there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth Psalm 125. 5. And as he is of all sinners the greatest for his counterfeit holyness is in Gods sight a double wickedness so will his punishment in hell be the greatest Mat. 23. 14. Therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation Job 20. 5. 23 24 25. God shall rain down the fury of his wrath upon him c. He shall suck the poyson of Asps the Vipers tongue shall slay him c. God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him All darknes shall be hid in his secret places and fire not blown shall consume him c. This is the portion appointed to such a man by God And this portion is the portion of unbelevers expressed in Ps 11 6. Vpon the wicked he shall rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their cup they shall be cut asunder and torn in pieces there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Luke 12. 46. compared with Mat. 24. 51. the Lord of that servant shall come c. and shall cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Psalm 50. 16. 22. Now consider this ye that forget God least I tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver CHAP. XIII Arguments to perswade to Sincerity and against Hypocrisie in Services AND now to perswade us to Sincerity in our particular Works and Services especially in the service of God we may take up and use these motives 1 God is upright in his work and all that he doth he doth in uprightnesse and wee are to be followers of God Ier. 32. 41. And I will plant them c. with my whole heart and whole soul Ephes 5. 1. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children 2 God requires uprightness in us in all that we doe in his service Heb. 20 22. Let us draw near with a true heart c. Deut. 10. 12. And now Israel what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to fear the Lord c. and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul 1 Sam. 12. 20. 1 Pet. 1. 2. Love one another with a pure heart fervently 1 Sam. 12 10. Rom. 12. 8 9. 1 Chr. 28. 9. 3 This sincere service agreeth with the nature of God whom we serve 1 For he is a Spirit Iohn 4. 24. God is a spirit and must be worshipped in spirit and truth 2 He is a great King Mal. 1. 14. For I am a great king saith the Lord of hosts my name is dreadful c. He is not as man but as far above man as the heavens are above the earth Ps 55. 9. Mal. 1. 6. A son honoureth his father and a servant his master If I then be a father where is mine honour and if I be a master where is my fear saith the Lord of Hosts unto you O Priests that despise my name Eccles 5. 1 2. Keep thy foot when thou goest into the house of God c. For God is in heaven and thou upon earth c. 4 This is Gospel service and fit for Gospel times and Gospel worshippers and such service as God doth call for Ioh. 4. 23. The hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship him in spirit and truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him Jer. 24. 7. with 3. 10. Ezek. 36. 26 27. 5 This is the only beautiful and excellent service where there is an harmony and consent between the soul and the body in the work Heb. 11. 4 6. By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain 6 By this the meanest service may become a glorious work have much acceptance and reward from God Luke 21. 2. the widdows two mites Mat. 10. 42. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water onely in the name of a disciple verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward Exod. 1. 17 21 22. Jer. 35. 18 19. 7 Such are the services of the true servants of God 1 Thes 2. 3. Ps 119 7. 2 Tim. 2. 22. 8 The services so done only are accepted and wil be rewarded with God 1 Chron. 28. 9. Neh. 13. 14. Ezek. 18 24. 9 For no outward service can or doth please God or is accepted with him for it self or the work done but as it is joyned with sinceritie in the inward worship of Faith and love to God a desire to please and purpose to obey him Gen. 4. 4. Ps 51. 16 17. For thou desirest not sacrifice c. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Isa 66. 1 2 3. But to this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word He that killeth an oxe c. Hosea 8. 13. and 9. 4. Amos 5. 21. Micah 6. 7 8. Heb 11. 4. 10 The Hypocritical service is a lye and a lye not to men so much as to God Hosea 11. 12. Ephraim compasseth me about with lyes c. Acts 5. 3. 11 The Hypocritical service albeit it be not despised by men yet God doth know it and will make it known to others to the shame of him that doth it 1 Chr. 28. 9. And then Solomon know thou the God c. and serve him with a perfect heart c. for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understâ—â—deth all the imaginations of the thoughts c. Mat. 6. 5 6. Mat. 19. 29. with Ps 44. 21 22. And it is not onely not accepted but sleighted of God it being a grievous sin a pollution and prophanation of Gods name it is a provocation of his wrath and doth draw down grievous judgements upon men that doe so perform it Mal. 1. 7. 13. 14. Should I accept this saith the Lord c. But cursed be the deceiver which hath in his flock a male and voweth and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing Lev. 10. 8. Ezek. 23. 38. Numb 18. 32. Ob. But here may be objected that hypocritical service hath had a reward 2 Kings 11. 18 19 20. 1 Kings 17. 18 c 27 28 29. 2 Kings 10. 14 15. c. Ans It cannot be denyed but that God may sometimes doth give for an outward hypocritical service for the work done because it is that he would have done a temporal reward But this will not at all preserve him from the punishment of the hypocrisie of his service here nor help to prevent the eternall punishment that will unavoidably come upon him for it hereafter Mat. 6. 5 6. and 23. 33. 2 King 10. 14 c. compared with Hosea 1. 4. CHAP. XIV Meanes or helpes to get and keepe Sinceritie IF any now shall desire and will labour for sincerity and would know by what meanes he may get
sea and land to make a proselite c. SECT III. 2 In their zeale The Hipocrite may have and hath as wee have shevved a zeale and this zeale may bee upon religious grounds as is and must bee the zeale of the true Christian and according to the dictates of his Conscience But vve shall find a vvidc difference betvvene the zeale of the one and of the other in these things 1. The true Christians zeale is after knovvledge received from the Word of God and it is for Christ and his truth Isa 8. 16. Rev. 3. 19. Tit. 2. 14. Numb 25. 11 13 But the zeal of the Hypocrite is nofter the knowledge of Gods Word but after his own or other mens opinions and inventions Rom 10 2. They have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge Mat. 15. 9 Gal. 4. 17 18. and against Christ as that of Paul was at first Phil. 3. 6 9. 2. The true Christians zeal is and springs from the work of Gods Spirit and his own faith in Gods word Jer 20. 9. Acts 19 19 20. But the Hypocrites zeal ariseth from some humane Motive Tradition Custom Education or some such like thing without and the corruption of his own heart within Act. 22. 3. I was zealous toward God as ye all are this day Mat. 15. 9. Teaching for doctrines the coÌ„mandments of men Joh. 4. 20. 3. The true Christians zeal is accompanyed with a deep sense of his original and internal wickedness which the Hypocrite mindeth not Luke 18. 10 11 12. The Publican went up to pray c. He stood afar off c. 4. The true Christian being sensible of his own heart-empâ—iness of Grace and the insufficiency of all things without Christ to fill it sets a low value upon all other things in comparison of Christ and longs after and looks for all from Christ Phil. 3. 8. Luke 1. 53. But the Hypocrite hath with his zeal a heartfulness and self-confidence of his own sufficiency Luke 1. 53. Mat. 5. 6. Rom. 10 2 3. For they being ignorant of Gods righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness c. SECT IV. 3 In their love to God And the properties of true love to God The true Christian loveth God and so he must for this is the whole duty of man Mat. 22. 37. And so perhaps the Hypocrite may doe But there is a wide difference betwixt the one love and the other love thus The sincere love of the true Christian is 1 A rational and understanding love it ariseth from the knowledge of God his excellencies loveliness goodness beautie and works and especially as he is revealed in Christ by the Gospel Psal 63. 2 3. O God thou art my God early will I seek thee my sonl thirsteth for thee c. to see thy power and thy glory c. For thy loving kindness is better than life c. Psal 9. 10. Heb 1. 3. Joh. 14 9. 2 It ariseth from Gods love and the sense thereof to him and the apprehension he hath that God is a reconciled Father to him 1 Joh. 4 10. We love him because he first loved us Joh. 3. 16. Luke 7. 47 2 Thes 2. 16. 3 It is a natural love as the love of a childe to the father arising from his new nature as he is born and brought forth a childe of God And so he loveth God as in the relation of a Father to him Gal. 4. 6. And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Rom. 8. 15. 4. It is a pure love he loves God for his own sake and for the good he seeth to be in him and for the good he doth to others as well as for the good he doth to him And in this it is like to the true love of a man to a woman when he loves her only for her person and qualities sake and not for her portion Psal 34 8. Cant. 1. 4 15. Psal 63. 1 2 3. 5 It is an open and ingenuous love it moves the heart towards God as the heart of one faithful friend to another James 2 23. Ioh 3. 29. Ioh. 15. 14 15. 1 Cor. 13. 4. 6 It is a strong transcendent and supernaturall love And more and greater than his love is to his Father Mother Brother Sister Wife Children Self or any thing else in the world for he looks on God as his chief good and cannot be satisfied with any thing else in the world without him can acquiâ—sce in and be satisfied with him without all things else and for his sake he can and will do or suffer any thing and for the enjoyment of him he can and will part with his right eye right hand or any thing else whatsoever never so near or dear to him and in him is all his delight Mat. 10. 37. Heb. 11. 24 25 26 27 28 35. Rev. 12. 11. Cant. 8 6 7. Luke 18. 28. Psal 63. 1. 116. 7 8 4. 2. 5 7. Psal 37. 25. Luke 14. 27. 7 It labours to improve it self by all advantages and thaâ— it may love more Psal 116. 1. 8 It is a laborious and working love Gal. 5. 6. 1 Thess 1. 3. 9 It is a true love that runs through the whole man inward and outward The Thoughts 1 It will make them be all upon him Ps 113. 13. and 63. 6. ubi amor ibi oculus ibi animus 2 The Judgement it will cause it to set a great value on him Lam. 3 24. 3 The Desires it will make them to goe much after him Isa 26. 9. 4 It will make him content to wait for him Isa 26. 8 9. Psal 40. 1. 5 It will make him to be patient under delay and suffering till he come Psal 40. 1. 6 It will make the Will to close with him hold him fast and not to let him go Cant. 3. 4. Psal 18. 21. 7 It will make him rejoice in his presence and mourn for his absence c. Ps â—2 1. 11. 19. 8 It will make his tongue to be still talking of him Psal 119. 27. and 63. 3. and 145. 21. 9 It will make his hands still ready to be working for him 10 It will make the whole man to be ready to doe or suffer any thing for his sake Psal 119. 168. And not be satisfied but mourn that he can do no more for him 10 It is a lasting constant unchangeable and never dying love Cant. 8. 6 7. 11 It cannot be quenched and it doth manifest it self by these and such like signs and effects 1 By the hatred of evill Psal 97. 10. Yee that love the Lord hate evill 2 By the love of the godly 1 Ioh. 5. 1. Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him that is begotten of him 1 Pet. 1. 8. 1 Joh. 3. 13 14. 3 By pittying of and yeelding help to them in time of misery 1 Ioh. 3. 17. 4. By care to keep the Commandements of God Ioh.
danger thereby Acts 2. 37 38. Jer. 31. 19. After that I was instructed I smote upon my thigh But the repentance of the Hypocrite may arise out of the working of his natural conscience and the fear of eternal vengeance which he may have so much faith to beleeve will light upon sinners 2 In the ordinary way of Gods working on the heart in true Repentance Hee first of all convinces of the sinfulness and danger of sin and then wounds the heart as John 16. 18 19. Acts 26. 18. Ezek. 36. 31. Hosea 2. 6 7. Acts 2. 37. Luke 15. 17 18 19. And by this as by a preparative makes way for repentance and conversion and a coming to Christ so Acts 2. 37 38. where Peter adviseth the Iews then pricked in their hearts to repent compared with Mat. 11. 28. and Mat. 9. 13. And so being in Christ there is a true turning to God Hosea 7. 16. and 2. 5. and 3. 5. But the conviction and sorrow of the Hypocrite is without any turning to Christ as Iudas Mat. 27. 3 or to God in Christ either he goeth to the devil 1 Sam. 8. 28. or wicked men with Iudas Mat 7. 2 4. or to the creature or from one sin to another he returneth not to the Lord his returning is therefore compared to a cake half baked Hosea 7. 8 14 15 16. 3 The sorrow of the true Christian is a deep and thorough sorrow Zach. 12. 10 11 12. And they shall mourn as one for his only son c. Mat. 26. 75. He wept bitterly Ier. 31. 18 19. Ezek. 33. 10. But that of the Hypocrite is a sudden flash or sleight qualm of grief only Ps 78. 36. 1 Kings 21 29. 4 The sorrow of the true Christian is a durable sorrow it lasteth as long as his sin lasteth Ps 51. 3. and 42. 5. Rom. 7 24 2 Cor. 7. 10. But that which is in the heart of the Hypocrite is a short transient sorrow like to the fit of an Ague or Sea sickness Hosea 7. 14. They have not cried to mee with their hearts 5 The sorrow of the true Christian is for all sin alike Ps 51. 5. 14. But that of the Hypocrite is commonly for some speciall sin that hath as he supposeth brought or may bring some special evil upon him so Iudas Mat. 27. 3 4. 6 The sorrow of the true Christian is a godly sorrow Zach. 12. 10. 2 Cor. 7. 8 9 10. But the sorrow of the Hypocrite a worldly sorrow That of the true Christian it is a godly sorrow For 1 it is joyned with a holy shame confusion of face and self abhorring Ezek. 36. 31. Then shall ye remember your own evil wayes c. and shall loath your selves c. Ezek. 33. 10. Isa 26. 11. 2 It hath more respect to the sin than to the punishment 2 Sam. 24. 10 17. I have sinned c. But these sheep what have they done let thy hand be on me c. 3 It is heightned with the thought of this that it hath broken the Law of God which it doth know to be holy just and good Rom. 7. 12. 22. 4 There is in it a grief and displeasure a rising from hence especially that thereby hee hath offended a gracious Father and shewed himself unkind to a gracious Redeemer it is as the mourning of a Son over an offended Father Zach. 12. 10. I will pour out my spirit c. and they shall mourn for him as one would mourn for his onely son c. Psal 51. 4. 5 It hath with it the hatred of the sin Rom. 7. 15 16. For what I would that doe I not c. but what I hate that doe I c. O wretched man that I am c. 6 It hath also in or with it the fear of God offended by its sin Acts 9. 6. And he trembling and astonished said Lord what wilt thou have me to doe 2 Cor. 7. 11. 7. There is with it or in it a resolution never so to offend God again Psal 17. 3. I am purposed that my month shall not transgress 8 It is alwaies accompanied with a change of heart and life Ezâ—k 18. 31. Hee is changed in his heart Ro. 8. 2. From a carnal to a spiritual estate from darknes to light Acts 26. 18. Eph. 5. 8. From a death in sin to a life in grace Eph. 2. 1 Luk. 15. 32 From wickednlss to holiness from being under the power of Satan into the kingdome of Christ Acts 26. 18. Rom 6. 17 18. and 10. 13 The conversation of this man is also changed for he is wrought from a sinfull to a gracious course of life and doth conform himself to and comply with the whole will of God in all things Acts 9. 6. Lord what wilt thou have me to do Mat. 18. 3. Isa 55. 7. And much of this we have together in that place Jer. 31. 18 19. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus thou hast chastised me and I was chastised as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God Surely after that I was luâ—ned I repented and after that I was instructed I sâ—oâ—e upon my thigh I was ashamed yea even confounded because I did bear the rrpeoach of my youth But the sorrow of the Hypocrite that is for and about his sin is a worldly and carnal sorrow It is either because he cannot sin so much or prosper so well in his sin as he would or because of some evil of punishment within or vvithout feared or felt It may be he is under the sense of the guilt of his sin the fear of the wrath of God and the suffering of eternal vengeance for it and so under the anguish of a tormenting and unquiet conscience And hee takes more care to be rid of this than of his sin and more troubled with this than with the sin And so he may mourn for his sin and resolve upon some kind of reformation for feare that his sin otherwise may be his ruin And this is as the grief of the slave for fear of the whip Gen. 4 13 14. My punishment is greater than I can bear c. Exod. 8. 28 and chap. 10. 16 17. Forgive I pray thee my sin c. and entreat the Lord to take away this death And in his case there is no Reformation accompanying or following of it for he is at the least in his heart worse and not better afterwards Mat. 12 43 45. and 23. 27. Prov. 27. 25. So Ahab 1 Kings 21. 27 29. Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before mee c. And Saul 1 Sam. 15. 24 30. I have sinned yet honour me amongst the people c. And Judas Mat 27. 7. I have sinned betraying innocent blood c. Numb 14. 39 40 41 44. compared with Deut. 21. 41 42 43. they mourned c. for we have sinned c. and yet notwithstanding they did presently transgresse the
not his brother 2 Cor. 6. 6. 1 Iohn 2. 10. 6 Victory over the world 1 Iohn 5. 4. Whosoever is born of GOD overcometh the world 7 A strong love to and desire after the Word of God and a conformity of heart and life to it Psalm 119. 97. Oh how I love thy Law c. I have esteemed the words of his mouth better than my necessary food Iob 23. 12. Luke 8. 15. 1 Pet. 2. 3. SECT III The summe of all this Head Now of all that wee have spoken as to this point in hand and head of tryal this is then the summe That a man may enjoy all outward Gospel Priviledges such as the manifestations of Gods presence c. all Gospel Ordinances and means of Grace as Word Sacraments Sabbaths all advantages imaginable by parents education society c. Have great gifts and parts and doe much with them as Preach Pray and the like That he may in appearance be converted from the world be changed in his outward conversation cast off all his outward pollutions be so much reformed that hee may appear unblameable in the sight of men have much light from the Word of God be clearely convinced of the truth of it have such a taste of perswasion that the good thereby promised and offered doth belong to him as thereby to bee drawn to come to Christ in an open profession and some inward affections close with his Church be a Church-member bee taken of others and take himselfe to bee a true member ' seemingly own Iesus Christ for his Lord and submit to his Law live orderly with Christians in Church-fellowship and there make a glorious profession of the Gospel proceed to have many singular gifts and seeming graces do many excellent things and so live and dye yea live and dye a Martyr in the defence of the Gospel hee professeth yea he may have such a discovery of the Grace of God in Christ by the Gospel and such a seeming worke of Faith and Love in his soul as that he may bee perswaded that Christ and Heaven is his And upon this have a little love or shew of love to God and his people and live in a kinde of hope joy and expectation of Heaven to his dying day and yet be in his corrupt and unregenerate estate and perish And that he onely that is regenerate renewed by the Holy Ghost and VVord of God in his nature to be like Christ shall bee reputed sincere and so saved at last But to give a shorter account hereof let the summe of all bee this That the most certaine and infallible character of the true and living Christian and one that is a Christian indeed John 1. 47. And that whereby he may bee best known and distinguished from the counterfeit and painted Christian the Hypocrite is by that which is within him where the Kingdome of God is Luke 17. 20 21. Hee is the sincere Christian that is so inwardly Rom. 2. 29. And in him these things following are to bee found The Spirit of God and Christ is given unto him 1 Iohn 3. 24. 1 Iohn 4. 3. Rom. 8. 10 11 15. Galat. 4. 6. Rom. 8. 9. 1 Cor. 2 12. 1 Iohn 4. 13. And according to the new Covenant Isaiah 44 3. and 32. 15. Ezek 39. 29. Ioel 2. 29. Zachar. 12. 10. compared with Acts 2. 17. This spirit hee receives in the Preaching of the Gospel Galat. 3. 2. By this spirit in the Gospel hee is convinced of his own desperate and helplesse case out of Christ and that his help is in Christ alone Iohn 26. 8. And thereupon is drawne to Christ whom hee doth embrace by Faith Iohn 6. 44. Hebrews 11 13. Philip. 3. 12. Ephes 3. 16 17. Iohn 6. 56. 2 Corinth 4. 13. This Spirit and GOD the Father in it abideth and dwelleth in him 1 Corinth 3. 24. 1 Iohn 4. 13. Iohn 6. 56. Ephes 2. 22. And hee in whom this Spirit is abideth and dwelleth in GOD. 1 Corinth 3. 24. 1 John 4. 13. John 6. 56. By this Holy Spirit Christ and the soule are firmely united together and doe become even as Husband and VVife Romans 7. 4. Canticles 1 2 c. and are so joyned as the Tree and Branches Iohn 15. 1 c. Head and Body 1 Cor. 11. 3. Eph. 5. 23. Body and Soul Ephes 2. 5. Hence followeth presently a very great an universal change of the soul within appearing in the life without The change is from darkness to light from bondage to liberty from sinne to grace from death to life c. and is called Regeneration by which here is produced a new creature the soul whereof is this Spirit of God abiding in him compared to the natural generation conception and birth Iohn 3. 6. Iohn 12. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 22. Tit. 3. 5. Galat. 4. 19. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Galat. 5. 15. This Spirit of God being as the soul in the body in this new creature doth animate it Ephes 2. 5 6. Rom. 8. 11. And by it the old man is changed into a new man there is a new nature hee partakes of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. a new life Gal. 2. 20. Col. 3. 21. 1 Iohn 5. 12. This change is from the state of nature to the state of grace from the likeness of the old to the likenesse of the new Adam he hath now in him the minde of Christ Ephes 4. 24. Phil. 2. 5. 1 Cor. 15. 46 47. Phil. 3. 9. Hee now lives the life of Christ 1 Pet. 4. 6. 1 Iohn 2. 5 6. 1 Iohn 3. 24. and according to the Gospel of Christ 2 Cor. 3. 18. The Holy Spirit thus dwelling and animating in and acting of this new creature and being in it self a spirit of light life and grace Zach. 12. 10. Rom. 1. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 4. It governs him in whom it is and hee is led by it and walks after it according to the Word of God 1 Pet. 1. 22. 2 Cor. 3. 18. And as the lively pure spring doth worke out the mire and mudde out of it self so this spirit doth work out of the heart the ignorance and corruption thereof and make and keep it pure Acts 15. 9. It killeth sin Rom. 8. 10 13. Destroyeth the workes of the Devil and Flesh 1 Iohn 3. 8. Such as are Adultery Uncleannesse Lasciviousnesse Idolatry Witchcraft Hatred Variance Emulation VVrath Strife Sedition Heresies Envyings Murder Drunkenness and such like Gal. 5. 17. And quickneth inclineth and disposeth the whole heart and consequently the whole man to grace and goodnesse Rom. 8. 10. And such like fruits as these following Righteousnesse Joy Love Long suffering Gentlenesse Faith Goodnesse Meeknesse Temperance and the like Gal. 5. 19. Rom. 14. 17. and the manifestation and exercise thereof in the life are the natural and proper works fruits effects of this spirit Gal. 5. 22 23. Rom. 14. 17. 2 Cor. 5. 13. Rom. 8. 26. 2 Cor. 8. 17. Acts 2. 4. Gal. 4. 6. And
and some of them may happily continue so for a long time as some children as to their naturall strength doe by some distemper continue weak and grow but a little for a long while Yea possibly it may be so in the first conversion of a sinner to God that as the seed of Corn that is cast into the earth dyeth and lyeth long before it ariseth yet having a seed of life in it it doth at length arise and grow 1 Cor. 16. 36 37. and come to perfection So little of spiritual life or the life of the new creature may appear for a long time in that soul which may notwithstanding be quickned and truly alive to God in Christ We shall say a word to both of these kindes of weaknesse and weak Christians touching whom we say That ordinarily in the weakest of true Christians of this second sort and in the lowest and weakest estate of Christianity considered apart and free from violent temptations assaults and oppositions these things are alwayes seen and are necessarily required in every true Christian 1 The weakest Christian must bee in Christ by Faith and a new creature As one cannot bee sayd to bee of the nature of man or of mankinde till that hee bee born and brought forth of the womb of his mother So neither can one bee or bee said to bee a true Christian till he be born again and Christ be formed in him John 1. 12. But to as many as received him to them gave he power to be the sonnes of God even to them that beleeve on his name which were born c. 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature 2 He must by this means be spiritually alive and risen from the death of sin Eph. 2. 1. You that were dead hath hee quickned Gal. 2. 20. Christ liveth in me and the life I now live c. 3 He is then of the same nature and therefore must be more or less like unto the strongest Christian as children to men lambs to sheep and the most tender branches to the great bows of tree So the weakest Christian notwithstanding his weakness is partaker of the divine nature of God in Christ 2 Pet. 1. 4. Whoreby are given us exceeding great and pretious promises that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature 4 Hee must have of the light of the saving knowledge of God Ephes 5. 4 8. Ye were darkness but now are ye light c. Isa 52. 2. my people shall know my name Heb. 8. 11. They shall know the Lord. 1 Iohn 2. 13 19 20 27. Mat. 13. 11. 5 He hath a tender care to please and fear to offend God Isa 66. 2. I will look to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word c. 1 Iohn 3. 23. 2 Kings 22. 3 10 12 19. 6 He is very sensible of his own weakness Mat. 9. 23 24. And straightway hee cried out with tears Lord I beleeve help thou my unbelief Luke 11. 1. Lord teach us to pray c. 7 He hath a Spirit of prayer and can more or lesse open his case to God thereby Gal. 4. 6. And because ye are sons God hath sent the Spirit of his Sonne into your he arts crying Abba Father Rom. 8. 15. 8 He is from the sight and sense of his owne weakness poor in spirit and moved to looke towards Christ and to hunger and thirst after him Mat. 5. 3 4. 9 He desireth strength and therefore loveth and plyeth all the means of Grace especially the Word of God whereby he may be strengthned he maketh after Christ in and by his owne Ordinances Mat. 9. 23 24. Luke 11. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 2. as new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word c. Luke 17. 5. The Apostles said to the Lord Increase our faith John 45 46 47. 10 He will not be taken off this way but will follow Christ alwaies Joh. 6. 67 68. Will ye also go away Then Peter answered Lord to whom shall wee go thou hast the words of eternal life John 10. 27. 11 He doth commonly grow and increase in strength as children trees and herbs Mal. 4. 2. Ye shall go forth and grow as the calves of the stall Eph. 4. 15. 12 He doth not purpose nor doth he make it his trade to sin 1 John 3. 8 9. He that committeth sin is of the devil c. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him c. that is he cannot so sin as to purpose it and make it his trade as wicked men do 13 He hath a love to all the children of God and true Christians as Christians 1 Iohn 5. 1. Whosoever beleeveth that Iesus c. is born of God And every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him 1 Iohn 4. 7. Every one that loveth is born of God v. 8. He that loveth not knoweth not God 1 Iohn 3. 14. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death Mat. 25. 42. 14 He hath the use of his spiritual senses in some degree at one time or other as Sight Hearing c. He seeth somewhat of God and Christ sin and wrath grace and glory And giveth ear to the things that are spoken thereof and hath some rellish and savour sense and feeling and can speak something sensibly thereof and hath some breathings and stirrings of good desires and wishes after Christ some power and motion to do good And he that can finde these things really and in truth in any degree in him may conclude of himself that though he be but a weak yet he is a childe of God and a sincere Christian And that his sinnes are forgiven for his Name fake 1 Iohn 2. 12. And he shall never be moved Psalm 15. 5. And herein also we are to know That these signs and symptomes are not in all nor in the same person at all times alike cleare and visible to others or to the party himself in whom they are but they ebbe and flow occasionally and have their degrees stops and changes It is sometimes with the spiritual man as it is with the natural man and his natural strength the same may bee by some accident or distemper very much decaied and impaired and the man though otherwise a strong man grow very weak and seeme to bee dying So it is in this case a sincere Christian sometime strong may by a relapse into sinne or some grievous pressure of affliction inward or outward or both grow for a time very weake in grace his pulse beat weak and his breath short as if hee were near dying yea sometimes though very rarely it falls out so that all the motions exercises and operations of Grace in the true Christian may be for a while so much suspended that they may seem in appearance to be totally extinct So that as in the natural body it falls out
such principle to assure them of the promises and therefore no such infallibility in their faith And a most learned Commentator on the same Text to the same purpose on these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He that establisheth you with us and annoints you is God Adds thus a Hug. Grotius in 2 Cor. 1. 21. pag. 459. Qui confirmat nos in Christo i. e. In side Christi Et unxit nos spirituali unctione Spiritus Sancti Dionys Carthusianus in loc pag. 260. A Deo procedit ista Vnctio id est Spiritus operatio interior FIDEM in Christo FVLCIENS ET ROBORANS So that in the regenerate not so in hypocrites and those who have onely common faith the internal operation of the Spirit doth support and roborate and confirme their faith in Christ 4. And to this purpose is that of S. John b 1 John 2. 20. Hinc fit ut docente vos interius Spiritu Sancto minus indigeatis hominum Institutione Beda in loc pag. 119. But ye have an unction from the holy Ghost and know all things and need not that any man teach you save as that annointeing teacheth you Whence it is evident that the holy Ghost teacheth the regenerate all things that is all necessary things at least in reference to their seducers c Grotius in 1 John 2. 20. Quod ait 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intellige quae ad vitandos impostores erant necessaria And although the Papists miserably pervert this Text yet they grant that by unction here the Holy Ghost is meant d Estius in 1◠John 2. 20. pag. 1267. col 6. c. Quo velut oleo mentes fidelinm persundit Christus multiplicem eis gratiam largiendo tum Doctrine tum Scientiae 5. Lastly by the Testimony of the Holy Spirit within they who are borne of God may and doe know that God is reconciled to them and is now their a Rom. 8. 15. 16. Father that he b 1 John 3. 24. dwelleth in them and therefore that their sins are pardoned c. This blessed Spirit is a c 1 eohn 5. 6. witnesse in the hart of all true beleivers and d 1 John 5. 10. Rom. 8. 16. Ephes 1. 17. testifyes of the truth of their faith and as S. Paul tells us beareth witnesse with our Spirits that we are the Childeren of God But enough of this if not too much for I am persuaded there is hardly any thing in Scripture more manifest then this That all regenerate persons have the Spirit of Christ in them which testifyes and beares witnesse to the truth of the Ghospel beleived by them illuminates their understandings that they may know it and is a seale and confirmation of their assent to it So that saveing faith in regenerate persons relying upon the inward testimony of the Spirit of Christ which common beleivers have not a Divine and Infallible Testimony their faith must of necessity differ from the faith of Hypocrites more then onely in degree 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod erat demonstrandum And here give me leave to ad these considerations 1. That they of Rome laugh and jeare at our Divines when they speake of this Inward testimony and call it a Vid. Tho. Stapletonum de Authorit Interpretandi Scriptur Controvers 6. lib. 10. cap. 4. pag. 359. c. 360. private Spirit and so thinke to fright us out of our true faith with false calumnies and a good opinion with bad names Ans Non sic abibunt odia We will not cannot be jeared out of our profession and a manifest Ghospell truth All we say is this 1. That the regenerateing Spirit of Christ is in all his reall members in every true Christian who is indeed borne of God 2. That the good Spirit is 1. A Spirit of illumination inabling them to know 2. Of corroboration and confirmation inabling them to assent to the truth so discovered and knowne and. 3. A Spirit which workes adhesion constancy and perseverance in that truth by beareing witnesse with our Spirits and giveing testimony to that truth and victoriously assisting the regenerate in continueing in it against all temptations and persecutions whatsoever Whereas the want of this is the reason why those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the common and temporary beleivers fall away and loose that which they seeme to have Now this Spirit which onely we assert is noe private Spirit as they ignorantly or malitiously would make the world beleive but the publick spirit of the true Catholique Church the Mysticall body of Christ which actuates and animates every member of of that great body and communicates spirituall life to it a Vid. Johan Calvini Instit lib. 3. cap. 2. penè per totū Calvin nor any sober Protestant Divine sayes no more and they b Vid. Thom. Stapletonum de Authoritate Interpretandi Script Controvers 6. lib. 10 cap. 4. pag. 359. 360. sequēt Aquin. 1. 2. Quaest 68. Art 1. in resp ad Arg. 2. 3. themselves though with much Sophistry and impertinency they would palliate the businesse after great Tragedies and longe harangues to obscure the truth in the Issue neither dare nor doe say lesse 2. Why but all heresies and sects pretend to the spirit Anabaptists Seekers Quakers c. And possibly at least some of them really beleive they have it and yet run into wild and monstrous errors both of saith fact fitter to be conceal'd and buryed in eternall silence then repeated And therefore little heed to be given to this pretēce of the spirit Answere 1. That this our age and Country hath been unhappily fruitful quae est fundi nostri calamitas in produceing wild herefies and I feare it is the crime of our Nation as well as the calamity 2. That these as nothing else in the world come by change a Pagan could tell us a Sophocles in Ajace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 385. pag. 36 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 'T is the good providence of God which for reasons infinitely wise in themselves though many times unknowne to us permits their ingresse into the world puts limits and bounds to and orders their progresse to the glory of his name the good of his owne and the punishment of others and for their egresse will in his good time put a period to them That he will speedily doe it is my b Bona quaedam spes habet animum meum fore◠ut hanc Ecclesiae tempestatem dominus inscrutabili suo Consilio vertat in bonos exitus excitetque nobis Irenaeos aliquot qui compositis dissidiis pacem orbi restituant D Erasmus Epist Nuncuparoria Epis Tridentino Jrenaeo praefixâ hope and prayer Haereses orationibus suspiciis Lacrimis sunt refellendae their refutation may possibly be as soon effected by our prayers and piety as by our pens 3. But what if Heretiques falsely pretend to the Spirit of truth shall their lye make the direction and illumination of that