together with this comfort I both perceiue all the creatures thus ready to helpe me Exod. 16. 25. 35. 17. 6. especially in time of triall when ordinary meanes fayle 2. Tim 4. 5. and also feele a holy care wrought in mee to vse the creatures aright sanctifying them by the word and prayer Eph. 2. 6. and that my affections are sette on heauenly things Col. 3. 2. 2. Article And in Iesus 1. This is my faith Psal. 51. 5. 1. 39. 1◠that though I am guiltie of innumerable sinnes both originall and actuall euen the breach of the whole law Rom. 3. 10. 11. 13. 19. 20. 21. 22. and euery part thereof and so am worthy to bee damned and haue al the plagues of God dewe to my sinne cast vpon me 2. Tim. 2. 26. yea though I was a bondslaue to sin and Sathan yet I beleeue that Iesus is my Sauiour Luke 4. 18. hath deliuered me from al my sins both the guilt satisfactory punishment of them Psal. 1. 21. as also from the power of sinne and Sathan Iob. 1. 29. Rom. 6. 12. 14. 2. This saith is my comfort and moreouer that all my sinnes and enemies shall not hinder my saluation Rom. 8. 39. 3. This is also for my ful assurance thereof Luk. 1. 47. because besides that I feele my soule reioycing in God my Sauiour I perceiue my selfe also deliuered from the tyranny of Sathan and power of sinne euen of those sinnes which before led me captiue Rom. 6. 12. so that no sinne hath any more dominion ouer mee Rom. 7. 24. 25. that I doe serue it in the lusts thereof and for that I am withall deliuered from the terrors of conscience for my sinne Christ. 1. This is my faith Dan. 9. 24. that though I was in the kingdome of darknesse a stranger from God by my sinne yet Christ was anoynted for me with all the gifts of the spirit to bee my mediatour my King Heb. 1. 9. Priest Psal. 45. 7. Prophet Mat. 23. 10. Act. 3. 22. 23. Apoc. 1. 5. 2. This is my cōfort Col 1. 13. Ioh. 10. 28. 29 30. that he being my king hath and will fully deliuer mee from the kingdome of Satan giue vnto mee his heauenly kingdom Rom. 3. 24. 25. Secondly being my Priest hath first recōciled mee to his father 1. Ioh 2. 1. by the sacrifice of himselfe Heb. 7. 25 9. 24. and keepes me since in fauour by his perpetuall intercession Thirdly being my Prophet Rom. 8. 34. will proceede to teach me all the will of his father necessary to eternall life Heb. 8 10. 11. 3. This is for my assurance hereof Apo. 1. 6. because I feele my selfe to haue receiued of the anoynting of euery one of these from Christ the fruit of them 1. Cor. 9. 27 1. of his kingdome 1 Ioh. 3. 3. inabling me to begin nor onely to subdue my synnes euill affections but also to rule so sar ouer my selfe as to bring my verye thoughts and all committed vnto mee into some obedience to Christ. 2. Cor. 10. 5 2. Of his Priesthood whereby I am made able to offer to the Lord my selfe 1. Pet. 2. 5 supplications Rom. 12. 1. thankes and works of mercy Heb. 13. 15 16. with all that I haue to serue him 3 Of his Prophesy Rō 15. 16. making mee to growe in the knowledge of himselfe 2. Ioh. 2. 20. 27. and in care to instruct others therein Ioh. 6. 45. His onely sonne 1. This is my faith that hee beeing the onely sonne of the Father by nature Ga. 4. 4. 5. 6 hath made mee a child and heire by the grace of adoption Eph. 2. 3. who was by nature a child of wrath and perdition 2. This comfort I finde herein Gal. 4. 7. that to mee belongs the inheritāce of Gods sonnes Rom. 8. 17. Gal. 47. Rom. 8. 17. 3. This also is for my assurance for that he hath sent the spirit of his sonne into my heart whereby I can call him father with comfort which is my witnesse and seale Romans 8 16. 2. Cor 1. 22. Our Lord 1. This is my faith Ga. 4. 5. 6. 7 that though I was vnder the Prince of darkenesse 1. Pet. 1. 19. hauing Sathan my Lord Ioh. 10. 29 vntill I belieued in Christ yet since I am Christs and he is my onely Lord By 1. Purchase with his bloud 2. Gift from his father Ephe. 5. 32. 3. marriage cōtracted to be cōsumate at his appearing Hos. 2. 20. 2. This is my comfort that being thus purchased and giuen to him as a peculiar guift Ioh. 10. 28. I shall neuer perish and being thus contracted to Christ my Lord the bond thereof is in such faithfulnesse Hos. 2. 19. as shal neuer be dissolued vntill I be brought into the bride-chamber and fully glorified 3. This increaseth my assurance for that together with this comfort Apoc. 5. 9. 24. 4. I feele my selfe redeemed from the earth viz. my earthly conuersation doe delight to heare the voice of my bridegroome 3. Article Which was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgin Mary 1. This is my faith that though I was conceiued in sinne Psal. 51. 5. and borne in iniquitie and so corrupted in all the parts both of my soule and body yet that both the conception birth and whole nature of Christ my Sauiour Rom. 8. 2. 3 was fully sanctified by being vnited to his Godhead Luke 1. 35. to bee imputed vnto mee 2. This is my comfort that my God hath giuen me this holines of his son 2. Co. 5. 21. as a robe to couer all my sinfulnes Phil. 3. 9. and wherby I doe both presently and shal euer stand most gloriously in Gods sight chiefly at the great day 3. This is my further assurance hereof because I can mourne for this totall corruption in mee and being humbled in the fense of it Rom. 7. 14. 15. 18. 23. 24. am driuen daily to put on Christ by faith and for that I feele also the newe birth in me by a change begun in all the powers both of my bodie and soule Rom. 7. 22. wrought by vertue hereof since I was conceiued and borne in the Church by the power of the holy Ghost 4. Article Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified 1. This is my faith Gal. 3. 13. that besides all the euills which my Sauiour indured for mee in all the course of his life he also indured that most shamefull and accursed death which I had deserued to satisfie his fathers instice for me to pacifie his wrath towards mee 2. This is my comfort hence Gal. 3. 13. that I am deliuered from the curse of the law he beeing thus accursed for mee that whatsoeuer sufferings I
multitudes in all places ordinarily thrusting themselues vnreuerently into the presence of the Lord to the word sacraments and all other exercises of the seruice of God without any examination or preparation of their hearts before to the prouoking of the grieuous wrath of the Lord thereby Now for these I say and for al other whose desire is to walke with God and be pleasing vnto him finding the true felicity that is in godlinesse I haue thought my selfe bounde by the Communion of Saints to offer this my poore labour which first was vndertaken for my selfe and some few of my christian friends the better to preuent all the former euills and for the more easye obtayning the benefits following such a carefull watch Herein I haue vsed the helpe of sundry learned and godly diuines following chiefely the direction of these two holy men of GOD Maister Greenham and Maister Perkins whose writings were the first occasions of thinking hereof M. Greenhā in the comfort of an afflicted conscience pag. 130. the one requiring this examination necessarily vnto true and sound repentance M. Perkins of the practise of repentance cap. 7. the other for the thorough curing of the wounded conscience And hence also I haue bin more incouraged to make this publike not vpon any vaine or by respect but by some gracious experience of the profit hereof in both accordingly especially in restoring some of no meane note from much trouble and horrour of conscience to exceeding ioy and strong assurance when all other means haue fayled Neither can this seeme strange to any considering it aright for what is it that brings that peace and ioy of conscience passing all vnderstanding to a Christian soule but an assured testimony of our conscience that we doe not lie in any one sinne so farre as by wise searching wee are able to finde it out but hate and abhorre euen the very least and contrarily that we haue begun and so striue on forward to walke in euery commandement of God without reproofe and that of true loue to our Lord and Sauiour for to such a soule onely all the promises doe appertaine as they are applyed thorough the whole Booke of GOD. In a word I haue beene more imboldened by obseruing dayly how on the one side the godly preachers vpon euery occasion calling men to repentance exhort all earnestly with the Prophet Ieremy to examine and try their wayes Lā 39. 40. turne againe vnto the Lord if euer they will find mercy with him which worke of examinatiō hardly one of a thousād knoweth how to performe in any good measure as may bring true cōfort vnto their soules And on the other side how many of our simple seduced brethrē haue bin drawn to a dislike of our religiō a liking of popery by this especially because ours as they say is a religion of carnall libertye theirs of holinesse ours full of diuisions and vncertainty theirs of perfect vnity that they also may see hereby that ours is indeede a religion of perfect holinesse and vnity prescribed by the Lord himselfe whereunto so many of vs as are truely called to the sound profession of it do striue instantly to attaine day and night so worshipping the God of our fathers in spirit and trneth walking in the selfe same narrow way of eternall life And that all their imagined holinesse is nothing for the most part but meere superstitiō in outward shewes of mens inuentions concerning which GOD will aske them one day Esa. 1. 12. who hath required thē at their hands Deu. 4. 2. 12. 〈◊〉 32. altogether neglecting most of the duetyes of true piety as those of the first table that so they perceiuing how they haue beene dedeluded Act. 13. 48 may at least some of them whom God hath ordayned vnto life come out off the snare of the deuill 2. Tim. 2. 25. 26. and ioyne themselues to vs againe Ap. 14. 9. 10. 11. so to escape that torment which all that receiue the marke of the beast by any such submission to that Romane Antichrist must eudure for euermore Pardon mee therefor that I haue presumed to offer this vnto thee seeing that how plaine so euer it is yet it may proue profitable as I hope to manye thousand poore soules who want leasure or ability to search greater volumes being so briefe and easie for all and also that it may be to mee as the widowes mite throwne into the treasure of the Lord If thou be one who by reason of thy ripenesse and perfection despisest it as hauing no neede of any such a helpe yet haue compassion of thy brethren neither knowest thou what a day may bring forth or if thou seest the good that may come to very many by such a course helpe to perfect that which is here thus begun or at least if God shall perswade thee of the benefit which thy selfe may reape hereby spend one houre with mee constantly euery weeke in trying thy wayes and turning thy feeete vnto the testimonies of the Lord. And then as I cannot doubt of thy prayers for me so I assure my selfe that the chiefe comfort and blessing shal turne into thine owne bosome thy Lord and Sauiour shall bee glorified by thee the godly edified by thy holy ensample the wicked conuerted or at the least haue their mouthes stopped and be left more without excuse Meditate seriously of these worthy places of scripture Let not this booke of the law depart out off thy mouth but meditate therein day and night that thou maiest obserue and do according to all that is written therin for then shall thou make thy waies prosperous then shalt thou haue good successe Ios. 1. 8. Blessed is the man that doth not walke in the councell of the wicked nor stand in the way of sinners nor sit in the seat of the scornefull Psal. 1. 1. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night 2. For he shal be like a tree planted by the riuers of water that will bring forth her fruit in due season whose leafe also shall not fade so whatsoeuer he shall doe shall prosper 3. The wicked are not so but as the chaffe c. 4. VVhete withall shall a young man redresse his way in taking heede thereto according to thy word Psa. 119. 9. I considered my wayes and turned my feete vnto thy testimonies vers 59. I made hast and delayed not the time to keepe thy commaundements 60. Oh how loue I thy law it is my meditatiō continually 67. By thy commandement thou hast made me wiser then mine enimies for they are euer with mee 98. I haue had more vnderstanding then all my teachers for thy testimonies are my meditation 99. I vnderstood more then the ancient because I kept thy precepts 100. I refrayned my feete from euery euil way that I might keepe thy word 101. Thy word is a lanthorne vnto my feete and
mens bare wordes or actions without their intent and meaning wresting or any way peruerting them as the false witnesses against our Sauiour Iewes against Stephen 9. Bearing false witnesse or accusing falsely as Haman against the Iewes Amazia against Amos as also the accusations Amo 7. 10 against our Sauiour Ieremie Paul 10. Lying which is very falshood in word or deede with purpose to deceiue This is a principall sinne of Sathan Ioh. 8. 44. who was a lier from the beginning and the father thereof 11. Vniust or rash arbitrement or giuing iudgement as the Elders against Naboth 12. Malicious accusations not of any conscience to God or for amendment of the partie or good of others but of spite as Doeg 13. Betraying others or their cause craftily vnder pretence of friendshippe or otherwise as the Herodians intended and Iudas delt with our Sauiour 14. Bewraying the secret or infirmitie of our neighbour to his discredit which wee might well haue concealed Mat. 18. 15. 15. Lightly beleeuing flying tales or suspitions Psa. 15. 3. against our brother as Saul against Dauid and the Priestes much more spreading them or adding to them 16. Flattering as Corah and his company did the people and as Absolon or the false Prophets crying peace which is to lay nets for men and to be huntsmen for Sathan 10. Com. Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house wherein the Lord requires our very hearts to be vpright towards our neighbour Here we must examine our hearts how we grow 1. In intertaining only holy thoughts purposes and affections for the good of all men 1. Th. 5. 23 2. In suppressing euill thoughts and motions Zach. 7. 10. that we may neuer giue any consent Rō 7. 7. 20 23. 24. nor take the least delight in thē but labour to the vtter burying of all concupiscence vntill we be perfect in the heauens The glasse of the Gospell or the examination of our faith according to the Articles of faith which containe the summe of the Gospell Rules 1. THe measure of our faith is according to the measure of the power therof in comfort and sanctification 1. Cor. 4. 20 issuing from euery article 2. Tim. 3. 5. except in the time of temptation 2. Cor. 1. 22 2. All the benefits contayned in the articles of faith 2. Cor. 1. 20 are ours in through Christ onely when he is ours 3. Let vs proue our selues therefore whether we are in the faith let vs examine our selues 2. Cor. 1 3. 5 knowe wee not our owne selues how that Iesus Christ is in vs except we be reprobates 4. And if Christ be in vs Rom. ◠10. the body is dead because of sinne but the spirit is life for righteousnesse sake 5. For the Kingdome of God is not in word but in power 1. Cor. 4. 20 6. We must therefore shew our faith out of our workes for as the bodye without the spirit is dead euen so faith without works is dead I am 2. 18. 20. 26. 1. Article I beleeue in God 1. This is my faith that though by nature thorough Adam I the whole Church are Apostates from God Eph. 2. 13. and enemies to him his law yet by grace thorough the secōd Adam Iesus Christ God is our God and we his people reconciled vnto him Heb. 8. 3. to serue him in newnesse of life all our dayes Luk. 1. 74 75. 2. This is my comfort hereof that God is my God and hath sealed mee for himselfe Ioh. 20. 28. 29. and therefore I am most blessed being in such a case Psal. 144. 15. 3. This giues mee further assurance that this my faith is sound because together with this comfort he hath giuē me since I beleeued in his name a heart desirous to depart from all iniquity 2. Tim. 2. 29. Father 1. This is my faith Gal. 3. 22. 26. that though I was a child of wrath yet by grace in Christ I am the child of God Ier. 4. 19. and God my louing father 2. This comfort I receiue hereof that I being thus his child shall lacke nothing because my heauenly father doth tender me much more Mal. 3. 17. then any earthly father his child Esay 46. 15. 16. 3. This is my assurance that my faith herein is sincere Mal. 1. 6. because together with this comfort Mat. 12. 50. I feele my selfe affectioned to reuerence Gal. 4. 5. 6. loue and obey him as my most deare father and am inabled by his spirit to runne to him with boldnesse in al my wants crying Abba oh my father Rom. 8. 15. Almighty This is my faith that though I be weake and vnable to resist my enimies bodilie or spirituall no way able to helpe or prouide for my selfe yet my heauenly father is of all maiesty and power Mat. 8. 2. guiding continually men Angells Psa. 23. 4. deuils and all creatures to serue for his owne glory and the good of his children 2. This comfort I receiue hereof that he doth will continually make all things worke togither for the best vnto mee Rom. 8. 28. not only the holy meanes appointed thereunto 1. Cor. 3. 20 21. 22. but also myne afflictions Acts. 4. 28. yea my greatest enimies Sinnes and Sathan himselfe vntill I be perfected in the Heauens Gen. 50. 20. 3. This also doth further assure mee that he thus works for mee because he hath first shewed the same mighty power quickning and raysing mee vp from the death of sin Eph. 1. 19. 20. which he shewed in raysing my Sauiour from the graue and secondlie for that I haue sensibly felte all things thus working togither for my saluation Maker of heauen and earth 1. This is my faith that though thorow Adam I had lost the right both of heauen and earth and of euery creature so as I could haue no comfort in the vse of thē but terror as an vsurper being cast forth off the earthly paradice Gen. 3. 24. lest as an heire of the curse yet thorough my Sauiour the second Adam Rom. 5. 17. 18. since I truely beleued in him I am restored to a farre better estate Heb. 1. 2. being made in him a right heyre of all Rom. 8. 17. neuer to be cast forth off my inheritance any more 2. This comfort I receiue hereof that heauen is mine and all the ioyes thereof Eph. 2. 6. and that I am set already in the heauēly places in Christ my head who reserues the full fruition for mee And secondly that all the creatures in heauen and in earth bee they good or bad Iob. 5. 23. are at a league with mee 1. Cor 3. 21. 22. 23. to helpe for my good so far as may stand with his glory my saluation and the good of his Church Hos. 2. 18. 3. This is also my assurance that my faith is sincere herein because that
indure in this life are sanctified hereby to be to me Fatherly 1. Exercises 2. Chastisements 3. Trialls 4. Fulfilling of Christs afflictions 5. Meanes to confirme mee to Christ my head Rom. 5. 3 Heb. 12. 11 6 7 8. Apo. 3. 10. Col. 1. 24. Rom. 8. 29. 6. Examples to others 3. This also warrants the soundnes of my faith herein Gal. 6. 14. 1. Because I feele my selfe to profit in Christianity by my afflictions and crosses Psa. 119. 67 71. 2. I desire to take pleasure in such suffrings for Christs sake 2 Cor. 12. 20. 3. Because the old man in mee beginnes to bee crucified with Christ Gal Phi. 1. 29. 2. 19. 5. 24. Dead 1. This is my faith 1. Cor. 15 55. 56. 57. that Christ hath died for my sin and by dying hath ouer come death and so taken away the sting thereof that it cannot hurt any of those that beleeue in him 2. This comfort I finde hereupon that death shal be so far off from hurting mee Phi. 1. 23. 2. Cor. 5. 1. 2. that it is already sanctified by this death of my Sauiour to be to mee the gate of life 3. This also increaseth my assurance that my faith is sound herein because I finde together with this comfort that euery sinne hath receiued his deaths wounde in me each beginning to dye and for that I feele a power by Gal. 2. 19. Christs death Phil. 3. 10. to triumph against the terrors of death Col. 3 2. waiting for it when I haue finished my course Phil. 1. 21. 23. wishing to bee dissolued and to bee with Christ. Rom. 7. 24. And buried 1. This is my faith that Christ was buried for me both to assure me of the certaintie of his death for me and that all my sinnes are buried in his graue yea withall to bury sinne in mee Rom. 6. 3. 4 and to sanctifie my graue to bee a sweete bedde for my body to rest in vntill the resurrection Esay 57. 2. 2. This very faith is my ioy and moreouer that my sinnes thus buried shal neuer come into remembrance to accuse or condemne mee Rom. 8. 34. 35. or to hinder Gods euerlasting mercy loue from me 3. This also furthers my assurance for that together with this ioy I feele many sinnes buried in me Col. 2. 11. 12. and consuming daily by the vertue of this death and buriall of my Sauiour especially Rom. 7. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. the strength and delight I tooke in euery sinne He descended into hell 1. This is my faith that Christ suffered not only in his body the punishment due to my body but in his soule also the tormēt due to my soule which I should haue indured for euermore Mar. 14. 33. 34. and that not onely vppon the crosse Luke 22. 44. but also in the garden as appeareth by his speeches his pravers Heb. 5. 7. his crie his agony and bloody sweate and so hath for me triumphed ouer hell 2. This is my comfort that though I stood euer in danger of eternal death for all my sinnes yet now by my Sauiour I am deliuered from the terrours thereof Heb. 2. 15. 3. This is further for my assurance hereof Ioh. 3. 14. 15. for that I haue receiued comfort in this onely Num. 21. ◠euen then when the paines of hell haue gotten hold vpon mee for my sinnes and because I feele a desire to saue others also from that place of torment by leading them to this my Sauiour Ioh. 3. 18. 36. and haue now entred the narrow way to heauen following my Sauiour therein Mat 7. 13. 14. hauing left the broad way going to destruction 5. Article The third day he rose again from the dead 1. This is my faith that my Sauiour hath fully satisfied the iustice of his father for my sinn euen to the vttermost farthing Rom. 4. 25. in that he rose againe because any one sin of his elect not satisfied for had kept him in death 1. Cor. 15. 15. 56. 57. seeing he tooke vpon him to become surety for them all 2. This is my ioye that thorough him I am iustified and stand as righteous in the sight of my God all my sins being vtterly done away Rom. 4. 25. and couered hereby 3. This helpeth my assurance hereof for that besides this comfort Eph. 2. 5. 6. I feele my selfe also raysed vp to a desire of a perfect holinesse Phil. 3. 10. Apo. 20. 5. 6. 6. Article He ascended into heauen 1. This is my faith that when my Sauiour had fulfilled all things in the earth for the redeeming of his church he went vp into heauen Luk. 24. 51 both to prepare the way Act. 1. 9. and also to take possession and to keepe it for mee Ioh. 14. 2. 2. This is my ioy that none can hinder mee from thence Ioh. 17. 24 but where my Sauiour and head is there shall I bee also This ratifieth my assurance for that my affections are already ascended beeing set on things that are aboue Col. 3. 2. And sitteth on the right hand of God the father almighty 1. This is my faith Mat. 28. 18 that my Sauiour hath all power giuen him ouer all sorts Iohn 17. 2 to giue eternall life to whom he will Eph 4. 8. 10 and condemne the rest sittes as King at the right hand of his Father filling his Church with his gifts guiding it by his word and spirit vntill he haue glorified it Esa. 54. 10 59. 21. and subdued all his enemies 1. Cor. 15 24. 25. conuincing them by the light of Nature his workes 1. creatures 2. iudgmēts 3. mercies word 2. This is my comfort that he will guide me by his word spirit continually Phil. 1. 6. ouer-rule whatsoeuer Sathā or the wicked can doo against mee 1. Pet. 1. 5 to serue for my good Esa. 8. 16 against thēselues 3. This is also for my further assurance herein because I feele my selfe desirous to be guided by the direction of his holye spirit speaking in the word and moreouer Esa. 30. 21. I heare a voyce behind mee saying This is the way Esa. 59. 21. walke in it when I turne to the right hand or to the left 7. Article From thence hee shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead 1. This is my faith Ioh. 5. 22. that my Sauiour shal come to be the iudge of the whole world Ro. 14. 10. to iudge euery one according to their workes 2. Cor. 5. 10 2. This is my ioy that though I did and doo naturally quake so oft as I heare or thinke of the terrible iudgement Act. 24. 26 yet remembring the iudge 2. Thes. 1. 10. who hath by himselfe satisfied for all my sinnes so taking them on himselfe and giuen me his owne absolute righteousnesse I can