euill both against themselues and others If to them in whom regeneration is begun yea and it may be also much aduanced and who are in the word indeed called the Saints of God they accuse themselues of wonderfull euils and manifold imperfections saying from a free heart that all their righteousnes areâ— as filthie and stained clouts and againe the good they shoâ—ld doe that they doe not the euill that they should not doe that doe they and therefore are not so much as willing to take such an office vppon them though wee would a thousand times giue it them If we would giue al that we haue vnto the Lord for a ransome for our own sâ—ns or others yea if wee would giue our first borne for our transgressions and the fruits of our bodies for the sinne of our soules as many idolators haue done heretofore it will not auaile vs for it is nothing nay as a polluted thing in his fight and besides it hath no power to purge away sinne or to purifie conscience If wee would cleaue to outward and feigned holinesse as the Pharisees haue done and the hypocrites of all ages do wee must make this account of it that though it bee neuer so glittering and glorious in maÌ„s sight which is not able to discerne of spiritual colors or things yet it is abbomination before God to whom and before whom both wee our selues and all our actions must stand and fall If we stand vpon the perswasion or practise of superstitious and idolatries deuised by man we must needs fall for besides that they are so many corruptions and defilings of Religion and seruice that we performe vnto God which is and ought to bee pure and simple as himselfe God himselfe also reiecteth them as things vile and displeasing in his blessed presence Whither shall we then goe to Christ onely we must needes come and why to him First because in him dwelleth the fulnes of all goodnes yea chefulnes of the godhead bodily and God hath giuen him to vs to the end that beleeuing in him wee should not perish but haue eâ—erlasting life How shal we know that By the Lords own word and voice from heauen who hath said and therefore we may nay we ought to beleeue it that he is his welbeloued sonne in whom he is well pleased Secondly because our Sauiour himselfe so graciouslie calleth vs saying Come vnto me all ye that trauaile be wearie and are heauy laden and I will ease you But when we come we shall find nothing in him Yes verilie for through him apprehended and appropriated to our selues by faith we shall find eternall peace to Godward and life and immortalitie brought vnto the beleeuers In this our Christ let vs for our comfort instructioÌ„ coÌ„sider first the names and titles giuen him which are not bare or idle or expresse graces in and for himselfe onely but are full of fruit and efficacy and that for vs and our good specially for spirituall comfort here and eternall saluation in the life to come He is called Iesus that is to say Sauiour because he alone and no other doth and shall saue all his people from their sinnes He is called Christ that is annointed and sealed by his father to be our King Priest and Prophet By his kingdome establishing his double gouernment one inward in the hearts of his children by his holy spirit and the other outward in the Church by the scepter of his word and his owne discipline By his Priesthood offering himselfe vp once for all as a full and sufficient sacrifice for all the sinnes of his people And his Prophecy he being become the only law-giuer to his Church so as the godlie now are not to hearken to anie â—oice doctrine or spirit but to him aâ—one and those that speake according â—o his truth Secondly let vs consider his person which consisteth of these two natures â—he Godhead and the Manhood As he is Godâ— he hath power in himâ—elfe to doe whatsoeuer pleaseth him both in heauen and earth and all deepe places yea to ouercome all our enemies specially spirituall which are so manie and mightie as none can encounter with much lesse vanquish but God onely alone belongeth mercie and forgiuenesse of sinnes â— as the scripture saith And as he is man hee is both sufficiently able and also very willing to endure and suffer for vs whatsoeuer was for our sinnes to be laid vpon him yea and also willing to haue compassion on thâ—â— that are ignorant and that are out of the way â—â—â—ng made man like vnto vs in euery respect sinne only excepted and therfore being both compassed with infirmity and tempted himselfe is the better able to pitie and succour them that are infirme or tempted So that God manifested in the flesh iustified iâ— the spirit seene of Angels preached vnto the Gentiles beleeued on in the world and receiued vp into glorie is hee that wee must cleaue to alone for the peace and comfort of our consciences and the saluation of our soules because there is none vnder heauen giuen vnto vs whereby wee must bee saued but onely the same of Iesus Thirdly let vs earnestly behold what â—ingular effects he worketh in his children what wonderful graces he freeâ—y bestoweth vpon theÌ„ He is the Lambe of God that alone taketh away the sinnes of the world he is he alone in whom it hath â—leased God to reconcile the world vnto himselfe he is he that is made of God vnto vs wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Wisedome because he is the eternall wisedome of the Father from before all beginnings and because comming out of the bosome of the Father he hath declared vnto vs all the councels of God concerning our instruction and comfort and that in far greater both plenty and plainnes specially plainnes than the Fathers before his comming had Righteousnes for these respects first â—ecause he hath fuâ—â—y satisfied the iustice of God being wouâ—ded for our transgressioâ—s and broken for our iniquities carrying also the chastisement of our peace vppon him and healing vs with his stripes bearing vpon his backe and shoulders the course of the law due to vs for our sins and ouercoÌ„ming the same in redeeming vs from it and secondly because that through his obedience and fulfilling of the law wee haue iustification imputed vnto vs before God and iâ—â—choated in our selues and before men in the world and so obtaine at the last the blessing of the law which is eternall life Sanctification or holines because it pleased God the Father in the riches of mercie to send his owne Sonne in the similitude of sinfull flesh and for sinne condâ—mned sinne in the flesh and not onely to impute vnto vs his holines and to cloath vs with the same but also through the mightie working of his holie Spirit to frame vs to walke in
true holinesse and righteousnes before God and men all the daies of our lif Redemption because that by offeriâ—g vp himself once vpon the altar of the crosse he hath redeemed vs from sinne and set vs free from the diuell and eternall condemnation keeping vs so in his hands that none shall pull vs out of the same vntil the full manifestation of our adoption shall appeare euen the deliuerance of our bodies from all corruption and sinne at what time hee shall returne our redeemer â—rom heauen and shall change the bodies of our basenes that they may be made like vnto his glorious bodie To conclude it hath pleased the Father that in him should bee hidden all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge and that in him should all fulnes dwell yea the verie fulnes of his godhead bodilie and of all other good things whatsoeuer that so the Church which is his bodie euery particular sound member thereof might receiue of his abundance as it is writen Of his fulnes haue wee all receiued and grace for grace that is grace vpon grace or as a man would say graces heaped one vpon another and that so he should be the beginning and ending yea the very yea and Amen of all Gods Promises To know these things in such sort as before is declared yea and in more ample manner than is here set downe and not to haue the particular feeling of them in a mans owne conscience is to little or no purpose at all vnlesse it bee more and more to afflict the conscience for want of comfortable feeling of them and to plung vs into a more great and grieuous iudgment because he that knoweth the will of his Master and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes Wherefore it greatly behooueth vs to striue to attaine the meane whereby we may lay hold of them and that meane yea the only meane is nothing else but a true and liuely faith for by faith Christ and we are lincked together he and all his merites being become ours and we his whilest he purgeth our hearts by faith yea dâ—elleth in them and maketh vs fruitfull â—o all good workes This faith sealeth vp in our hearts forgiuenes of past sinnes Freedome from condemnation to come and assurance of eternall life pacifying our consciences towards God and instructing vs to apply particularly vnto our selues Christ Iesus and all his merites And by this faith it pleaseth almightie God to purifie and purge the corruption of mans heart and to frame it and fashion it to new obedience Yea it is appointed by God to bee a necessarie instrument whereby wee may ouercome the world and as a shield of steele by which we may quench all the fiery dartes of the wicked and in which being stedfast we must resist and vanquish the diuell Other singular effects and fruites of this liuely faith are largely reckoned vp in the Epistle to the Hebrues chap. 11. But this faith is not of all men that is most true yea wee affirme that no man hath it by nature arte wit or any such other meane in man but that it is the onely free and gracious gift of God to his owne children alone For the effecting of this precious grace in them the Lord himselfe vseth two effectuall instruments to worke it in their hearts by The one is inward and the same most powerfull namely his most â—â—ly and blessed Spirit speaking for knâ—â—â—â—dge peace and all good graces more effectually to our hearts than the outward sound doth to the eare The other outward and that is the whole ministerie of truth whether it be in the Word Sacraments Prayer c. wee diligently subiecting our selues thereto carefully receiuing the same and daily growing in grace thereby as wee doe in yeeres and strength in the bodie This Spirit is called the spirit of adoption because it beareth witnes vnto our spirits that God hath adopted vs to be his children and heires of his kingdom teaching vs also with confidence and boldnes to crie Abba Father This Spirit is called the Comforter because he ministreth vnto the children of God in all their heauinesses and distresses whatsoeuer either outward or inward vnspeakable ioyes He is called the Spirit of truth because he alone doth not only free vs from the errors of the wicked and the darknesse of our owne hearts but also inlightneth our vnderstanding and leadeth vs into all truth He is called the Spirit of sanctification because he frameth them in whom he dwelleth to sanctification and holinesse and fitteth them indeede to all good workes He maketh vs able to search into and to vnderstand the deep things of God yea such deepe and hidden secrets as the eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither haue they entred into mans heart He frameth and fashioneth in vs vnfained loue to God and to his people for his sake working also in vs a sound minde in al the duties and seruices that we doe either to God himselfe in heauen or to men vpon earth This Spirit helpeth our infirmities teaching yea inabling vs who know not what to aske or pray as wee should to send foorth requests vnto God with sighes and groanes which cannot be expressed Also when or wheresoeuer it be bestowed it bringeth with it a most holie and heauenly libertie because if the Son by his blessed spirit make vs free we shall be free indeed Lastly he is as it were the very earnest penâ— and assured seale or pledge of the trueth of the gracious promises which Almightie God hath made vnto vs in Iesus Christ generally for all good things and especially for our eternall election in Christ before the foundations of the world were laid Touching the word I take it in generall to be the ground and foundation of our faith and that therefore it is rightly called the arme of the Lord as vpon which onely we must leane But most specially I meane that part which containeth Gods most louing promises made vnto vs in Iesus Christ and is rightly called the Gospell And this Gospell is the glad tidings of great ioy and the mightie power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth Yea it is indeed the message of peace becauâ—e it offereth quietnes of conscience through the forgiuenes of sinnes to those that are farre off and to those that are nigh It is called the word of grace as well because it is freely bestowed vpon vs as also because it offereth vnto vs the grace of God It is the word of truth because it manifesteth to vs all truth both of faith and obedience and setteth out before vs the truth of God in the accoâ—plishing of his promises It is also the word of life not onely because it offereth life euerlasting for that it doth to al in the Church but also because that being rightly and reuerently
receiued it sealeth vp the same in our hearts and frameth vs in this life to a new life worthie our calling by the which word also our sauiour Christ hath brought life and immortalitie to light which before seemed as it were to bee hidden in which respect it is called in sundry places of the new Testament a mystery or secret yea such a mystery or secret as was hidden since the world began This word must be first reuerentlie esteemed because if wee prize it not as we should it will grow into contempt Then faithfullie credited because otherwise our estimation and regard of it will do vs no good Lastly carefully receiued and profitably practised because these indeed are true testimonies of our reuerence and beliefe yea it must be reuerenced credited and receiued not as the word of a mortall man but as it is indeed the word of the eternall God First because of him that is the author thereof which is God onely good who besides that hee hath the fulnes of mercie in him to recompence our labour and loue that way hath also infinit power to reuenge the abuse or contempt of it in what sort soeuer or in whom soeuer Secondly because of the matter or matters rather that it propoundeth and setteth out vnto vs which are faith in the promises obedience to the preâ—cepts and reconciliation and agreeâ—ment betweene God and vs procureâ— for vs and purchased vnto vs in thâ— death of his dearely beloued Sonne Thirdly because of the persons whoâ— the Lord hath vsed in the publishiâ—â— and speaking of it who in times pasâ—â—â— were Prophets and holy men of Goâ— yet notwithstanding inspired by the spâ—â—rit of God But in this latter time he hath deliuered this trueth most fully vnto vs in the mouth of his owne sonne in whom are all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge hid And since that time by the blessed Apostles and Euangelists whom he sent abroad into all the world to preach the Gospell to all creatures And now in this last age of the world by the setled ministerie of ordinarie pastors and teachers Whom God doth vse not as though he were not able without them to work his own wil both in the sauing of them whom he hath made heires of life and in the condemning of the wicked but that hee might in their labours haue a more readie entrance by his word into mens hearts hee hauing appointed to season men by them and to inlighten their darke and ignorant hearts because they are the salt of the earth and light of the world indeede to season mens corâ—upt hearts and to deliuer them from the power of darknes and to translate them into the kingdome of his deare Sonne Who bring also with them the ambassage of peace and reconciliation God himselfe as it were by them intreating vs to be reconciled vnto his Maiestie And are indeede the effectuall inâ—â—â—â—â—ments of God for the gathering together of the Saints for the worke of the ministerie and for the edâ—fication of the bodie of Christ vntill wee all meete together in the vnitie of faith and knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnes of Christ that we hencefoorth be no more children wauering and carried about with euerie winde of doctrine by deceit of men either others or our selues or by the exercised subtilties of our spirituall aduersaries Wherfore good reason is it that they that bring vs such glad and acceptable tidings of such good things taking continuall care for vs and watching for our soules should not onely bee reuerently esteemed as the ministers of Christ and disposers of Gods secrets but also religiously and louingly receiued because he that receiueth them receiueth God the Father and God the Sonne that hath sent them whereas on the other side whosoeuer doe contemne them thrust from them the blessed Godhead and refuse the meanes that the Lord hath ordained and sent abroad for their saluation The doctrine deliuered by these men specially the Gospel preached is a most liuely painting out of Christ before our eyes and as it were a visible crucifying of him in our sights who died for our sinnes and rose againe for our righteousnes And though they that perish count it foolishnes yet is it that mighty power of God vnto saluation and the excellent wisedome of the Lord by which it pleaseth him through the foolishnes of preaching to saue them that beleeue And it is that effectuall instrument whereby the Father of his owne good will begetteth vs againe vnto himselfe that we should be as the first fruits of his creatures being borne anew not of mortall seede but of immortall by the word of God which word endâ—reth for euer At our first receiuing of it it is sincere milke which as new borne babes we should long after that wee may grow vp thereby and come vnto Christ who is the liuing stone that wâ—â—â— our selues also as liuing stones may be made a spirituall house and a holy Priesthood to offer vp spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God through Iesus Christ. And when wee are passed the age of our infancie in Christ it is become our â—ound and stedfast meate wherewith the Lord continually feedeth vs in his family vntill that hauing laid downe thâ—â— our earthly house of this tabernacle we obtaine the building giuen vs of God that is an house not made with hands but eternall in the heauens whose builder and framer is God The Lord knowing whereof we be made and remembring that we are but dust hath not only giueÌ„ vs his word to work faith in our hearts but hath also lâ—ft vs for the more strengthening and confirming of the same in the truth of his promises the vse of two holy Sacraments only and no more namely Baptisme and the Lords Supper both of them being instituted by him to whom alone indeede it belongeth to ordaine Sacraments â—n his Church because hee alone hath power to giue and worke the grace that is meant signified or set ouâ— thereby Baptisme witnesseth and pledgeth vnto vs diuers things as first that we are ingrafted into the bodie of Christs Church wherof Christ is the head from whom alone the bodie receiueth increase vnto the building vp of it selfe in holy loue Then that regeneration is begun in vs and wee become as it were new borne â—abes vnto God our heauenly Father the Lord sauing vs according to his mercie by the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the holy Ghost It sealeth also vnto vs the forgiuenes and washing away of our sinnes in the sacrifice of Christs death water no more effectuallie taking away the spotts and filth of our flesh than Christs blood doth the guilt power and punishment of our sinnes And it pledgeth this vnto vs that wee are the sonnes of God by faith in Christ Iesus because al