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A17416 The signes or An essay concerning the assurance of Gods loue, and mans saluation gathered out of the holy Scriptures. By Nicholas Byfield, one of the preachers for the citty of Chester. Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622. 1614 (1614) STC 4236; ESTC S118320 26,778 156

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gracious it doth not of necessitie follow that Iohn was the most gracious of al the Apostles though hee were most beloued Againe as our loue must bee extendent to all saints so also must it be to all times we must loue them aswell when they are in aduersity disgrace temptation sicknesse or any misery as when they abound in prosperitie or good estimation c. For the third this loue is without dissimulation it is indeede and trueth not in word or appearance onely And besides it is a most affectionate and brotherly loue Lastlie there are sixe effects of true christian loue for it shewes it selfe First by honor and this honoring of them that feare the Lord hath in it First an estimation of them as the onely excellent people in the world Secondly a free acknoweledgement of their iust praises in all places for their grace and obedience Thirdly a willing proposing of them as examples to imitate Fourthly a holy endeauour to couer their infirmities taking things in the best part and sence not receiuing disgracefull reports of them suffering long not vau●ting themselues in comparison of them not easily prouoked not enuying them hoping all things induring all things and yet not reioycing in their iniquity Fiftly Apology for them against the reproches and scornes of the world Sixthly by delight in their fellowship and society in the Gospell in which respect they can be equall to them of the lower sort Such as finde no need of nor delight in the company of Gods children or are willing to sort with none but their betters or equals may see great cause to bee humbled either for the want of this grace or for the weakenesse of it Thirdly by simpathy and fellow-feeling for in some measure a childe of God is like affectioned He can in some measure weepe with them that weepe and reioyce with them that reioyce especially they reioyce to heare or know their soules prosperity Fourthly by weldoing mercy this loue is bountifull pittifull tender hath bowels both of spirituall and outward mercy it gladly receaueth the saints it communicates to their necessitie willinglie and with a readie minde Fiftly by a desire to walke in offensiuely he that loueth his brother there is no occasion of stumbling or scandall in him Lastly the true loue of Gods children will make a man grow vp the faster into Iesus Christ in all grace and holinesse 5. Faith INasmuch as there are diuers kinds of faith and experience shewes in many that giue no signes of repentance that they will not bee beaten from a confident perswasion that Christ died for them euen for them in particular It stands vs in hand to try our perswasion by the true rules of scripture and if it will abide the triall of the touchstone we may lay it vp as hid treasure and a wonderfull grace of God and if otherwise we may repent of presumption as a deceaueable sinne Faith may be tried 1. By the Cause 2. By the Properties 3. By the Concomitants 4. By the effects For the first true faith commeth by the hearing of the word preached It is no naturall endowment nor gotten by naturall helpes But first is wrought by the holyghost in the preaching of the Gospell as is plaine by the Apostle How shal they beleeue in him of whom they haue not heard and how shall they heare without a Preacher Secondly there are 6. properties of faith First it accounts all things most base in Comparison of the knowledge of Christ and the loue of God in him Christ is more precious then all the world besides Secondly it will receaue the testimony of Gods faithfull Ministers out of the world against the world Thirdly it is such a perswasion as cannot abide hipocrisy but purgeth the heart of it as of a most hatefull sinne and is therefore called vnfained Fourthly it will endure triall cast it into the fire of tribulation and manifold afflictions and disgraces and temptations yet it will not perish nor be ashamed it is a plate for the breast and a helmet for the head 1. Thess. 5. 8● Eph. 6. Whereas the best faith that is not the faith of Gods elect will proue but drosse if it be cast into the furn●ce of temptation further then it is supported by carnall ends and helpes Fiftly it will beleeue all things that it apprehendeth to be required threatned or promised in the word to belieue some things may be in other kindes of faith especially such things as stand with reason affecting common opinion c. Sixtly in affliction it laieth hold on Gods promise or prouidence so as it will rest with quietness trust and patience and not make hast to the vse of euill and vnwarranted meanes he that beleeueth maketh not hast Thirdly it may bee tried by the concomitants of it for First it is ●ealed by the holy spirit of promise for in euery beleeuer the promised spirit doth print in his heart the sauing graces of Christ from the sight of which as from so many markes compared with Gods promises in his word ariseth by the effectuall working of the spirit this assurance or perswasion of faith for though grace and faith bee giuen together and grow vp together yet the assurance of faith discouers not it selfe till it discerne those companions of it with which it is daily incouraged and confirmed and setled that faith that can be without sanctification of the spirit is not the faith of Gods elect Secondly it is ioyned with a good and pure conscience Hee that is truly perswaded of Gods loue in Christ maketh conscience of all his wayes to seeke or doe thee good God requires and auoyde the euils God forbids Thirdly it is ioyned with a spirit of discerning or wisdome in matters of saluation the minde being enlightened to obserue in some comfortable measure the meaning of the holy ghost in all things needefull to saluation in vse of the word through the power of Gods ordinances so as the verie simple may and doe attaine to a holy kinde of insight and sharpenesse of iudgement Fourthly The true beleeuer hath a witnesse in himselfe euen the witnesse of the spirit of adoption infallible certifying himselfe of Gods loue and his adoption Fifthly faith may be discerned by certaine effects of it for 1. It breedeth ioy vnspeakeable and glorious and that either through the sence of Gods sauour and your presence or in the hope of glorie to come 2. It puts on and applies a righteousnesse that is not by the worke of the same but in Christ onely 3. It will make a man speake in the confession profession and defence of the truth of God I haue beleeued therefore I spake 4. It workes the longing desires of Gods presence of glorie 5.
an obedience that will beare triall in the rules following First if it arise out of lo●e to God and goodnesse The obedience of Gods elect is from the heart not constrained but volūtary their hearts being inflamed with the sence of Gods goodnesse and humbled when they haue done their best that they cannot bring more glory to God it is a ready obedience without repining excuse or delay 2 If it bee in all things with respect to all Gods commaundements a wicked man may obaie in many things but there is som one commaundement he would be dispensed withall as Herod 3 Hee can bee content to obey against profit pleasure credit libertie ease or the liking of the world or carnall friends preferring Gods cōmaundemēts aboue all things yea life it selfe 4 If it follow the conscionable practice of the duties of mortification of sinnes past or present the reformation and profession of such people as did neuer in secret humble their soules for sinne may bee much suspected for our hearts must be purified to obey the truth 5 If it bee in absence as vvell as presence in all companies as vvell as anie before meane Christians as before the best at home as well as abroad 6 If it be alwaies as well as for a fit 7 If we belieue and obey Gods Ministers as the ouerseers of our soules and liues directing vs out of the Word as vvell as if vvee were commaunded immediatly from God 8 If wee obey in the Cōmaundements of faith as well as life submitting our selues to God as well by beleeuing as by dooing yeelding our seruice as well to the Gospell as to the Lawe 9 If wee obey in the least commaundement as well as in the greatest making conscience of the smallest things required or forbidden in the Word 10 It is an obedience that followes the sanctification of the spirit Holy dutyes without they flowe from holy graces within neither can the life bee holy before God if the heart bee not made holy by the grace of Iesus Christ. 11 It is ioyned with the raigne of no sinne a Christian that truly obeyes God may haue many sinnes but there is no sinne to which he yeelds himselfe wholly ouer by secret vows and resolution as a seruant to obey it hee may faile in his obedience so as hee cannot do what God requires as he requires but yet hee consents to obey and his will is to hire himselfe to doe Gods worke aswell as he can And to this end hee hearkneth to his voice seekes God with his whole heart that hee may keepe his testimonies he consenteth to obey and obserues to doe he comes to the light that his deedes may bee made manifest Lastly our obedience is right acceptable if GOD heare our prayers for God heareth not sinners and Dauid sayth if there were wickednes in his heart GOD would not heare his prayers 11 Sauing knowledge SAuing knowledge may be tried 1. By the obiects 2. By the causes 3. By the cōcomitants 4. By the properties 5. By the effects For the first by this knowledge the elect are inlightned by the spirit of reuelation 1. To conceiue aright of the nature of God in some measure propounding before the eye of their minds the Lord as hee is reuealed in the word at least by way of negatiō casting out al likenesses of any created nature 2. To vnderstand the true manner of Gods worship 3 To knowe their owne iniquities vilenesse in respect of corruption of nature and life 4 To know Christ as their Sauiour 5 To know God in Christ. 6 To know the forgiuenes of their owne sinnes 7 To knowe the voice of Christ discerning it in some measure from the voice of a stranger 8 To knowe their owne conuersion and al needful holy things 9 To knowe the things giuen them of God especially the inhabitation of the spirit of Christ. 10 To knowe their owne saluation Secōdly this knowledge may bee discerned from other knowledge by the causes for 1 Flesh and blood hath not reuealed it it is a wisdom in a mystery it is giuen of God in Christ by the anointing of the spirit 2 Affliction of conscience breeds the and experience of it in many who neuer came to sound knowledge till they haue beene wounded by the feeling of Gods wrath or their owne sinnes or the venomed temptations of Sathan 3. It is quickned and nursed by the sweete refreshings and contentments felt in Gods house 4 It is founded vpon the true feare of GOD the very first beginning of it is excited by the feare of GOD and it groweth as holinesse grace and good works grow in vs. Thirdly it hath sixe companions of it among the rest that in speciall attend it 1 The loue of the Law 2 A holy estimation of it aboue all possessions shewed in that a Christian aboue all getting labors to get this vnderstanding and reioyceth in it as the fairest ornament 3 Teachablenesse 4 A sauour of spirituall things 5. Sence that is inward feelings of the power of the word ordinances of God 6 The loue of Gods childrē which aboundeth as this knovvledge growes Fourthly it hath six properties 1 It is affectionate it is not written in the head but in the heart and bowels 2 It tends to action and practice 3 It is constant and indelible it hath deepe impressions and much assurance so as it is not easily vnsetled vvith the puffes of contrary doctrine nor can it be extinguished by trials or afflictions therfore it is sayde to be written vpon their hearts 4 It is sincere for first it inclineth to receiue all truth as well as any truth secondly it will receiue the truth though it be against reason common opinion profit or the like Fifthlie It brookes not the impotent rudiments and beggerlie inuentions of men in the things of the kingdome of Iesus Christ. Sixthlie it leades a man principally to vnderstand his own way and by it a man teacheth and admonisheth himselfe Lastly it beareth fruite better then gold ●ro 8. 19. and by the fruites or effects it may be knowne 1. It lasteth out conc●itednesse diffidence insensiblenesse of Gods mercies and iudgements and vnthankfulnesse he that hath true knowledge will not leane to his owne naturall wisedome hee will trust in the Lord and acknowledge him in all his waies 2. It makes a man humble and lowlie in the same measure that one abounds in true knowledge in the same measure hee is made more lowlie and meeke and carefull in all his waies no scorner can finde this wisedome 3. It mortifieth boisterous vnrulie