the tryall without despaire for the signes doe not shew them that they cannot be saued but onely that for the present they are not in the estate of saluation actually which though it may and ought to be grieuous vnto them to consider in what fearefull misery and sinne they liue in yet they haue reason to know and beleeue that they may bee saued as well as others yea the acknowledgemeÌ„t of their misery is one step to saluation Now that wicked men may not die but take a course to bee saued two things are by them to be attained first the arguments of hope that proue they may bee saued and that there is remediâ—… for their miserie Secondly the rules that shew them what they must doe which being done they may be certaine of their saluation For the first that they may be saued these things may hopefully assureâ—… 1. That God hath sworne that he desires not that the wicked should die but rather that he should turne from his â—…uill 〈◊〉 â—…d liue Ezâ—…k 18. 31. 2. That God hath with singular patience borne with him all this while and hath not laid him beneath for all his sinnes wâ—…o long since deserued hell and the Lord hath taught it too that he is patience that men might repent and be saued Rom. 2. 4. 2 Peter 3. 9. 3. That God offers his grace to all and hath made no exception against any particular man and therefore why shouldest thou except thy selfe from saluation when Gods grace is tendred to thee as well as others God sends his Gospell to euery creature euen to all Nations Marke Chap. 16. ver 15. 4. That God hath sent his owne Sonne to bee a sufficient sacrifice and propitiation for the sinnes of men He is the Lambe of God that taketh away the sins of the world Iohn 1. Romanes 3. 25. 1 Iohn 2. 1. and in him God is well pleased and would haue all men know that hee is content to take satisfaction from Christ Math. 3. 17. 5. That God hath placed them in the visible Church and doth yet continue the meanâ—…s that is able to saue their soules Acts 20. 32. Iam. 1. 21. 6. That God hath declared himselfe concerning sinne that there is one onely sinne that in it selfe is simply vnpardonable all the rest may be forgiuen 7. That God hath saued as great sinners as they such as were Manasses Mary Magdalen Dauid Paul Many amongst the Corinthians were fornicators drunkards raylers and the like yet were iustified sanctified and saued 1 Cor. 6. 10 11. And these haue obtained mercy that in them Iesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering for a patterne to them which should afterwards belâ—…eue to euerlasting life 1 Tim. 1. 13 16. CHAP. V. Shewes how faith may be gotten THE rules of directions follow This then is the question What should a man doe that he may be sure of his saluation the man I say that for the present doth not finde the grace of Christ in his heart I answer That his principall care must be to vse all meanes to get the graces of the godly Christian formed in his heart And herein the Lord hath shewed vnto men singular mercy that as hee hath shewed wayes in his Word how his seruants may discerne the graces that are so many signes and pledges of Gods loue and their owne saluation so hath he in the same word laid downe cleere directions that shew how euery grace may be attained and formed and nourished in the hearts of men And first I will begin with Faith And the question is What should a man doe that hee might attaine Faith Hee that would beleeue must obserue these rules 1. Hee must in the first place betake himselfe to Gods promises For without the promise of grace it is impossible Faith should euer bee formed aright in a man hee must labour to see what the Lord saith distinctly vnto sinners I will instance in that one promise Ioh. 3. 16. God so loued the world that hee gaue his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeued in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting Now his care must bee seriously to marke and cleerly to vnderstand Gods meaning which in this promise is to assure saluation to any in the world that wil beleeue in Christ. 2. He must then consider Gods commandement concerning faith that God doth require him to beleeue and is so farre from being displeased with him for beleeuing in Christ that for this cause hee will damne him in hell if hee beleeue not Iohn 3. 18. 1. Iohn 3. 23. Hee doth as exactly require vs to relye vpon this course of saluation by Iesus Christ as hee doth require any thing of vs in the morall Law and as we ought not to sweare or commit adultery or steale so ought wee not to dare to liue without beleefe in Iesus Christ. 3. Hee must pray heartily to God to giue him a heart to beleeue and to forme faith in him for faith is the gift of God Eph. 2. 8. Hee should pray ouer the promises and beseech God to incline his heart to rest vpon them as the best treasures in the world cry vnto the Lord Lord helpe my vnbeleefe 4. Hee must absolutely lay aside all thought of his owne righteousnesse by the workes of the Law and looke onely to Iesus Christ and the righteousnesse in him else he will faile of the righteousnesse of God Rom. 10. 3. 5. Hee must waite vpon the powerfull preaching of the Gospell as the onely outward ordinarie meanes to beget faith offering his soule daily vnto God and attending to the Word of God ready to obey the motions of the Spirit knocking at the doore of his heart in the ministerie of the Word knowing that from this ordinance of God he is to expect the gift of faith he should betake himselfe to it with resolution to waite with daily expectation till the Lord bee pleased to send the Holy Ghost into his heart And this is a generall rule for this and all other graces of the Spirit as men loue their owne soules so they must prouide to liue where the Word of God is preached constantly in the power of it for from thence they shall receiue vnspeakeable helpe and furtherance in all the wayes of God Rom. 10. 14. CHAP. VI. Shewing how true humiliation may be attained THus of Faith In the next place he must labour for true and sound humiliation for his sins and to this end he must distinctly striue to get formed in him two things 1. pouerty of spirit 2. godly sorrow for to these two belong all the branches of true humiliation For the attaining of spirituall pouerty these rules are of great vse First make a Catalogue of thy sinnes which thou mâ—…yest â—…o either by memory or by booke By memory thus Goe aside set thy soule before the Lord as if thou werest presently to be
whether their confession and sorrow for their sinnes be right or no. p. 32. 33. 34 Three sorâ—…s of men may profit by these Directions p. 34 Other vses of the Catalogue of sinnes p. 35 The misery of such as will not bee aduised to take a sound course about their sinnes p. 35 CHAP. III. THE sinnes against the whole Law where of originall sinne ignorance procrastination vaine-glory security hypocrisie self-loue inconstancy c. p. 37. to 41. CHAP. IIII. THE diuision of the sins against the first Table and the sorts of sinnes against Gods Nature pag. 42 to 53 Seuen monstrous offences p. 43 Of naturall Atheismâ—… p. 44 And Epicurisme p. 45 Of the defects of grace and the mis-placing of our affections p. 45 46 How many waies men sin against the mercy of God p. 48. 49 and the feare of God p. 50. 51 and the trust in God p. 51. 52 CHAP. V. HOw many wayes men offenâ—… against the meanes of Godâ—… worship p. 53. How many wayes men offend By not-worshipping p. 53 54 By will-worshipping p. 55 By Idol-worshipping p. 56 CHAP. VI. HOw many wayes men sinne against the manner of Gods worship p. 57. Offences that may be committed in the manner of doing any part of Gods seruice p. 58 Sinnes en hearing p. 58 Sinnes in prayer p. 59 Sins about the Sacraments p. 59 Sinnes about an oath p. 60 CHAP. VII SInnes about the time of Gods worship p. 61. Three secret offences against the Sabbath p. 61. The open breaches of the Sabbath p. 62 63. CHAP. VIII THE diuision of the sins against the second Table The sinnes Of wiues and Husbands p. 64 65. Of Children and Parents p. 65 66. Of Seruants and Masters p. 67 68. Of Subiects and Magistrates p. 68. Of Hearers and their Ministers p. 69. CHAP. IX SInnes against the persons of men p. 69 1 By omission p. 70 2 By commission where The sinnes internall p. 71. to 74 The sinnes externall In gesture p. 74 In words p. 74 In workes p. 76 77 How we sinne against the bodies of men p. 78 How against the soules of men p. 79. to 81 CHAP. X. THe sins against Chastity p. 81 In the grosse acts p. â—…2 In the thoughts and affections and senses and gestures and words p. 83 The occasions of vncleannesse p 84. 85. 86 CHAP. XI SIns against the estates of men p. 86 Internall p. 86 Exterrnall Of omission p. 87. 88 Of commission where the seuerall waies of stealing p. 88. 89 with the aggrauations to p. 90. 91 CHAP. XII SInnes against the good names of men p. 92 By omission p. 92 By commission Internally p. 92 Externally p. 93. to 99 CHAP. XIII OF the sinnes without consont p. 96 CHAP. XIII HOw many wayes men offend against the Gospel p. 97. Sins against Christ. p. 97 98. Sins against repentance p. 98 99 Sinnes against Faith p. 100 Sins against the Spirit of grace p. 100. THE PREFACE TO THE READER containing the Scope of all the Sixe Treatises and certaine generall things which by way of Introduction belong vnto them all FOrthy sake Christian Reader I haue beene willing to prepare for the Presse Sixe little Treatises Which may informe thee of six things of the greatest consequence that I know can concerne thee in this life And though I haue reason to abase my selfe in the acknowledgement of mine owne frailtie and insufficiency for these things yeâ—… thou hast cause to awaken to thâ—… consideration of the matter which so neerly concerneth thee vsing the helpe of this labour tiâ—… God affoord thee better helpe from more able instruments The matter in all of them is so necessary that I know not which of them thou mayest safely neglect The first thing which any man disposing himselfe for the Kingdome of God will and ought to inquire after is What he should doe to be rid of those so many sinneâ—… he hath beene and is guilty of Rid I say from thâ—… guilt and danger of them and from the power and dominion of them For the satisfaction of thy conscience in this most needfull question I haue in this first Treatise gathered for thee out of the whole Bible a Catalogue of those sinnes which in our repentance God will haue with speciall notice to be confessed and auoided And these sinnes I haue set downe as neere as I could in the expresse words of the text that thou mightest see the Lord himselfe describing thy offences and so mightest haue no excuse or doubt to imagine that it was but the iudgement of some men that made such things to bee thought to bee sinnes By this course of surueying the whole Scriptures I haue both found out diuers particular offences plainely proued to be so which I could not obserue to be mentioned in any exposition of the commandements which I had and also diuers things proued clearely to be sinnes which were onely barely â—…ffirmed to bee so in other writers I haue likewise plainely shewed thee by expresse Scripture what course thou maiest distinctly take to be rid of thy sinnes a course that cannot faile thee being grounded on the most euident directions which God himselfe hath prescribed vnto thee if thy owne slothfulnesse procâ—…astination or wilfull peruersenesse binder thee not And I doubt not but by experience thou wilt confesse the course is comfortable easie considering the great benefit and rest thou mayest bring to thy conscience thereby The second thing a man would desire to bee satisfied in that hath beene entred into the practise of Repentance is How hee might come to bee infallibly assured concerning Gods fauour and his owne saluation and for answer hereunto I haue in the second Treatise gathered out of the Scriptures signes of Gods owne making by which men may try their estate these such as both describe wicked men not yet in Christ and such as describe godly men that shall certainly bee saued And withall I haue now added directions how by the helpe of those signes men may settle their assurance and how such as yet want those signes may attaine them The third thing euery Christian ought to seeke satisfaction in is this How a man that hath attained vnto the assurance of saluation when hee dies may comfort and establish his heart against all the miseries and distresses which may and will befall him in this life before his death And to this end I haue gathered out of the whole Scriptures those admirable consolations which may bee abundantly sufficient to vphold him with much ioy in the worst estate that can befall him And this is done in the Treatise which I call the Promises The fourth question a carefull Christian that hath thus found out the gaine of godlines would aske is this what he should doe in the whole course of his life to glorifie God who hath thus loued him and giuen his Sonne to dye for him and purchased such a glorious inheritance for him And for answer hereunto
faults in others and to be guilty of great offences himselfe Mathew 7. 5 In vain-glorie and minding too much our owne praises And so also he offends That boasteth of a false gift Prou. 27. 1. That iustifieth himselfe ouermuch Iob 35. 2. That boasts of to morrow Prou. 17. 1. That measures himselfe by himselfe 2 Cor. 10. 12. 6. In flatterie Psalme 12. 3. Prou. 27. 14. and 26. 26. 7. In iustifying the wicked Prou. 17. 15. and 24. â—…4 CHAP. XIII HItherto of the sinnes with consent of the will The sinnes before consent of the will are 1. To want desire of the good and well-fare either of himselfe or other men 2 To conceiue euill thoughts Matth. 15. 19. or couer euill 3. To delight in the inward contemplation of euill whether in dreames or awake though it bee without purpose to act them outwardly Iude 8. Iames 1. 14. Hitherto of the sinnes against the Law CHAP. XIIII Shewing how many wayes men offend against the Gospel THe sinnes against the Gospel may bee referred to foure heads as they are sinnes Against Christ. Against Repentance Against Faith Against the graces of the Spirit 1. He sinnes against Christ That saith he is Christ Math. 24. 5. That denyeth directly or by consequent that Christ is come in the flesh 1 Iohn 4. 3. and 2. 23. That hath base thoughts of Christ Esay 53. 3. That saith hee hath no sinne 1 Iohn 1. 7 8 10. That worships God without Christ Iohn 17. 3. 1 Iohn 2. 23. That vseth not Christ as his own and onely Aduocate 1 Ioh. 2. 2. 1. Tim. 2. 5. That loues not the Lord Iesus Christ with inflamed affections 1 Cor. 16. 22. Eph. 6. 24. Philip. 3. 8. 2 Hee sinnes against repentance That confesseth not his sinnes without hiding distinctly Prou. 28. 13. Psalme 32. 5. That mourns not for his sins Ier. 5. 3. That forsakes not his sinnes Prou. 28. 13. Yea hee sinnes against repentance That repents fainedly Ieremi 3. 10. That repents desperately as Cain and Iudas That repents too late Iob 27. 8 9. That repents by halues and in some things onely as Ahab and Herod That falls away from his repentance 2 Peter 2. 19 20. The aggrauations are To be wise to do euill Ier. 4. 22 To pursue euill Prou. 11. 19. To reioyce in doing euill and make a mocke of sinne Prouerbs 2. 14. and 14. 9. To be without shame and to declare his sin like the Sodomites Esay 5. 9. Ier. 3. 3. To be incorrigible Ier. 5. 3. To fret because hee is crossed in sinne Prou. 19. 3. To blesse himselfe against the curses of the Law Deut. 29. 19. To freeze in security Zephan 1. 12. To refuse to returne 3. He sinnes against Faith That beleeues not in Iesus Christ for his iustification and saluation Iohn 3. 17. Yea he offends That is carelesse and neglects the assurance of Faith Heb. 6. 12. Rom. 1. 16. That in affliction doubts of Gods fauour and goodnesse Esay 41. and 49. 14 15. The aggrauations Not to seeke after God at all Zeph. 1. 6. Not to stir vp our selues to take hold on God when mercy is offered Esay 64. 7. Not to answer when God calls Esay 50. 2. To forsake our owne mercy or scoffe at the signes of it Iohn 2. â—…8 4. He sinnes against the graces of the Spirit 1. That receiues the grace oâ—… God in vaine 2 Cor. 6. 1. 2. That turnes the grace of God into wantonnesse Iude 4. 3. That falls away from the grace of God either wholly by forsaking the acknowledgement of the truth 2 Peter 2. 20. Or in the same measure by losing his first loue Reuel 2. 4. 4. That tempts grieues or quencheth the Spirit Eph. 4. 30. 1 Thess. 5. 19. 5. That despites the Spirit of grace and of malice persecutes the knowne truth which is the sinne against the Holy Ghost Hebrewes 10. 26. FINIS THE SPIRITVALL TOVCH-STONE OR THE SIGNES OF A GODLY MAN Drawne in so plaine and profitable manner as all sorts of Christians may try themselues thereby Together with directions how the weake Christian by the vse of these Signes may establish his assurance By N. BIFIELD late Preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in MIDDLESEX 2. Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selues whether ye be in the Faith proue your selues Know ye not your owne selues how that Iesus Christ is in you except yee bee Reprobates LONDON Printed by Iohn Legatt and are to bee sold by P. Stephens and C. Meredith at the golden Lyon in Pauls Church-yard 1630. TO THE MVCH HONORED LADIES the Ladie Ruth Scydamore increase of peace and ioy in beleeuing HOw great the benefit of assurance of Gods fauour and of our owne saluation is those onely know that are either scourged with the conflicts and terrors of their owne doubtings or that are solaced and established with the sweet dewes of refreshing that arise from a rooted â—…nd well grounded Faith If men studie assurances so much for their outward possessions in this world how much more earnest and diligent should men be to assure Gods loue and the inheritance of the glory to come There is not a clearer signe of a prophane heart then to account these cares needlesse nor doe I know a iuster exception against any religion then that it should teach that when a man hath done what he can to obserue the directions of that Religion yet he cannot be sure he shall goe to Heauen But since I know that all that are possessed of the grace of Iesus Christ doe account assurance great riches I therefore conceiue hope that my paines about this subiect will not be altogether vnacceptable and the rather because in this present Treatise I haue endeauoured to expresse the signes of triall in a much more easie way then before and besides haue added directions that shew how a weake Christian may establish himselfe in his assurance I make bold to dedicate my new assay herein vnto your Ladiship You haue heard the substance hereof preached and receiued it with much gladnesse and in the priuate vse of these signes you haue beene pleased to professe to the glory of God that you haue found much contentment and establishment of your owne assurance Your eminencie in the sincere profession and practise of true Religion and the shining of the graces here treated of long acknowledged by many witnesses haue made you worthy to bee publikely obserued and praysed in the Churches of Christ and your great respect and fauour shewed to mee hath made this way of testifying my thankefulnes but as a small pledge and assurance of my desire to doe your Ladiship any seruice in the things of Iesus Christ. Thus beseeching God to enlarge the comforts of his Spirit in your heart and to prosper you in all things that concerne the blessed hope of the appearing of Iesus Christ our mighty God and Sauiour â—…end and rest Your Ladiships to be commanded N. BIFIELD CHAP. I.
Describing the godly man by such signes as discouer him to the obseruation of other men THe signes of the true Christian that hath true grace in this world and shall be saued in Heauen when he dies may be cast into two Catalogues The one more briefe the other more large The one Catalogue of signes describe him by such markes as for the most part doe outwardly distinguish him amongst men The large Catalogue 〈◊〉 intend especially as a more infallible and effectuall way of triall as containing such signes as for the most part are not obserued by other men or not fully but are knowne to himselfe and can bee found in no reprobate For the first Catalogue the true Christian vsually discouers himselfe by these markes First he will not haue fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse he will not walke in the counsell of the wicked nor stand in the way of sinners He will not sort himselfe with workers of iniquity Psalme 1. 1. and 26. 4 5. 2 Cor. 6. Secondly Hee will afflict and humble his soule for his sinnes mourning and weeping for them till the Lord be pleased to shew mercie and forgiue him He doth account his sins to be his greatest burthen He cannot make a mock of sinne c. Thirdly He labours to be holy in all parts of his conuersation watching ouer his owne waies at all times and in all companies Ps. 50. 23. Esay 56. 1. 2. Peter 3. 4 Fourthly he makes conscience of the least commandements as well as the greatest auoyding silthy speaking and vaine iesting and laciuiousnesse as well as whoredome lesser oathes as well as the greater reprochfull speeches as well as violent actions c. Fiftly hee loues and esteemes and labours for the powerfull preaching of the word aboue all earthly treasures Sixtly he honours and highly accounts of the godly delights in the company of such as truely feare God aboue all others Psal. 15. 4. Seuenthly hee is carefull of the sanctification of the Sabbath neither daring to violate that holy rest by labour nor to neglect the holy duties belonging to Gods seruice publike or priuate Esay 56. and 58. Eighthly hee loues not the world neither the things thereof but is more heartily affected in things that concerne a better life and so doth in some degree loue the appearing of Christ. Ninthly He is easie to be intreated hee can forgiue his enemies desires peace and will doe good euen to them that persecute him if it lye in his power Mat. 5. 44. Tenthly Hee goeth on in the profession of the sinceritie of the Gospel and doth such duties as he knoweth God requires of him in businesse of his soule notwithstanding the oppositions of prophane persons or the dislike of carnall friends c. Eleuenthly He setteth vp a daily course of seruing God and that with his family too if hee haue any and exerciseth himselfe in the word of God as the chiefe ioy of his heart and the daily refuge of his life calling vpon God continually c. CHAP. II. Shewing the generall diuision of the signes and the wayes how the signes were found out THus of the shorter Catalogue of signes Now it followes that I proceed to those infallible markes of Election and Saluation And whereas I haue diuers yeeres since published a Treatise which I called Essayes or Signes of Gods loue and mans saluation Hauing obserued that diuers haue accounted the manner of setting the Signes downe somewhat obscure in diuers parts of the Booke I will now by Gods assistance for the helping of the weakest Christians in this Treatise endeauour to expresse my selfe in this Doctrine of the tryall of a true Christian estate in a more plaine and easie course of exâ—…mination and leaue both the former Treatise and this new Catalogue vnto the blessing of God and the free choise of the godly Reader to vse which hee findeth most agreeable to his owne taste being both such as are warranted and founded vpon the infallible euidence of Gods vnchangeable truth In this proiect then I consider of the triall of a true Christian sixe wayes First in his humiliation Secondly in his faith Thirdly in the gifts of his minde with which he is qualified Fourthly in the workes of his obedience Fiftly in the entertainment he hath from God Sixtly in the manner of his receiuing of the Sacraments In all which hee differs from all the wicked men in the world so as neuer any wicked man could finde these things in his condition which are true of the weakest Christian in each of these signes And that the true Christian may not doubt of his estate hauing found these signes in himselfe let him consider the proofes annexed to each signe and that nothing may bee wanting to his aboundant consolation I will tell him how I found out these signes and by what grounds I proceeded There are three sorts of places in Scripture as I conceiue which do point out the grounds of infallible assurance in those that can attaine vnto them as first such places as expresly doe aâ—…firme that such and such things are signes As for example 1 Ioh. 3. 14. Hereby we know that we are translated from death to life because we loue the brethren Here the holy Ghost shewes vs expresly that the loue of the brethren is a signe by which a Christian may know that he is translated from death to life and so the Apostle Paul giues signes to know whether their sorrow were after God or no 2 Cor. 7. 11. So doth the Prophet Dauid Psalme 15 giue diuers signes by which the man that shall dwell in Gods holy hill may be knowne So the Apostle Iames tells vs how wee may know the wisedome from aboue by reckning the fruits and effects of it Iames 3. 17. So doth the Apostle Paul tell vs how we may know whether we haue the Spirit of Christ in vs or no Rom. 8. 9 15 c. Gal. 5. 22. and 4. 6 7. Secondly I find out signes by marking what graces in man the promises of God are made vnto For thus I reason Whatsoeuer gift of God in man brings him within the compasse of Gods promises of eternall mercie that gift must bee an infallible signe of saluation But such are such and such gifts as the instances in diuers Scriptures shew And therefore the man that can finde those gifts in himselfe shall bee certainly saued As for example The Kingdome of heauen is promised to such as are poore in spirit Mathew 5. 3. From thence then I gather that pouerty of spirit is an infallible signe The like I may say of the loue of the Word and of vprightnesse of heart and of the loue of God and the loue of the appearing of Christ c. Thirdly I finde out other signes by obseruing what godly men in Scripture haue said for themselues when they haue pleaded their owne
is eased if he speed well in prayer Psalme 116. 1 6. 14. Hee daily keepes an assise vpon his owne soule hee iudgeth himselfe for his sinnes before God arresting accusing and condemning his sinnes Hee confesseth his sinnes particularly to God without hiding any sinne that is without forbearing to pray against any sinne hee knowes by himself out of any desire he hath still to continue in it and by this signe he may be sure he hath the Spirit of God and that his sinnes are forgiuen him Esay 4. 4. Psal. 32. 5. 1 Iohn 1. 7 9. 1 Cor. 11. 32. 15 His requests are daily powred out vnto God Hee cryes vnto God with affection and confidence though it be with much weakenesse and many defects as the little child doth vnto the father and thereby hee discouers the Spirit of adaption in him Rom. 8. 15. Zacha. 12. 10. Ephesians 3. 12. 16 Hee is vnfainedly desirous to be rid of all sinnes as well as one There is no sin he knowes by himselfe but he doth desire as heartily that he might neuer commit it as he doth that God should neuer impute it This is a neuer failing signe a fundamentall one 2 Tim. 2. 19. 17. Hee is content to receiue euill at the hand of God as well as good without murmuring or letting go his integrity as beeing sensible of his owne deserts and desirous to approue himselfe to God without respect of reward This proued that Iob was an holy and vpright man Iob 1. 1. and 2 3 10. 18. Hee dislikes sinne in all euen in those that are neere and deare vnto him in other respects 1 King 25. 12 13 14. 19. Hee is innocent from the great transgressions and keepes himselfe from his owne iniquity He is not subiect to the damnation of sinne Sin doth not reigne in him Psal. 19. 13. 2. Sam. 22. 24. 20 He finds a desire to be rid of sinne and to humble himselfe for it in prosperitie as well as aduersitie He leaues sinne before sinne would leaue him He forsakes it then when hee could commit it without apparent danger Iob 8. 5 6. 22 Or if he be in aduersity his heart is vpright without lying or dissimulation Hee so seeketh the pardon of his sinnes then and so promiseth amendment as that he is also carefull to practise it when he is deliuered He is not like the Israelites mentioned Psal. 78. 36. 37. 22. Hee makes a supernaturall valuation of spirituall things accounting them as pearles of the best price not too deare bought if he purchased them with all the worldly things he hath and contrariwise accounting himselfe exceeding poore if hee want them or the means of them Mat. 13. 45 46. Ps. 42. 63. 1 3. 23. Hee hath lost his wonted taste in earthly things his heart is not transported with the admiration of them or the inordinate desire after worldly things He loues not the world and this life as he was wont to doe Though he vse the world yet he easily confesseth himselfe to be a stranger and pilgrim here He giues ouer the vnnecessary pleasures and profits of this life Heb. 11. 13. 1 Ioh. 2. 14 15. Rom. 8. 5. He is wearie of the world and willing to forgo societie with the men of this world the workers of iniquitie Psal. 6. 8 9. and 36. 12. and 26. 1 2 3 4. 24. If the Lord be silent and answer not his desires but hides his face his spirit faileth and he is as one that goeth downe into the pit it troubles him as a sore crosse and so contrariwise Psal. 26. 1. and 88. 13 14 15. and 143. 7. Iohn 16 23 28. 25. If hee hath beene a man subiect to boisterous violent and hurtfull affections he is now become tame Of a Lyon hee is become a Lambe and a little child may lead him Esay 11. 6. 24. Hee hath a spirit without guile Psalme 32. 2. Hee is more desirous to be good then to bee thought to be so and more seeks the power of godlinesse then the shew of it Iob 1. 1. Prou. 20. 6 7. His praise is of God and not of men Rom. 2. 29. And thus much of the triall of his humiliation The signes of his faith follow CHAP. IIII. The tryall of a godly man by his Faith FAith is the next thing to bee tryed in a child of God And in as much as there are diuers kindes of faith and experience shewes in many that giue no signes of repentance that they will not bee beaten from a confident presumption that Christ dyed for them euen for them in particular it stands vs in hand to try our perswasion by true rules of Scripture that so if it will abide the trial of the touchstone we may lay it vp as a hid treasure and a wonderfull grace of God and if otherwise wee may repent vs of presumption as a deceiueable sinne But before I open the signes of this sinne the Reader must be admonished of three things First that I intend not by these signes to shew how faith may be bred or begotten in vs but how faith may be proued and declared to be in vs. For it is the promises of God in the Scripture that breed faith nor can humane reason beleeue such great things from God for any thing that is in vs but onely because wee see the Word of God assuring such happinesse vnto such as lay hold vpon them So that that which breeds faith is the reuelation of Gods promises by his Word and Spirit Yet notwithstanding the assurance of faith is much increased and confirmed by the sight of those signes of the truth of our faith and other graces of God in vs. Secondly that I stand not precisely vpon the order of these graces of God in vs nor determine that question which graces are wrought first in the heart of a man but that which I haue specially aimed at in the order of setting them downe is to begin at those that either first appeare in a Christian or are easiest as I conceiue to bee discerned in him Thirdly that I intend especially the tryall of such Christians as agree in this that they a re perswaded that Christ died fo r them that so the true Christian may see reason to comfort himselfe that his perswasion is no presumption as is the perswasion of the most It is true that diuers of the signes of faith here to be handled will shew faith in the weakest Christian though he will not yet be brought to acknowledge any perswasion For this perswasion may bee secretly wrought vpon the heart as it is when it relieth vpon the merits of Christ onely for saluation though the iudgement of the Christian be not resolued against his doubts The question then is how a Christian may trie his perswasiō of Gods mercy and his interest of Christs mer◅ts whether it be right or no. For
be discerned by many things it worketh which are the fruits of it and by the fruits of Faith wee may know faith it selfe Faith is like the roote of a tree that lyeth vnder the ground and cannot be seene without much digging but by the fruit the tree beareth wee may know what kinde of roote it hath and of what sort it is Now the fruites of faith are these that follow and such like as 1. Loue to God and the godly for faith worketh by loue Gallat 5. 6. 2. Cleannesse of the thoughts and affections For faith purifieth the heart It maketh a man striue after inward purity as well as outward to get a cleane heart as well as cleane hands It worketh humiliation for inward sins as well as outward Act. 15. 9. and driues a man to seeke pardon in the Name of Christ for all sorts of inward perturbations and secret euils 3. Victorie ouer the World Faith ouer commeth the world 1 Iohn 5. 4 5. and so it doth when it maketh a man so rest vpon God and his truth and promise as if he be put to it to deny the respect of his owne credit or profit or pleasures or the displeasure of carnall friends or his hopes in matters of this world resting satisfied with the expectation of the treasures and pleasures of a better world yeelding himselfe ouer to be guided by Christ and his truth vnto the death Psalme 18. 14. Hee liues by his faith Gal. 2. 20. 4. Humilitie For a true faith excludes boasting of our owne labours gifts or praises and makes vs able out of the sense of our owne vilenesse to acknowledge all the glorie to Gods free grace and loune in Iesus Christ Rom. 3 27. Gal. 3. 22. The confession and profession of the truth Faith will make a man speake in defence of the truth I haue beleeued therefore haue spoken saith Dauid Psalme 116 which the Apostles plead to proue their faith also 2 Cor. 4. 13 14. 6 The putting on of righteousnesse which is not by the workes of the Law done by vs. The application of and relying vpon the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ is the proper and onely worke of true faith Rom. 10. 7 It opens a spring of graces in the heart of a true Christian he that is a true beleeuer is qualified with sundry heauenly gifts which were not in him by nature which gifts do daily discouer themselues in his heart flowing from thence as if there were a spring of liuing water in his belly Sanctification of the Spirit and faith of the truth be inseparable Iohn 7. 38. 2 Thess. 2. 13. CHAP. V. The tryall of a godly man by such heauenly gifts as serue him in his iourney to Heauen THus of his tryall in his humiliation and in his faith It followeth in the third place to try him by his gifts which are the fruits of faith The true Christian differs from the wicked man in two sorts of gifts Some of them are such gifts as are bestowed vpon him from aboue but serue him onely for spirituall vse while he is on the way in his iourney to Heauen and so onely in this life such as are the sacred thirst The loue to the word and meanes of his holinesse The spirit of supplication The loue of his enemies and his desire after the apparance of Iesus Christ. Other gifts hee hath which will accompany him home into his heauenly Countrey and abide vpon him for euer and are not abolished by death such as are sauing knowledge the loue of God and the loue of the godly First therefore of those heauenly gifts which will passe away and so he is qualified with fi◅e distinct holy gifts which cannot be found in any reprobate The first is his holy thirst which is an heauenly kind of appetite by which hee is carried to the desire of things aboue nature such as are the merits and righteousnesse of Christ the fauour of God the presence of God the full deliuerance from all sin the remouing of spirituall iudgements the saluation of other men and the like and this thirst is a signe the more infallible 1 Because it is constant and indelible in this life There is no part of this life but it continueth either in the sense of his affection or in the iudgement of his vnderstanding so as hee accounts spiritu◅ll things to bee the best things and though at some times his affection may be the lesse moued after them yet his appetite is daily renewed as it is in the hunger or thirst that is bodily 2. Because it is industrious For this holy thirst will guide him to a carefull vse of all the meanes by which good things may bee attained and doth not breathe it selfe out onely with sudden and vaine wishes or flashes of desire Psa. 27. 4. 1 Pet. 2. 2. Psa. 63. 1 2. Psa. 1. 2. Acts 2. 37. 3. Because it workes a constant and secret meditation of heauenly things desired the heart frequently seekes after God day and night Esa. 26. 9. Psal. 63. 1 6. For what wee desire feruently wee thinke on almost continually 4. Because if the Lord quench his thirst and satisfie his desire in spirituall things the soule becomes as a watred garden and then followes in him an heauenly kinde of satisfaction and contentment with singular delight in the soule and vowes and wishes of infinite and eternall thankfulnesse Psalme 63. 4 5. Ieremiah 31. 25 26. And thus much of the first gift Secondly The loue to the Word is another signe that hee is the Child of God and a cleare euidence of his saluation Now because all sorts of wicked men may resort to the exercises of the Word and those that haue but a temporarie faith may shew a great estimation of the VVord and find ioy in the hearing of it and shew much zeale in things that concerne the word and may yeeld some obedience to the directions of the VVord also it is profitable to consider how the true Christian may proue that his affection to the VVord is more sincere then that affection which any wicked man can bring to the word And thus he may find that his heart is sound in his loue to the Word by these markes 1 By his manner of receiuing it when hee doth receiue the Word as the Word of God and not of men setting his heart before Gods presence being affected as if the Lord himselfe should speake vnto him This no wicked man dares doe he dares not present himselfe with the whole intendments of his heart before the Lord. For this signe the Apostle Paul acknowledgeth the Thessalonians to bee true Christians 1 Thess. 2. 13. 2 By his appetite to his Word For there is in a godly man as true an hūger after the Word as the food of his soule as there is in his stomacke after the food of his body which shewes it selfe to be the more
of thy particular conscience The least gaine that can bee imagined by this course is that whereas before thou hadst few euidences or none for thy estate thou shalt now haue many of all sorts and it must needes bee thy owne way wardnesse if assurance follow not For these signes will ransacke thee and try thy very heart and reignes and all thy secretest desire and practices Yea this benefit thou maiest reape by the signes that they wil tell thee all the dayes of thy life how it is with thee whether thou goe forward or backward For if by examination now thou gather out all thou canst finde by thy selfe these will not onely lie by thee to helpe thee against any temptation at any time but besides if thou try thy selfe againe either against the next Sacrament or the next yeere thou mayest discerne what ground thou hast gotten or lost If thou prosper thou wilt discerne it by taking in diuers things in each signe which before thou durst not acknowledge and besides it will exceedingly shew thee what thou wantest in each grace of God and so what thou shouldest set thy selfe about and get thy wants supplyed It will at all times make a true Anatomie of thy estate which to the well aduised Christian ought to bee accounted a matter of great moment The God of peace giue thee all peace and ioy in beleeuing If thou receiue any good by this Treatise praise God and pray for me FINIS THE SIGNES OF THE WICKED MAN TOGETHER WITH Directions that shew how the seuerall Gifts and Graces of Gods Spirit may be maintained NEEDFVLL FOR SVCH AS want those Graces and for such as desire to increase in them By N. BIFIELD late Preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in MIDDLESEX LONDON Printed by Iohn Legatt and are to bee sold by P. Stephens and C. Meredith at the golden Lyon in Pauls Church-yard 1630. TO THE MVCH HONORED LADIE the Ladie Bridget Tracie Nicholas Bifield wisheth all prosperity in the things of the Kingdome of CHRIST MADAM BEing destitute of a better gift to bestow vpon your Ladiship to testifie my thankefulnesse or obseruance I present this little Treatise vnto you It may haue more vse then it shewes for For if things shine more cleerly when their contraries are set by them then may this description of the estate of a wicked man by Signes serue much to establish the godly in the point of Assurance when he seeth himselfe freed from those fearefull forlorne markes And if men vse to make much of all those directions by which any gaine or treasure may be certainely compassed then ought the Directions not to bee despised that shew how the Spirit of God and the Graces thereof may bee attained For by these directions both those that want the true graces of Christ may here learne how to get them and such as haue them but in weake measure may by the same Rules learne how to increase them I haue beene induced to thinke of your Ladiship in this Dedication partly in acknowledgement of the great respect due to the Family out of which you came as it hath beene a principall meanes of causing the light of the Gospel for many yeeres to shine in those places where the people had sitten in darkenesse and in the shaddow of death And partly drawne by the many praises I haue obserued in your Ladiships since the time of your noble soiourning in the noble Familie you now liue in Your great respect of my Ministery and your constant paines to employ your selfe about religious duties deserue from mee more acknowledgment then so meane a gift as this can discharge Madam you are happy aboue many that God hath inclined your heart to beare the yoke of Christ in your youth and discerne the glory of the spirituall kingdome of Iesus Christ. Your meeknesse assures me libertie to beseech you to goe on in the good way of God and to cleane fast with all heartie affection vnto the Truth as you haue learned Iesus Christ. It shall bee a great increase of your glory to increase in the knowledge and grace of Christ and in sound deniall of your selfe and contempt of the world to fashion your selfe to all the courses by which you may bee pleasing in the eyes of God whiles multitudes in the Gentri◅ of the land of both sexes by following foolish vanities forsake their owne mercie Now the God of peace sanctifie you throughout so prosper his owne worke in you that your whole spirit and soule and body may bee preserued blamelesse vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ March 9. 1618. Your Ladiships to bee commanded in Christ Iesus N. BIFIELD THE CONTENTS THE Preface shewing the necessitie of the tryall of mans estate and the causes why wicked men will not try themselues and also why diuers godly persons are negligent herein Page 119. to 209. CHAP. I. THirtie signes of an open wicked man pag. 209. to 218. CHAP. II. THirteene signes of an hypocrite pag. 218. to 222. CHAP. III. SIxteene signes of such Professors as are likely to fall away page 222. to 226. CHAP. IV. SEuen arguments of hope that shew a wicked man that he may bee saued if hee will bee directed page 226. to 230. CHAP. V. HOw hee may get faith page 230. to 234. CHAP. VI. HOw he may get to be poore in spirit pag. 234. to 239. How hee may attaine godly sorrow page 239. to 245. CHAP. VII HOw the Spirit of Adoption may be had pag. 245. to 247. How hee may get alone to the Word pag. 247. to 250. How hee may get the gift of prayer pag. 250. to 255. How he may attaine to the feare of God pag. 255. to 256. How he may be made to loue his enemies page 256. to 258. CHAP. VIII HOw sauing knowledge may be gotten and increased pag. 238. to 260. How the loue of God may bee wrought in vs. pag. 260. to 262. How the loue of the godly may be attained and how it may bee preserued pag. 262. to 366. CHAP. IX HOw vprightnesse and sound sincerity of conuersation may be attained pag. 266. to the end THE PREFACE TO THE CHRISTIAN and carefull Reader HOw necessary it is for all sorts of men in the visible Church to trie their estates whetherthey be true Christians or no may appeare by the expresse charge giuenin the Scriptures concerning it The Apostle Paul chargeth men to examine themselues whether they be in the faith and whether Christ Iesus be in them vnlesse they be reprobates 2. Cor. 13. 5. And the Apostle Peter would haue all Christians diligently to make their calling and election sure 2. Pet. 1. 10. And the like commandemēt lay vpon them in the Church of the Iewes in the old Testament as may appeare by that exhortation Lam. 3. 40. Let vs search and try our wayes and turne againe vnto the Lord and the Prophet Dauid in this case chargeth men to commune with their owne hearts Psal. 4. 4. How
answer hereunto I say that the true Christian doth proue his faith and petswasion to bee right by these signes following First His faith or perswasion was wrought by the hearing of the Word preached And therefore thou must first aske thy selfe how thou commest by thy perswasion For if thou say thou wast alwayes so perswaded or didst attaine it by meere naturall meanes or helpes thou are deceiued For faith is first wrought by the Holy Ghost in the preaching of the Gospel as it is most cleare by the words of the Apostle How shall they beleeue in him of whom they haue not heard and how shall they heare without a Preacher Romans 10. 14. And whereas it may bee that many Christians haue not obserued the workings of their faith and haue forgotten the time of their conuersion haue not iudgement to discerne how the Lord by the ministery of his seruants did change their hearts and leade them to Christ therefore when this first signe cannot comfort they must try themselues by the rest that follow Secondly Hee hath an high estimation of Iesus Christ. For the man that hath true Faith accounts all things most base in comparison of the knowledge of Christ and the loue of God in him He had rather be sure of Christ then to gaine the whole world Christ is more precious then all the world Yea is the onely thing in request in the desires of the Christian. Now Christ is precious onely to them that beleeue 1 Peter 2. 6. and by this signe Paul knew that he was growne farre beyond himselfe in his former life and beyond all the Pharises in the world Phil. 3. 9. Thirdly Hee readily receiues the testimony of Gods Ministers speaking out of the Word and stickes to it against all the contradictions of the World The Apostle Paul 2 Thess. 1. 10. shewes that this signe will bee pleaded and acknowledged in the day of Christ Christ saith hee will be made admirable in them that beleeue Now some may say But how shall wee know that wee doe beleeue Why saith hee you are true beleeuers because yee receiued our testimonie and this shall bee to your praise in that day Fourthly Hee cannot abide counterfetting and hypocrisie If it bee a right perswasion it is a faith vnfained Vnfained I say as in other respects so in effect because it cannot abide fainting but with speciall hatred purgeth out hypocrisie which the perswasion of hypocrits neuer doth 2 Tim. 1. 5. Fifthly This perswasion is permanent it will endure triall it will hold out in the euill day it inclines the heart to cleaue to Iesus Christ euen in the fire of tribulation in the midst of manifold afflictions and disgraces and temptations It is like the Gold in the Fornace that perisheth not nor will it barely hold out but a Christian by his faith comforts and supports himselfe in affliction so as his faith becomes to him both a brest-plate and an helmet whereas the best faith that is not the faith of Gods Elect will proue but drosse if it be cast into the Fornace of temptation further then it is supported by carnall meanes and helpes 1 Peter 1. 6 7. 2 Tim. 1. 12. 1 Thess. 5. 8. Epho 6. Luke 8. 13. Sixthly Hee will beleeue all things I say all things that he apprehēdeth to be required threatned or promised in the word To beleeue some things only may be in any other kind of faith especially when they are such things as stand with their own reasons or wils or affections or the common opinion of other men But this is the glory of a liuely iustifying faith it will giue glory to God in all things What can God speake it can beleeue so soone as it knowes it is spoken of God though it bee neuer so contrarie to the iudgement of flesh and blood Acts 24. 14. Seuenthly Hee will not make haste This was the signe giuen in the Prophet Esayes time He that beleeueth will not make haste He had prophesied of hard times to fall vpon all the people now this would shew amongst them who were true beleeuers For those that trusted in God would not make haste to vse ill meanes to helpe themselues they would stay their hearts in ◅est and quietnesse and they would stay their feet too from running to Aegypt or to Ashur which God had forbidden Esay 28. 16. If faith be right and thy perswasion a sound perswasion and well grounded there are ioyned with it these things following Eighthly His perswasion is ioyned with a good and pure conscience a conscience I say that makes him carefull to auoid sinne and doe good duties and to serue God in sinceritie whereas the perswasion that is in wicked men is not accompanied with a good conscience they doe not make conscience of their wayes Now this is a cleare rule of difference 1 Tim. 1. 5 19. and 3. 9. Hebr. 10. 22. Ninthly He hath a spirit of discerning There is a great deale of light comes into the heart with faith A man cannot beleeue and bee ignorant still The Christian that is endued with faith from aboue is endued with wisedome from aboue so as he can conceiue of the things of God that concerne saluation which the naturall man perceiueth not Though he may want still in many knoledges yet he hath skill in some measure to learne how to be saued The doctrine of saluation hee can now vnderstand which is taught in the ministery of the Word and hee now can make some good vse of reading the Scriptures that before discerned little or nothing in them The veile that lyeth vpon the hearts of all flesh is now taken from his eyes yea the very entrance into Gods Word giueth light to the simplest beleeuer He that was stupid and vnteachable before doth now heare as the learned with an holy kind of in-sight and iudgement 2 Tim. 3. 15. Psalme 119. 130. Prou. 1. 4 8. and 9. 4 5. Tenthly Hee hath a witnesse within himselfe He that beleeueth hath a witnesse in himselfe 1 Iohn 5. 10. For hee hath the Spirit of adoptiō to certifie him infallibly of Gods loue to him and that he is the child of God Rom. 8. 15 16. thus the beleeuers are said to be sealed by the Spirit of promise Eph. 1. 13 14. God leaues a pawne a pledge with euery Christian that shall bee saued to be as the earnest of his saluation and this pledge and earnest is Gods spirit And the Spirit testifies to the beleeuer partly by reuealing vnto him the certainty and truth of Gods promises in his Word and partly by printing vpon his heart these sauing graces which distinguish him from all others and partly by powring vpon him the ioyes which are called the ioyes of the Holy Ghost in the vse of Gods Ordinances as the inward ratification of the assurance of Gods loue and goodnesse to the beleeuer Of which after Lastly Faith may
can men draw neere vnto God in the full assurance of faith if they will not be at the paines to examine themselues Heb. 10. 22. Or how shall we euer know that wee are of God or attaine vnto any confidence of faith as we ought to doe 1 Ioh. 5. 19. Eph. 3. 12. How fearefully this point of sound triall is neglected and how miserably most men are deceiued for want of it may appeare by this obseruation which may vsually be made of men in the most places viz. that many that are carnall men say they are godly and many that are godly men say they are but carnall Besides that a multitude of men both good and bad liue in securitie the one not caring to get out of so wofull an estate and the other not regarding the riches of Assurance The causes of this miserable securitie may be obserued and noted both in wicked and in godly men In wicked men these things may be easily discerned 1 A lothnesse to examine themselues and try their estates exactly for feare lest they should finde that they are not in a good estate Their hearts secretly condemne them and they thinke if they should take particular notice of their owne condition it would be found that they haue indeed no true grace in them and therefore they rather chuse to liue in that doubtfull estate then to be put out of doubt and made to know that they haue yet no right to the Kingdome of heauen neuer considering that the knowledge of our misery may be one degree to get out of it 2. In such as see all is not well with them the cause is slothfulnesse mingled with horrible presumption they had rather weare out their dayes in danger then be at the paines to vse the means for their owne repentance and reformation they will wretchlesly put it to the venture 3. Others will aduenture vpon their common hope of mercy they haue certaine generall confused apprehensions of mercy in God vpō which they wilfully engage their hopes without care of reformation or the particular warrant of their hopes from the Word of God and so miserably perish their hopes prouing but as the house of the Spider and the imaginarie mercy failing them they die either as stockes without sense or as Iudas in horrible despaire 4. Others rest themselues vpon their outward profession of Religion and some general things wrought in them and the good opinion others haue of them so being somewhat neare the kingdome of God they are content to rest there as the Israelites did neare Canaan though they neuer possessed it We see many think there needsno more to be sure they are in a good cōdition then to heare Sermons abstaine from grosse outward prophannesse and to be well reputed of among the godly c. pleasing themselues with the shew of godlinesse though as yet they deny the power of it as hauing attained to other righteousnesse then the righteousnesse of the S◅ribs and Pharises 5. In multitudes of men there are seated euill opinions about assurance They thinke either it is impossible to bee had or it is needlesse or it is presumption to seeke it 6. All wicked men are hindered by their beloued sinnes which they are not willing to part with but of purpose forbeare the care of heauen that they may the more securely liue in sinne Thus of wicked men It is true also that many godly Christians haue beene and are extreamly faulty in neglecting the triall of their estates and their assurance and the causes of this negligence in them are diuerse as 1. Some are so much mis-led by the surmises of their owne hearts that they think that assurance would breed security and that it is a better way to keepe their owne hearts humble to be somewhat doubtfull not knowing that vnbeliefe is the chiefe cause of slothfulnesse and securitie and that the assurance of faith is the chiefe meanes to purge the heart and quiet the soule and works effectually in all the duties of loue 2. In the most Ignorance of their owne gifts and Gods promises is the cause for if Christians did see distinctly how far the Lord hath brought them by his grace and withall did behold the euidences of their faith and hope in Gods promises they should not faile of comfort and establishment of heart 3. Smothering of doubts and temptations is a great let in many diuers Christians are secretly and daily assaulted with certaine strange doubts which if they did propound get sound answer vnto their hearts would heale within them and the worke of faith prosper 4. Some Christians are kept without assurance through the ouermuch viewing of their owne daily infirmities in all parts of Gods seruice They are wicked ouermuch wheras if they would study those Scriptures that shew how graciously the Lord stands inclined toward his people notwithstanding their daily wants their hearts would be much eased and their minds cleerely resolued to trust vpon the euerlasting mercies of their God 5. In some the cause is found in the disease of their bodies Melancholy when it is growne to a disease is a most stiffe and pertinacious aduersary to Comfort and Assurance it doth fill the heart with so many sad conceits and fancies and is an humour so vnteachable that comfort for the most part is as water spilt vpon the ground And the more difficult it is to remoue this let because vsually the parties possest by this humour are so far from seeking help that they will not be perswaded that they are troubled with any such disease 6. Some Christians are hindred by their owne Passions they are so froward and vnquiet in their dispositions that their hearts are daily lifted off from the benefit of setled assurance by their own habituall discont◅nts Frowardnes is a mischieuous distemp◅r that weakens both body and minde and assurance and strength of faith seldome dwels in an vnquiet minde 7. Others want assurance because they neglect the meanes of assurance they doe not try all things and keepe that which is good or they call not vpon God daily feruently and constantly to giue them the spirit of reuelation to shew them the hope of their calling and their glorious inheritance Eph. 1. 18 19. 8. A barren life is an vncomfortable life and contrariwise to abound in good workes hath stedfastnesse and a secret rest of heart as an vnseparable companion of it 9. The loue of earthly things is another great impediment Many professours haue their thoughts and cares so eaten vp with worldlinesse that they cannot seriously seeke Gods Kingdome nor constantly hold out in any course for the attainement of assurance This degree of faith requires some degree of the contempt of the world 10. In some there lodgeth some secret sin which they know and do not purge themselues for and doth daily preuaile in them and
cannot haue such force to melt the waxe as the beames of Gods presence haue to melt the heart Iames 4. 6 7 3. 7. The Apostle Paul being a sturdy Pharisee had his heart beaten to power with the feare of the tenth Commandement that told him Hee must not lust The knowledge and consideration of the abundance of sinne-guiltinesse he hath drawne vpon himselfe by the inward fruits of his euill nature kil'd him outright brake his pride and mortified him as hee at large repeates Rom. 7. 8 Remember the passion of thy Sauiour the pouerty banishmēt ignominie temptations the apprehension forsaking arraignment condemning and cruell death which hee suffered for thy sinnes Looke vpon him that was pierced for thy sake Zach. 12. 10. 9. If of thy selfe thou canst not yet attaine vnto sorrow for thy sins get some godly Christian that is endued with the gift of prayer to ioyne with thee in priuate that so the Lord may bee pleased to grant in Heauen what we of him doe aske on earth 10. Lastly If all other meanes faile then set a day a part by fasting for the day of a fast was called the day of afflicting or humbling the soule Leu. 16. 29. both because it was the maine duty to bee driuen after on that day and besides because the Lord vsually did blesse his owne ordinance so as hee gaue an humbled heart to those that sought it of him CHAP. VII Shewing how the Spirit of adoption may bee attained and also how the seuerall gifts of the Spirit may bee framed in vs. THus of humiliation If followeth that I shew how he may attaine to the other sacred gifts which are markes of a godly man as in the first sort of gifts how he may attaine to the loue of the Word the gift of Prayer the f◅are of God the loue of his enemies and the desire of the comming of Christ But before I enter vponthese it is necessary to shew him how he may attain the Spirit of Adoption which is necessary for these al other graces And concerning the Spirit of Adoption if any aske how it may bee attained Or rather how it may bee stirred vp in vs that we may feele his working in vs I answer That hee is had and stirred vp by inuocation God is pleased to declare himselfe willing and ready to bestow his Holy Spirit vpon men If they aske him of him by hearty praier Hee that hath giuen vs his Sonne will not deny vs the Spirit of his Sonne to be giuen into our hearts Gal. 4. 6. And this our Sauiour Christ assures vnto vs in the Parable Luke 11. 9. And I say vnto you Aske and it shall bee giuen you Seeke and ye shall find Knocke and it shall be opened vnto you 10. For euery one that ask◅th receiueth and hee that seeketh find◅th and to him that knocketh it shall be opened 11. If a Sonne shall aske Bread of any of you that is a Father will he giue him a Stone Or if he aske a Fish will he for a Fish giue him a Serpent 12. Or if hee aske an Egge will he giue him a Scorpion 13 If yee then which are euill can giue good gifts vnto your children how much more shall your heauenly Father giue the Holy Ghost to them that desire him 2 Wee must waite vpon the preaching of the Gospel where the Holy Ghost vsually falls vpon the hearts of men 3 When we feele the motions of the Spirit knocking at our hearts or any way surprising vs we must with all readinesse open the doores of our hearts that the King of Glory by hi◅ Spirit may enter into vs. The next question is then What wee should doe to get and preserue in vs the constant loue to the Word 1 The answer is First That we should seeke to settle our selues vnder the powerful preaching of the Word euen such a ministerie as doth set out the glory of the truth and of the Kingdome of Iesus Christ. 2 Wee must make conscience of it to pray vnto God to quicken vs and inflame our hearts to the loue of his Lawes as Dauid often did Psa. 119. 3 Take heed of excessiue cares and the ouer-reaching of desires in the emploiments of the world or the immoderate vse of worldly delights for those choake the seed of the Word and alienate the affections from it and so doth any grosse or beloued sin Heb. 3. Math. 13. 4 Take heed also of personall discord with such as feare God especially with thy Teachers for this doth by secret degrees make the heart carelesse and negligent and in some things wilfull and if it be not looked to in time will bring men from the liking of the Word as they haue been drawne from the liking of such as loue the Word 5 Take heed of vngodly companie For in such companie is quenched the sparkles of liking when they are kindled yea and the flames of affection are much dulled in whom they are best excited Psal. 119. 115. 6. Such as find some beginnings of desire after the Word and liking to it must take heed that they estrange not themselues from the exercises thereof For if they heare or reade but now and then either the heart will neuer bee throughly heated or if it bee it will easily waxe cold againe and yet herein some are to bee warned to take heed of disordered excesse for that will breed dulnesse as well as neglect As when they will reade daily for diuers houres or when they prouide vnto themselues an heape of Teachers as some that liue in great Cities thinke it Religion to heare all sorts of men and all the Sermons can bee come vnto As if the power of godlinesse lay onely in the vse of the meanes of godlinesse 7. We must practise what we heare and labour to shew foorth the fruit of the doctrine He that would bee in loue with husbandry must sow his seed in his ground and then the gaine of the Haruest will still allure him to like the Trade If wee be fruitlesse hearers of the Word wee cannot loue it or if we doe it will be but for a flash or small time Thus of the loue to the Word He that would learne to pray must follow these directions 1. He must goe to God in the Name of Christ and beseech him to giue him words and by his Spirit teach him to pray It is God onely can make a man speake a pure Language For hee onely can instruct the heart of man and endue it with this heauenly gift Romans 8. 26 Ephesians 6. 18. 2 It will much helpe him to ioyne himselfe to such as call vpon the N◅me of the Lord with a pure heart ◅specially in the dayes of their humiliation 2 Timothy 2. 22. 3 There are three distinct things which a man may with singular profit propound vnto himselfe in his prayers
God p. 387. to 361. 2. Of Chriâ—… p. 391. 392. 4. Of our owne estate in Grace p. 392. CHAP. XIIII Three sorts of â—…ost comfortable prâ—…ises about prayer p. 393 to the end of the Booke CHAP. I. Containing the Preface THe drift of this Treatise is to shew a godly Christian who is already assured of Gods fauour and knowâ—…s he shal haue abundant happines when hâ—… dyes in Heauen how hee may support his heart with sufficient contentment against all the miseries can assault him from the time of his conuersion till his death For this purpose I shall breake open a Mine of Treasure For I intend from all parts of the book of God to select and set befoâ—…e thee those rich Promises which God hath there recorded to be as wells of comfort vpon all occasions Two things of necessitie must bee granted The one is That though wee haue gotten the assurance of Gods fauour and freedome from the power and guilt of our sins yet many things will still aile vs and oppose our consolation We shal meet with temptations and afflictions of al sorts reproches aduersaries trouble of spirit and such like The other is that there can be no such discouragement difficultie or affliction but in the Word of God we may haue a sure consolation or direction for it able euery way abundantly to sustaine vs. But before I enter vpon the vnfolding of this great Role of Promises I must preface about fiue things which tend to make vs more fit to receiue them First it will be profitable for vs to coÌ„sider briefly the worth of the promises they are called the vnsearchable riches of Christ to assure vs that he is a very rich man that hath his hart stored with the promises of God well applyed The Apostle Peter saith that they are great and precious promises which God hath giuen to vs. Promises in our hearts are better then pearles or precious stâ—…nes in our Chests They are the inheritance God giues to his people in this life therefore they are called the heires of promise a greater portion then any King on earth can giue to his Child The very keeping of the Records of these promises was a great prerogatiue to the Iewish nation and it is accounted a singular happinesse for the Gentiles that they may now partake of those promises Little do we know what wrong we do to our soules when we keepe them ignorant of the promises it is one of the greatest offices vnder the Sun to dispence these promises to maÌ„ 〈◊〉 Tim. 1. 1. Tit. 1. 1 2 3 Secondly Before I enter vpon the explication of the promises I must likewise tell you to whom they belong and who they are that haue interest in them For al vnregenerate men that liue in their sins without repentance are strangers from the 〈◊〉 of promise The children of the bondwoâ—…an haue no part in the Testament of Grace onely they that are Christs haue the benefit of the promises in Christ. The children of God are the heires of promise Men must haue godlines that haue the promises â—…ither of this life or that to come In short all those that haue repented them of their sins and beleeue in Iesus Christ may come to these promises with large hâ—…arts as knowing that thâ—…y reade and heare that which they haue cleare full interest in Thirdly Concerning the vse these promises may bee put vnto all our life long They will driue â—…way griefe discouragement or feares that at any time may seize â—…pon vs. They will sweeten all â—…ur afflictions They will exceedingly nurse vp and confirme our faith and further they will haue 〈◊〉 singular vse in preseruing vs against the enticements of the profits pleasures and lusts of the world and against the cares of this life Our affections are the feet of our soules and with the promises we may be daily shod so as neither thorny cares pricke vs nor foule pleasures defilâ—… vs Eph. 6. The Gospel shews vs still a better proiect when the Diuell or the world entice vs. And a true reason why many times we are not able to resist enticements is because our hearts are not filled with the promises which else would shew vs so much sweetnesse as all other things would seeme but base in comparison of them When we are teÌ„pted with the pleasures of sinne if we haue not a more delightfull proiect to offer to our hearts it is easie for vs to bee seduced And further these promises soundly studied and layd vp in our hearts will breed cheerfulnesse of spirit and that contentation which makes godlinesse to bee so great gaine And besides they will daily excite in vs all encouragements to well-doing and they doe also set out maruellously the glory and splendour of Gods loue power presence prouidence and grace toward vs. What shall I say The promises giue vs euen Heauen vpon earth and set ouâ—… the incomparable gaine of true godlinesse yeaby them we approach so neere vnto God that as Peter saith By them wee pâ—…ke of the Diâ—…ne nature A fourth thing which I would preface about is concerning the infallibilitie of the promises for that may much inflame in vs the desâ—…e to store our heartâ—… with their haâ—…ing heard of their worth if wee likewise bee fully assured concerning the certaine accomplishment of all the good which is coÌ„tained in them I suppose 〈◊〉 â—…n doubts but that if it could be made good that a poore Christian might haue al those excellent things were contained in all the promises of the Bible hee were in a matchlesse estate Now there are many things which may put vs out of all doubt in that point marke them heedfully for they may doe thee singular good 1 For obserue that the promises are in some Scriptures caâ—…d in the singular number the promise and why so as for other reasons so to assure thee it is as sure and as easie for God to fulfill all that goodnesse contained in all those promises as if they were but one onely promise 2 Consider the naâ—…ure of God He cannot lye it is impossible for him to deny his Word hee may as easily deny himselfe If God haue said it it must needs come to passe This argument is vsed in this point Titus 1. 1 2. 3 The antiqâ—… of these promises adde much to our assuraÌ„ce The Apostle in Tâ—…r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 faith that these promises were made before the world was and hitherto in all this time God neuer failed of one word of his goodnesse 4. We haue the writing of God to shew for them they are vpon record in the Scripture and shall we mistrust when we haue Gods owne hand to shew for it His Word is true and righteous altogether Psal. 16. 9. 5. Yea we haue the oath of God too that by two things in which it is impossible for God to changâ—… the heires of promise
of the conscience vnsatisfied in diuers scruples I would therefore in the fourth place shew how we might bee comforted against the temptations of Satan and because the trouble of conscience ariseth vsually either from the burthen of our daily infirmity or from the feare of our falling away I would in the fifth place shew how we may be comforted against our daily infirmities and then in the last place I would vnfold those promises that may assure vs of perseuerance Now suppose a Christian soule clearly informed with the knowledge of those priuiledges wherin he excels all the people of the world and withall that he knew how to comfort himselfe against any outward afflictions and had store of consolations in his heart against the temptations of Satan and did know how to support himselfe against the sense of his daily weaknesses withall were settled and out of feare for falling away Would you not thinke such a one wonderfull happy And this may bee here attained vnto if wee be not slothfull and what can in this life be grieuous vnto vs if wee be soundly fenced in those things There can bee nothing that can seeme a misery vnto vs but wee may find comforts vnder some one of these Titles CHAP. III. Shewing the priuiledges of the godly aboue all other people THe first sort of promises or comfortable places of Scripture are such as in generall shew the happinesse of the godly in all estates of life these I call Priuiledges These are such comforts as are not restrained vnto some certaine time but are such as hee is enriched withall at all times These wee ought to know as the Foundation of all the rest and wee should striue to haue them perfectly in our memories so as any time we could number them if need were Euery godly Christian hath twelue priuiledges wherein hee excels all the men of this world The first is The loue and fauour of God The especiall grace of God towards him this is the foundation of all his happinesse and if hee could order his owne heart aright hee would easily see that hee could not bee miserable so long as hee was in fauour with his God If the fauour of great persons bee so much accounted of what reckoning is to be made of Gods fauour who is Lord of Lords Yea King of all Kings And the more should a Christian fill his heart with ioying in this prerogatiue if he consider three properties in the loue of God For first It is a free loue he stands not vpon desert He is gracious looking vpon his own goodnes and not on ours Hosea 14. 4. Secondly It is an eternall loue and vnchangeable God will neuer be wearie of louing him Ier. 31. 3. His louing kindnesse is better then life for it lasts vnto all eternitie without alteration The fauour of man in this world is mutable Kings may extremely loath whom they yer-while loued with their entirest affection But in God there is no shaddow of changing he loues with an euerlasting loue Thirdly It is infinitely immense and great no affection in any or in all the creatures in this world if they could be fastened vpon one man can reach to the thousandth part of Gods loue to vs Eph. 2. 4 7. Esay 40. 15 16. This light of Gods countenance shining vpon vs makes vs at all times more rich then they that are increased most in Corne and Wine and Oyle Psal. 4. 7 8. 2. The second is The donation of Christ Christ is his God hath giuen him Christ Rom. 8. 32. so as all Christ is his portion And how is Christ his Euen in all dearenesse of relation He is his Prince his Priest and Redeemer his Father his Lord his Master his Friend his Brother c. All these titles are giuen to Christ to signifie hee is all that which those things could shadow out No Father Brother friend could so loue their Child Brother or friend as Christ loues the Christian No Lord Master Prince can so preferre prouide or care for their Seruants or Subiects as Christ cares for the Christian. Looke what the fauour or power of any of those or all those could doe Christ is and will become much more vnto the godly Christian. 3. The third Priuiledge is Deliuerance And the Christians deliueâ—…ance is exceeding great if hee consider seriously how hee is deliuered from the kingdome of darkenesse from this present euill world from the hand writing of ordinances that was against him from the rigour and curse of the Law and from condemnation The fourth is free pardon of all his sins past his soule being washed in the bloud of Christ from all his sinnes so as now they are as white as snow though they had beene red like scarlet 1 Iohn 1. 7. Esay 1. 18. What rest and peace would this breed in our hearts if we did daily thinke of it in our particulars that we had obtained pardon and remission of all our sinnes The fifth priuiledge is the inhabitation of the holy Ghost The soule and body of a Christian is the Temple of the holy Ghost and the Spirit of God doth verily and truly dwell within the brest of a Christian and that not in a naked presence but the holy Ghost is there to teach him to guide him into all truth to tell him when he is ready to go out of the way on the right hand or on the left and to comfort him in all distresses and to seale the promises to his heart and to anoint him with the oyle of true knowledge and grace and to be as a pledge and earnest of his inheritance looked for from hâ—…auen and to teach him to pray when he knowes not how to pray for himselfe and many other excellent benefits he reapeth from the Spirit of God whom the world cannot receiue He hath for this respect a very spring of knowledge and ioy and grace in his belly The sixth priuiledge is the Image of God restored in him by the mighty power of Christs voyce in his first resurrection being made now a new creature to God and so partaking of the diuine nature in respect of the qualities wherein he doth excellently resemble God The seuenth priuiledge is the freedome of Gods house and to all the feasts and diuine entertainment which God makes there Psalme 36. 9. and 65. 4. Esay 25. 6. Luke 14. 17. Reuel 2. The Word and Sacraments are his hee is Gods bidden guest hee may alwayes come and wellcome The fatnesse and pleasures of Gods house oh how sweete are they Who can tell the excellencie of the Manna that is hid The eight priuiledge is entrance and accesse and audience with God in all his suites He may aske almost what hee will of God he will not deny him any thing hee askes in the name of Christ. And sure he is worthily miserable that will not make himselfe happie when he may
all sinne Note this 17 And is willing to suffer affliction 18 He dislikes sinne in all 19 Sinne reignes not in him 20 Hee humbles himselfe for sin euen in his prosperitie 21 And in aduersitie his heart is vpright 2â—… He accouâ—…ts of spirituall things as thy best things 23. He doth not fauour the things of the slesh and the world 24. He is much grieued if God hide himselfe 25. Of a Lyon hee becomes a Lambe 26. His spirit is without guile Why wee should try out faith The drift is to shâ—…w how faith may bee proued not how it may bâ—…e bred A second câ—…ueat Theâ—… note by way of preface The true fâ—…ith 1. Was wrought by the Word preached 2. Esteems Christ aboue all things 3. Receiues the testimony of Gods Ministers before all the world 4 Casts out by pocrisie 5. Will abide triall 6. It beleeues all things 7 Will not make hast 8. Is accompanied with a pure conscience 9. And a spirit of discerning 10. And the witnesse of the Spirit of adoptioÌ„ 11. Beareth those fruits following 1. Loue 2. Purity of heart 3. Victory ouer the World 4 Humility 5 Confession 6 Application of Christs righteousnesse 7 A very spring of grace Two sorts of graces in a Christian The holy thirst that is in the godly Christian tryed by foure signes His tryall by his loue to the Word 13. Signes to try his affection to the Word by His triall by his gift of prayer 13. Rules of tryall His loueto his enemies tried His tryall by the loue to the appâ—…aring of Christ. The triall of his knowledge And so he differs from wicked men In the things hee knowes 2. In the cause of his knowledge 3. In the effects of his knowledge 4 In the properties of his knowledge His loue to God tried by nine signes His loue to the godly tried by ten signes 5. Six fauours God bestowes vpon him which the wicked neuer feele 1. Election in time 2. The baptisme by fire 3. Much assurance 4. Ioy vnspeakeable 7. The sanctification of his afflictions 6 The answer of his prayers Sixe Rules of his trial about the Sacrament Note Why wicked men neglect the triall of their estates 〈◊〉 Because they are afraid all is noâ—… well 2. They are slothfull 3. They rest vpon the common hope Or 4 vpon their outward profession of Religion Or 5. they 〈◊〉 euâ—…l opinions 〈◊〉 assurancâ—… 6. They are lettâ—…d by their beloued sins Why soâ—…e that are godly neglect the triall of their estates 1. Euill opinions 2. Ignorance 3. Smothering of doubts and temptatioÌ„s They are wicked o uermâ—…ch 5. Melancholy 6. Passions 7. Neglect of the meanes 8. A barren life 1 Cor. 15. 58 9. Too much loue of earthly things 10. Secret sin 1 He is a wicked â—…an 1 That liues without God 〈◊〉 That auoids the societie of the godly 3. That sauours oâ—…ly earthly things 4. That iâ—… discernes not the things of God 5. That sorts with wicked men 6 Thaâ—… of malice persecuteth the truth 7. That allowes himselfe in Atheisticall thoughts 8 That cals not vpon God 9 That is not chastened of God 10 That neuer examines himselfe â—…n knowne sinnes 11 That applaudes himselfe in knowne sinne 12. That lothes the Word of God constantly 13. That allowes himselfe in hypocrisie 14. That refuseth knowledge 15. That in great distresses humbles not himselfe 16. That care not for the afflictions of the godly 17. That will not vnderstand to do good 18. That is â—…esensible of spiritual iudgemeÌ„ts 19. That is an ordinary swearer 20. That is carelesse of Gods Sabbath 21. That is a worker of iniquity 22. That beleeues not in Christ. 23. That hates to be reformed 24. That hath not the Spirit of Christ. 25. That cannot forgiue his enemies 26. That loues not God 27. That â—…ares not God â—…8 That is dead in sin 29. That is guiltie of any of his sinnes in the Apostles Catalogue 30. That cannot repent Two sorts of these signes 〈◊〉 Signes of hypocrisie 16 Signes of an vnsound Professor Note Arguments of hope 1 Gods oath 2 Gods Patience 3. The offer of grace to al 4. Suffiâ—…ient satisfaction made by Câ—…st 5. The meanes continued 6. One only sin vnpardonable 7. As grâ—…t sinners saued Quest. Answ. 1. He must consider of Gods promises 2. He must take notice of Gods commandement to beleeue 3. Hee must pray for faith 3. He must renounce his owne righteousnesse 5. He must waite vpon the Word preached 1 Gather a Catalogue of thy sins either by memory Or by booke 2. Consider Gods iustice 3 Think of his threatnings 4 Remember thy latter end 5. Obserue Gods iudg ments vpon the wicked 6. Especially Gods goodnesse to thee 7. Try thy selfe by the signes 8. Beg an humble heart of God 9. Liue vnder 〈◊〉 searching ministery 10. Wâ—…tch against the things â—…hou art naturally proud of 11 Auoide the flatterer 12 Thinke still of some of thy worst fruits Quest. Answ. 1 Consider Gods promise about a soft heart 2 Daily confesse thy sinnes to God and beg sorrow 3 Bee thankefull for euery mercie in prayer 4 Acknowledge thy faults to otheâ—… 5 Go into the house of mourning 6 â—…e heed of distraction in Godâ—… seruice 7 Study the tenth commanment 8 Remember the sorrowes of Christ for thy sinne 9. Get others to pray for thee 10. Vse fasting Quest. How the Spirit of Adoption may be had Answ. 1 He must pray for it 2 Waite vpon preaching 3 Cherish the motions of the Spirit Quest. How wee may get a loue to the Word Answ. 1 Sâ—…ttle vâ—…der a powerfull mi isterie 2 Pray God to quicken thee 3 Take heed of worldly cares 4 And of personall discord with such as feare God 5 And of vngodly companie 6. And of neglect of the increase thereof Or excesse 7. Practise what thou hearest To attaine the gift of prayer 1. Pray God to teach thee 〈◊〉 Ioyne wâ—…h such as can pray 3 How he â—…y 〈◊〉 himsâ—…lfe in euerâ—… part of prayer Three Questions How the feare of God may bâ—…â—…gotten in vs. How loue to our enemies may be excited How to increase sauing knowledge 1 He must be wise for himselfe 2 He must study only profitable things 3. He must redeeme the time 4. He must propoundâ—… his doubts 5 He must not consult with flesh and blood How the loue of God may bewrought in thee 1. Thou must auoid forgetfulnesse of God and the loue of the world 2. Thou must study Gods praises 3 Thou must frequent his house 4 Thou must study Gods mercies 5Thou must obserue thy daily infirmities 6 Thou must pray much 7 Thou must râ—…sort to experienced Christians 8 Thou must behaue thy selfe louingly towards the godly What wee must do to get the loue of the godly 1 Auoide the company of the wicked 1. Meditate much of Gods loue to vs. 3. Consider Gods Commandemét For the preseruatlon of our loue three things must bee looked to How sound sincerity of