euery one that shal follow him So that this is our glory in afflictions we are fashioned by them into the similitude of Christ and wee are made like vnto him So it pleased God when hee would bring many children vnto glory to consecrate the Prince of their saluation through afflictions and to make both him that sanctifieth and them that are sanctified all one that they that suffer with him should also liue with him So we when we feele many troubles to rest vpon vs we may say now we are like vnto Christ especially when wee feele the greatest trouble the minde oppressed it maketh vs like vnto him and to say Now we supply in our flesh the remnant of the afflictions of Christ in nothing in this world as wealth honor c. can I behold the liuely Image of Christ. Affliction and trouble a minde broken with the remembrance of sinne a troubled spirit horrors of death and a conscience burdened with the wrath of God here light shines out of darknes and hope out of despaire When I thinke my selfe furthest off from the Lord them am I neerest vnto him and when I thinke my selfe fullest of confusion then the Image of Christ is most liuely within me The Lord may hide his face for a while for a moment in his anger aâ— he did from Christ but hee will returne vnto me with euerlasting mercies for the Image of his Sonne is cleere within me Wee are afflicted one euery side but not so as that wee are shut from hope wee are in pouerty but not ouercome with pouerty we are persecuted but not forsaken we are cast down but wee perish not wee are troubled in all things fightings without and terrours without but God that comforteth the abiects he will comfort vs. Vnto this he hath predestinated vs that we should bee like vnto his Son in afflictions and so be glorified with him in the day of honour CON. 80. God sendeth vs sundry chastisements especially the anguish of heart and affliction of the soule that we should be warned how to be free from the plague when it commeth EXPLA. The iudgements of God daily preached vnto vs pierce deepe into the hearts of the true beleeuers and the word that they heare it worketh mightily in them more sharpe in their eares then a two edged sword and it entreth through them euen to the diuiding asunder of the soule and of the spirit and of the ioynts and of the marrow and examines all the thoughts and the intents of the heart so that it is impossible that any part of theÌ„ should be hid but they are al open vnto iudgement and heare the voice of the Lord. Then their sinne is reuiued in the middest of their bowels their conscience hath no rest they feele death working in their hearts and hell is before them they see sin on their right hand and Satan on the left shame vnder their feete and an angry Iudge aboue them the world full of destruction without and a worm gnawing the heart within the poore sinner knoweth not what to doe to hide himselfe it is impossible and to appeare it is intollerable then hee breaketh out into loud crying O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death He giueth no rest vnto his eyes nor sleep vnto his eye-lids vntil he find that which is able to saue him from this wrath In his bed by night hee seeketh him whom his soule loueth in the streetes and open places hee enquireth after him and after many daies in which hee cannot finde him Christ sheweth himselfe at the last a perpetuall deliuerer a victorious Lion of the Tribe of Iuda in whom he hath strong saluatioÌ„ when he hath mourned because of the plague that was before him Christ will approch neere and wipe away al the tears froÌ„ his eies So said he When I heard the word of God my belly trembled my lips shooke at the voyce rottennesse entred into my bones and I trembled in my selfe that I might finde rest in the day of trouble So is it with vs all the plagues of God because they are pronounced against iniquity maketh the childe of God to feare that foreseeing the harme he might prâ—pare himselfe For though Christ hiâ— himselfe at the first the wounded spirit and troubled spirit must needes finde him out We are ful of griefe but we are chastised of the Lord because we should not be coÌ„deÌ„ned with the world we dye with Christ because we should liue with him we lament and weepe but because Christ might wipe away all teares from our eyes wee are deliuered vnto death for Iesus sake but because the life of Iesus should be manifest in our slesh We beare about vs the mortification of our Lord Iesus but because also the life of Iesus might bee manifest in our bodyes We haue anguish of spirit and vexation of minde for this cause that when destruction shall come vpon the careles world wee might lift vp our heads and behold our redemption at hand let vs then in patience poffesse our soules for for these causes wee are now afflicted that wee may receiue mercy and finde grace to helpe in time of neede and for this cause we tremble and are affraid that after many prayers wee might bee deliuered from the things which we haue feared CON. 81. That our life is in the hand of God that we shold not be pleased with it but as it pleaseth him ready to lay it downe when it pleaseth him EXPLA. This is the great commandement to loue God aboue all and this is the greatest obedience required of man to be ready to dye at the will of God Against this commandement the nature of man striueth the delights of this life rise against it we are loth to make our beds in the darke we would see the Sunne our eares would heare worldly elements our flesh indeed is grasse yet grasse hath a flowre and our frayle bodies haue vanishing fantasies agreeable vnto them from which we cannot bee pulled away So Patriarches and Prophets were afraid yea Peter and Paule loued that life which they saw in hope but they did feele the death which did fight in their members they were men as we are yet obtained at last to bee dissolued and bee with Christ. If we be weaker then they the graces of God shall bee more exalted in vs and wee shall also say at the last Let thy seruant O Lord depart in peace And â—â—ough wee feare for a little â—â—ile yet feare shall bee cast out and we shall say with a free spirit O death where is thy sting Our greatest enemy last is troden vnder our feet what else can hurt vs The Lord of life hath crushed him in pieces vnder vs. It is a blessed day that bringeth vs into this battel a blessed sicknesse that maketh vs indure this fight and most blessed end in which wee get victory This doth he
righteousnesse And all this is because wee should rest in full assurance of safety without feare or doubt because hee promised to preuent all occasions whence any feare should arise And so he deliuered them out of the hands of their enemies without feare and Christ died that he might deliuer them who for feare of death were all their life time subiect to bondage and now wee haue not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare any more but the spirit of adoption to cry abba Father for God hath not giuen vs the spirit of feare but of power and of loue and of a sound minde for there is no greater bondage then that feare when we are vncertaine what shall become of vs but he said Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to giue you the Kingdome Now that other commendable feare doth not shake assurance of saluation but the faithfull finding that in him doth gather the greater assurance to himselfe For the punishment of God is fearefull vnto him that dreades Gods iudgements abhorreth wicked courses laboureth in righteousnesse is strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and doe work their saluation with feare and trembling with humility and acknowledgement of their own frailety and neuer to commit themselues to themselues but to him who hath wrought all our workes for vs for by his owne might shall no man be strong Now there is difference betwixt absolute doubting weake assenting and interruption in assent with some feare for the seeds of all impiety land in the corruption of the heart whereby we are assaulted with doubt of the principall poynts of our beleefe the wisedome power iustice mercy of God yet do not wholly relinquish the assent thereof CON. 27. In application of our generall faith to particular occasions wee many times goe halting and lame and stagger somewhat at that whereof our faith should giue vs full assurance by the will of God EXPLA. Thus did Sarah cast doubt of Gods promise touching the hauing of a child who yet is said through faith to haue receiued strength to conceiue when she was past age because she iudged him faithfull that had promised Thus did Moses call in question the power of God as touching prouiding flesh for the people of Israel when God promised so to do So Dauid and Habacuck staggered as touching the prouidence of God and his care of the iust and righteous men So did the Disciples murmure concerning the Godhead of Christ and the hope of redemption by him which before they had imbraced surely when we look vnto our selues in our greatest perfections we are subiect to that amazed distraction as to say Who shall ascend into heauen as if Christ were not ascended to make way for vs and Who shall descend into the deepe as if Christ had not died to deliuer vs from thence we can neuer satisfie our selues how either to escape the one or to attaine the other CON. 28. They are not faithlesse which are weake in assenting to the truth EXPLA. As many as hold the foundation which is precious thogh they hold it but weakly and as it were with a slender thread although they frame many base and vnsutable things vpon it things that cannot abide the triall of fire yet shall they passe the fiery triall and be saued which indeed haue builded themselues vpon the Rocke which is the foundation of the Church CON. 29. The foundation of faith is not onely the generall ground whereupon we rest when wee beleeue the writings of the Prophets and Apostles but also it is the principall thing which is beleeued that is Christ. EXPLA. There is a foundation of our faith God manifested in the flesh iustified in the Spirit and this Thou art the Sonne of the liuing God thou art the King of Israel and that of the inhabitants of Samaria This is Christ the Sauiour of the world Which who directly doth deny doth vtterly rase the very foundation of faith for Christ in the worke of mans saluation is all without our workes for hee is that seede in whom all the Nations of the world shall be blessed and among men there is giuen no other name vnder heauen whereby we must be saued other foundation can no man lay CON. 29. The holy Spirit in the very moment when first he is giuen of God bringeth with him infused vertues proper and peculiar to the Saincts of God EXPLA. There bee two kindes of christian righteousnesse the one without vs which wee haue by imputation the other in vs which consisteth of Faith Hope and Charity as Abraham had not onely the one because the things beleeued was imputed to him for righteousnesse but also the other because he offered vp his son They are both Gods gifts and the first by accepting vs for righteous in Christ and the second by working christian righteousnesse in vs by the spirit of adoption which we haue receiued into our hearts which maketh two kindes of sanctifying righteousnesse habituall and actuall CON. 30. The wicked haue not such faith as that wherewith a Christian man is iustified EXPLA. It is the Spirit of God which worketh faith in the Elect the things which they beleeue are not apprehended onely as true but also as good and that to vs as good they are not apprehended by the wicked as true they are The Christian the more hee increaseth in faith the more his ioy and comfort aboundeth but they the more sure they are of the truth the more they quake and tremble at it for the wicked doe rather wish that they might then thinke that they shall ceasse when they ceasse to liue because they hold it better that death should consume them into nothing then God reuiue them vnto punishment On the contrary to the Elect there is no grief nor torment greater then to feele their perswasion weake in things whereof when they are perswaded they reape such comfort and ioy of the Spirit CON. 31. Faith giueth vs the comfort of saluation because it beleeueth that which the word of God hath deliuered concerning them in whom the signes marks of our Election are found EXPLA. Faith giueth assurance of saluation by the Word of God not only by apprehending the promise of life and saluation but also obseruing such marks and tokens as the Word of God setteth down to discerne them vnto whom this saluation doth appertaine and therefore it doth not onely looke to that which Christ saith that whosoeuer beleeueth shall haue euerlasting life but because Christ also saith hee that is of God heareth Gods word therefore the faithful man delighteth in the word of God beleeueth concerning himselfe that he is of God because the Apostle saith Euery one that calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saued and this also doth the faithfull man vnfaignedly calling on the name of
CON. 3. The assurance of our saluation is many times accompanied with feares doubts which doe perplex the soule of the most righteous EXPLA. The true worke of Faith is to assure vs of Gods loue and to enioy that comfort without let to cherish the same and resist the contrary but the weaknesse of our faith and strength of corruption is such that we doe not alwayes attaine these but as in the practice of good actions we sometime reioyce and finding great infirmity in sinning wee mourne for them such change by turnes are in the most regenerate so in faith wherein we receiue a Testimony of Gods loue there is a change because we apprehend not this assurance immediatly as a principle but by collection or conclusiō so the alteration is in apprehēding of the premises wherupon the cōclusiō arose for Gods promises and effects of grace appeare not alwayes the same yea sometimes contrarie CON. 4. The seedes of vnbeliefe are naturally sowne in vs which euer casteth vp obiections EXPLA. Our heart by nature is full of mire dirt which trouble the springs of the water of life and therefore the dayes of faith are like the dayes of the yeere some faire some foule some times in hell as it were sometimes mounted to heauen some times triumphing sometimes striuing euer counting what it hath felt striuing to the same again euer in feares running vnto God expecting better seeing a glimpse of light in darknesse of hope in despaire of comfort in distresse of life in death of heauen in hell and if they lose the sight hereof yet recouered it soone againe CON. 5. Often God leaues vs to our selues that wee may take the faster hold when we returne againe EXPLA. The taste of loue is the sweeter and the ioy the larger when we come to it out of the flouds of tentations For afflictions brings forth patience and patience experiēce and experience hope while by this meanes the loue of God is spred abroad in our hearts by the holy Spirit which is giuen vs the more trees on the tops of hils are blasted the deeper roote they take CON. 6. True faith euer giueth assurance which is the greater by how much our faith is the greater and weakenesse of our assurance argueth the weakenesse of faith EXPLA. Euen in the true faith there is degrees for there is variety of gifts which how little soeuer it be yet is able to saue vs that thou mayst learne what it is whereunto thou art to striue reioycing in that thou hast atttained to already and to pray for that which is behinde that God would increase thy faith feeling of imperfections is the common frailety of all Gods children and faith that it may bee strong must haue time to grow and haply seemeth weake to thee when it is strong to God For the ioy of the faithfull is as a garden enclosed CON. 7. As faith is by hearing so it is ordinarily increased by preaching whereunto the weake beleeuer must attend EXPLA. Preachers are Proclamators which teach euery beleeuer their interrest in the matters of saluation which apprehend the promises vpon conscience of their owne repentance and faith for where the seede shall grow there it shall bring forth the fruite of faith and it shall bring forth eternall life for this assurance is giuen by the mouth of the Minister by the word of Christ which the faith of the hearer apprehendeth the man warmeth the bed the bed warmeth him euery man hath not accesse to the priuy seale but by the imprint there of in waxe he knoweth it to be the priuy Seale CON. 8. It is the Lord that giueth a heart to heare the voyce of Christ deliuered by the minister out of the Gospell EXPLA. My owne heart could neuer minister comfort vnto mee which is deceitfull aboue all things and is rather cast downe with acknowledgement of misery and therefore wee must dicerne betwixt the true assurance of the heart from carnall presumption floating fancies swimming in the head for true assurance is accompanied with the Spirit of grace and prayer by which the heart is conformed to the voyce of God with ioyfull acceptance and affectionate desire of that which is vttered thereby which is the fruite of the spirit of adoption which beareth witnesse vnto our spirit that wee are the sonnes of God and beareth record that God hath giuen vs eternall life for he is God that doth neitherly nor change whose foundation is sure for hee knoweth them that are his CON. 9. Thou mayst be assured of the perpetuity of thy faith for God will not forsake the worke which hee hath begunne EXPLA. The reason is because that he who beleeues in Christ shall neuer be confounded and his sheepe shall neuer perish but he will giue them eternall life and although the godly oft times fall yet God is faithfull in his promise to them I will put my feare in their hearts and they shall not depart frō me resting in this that they not onely apprehend Christ but much more that they are apprehended of Christ and not that they know God onely but that they are knowne of him for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance so that whether they liue or die they are the Lords for nothing can separate them from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus and therefore doe they boldly say thy louing kindnesse and mercy shall follow mee all the dayes of my life and I shall dwell in the house of God for euer CON. 10 Faith taketh hold of the particular apprehension as to beleeue that God is my God my life peace strength deliuerance and my saluation EXPLA. We must not beleeue only that he is these things in himselfe but that hee is indeed the same to vs for because God is ours whatsoeuer is his is ours for vs and for our vse his mercy his power his prouidence to watch ouer vs both in life and death for by couenant hee bound himselfe to the heires of promise I will bee their God and they shall be my people and againe Loe this is our God and wee haue wayted for him and hee will heare vs we will reioyce and be ioyfull in his saluation for that Christ hath already done for thee is a greater matter then that he promised so thou beleeue not onely that thy sin may forgiuen thee by his mercy which is a beginning or foundation of Christ but also that thy sinnes are forgiuen thee CON. 11. Faith is the fountaine of our loue towards God for while wee beleeue he is so mercifull vnto vs it swalloweth vp our affections and draweth our loue to him EXPLA. The loue arising of faith so much felt in vs assureth vs that wee are beloued of God who loued vs first and therefore place we the confidence of our saluation in him onely to whom wee are vnited and
purchased saluation himselfe alone yet for conueyance of this eminent blessing into vs these things are required as most necessary CON. 59. Our saluation is giuen to vs by Christ alone yet to our iustification faith to our sanctification the fruites of the Spirit c. are necessary EXPLA. For our saluation it is requisite to be chosen and knowne of God before the foundation of the world in the world to bee called iustified sanctified after wee haue left the world to be receiued into glory Now Christ in euery of these hath somewhat which hee worketh alone through him according to the eternall purpose of God before the foundation of the world borne crucified buried raised c. we were in a glorious acceptation knowne vnto God long before wee were seene of men God I say knew vs loued vs was kinde to vs in Christ Iesus in him we were elected to bee heires of life Thus God in Christ hath wrought in such sort alone that our selues are meere patients working no more then dead senselesse matter wood or stone or iron doth in the artificers hands no more then the clay when the potter appointeth it to be framed for an honorable vse nay not so much for the matter whereupon the tradesman worketh he chooseth for the fitnesse which is in it to serue his turne in vs no such thing Now touching the rest which is laide for the foundation of our faith importeth further that by him we are called that wee haue redemption and remission of sins by his blood health by his stripes iustice by him that he doth sanctifie his Church and make it glorious to himselfe that entrance into ioy shall be giuen by him alone yea al things by him alone howbeit not so by him alone as if in vs to our vocation the hearing of the Gospell to our iustification faith to our sanctification good workes to entrance into rest perseuerance in hope in faith in holinesse were not necessary which workes haue no power of satisfying God for sinne or of vertue to merit both grace here or glory in heauen for workes are a thing subordinate without which our sanctificatiō cannot bee accomplished yet God doth iustifie the beleeuing man not for the worthinesse of his beleefe but for the worthinesse of the person which is beleeued that is Christ and God also rewardeth euery one that worketh not for any meritorious dignity that is or can bee in the worke but throgh his mercy by whose commandement hee worketh CON. 60. That which we know either by sense or by infallible demonstration is not so certaine as the Principles Articles and Conclusions of Christian faith EXPLA. If the things which wee beleeue bee considered in themselues it may truely be said Faith is more certain◠then any science that meere natural men do neither know nor acknowledge the things of God is no maruell for they are spiritually to bee discerned and they in whose hearts the light of grace doth shine and are taught of God are so yet weake in faith and their assenting to the law scrupulous mingled with feare and wauering for the foggy dampe of originall corruption is so great that no heart can be so inclined in the knowledge or established in the loue of that in which his saluatiō standeth as that hee doth not doubt and if any were such what doth let why that man shold not bee iustified by his owne inherent righteousnes For righteousnes inherent being perfect will iustifie and perfect faith is a part of perfect righteousnes inherent yea a principall part the mother and roote of all the rest and if it were thus what need we the righteousnes of Christ wherefore we must learne to challenge a strength which wee haue not lest wee lose the comfortable support of that weakenes which indeed we haue CON. 61. All men haue not equall certainety of faith but some beleeuers are more scrupulous and doubtfull then others EXPLA. The reason is there is ◠double certainty a certainty of euidence as when the minde doth assent to this or that not because it is true in it selfe but because the truth is cleere and manifest to vs for things most certaine in themselues except they bee also most euident our perswasiō is not fully assured as it is of things more euident although in themselues they be lesse certaine it is as certaine that there be spirits as that there bee men but wee bee more assured of these then of them Now if there were equall euidence and truth there shold be equality of faith Yea that we see by the light of grace though it be indeed most certaine yet it is not so euidently certaine as that which sense or the height of nature will not suffer a man to doubt of as that the fire is hot c. Therefore God laboureth to confirme vs in the things were beleeue by things whereof we haue sensible knowledge for proofes must be more certaine then is the thing prooued The other is a certainety of adherence as when the heart doth cleaue and sticke to that which it doth beleeue and this certainty is greater in vs then the other because the faith of a Christian doth apprehend the words of the couenant and promises of God not only as true but as good and therefore when the euidence which hee hath of the truth is so small that it grieueth him to feele his weakenesse in assenting thereto yet is there in him such a sure adherence vnto that which hee doth but faintly and fearefully beleeue that his spirit hauing once truely tasted the heauenly sweetnesse thereof all the world is not able quite and cleane to remooue him from it but he striueth with himselfe against all hope of beleeuing For though he wold kill him yet wil he trust in him For why This is his lesson It is good for me to cleane vnto God CON. 62 Doubting doth alwayes accompany faith yea in the most faithfull that euer did beleeue EXPLA. If God did worke in vs like a naturall agent as the fire doth inflame and as the Sun enlightens according to the vttermost ability which they haue to bring forth their effects there should be nothing in the beleeuer but the incomprehensible wisedome of God doth limit the effects of his power to such a measure as seemeth best to himselfe Wherefore he worketh that certainty in all which sufficeth abundantly to their saluation in the life to come but to none so great as attaines in this life vnto perfection which is fittest for vs that feeling still our owne infirmities we may alwaies pray Lord helpe our incredulity Lord increase our faith Indeed it is said Abraham beleeued and doubted not which Negation doth not exclude all feare all doubting but onely that which cannot stād with true faith it freeth Abraham from doubting through infidelity not from doubting through infirmity from the doubting of vnbeleeuers not of weake beleeuers as is euident Genes 17.17 CON. 63. The faith
whereby wee are iustified cannot faile EXPLA. The seed of God that is the first grace which God powreth into the hearts of them that are incorporated into Christ because it is an aduersary vnto sinne we do therefore thinke we sin not but otherwise by a distrustfull and doubtful apprehension of that which stedfastly we ought to beleeue we are amazed yet they that are borne of God do neuer so sin as it doth extinguish quite grace Our faith when it is strongest is but weake yet euen then when it is at the weakest is so strong that vtterly it neuer faileth it neuer perisheth altogether no not in them who thinke it extinguished in themselues howbeit through extremity of griefe many times in iudgement the Elect are so confounded that they finde not themselues in theÌ„selues for that which dwelleth in their hearts they seeke it abideth worketh in them yet still they aske where still they lament as for a thing that is past finding they mourne as Raâ—hel and refuse to be comforted as if that were not which indeede is and as if that which is not were as if they did not beleeue when they doe and as if they did despaire quite when they do not For truely where faith maketh any doubt there the sense is neuer satisfied CON. 64. God will haue them that still walke in light to feele now and then what it is to sit in the shaddow of death EXPLA. A grieued spirit is no argument of a faithlesse mind men iudging by comparison either with other men or themselues at some other time being more strong they thinke imperfection to be a plaine depriuation weakenesse to bee vtter want of faith and therefore in heauinesse of spirit suppose they lack faith because they finde not the ioy delight which indeede doth accompany faith The Apostle Paule prayed The God of hope fill you with all ioy in beleeuing which is not an vnseparable companion therewith for the light would neuer bee so acceptable were it not for vsuall entercourse of darkenesse too much hony doth turne to gall and too much ioy euen spiritually would make vs turne wantons Happier a great deal is that mans case whose soule by inward desolation is humbled then hee whose heart through abundance of spirituall delight is lifted vp and exalted aboue measure better it is sometimes to cry my God my God why hast hast thou forsaken mee then to say with the Pharisey I thanke God it is not with mee as it is with other men God will haue them that should walke in light to feele sometimes what it is to sit in darkenesse yea God sendeth variety of disturbances that the minde should not gnaw nor waste it self away that wee should too much with Iob and Ieremy grieue and lament Thus hee driueth away griefe often with ioy that wee should not bee steeped and dissolued in sorrow CON 65. Our faith here may haue hath her priuie operations secret to vs yet known to him by whom they are EXPLA. Men do fasten their minds vpoÌ„ the distrustfull suggestions of the flesh whereof finding great abundance in theÌ„selues they gather thereby vnbeleefe hath full dominion and plenary possession of theÌ„ not marking the things of the spirit and of the flesh because they be buried and ouerwhelmed with the contrary when notwithstanding the Apostle doth acknowledge the spirit groanes and that God heareth when we doe not A man deceiued by a too hard opinion of his faith will scarce bee comforted yea it doth augment his griefe and will say I haue sifted all the corners of my heart and I see what there is in me neuer seeke to perswade mee against my knowledge reason not with flesh blood dispute neuer with Satan neuer doe yeeld much lesse giue ouer beleeue the word and giue place to prayer and exhortation and thou shalt finde light in thy greatest darkenesse The comfort of the spirit may for a season be intermitted but neuer the spirit of comfort shall leaue thee CON. 66. Besides our corrupt nature the serpent laboureth continually to peruert the simplicity of faith which is in Christ. EXPLA. I am iealous ouer you saith the Apostle with a godly iealousie for I haue prepared you to a husband a pure virgin vnto Christ but I feare lest as the serpent beguiled Euah through his subtilty so your mindes should bee corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ. This simplicity of faith taketh the naked promise of God his bare word and on that it resteth which simplicity the Diuell ceasseth not to ouerthrow corrupting the minde with many imaginations of repugnancy contrariety between the word of God and his promises therein and those things which sense or experience or some other fore-coÌ„ceiued opinion and perswasion had imprinted The word of promise vnto his people is I will not leaue thee nor forsake thee vpon this the simplicity of faith resteth and it is not afraid of famine But marke how the subtilty of Satan doth corrupt the mindes of that rebellious generation whose spirits were not faithfull vnto God they beheld the desolate state of the desert in which they were and by the wisedome of their sense concluded the wisedome of God to be but folly Can God prepare a table in the desert Againe the word of the promise vnto Sarah was Thou shalt beare a sonne faith is simple and doubted not of it but Satan to corrupt this simplicity of faith entised the minde of the woman with an argument drawne from common experience to the contrary An olde woman Sarah will shee bee acquainted with forgotten passions of youth So the word of the promise of God by Moses and the Prophets made the Sauiour of the world so apparent vnto Philip that this simplicity could conceiue no other Messiah then Iesus of Nazareth the Sonne of Ioseph but to stay Nathaniel to come and see and should also beleeue and so be saued the subtilty of Satan casted a mist before his eyes put in his head against this the common conceiued opinion of all men against Nazareth Is it possible that a good thing should come from thence Thus he bereaueth men for the time of all perceiuance of that which should releeue them and be their comfort yea it taketh all remembrance from them euen of things wherewith they are most familiarly acquainted The Israelites might know that hee that led them thorow the Red Sea was able to feede them in the wildernes Sarah was not to learne that with God all things were possible Therefore diligently marke the conceit of repugnancy beleeue not those things which are obiect to the eies but that which faith vpon promise of God doth looke for CON. 67. The promises of Grace protection fauor which God in his law makes vnto his people doe not grant any such immunity as can free exempt them from all chastisements EXPLA. God hath said I will continue my mercy for euer towards them so
sins My soule is heauy vnto death yea he was astonished at his griefe at the very entry at it for his sweat was drops of blood falling from hâ—m and God sent an Angell from heauen to comfort him Was this for the death of his body His seruants that receiue of his fulnesse doe they not easily despise this death that either they desire to be with Christ or reioyce in the middest of it before the persecutor The Apostles did sing in prison Paule gloried in his tribulations which were many And did hee cry out my God my God why hast thou forsaken me Here is no comparisoÌ„ that which made him tremble wold haue crushed them that which made him sweate blood would haue made them sinke into the bottome of hel and that which made him cry would haue held both Angels and men vnder euerlasting woe But Christ was as water powred out and all his bones out of ioynt his heart like waxe molted in the middest of his bowels his strength was dried vp like a potsheard and his tongue cleaued vnto his iawes hee was brought with his sorrowes to the dust of death for hee bare our sinnes in his body he submitted himselfe to the death of them and by the wounds of his stripes we be healed For our sinnes deserued not onely a bodily but also a second death in hell fire hee suffered the torments of body and the anguish of the soule the wrath of his Father which wounded his flesh spirit vnto death would haue holden him in that condemnation for euer if he had not bene stronger then we that had deserued it but beeing the Sonne of God in whom the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelled bodily the eternall Spirit that was within him did loose the chaines of death and hell of which it was impossible that hee should bee holden and hath left his enemies the Deuill death and hell in ignominy and darknesse and hath abolished them for euer CON. 76. We are presented faultlesse before the presence of Gods glory by beeing made one with Christ. EXPLA. Of Christ onely is it true This is my well-beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased this is the Saluation wee haue by him to bee grafted in him and made partakers of his life All the faithfull before Christ were righteous in him for wee must leaue all our works in the earth where they were done and they must dye with the corruptible hands and feete with which they are wrought we must go naked and bare and offer nothing but that which is Christs yea our selues wee must present in his body for in our owne persons wee cannot possibly be accepted Euen as the Vine branch can haue no life except it abide in the body of the Vine no more we either life or righteousnesse except wee be and abide in Christ. He is our substance and being in the inheritance of glory his righteousnesse is ours his loue ours his life our life his Spirit our spirit of his fulnesse we receiue all This is a great mistery which the eye seeth not nor heart can vnderstand yet it is a reall ioyning with him faith comprehendeth it and when wee shall see that wisedome which is called vnity in one person God and man wee shall see the wisedome which hath made vs all the body of that head and members one of another In him he is well pleased I say with vs. If that couenant wherin it was once promised to Abraham to giue a land vnto the Iews and all their rebellion could not falsifie his promise in him wee haue a couenant greater and better therefore let vs trust vnto his promise which cannot change his grace nor repent him of his mercy for euer for this is a holy couenant which shall not be broken but God will make all our enemies our footstooles and will surely take vs vp into his glory and briefly the presence of God to which Christ leadeth vs is a throne of Grace for by his merits we bee brought vnto God as before a Iudge who from his tribunall Seat doth acquit vs for euer of his own grace and free mercy For whosoeuer looketh to bee iustified by any other thing the Lord can no more shew mercy vnto him then he can change the property of his Iudgement seate to make it no more the Throne of Grace CON. 77. A perfect beauty of all excellent loue appeareth in the great worke of Christs mediation for hee became man Secondly Hee was ordained to accomplish whatsoeuer was betweene God and man Thirdly This was giuen to Christ by God both by word and by oath and all was to haue compassion on vs. EXPLA. Neither Angell nor Archangell nor Principalities nor Powers can doe this worke to present flesh and blood vnto the Maiesty of God when themselues are but spirits He tooke not the Angels nature but the seede of Abraham But in his sufferings his loue is most euident in that it was so feruent and so deepely rooted that neither feare nor trembling nor any anguish of spirit could make him shake nor the force of death nor any bloody sweats could pull it out of his bowels this is the depth of the Gospell which the Angels doe desire to behold it skilleth not how many our sins are and how great in our eyes the Lord will scatter them as the clouds from the heauens and they shall not turne away his louing countenance from vs if our sinnes bee as scarlet and not ours onely but the sinnes of the whole world they rested all vpon Christ he prayeth for deliuerance and hath obtained and therefore we may say with boldnesse forgiue vs our trespasses We then which are laden but with our owne sins should lift vp our hearts in the great assurance of hope and heare with ioyfulnesse the word of promise I will be mercifull to their vnrighteousnesse and I will remember their sins and iniquities no more There is nothing comparable to his passions by whose stripes we are healed and therefore may bee fully perswaded that nothing shall separate vs from the loue of God in Christ for the Lord hath appointed to giue to all that mourne in Sion beauty for ashes the oyle of ioy for mourning the garment of gladnesse for the spirit of heauinesse for hee was wounded for our transgressions and broken for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was vpon him his prayers are ours his supplications for vs availeable for more sins then we are able to commit This is the victory that shall ouercome the world euen our faith For his Father hath broken him with one breaking vpon another so he kindled his wrath against him and accounted him as one of his enemies hee cryed out aloud in silence he could finde no ease his face was wrinckled with weeping and the shaddow of death was vpon his eyes wheÌ„ he was the brightnesse of glory and the Sunne of Righteousnesse that