they bee most humbled come to God in Christ for pardon beleeuing that their imperfections should bee couered by the full and perfect satisfaction of Christ they might finde comfort in their weakest obedience and so bee more encouraged to serue God This then is that I would perswade all that would finde sound and lasting comfort in their praiers and other holy exercises Remedy in their best duties to beware of pride which accompanieth them and to that end euer to thinke of their failings to humble them and driue to Christ that so they may offer vp their sacrifice in faith and bee accepted On the other side when they be most deiected then to beware of despaire doubting and discouragement which bee vsuall companions of vs in the sense of our wants and to comfort our selues by faith in Christ in that wee know hee is as able and willing to cure great diseases as small to pardon our fowler falles as our lesser slippes In all which wee now see that which I intended how needfull it is to be stored and strengthened with faith that wee may finde comfort in our prayers and other holy exercises which I know is much wanting in many true hearted Christians for whose sake in speciall I write these and will now for their further comfort lay out some store of pretious promises which God our Father hath treasured vp in his word to this purpose that wee his children might bee imboldened to come with confidence to him in all our necessities Perusing these I finde that the farre greater number of them doe specially promise that God will accept our prayers grant our desires and doe not so expresly assure vs that God will assist vs and make vs able to pray which yet sundry promises doe God promiseth to make vs able to pray I will therefore heere gather such as expresly promise Gods helpe to teach vs to pray for that we are no lesse subiect to doubt of our ability to pray aright then of Gods readinesse to heare our poore and weake prayers Among all that comes first to minde which might serue in stead of all if we could hold it fast where the Apostle labouring to comfort the hearts of Gods children ouer all their corruptions and afflictions Rom. 8. 26. doth answer a great obiection which many a heauy heart makes namely this Many troubled that they cannot pray I am oft so distressed that I am not able to pray and how then may I looke for any helpe at Gods hand Thus it fareth oft with Gods children and those not of the weakest sort that their hearts bee so â—ore oppressed that they can doe nothing but sigh and groane not able to set aright their hearts to pray to God As wee reade of Hezekiah Esa 38. 14. that he like a Crane or Swallow did chatter and did mourne as a Doue not able to vtter his griefes to God The like we reade of Dauid oft Psal 32. how hee roared for griefe but could not come to make his moane to God and the like many Yea what more ordinary complaint doe wee heare made by many worthy Christians in their extremities then this to their friends O helpe me I cannot pray To this sore tentation the Apostle answers Rom. 8. 26. saying Likewise the Spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what wee should pray for 27. as we ought But the Spirit it selfe maketh intercession for vs with groanings that cannot bee vttered And hee that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the minde of the spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Wherein he freely confesseth that he and all the rest of Gods children doe know this by woefull experience that they in such cases know not what they should pray as they ought But yet for all this God hath not left vs comfortlesse for he hath giuen vs his own Spirit to succour and helpe vs as it were to beare that part of the burthe which is too heauy for vs to beare and whereas we cannot pray as we ought that selfe same Spirit shall by his power make vs able to pray with such feeling faith and feruencie as no words can expresse in such sort that God who both knowes and regards the secret desires of the heart beholding the worke of his Spirit doth graciously accept and approoue of those prayers of his children I make no doubt but this is the intent of the Apostle in this Scripture In which if there were no more is enough to comfort any poore afflicted soule against this temptation that they cannot pray In that God hath giuen vs his Spirit so to helpe vs that our poore prayers are said to be the prayers of Gods Spirit in vs which God cannot deny This I take to bee the cause why else-where we be called vpon to pray in the Spirit Eph. 6. 18. and in the holy Ghost Iude v. 20. that is as he doth teach vs not as any naturall gift can Where I note a speciall difference of true prayer from counterfeit Difference of prayers true and counterfeit which may be excellent in speech but wanting this breath of Gods Spirit it is but a dead sacrifice vnpleasing to God and vnprofitable to him that offereth it And therefore I aduise all who looke for comfort by their prayers more to labour for Spirit then speech in prayers And so much for this Scripture whereupon I haue stood the longer for that it may suffise in stead of all But seeing the Lord knowing our weakenesse hath in all ages of his Church comforted his people with the like it shal more confirme vs to heare more of these sweete promises To this may well be referred that which one of Iobs friends said to comfort him which doubtlesse was good comfort howsouer misapplyed when after some good exhortations he makes many moe gracious promises among all hee addes these For thou shalt haue thy delight in the Almightie Iob 22. and shalt lift vp thy face to God 21. and 6. Thou shalt make thy prayer vnto him 26. and he shall heare thee and thou shalt pay thy vowes c. 27. And in like manner doth another of Iobs friends say Hee shall pray vnto the Lord Iob 33. 26. and hee will be fauourable to him So Dauid in his time said For this shall euery one that is godly pray vnto thee Psal 32. 6. in the time when thou mayest be found Esa 58. 9. And the Prophet Esay makes such promises to the people in his time Then shalt thou call and the Lord will answer thou shalt cry and hee shall say Here I am So Ieremie Ier. 29. 12. Then shall yee call vpon mee and yee shall goe and pray vnto me and I will hearken to you 13. And yee shall seeke me and finde me when you shall search for me with all your heart Againe They shall come with
in all his promises yet nothing is more common then in time of tryall to distrust and feare God will not be as good as his word at least whatsoeuer is said wee feare wee shall perish We need not seeke for proofe hereof which is so recorded in the liues of the most worthy seruants of God who are otherwise highly commended for their faith hee that hath any insight into himselfe may see too much of this in himselfe how ready wee are to call into question Gods truth when God deferreth the helpe we looked for To passe by all others and to see this in the matter we haue in hand from whence is it that so few of those that bee truly humbled in the sight of their miserie who know and desire Christ yea more who haue heard and in generall beleeued the Gospell that it is the glad tydings of saluation that Christ bids al that be heauie laden to come vnto him and hee will ease them what is the cause I say that so few of these doe so laie hold on Gods word as to beleeue and to rest assured of their saluation by Christ I know no better answer then this that when it comes to our selues wee cannot beleeue God will performe his word to vs some thing or other will bee obiected by our vnbeleeuing hearts why we may not beleeue Against all which we haue no other buckler to hold out but Gods truth Psal 31. 5. as Psal 91. 4. His truth shall be thy shield and buckler which is such that hee cannot lie nor deceiue To this end it is that God is called the God of truth Reu. 3. 14. Christ the faithfull and true witnesse Ioh. 14. 17. the holy Ghost the Spirit of truth Ephe. 1. 13. the Gospell the word of truth that when our faithlesse hearts shall stagger and doubt whether that shall bee which God hath spoken we may stay our selues vpon this immoueable rocke God is faithfull 1 Cor. 19. As often it is repeated to strengthen our weake faith This then remaineth for the setling of the heart of the weake in faith That so oft as doubts arise concerning his saluation by Christ whether God so loue him that he hath giuen him his only begotten Sonne that he beleeuing might not perish but haue euerlasting life hee hath no other thing in the world to perswade him but this that God who cannot lie hath said it and therefore he may and ought to beleeue that Christ and all his benefits are his wherein the more to moue him he is to laie before him both what a great sinne it is not to beleeue no lesse then to make God a lyer 1 Iohn 5. 10. as the Apostle John expresly speaketh Ioh. 3. 18. and also what fearefull punishment it procureth euen a certaine and remedilesse condemnation as our Sauiour himselfe denounceth By these and the like considerations is true faith both first begotten and afterwards increased in all those that shall be saued which I haue more fully laid open not only for that it is the most principall matter to bee regarded concerning true sauing faith namely how he that hath it not may attaine to it But also for that it is if not the least knowne and laboured for Many seeke for markes of faith in vaine yet least attained vnto For I haue obserued many very inquisitiue for some markes of faith who neuer so much as knew any thing which might draw them effectually to beleeue And therefore now to end this point concerning the right and orderly way whereby an vnbeleeuer is brought to true and sauing faith my aduise is to all that finde their faith weake and consequently their liues much out of frame that first they take good heed whereupon they build their faith Build faith onely on Gods truth and that only vpon Gods mercy and truth reuealed in the Gospell which neuer changing are a sure foundation and not vpon their owne change which oft is deceitfull and at best variable and indeed is onely an effect and fruit of Faith accordingly shewing the strength and weakenesse of our faith and can by no meanes be made any cause thereof Thus haue we seene both what this faith is whereby the iust doe liue and by what meanes it is attained Now lest any should gather out of the former that any man may by his owne indeuour vsing these meanes attaine to faith I thinke meet to adde this that although it be Gods will and commandement to all to whom hee sendeth his Gospell Faith is not in mans power but wrought by Gods Spirit that they should beleeue receiue Christ offered vnto them and therefore it is the dutie of euery one so to doe and it is their sinne and shall be their condemnation who doe not thus as hath beene said in all respects yet such is the corruption of all man-kinde by Adams fall that not one soule hath either will or power to receiue this grace in Christ offered vnto him Rom. 11. 32. For God hath shut vp all in vnbeliefe that he might haue mercy vpon al Act. 13. 48. and so many beleeued as were ordained to eternall life Eph. 2. 8. and Faith is the gift of God Ioh. 6. 44. and none can come to Christ except the Father draw him Which is wisely disposed by God that no man might haue cause to glory in himselfe but that the glory of mans saluation may bee giuen to God From whence it commeth that besides this common fauour of saluation in Christ tendred to all in the Gospell yea besides the common gifts of the Spirit which many receiue who neuer receiued Christ by faith As knowledge both of mans misery the remedy thereof sorrow for the one and desire of the other with such others besides these I say God doth giue his holy Spirit to all that shall be saued who doth inwardly draw and incline their hearts to beleeue Gods free and gracious promises and so thankfully to accept Christ offered vnto them whereby indeed they bee truely made partakers of Christ and all his benefites and thereby bee iustified and sanctified and shall be fully and euerlastingly glorified And thus is a poore sinner by Faith made the childe of God and heire of glorie Now before we proceed to our principall intention to shew how this Iustified man may liue by his faith It shall not be lost labour to shew how this may be knowne of any How it is knowne a man hath this faith that he hath this true faith and how euery true beleeuer may be able to proue that hee doth so this certaine and infallible knowledge in any man that hee hath true faith Riseth ioyntly from the causes effects therof not from either apart as shall bee shewed Vnder the causes I comprehend all that worke of God Causes of faith wherby he worketh faith in any which standeth especially in these three things 1.
preiudice our interest in happinesse that thereby we are driuen euery day to renew our claime to the promise of pardon and so to liue by Faith vntill this vncleane issue be dried vp These sowre hearbs helpe vs to relish Christ the better Moreouer though in this life our endeauours come short of our desires and we alwaies allow a greater measure then we can attaine vnto yet we may by stirring vp the graces begun in vs and by suing God vpon those promises of his Spirit and Grace whereby he hath made himselfe a debter vnto vs come to that measure whereby wee shall make the profession of religion glorious and louely in the eyes of others and comfortable to our selues and so shine farre brighter then others doe Why then doe we not in the vse of all sanctified meanes begge of God to make good the promises wherein he hath caused vs to trust Doe we not beside life of our bodies desire health and strength to discharge all the offices of ciuill life and why should we not much more if the life of God be in vs labour after health and vigor of spirit and for that annointing of the holy Ghost whereby we may doe and suffer all things so as we may draw others to a liking of our waies The truth is Satan laboureth to keepe vs vnder vnbeleefe of particular promises and from renewing our couenant in confidence that God will perfect the worke that he hath begun and not repent him of his earnest So farre as thus we cherish distrust we lie open to Satan Strengthen Faith and strengthen all Let vs therefore at once set vpon all duties required and be in loue with an holy life aboue all other liues and put our selues vpon Gods mercy and truth and we shall be able from experience so farre to iustifie all Gods waies as that wee would not bee in another state for all the world What greater encouragement can we wish then that our corruptions shall fall more and more before the Spirit and we shall be able to doe all things through Christ that strengthneth vs. To make these waies of God more plaine vnto vs this paines is taken by this man of God Not to disparage the labours of other holy men as far as I can iudge there is nothing in this kinde more fully indiciously sauorily written with greater euidence of a Spirit perswaded of the goodnesse and truth of what it sets downe And though distinct from respect to the Author the Treatise deserueth much respect yet it should gaine the move acceptance especially of those that are babes and yong men in Christ that it is written by a Father of long and Reuerend esteeme in the Church who hath begunne in all these rules to others As for our bodies so for our soules wee may more securely rely on an olde experienced Physition Hee commendeth it vnto thee hauing felt the kindly working of it vpon himselfe The Lord by his Spirit conuey these truths into thy heart and vppon good felt hereby in thy soule remember to desire God that he may still bring forth more fruite in his age vntill hee hath finished his course with credit to the Gospell and an assured hope of a blessed charge Grayes Inne RICHARD SIBBS To the Christian Reader IF any Grace and if not Grace what else doth deserue so to bee cōmended vnto the people of God as they may bee set on fire with desire of it till their desire be satisfied surely among and aboue all other Graces the Mother and Nurse-grace the Queene and Soueraigne Grace which bringeth foorth and breedeth vp that nourisheth and cherisheth that commandeth and ordereth all other Graces euen FAITH deserueth as much FAITH I say which is to the soule as the soule is to the body The life of it to the little world as the Sun is to the great world The light of it that which warmeth quickneth comforteth encourageth the person in whom it is Doth it not then deserue the best pains of the most iudicious and industrious Diuines to set it out Great paines hath beene taken hereabouts by men of good note and name So much and so well hath beene vttered and published on this subiect since the latter spring of the Gospell as to vtter and publish any more may be thought to doe no more then what hath beene done before yet without preiudice to any other to the praise of Gods Grace in the Author of this Treatise be it spoken Neuer any tooke such paines to so good purpose in and about the foundation of FAITH as he hath done The onely true proper Groundwork of FAITH is Gods promise Whatsoeuer is prnmised may safely bee beleeued whatsoeuer is beleeued without a promise is presumed As FAITH is the life of the soule so Gods promise is the life of FAITH Desirest thou FAITH take notice of Gods promises Wouldest thou haue thy FAITH like the light in the Lords Sanctuary neuer to goe out Acquaint thy soule with Gods promises know them meditate on them conferre about them let them be continually in thy mind memory heart and tongue If thou findest it too hard a taske for thee to finde them out to ranke them in order and to make fit application of them which is indeede an hard taske Beholde here God hath sent Ezekel Culuerwell as of olde hee sent Ezekel Buzi to set out the promises of God more plentifully and pertinently then euer before and that to breede FAITH where it is not to strengthen it where it is weake to settle it where it wauereth to repaire it where it decayeth to apply it aright to euery neede to extend it to sanctification as well as to iustification and to point out the singular vse of it in matters temporall spirituall and aeternall The subiect matter of this Treatise is fit to be vnder taken by a man well exercised in the holy Scriptures and well acquainted with the disposition of mans heart towards these promises Such an one is he who hath penned and published this treatise His exercise in the Scripture hath enabled him to gather together heapes of promises His experience of the disposition of mans heart hauing piercingly diued thereinto through much friendly and familiar conference with sundry sorts hath enabled him to set those heapes in a fitte and due order What I say of him I know of him for from mine infancy haue I known him and vnder his ministery was I trained vp in my younger yeares hee being at the least two and twenty yeares elder then my selfe Now because of all the Ministers that euer I knew he hath been one of the most painfull faithfull and powerfull giue me leaue good Reader to set downe somewhat of his practise for a patterne to others What manner of entring vpon his pastorall charge he had is not vnknowne to them that were vnder his charge Very few if any at all did hee finde fit to receiue the holy Communion which mooued him by the space
God the father mooued by nothing but his free loue to mankinde lost hath made a deed of gift and grant of his Sonne Christ Iesus vnto mankinde that whosoeuer of all mankinde shall receiue this gift by a true and liuely faith hee shall not perish but haue euerlasting life which the same Apostle expresly saith 1. Ioh. 5. 11. This is the record that God hath giuen to vs eternall life and this life is in his Sonne meaning that this it is which God hath witnessed for vs to beleeue which hee that doth not makes God a lyar and shall most iustly be condemned therefore this then is the first thing in true faith to be considered that euery soule to whom God sendeth this message of the Gospell doe truely beleeue and giue credit vnto it to bee true that God hath made grant of Christ to sinners so that if he accept this grant he shall bee saued This is that faith which in schooles is called historicall because it goeth no further then to giue assent and credit to the story of that which God speaketh to be true which one may beleeue for another and therefore this cannot be true iustifying faith and this may be in those that knowe they are bidden to the wedding yet refuse to come So that though this bee necessary to true iustifying faith yet it is not sufficient therfore in iustifying faith there is required another and more speciall work namely to receiue Christ and life in him offered in the Gospell which was the second generall point to bee considered in the nature of this iustifying faith Namely that beside the assent of the mind and iudgment to the truth of the Gospell The second speciall worke of faith is to receiue Christ offered vs in the Gospell wee giue consent with our heart and will and so willingly and gladly accept Gods gift of Christ whereby indeede he is become ours and we his and so we in him be made partakers of all things pertaining to life and godlinesse 2. Pet. 1. 3. as the Apostle Peter speaketh where I would haue this specially to be marked that hee saith this is by the knowledge or acknowledging of him which I vnderstand to be by true faith whereby we know and acknowledge Christ to be ours This I the rather obserue for that I see some honestly minded herein beguiled to imagine that a man may be a true member of Christ and so be iustified before he thus actually beleeue and thereby apprehend Christ I deny not but that some weake in faith may feare that they do not beleeue and that they haue not apprehended Christ when in deede they haue apprehended him though they feele it not who may be discerned partly by their heauinesse for want of sense of faith but especially by their loue they beare to God shewed manifold waies whereof we shall here more in the triall of faith But that he who neuer apprehended Christ by beleeuing should ordinarily bee a member of Christ I cannot see sure I am the Scripture constantly speaketh otherwise as Iohn 12. As many as receiued him Gal. 3 26. to them hee gaue power to bee the sonnes of God euen to them that beleeue in his name Gal. 2. 20. And to like effect often that we are all the children of God by faith in Christ Iesus That wee liue by faith of the Sonne of God That Christ dwelleth in our hearts by faith Eph. 3. 17. In which and the like many it is euident that faith is the Instrument whereby wee receiue Christ our righteousnes and life And this is the constant opinion of all found Diuines so farre as I know Thus then we see that the very nature of faith consisteth in the true acceptation of Christ proclaimed in the Gospell How faith is gotten Now followeth to be considered how this faith is to be obtained and increased that so we may liue by it wherein wee haue these two points to be obserued 1. First 2. point what is the ground of faith 1. 2. Secondly 2. how faithis hereon builded But before this blocke at which so many stumble is to be remooued That wee yet speake not how a man that hath faith may know it to bee so whereof more in his place but how one that indeede hath not apprehended Christ by faith may attaine vnto it So that here onely we seeke the causes which beget this faith not the effects of faith which only prooue we haue it Many not discerning this difference doe much mistake Causes and effects of faith differing and being asked what caused them to beleeue they say because they haue truely repented and changed their course of life which if it proceede not from faith is not so much as a sound proofe of faith much lesse can it bee any cause to drawe them to beleeue By which mistaking it comes to passe that such persons building their faith vpon their life which is subiect to many changes can neuer haue sound and stedfast faith but a staggering vnconstant opiniō at the best We haue neede therefore to looke for a more sure ground whereon to build our faith which must stand against so many and mighty stormes wherewith it is so vsually assaulted The onely firme ground of this sauing faith is Gods truth reuealed in his word The onely ground of faith is Gods truth Reason why as is plainely taught Rom. 10. 17. So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God And so likewise it is saide of the Ephesians 1. 13. That they by hearing the word of truth the Gospell of saluation beleeued which is as manifest to reason in that there is not any thing in heauen or in earth which can testifie to vs such good will in God to saue vs but wee must haue Gods owne word to witnesse this vnto vs and all little enough It is a matter so incredible that the holy and iust God who cannot abide any iniquity Heb. 2. 2. but will certainely giue to euery sinne his due punishment yet of his owne free mercy hath giuen and granted to poore sinners eternall life Therefore hath the Lord so often and so euidently spoken no lesse that hee might thereby mooue vs to beleeue as 1. Ioh. 5. 11. expresly affirming This is that which is testified That God hath giuen vs eternall life and this life is in his sonne For our further confirmation wherein it is saide vers 7. that this is witnessed both by three witnesses in heauen The first the father the second the word that is the sonne of God the second person in Trinity the third the holy Ghost which three be one diuine nature and testifie the same things as also by three witnesses on earth all which be in euery true beleeuer and none els The first the spirit the second the water the third the blood which agree in one witnessing the same things wherby are meant By the first
That God by his word and Spirit first inlighteneth the vnderstanding truely to conceiue the doctrine of mans miserie and of his full recouerie by Christ 2. Secondly by the same meanes he worketh in his heart both such sound sorrow for his miserie and feruent desire after Christ the remedie that hee can neuer bee at quiet till hee inioy Christ 3. Thirdly God so manifesteth his loue in freelie offering Christ with all his benefites to him a poore sinner that thereby he drawes him so to giue credit to God therein that hee gladly accepts Christ offred vnto him These three workes of God whosoeuer findeth to haue beene wrought in himselfe hee may thereby know certainely hee hath faith But without these what change of life soeuer may be conceiued there can bee no certaintie of faith and therefore I againe aduise that this bee first and especially looked vnto for our comfort wherein that none be deceiued with shewes of these in stead of substance I take these to bee true notes of soundnesse For the first of inlightening there can be no doubt For the second of sorrow seeing the causes still remaine Triall of sorrow nametie corruption and affliction therefore this sorrow must continue to our liues end though in a different manner now mingled with comfort whereas the former before faith could haue none Whereas on the other side the sorrow that quite drieth vp was neuer sound as it is to bee seene in many who being once deepely afflicted and in great heauinesse for their miserable estate afterward comming to some comfort are growen so secure and senselesse that hauing no true griefe or remorse for their daily corruptions content themselues that they were once cast downe Whose liues as they bee â—â—ule and full of blottes so their ends be oft fearefull either senselesse or vncomfortable so dangerous it is to quench the spirit in any part Againe Triall of our desire for the triall of our desires after Christ to proue that they be not sudden flashes this is a certaine marke of soundnesse that the more wee taste of Christ the more we couet him As the Apostle Peter exhorteth all that be new borne â— Pet. 2. 1 2 If so bee they haue tasted how sweete the Lord is Mat. 5 6. this is that holy hunger after righteousnesse to which our Lord Iesus promiseth blessednes which many mistake for such a desire as going before all faith hath no promise of blessednesse And great reason there is hereof why all true beleeuers should more and more thus hunger after Christ for that whiles wee liue here we receiue but the first fruits onely and we haue but an earnest pennie of that fulnesse we shall haue and therefore wee cannot be fully satisfied with that we haue receiued but still desire more Lastly for the triall of the third worke of God Triall of faith whereby he worketh Faith that any may know God hath wrought this in him in deed and in truth and not in conceit and opinion wherein many be deceiued I take this to be most infallible in the weakest of those who may know they beleeue that though in temptations they be driuen from their hold yet afterward they returne vnto their rest and finde Gods holy Spirit drawing them yet to beleeue in God because of his word which though it be weake yet it is true faith and not that wauering which hath no faith in it As may bee laid open by a plaine comparison for the weaker sort In a paire of gold weights when they bee emptie either ballance will hang wauering and not rest on either side but if a graine bee put into one aboue the other it will weigh it downe yet so as the winde or a little iogge may lift it vp but if it bee let alone the graine will weigh it downe and so hold it so is it betweene weake faith and wauering When there is any credit giuen and so any resting on Gods word after temptation there is true faith but where there is nothing but a hanging in suspence and vncertaintie that is wauering Iames 1. 7. which cannot looke to obtaine any thing as the Apostle Iames speaketh Thus by the causes is euery one to trie himselfe whether true faith haue bin wrought in him which indeed are the more certaine proofes though not so easilie seene Now followe the proofes taken from the effects and fruits of faith Proofes from effect which be more manifest but not so certaine vnlesse it bee also as manifest that they come from faith To make this plaine to those for whose sakes I write these that is weake beleeuers The principall effects of Faith be Ioy and Loue Ioy in the benefit and loue to god the author of it These bee such as a man may easily see whether he hath them in him or no. But if any man can say hee hath ioy of his saluation and loues God for it to say nothing yet of the truth of these vnles he can proue that these grow out of the tree of Faith they can no more proue that hee hath faith then fruit growing on one tree can proue another tree to bee good For we shall see that both these and many other supposed fruits of Faith are nothing lesse but are bastard fruits and meere naturall affections I meane such as may bee in a naturall man not regenerated but onlie inlightened and wrought by such a working of the Spirit as may be in a reprobate and therefore neither these nor any other change of life can bee proofes of faith further then it is manifest they come from faith The ignorance of this deceiueth many who build their faith on these whereas true fruites grow from Faith But to come to the triall of our faith by the effects thereof Triall by the Spirit which though they be many yet may be all contained vnder this one of receiuing the Spirit not as a stranger to doe some worke and so to depart 1 Cor. 6. 19. but as an Inhabitant to dwell with vs for euer 1 Ioh. 2. 27 And therefore this is set downe as the vnseparable marke of true receiuing Christ which is onlie by Faith This is manifest in the Epistle of Iohn 1 Ioâ— 4. 1. Hereby we know that wee dwell in him and he in vs because he hath giuen vs of his Spirit and to like effect in the Galathians And because yee are sonnes Gal. 4. 6. God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts Gal. 3. 2. crying Abba Father Againe in Galathians 3. 2. which is as manifest by all experience when God vouchsafed effectually to call any to imbrace Christ hee sent immediatly vpon them his holy Spirit which at first was in extraordinarie manner as in the Acts Acts 10. 44 but afterwards in ordinary manner Eph. 1. 13. as in the Ephesians where it is said That they after they beleeued were sâ—aled with that
holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the purchased possession vnto the praise of his glory So then euery one that will proue that he hath truely beleeued must be able to see and shew that he is thus sealed with the holy Spirit promised to all beleeuers The Spirit is knowne by his working How the Spirit is knowne which though manifold yet in this case may well be contained vnder these two Ioy and Loue as was before said in regard whereof this grace of the Spirit is not vnfitly compared to fire which hath two properties light and heate which though they bee vnseparable so that where fire is both these must needs bee yet they are not both alike sensible for oft the heare of fire may bee felt when no light can be seene so is it with these of Ioy Loue especially in weak beleeuers who though their faith bee so couered vnder their corruptions that they cannot oft times haue such sight thereof as might breed ioy and comfort in their saluation yet their loue to God can neuer bee so quenched that they shal feele no heate in it But if they shall bee well tried what hearts they beare to God it cannot bee hid but they beare a louing affection to him approuing of all that he doth to be well done yea though hee should condemne them being grieued for offending him and very desirous to please him All which and many the like be euident proofes of their true loue to God whereby they may proue that there is in them some perswasion of Gods loue towards them which cannot bee without true faith though faith in it selfe much lesse the ioy therein cannot bee seene And this I iudge to bee the cleerest proofe which a weake beleeuer may haue that he hath any faith which I deâ—iâ—e the more may bee regarded for that in my best experience I haue euer found nothing more auailable to comfort a truely afflicted conscience that is one whose heart is oppressed with sorrow for that seeing his miserie and desiring Christ his only remedie yet cannot beleeue at least cannot see he doth beleeue To returne then to these effects of Gods Spirit whereby it is manifest who hath the Spirit of God dwelling in him Euery one must examine his own heart what sound ioy and comfort hee hath of his saluation by Christ and what true loue he beareth to God for the same which two be as the two maine Armes of the tree of Life from whence doe issue and spring all other branches of a godly life From the former that is the Ioy of Faith doth grow all comfort in God that we shall receiue from him in due time and measure all needfull blessings From loue proceedeth a carefull conscience to yeeld God all cheerefull obedience both in dutie towards God and towards our neighbour in all which whosoeuer hath no part he may thereby know that as yet he hath not receiued Gods Spirit but on the other side if any man doe finde these in him and his heart doe not beguile him hee may haue boldnesse that he is a true liuing member of Christ But for so much as this is to too common that many bee deeply deceiued on both sides some and these the fewer and better sort mistrusting themselues that these are not in truth in them and so fearing they haue not truely receiued the Spirit and therefore are none of Christs when as in deed and in truth they haue both whose case is good though they see it not and so remaine vncomfortable Others the greater and worser sort doe flatter themselues they haue these and such other fruits of the Spirit and so haue true faith in Christ and saluation when indeed they haue none of these in truth but vaine shadowes of them It is a matter exceeding needfull to set downe some plaine and infallible markes of soundnesse whereby euery one may be able to discerne of his estate whether he haue rightly receiued the grace of God or no that hereby the sound hearted though weake and full of doubts may be quieted if not comforted and the proud hypocrites and presumptuous professor may bee discouered and discomforted wherein great care is to be had that the gate bee not made too wide to let in the Libertine and loose liuer or too straight to shut out the poorest and weakest beleeuer 1. One especiall marke of a sound heart I haue obserued chiefly in young Christians and weake beleeuers is a godly iâ—alousie of being deceiued with false faith Markes of soundnesse ioy and loue which maketh them carefull to examine themselues and willing to be tried by others yea they bee earnest with God to trie them to discouer to them the falsehood or weakenesse of their hearts that both may bee reformed Whereas on the other side the vnsound heart will not be tried but as he flatters himselfe all is well so he takes it very ill to be suspected by others 2. Another note that the grace we haue receiued is true and not counterset is this that vpon search finding that we haue some sorrow for our frailties and some desires of being cleansed by Christ and some faith and hope therein with some ioy and loue of God for the same yet we haue withall such a sight of our pouertie in all of these as makes vs often mourne for our wants and to thinke so meanely of our selues that we highly esteeme the graces of God in others and for our owne parts desire and labour for nothing more then to haue all these increased in vs. These and the like bee the humble thoughts and desires of those that haue truely tasted of Gods grace But they who thinke euery little pricke to be deepe wounding or carnall and worldly sorrow to be the true godly sorrow and their vaine wishes to be feruent desires their fantasies to be faith and so for all the rest of Gods gifts bestowed vpon them doe dote vpon them and their happinesse in them and so liue merrily casting away all mourning for their manifold corruptions and be very busie in censuring of others and aduancing themselues and now being full doe take their ease and grow sloathfull in holy exercises especially in priuat these I say and such like are farre from true regeneration and might if they were not blinded see their estate more dangerous then such as neuer saw the light 3. A third marke of a true Israelite such as Nathaniel was in whom was no guile may be this that he is the same inwardly and in deed which he is outwardly and in shew as the Apostle speaketh of the Iewe and of circumcision so may we of a Christian and of Baptisme Rom. 2. 28. That it must not be outward onely and in the flesh but inward of the heart in the spirit not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God Whereby appeareth that all such who onely make a
faire shew of faith and loue when in truth these bee not in them these be plaine Hypocrites so farre from happinesse as they be from sincerity 4. Lastly to end this point great euidence may bee had that our profession is sincere and not fained Obedience in matter and manner from our obedience to Gods Commaundements and that two wayes partly from the matter partly from the manner In eyther of which wee shall see apparant difference betweene the childe of God and him that is onely in shew For the former the true child of God from his heart hateth all sinne which hee knoweth to bee sinne yea those sinnes most which most annoye him and such as his corrupt nature is most inclinable vnto and contrarily in his heart desireth to please God in all things and so in truth laboureth chiefly to yeeld obedience to God in those duties to which naturally hee is most vnwilling and so indeed doth mortifie the flesh when it would most reigne ouer him The carnall Protestant on the other side will euer haue some sin so sweete that he hides it like sugar-candy â—â—der his tongue and cannot forgoe it and he must bee borne with in such sinnes as are most pleasing to his nature as the proud person in his pride the voluptuous in his pleasures the couetous in his sinfull gaine which shewes that their heart is false and doe leaue some sinne for by-respects for did they in truth hate sinne because it is sin and offendeth God they would hate one as well as another So againe hee that pretendeth conscience in some duties commanded and wilfully neglecteth others which hee knoweth God requireth of him and will by no meanes be brought to doe them his heart is vnsound respecting more his owne ease gaine and credit then Gods honour or fauour towards him As for example hee that will not forgiue an offence or debt and will not shew mercy and releeue by giuing and lending when hee knoweth hee ought And so for the first table he that wilfully neglects holy exercises of religion by himselfe and with his family which hee confesseth he should vse and will not sanctifie the Sabboth whch God commands these men and the like can haue no sound proofe or comfort that they be truly regenerated In all which I would not bee vnderstood of frailtie in neglecting the good commanded or doing the euill forbidden both which doe fall into Gods true children Rom. 7. 18. whose will is present to doe the will of God though through the strength of corruption and weakenesse of grace they much faile in either of these But I speake of such as set their hearts to sinne Psal 66. 18 as in the Psalm and their hearts rise against such duties so that they will not as they say be held vnder such slauery these bee hollow-hearted hypocrites what shew soeuer they make to the contrary in any case notwithstanding 5. Now for the other propertie of true obedience concerning the right manner thereof Manner this is the care of those who make conscience to please God that they content not themselues with the deed done as to heare Gods word to pray to giue 〈◊〉 and the like but they endeauour to doe all these in such a holy manner especially for the inward affection as God requireth and therefore bee as much humbled for their defects this way as if they had not done these duties at all whereas the hollow hearted Hypocrite so contenteth himselfe yea boasteth of the outward deede done that he thinkes himselfe wronged if hee bee not approoued of God and commended of men Witnesse these and such other voyces of theirs to God Esa 58. 3. Why haue we fasted and thou seest not wherefore haue wee afflicted our soules Luk. 18. 12 and thou takest no knowledge And againe I fast twice in the weeke I giue tythes of all that I possesse Take Saul for example saying 1 Sam. 15. 13. I haue performed the Commandements of the Lord. In which it is manifest they looke onely to the outward worke and so wash onely the outside of the cuppe but neuer looke to the heart and in what manner they performe these and all other holy duties Thus haue we seene some speciall markes whereby euery man who taketh vpon him the name and profession of a Christian may try himselfe and know whether his heart be vpright and his conuersion sound without which there can be no true comfort But hee that findeth these markes of Christs sheep vpon him though not so cleerely as some others may hee may haue boldnes before God and assure himselfe that he hath rightly receiued the grace of Gods Spirit So then to conclude this point how any man may certainely knowe by the causes and effects soundly wrought in him that hee hath true faith and thereby is a true member of Christ and sothe child of God and heire of life euerlasting I desire euery one wisely to laye all together and to raise vp their iudgement of their estate not vpon a peece or part therof but on the whole worke ioyned together which is onely auaileable to prooue any to be a house or Temple for the Holy Ghost to dwell in This I adde for their sakes who dangerously hazard their hope of happinesse vpon some one of these workes of Gods Spirit or more which may be in those that perish who haue many of these I say not in a sanctified manner but in a common sort as hath beene shewed already whereas this among all is one infallible marke of Gods regenerating and sanctifying Spirit that where he beginneth hee perfecteth his worke whom hee vniteth to Christ by faith he quickneth and purgeth so that faith without fruits is a dead stocke and all fruites not growing out of faith are but as wild and bitter grapes vnacceptable to God and vnprofitable to man Hauing hitherto shewed what true faith is How to liue by faith how it is wrought and how any man may knowe that this is truely wrought in him by God Spirit Now it followes to consider how hee that indeede harh this pretious faith may liue thereby which is the principall matter by me in this Treatise intended For the better vnderstanding and practise whereof wee are wisely to weigh these two things First thing What it is to liue by faith Secondly How this is attained For the former to liue by faith is this that God hauing made promise of all good things more then wee could aske or thinke that no good thing shall be wanting and whatsoeuer commeth shall be for our good Wee are so to beleeue that we thereby be aswell satisfied when we haue no meanes of helpe as if we had all that our hearts could desire which is to be seen both in earthly and spirituall matters As for example if a man should fall into any grieuous calamity as into a dangerous disease and should see no way of helpe yet if he beleeue that
we shall see there bee generall promises which all may and ought to apply to themselues Now for the better practise of this duty Meanes of application by meditation prayer that we may so apply Gods promises to ourselues that we may thereby haue our faith increased and we liue thereby we are to vse meditation prayer and that not slightly in common manner or seldome but often and earnestly with wisedome and conscience and all little enough so to keepe our faith aliue that it alone may vpholde vs Meditation when nothing els can Vnder this meditation I containe such a consideration of Gods promises as may leade vs to see what his good will and pleasure is what a fatherly care of our welfare hee hath and not onely how able but how willing also he is to help vs. And lest wee should bee dismayed first by our vnworthinesse we are to consider that all Gods fauour is free procured by none but that hee shewes mercy for his owne names sake which is oft so saide and alwaies vnderstood Or secondly for that some of those his promises are made to certain special men as Abraham Dauid Raul the like not belonging to vs we are to remember that whatsoeuer God promiseth to any one of his children not in any speciall or proper respect onely concerning such a person and for such a time as the promise to Abraham that in Isacke should his seede bee called Gen. 21. 12. and many other like promises which properly belonged to them onely to whom they were made But whatsoeuer God promiseth though particularly to one yet in no speciall respect but as a common fauour belonging to all Gods children That promise euery childe of God may and ought to apply to himselfe as if it had beene spoken by God to him in particular An euident proofe hereof wee haue in that promise made to Ioshua Iosua 1. 5. That God would neuer leaue him nor forsake him which the Authour to the Hebre 〈◊〉 13 5. is bolde to apply to those to whom he writ exhorting them that their conuersation bee without couetousnesse and to bee content with such things as they had and that vpon this reason Seeing God had promised that hee would not leaue them nor forsake them where wee see hee applyeth to all the faithfull that promise which was particularly made to Iosua So are wee to doe with all the promises made to any of the faithfull wherein we see no speciall limitation that it cannot belong to any other For further warrant hereof this may serue that the Apostle 〈…〉 Rom. 15. 4 Whatsoeuer things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope And more specially seeing all the promises are yea and Amen in Christ 2. Cor. ◠20. that is they be all set out in Christ to bee offered and bestowed in a constant and vnchangeable manner Bez◠as a learned man wel expoundeth this place So that he that hath Christ hath an interest and right vnto all the promises of this life and that to come 1. Tim. 4. 8 As the Apostle speaketh of godlinesse which is the daughter of faith and cannot be without faith more then a child without a mother Therefore euery faithfull soule who cannot but be godly may assure himselfe to be true heire to all the promises which God hath made to his children in Christ and so farre may boldly apply them all to himselfe as if they were personally made to him And so much for the former part of the application of the promises to euery one his owne person Now for the second how to apply them yet more neerely to our present state and condition whatsouer 2. How to apply the promises seeing the Lord hath yeelded so much to our weakenesse as not onely in generall to make out his promises to all his children but to descend particularly to our seuerall estates and necessities bodily and spirituall that in what condition soeuer we be and whatsoeuer worke of his we shall vndertake hee hath made promises to his children To bee with them to succour and support them Psal 91. 15 10 84. 11. that no euill shall hurt them no good thing shall bee wanting Rom. 8. 28. and whatsoeuer doth come shal be for their good Seeing God I say doth oft more specially intaile his promises that is bequeath them to such and such persons as to the humble to the meeke to the hungry to the afflicted to the fatherlesse widdowe and the like many and so likewise to our prayers hearing of his word and all other holy exercises yea to all obedience to any of his commandements This shall bee our wisedome and is our duty more specially to weigh how these belong vnto vs and finding our selues so qualified and in such condition as the Lord made his promise vnto we may then much more confidently apply his promise to vs in such estate that so we may more comfortably beleeue and look for his helpe al-sufficient and in due season Which what quiet it will bring to any in distresse cannot be hid or doubted of And this is that which I haue conceiued to be the right way of application of Gods promises by this meditating wise considering of them that so wee may haue our vse of them But yet all this is not sufficient in regard of our great frailtie who be not onelie blind not able to search and see these promises and forgetfull as the Hebre wes Chap. 12. 5. of whom he saith They had forgotten the consolations But wee are as the two Disciples whereof Luke 24. 25. Slow of heart to beleeue what God promiseth to vs. Neither indeede can we beleeue first or last more then God by his Spirit shal worke in vs as both by Scripture and dailie experience is to bee seene how exceeding full of doubts we are when wee can see no meanes to put vs its hope of helpe 2. meanes of applying the promises is prayer but doe pittifully sinke downe in despaire In regard whereof our onelie refuge is to flye to God and to ply him with feruent prayer that he would by his Spirit both reueale vnto vs what be those precious promises which he hath made vnto his people in his holy word and likewise giue vnto vs wisedome rightlie to iudge of them and fitlie to apply them vnto our selues in euery estate we shall be in yea and about al to moue our hearts so to beleeue them that we may thereupon assure our selues of all needfull helpe in due time seeeing God al-sufficient and faithfull hath promised it and so with comfort and patience waite for the accomplishment thereof Which seeing it is so weakly attained euen by those that haue receiued some true and sauing grace as euerie one that will well weigh his owne practise may easilie see It sheweth full well that this dutie is
intend What benefite it is to liue by faith Which may more manifestly be seene by the Apostles own words in the scripture Rom. 5. 1. where he of purpose vndertakes to set out what is the blessed estate of those that be iustified by faith and so brings in all these singular benefites we haue mentioned Yea and addeth that it is by faith that wee haue accesse into this grace wherein wee stand And to say the truth as hath beene said alreadie neither these nor any other sauing grace or true blessing is obtained but by faith And therefore I may conclude that hee that lookes to finde any comfort in this life and to nourish the hope of a better let him make it his chiefe indeauour thus to liue by faith by which alone these and ail that may be desired are enioyed And thus would I leaue this point to be proued rather by experience then by argument and so come to that I chieflie aime at to bring this doctrine into practise and as I promised to collect some speciall promises and to shew how they are to bee applied particularly to euery person and condition to whom they belong But that I remember there is one other singular vse of Faith whereof though we stand in great need yet it is very weakely attained because it is so little sought after Another benefite of liuing by faith is our Sanctification And this it is how by faith wee might more master our greatest corruptions and better discharge those duties wherein wee most faile Wherein the more to moue all that reade this better to regard it I doe with hearts griefe bewaile to see so many of whom I conceiue good hope that they haue truly receiued the grace of God that yet neither themselues can feele nor others discerne any apparant growth in true sanctification either in the subduing of their chiefest infirmities or such a walking in their places as beseemeth their condition But in generall such a conformitie to the corruptions of the times such deadnesse of spirit in all holy exercises with a grosse and continuall neglect or common abuse of them as priuate reading meditation and prayer Many blemishes in regenerate persons instruction and wise gouernment of their Families holy conference in their brotherly meetings with such care of edifying one another And on the other side such vaine and sinfull merrie-making that there is but small difference betweene them and meere naturall men As for their worldly dealings as eagerly following the world and contending thereabouts as busily following their pleasure with curiositie in houses apparell decking their children and the like and generally such setting their mindes and affections vpon these things here below as men that are not risen with Christ I might say no lesse of their vnmercifulnesse many waies and great impatiencie in euery thing that crosseth them with sundrie the like great and long continued blemishes of their holy profession and iust abaters of their spirituall comforts in such sort that I haue seen heard the deathes of many to haue had little to be reioyced in and no maruell seeing they tooke so little care either to glorifie God in their life or to win others or to make their calling election sure It was most iust with God that their death should want of that glory with others comfort to themselues which others of Gods childreÌ„ do enioy who liuing by faith haue learned better to bridle their vnruly affections more wisely to walke to the honor of God edification of others peace to their owne consciences All which is attained by â—aith notwithout it as hath before bin touched and now shall further be made manifest The Apostle Romanes 7. 14 saith speaking of himselfe beeing now regenerate saith That the Lawe is spirituall but I am carnall solde vnder sinne which in many words following hee prooueth and exclaimes saying vers 18. For I know that in mee that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing for to will is present with me but how to performe that which is good I finde not and more to like effect Whereout this may euidently be gathered that euen in those that haue true faith Strength of sinne in true beleeuers and be effectually regenerated there remaineth such a corrupt nature as keepeth them from many good duties and carrieth them to suâ—dry euill actions yea and that with such strong hand oftentimes that they haue no power to withstand as followes where he compares himselfe to a poore souldiour taken prisoner by the enemy and helde in captiuity till he be rescued by his captaine meaning that Gods children are oft so held captiues to their corruptions that they haue no power to resist much lesse to ouercome till by the power of Christ they be deliuered out of this thraldome as may bee seene in all the particulars before mentioned As for example when a poore Christian shall be so possessed with the loue of this worldly wealth that though he desire and purpose to be more mercifull to Gods needy Saints yet when he comes to it he cannot ouercome himselfe to relieue according to his ability and their necessitie but euen against the light of his conscience either giues not or not so much as he should So much more for lending for conscionable buying and selling and as in all matters of profite so of pleasure hee that is in captiuity to them no purposes prayers no vowes can keepe him backe but he will obey his lust in vaine apparrell in going to playes in cardes dice and other gaming 's The impotency of many in withstanding their lusts shewes in what captiuity they be held likewise in reuenge and vncharitable thoughts of such as haue done them wrong They which be able to discerne their owne corrupt nature may easily see with what difficultie they doe bridle their lusts nay oft how impossible it is to giue to such as offend them a good word or a good countenance By all which and many the like it euidently appeares that many of Gods children be thus held in captiuity that they cannot by all the strength they haue get out so that without they bee deliuered by Christ they shal bequite ouercome which the Apostle himselfe in this very place expresseth where complaining hereof with griefe and admiration at the difficulty of the worke not in any despaire cryeth out Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death Wherunto he makes answere himselfe saying I thanke God through Iesus Christ our Lord meaning that though hee sawe neither in himselfe nor in any creature beside any power to deliuer him from the corruption of nature which brings death where it is not subdued yet hee sawe such helpe in Christ as made him ioye to giue thankes to God for the same Wherein I obserue a worthy practise of this which I chiefly endeauour to drawe beleeuers vnto namely How by faith to
Christ himselfe in comming into the world not to condemne vs but to saue vs being lost then must we with a true faith accept this mercy The same may bee saide of the name Christ Christ vnto both which all his other names may be referred which signifieth Annointed whereto answereth the word Messiah in Hebrew By both which beeing referred to Christ is meant that the Son of God taking our nature was in the same filled with the Holy Ghost as is oft saide of him and that farre aboue all other holy men as was prophesied of him Psal 45. 7. Thou louest righteousnes hatest wickednes therfore God thy God hath annointed thee with the oyle of gladnesse aboue thy fellowes Of which the Euangelist Iohn more plainely saith Ioh. 3. 34. For God giueth not the spirit by measure vnto him which was manifestly shewed at Christs baptizing where the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a doue vpon him Luk. 3. 22. and a voyce came frō heauen which said Thou art my beloued Son in thee I am well pleased Which was to this end that as vnder the Law the Prophets Priests and Kings were consecrated to their offices by the annointing with the holy oyle so Christ was consecrated to the offices of his mediation 1. to be our Prophet to reueale the whole will of God for our saluation 2. to bee our high Priest both to offer vp himselfe to God his Father a full and sufficient sacrifice for the redemption of vs sinners and to make intercession for vs. 3. to be our King to rule and gouerne his people and to subdue all his enemies All which bee notably set out in that worthy epistle to the Hebrewes which beeing too long to recite I desire the Christian reader to reade with obseruation that epistle to this end From whence another effectuall motiue to beleeue Vse may bee thus taken Seeing God the Father hath thus annointed his Son in our nature and therefore called him Christ and filled him with the Holy Ghost without measure that he might performe all things needfull for our saluation all which he hath fully accomplished wee may therefore boldly come to him and so stedfastly rest vpon him for our saluation And on the other side they who hearing these bee not drawne heereby to beleeue in Christ for their saluation doe either deny the truth of these which is to make God a lyar or despise their owne saluation so prepared and offered to them which shall bring vpon them most iust condemnation And these briefly for those two names Iesus Christ properly belonging to our Sauiour which doe summarily containe all and so to a wise regarder hereof might suffise to perswade him to rest vpon Christ for saluation But seeing the Lord who knowes how hardly wee bee brought to this assurance by faith of our saluation by Christ hath in that small volume of the new Testament spoken so much of Christ and the benefites which hee hath brought vnto vs to this end that wee might bee more stirred vp to seeke to him and to embrace him for our Sauiour I hope it shall bee worth our labour further to consider what the Lord saith And before I come to particulars let vs heare and wonder at these heapes of heauenly treasures Generall benefits by Christ which bee brought to sinners in Christ Wherein this is the first Saueth vs. that Christ is sent to saue sinners Luk. 2. 32. wherof enough was spoken before in the name Iesus therefore now no more thereof The next is that Christ is said to bee a light to the Gentiles Light to Gent. which was long before prophecyed often times by the Prophet Esay Esa 9. 2. 42. 6. 49. 6. 60. 3. saying The people that walke in darknesse Mat. 4. 16. haue seene a great light they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death vpon them is the light shined which the Euangelist Matthew applyeth to Christ bringing the light of the Gospell to a blind and ignorant people And the Apostle Paul alleadgeth for his warrant in preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles To like effect Christ is often said to be the light of the world Act. 13. 48. as he professeth of himselfe Ioh. 8. 12. 9. 5. I am the light of the world And of this I vnderstand that which is spoken by the Euangelist Iohn 1. 9. That Christ was that true light which lighteth euery man that commeth into the world that is who casteth out the light of the Gospell to all nations as the sunne in the firmament shines to al the world though many blind neuer see the light thereof Vnder this comparison of light all the benefites which Christ brings vs be contained light of knowledge light of grace and holy life and light of eternall life and glory All which be contained either generally or specially in the former alleadged scriptures and in sundry others To this head also belongs such scriptures as shew Christ to bee our life Ioh. 6. 33. 51. 10. 10. 14. 6. 2. Tim. 1. 10. Of all which this is the vse we Vse are to make that seeing God hath set vp his Sonne Iesus Christ in the ministery of the Gospell to all nations where euer it comes to lighten and to giue life to euery man who heareth it if he refuse it not and shut not his eyes against it as the Pharises did Therefore euery one who heareth this Ioh. 9. 41. not only may but is bound to embrace this light Ioh. 12. 36. by a true faith that so they may be the children of the light and that vpon paine of condemnation euen as our Sauiour himselfe denounceth against all vnbeleeuers saying This is the condemnation that light is come into the world Ioh. 3. 19. and men loue darkenesse rather then light Another worthy ground for our faith is this that God the Father when at the baptizing of Christ hee sent downe his Holy Spirit in the likenesse of a doue 3. God is well pleased in Christ lighting vpon him sent a voyce from heauen saying This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased Wherein is meant not onely that God did loue and like well his Sonne with whom for himselfe hee could neuer bee displeased there beeing no cause why but this rather that wheras God was extreamely offended with all mankinde now hee was fully appeased by Christ and for his sake ready to receiue into fauour all that by Faith should receiue him and so to accept him for vs and vs in him which is the same with that where it is saide God hath made vs accepted in his beloued Eph. 1. 6. 5. 2. And againe That Christ hath giuen himselfe for vs an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweete smelling sauour meaning that whereas whole mankinde since the fall is become odious to God for sin so that neither their persons nor their workes could
nature and to make him willing to doe Gods will though against his corrupt will this man need not doubt but that he hath the true feare of God which is so certaine a marke of Gods fauour and of euerlasting happinesse And this is the vse Gods children are to make hereof Vse Thus we see how the faithfull may by these two particular fruites of their faith loue and feare bee confirmed in the assurance of their saluation by Christ The same may be shewed in all the rest which the Scripture makes to be so many testimonies of sauing grace and happinesse to those that haue them As Blessed are the poore in spirit Mat. 5. 3. 10. they that mourne the humble meeke such as hunger after righteousnesse mercifull pure in heart peace-makers persecuted for righteousnesse sake All which are in this place gathered together by our Sauiour Christ to crosse the corrupt opinion of the world and to shew that they whom the world account aboue all men most miserable are indeed truly and onely happy The like hee doth in other places Mat. 16 28 19. 29. where hee maketh the denying of our selues Mar. 10. 30. taking vp the Crosse and following him forsaking all for him and for the Gospell to bee sure tokens to bee his who shall haue an hundred-fold in this world Luk. 9. and in the world to come life euerlasting To end this whole matter of assurance of saluation and to passe ouer many other fruites of Faith which doe proue the same as the confession of sinne mortification thereof ouercomming and Perseuerance All which bee oft made certaine proofes of happinesse This is the maine vse which is to bee made of all these Vse as hath oft been said that when as it oft falleth out with Gods children especially such as haue weake faith and tender consciences that they beholding their pronenesse to sinne and deadnesse of spirit to all holy duties doe fall into great feares and doubts of their saluation this may be some staie vnto them that they may see some of these fruites of their faith in them euen when they be at the lowest ebbe of grace by which they may comfort themselues that though they bee very sicke and weake yet they be not starke dead For whose sakes I will adde this obseruation by mine owne experience wherewith I haue quieted the mindes of many much perplexed in this case Markes of faith which is not seene for that they could not see they had any faith that there is a true liuing faith in many who haue no feeling thereof I haue obserued these foure vnfallible proofes 1. Vnquiet for want of faith First where Faith is and not felt the partie in whom it is cannot see that he hath any Faith is grieued for want of Faith and cannot bee quiet for want of it but mourneth as if hee had none which for the most part is the state of those that bee truely afflicted in conscience who faine would beleeue but yet in their owne sense doe not And yet in my experience I neuer knew any such who had any knowledge of the doctrine of Faith but indeed they had some Faith though they saw it not 2. Spare no meanes to get foitfi This will more appeare by the next effect of this insensible faith which is this that they who haue Faith and yet feele it not be very painefull in vse of all good meanes both publike and priuate by themselues and with oothers wherby they might hope to get this pretious gift of Faith which hardly would any doe if hee had not some taste of the sweetnesse of Faith though hee feele it not which so stirres vp his heart to seeke after it and therefore I hold this constant seeking of Faith to be a token of some to be in him alreadie A third and more principall effect of Faith in these 3. Carrie a good heart to God is this that though they see not Gods Fatherly loue to them yet they cannot thinke hardly of God but lay all the fault on themselues why they haue no more grace yea they will commend Gods mercie to others and cannot endure any dishonour to God which great loue of theirs to God doth shew they are loued of him yea that they haue by Faith apprehended it though they see it not and feare they haue it not The fourth proofe of Faith 4. A good conscience where it is not seene may be this that such haue a tender conscience shunning small sinnes which others dare boldly doe and bee carefull to please God in euery thing which many who be not so disquieted be more carelesse of So then if there bee any poore soules who cannot see their faith yet if they can see any of these effects of Faith in themselues let them know for a truth and to their comfort that they haue true Faith shall be saued And thus haue I said what I thinke meet for this first point how we may daily get more assurance that we be now in Gods fauour and shall want no good thing in this life and shall certainly in the end come to life euerlasting Which I againe doe exhort euery one who lookes for any blessing from God either in this life or that to come aboue all to labour for seeing without this assurance that wee be in Gods fauour how can wee looke for any blessing from God earthly or spirituall temporall or eternall whereas being assured hereof we may boldly looke for all other blessings needfull for our present comfort and eternall happinesse Concerning all which seeing the Lord who did well know the frailtie of his owne children All other blessings depend on this how readie they are vpon euery occasion to doubt of his helpe hath so plentifully recorded in the Scriptures both generally what a fatherly care hee hath of their welfare and also more specially what helpe they may look for from him in their particular necessities I doe not doubt but it will bee worth our labour to consider of them both and all little enough to comfort vs in our greatest need And first of the generall which containe vnder them all good things which God hath prepared and promised to all his children Of this sort may that come first which is the ground of all the rest namely that God will bee our God and of our seed after vs as hee said to Abraham the Father of the faithfull Gen. 17. 7. and so belongeth to all beleeuers as the Apostle shewes Rom. 4. 11. 16. which selfe same promise was after repeated to Abrahams posterity in al ages to be a staffe of comfort to them at all times therefore is it oft said That God is the God of Abraham the God of Isaac the God of Iacob Likewise God said to the people of Israel And I will take you to me to bee a people and I will be to you a God And most notable is that
of the old man and weapons of vnrighteousnesse but rather yeelding themselues vnto God as those that are aliue from the dead and their members as instruments of righteousnesse vnto God And wheras this might iustly bee obiected Alasse how shall wee who by nature are so vnable to resist so mighty a Tyrant as sin is who hath ouercome all mankinde Christ onely excepted euer be able so to withstand sin For answer whereto the Apostle brings a most comfortable promise vnto all that be not vnder the Law Verse 14. but vnder grace that is who be not still vnder the condemnation and tyranny of the Lawe whereby it reignes ouer all vnregenerat but by true receiuing of Christ by faith are now deliuered from that bondage so brought into the liberty of Gods children which he saith is to be vnder grace whereof the Apostle speaks more fully Rom. 6. 1. Of these he saith That sinne shall not haue dominion ouer them meaning that although these doe still carry sinne that is corruption of nature which continually fights against the grace of God in thē yet the corruption and sinnefull nature shall neuer any more reigne as in times past it did and so haue the full victory ouer them But they by the grace of Gods Spirit reigning in them shall daily more and more ouercome this their sinnefull nature and in the end get a glorious conquest ouer it and all other their spirituall enemies This one Scripture if there were no more is sufficient if it be truelie weighed and beleeued to comfort euery childe of God ouer all his sinnes that though they bee neuer so many or neuer so great and of long continuance yet being here assured the roote of sinne shall be killed ver 18. 22. hee may then quietly rest his soule in peace that all the fruits and branches shall in time quite wither for certainety whereof this is twise repeated But the Lord knowing how hardly we be brought to be perswaded hereof especially when we be vnder captiuity of any sin as of vnbeliefe pride anger worldlinesse and the like hath much laboured in his word to comfort vs herein that though the battell be sore and our strength small yet his grace shall bee sufficient for vs and his power shall bee made perfect in weakenesse 2. Cor. 12. 7 8 9. as was said to Paul in his wrestling against some priuie corruption which he felt a pricke in his flesh to be sent as a messenger of Sathan to buffet him least he should be exalted aboue measure by the aboundance of reuelations which though spoken to him yet indeede belongs to all in his case and therefore euery poore soule who feeles his sinne too hard for him that when he would doe well euill is present with him hee is to lay holde on this promise that Gods grace shall bee sufficient for him and Gods strength shall bee made perfect in his weakenesse That so complaining with the Apostle O wretched man that I am Rom. 7. 24. who shall deliuer mee from the body of this death hee may comfortably cheere vp his heart with him saying verse 25. I thanke God through Iesus Christ our Lord that through the power of the Spirit of Christ he shall subdue that body of sin which otherwise would carry him headlong to death and destruction both of body and soule for euer This the Prophet Micah notably expresseth Mich. 7. 18 hauing highly magnified the mercy of God in pardoning iniquity and passing by the transgression of his people hee addeth this He wil turne again he will haue compassion vpon vs he wil subdue our iniquities c. The Apostle also layeth out this matter at large how the Christian souldiour being armed with the whole armour of God Eph. 6. may bee able to stand in the euill day and hauing done all to stand that is being furnished with those excellent graces of the Spirit which he afterwards names he may manfully fight the Lords battell against sinne and Sathan and so hold out to the end of the battell that he shall stand vp as conquerour when sinne and Sathan shall fall as vanquished Beholde what encouragements the Lord giues against all our fearefulnesse in our spiritual battell which if wee could remember would put more spirit into vs to fight against our sinnes like men and not to faint or flye like cowards And yet these bee not the tenth of these gracious promises which the Lord hath made to this end that wee faint not when we see the force of the enemy Of this sort be all those Scriptures which setting out the rich benefites wee receiue in Christ among the rest mention our sanctification by him whereby is meant that Christ hauing taken our humane nature and sanctified it by his holy Spirit we being made one with him doe receiue the selfe same spirit though in measure to sanctifie vs Ioh. 17. 29. that is to make vs holy Whereunto these two be necessary first the killing of all sinne in vs and secondly the quickning of vs to newnesse of life 1. Cor. 1. 30 Of the latter more in the next point of the former heere concerning which this is oft repeated that Christ shall saue his people from their sin Mat. 1. 21. which as it is true in the matter of our iustification for the forgiuenesse of our sinne so it is also true in this point of our sanctification for deliuering vs from the power of sinne And so are all those generall speeches to be vnderstood that Christ is the lambe of God Ioh. 1. 29. 39. which taketh away the sinne of the world That hee hath loued vs Reu. 1. 5. and washed vs from our sinnes in his owne blood 1 Ioh. 1. 7. That the blood of Iesus Christ cleanseth vs from all our sinne Act. 3. 26. That God hath sent his Sonne Iesus to blesse vs in turning euery one of vs from our iniquities And the like many in all which this must needes bee contained that one great benefite wee enioy by Christ is that we who bee members of him are cleansed as from the guiltinesse of sinne that it shall not bee imputed so from the filthinesse of sinne that it shall not preuaile ouer vs. For more manifest proofe whereof this grace of mortification is expresly promised in sundry places Gal. 5. 16. as Walke in the Spirit and yee shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh Likewise the Apostle Iohn ioyning together both our iustification and sanctification 1 Ioh. 1. 9 sayeth If wee confesse our sinnes he is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse so doth the Apostle Paul to Titus Tit. 2. 11. hauing shewed that the grace of God which bringeth saluation doth also teach men to deny vngodlines and worldly lusts he addeth this that Christ gaue himselfe for vs 14. that hee might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purifie
point to quiet the minds of all that be troubled with the doubt how they shall be able to get the mastery ouer their greatest corruptions If any should further require to haue particular promises for particular sinnes hee is to know that howsoeuer the Lord doth sometimes descend to particulars Ezek. 36. 25 26. as that the wil cleanse them frō their Idols and that he will take away the stony heart out of them and such like Yet this is not done in euery sin neither is it needfull for when God speaketh so generally that he will clense vs from all vnrighteousnes and that he will heale al our diseases and the like many as we haue seene in the forenamed places who would require more Let vs then learne to apply these generall promises to our particular occasions I nothing doubt but it will as sufficiently comfort vs as if the Lord had saide in particular hee will kill our pride our vnbeleefe our hypocrisie and the rest Onely let vs be familiarly acquainted with these as need shal require and be oft in meditation vpon these whereof wee shall haue daily vse and hereunto ioyne feruent prayer that the Lord would perswade vs by his Spirit thus to rest vpon his promise for his helpe in our greatest need and then shal we more couragiously set our selues against our greatest sinnes and dayly more and more get the victory ouer them all to the honour of God and of our holy profession to the good ensample and incouragement of our brethren and to the present comfort and saluation of our owne soules c. THE THIRD generall head of liuing by faith is concerning holy duties THus hauing seene how we are to gather out of Gods promises daily more certainety of our saluation both by faith and by the principall fruits thereof and in the second place how wee may bee daily more assured of a full victory ouer all our corruptions that they shall neuer ouercome vs but wee them which must needs bring much comfort to all poore distressed soules who groane vnder the burthen of them till they may be eased Wee are to proceede to the third generall point propounded wherein wee are to haue vse of our faith against those many doubts which arise in our hearts how we who be so full of frailty and so weake in grace may yet be able to performe all those duties which God requireth at our hands both towards his maiesty in the first table of the ten commandements and towards man our selues and others in the second table and that in such manner as may bee pleasing to him For howsoeuer many carnall professours in truth little better then hypocrites imagine it is no such hard matter to leade a godly life and so content themselues with such common duties as may vpholde a name in profession of true Religion as frequenting the publike assemblies saying prayers in their houses and liuing honestly among their neighbours all which must bee done and many come not so farre yet they who haue truely tasted of Gods mercy in their redemption by Christ doe know that God hath deserued better seruice at their hands What holinesse God requires and requires more duty of them 1. Pet. 1. 15 namely That as he who hath called them is holy so they must bee holy in all manner of conuersation and that it must be their chiefe Study to adde to their faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance 2. Pet. 1. 4. 6. and to temperance patience and to patience godlinesse and to godlinesse 7. brotherly kindnesse and to brotherly kindnes charity And for the manner of their seruice it must bee 1. without feare that is not seruile and constrained but willing and cheerefull 2. vniuersall in holinesse towards God in righteousnes towards mē 3. before him as in his sight sincerely Luk. 1 78. 75. 4. all the dayes of their life constantly in all estates vnto the end and so to please God in all things Col. 1. 10. The faithfull people of God know Gods children vnable thus to liue by themselues that this is the life which God in his word so much requireth at their hands and which they so earnestly desire and endeauour to performe But so are they beset round with sinne Heb. 12. 1. and oft so taken captiue by the power of their corrupt nature That when they would doe good euill is present with them Rom. 7. 21 whereby it comes to passe that all euen the strongest Christians finde it a matter aboue their ability thus to leade their liues and many of the weaker sort bee oft discouraged to see how weakely they performe all Christian duties And no meruaile for seeing the regenerate themselues haue not receiued any such measure of grace whereby they may thus willingly and throughly sincerely and constantly so serue God as to feare him with reuerence and godly feare Heb. 12. 28 witnesse the slips and fals of the most worthy seruants of God but all our sufficiency is of God 2 Cor. 3. 5. 12. 9. and his grace must bee sufficient for vs Ioh. 15. 5. and his power must bee magnified in our weakenesse and without Christ we can doe nothing Out of all this may be gathered what need we haue of faith to enable vs to leade this life wherby we may please God and finde comfort to our soules Which shall further appeare What is necessary to please God if we well consider what is necessarily required of vs sinners that we may please God in any duty we performe which I conceiue be these three 1. First a conscionable indeauour to doe the will of God Mat. 7. 21. in such sort as hee in his word commandeth 2. Secondly Psal 51. 17 a true griefe for our many failings heerein Esa 66. 2. both in the deede Heb. 11. 6. and right manner of doing 3. Thirdly a beliefe that God for Christs sake will assist vs and accept of our weake obedience All which as we see be euident in the scripture and oft required so are they as manifest by reason that seeing Gods will is the rule of all equity therefore whatsoeuer swarueth from it though neuer so little must needes be vnequall and so displeasing to God And on the other side seeing all our righteousnesse is as a stained or defiled cloath such as Gods pure eyes cannot endure of necessity it follows that they who will be acceptable to God must come vnto God in Christ All our sufficiency is in Christ receiued by faith both for strength to do that which God requireth and for fauour that God will bee pleased to accept of the satisfaction made by Christ for the pardon of their defects in their best duties and for the allowing of their obedience to bee well liking in his sight Whereupon it necessarily followes that whosoeuer intends so to leade a godly life that he may be pleasing
to God mâ—st attaine this by faith without which as all we doe is sinne Heb. 11. 6. so the Scripture speakes plainely Without faith it is impossible to please God And yet how few be they who haue attained this grace so to liue by faith as thereby to drawe from Christ continuall increase of spirituall strength better to performe all holy obedience and daily to get more comfort that this their obedience shall bee acceptable to God! Two branches of this 1. how to get grace 2. how to be accepted Wherein wee haue these two speciall branches to bee considered How we may get this grace to leade a godly life or how wee may haue comfort that this shall be accepted For the former Some chiefe failings in euery commaÌ„dement that wee may better see how vnable wee bee of our selues to performe all holy obedience and so bee more willing to embrace the remedy I desire euery one carefully to examine himselfe by the Lawe of God how exceedingly he faileth in euery one of them 1. As for example in the first commandement In not walking with God not resting vpon him for relief in all his necessities nor so delighting in him as to count nothing too deare for him and that he is not more afraid to displease God then any in the world besides 2. In the second commaundement how slacke and slight hee is in all the worship of God both priuate and publike as namely in priuate praier which yet for the most part is in greatest vse As for reading the scriptures and other godly bookes how seldome meditation alone and conference with others how little thought vpon So likewise for the publike what carelesse and vnfruitfull hearing praying singing and receiuing of the Sacraments 3. In the third commandement How backeward he is lifting vp the name of God so as he might by all his behauiour bring God into better esteeme with those with whom he conuerseth 4. In the fourth commandement What adoe he hath to keepe his whole man imployed about the true sanctification of the Lords Sabbath In all which whosoeuer shall conscionably consider his waies I nothing doubt but he shall see iust cause to complaine of his want of faith whereby alone hee should receiue power from Christ and his Spirit much more effectually to performe all these holy duties to God The like defect shall be found vpon due examination in all duties of righteousnesse in the second table which God requireth both in regard of our selues and our neighbour As in the fifth commandement I wish euery one duely to waigh how badly hee dischargeth the dutie of his speciall place either in the Family Church or Common-wealth both such as are set aboue others and such as be below gouernours and gouerned and then he shall well see what neede he hath of faith to enable him to a better performance of those duties which his place requireth 6. In the sixt commandement How carelesse he is both in auoiding those things which hurt the life and health of body and soule both of himselfe and others and in vsing all good meanes for the preseruation of both And much more wanting in bearing and forgiuing wrongs in louing his enemies and ouercomming euill with goodnesse 7. In the seauenth commandement likewise What little watch and meanes are vsed to keepe both soule and body chaste and so to auoide all allurements to vncleannesse soberly vsing all our senses and their delights 8. In the eight commandement How hee failes in getting his goods iustly and so vsing them holily to Gods honour mercifully to the releefe of his neighbour and wisely to his owne good of soule and body 9. In the ninth commandement How carelesse he is as to auoide all blemishing of his owne good name or his neighbours any manner of way and so to preserue either and to recouer them being wounded by such meanes as God hath appointed 10. In the tenth commandement How hardly he can bring his heart to loue his neighbour as himselfe and to be as loath to hurt him as his owne selfe and to seeke his neighbours good as his owne Thus haue I briefely drawne out of the Commandements some of the chiefest duties which we cannot deny but that as wee are bound to performe them and desire so to doe so we faile much in the practise of them neither possibly can we doe better till we receiue grace from Christ to enable vs thereunto These being so manifest I hope I shall not neede to say any thing more to perswade any true Christian to labour for the increase of this pretious gift of faith whereby he may get power from Christ better to obey God in all that he shall require at his hands And therefore I would now set vpon this worke which is my chiefe intent to gather some speciall promises and to shew the right vse of Faith for our helpe in this behalfe But that I remember there is an other branch of this matter 2. Branch of this third point how our obedience may be accepted namely how we may doe all our workes in faith that God will accept thereof Wherein it will be no hard matter to shew that we are for the most part as much if not more failing then in the former as both reason and experience will prooue For a meere naturall man voide of all sauing grace may be drawne by selfe-loue for his owne good or by feare of danger that might befall him to doe many good things Mark 6. 20. as wee reade of Herod 2 King 10. 30. Iehu 2 Chron. 25. 2. Amaziah who did that which was right in the sight of the Lord but not with a perfect heart But to bee perswaded vpon good ground that God will accept our weake and sinfull obedience for perfect as if it were without fault this requires true grace yea a greater measure then many a weake beleeuer can attaine From hence it specially ariseth that sundry true hearted Christians Many discouraged by their infirmities very conscionable in their conuersation be yet much discouraged and by reason of the infirmities of their best duties haue little comfort in any thing they doe and so loose if not all yet much fruit of great labour so that it cannot be but welcome instruction to them to heare and learne how they may be assured that their weake obedience shall be pleasing to God as if it were without fault In both which I will doe my best to draw out of the welles of saluation the holy Scriptures such sweete promises as shall abundantly satisfie the thirstie soule whose chiefe desire is nothing more then to haue grace whereby they may serue God acceptably with reuerence and godly feare Heb. 12. 28. And first to begin with the former How wee may be sure wee shall want no grace that we may assure our selues wee shall not want any needfull grace for the leading of a godly life the Lord hath
These I doe beseech to attend to such promises as God hath made to his people in particular concerning this grace that wheras he sees that naturally there is no feare of God before mens eyes he faith he will put his feare into their hearts as Ieremy 32. 39. 40. And I will giue them one heart and one way that they may feare me for euer for the good of them and of their children after them And I will make an euerlasting couenant with them that I will not turne away from them to doe them good but I will put my feare in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Which if we could beleeue would sufficiently assure vs wee should not want this sauing grace but that God will certainely bestowe it vpon vs in that time and measure hee sees meete But for our confirmation the Lord doth oft repeate this promise as Deu. 4. 10. where one speciall meanes wherby this feare is wrought is set downe Gather me the people together and I will make them heare my words that they may learne to feare mee all the daies that they shall liue vpon the earth and that they may teach their children So Prou. ◠5. They who seeke for wisedome shall vnderstand the feare of God To like effect Deu. 6 1. 2. and 17 19 it is specially spoken of the king and more generally of all chap. 32. 12. And to this purpose speciall is that of the Prophet Dauid Psal 40. 3. where hee shewes another meanes whereby God doth stirre vp this grace in his people namely the beholding of Gods mercy on others saying And hee hath put a new song in my mouth euen praise vnto our God many shall see it and feare and shall trust in the Lord so likewise Dauid being taught of God inuiteth others saying Come yee children hearken to mē I will teach you the feare of the Lord. Psal 72. 5. They shall feare thee as long as the sun and moone endureth through all generations The like Psal 102. 16. so Esa 29. 23. They shall sanctifie my name c. and shall feare the God of Israel Jeremie also speaking of Gods singular mercies which hee promiseth to his people chap. 33. 9. And it shall bee to me a name of ioy a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth which shall heare all the good I doe vnto them and they shall feare and tremble for all the goodnes and for all the prosperitie that I procure vnto it so Hosea 3. 5. Afterward shall the people of Israel returne and seeke the Lord their God and Dauid their king and shall feare the Lord and his goodnes in the latter daies These shall suffise it would be long to cite all The right vse we are to make of these and the like Vse is so oft as we finde our hearts condemning vs for want of this feare doubting how euer we shall attaine to it in any good measure so oft that wee must call to mind some of these promises which though deliuered in particular to some of Gods children yet in truth belonging to all of them Therefore euery child of God may and ought to apply them to himselfe and stedfastly beleeue that God will performe his word to him and so waiting with patience the Lords appointed season hee shall not bee disappointed of his hope but shall certainly enioy the fruit of his desire And thus much for this I see this third point how wee may bee sure of grace to leade a godly life so as shall be accepted growes large and no meruaile for it reacheth to all the duties required in both tables I may not therefore runne into all particulars but will make choice of some and namely such as I conceiue Christians most faile in and haue least comfort in performing them Of this sort be speciall Concerning holy exercises prayer c. all our spirituall seruices of God as our praiers and exercises in his word and sacraments In all which I haue heard many of good hope complaining that they found small comfort in these because they performed them in so weak and sinnefull manner A principall cause whereof I haue obserued in many to be this that they placed all their comfort in the good discharge of their duty wherein when they failed which they found oft then they were discomfited Which euidently shewes that they had little vse of faith in those duties for faith doth comfort in our greatest failings as well as in the least To make this more plaine which I feare is little seene of manie a poore soule who takes great paines to serue God and yet seldome findes comfort that his seruice being so full of infirmitie is pleasing to God It must be confessed that while wee liue here there is flesh and spirit mingled in all the actions of Gods children so that as their best prayers bee stained with some corruption of the flesh so I conceiue that there is some operation of the Spirit in their weakest which being offered vp in faith is assuredly acceptable to God therein may Gods childe finde sound comfort not in himselfe nor in his worke but in Gods pardoning of all his defects and accepting his obedience in the perfect satisfaction made by Christ whereas otherwise if any hauing prayed with great feruency of Spirit shall bee conceited therewith and not humbled for his failings in that his best praier and rather expecting for fauour for the goodnesse of his prayer then looking for mercy onely for the merite of Christ which though it bee too little seene yet too oft it falleth out I durst boldly say that the sleepy prayer offered vp in faith is accepted when the weeping prayer without faith is reiected In so saying Want of faith in Gods worship be it far from my thought to approoue of drowsinesse or any other grosse corruption in prayer or to disgrace any zeale or gift of Gods Spirit in prayer but that I aime at is to discouer a common and yet close and dangerous corruption in our prayers and other holy exercises that when we performe these in any sort to our liking then wee bee glad and rest quiet that God will accept them I deny not but such may then reioice in the assistance of Gods Spirit but the fault I finde is that these haue in such times little vse of their faith for not beholding the blemishes of these their best seruices of God they are not humbled for them and so not driuen out of themselues to seeke for fauour in Christ in whom alone God is well pleased and thus they staine their best duties for want of faith This will more cleerely bee seene in the contrary when these doe pray or heare reade or meditate or receiue the Sacraments with much accusation to their conscience they haue no comfort that such duties shall be accepted which must needs arise from want of faith for did they in their poorest praiers for which
the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ which is est repeated 〈◊〉 Cor. p. 9. and 10. 〈…〉 that we might haue it in better remembrance and vse And for confirmation hereof 2. Tim. 2. 19. it s sayd the foundation of God 〈…〉 grounded vpon this the Lord knoweth who 〈◊〉 his meaning that they whoÌ„ God before the foundation of the world did chose ordaine to be saved cannot possibly perish as it is sayd Mat. 24. 24. If it were possible intending that it is not possible for then should God bee either mâ—table to change his decree or not Almighty as not able to performe that which he did purpose both which be most blasphemous to thinke of God for this cause Christ did bid his Disciples reioyce that their names were written in heaven Luke 10. 20. yea more in the same place 2. Tim. 2. 19. is said that this foundatioÌ„ of the certainety of salvation to all the Elect hath a seale which is after expressed in these words Let every one 〈…〉 of Christ depart from iniquity which I conceiue the same which is sayd Ephes 1. 13. that they after they beleeved more 〈◊〉 with the holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the purchased possession vnto the prayse of his glory In both this is meanâ— that the worke of true sanctification which the holy Ghost workes in every true beleever is an vnfallible marke that we are true beleeverâ— effectually called and elected to salvation by Christ and therefore are sure wee cannot perish but shall persevere and bee saved This is notably set downe 2 Cor. 1. 21. 22. Now he which establisheth vs with you in Christ and hath annointed vs. is God who hath also sealed vs and given the earnest of his spirit in our hearts so that as true dealing men doe make sure their grants and covenants by seales and giving of some earnest which being a part of the prise covenanted doth assure the whole payment so doth the most faithful God by these first fruits of the spirit of sanctification assure vnto vs that we shall never quite fall away from grace but shall be fully sanctified by his holy spirit at the time appointed The Apostle Peter 2. 1. 10. by this moueth the faithful to make their calling and election sure And yet more if this be not enough to assure vs that we shall never fall away but continue to the end and be saved how often doth the Lord passe his word vnto vs that his spirit shall abide in vs for ever Notable is that place of the Prophet Esa 59. 21. As for me this my covenant with them sayth the Lord My spirit that is vpon thee and my wordes which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed sayth the Lord from henceforth and for ever By this did our Saviour Christ much labour to comfort his Disciples who were full of sorrow to heare of his leauing them Ioh. 14. 16. And I will pray the Father and he shall giue you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever 17 Even the spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receiue because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth in you and shall be in you So againe Ioh. 15. 16. Ye haue not chosen me but I haue chosen you and ordeined you that you goe and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remaine Ioh. â—6 22. Your ioy shall no man take may and more to like effect as Iohn 10. 28. 29. I giue them eterâ—all life and they shall never perish c. So the beloved Apostle Iohn wrote his first Epistle to this end especially to confirme the faithfull in the certaintie of their salvation that they should not fall away as many hypocrites then did and daily doe To this end as he setteth downe sundry markes whereby they may proue themselues to be in the state of grace so he giues many comfortable promises that they shall continue 1 Ioh 2. 24. and abide for ever and more specially vers 27. 17. But the anointing which ye haue received of him abideth in you and yee need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lye 〈◊〉 as it hath taught you yee shall abide in him c. Chap. 3. 2. Beloved now are we the sonnes of God and it doth not yet appeare what we shall be but we know that when he shall appeare we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Vers 9. His seed remaineth in him and much more in this Chapter the rest I nâ—ed not rehearse all To shut vp this point A principall cause of this certaintie of our perseverance is that which the Apostle Peter expresseth 1 Pet. 1. 4 5 saying that their inheritance is reserved in heaven for them who are kept by the power of God through faith vnto salvation And to like effect the Apostle Iude closeth his Epistle with these words Now to him that is able to keepe you from falling and to preserue you faultlesse before the presence of his glory with exceeding ioy to the onely wise God our Saviour be glory and maiestie dominion and power now and ever Amen Thus haue I gathered you may see good store Application yet not all of those comfortable promises which God hath made to his Church in all ages to confirme their faith that seeing he hath freely loued them chosen them and called them to be his therefore none shall ever be able to plucke them out of his hand What remaineth then for vs who be compassed with such a cloud of testimonies which all agree in one but to be perswaded with the Apostle Rom. 8. 38 39. That neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Let vs then whensoever wee fall into this temptation oh I shall never be able to hold out I find my corruption so strong or if I should be called to any such fiery triall as in Queene Maries dayes I shall never be able to indure them but shall as many then did for feare fall away and deny the truth Let vs I say against this tentation set the many promises which the Lord hath made vnto vs that he will never leaue vs nor forsake â—s Heb. 13. 5. yea more that we shall be kept by his power vnto salvation that hell gates shall not prevaile against vs Mat. 15. 18. with many the like whereof before that duely wayghing these and the faithfulnes of him who hath promised them we may comfort our hearts that he who hath begun the
worke of grace in vs will never giue it over till he hath fully finished it Heb. 12. 2. for as he is the author of our faith so is he the finisher of it Ioh. 10. 29. And he is stronger then all so that none shall be able to plucke vs out of his hand Be then of good cheare thou poore soule who findest some worke of grace begun in thee yet feeling thine owne infirmities and oft oppressed with many and sore tentations and beholding or hearing of the fals of many great professours art much shaken and filled with feares of falling away for assure thy selfe 1 Pet. 1. 23. that being borne againe not of corruptible seeâ— but of incorruptible by the word of God which liueth and abideth for ever it is not possible thou shouldst perish or ever loose that faith and grace which is begun in thee neither canst thou sin vnto death as I vnderstand the Apostle 1 Iohn 5. 16. seeing this immortall seed remaineth in thee And this I will adde for the comfort of all such as be troubled with these feares that they shall never hold out to the end and thereby be stirred vp to be more diligent in the vse of the meanes ordained for their growth in grace and perseverance therein that I never did know or heare of any such to fall away but vsually they who finally fall away are such as be secure and presume of Gods mercy that they shall stand when others fall and take this withall that then we be strongest when we be weakest that is when feeling our own weaknes and distrusting our selues we run to God and relie vpon him in all our necessities which is that I haue laboured to effect in all this treatise The summe whereof I will in few words set downe as for the helpe of memory so for the quickning of our spirits more to labour for this happie life by faith which both in life and death will be our chiefe comfort For so much as the liues and deaths of the most professours of Christian Religion doe shew that few attaine either that comfort of salvation or conscience of holy conversation which God hath prepared for true beleevers My maine scope hath bin to redresse this sore evill and to this end I haue shewed that this blessednesse is enjoyed onely by living by faith and what saving faith is how it s gotten and how we may know that we haue it both by the causes and effects ioyned together not seperated Wherein seeing many be deceived on either side some presuming others mistrusting there be plaine markes of soundnesse set downe whereby every one may try himselfe In the next place we are taught how to liue by faith herein what it is to liue by faith and how this is obtained which is by due application of Gods promises whereto is required serious meditation and prayer wherin seeing few be so fervent as in this case ought to be the singular gaine hereof is largely layd downe both for consolation and for reformation of our liues and herein foure rules which be of excellent vse The second part of this treatise is a direction how to apply to our particular necessities Gods promises which being of divers sorts absolute or conditionall simply necessary or with limitation generall or speciall are all accordingly to be considered All of these being so exceeding many to bring them to some easie order for our better vse of them all they be drawne to six heads to which all may be well referred The first whereof concernes the assurance of our salvation by Christ herein first such generall promises as containe all the benefits by Christ In the next place is more specially shewed how we may be more assured by faith of our iustification in both the parts thereof 1. the forgiuenesse of sinne 2. the imputation of righteousnesse And likewise of the fruits of these which be 1. our Reconciliation 2. our Adoption 3. hope of glory For further proofe that we be Gods children we haue assurance by sense when we see the spirit of God working in vs such graces as cannot be in truth in any but such as shall be saved Among which 1. Faith it selfe is chiefe 2. The gift of the spirit 3. Sincere obedience 4. Promises made to many particular graces as to the loue of God and of our neighbour to the feare of God And so to all other fruits of faith which be markes of salvation And because many weake yet true beleevers haue no feeling of their faith and thereby be sore discouraged there be foure markes of true faith where it cannot be seene Sundry other promises of Gods favour to strengthen our faith The second generall head of these promises for the strengthning of our faith concerneth the mortification of our corrupt nature wâ—erein our faith being so weake we haue manifold incouragements to assure vs of a full and finall victory The generall promises that God will cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnes may suffice for all particulars The third generall head of promises is to assure vs of all needfull grace to lead a godly life herein 1. how to obtaine this grace 2. to assure vs our weake obedience shall be accepted In what speciall duties in every Commandement we be most failing Generall promises that we shall want no saving grace with the right vse of these For our further helpe God hath made many promises of particular graces 1. that he will teach vs. 2. that he will set our hearts in frame 3. that he will giue vs faith trust hope ioy which few attaine to for want of faith to loue and feare him with the right vse of all Whereas we fayle much in all holy exercises God promiseth he will both assist vs and accept vs in them as in prayer few prayers made in faith This is to be referred to all spirituall Sacrifices Whereas there is much vnfruitfulnesse in the exercises of the Word and Sacramants even in such as haue true grace through want of faith the remedy is to apply Gods promises which be many especially when they goe to these duties The Sacraments be much more abused the remedie is to consider Gods faithfulnesse in the seales The fourth head concerneth afflictions whereby many be discouraged no helpe but by faith Foure grounds of comfort 1. All afflictions come from God and that to all of his children 2. In what manner God afflicteth his most wisely most lovingly his wisedome is in the meetnes of the correction and in the just measure and continuance thereof Gods loving tender dealing with his is plentifully set out vnto vs for our comfort 3. the excellent ends and fruits of afflictions generall is blessednesse 3. speciall benefits by afflictions 1. they be trialls of our strength and weaknesse many iudge amisse and be misiâ—dged by others 2. benefit by afflictions is we be purged from our corruptions 3. by these Gods graces in vs be quickned specially faith and patience All