and manifested his will in his word that we might certainly know his will Wherefore God hath not only delivered legal promises which have annexed a condition of perfect obedience and are therefore made unprofitable to us but also Gospel promises which are free that we might rely on them with firm trust of heart Therefore it is of faith by grace saith the Apostle Rom. 4.16 that the promise might be sure Mens promises are uncertain and doubtful because all men are liars Psal 116.11 but the promises of God are sure and unmovable because God is truth it self As God is true in threatning so also in promising As out of Christ certain damnation abideth all unbelievers and impenitent persons so in Christ certain salvation is promised to all that turn to God and believe Cypr. serm 4. de mortal pag. 209. Dost thou doubt whether those things shall be that God hath promised who is true whose saying is eternal and firm to them that believe If a grave and laudable man should promise something thou wouldst believe him nor wouldst thou think thou shouldst be deceived by him whom thou knewest to stand to his word and be firm in his actings Now God speaketh with thee and dost thou unbelievingly fluctuate with a distrustful mind Observe moreover the firmness of Gods oath As I live saith the Lord I desire not the death of a sinner Ezech. 33.11 but that he should turn and live Verily verily I say unto you Joh. 5.25 saith Christ hethat heareth my saying and believeth in him that sent me hath eternal life and shall not come into condemnation but hath passed from death to life Joh. 8.51 Verily verily I say unto you if a man keep my saying he shall never see death Aug. in Psalm 88. God hath said this he hath promised this if that be not enough he hath sworn it Therefore happy we for whose sake God swears Tertul. l. de poenit but most wretched we if we believe not God when he swears Acknowledge therefore the admirable and never enough praised mercy of God who willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability and immovableness of his counsel Heb. 6.17 vers 18. confirmed it by an oath That by two immutable things seeing it is impossible for God to lye we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us Want of due preparation Tempted All these things easily perswade me not to doubt of the firmness of Gods promises in themselves in the mean it is as yet uncertain whether they be so firm and immovable to me and whether I be in the number of them to whom God promises and offers so great things Comforter Yes because God pomiseth these things to all that truly repent and fly to Christ by faith 2 Cor. 4.13 therefore he hath also promised to thee seeing thou also believest in Christ Attend therefore further to the inward sealing of the holy Spirit For the Spirit witnesseth not only outward ly in the word but also inwardly in thy heart Rom. 8.16 The Spirit himself beareth witness with thy spirit that thou art the child 1 Cor. 2.12 yea and heir of God Thou hast received the Spirit which is of God that thou maist know the things that are freely given thee of God He that confirms and strengthens thee with all the truly Godly in Christ and he who hath anointed thee is God who hath sealed thee and given thee the earnest of the Spirit in thy heart Gal. 4.6 Because thou art the son of God therefore hath God sent forth the spirit of his son into thy heart crying Abba Father Believing the word of truth and the Gospel of salvation thou art sealed with the holy Spirit of promise Eph. 1.13 which is the earnest of thine inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession chap. 4.30 whereby thou art sealed unto the day of redemption As the Bridegroom who hath promised his spouse marriage giveth her some token for a pledge of their future marriage so God hath betrothed thee to him in faith he hath betrothed thee in mercy Hos 2.19 Rev. 19.7 but the marriage of the Lamb is not yet celebrated therefore he giveth thee the earnest of his Spirit to assure thee of the fulfilling of the promises and a future introducing of thee to the heavenly nuptials This is the spirit of adoption because he witnesseth thou art adopted to be a son of God this is that seal whereby the promises of God are sealed in thy heart this is the earnest by which the word of truth is confirmed to thee 1 Joh. 4.13 By this thou knowest that thou dwellest in God and God in thee because he hath given thee of his Spirit Doubting of the indwelling of the Spirit Tempted But whence can I be sure that my heart is the temple and dwelling of the holy Ghost The blots of sin stick to me and I perceive that in my flesh there dwelleth no good thing how then will the holy Spirit who is holiness and purity it self dwell in me Comforter We receive only the first-fruits of the Spirit in this life Rom. 8.23 we expect the full measure and compleat tenths at length in eternal life there remains in this life a striving of the flesh and spirit Rom. 7.14 we are yet in part carnal and sold under sin yet never the less by means of regeneration and renovation begun we are the temples of the holy Ghost Moreover that the Spirit of God dwelleth in thee thou maist know by this that thou lamentest and abhorrest thy sins Wisd 1.4 because the holy Spirit dwelleth not in a body enslaved to sins because thou believest in Christ and lovest him for he is the Spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4.13 Zach. 13.9 because with serious groanings thou callest upon God and the most bountiful Father for he is the spirit of grace and of prayers and cryeth in the hearts of the faithful Gal. 4.6 Abba Father because thou art led with a desire of all good for they that are the temples of the holy Spirit are led by him Rom. 8.14 namely unto good because thou oft perceivest a foretast of eternal life in thy heart and the kingdom of God is not meat and drink Rom. 14.17 but righteousness peace and joy in the holy Ghost Wherefore if thy soul hath felt at any time in the secret of its conscience the Spirit of the son crying Bern. in Cant. serm 8. col 509. Abba Father let it presume it is loved with a fatherly affection seeing it feels it self moved with the same Spirit wherewith the Son is In the Spirit of the son it knows it self the daughter of the Father and the Bride and sister of the son But though all these are sometimes weak and languid yet be not cast down but beg increase
insubsistence of words pag. 43 Falling from the covenant of Baptism pag. 48 The uncertain reception into the covenant of Baptism pag. 52 The unworthy receiving of the Lords Supper pag. 57 Weakness of faith pag. 59 The not perceiving of faith pag. 62 An inability to believe pag. 65 The small number of good works pag. 67 Want of merits pag. 70 The accusation of the Law pag. 73 The accusing of conscience pag. 76 Late repentance pag. 78 Doubting of the grace of God pag. 81 Want of due preparation pag. 86 Doubting of the indwelling of the Spirit pag. 89 Doubting of perseverance pag. 94 Satans wiles and strength pag. 98 The falling away of many pag. 101 Doubting of being written in the book of life pag. 104 The fear of death pag. 107 The sting of death pag. 111 The pains of death pag. 117 Untimely death pag. 119 Services farther owing to the Church pag. 122 Short life brought upon ones self pag. 124 The love of this life pag. 127 Separation from wife children kindred pag. 131 Stopping of the ears in death pag. 134 The seeming unprofitableness of Redemption pag. 137 The horrour of dust pag. 139 The incredibility of the resurrection pag. 147 The flames of Purgatory pag. 153 The rigour of the last judgement pag. 156 A prayer in sickness pag. 164 To these are added The Christians Triumph over Death pag. 169 Divine Contemplations and Soliloquies upon Death and Eternity pag. 198 Divine Poems upon death pag. 217 Divine CONSOLATIONS Against the FEAR OF DEATH And the TEMPTATIONS befalling them that draw near thereto The forerunners of Death The Tempted I Am opprest with sickness 2 Cor. 1.9 the forerunner of Death and have received the sentence of death in my self I see I must leave this life than which nothing is more pleasant this world than which nothing is more adorned the house of this body than which nothing is more dear The Comforter Thou wast not created for this miserable and momentany but for a blessed and eternal life Wisd 2.23 for God made our first Parent without corruption to immortality Nor wast thou redeemed by Christ for this fading and toilsom but for that everlasting and most happy life in the heavens for it is a certain and undoubted saying That Jesus Christ came into the world 1 Tim. 1.15 to save sinners Neither wast thou called of the holy Spirit by the word to the kingdom of Christ that thou mightst live here a little while but that thou mightst pass from the kingdom of grace to the kingdom of glory from the Church Militant to that Triumphant from a valley of tears into a field of joy for if in this life only we believed in Christ and had hope 1 Cor. 15.19 we were of all men most miserable Wherefore seeing thou must be brought through the gate of death to that life for which thou wert created of the Father redeemed of the Son and for which thou hast been sanctified by the Spirit reject not I pray thee Luk. 7.30 the gracious counsel of God against thy self but readily obey God that calls upon thee Deaths Trident. Tempted The thoughts of Death affright me the dreadful shape of that enemy disturbs my mind it shows me its sting 1 Cor. 15.55 which is death it threatens me with its cruel three-pointed weapon while it presents to my eyes and heart the Anger of God the accusation of the Law and the cruelty of my sins Rom. 6.23 in that death is the wages of sin and by sin death hath invaded me Rom. 5.18 as it has done all the world Comforter But I advise thee that being seriously and heartily sorry for the sins thou hast committed thou look to him that died for thee on the altar of the Cross that thou mightest not be liable to eternal death Turn thine eyes from the outward shew of death and turn them to Christ who by his death hath destroyed him that had the power of death Heb. 2.14 that is v. 15. the Devil And hath delivered us who through fear of death were all our life-time subject to bondage He is death unto our death Hos 13.14 he is a sting unto the hell we had deserved Joh. 11.25 He is the resurrection and the life he that believeth in him though he were dead v. 26. yet shall he live And whosoever liveth and believeth in him shall never die 1. Cor. 15.22 So that as in Adam that is because of sin derived from Adam upon us and of actual sins added thereto we are all liable to death and at length must die even so in Christ the captain of life and conqueror of death through faith are we all made alive Which that our Captain of life confirms with a solemn and serious oath Verily verily I say unto you Joh. 5.24 He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life And again Joh. 8.51 Verily verily I say unto you If a man keep my saying he shall never see death Therefore believe Christ who is the truth Joh. 14.6 believe him promising believe him swearing Luk. 21.33 Heaven and earth shall pass away but the words of Christ shall not pass away The anguish of sin Tempted I begin to remember my sins Psal 51.7 for I was not only begot conceived and born in sin but I have increased this sum of original and hereditary debt with manifold and most grievous actual sins all my life long how therefore can I hope God will be merciful to me whom I have so oft offended how shall I conceive any comfort in death seeing death is the due reward to my sins and a beginning of a second and eternal death to them that are not reconciled to God Comforter Look unto Christ hanging on the altar of the Cross and pouring out the price of thy redemption even his precious blood for thy sins 1 Joh. 1.8 The blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God cleanseth thee from all sin He is the propitiation for thy sins 1 Joh. 2.2 and for the sins of the whole world For he came not into the world to be ministred unto Mat. 20.28 but to minister and to give his life a ransom and price for the sins of many And that thou mightst not at all doubt of this matter therefore from heaven which is the throne of truth by an Angel which is the spirit of truth was brought that most sweet and comfortable name of Jesus and given to this our Mediator before he was conceived for what is Jesus but a Saviour Luk. 1.31 Mat. 1.21 Joh. 1.29 For therefore was this name given to Christ because he saves his people from their sins This is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world 1 Tim. 1.15 This is that Jesus Christ that came into
of the Lord as thou gatherest in the vessel of trust For faith lays hold of Christ and in Christ of a merciful God of remission of sins and life eternal Of this hear the words of eternal and immoveable truth Joh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him may not perish but have eternal life v. 18. He that believeth on him is not condemned but hath eternal life Joh. 1.12 for to as many as received him hath he given power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name This sonship comprehends all things which are necessary for us to eternal life For if we are the sons of God we are also born of God Tertul. in Apolog. c. 17. For not a carnal generation but a spiritual regeneration makes sons of God If we are the sons of God God is full of pity to us for does not a father pity his children Psal 103.13 If we are the sons of God then he hath also given his Spirit to us for so the Apostle As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God Rom. 8.14 15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear but ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba father Gal. 4.6 And again Because ye are sons God hath sent the spirit of his son into your hearts crying Abba father Rom. 8.13 Lastly If we are the sons of God then heirs heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ For what true son is there without an inheritance All these so precious so plentiful so various benefits befal us in Christ and by Christ who dwelleth in our hearts Eph. 3.17 and is born in us spiritually by faith which therefore the Scripture doth so often declare and recommend to us Verily Joh. 5.24 verily I say unto you saith Christ he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath eternal life and cometh not into condemnation but is passed from death to life Joh. 11.25 26. He that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and believeth in me Joh. 7.38 39. shall never die He that believeth in me out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water which our Saviour spake of the spirit which they that believe on him do receive Whosoever believeth in me Joh. 12.46 abideth not in darkness namely in the darkness of ignorance in the darkness of sin in the darkness of eternal death but by the light of faith is brought to the light of saving knowledge to the light of true righteousness to the light of eternal life Joh. 20.31 Moreover the Apostle witnesseth expresly that whatsoever is written in the Gospels of the words deeds and sufferings of Christ were therefore written that we might have life through his name That God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his son 1 Joh. 5.11 He that hath the Son hath life 12. Thence know we that we have eternal life 13. because we believe on the name of the son of God Nor do the Apostles and Evangelists only but all the Prophets also give witness unto Christ Act. 10.43 that through his name whosoever believeth in him receiveth remission of sins What therefore Paul and Silas once said to the keeper of the prison at Philippi Act. 16.31 that say I to thee Believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved The false perswasion of Faith Tempted But I have observed many to entertain a vain perswasion of Faith and deceive themselves with a false boasting thereof and what if I should be of their number Whence can I be sure that my faith is true and saving and not an empty and dead image of it Comforter Examine and try thy self whether thou be in the faith 2 Cor. 13.5 prove thine own self knowest thou not thy self that Jesus Christ is in thee There are not wanting firm and infallible instructions whereby true and saving faith may be tryed known and distinguished from a vain boast of faith And first this is the nature of true faith Act. 15.9 that it purifieth the heart and desires that that may be cleansed from the filth of sins For seeing faith is solicitous and desirous of remission of sins he that truly believeth will also perceive a grief for the sins he has committed The Gospel is preached to the poor Mat. 11.6 Mat. 5.6 namely to those that are poor in spirit that hunger and thirst after righteousness Psa 51. â—7 that bring and offer to God a contâ—ite heart and a broken spirit Look therefore in the glass of the Law and thou wilt see the deformity of thy sins Look unto the shining face of Moses and it will appear that because of the works of darkness which thou hast followed thou canst not endure that light Behold thy self how grievously sickness hath affrighted thee which is the just punishment of thy sins the scourge of a revenging God and the due reward of a life spent in transgression He that sins against his maker Ecclus 38.15 falls into the hands of the Physician We have therefore lost our health Aug. de verb. Apost Serm. 4. Bern. Serm. 43. de modo bene viv because we have offended our Creator They that follow the flesh are scourged in the flesh In that they complain in which they have sinned The sentence of punishment is in that in which was the cause of sin In how many thoughts words and deeds hast thou offended God how especially feeble hast thou been in the fear and love of God how remiss in prayers and other exercises of piety how barren of good works How ost hast thou followed the persuasion of Satan the seduction of the flesh and the deceiving of the world Those members which thou hast often yielded to be instruments of iniquity and unrighteousness are now by the just judgement of God afflicted with pain and weakness Confess this and be sorry for if there be a true and serious acknowledgement of sin in thy heart trouble of conscience and hatred of sin will immediately follow it God is in good earnest angry at thy sins therefore from a hearty sense of Gods anger bewail thy sin God punisheth sin severely therefore by a just grief punish that in thy self which thou observest thou hast committed against God Acknowledge God's judgement to be upright Psal 119.137 and humble thy self under his mighty hand And regard not only thy outward sins but acknowledge the fountain of all evils the contagion of original sin That is hid indeed but God sets it in the light of his countenance Psal 90.9 By it all the powers of thy soul and body are so tainted that of thy self and by thy self thou canst begin nothing that is good much less
another place which is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience or a covenant towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ Be baptized Acts 22.16 and wash away thy sins saith Ananias Gal. 3.27 As many of ye as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ and by faith ye are all the children of God For Christ sanctifieth his Church Eph. 5.27 cleansing it with the laver of water in the word From all which thou maist strongly conclude that Baptism is a ransom for captives Basil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tom 1. p. 446. Cyrill Hieros in praefat Catech. a remission of debts a death of sin a being born again a bright garment of the soul an inviolable seal a chariot to heaven the Inn of the kingdom the gift of adoption * Naziaâ—z orat in S. Bapt. p. 615. It is the brightness of souls the change of life the answer of the conscience towards God an help of our weakness It is a putting away of the flesh a following of the Spirit a communion of the word It is an amendment of the creature a deluge to sin a partaking of light a dissolution of darkness It is a chariot unto God anaccompanying of Christ the prop of faith the perfection of the mind the glory of the kingdom of heaven a change of life a taking away of servitude a loosing of bands a changing of apparel Tertul. 4. adver Marc. p. 231. Aug. 2. cont Crescon c. 18. Paulin. epist 12. ad Sever. It is the spring of true life and true righteousness an abridged laver the Sacrament of life and eternal salvation The holy Ghost into this pool descends Whose waters by an heavenly spring are fed Which influenc'd by th' Deity forth sends An holy offspring from eternal seed For in the Baptism of Christ it was demonstrated by visible signs what the divine grace worketh invisibly in our Baptism Chemnit in cap. 17. Harm The water of Baptism was sanctified by the touch of our Lords body for whatsoever Christ promerited and obtained in the body of his flesh he deposited as it were in his Baptism He received Baptism with us sinners to testifie that we by Baptism are made his members As the eternal Father in the Baptism of Christ said This is my beloved son so at this day he adopts for sons all that believe and are baptized As in the Baptism of Christ heaven was opened so to this day by the sacrament of Baptism the gate of the heavenly paradise is opened to us As the holy Ghost in Christ's Baptism descended upon him in the form of a dove so in our Baptism the holy Ghost is present and therein doth effectually work our regeneration and renovation so that thus in Baptism concurr the grace of the Father adopting the merit of the Son cleansing and the efficacy of the holy Spirit regenerating If therefore thou art baptized thou canst not doubt of the grace of God the remission of sins and the promise of eternal life Baptism is the laver of regeneration where there is regeneration there is remission of sins there is the grace of God there is perfect righteousness there is renewing there is the gift of the holy Ghost there is adoption and there is the inheritance of eternal life Falling from the Covenant of Baptism Tempted I believe indeed that I was received into the covenant of grace by the sacrament of Baptism that I thereby obtained remission of sins and was writ in the book of life but I have faln from the grace of this covenant again by my sins by repeating my transgressions I have made void the aforegoing remission and have often deserved to be blotted out of the book of life Comforter No but the covenant of God is an everlasting covenant to which thou maist always return by true and hearty repentance For as God declares concerning the sacrament of Circumcision Gen. 17.13 that it is an everlasting covenant so let us not doubt but that in Baptism which succeeded in the place of Circumcision Col. 2.11 God enters into and establisheth an everlasting covenant with us I will betroth thee to me for ever saith he by the Prophet Hos 2.19 yea I will betroth thee in righteousness and in judgement and in loving kindness and in mercies I will betroth thee to me in faithfulness Isai 54.10 The mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Rom. 3.3 God forbid we should say the faith of God is made without effect by our unbelief If we give never so little belief to his words or depart from him 1 Tim. 2.13 yet he abideth faithful always the same true and constant he cannot deny himself Therefore by the sins of thy natural infirmity thou fallest not from the free covenant of God By sins committed against thy conscience thou fallest indeed from the grace of God and the covenant of grace but thou maist return to the everlasting covenant of God by true repentance The ship of Baptism splits not though we leap out of it into the sea of sins therefore by repentance which in this sence may be called secunda post naufragium tabula Hier. in c. 3. Isa v. 9. we may return again to the same ship of Baptism that we may in it be wasted to the port of eternal salvation Tertul. lib. de poenit p. 479. Therefore embrace repentance as a shipwrackt person catches hold of a plank this will lift thee up when ready to be drowned in the waves of thy sins and will carry thee into the haven of Gods mercy Peter had denied his Master but being converted he notwithstanding seeks the promise of salvation in Baptism 1 Pet. 3.21 The Galatians and the Corinthians had faln foully yet when they were renewed again by repentance the Apostle offers them comfort drawn from Baptism declaring that as many of them as had been baptized Gal. 3.27 had put on Christ and clearly affirming that they were washed 1 Cor. 6.11 12 13. and by one spirit were baptized into one body namely mystical whence it clearly appears that the efficacy of the Baptismal covenant is extended to the future and is not quite enervated and abolished by mans fall but on God's part remains continually a firm and established covenant When Paul therefore says Aug. 1. de nup. concup c. 33. that Christ cleanseth the Church in the laver of water in the word it is thus to be understood that in the same laver of regeneration and word of sanctification all the sins of regenerate men are cleansed healed not only those by-past all which are remitted in Baptism but also those which are contracted afterwards by humane ignorance and frailty Not that Baptism should be
of thy soul that he would prepare himself a meet habitation in thy heart Chrysost in 1 Cor. 11. thou considerest the greatness of those things that are present and set forth in the holy supper and thou considerest the largeness of the divine gift thou hungrest and thirstest after righteousness Matt. 5.6 and therefore thou shalt be filled those sins shall not hurt Luk. 15.20 which please not Thou hastenest with tears to thy heavenly Father thou grievest for thy sins and thou desirest to satisfie the hunger of thy soul with this heavenly food vers 22. doubt not but that the most bountiful Father will kiss and receive thee with joy he will give thee the first robe of innocence he will cloath thee with the garments of salvation he will put a ring on thy hand he will seal thee with his holy Spirit vers 23. he will put shoes on thy feet he will direct thee in the way of peace and righteousness he will fill thee with the flesh of that sacrifice that was slain on the altar of the Cross and was offered for a sweet savour to him Lay aside therefore all fear of eating unworthily he that is most unworthy in his own eyes is accepted with God he that displeaseth himself pleaseth God he that in himself is broken with true contrition of heart is lifted up again by the most bountiful hand of God Weakness of faith Tempted Faith is altogether requisite to the wholsome use of the Lord's supper and the partaking of the promises of the Gospel seeing to the partaking of an alms there is not only required the hand of the giver but there must also be the hand of the receiver But now my faith is weak the ship of my heart being tossed with various storms of temptations totters and casts me down from the firmness of faith Comforter Weak faith is yet faith and faith does not therefore lay hold on Christ and in Christ the grace of God forgiveness of sins and life eternal be-because it is strong but because it is faith a strong faith embraces Christ more strongly yet nevertheless a weak faith also does not reject Christ but savingly lays hold on him The faithful servant of God Christ thy saviour breaketh not the bruised reed Isa 42.2 nor quencheth the smoaking flax but receiveth him that is weak in faith most bountifully Rom. 14.3 The least spark of faith is the work of the Spirit because of our selves as of our selves we cannot as much as think a good thought 1 Cor. 3.5 but to will and to do is from God Phil. 2.13 therefore God will not despise his own work which he hath begun in thy heart by his holy Spirit but will perfect and confirm it Isa 66.13 As a mother comforteth her children so doth the Lord comfort us Now a mother treats an infant far more tenderly and has a greater care of it than of the rest that are grown up so God rejecteth not one weak in faith but takes care to heal and strengthen him as one languishing If ye shall have faith as a grain of mustard-seed and shall say to this mountain Remove from hence to such a place it shall remove Mat. 16.20 and nothing shall be impossible to you saith the Truth If a miraculous faith can do so much as to remove mountains though it hardly equal a grain of mustard-seed why cannot salvifick faith do the same even remove mountains of temptations and doubts be it never so weak and feeble God's strength is perfected in our weakness 2 Cor. 12.9 see therefore thou be not cast down in mind for the weakness of thy faith but rather look upon the strength of God God can water what is dry heal what is wounded bend what is stiff foster what is cold reduce what goeth out of the way Only acknowledge the weakness of thy faith and lean so much the more on the divine word for as the word is the seed of faith so also the nourishment Pray with Christs disciples Luk. 17.5 Lord encrease our faith and with the father of the Lunatick Mark 9.24 Lord I believe help thou my unbelief The not perceiving of faith Tempted My faith is not only weak but sometimes I perceive no faith at all in my heart nor do I call upon God with that fervency of spirit as can pierce the clouds I fear therefore lest my faith be quite perished and extinct and if faith be extinct what hope or safety can there remain to me I examine my self 2 Cor. 13.5 and lo I perceive not faith in my heart I shall therefore be of the number of reprobates Comforter The spirit helpeth our infirmity as it were by putting his hand under us For as we know not what we ought to pray for nor how to pray as we ought but in the mean time the Spirit interceeds for us with unutterable groans so sometimes we perceive not what or how we believe but the Spirit cherisheth and preserves faith in our heart A spark may lie hid rak'd up under the ashes although it appear not outwardly so faith sometimes dwells in the inmost recesses of the heart though it be not perceived of our selves Wherefore though thou perceivest no faith gather not presently from thence that all thy faith is perished and dead seeing thou yet desirest longest and art willing to believe that desire that longing that willing proceeds from faith Moreover 't is one thing not to perceive we believe and another not to be willing to believe that is a sign of languishing but this of obstinate stubbornness Christ does verily dwell in thy heart by faith Eph. 3.17 although thou do not manifestly feel that indwelling of grace even as the holy Spirit that inward comforter hath an holy dwelling in thy heart although he sometime withdraw from thee the sense of that comfort As Abraham the father of the faithful Rom. 4.8 against hope believed in hope so thou oughtest to rely upon the word against thy sense As we ought to captivate every thought to the obedience of faith 2 Cor. 10.5 so do thou captivate thy not feeling of thy faith by faith that is receive the word in thy heart and firmly cleave to it The seed lies hid under the clods of the earth when it does not as yet thrust forth so much as a blade so the seed of faith lies hid in the heart although the fruit thereof do not as yet fully and plainly appear In sleep thou perceivest not faith but who will say that faith is then perished so in this temptation a certain sleep as it were has oppressed thy soul so that thou perceivest not the motion of thy faith but far be it that thou shouldst therefore suppose faith extinct An inability to believe Tempted I breath indeed after my saviour but I both feel and grieve that I cannot believe I could have wish'd indeed that I might have
that Christ thy Lord obtaineth it on a double account both by being the heir of the Father and by the merit of his passion he is content with the first the latter he bestoweth on thee from whose gift challenge it for thy self and thou shalt not be confounded The temptation of despair Tempted The Devil solicits me to despair Comforter I would have thee despair namely of thy self and in thy self because thou art a sinner but despair not in God whose grace aboundeth over thy sin Rom. 5.21 Chrysost hom 3. de poenit For no more is the malice of man to the clemency of God than a spark of fire is to the sea The sea although it be great yet it admits of measure but the mercy of God is unmeasurable Neither despair of Christ and in Christ 1 Tim. 1.15 who came into the world to save sinners whose blood avails more to reconcile God than the sins of all the world to offend him Although thy sins be great and diverse and often repeated yet they are not greater nor more grievous than thou maist obtain pardon and forgiveness for in that the goodness of God is greater than the iniquity of all men Sins as it were set with the sun but the grace of God riseth with it Sins are the works of the Devil and of man To have pity to spare and to forgive are the works of God By how much therefore God is more powerful than the Devil and man by so much is his mercy above our malice The Lord is merciful and gracious Ps 103.8 slow to anger and plenteous in mercy v. 9. He doth not always chide neither doth he keep his anger for ever v. 10. He dealeth not with us after our sins nor rewardeth us according to our iniquities v. 11. For as the heaven is high above the earth so great is his mercy toward them that fear him v. 12. As far as the East is from the West so far removeth he our transgressions Heaven is incomparably greater than the earth which is but like a very little point in comparison with heaven but so is the mercy of the heavenly Father incomparably greater than all sins Bern. Serm. 11. in Cant. col 518. Be far then from saying Mine iniquity is greater than the pity of a merciful God Thou shalt find God more bountiful than thou art faulty Gerson de remed contra pusillan So great is God's mercy that if thou hadst all the sins of the world upon thee and wert sorry that thou hadst proudly offended so good a God by thy sins and didst firmly purpose for the future to refrain therefrom God would never condemn thee Dost thou so forget the satisfaction made by Christ that thou wilt prefer thy sins before the merit of Christ that is thy self before God Thou seest the greatness of the disease Aug. in Psal 55. and seest thou not the power of the physician Thy sins are great Christ is far greater that satisfied for thy sins Thy sins are diverse but Christ also suffered diverse things for thee God is an infinite good whom thou hast offended by thy sins but Christ is an infinite person who hath reconciled thee to God Sigh therefore unto the heavenly Father and pray in the name of the Son thy Saviour If thou O eternal God Ansh de redempt gen hum fol. 96. despisest me for mine iniquity as I deserve however for the dearness of thy beloved Son look upon me with pity Observe in thy Son what thou maist atone in thy servant Behold the Sacrament of his flesh and remit the guilt of my flesh remember what â—â—y good Son has suffered and forget what thy bad servant hath done The Temptation of Blasphemy Tempted I must needs confess I am not only solicited to despair but am also sometimes tempted with the spirit of Blasphemy for there arise such thoughts in my heart as are injurious against God himself my Creator and my Saviour I would choose to die a thousand times to be freed from this temptation Comforter These thoughts are not the actions of thine heart but rather its bitter passions seeing thou art not delighted with them but thy grief from them is more bitter than death it self They are the scourges of Satan whereby he afflicts and torments thee they will not be reckoned for sin unto thee by the Lord. And though thou have the greatest impatience of spirit from the infirmity of thy flesh yet the Lord knows thy groans and thy sighs The weight of temptations did force hard words even from Job and Jeremy which yet the most bountiful God did fatherly forgive them Thou seest by them how altogether no strength unto good thou hast from thy self that thou maist cleave unto God alone with full trust of heart This is the top and highest degree of thy fight against Satan see that thou despond not here the greatest champion will be with thee and will not leave thee destitute of his help Wait patiently and humbly till thou art freed of these fiery darts of Satan Eph. 6.16 in the mean time let the grace of God be sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 It is the flesh which so striveth against the spirit and is so ready and obedient to receive the darts of Satan the sin that dwells in thy flesh shall not be imputed unto thee if through the spirit thou mortifie the deeds of the flesh and consent not to those blasphemous thoughts Those fiery darts of Satan shall be quenched in the blood of Christ turn towards him the shield of faith and as soon as thou perceivest any blasphemous thought to arise betake thy self to prayer and so thou maist kill it as it were in the bud The particularness of the premises Tempted I perceive some comfort of the Spirit in my heart I observe some trust in my mind that keeps me from despair when I behold the mercy of God abounding over my sins and the merit of Christ which is of infinite price and value But I doubt whether the Evangelical promises of the mercy of God and merit of Christ belong to me For God is not only merciful but he is also a most just and severe punisher of sins and alas experience sheweth that all are not partakers of the benefits of Christ Comforter But look thou give not way to those seducing thoughts of the particularness of the Evangelical promises God calleth all to him desireth all will come unto him he offereth the word of the Gospel and in it the benefits of Christ unto all and that not feignedly but sincerely not hypocritically but with a mind to bestow Ezek. 18.31 32. ch 33.11 As I live saith the Lord I desire not the death of a sinner but that he should turn and live Here thou hast the solemn oath of Divine truth thou seest their conversion is expected and desired by God that by their own fault die in their sins
conscience anew for the relapses of sin are very dangerous In this life there is yet time for pardon time for grace time for quieting conscience In this life the book of conscience may yet be mended out of the book of life But at the last judgment the books will be opened Rev. 20.12 and among them the book of conscience also in which before all the world shall be seen writ in fair letters all the sins of men that were not in this world blotted out by true contrition by faith and amendment of life Before that day of judgement come and the time of grace be past thou maist have a fair hope and sure trust that the blood of Jesus Christ Heb. 9.14 who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God will purge thy conscience from dead works to serve the living God Late repentance Tempted I am at last indeed sorry for having so wounded my conscience I do at last desire a remedy for my wounds at last I have a desire to keep a good conscience for the future but I fear lest my repentance be too late I am a fraid lest the divine grace being so oft rejected by me should also reject and forsake me Late repentance useth to deceive many Aug. de vera falsa poenit c. 17. and that repentance that proceedeth from a dying man he ought to fear lest it dye also Comforter No but there is nothing too late which is true and sincere Cypr. tract 1. cont Demetr While a man is in this life there is no repentance too late there are some who being called come into the Lords vineyard at the eleventh hour of the day Mat. 20.9 and obtain the reward of grace No delay of time prejudiceth God's justice or piety Fulgent Epist 7. Repentance is never late with God in whose sight as well past things as future are always accounted for present Behold the example of the thief on the cross who having confessed Christ with his mouth on the tip of whose lips as it were his soul was ready to depart obtains pardon of sins and a free promise of an heavenly paradise Heb. 3.13 Whilst it is called to day so long God doth earnestly will our conversion As long as the heavenly bridegroom delayeth his coming Mat. 25.5 so long the gate of grace and forgiveness is open A man's whole life even the last hour of it is granted for space to repent in Isai 65.2 The Lord stretcheth forth his hand all the day long Joh. 6.37 nor does he cast out any that cometh unto him at what time soever he come Have a care therefore that thy repentance be true and sincere and thou needst not fear it will be too late If when death approaches thou therefore repent because thou art deprived of opportunities to sin that is a false repentance for thus thou leavest not thy sins but they leave thee If thou therefore repent because thou seest the punishment of thy sins near that is also a false repentance for it proceeds from a love of thy self not from a sincere love of God It proceeds not from the hatred of sin but from the irksomness of a most just punishment Therefore that thou maist truly and heartily repent grieve for thy sins so often committed and therefore grieve because thou hast so often and so grievously offended a most gracious God by them In Christ seek for pardon of thy sins and firmly resolve to employ the remainder of thy life wholly in the service of God submit thy self to God and be humbled in thy heart before him permit to his will what and how great punishments a thousand times deserved he will inflict on thee that it may appear thou repentest out of an hatred to thy sin and not to thy punishment Such a contrite and humbled soul will be a most acceptable sacrifice to God for so he saith by the Prophet Psal 51.19 Isai 66.2 To whom will I look but to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and that trembleth at my word Doubting of the grace of God Tempted I feel in my heart indeed a deep contrition and sorrow for my sins nor do I altogether despair of the mercy of God but in the mean time my heart is shaken with the waves of doubts nor am I yet certain of the free pardon of my sins I hope well indeed but in the mean time I humbly doubt The consideration of God's mercy raiseth me up but the thought of my unworthiness presseth me down again I am turned to God and therefore I hope well I turn but late therefore in part I doubt still Comforter But I will put under thy staggering faith such strong props as whereon thou maist lean against all the storms of doubtings For that doubting is not an humble confession of our unworthiness but a dangerous opposing the faith we owe to God's promises nor is there any reason strong enough why we should doubt in late conversion and repentance seeing the divine clemency doth offer a most certain promise of remission of sins to all that heartily repent Attend first therefore to the immoveable truth of all God's promises Whosoever confessing and grieving for their sins seek for pardon of them in Christ and make a firm purpose of amendment of life to them hath God promised his grace forgiveness of sins and eternal life Joh. 13.15 Whosoever believeth in the son shall not perish but have everlasting life vers 18. 1 Joh. 5.12 Mark 16.16 He that believeth in him is not condemned He that hath the son hath eternal life He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved He that hath promised these things is God whose word is firmer than heaven and earth who is truth it self 2 Tim. 2.11 who is faithful and cannot deny himself or his word What therefore God offers with undoubted promises thou must accept with an undoubted faith and there is no reason thou shouldst object the infirmity of thy Nature which cannot embrace the promises with so great assurance of reliance for this is a fault of thy Nature which should be amended by the efficacy of the holy Spirit As thou believest not in Christ by thy natural strength but by the working of the holy Ghost so by the grace of the same Spirit thou maist be ascertained of the mercy of the heavenly Father against all inherent doubtings of corrupt nature 1 Joh. 5.10 He that believeth not God hath made him a liar As much as thou doubtest so much thou losest of thy faith thou must therefore resist that doubting which is not to be set off with the specious name of humility for humility ought to rise from the consideration of our unworthiness and yet in the mean time never the less a firmness of trust ought to arise from the meditation of God's promises Therefore hath God come forth from the secret throne of his Majesty
he fall for therefore those that will not persevere are mixed with those that shall by the wise will of God that we may learn not to soar too high but to joyn with the lowly and work out our salvation with fear and trembling Therefore with one eye of the heart behold the mercy of God but with the other the justice of God from a faithful view of God's mercy let there arise in thy heart a trust of perseverance from the fear of God's justice let there arise in it a shunning of carnal security Let divine love penetrate thy flesh lest the love of sinful flesh deceive thee Psa 147.11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him and hope in his mercy Let our inner man hope and trust the outward fear and tremble Doubting of being written in the book of life Tempted Those only persevere and receive the crown of perseverance that are writ in the book of life But how can I know that I am writ in the book of life Comforter That book of life is Christ whence 't is called the book of life of the Lamb. Rev. 13.8.21.27 The writing into this book of life is nothing else than the election of believers in Christ to life eternal For as the faithful are said to be chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world Eph. 1.5 Rev. 17.8 so their names are said to be writ in the book of life from the foundation of the world Therefore we must pass judgment as of election so also of writing into the book of life not à priori but à posteriori Bern. serm 1. Septuag There are clear signs and tokens of salvation given that it may not be questioned but that he is of the number of the elect in whom those signs remain For they that from eternity were elected unto life those in time hear the word of salvation believe in Christ put forth the fruits of the Spirit and persevere in faith 1 Joh. 5.10 He therefore that believeth on the son hath the witness of God in himself Rom. 8.16 for the holy Spirit in the heart of believers beareth witness that they are the children of God and writ in the book of life Those whom God hath predestinated from eternity and whose names he hath written in heaven Luk. 10.20 Rom. 8.30 he calls in time by his word and justifies by true faith in Christ That faith shows it self by hearty calling upon God by patience under the cross by endeavour after holiness Therefore let the holy and wholsome thought of election and the book of life begin at the wounds of Christ hanging on the cross He that believes in him Rom. 10.9 and perseveres in faith is justified and writ in the book of the living Wast thou not received into the covenant of grace by Baptism washt from thy sins in the blood of Christ regenerated and renewed by the holy Ghost this is an evident sign that thou art writ in the book of life Gal. 3.26 27. For we are all the children of God by faith seeing as many as have been baptized into Christ Savanar in Psal 31. have put on Christ Wherefore falling into sin through the infirmity of the flesh after Baptism art thou not contrite who put his hand under thee who received thee into favour again who but the Lord This is a great sign of thine election An elect person when he falleth shall not be broken God did not write the Tables of the Destinies or the Decrees of Rhadamanthus but the book of life when he elected us in Christ before the foundation of the world In Christ therefore by faith seek thy election to life and thy writing into the book of life walk by faith that thou maist arrive at predestination Ex Aug ust Lomb. 1. sent dist 41. D. They that rashly and without the bounds of the word search the depths of God they are at length swallowed in the deep The fear of Deatd Tempted It is good for me to cleave to Christ I will notlet him go out of my heart until he bless me I have resolved to persevere in a true faith in Christ that I may come to reign with him Yet I confess still I am not yet free from all fear of death nor do I feel that strength and assistance of the Spirit as with the Apostle earnestly to desire to be dissolved Comforter Such is the infirmity of our flesh and disposition of corrupt Nature as that we are more desirous of this flitting life than of that to come which is permanent hence is that fear and terror of death which that thou maist overcome by vertue of the Spirit and maist grow in the strength of the inner man consider those things which I shall propound to thee out of the store-house of heavenly truth First it is certain that even the hairs of our head are all numbred by God Mat. 10.30 Job 14.5 Psal 139. the number of our months is appointed by him he hath set us bounds which we cannot pass All our dayes were written in his book before there was one of them Therefore good reason thou shouldst acquiesce in this fatherly will of God he gave thee life of his grace he wonderfully brought thee forth of the recesses of thy mothers womb how long hath he continued thy life he hath preserved thee from a thousand dangers that soul which he once gave he now asks again he takes not away what is thine but requires back what is his And what Action can lye against him that calls for his loan Moreover the soul that he requires of thee he translates into the joyes of an heavenly paradise and hereafter he will restore it adorned with greater glory and nobler endowments to the body again That body which is lodged in the grave shall hereafter be a more glorious worthy precious mansion for thy soul It is sown in corruption 1 Cor. 15.42 it is raised in incorruption It is sown in dishonour it shall arise in glory 43 It is sown in weakness it shall be raised in power It is sown a natural body 44. it shall arise a spiritual body Thy soul therefore created of God delivered by the son inhabited by the holy Spirit do thou humbly and readily commend as a pledge into the faithful hands of God saying with David and Stephen Psal 31.6 Acts 7.59 Luk. 23.46 yea with Christ thy head Into thy hands I commend my spirit thou hast redeemed me O God of truth Nay canst thou not in the very agony of death most certainly promise thy self the presence and help of God For seeing thou embracest Christ the Mediator by a true faith being certainly perswaded that by his death he hath overcome thine and by his resurrection hath restored righteousness and immortal life unto thee therefore being justified by this faith thou hast peace with God Rom. 5.1 and in the midst of
the Cup of Salvation Salvation is in the cup death is now no more since the Lord of life destroyed death his death hath quickened our life and hath sweetned and taken away the sting of death from us Our Apostle does not ask Oh death what is thy sting though the words which follow seem to be an answer to such a question the sting of death is sin it seems then that death is not the sting of sin but sin is the sting of death for says Anselm we do indeed dye for sinning but we do not sin for dying And as those words following answer to a Question which they ask not so the former words ask a question to which those following answer not Oh death where is thy sting Now not to tell you where it is is as much as to say it is no where death hath now no sting let us all rejoyce and be glad this serpent may hiss at us this wasp may buz about us but it can now neither bite not sting us the sting of death is gone and nothing remains but the name nay the name too is gone to them that are in Christ Jesus the death of the godly man is not to be called a death but a sleep a resting from their labours a delivery out of prison a laying down their burden a flying to their desired home death now hath lost her sting it is not now a punishment but a happy passage not so much an end of this life as an entrance into a better not a destruction but a dissolution only a separation of the soul and body for a short time that so they might be joyned together to enjoy heaven and happiness with Christ our Lord and life to all eternity Thus have we asked this one question of death Oh death where is thy sting now let us ask another of our selves why are we so desperately and despairingly afraid of death since we have heard and do certainly know that death hath lost her sting Oh faithless and faint-hearted man why dost thou tremble O Christian to encounter with thy last enemy since its weapon is now taken from it why dost thou shrink at the coldness of the serpent when thou knowest her poyson and sting are quite taken away Oh faithless and faint-hearted soul to be so afraid of a shadow Alas why do we so dreadfully fear death since our souls are not lost but sent before it is for those only to tremble at death that pass from one death to another from the death of the body on earth to the death of the body and soul in hell for ever it is for those only to fear a temporal death so terribly who are either ignorant or do despair of eternal life who go from their Prison in this world to the place of their execution world without end But as for those that are in Christ Jesus they pass from a prison to a Palace from a dungeon to a Throne from a crazy and miserable Tabernacle here to an eternal habitation in the heavens It is for them says Cyprian to fear to be dissolved who have no hope to be with Christ A despairing fear of death is but a despair of eternal life after death Men naturally chuse rather to suffer a great deal of pain and live than to endure a small pain in dying which demonstrates that it is something after death and not death it self which we so much dread Let those only desire to linger in the miseries of this present life who hope thereby to delay a while the torments and miseries of the life to come But as for us Christians we that are in Christ Jesus why are we afraid to arrive at our haven of rest after so many dangers storms and shipwracks which we have suffered in this world having fought a good fight and finished our course why do we doubt or delay to go and receive our Crown of glory having run our race why seem we so unwilling to receive the prize let us not fear the threats of a Temporal death but rather let us rejoyce in the promises of eternal life For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we dye we dye unto the Lord therefore whether we live or dye we are the Lords Let not our lives be so wicked and prophane as that we should be therefore ashamed to live neither let us be so negligent and ignorant of death as to be therefore afraid to dye But at the instant of our departure let us every one say as that dying Saint did which Hierom mentions go forth my soul go forth what dost thou fear Let every soul of us learn to say sincerely and chearfully at his last passage from his earthly Pilgrimage What though I dye I know that my Redeemer liveth though my body be dissolved yet shall my Spirit be conjoyned with Christ my Saviour Lye down then O my body and return unto thy dust mount aloft O my soul and meet thy Saviour in the Air my body shall be earth and worms meat for a short time but my soul I am assured shall be a companion with Saints and Angels for ever and ever Amen Divine Contemplations and Soliloquies upon Death and Eternity I. AS all the creatures O God were made by thy wisdom so they may be useful for our instruction to teach us to dye my garments that wax old may put me in mind that I my self shall wax old like a Garment and that as a Vesture I shall be changed Let me not therefore love the shadow and leave the substance let me not change heaven for earth things temporal for things eternal and since my life is but as a day let me so live by thy Divine assistance this day as if I were certain to dye to morrow and since my life is but as a watch in the night my soul shall wait for thee O Lord before the morning watch I will wait for thee in zealous Affections in unwearied patience in undoubted confidence and expectation of the joy that will come in the morning wherein thou wilt appear for my deliverance out of this transitory life and with my lamp prepared I will be in readiness to meet my Bridegroom at his coming II. Whilest I behold the heavens the works of thy hands O Lord and the Sun and Moon which thou hast ordained which shall all pass away as a tempest I will look for a new heaven and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness the heaven of heavens the City of the ever-living God the celestial Jerusalem the place where thy honour dwells therefore while I am on earth let me consider that I am but earth let me always remember that I am but dust an house of clay a body of corruption let me not be earthly-minded like those whose God is their belly whose glory is their shame and whose end is destruction who mind earthly things While I look upon the water-flouds let me say this is mine
of the Spirit Luk. 11.13 2 Tim. 1.6 for the Lord will give the Spirit to them that ask him Stir up the gift of the holy Spirit that is in thee namely by praying seeking knocking meditating on the word and resisting naughty desires There is no perfection here but a continued way to perfection Besides this inward sealing and witnessing of the holy Spirit God hath given thee the sacraments which are the seals of his promises the conveyers of the benefits of Christ and the means to beget feed and strengthen thy faith that thou maist be assured that the benefits of Christ belong to thee in particular By Baptism thou art received into the covenant of Gods grace in the holy supper thou art fed with the body and blood of Christ in private Absolution thou art pronounced free from the chains of sins Cypr. serm de mort pag. 209. Being confirmed with these seals certainly and undoubtedly believe the word of the Gospel Why dost thou doubt and waver this is not to eat thy Saviour at all this is to offend Christ the Master of believers with the sin of unbelief this is for one that is placed in the Church not to have faith in the house of faith Attend moreover unto the infallibleness of the audience promised thee God hath promised even with his oath added that he will hear our prayers and give unto us whatever we ask according to his will Joh. 16.23 Verily verily I say unto you saith Christ Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name he will give it you Mat. 18.19 If two of you agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask it shall be done unto them of my Father which is in heaven 1 Joh. 5.14 This is the confidence that we have in God if we ask any thing according to his will we shall obtain it He that hath promised us hearing hath bid us ask remission of sins what place therefore can there be left to doubt of remission of sins How would Christ have bid us to add the word Amen unto our prayer if he would have us doubt of audience Attend therefore lastly unto the property of true faith as by which we have access into that grace wherein we stand and boast of the hope of glory promised by God Heb. 4.16 by which with confidence we come to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace by which through the power of God we are kept unto salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 by which we know that we are translated from death to life 1 Joh. 3.14 by which we are most firmly perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels Rom. 8.38 nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come vers 39. nor height nor depth nor any other creature can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Considering all these things let thy weakness encourage it self Aug. in Psal 148. let it not despair let it not chafe it self let it not avert it self Christ hath promised thee that thou shalt be there where he is What hath God promised thee O mortal man that thou shalt live for ever Believest thou not believe believe that is more which he hath done already than that which he hath promised what hath he done he hath died for thee what hath he promised that thou shalt live with him It is more incredible that he who was eternal should dye than that a mortal should live eternally Now that thou art sure of that which is more incredible why dost thou doubt of the other God hath promised thee heaven he hath given thee his Son who is a greater gift than heaven and earth Doubting of perseverance Tempted I no wise doubt but that an access unto God lieth open unto me by Christ the Mediator I trust I am in the grace of God in the mean time I am made to doubt of perseverance I know that perseverance alone is crowned I hear that only they that persevere to the end shall be saved Mat. 10.22.24.46 Aug. Serm. 8. ad fratr in Eremo It is vertue not to have begun but to have perfected nor is the beginning but the end required in Christians Hieron in Epist ad Furiam Judas begun well but ended ill Paul begun ill but ended well Without perseverance neither he that fighteth obtaineth the victory Theol. myst Harph. c. 34 nor he that conquereth the palm I hear our Master of combats crying Rev. 3.11 Hold fast what thou hast lest another receive thy crown I hear and fear I fear and doubt I doubt and throw away trust of heart Comforter Consider three things wherein all thy hope consists the dearness of adoption Bern. serm 3. de sep frag miser col 183. the truth of the promise the power of performance Let thy foolish cogitation murmur now as much as it will saying What art thou and how great is that glory or with what merits dost thou hope to obtain it and do thou confidently answer I know whom I have believed and I am sure he hath adopted me in great tenderness that he is true in his promises that he is powerful in his performance This is a threefold cord that is hardly broken which being let down unto thee out of our country into this prison lay firm hold on it I pray thee that it may raise thee up that it may draw thee to the view of the glory of the great God This is a most firm anchor of thy hope these are those three pillars whereby thou maist bear against the waves and storms of doubtings namely the good-will of God adopting the certain faithfulness of the promiser and the immense power of fulfilling the promises The good God hath promised good things he hath begun to work that which is good in thee he that hath begun Phil. 2.13 will also perfect according to his good pleasure The good God hath promised good things he that hath promised is faithful and true he will not suffer thee to be tempted above thy strength 1 Cor. 10.13 but with the temptation will give an issue that thou maist be able to bear it 2 Tim. 1.12 The good God hath promised good things he that hath promised is able to fulfil his promises Be thou confident therefore that he can keep his pledge until the day of judgement Joh. 10.28 29. None shall take Christ's sheep out of his hands The heavenly Father that hath given them to the Son is greater than all and none can take them out of the Father's hands Christ the only high Priest of the new Testament hath prayed for all that by the word were to believe in him that they may be with him Joh. 17.20 and may behold the glory that is given him by the heavenly Father Wherefore seeing thou also believest in Christ thou hast the witness of God in thy self 1