refuse to follow God calling thée with a readie heart The loue of the heauenly Father must be preferred before the loue of children Ambro. in cap. 12. p. 111. Bern. Serm. 26. in Cant. Col. 569. August Epist 6. ad Vid. the loue of our Bridegroome Christ must be set before the loue of wife the benefit must not more be loued then the benefactour What shall I speake of kinsmen if thou leauest those that are deare thou shalt receiue them héereafter more déere For wée doe hope on a most faithfull promise that when we goe out of this life whence being to depart we haue not lost but sent before some of ours that are departed we shall come to that life where by how much they shall be better knowne of vs so much they shall be dearer vnto vs and without the feare of any dissension amiable If thy kinsmen be déere vnto thée let Christ be déerer which is thy brother If it be a pleasant thing to be here conuersant with thy kinsmen Heb. 12.22 let it be more pleasant vnto thee that thou commest to the mount Sion â—er 23. and Citie of the liuing God the heauenly Hierusalem and to the company of innumerable Angels and to the congregation of the first borne which are written in heauen and to God the iudge of all and to the spirits of iust and perfect men XLI The stopping vp of the eares in Death The Tempted I Feare lest that my eares waxing deafe in the agony of death I shall be destituted of all consolation of heart and too much vexed with the terrours of Satan The Comforter THe inward comfort of the spirit is of greater force then all outward consolations Rom. 8.16 The holy spirit giues testimonie to our spirit that wee are the sonnes of God the same spirit doth raise vp our spirit when wee beginne to wrastle with death and to be troubled in heart for he is the true and greatest comforter Ioh. 15.26 When thine eyes waxe dimme in death the holy Ghost will giue vnto thée the true illumination of the heart when thine eares waxe deafe in death he will giue vnto thée the quickening consolation of the soule Where mans consolation shall cease there Gods consalation will begin Behold the examples of the Martyrs how prompt and ready they were to the most exquisite punishments the whéeles séemed to them Roses the sparkes of fire spirituall bracelets the yron chaines golden crownes the torments ornaments the two edged swords beames of the heauenly light who hath wrought this in their hearts who hath comforted them in sorrowes but the holy Ghost His consolation is of greater force then the accusation of the whole world yea of the prince of the world What Doest thou thinke that the holy Ghost doth onely lift vp our hearts in the course of this life and doth idlely rest in the agony of death Dost thou thinke that the habitation of the holy Ghost is destroyed Gal. 2.20 when the tabernacle of the body is destroyed Ephes 3.2 Christ liues in thée and dwels by faith in thy heart grace is powred out in his lips in the fragrancy of this grace hee will make glad thine heart Psal 45 9. although thine hearing perish his spéech will â—ierce to thine heart although the dores of thine eares be shut Esa 61.1 The spirit of the Lord is vpon him the Lord hath annointed him to preach the Gospell to the afflicted hée hath sent him to binde vp the broken in heart to preach fréedome to the captiues and opening of prison to those that are bound Esa 50 4. The Lord hath giuen vnto him a learned tongue that hee may know to comfort sustaine the afflicted in a seasonable time Cleane to him with firme confidence of thy heart commend thy selfe to him with godly prayers hee will comfort thée in the seasonable time he will raise vp thine heart with the word of the Gospell when the arrowes of death are fastened in it hee will binde vp thy heart when the wounds of death are inflicted on it hée will preach deliuerance to thy heart when thou art led captiue of death as it were a pray he will preach opening to thy heart when thou art thrust into the prison of death XLII The apparant in vtilitie of Redemption IF Christ hath redeemed vs from death why must I as yet dye How shall death be ouercome by Christ when hee shewes his daily prayes as it were the trophees of his victory The Comforter EVen as Christ hath saued his people from their sinnes Mat 11.21 not that sinne may no more dwell in their flesh séeing in this life they remayne solde vnder sinne but that he may not condemne them for euerlasting as being regenerate and beléeuing so also hee hath redéemed vs from death Rom. 8.10 not that we should not any more be subiect to temporall death séeing that our body is dead or subiect vnto death for sinne but that wee might be frée from the bands of eternall death The death of the soule is the true death from this Christ hath redéemed vs sustaining the punishment for vs. Swéet Iesus hath also made temporal death it selfe swéet vnto vs that it is death in name alone but in very déed sléep nay the end of death and the beginning of true life Those that are truly godly doe dye daily 1 Cor. 15.24 by reason of those continuall calamities by which they are oppressed in this life therefore their death is the end of death but by the gate of death they passe to a quiet and eternall life Ose 13.14 therefore their death is the beginning of true life The death of Christ is the poyson of our death although therefore this poyson hath not altogether kild our death for it doth as yet moue it selfe and fastens his dart in our héele yet this poyson is gone to the heart of death it will come to passe therefore 1 Cor. 15.26 that at length by the force thereof it dye death is that last enemie whom Iesus Christ at length in the last day shall vtterly destroy Luk. 11.22 and comming vpon this strong armed man with greater strength shall take away powerfully from him all his pray Death must be beheld with spirituall eyes and it will appeare that his wrath is but vaine without strength as being captiuated and ouercome of Christ It layes snares for the life of the godly and behold it brings them to the true life It attempts to kill their soule and body with his darts and behold the soule being trée and without hurt of all wound of death the body alone is wounded which same also in the time to come shall bee snatcht out of the Iawes of death It endeauours to deliuer the godly to eternall death and behold it deliuers them to eternall life LXIII The horrour of the
those which beléeue on his name This adoption comprehendeth all things which are necessarie for vs to euerlasting saluation for if we be the Sonnes of God then are we also borne of God Tertul. in apolo c. 17. For not the carnall generation but the spirituall regeneration makes the Sonnes of God If we are the Sonnes of God then haue we also God fauourable vnto vs. For doth not a Father take pittie of his Sonnes Psa 103.13 If we are the Sonnes of God then hath he also giuen vs his spirit for so saith the Apostle They which are lead by the spirit of God these are the Sons of God Rom. 8.14 15. for ye haue not receiued the spirit of bondage againe to feare but ye haue receiued the spirit of adoption in which we cry Abba Father And againe Gal. 4.6 Because you are Sonnes God hath sent the spirit of his Sonne into your hearts crying Abba Father To conclude Rom. 8.13 if we are the Sonnes of GOD then are we also heires heires of GOD and heires annexed with Iesus Christ for who is he that is truly a Son without an inheritance All these so pretious so copious and so various benefits are bestowed vpon vs in Christ Eph. 3.17 and through Christ which dwels in our harts and is borne in vs spiritually through faith which therefore the Scripture doth so often preach and commend vnto vs. Verily verily Ioh. 5.24 I say vnto you saith Christ he which heareth my word and beleeues on him that hath sent mee hath eternall life and comes not unto iudgement but hath past from death to life Hee that beleeueth in mee Ioh. 11.25 26. although he were dead yet shall he liue and euery one which liueth and beleeueth in me shall not dye for euer Ioh 7.36.39 Hee that beleeueth in me out of his belly shall flow Riuers of liuing water which our Sauiour speakes of the spirit which they receiue that beleeue on him Euery one that beleeueth in mee Ioh. 12.46 doth not abide in darknesse suppose it in the darknesse of ignorance in the darknesse of sinne in the darknesse of eternall death but by the light of faith hee is lead to the life of sauing knowledge to the light of true righteousnesse to the light of euerlasting life Nay the Apostle witnesseth plainely that all those things which are written in the Gospel of the sayings doings and sufferings of Christ are therefore written that by faith on his name wee may haue life Because God hath giuen vnto vs eternall life 1 Ioh. 5.11 12.13 and this life is in his Sonne Hee that hath the Sonne hath life from thence we know that we haue euerlasting life because wee beleeue on the name of the Sonne of God And not onely the Apostles and Euangelists but also all the Prophets giue testimonie to Christ That all that beleeue oâ— him Act. 10.43 receiue remission of sinnes through by name That therefore which Paul and Silas sometimes said to the keeper of the prison at Philippi the same say I to thée Beleeue on the Lord Iesus Act. 16.31 and thou shalt be saued VI. The false perswasion of Faith The Tempted BVt I haue heretofore perceiued that very many doe put on a vaine perswasion of Faith and deceiue themselues with a false boasting what if I should also be in the number of them from whence may I be assured that my saith is a true and sauing faith and not a vaine and dead Image of faith The Comforter TRy and examine thy selfe whether thou be in the faith try thine owne selfe 2 Cor. 13.5 doest thou not know thine owne selfe that Iesus Christ is in thée There want not firme and infallible instructions by which â—rue and sauing faith may be tried knowne and discerned from idle and vaine boastâ—ng of faith First then this is the nature of true faith that it purifies the heart Act. 15.9 and desires to purge it cleane from the dregs of sinns For sâ—â—ing that faith doth carefully séeke and desire remission of sinnes surely he that truly beléeues shall féele a serious sorrow for the sinnes that he hath committed The Gospell is preached to the poore that is to say Matth. 11.6 Matth. 5.6 to those that are poore in spirit which hunger and thirst after righteousnesse which bring and offer to God a contrite heart and an humbled spirit Behold therefore the looking glasse of the Law and the deformitie of thy crimes will appeare Behold the shining face of Moses and it will appeare that for the workes of darknesse which thou hast followed thou canst not beare that light Behold thy selfe how grieuously the disease hath afflicted thée which is the iust punishment of thy sinnes the scourge of the reuenging God and the wages due to thy life which hath béene spent in sinnes He which sinnes against his Creator Eccl 38.5 fals into the hands of the Physitian We haue lost our health because wée haue offended our Creatour They which follow the flesh are scourged in the flesh They sigh in that in which they haue sinned The censure of the punishment is in that in which was the cause of shine By how many thoughts by how many words by how many déedes hast thou offended God How faint host thou béene aboue all things in the feare and loue of God How slacke in Prayers and other exercises of pietie How barren in good workes How oft hast thou followed the perswasion of Satan the seducing of the flesh the deceiuing of the world Those members which thou hast oftentimes giuen as weapons to iniquitie and vnrighteousnesse by the iust iudgement of GOD are now tormented with griefe and infirmitie Acknowledge this and grieue for if there be true and serious acknowledgement of sinne in thy heart immediately griefe of consciences and detestation of sinne will follow it God is earnestly angry with sinnes therefore out of the féeling of the wrath of God earnestly bewaile thy sinnes GOD doth seuerely punish sinnes therefore punish in thy selfe by iust griefe that which thou doest obserue that thou hast committed against God Psa 119.137 Acknowledge the iudgement of God to be iust and be thou humbled vnder his mighty hand Neither haue respect onely to thy outward faults but acknowledge the contagion of originall sin the fountaine of all euils Psa 90.9 that indéede is hidden but God placeth it in the light of his countenance through it all the powers of soule and body are so weakened that out of thy selfe and by thy selfe thou canst beginne no good much lesse performe it through it thou art made subiect vnto death and to all that troupe of calamities miseries and diseases which goes before death VII Griefe insufficient The Tempted I Acknowledge and feele that I am not only borne and conceiued in sinnes but that I haue offended God by diuers manifolde and great sinnes I feele this and I earnestly grieue but
momin pag. 21. God giues altogether fréely saues altogether fréely because he findes nothing for which to saue and hée findes much for which to damne Of grace is giuen not onely to the iustified good life but also to the glorified eternall life and therefore death is said to be wages but eternall life is said to be grace because that is rendred as due this is giuen as frée Bern. Ser. innat Mar. Col. 213. Therefore let another séeke for merit doe thou studie to finde grace let the mercie of the Lord be thy merit thou art not plainely poore in merit as long as he is not wanting mercies Serm. 67. in Cant. There is no place for grace to enter where merit hath alreadie taken vp the roome Thou doest detract from grace whatsoeuer thou doest depute vnto merit It sufficeth to merit Serm. 68. in Cant. to know that merit doth not suffice Place all thy confidence altogether on God Embrace his mercie séeke thy merits in the wounds of Christ thou shalt not haue any want of merits XXIII The accusation of the Law The Tempted I Acknowledge our works not to be meritorious neither to appease God but that out of faith they may please him And how can they chuse but displease him when they are not perfectly conformable to the law of God The law is an eternall vnchangeable rule of iustice condemning all whatsoeuer is not conformable there-vnto Therefore the dart of damnation is shaken against me my works vnlesse thou shew me what shield I may oppose against it The Comforter Gal. 3.13 CHrist hath redeemed thée from the curse of the Law being made a curse for thee Cursed is euery one that hangeth on the wood When the fulnesse of time came Cap 4.4 God sent his owne Sonne borne of a woman made vnder the Law that he might redeeme those which were vnder the Law Ver. 5. Rom. 10.4 Cap. 8.1 that we might receiue the adoption of Sonnes The end and fulfilling of the Law is Christ to righteousnes to euery one that beleeueth Therefore there is no damnation to thée and all which are by faith in Christ and walke not according to the flesh Vers 2. Vers 3. there is no feare of the Law the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath fréed thée from the Law of sinne and death For that which was impossible to the Law because it was made weake through the flesh that hath GOD performed Vers 4. sending his Sonne in the likenesse of the flesh of sinne and by sinne condemned sinne in the flesh that the iustification of the Law might be fulfilled in vs which walke not after the flesh but after the spirit Therefore if by true faith thou doest apply the benefits of Christ vnto thy selfe there is no cause that thou shouldest feare the curse of the Lawe The sting of Death is sinne 1 Cor. 15.55 56. the strength of sinne is the Law but thankes be vnto God which hath giuen vs victorie through Iesus Christ our Lord Hee hath ouercome our death by his death hee hath satisfied for our sinnes by his Passion and hée hath most perfectly fulfilled the Law in our stead by his most holy obedience Neither yet is there an abolishment of the Law made but a translation onely Neither do the Law and the Gospell destroy themselues mutually séeing the Law is not against the promises of God Gal. 3.21 but is established by faith For what the Law doth require of vs Rom. 3.31 that the Gospell doth tell vs was performed of Christ in our steade What the Law commands this Christ obtaines The Law condemneth sinne and vs for sinne Christ doth performe satisfaction for sinnes and giues his righteousnesse vnto vs. The Law therefore is satisfied by the obedience of Christ because it is perfect Againe that fulfilling of the Law through Christ is performed for vs to good because it is not due Chyt li. 1. de vita et morte p. 43. Therefore as thou oughtest not to behold death in thine owne body but in Christ raised vp againe the conquerour of death and the giuer of life and saluation eternall sinne not in thine owne conscience but in Christ the Lambe of God bearing and taking away thy sinnes and the sinnes of the whole world hell and the tentations of being euerlastingly cast away not in thy selfe and in that innumerable multitude of the damned but in Christ sustaining on the Crosse and ouer-comming for vs the tentation of being cast away so thou oughtest to behold the Law not as it is written in thy hart but as it is fulfilled by Christ and with him fastned to the Crosse XXIIII The accusation of Conscience The Tempted MY conscience doth witnesse together with the accusation of the Law that as an vncorrupt iudge riseth vp against mee Chrysost hom 64. in Gen. and is an accuser of mee while no man reproues mee or brings any thing forth against mee I cannot escape that domesticall iudgement seate In this great volumne I see and altogether tremble at all my sinnes Nazian orat 26. Bern. de conuers ad Cler. c. 3. Col. 114 written with the stile of truth wretch that I am who shall deliuer me from this Court of iudgement in which the same is the guiltie the pleader the witnesse the iudge the torturer the scourge the executioner the hangman The Comforter Ioh. 3.20 IF thy heart doth condemne thée yet God is greater then thy heart If the memory of thy faults passed doth accuse and torment thée yet Christ the Redéemer which hath satisfied for thy sinnes is a mightier Col. 2.14 he absolues thée frées thée and saues thée Hee indéed hath blotted out that hand-writing which was written against and was contrary to vs hee hath taken it cleane away and hath fastned it with him to the Crosse By the nailes of Christ crucified is that accusing hand-writing of thy conscience together fastened that it is of no force and validitie before God Rom. 5.1 for being iustified by faith thou hast peace with GOD peace of conscience quietnes of hart and the most blessed tranquillitie of the soule which Christ the conquerour of sinne death and Satan hath brought backe with him from the graue and giuen the same to his Disciples Therefore Bern. de conuer cap. 6. col 415. if thou féelest the worme of conscience thou oughtest to strangle him forthwith in this life present not cherish him to immortalitie for a putrified conscience begets the immortall wormes Strangle therefore the worme of conscience by serious repentance pray to God for rest of the heart and forgiuenesse of sinnes and take héed of the new wounds of conscience that is the worst relapse of sinnes In this life there is as yet a time of pardon a time of grace a time of quieting the conscience In this life the booke of conscience may as yet be amended out of the booke
of life Apoc. 20.12 but in the last iudgement the bookes shall be opened and amongst these also the booke of conscience in which before the whole world grauen with great letters shall all the particular faults and offences of men be séene which are not blotted out in this life by true contrition by faith and amendement of life Before that day of iudgement come and the time of grace passe away thou mayest haue as yet excellent hope and sure confidence that the bloud of Iesus Christ Heb. 9.14 which through the eternall spirit hath offered himselfe without spot to God will clense thy conscience from dead workes to serue the liuing God XXV Too late Repentance The Tempted TRuly I am earnestly sorry for so many wounds inflicted on my conscience I doe earnestly desire the cure of my wounds I haue an earnest desire to keepe a good conscience hereafter but I feare lest that my repentance be too late I feare lest the grace of God so oftimes reiected of mee doe againe reiect and forsake mee August de verâ falsâ poenit cap. 17. Late repentance is wont to deceiue many and that repentance which proceeds from a dying man hee must feare lest that also dye The Comforter NAy there is nothing too late which is true and earnest Cyprian tract 1. contra Demet. No repentance is to late for him that abides yet in this world there are some which are called and come at the eleuenth houre of the day into the Lords Vineyard Mat. 20.9 and receiue the reward of Grace No length of time doth preiudicate eyther Gods equitie or his pietie Fulgent Epist 7. Repentance is neuer too late with GOD 〈◊〉 in whose sight aswell the things past as the things to come are alwayes held for present Behold the example of the Thiefe on the crosse which confessing Christ with his mouth vpon whose vtmost lippes as it were his soule dwelt ready to depart gods the pardon of his sinnes and the 〈◊〉 prâ—mise of the heauenly paradise As long as that to day is named Heb. 3.13 so long God doth earnestly looke for our conuersion As long as the heauenly Bridegroome doth as yet defer his comming Mat. 25.5 so long the gate of Grace and indulgence doth as yet lye open The whole time of our life yea the last houre thereof is graunted vs to the space of repentance Esa 65.2 God spreads forth his hands all day neyther doth hee cast forth him that comes vnto him at what time soeuer hee come Iohn 6.37 Therefore take thou care of that that thy repentance be true and earnest and then thou néedest not feare lest it be too late If when the houre of death drawes néere thou therfore repentest thée because thou art destituted of the occasions of sinning that repentance is false for by this reason thou doest not leaue thy sinnes but thy sinnes forsake thée If thou therefore repentest because thou séest the punishment of thy sinnes neare that repentance is likewise false for it procéeds out of the loue of thy selfe not out of the sincere loue of God it procéeds not out of the hate of sinne but out of the irkesomnesse of most iust punishment Therefore that thou mayest repent truly and earnestly grieue for thy sins so often committed and therefore grieue because thou hast so often so grieuously by them offended God the chiefest good seeâ—e in Christ the remission of thy sins and seriously propose to thy selfe whatsoeuer shall remaine of thy life to 〈◊〉 it out wholly on the seruice of God submit thy selfe to God be humbled from thy heart before him permit it to his will what and how great punishments a thousand times deserued of thée he will inflict vpon thée that it may appeare that thou doest repent out of the hatred of sinne and not out of the hatred of punishment Psal 51.19 Such a contrite and humbled heart will be a most acceptable sacrifice vnto God for so he saith by the Prophet Esa 66.2 To whom shall I haue respect but to the poore and contrite in spirit and him that trembles at my words XXVI The doubting of the grace of God The Tempted TRuly I feele in my heart serious contrition and griefe for my sinnes neither doe I altogether despaire of the mercy of God yet my heart is shaken with the waues of doubtings neither as yet am I certainely assured of the free remission of my sinnes Indeed well I hope in the meane time humbly I doubt the consideration of Gods mercy doth lift me vp but the thought of mine owne vnworthinesse doth againe cast me downe I am conuerted vnto God therefore I hope well but I am conuerted too late therefore I doubt as yet in part The Comforter BVt I will set most firme props vnder thy wauering faith on which thou mayest relie thée against all the tempests of doubtings for neither is that doubting an humble confession of our vnworthinesse but a dangerous oppugning of the faith that ought of right to be giuen to Gods promises neither is there any reason of doubting of sufficient strength in late conuersion and repentance when the mercy of God doth offer to al that are earnestly conuerted a most certaine promise of the remission of sins First of al therefore attend to the vnmoueable verity of the promises of God Whosoeuer they are that acknowledging and bewailing their sins doe séeke remission of them in Christ and conceiue a firme purpose of amendement of life to them God hath promised his grace forgiuenesse of sinnes and eternall life Whosoeuer beleeueth on the Sonne Ioh. 13.15 18. 1 Ioh. 5.12 Mar. 16.16 doth not perish but hath life eternall He that beleeueth on him is not iudged He that hath the Sonne the same also hath eternall life Hee that shall beleeue and be baptized shall be saued He that hath promised these things is God whose word is more firme then heauen earth which is the truth it selfe 2 Tim. 2.11 which is faithfull and cannot deny himselfe or his word That therefore which God offers with indubitate promises that must thou entertain with indubitate faith neither must thou pretend the infirmitie of thy nature which cannot imbrace the promises of God with such an assurance of trust for this fault of thy nature must be corrected by the efficacy of the holy spirit As thou dost not beléeue on CHRIST out of the strength of nature but out of the working of the Holy Ghost so by the grace of the same spirit thou mayest be assured of the mercy of the Heauenly Father against all doubting that is inherent in thy depriued nature 1 Ioh. 5.10 Hee that beleeues not God makes him a liar Asmuch as thou doubtest so much is diminished of thy trust therefore thou must resist that doubting neither is that to be set forth vnder the specious name of humilitie verily Humilitie ought to arise out of the
to the inheritanâ—e of eternall life therefore it must be raised out of the dust that it may enter into the possession of this life deserued for it of Christ Out of all which it euidently appeares Theodor. in 1 Cor. 15. tom 2. pag. 77. 1 Cor. 3.16 that Christ is the suretie and pledge of our resurrection furthermore our bodies are the temples and houses of the holy Ghost hee will not suffer this his Temple to lye hidden in the dust and ashes but will build it vp againe and make it a great deale more glorious then it was in this life Hagg. 2.4 Euen as the latter temple at Hierusalem had a greater glory then the former 1 Reg 6.32 In Salomons temple there were incorruptible palmes so the bodies of the godly shall not be subiect to eternall corruption séeing they are the habitations of the eternall spirit Iren. lib. 4. cap. 34. This also is somewhat that our bodies are sanctified by the body and bloud of Christ in the wholesome vse of the holy supper how therefore shall they remaine in the graue how shall the flesh bee sayd to come into corruption and not to taste of life which is nourished with the body and bloud of the Lord Euen as the bread which is of the earth after the word is added to it is now no common bread but the Eucharist consisting of two things an earthly and an heauenly so our bodies receiuing the Eucharist are not now corruptible hauing the hope of the resurrection Ioh. 6.54 Surely the flesh of CHRIST is quickening food therefore hee which eateth this flesh hath eternall life and Christ will raise him againe in the last day Lactan. lib. 4. institut cap. 48. Adde that the soule in this life by the body and with the body doth worke eyther good or euill séeing it is put into the body therefore the iustice of God requires that those which were ioyned together in the worke be ioyned together in the reward those that are ioyned together in the fault be ioyned together in the punishment Therefore all of vs shall appeare before the iudgement seat of CHRIST 1 Cor. 15.10 Tertul. in Apol. c. 45. p. 337. that euery one may receiue those things which he hath done in his body whether they be good or euill The soules haue not deserued without the flesh in which they haue done all things finally to these vnmoueable props of Arguments may be added the examples of those that haue béene raised vp againe whom Christ by his owne the Prophets and Apostles by the power of GOD haue called backe to life Tertul. de resurrect p. 44. Lactan. 6. dico institu cap. 18. for testimonie of the future resurrection which these partakers of immortalitie and eternitie doe exhibite vnto vs which are ioyned vnto them in faith and confession XLIIII The absurditie of the Resurrection The Tempted THe article of the Resurrection of bodies doth most strongly oppose nature and humane reason from whence also the hope of the resurrection is sometimes not a little weakened in my heart by the stormes of diuers cogitations The Comforter THE foundations of our faith are the oracles of the holy Ghost not the predicaments of our owne reason We beléeue the resurrection of the dead vnder the obedience of this faith wee ought to captiuate all our reason 2 Cor. 10.5 GOD can doe aboue all things superabundantly more then wee aske or vnderstand Thinke therefore on him that promiseth and thou shalt haue him to performe whatsoeuer things GOD sayth they are not words but workes Let vs graunt that GOD can doe something Ephes 3.20 Phil. lib. de decal p. 477 August Epist 3. Bern ser 4. de nat col 43. 1 Cor. 15.37 which wee may confesse that wee cannot finde out in such things all the reason of the deed is the power of the speaker It will be an easie matter for him by whom the mother her selfe hath not lost the corruption of flesh by bringing forth that this corruptible also may put on incorrution by rising againe It is somewhat also that in nature her selfe diuers representations of the resurrection are set forth vnto vs. Vers 38. That which thou sowest is not quickened vnlesse it first dye and what sowest thou Vers 39. not the body that shall be but bare Corne that is to say of Wheate or of some other August de verb. Apost serm 34. But God giueth to it a body after his owne pleasure and to euery séed his owne body He therefore which quickens the dead and putrified graines of séeds by which thou mayest liue in this world will much more raise vp thine owne selfe that thou mayest liue for euer The light that daily dies shines forth againe Tertul. in Apol. c. 45. p. 73 c. and the darknesse by euen turnes departing doth returne the starres that are put out beginne againe to liue the times beginne where they are ended the fruits are consumed and doe returne surely the séedes vnlesse they be corrupted and dissolued doe not arise so fruitfully all things are saued by perishing all things are reformed from death The day dies into the night Id lib. de resurrect car pag. 54. and is buried round about with darkenesse the honour of the World is polluted and all the substance thereof is made blacke All things are foule silent and amazed euery where there is a vacation and rest of things so the light that is lost is mourned for And yet againe with her attire with her grace with the Sunne the same both sound and whole doth begin to be renued to the whole world killing her death the night opening her graue the darkenesse being heire to her selfe vntill the night also be renued againe she likewise with her attire For the beames of the starres also are againe made to flame whom the mornings light had extinguished The absence also of the constellations is brought backe which the destinction of times had taken away The mirrours also of the Moone are trimd a new which the number of the dayes of the moneth had worne out The Winters and Sommers the Springs and the Autumnes returne in their season with their owne strength manners fruits yea the earth is taught of Heauen to cloathe Trées after they are made naked to giue fresh and new tinctures to the Flowres to giue the hearbs againe to bring in the same séedes which are consumed and not to bring them in before they are consumed A wonderfull matter Of a deceiuer shée is become a sauer shée snatcheth away that she may restore shée destroyes that shee may kéepe shée corrupts that shée may make whole shée first lauishly consumes that afterward shée may make it more Surely shée restores things more plentifull and more faire then those shée did consume Of a truth I may say at once the condition of all things is restored againe by death which is increase and iniurie which