indure in this life are sanctified hereby to be to me Fatherly 1. Exercises 2. Chastisements 3. Trialls 4. Fulfilling of Christs afflictions 5. Meanes to confirme mee to Christ my head Rom. 5. 3 Heb. 12. 11 6 7 8. Apo. 3. 10. Col. 1. 24. Rom. 8. 29. 6. Examples to others 3. This also warrants the soundnes of my faith herein Gal. 6. 14. 1. Because I feele my selfe to profit in Christianity by my afflictions and crosses Psa. 119. 67 71. 2. I desire to take pleasure in such suffrings for Christs sake 2 Cor. 12. 20. 3. Because the old man in mee beginnes to bee crucified with Christ Gal Phi. 1. 29. 2. 19. 5. 24. Dead 1. This is my faith 1. Cor. 15 55. 56. 57. that Christ hath died for my sin and by dying hath ouer come death and so taken away the sting thereof that it cannot hurt any of those that beleeue in him 2. This comfort I finde hereupon that death shal be so far off from hurting mee Phi. 1. 23. 2. Cor. 5. 1. 2. that it is already sanctified by this death of my Sauiour to be to mee the gate of life 3. This also increaseth my assurance that my faith is sound herein because I finde together with this comfort that euery sinne hath receiued his deaths wounde in me each beginning to dye and for that I feele a power by Gal. 2. 19. Christs death Phil. 3. 10. to triumph against the terrors of death Col. 3 2. waiting for it when I haue finished my course Phil. 1. 21. 23. wishing to bee dissolued and to bee with Christ. Rom. 7. 24. And buried 1. This is my faith that Christ was buried for me both to assure me of the certaintie of his death for me and that all my sinnes are buried in his graue yea withall to bury sinne in mee Rom. 6. 3. 4 and to sanctifie my graue to bee a sweete bedde for my body to rest in vntill the resurrection Esay 57. 2. 2. This very faith is my ioy and moreouer that my sinnes thus buried shal neuer come into remembrance to accuse or condemne mee Rom. 8. 34. 35. or to hinder Gods euerlasting mercy loue from me 3. This also furthers my assurance for that together with this ioy I feele many sinnes buried in me Col. 2. 11. 12. and consuming daily by the vertue of this death and buriall of my Sauiour especially Rom. 7. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. the strength and delight I tooke in euery sinne He descended into hell 1. This is my faith that Christ suffered not only in his body the punishment due to my body but in his soule also the tormēt due to my soule which I should haue indured for euermore Mar. 14. 33. 34. and that not onely vppon the crosse Luke 22. 44. but also in the garden as appeareth by his speeches his pravers Heb. 5. 7. his crie his agony and bloody sweate and so hath for me triumphed ouer hell 2. This is my comfort that though I stood euer in danger of eternal death for all my sinnes yet now by my Sauiour I am deliuered from the terrours thereof Heb. 2. 15. 3. This is further for my assurance hereof Ioh. 3. 14. 15. for that I haue receiued comfort in this onely Num. 21. ◠euen then when the paines of hell haue gotten hold vpon mee for my sinnes and because I feele a desire to saue others also from that place of torment by leading them to this my Sauiour Ioh. 3. 18. 36. and haue now entred the narrow way to heauen following my Sauiour therein Mat 7. 13. 14. hauing left the broad way going to destruction 5. Article The third day he rose again from the dead 1. This is my faith that my Sauiour hath fully satisfied the iustice of his father for my sinn euen to the vttermost farthing Rom. 4. 25. in that he rose againe because any one sin of his elect not satisfied for had kept him in death 1. Cor. 15. 15. 56. 57. seeing he tooke vpon him to become surety for them all 2. This is my ioye that thorough him I am iustified and stand as righteous in the sight of my God all my sins being vtterly done away Rom. 4. 25. and couered hereby 3. This helpeth my assurance hereof for that besides this comfort Eph. 2. 5. 6. I feele my selfe also raysed vp to a desire of a perfect holinesse Phil. 3. 10. Apo. 20. 5. 6. 6. Article He ascended into heauen 1. This is my faith that when my Sauiour had fulfilled all things in the earth for the redeeming of his church he went vp into heauen Luk. 24. 51 both to prepare the way Act. 1. 9. and also to take possession and to keepe it for mee Ioh. 14. 2. 2. This is my ioy that none can hinder mee from thence Ioh. 17. 24 but where my Sauiour and head is there shall I bee also This ratifieth my assurance for that my affections are already ascended beeing set on things that are aboue Col. 3. 2. And sitteth on the right hand of God the father almighty 1. This is my faith Mat. 28. 18 that my Sauiour hath all power giuen him ouer all sorts Iohn 17. 2 to giue eternall life to whom he will Eph 4. 8. 10 and condemne the rest sittes as King at the right hand of his Father filling his Church with his gifts guiding it by his word and spirit vntill he haue glorified it Esa. 54. 10 59. 21. and subdued all his enemies 1. Cor. 15 24. 25. conuincing them by the light of Nature his workes 1. creatures 2. iudgmēts 3. mercies word 2. This is my comfort that he will guide me by his word spirit continually Phil. 1. 6. ouer-rule whatsoeuer Sathā or the wicked can doo against mee 1. Pet. 1. 5 to serue for my good Esa. 8. 16 against thēselues 3. This is also for my further assurance herein because I feele my selfe desirous to be guided by the direction of his holye spirit speaking in the word and moreouer Esa. 30. 21. I heare a voyce behind mee saying This is the way Esa. 59. 21. walke in it when I turne to the right hand or to the left 7. Article From thence hee shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead 1. This is my faith Ioh. 5. 22. that my Sauiour shal come to be the iudge of the whole world Ro. 14. 10. to iudge euery one according to their workes 2. Cor. 5. 10 2. This is my ioy that though I did and doo naturally quake so oft as I heare or thinke of the terrible iudgement Act. 24. 26 yet remembring the iudge 2. Thes. 1. 10. who hath by himselfe satisfied for all my sinnes so taking them on himselfe and giuen me his owne absolute righteousnesse I can
mens bare wordes or actions without their intent and meaning wresting or any way peruerting them as the false witnesses against our Sauiour Iewes against Stephen 9. Bearing false witnesse or accusing falsely as Haman against the Iewes Amazia against Amos as also the accusations Amo 7. 10 against our Sauiour Ieremie Paul 10. Lying which is very falshood in word or deede with purpose to deceiue This is a principall sinne of Sathan Ioh. 8. 44. who was a lier from the beginning and the father thereof 11. Vniust or rash arbitrement or giuing iudgement as the Elders against Naboth 12. Malicious accusations not of any conscience to God or for amendment of the partie or good of others but of spite as Doeg 13. Betraying others or their cause craftily vnder pretence of friendshippe or otherwise as the Herodians intended and Iudas delt with our Sauiour 14. Bewraying the secret or infirmitie of our neighbour to his discredit which wee might well haue concealed Mat. 18. 15. 15. Lightly beleeuing flying tales or suspitions Psa. 15. 3. against our brother as Saul against Dauid and the Priestes much more spreading them or adding to them 16. Flattering as Corah and his company did the people and as Absolon or the false Prophets crying peace which is to lay nets for men and to be huntsmen for Sathan 10. Com. Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house wherein the Lord requires our very hearts to be vpright towards our neighbour Here we must examine our hearts how we grow 1. In intertaining only holy thoughts purposes and affections for the good of all men 1. Th. 5. 23 2. In suppressing euill thoughts and motions Zach. 7. 10. that we may neuer giue any consent Rō 7. 7. 20 23. 24. nor take the least delight in thē but labour to the vtter burying of all concupiscence vntill we be perfect in the heauens The glasse of the Gospell or the examination of our faith according to the Articles of faith which containe the summe of the Gospell Rules 1. THe measure of our faith is according to the measure of the power therof in comfort and sanctification 1. Cor. 4. 20 issuing from euery article 2. Tim. 3. 5. except in the time of temptation 2. Cor. 1. 22 2. All the benefits contayned in the articles of faith 2. Cor. 1. 20 are ours in through Christ onely when he is ours 3. Let vs proue our selues therefore whether we are in the faith let vs examine our selues 2. Cor. 1 3. 5 knowe wee not our owne selues how that Iesus Christ is in vs except we be reprobates 4. And if Christ be in vs Rom. ◠10. the body is dead because of sinne but the spirit is life for righteousnesse sake 5. For the Kingdome of God is not in word but in power 1. Cor. 4. 20 6. We must therefore shew our faith out of our workes for as the bodye without the spirit is dead euen so faith without works is dead I am 2. 18. 20. 26. 1. Article I beleeue in God 1. This is my faith that though by nature thorough Adam I the whole Church are Apostates from God Eph. 2. 13. and enemies to him his law yet by grace thorough the secōd Adam Iesus Christ God is our God and we his people reconciled vnto him Heb. 8. 3. to serue him in newnesse of life all our dayes Luk. 1. 74 75. 2. This is my comfort hereof that God is my God and hath sealed mee for himselfe Ioh. 20. 28. 29. and therefore I am most blessed being in such a case Psal. 144. 15. 3. This giues mee further assurance that this my faith is sound because together with this comfort he hath giuē me since I beleeued in his name a heart desirous to depart from all iniquity 2. Tim. 2. 29. Father 1. This is my faith Gal. 3. 22. 26. that though I was a child of wrath yet by grace in Christ I am the child of God Ier. 4. 19. and God my louing father 2. This comfort I receiue hereof that I being thus his child shall lacke nothing because my heauenly father doth tender me much more Mal. 3. 17. then any earthly father his child Esay 46. 15. 16. 3. This is my assurance that my faith herein is sincere Mal. 1. 6. because together with this comfort Mat. 12. 50. I feele my selfe affectioned to reuerence Gal. 4. 5. 6. loue and obey him as my most deare father and am inabled by his spirit to runne to him with boldnesse in al my wants crying Abba oh my father Rom. 8. 15. Almighty This is my faith that though I be weake and vnable to resist my enimies bodilie or spirituall no way able to helpe or prouide for my selfe yet my heauenly father is of all maiesty and power Mat. 8. 2. guiding continually men Angells Psa. 23. 4. deuils and all creatures to serue for his owne glory and the good of his children 2. This comfort I receiue hereof that he doth will continually make all things worke togither for the best vnto mee Rom. 8. 28. not only the holy meanes appointed thereunto 1. Cor. 3. 20 21. 22. but also myne afflictions Acts. 4. 28. yea my greatest enimies Sinnes and Sathan himselfe vntill I be perfected in the Heauens Gen. 50. 20. 3. This also doth further assure mee that he thus works for mee because he hath first shewed the same mighty power quickning and raysing mee vp from the death of sin Eph. 1. 19. 20. which he shewed in raysing my Sauiour from the graue and secondlie for that I haue sensibly felte all things thus working togither for my saluation Maker of heauen and earth 1. This is my faith that though thorow Adam I had lost the right both of heauen and earth and of euery creature so as I could haue no comfort in the vse of thē but terror as an vsurper being cast forth off the earthly paradice Gen. 3. 24. lest as an heire of the curse yet thorough my Sauiour the second Adam Rom. 5. 17. 18. since I truely beleued in him I am restored to a farre better estate Heb. 1. 2. being made in him a right heyre of all Rom. 8. 17. neuer to be cast forth off my inheritance any more 2. This comfort I receiue hereof that heauen is mine and all the ioyes thereof Eph. 2. 6. and that I am set already in the heauēly places in Christ my head who reserues the full fruition for mee And secondly that all the creatures in heauen and in earth bee they good or bad Iob. 5. 23. are at a league with mee 1. Cor 3. 21. 22. 23. to helpe for my good so far as may stand with his glory my saluation and the good of his Church Hos. 2. 18. 3. This is also my assurance that my faith is sincere herein because that
Ioh. 5. 11 12. and withall he hath giuen me a heart to heare his voyce with delight Iohn 10. 27. 28. so that I shall neuer perish yea my faith herein is such that I account all things but losse and dung in respect of Christ Iesus my Sauiour Phil. 3. 9. and al the troubles of this life Rom. 8. 18. not worthie the glorie Phil. 3. 13. 14. that shall bee then reuealed vnto me so striue hard forward towards this marke labouring alwaies to keep a good coÌ„science both toward God man Luk. 20. 35 that I may euer be prepared for the ful fruitioÌ„ hereof couÌ„ted worthy to enter through the gates into the Citie Apoc. 22. 14. This is the victory that ouercommeth the worlde euen our faith 1. Ioh. 5. 4. Be thou faithful vnto the death and I will giue thee the crowne of life Apoc. 2. 10. Here is the patience of Saintes here are they which keep the commandements of God and the faith of Iesus Apoc. 14. 12. I haue sworne and will performe it that I will keepe thy righteous iudgements alway Psal. 119. 160. Then shall I not be confounded when I haue respect to all thy commaundements Psal. 119. 6. Lorde increase my faith Luke 17. 5. Mar. 9. 24. The benefits of this practise of examination to incourage vs vnto it sith it is wearisome and vnpleasant to flesh and bloud 1. Performing it aright wee shall avoid al hardnesse of heart luke warmnesse Ps. 119. 6. 80. 101. 104. sleeping in any sin and preuent an euill conscience with many other punishments of sinne Lam. 3. 39. 40. and withall we shal be able to recouer our selues forth with out of euery grosse sinne and from Sathans power yea euen from the gulph of deepest dispayre Psalme 32. 4. 5. 2. We shall dayly be putting off the old man and putting on the newe strippe vs off the ragges of our sinnes and put on our wedding garment Eph. 4. 21. 22. 23. 24. to make vs still more glorious in the eies of our bridegrome yea we shall caste away the workes of darkenesse and put vpon vs the armor of light Rom. 13. 12. 3. Being thus armed wee shall be so inabled to watch continually Eph. 6. 11. 22. 13. 14. 15. c. and defend ourselues against Sathan Mat. 4. 11. and all his power that he shall neuer giue vs any deadly wounds Iam. 4. 7. but we shall put him to flight RoÌ„ 16. 20. and in time trample him vtterly vnder our feet 4. We shal be able to see the good way and wherein the perfection of a Christian consists Pro. 2. 9. with his true glorie and felicity in this life Psa. 1. 1. 2 and to reioyce in them that are such 1. Ioh. 1. 1 2. 4. and withall to behold the feareful state of the world Ps. 119. 136 to mourne for it with iust Lot 2 Pet. 2. 7. 8 so to iudge aright betweene the godly and the wicked Luk. 19. 41. 42. and specially to iudge for our owne estate Phi. 1. 9. 10 5. We shall be fitted in some measure according to our place and calling as wee are Christians to teach conuince admonish reproue exhort and comfort both our selues and others 6. We shall be inabled to pray for our selues and others Rom. 15. 14. with the whole Church of God 1. Thes. 5. 11. 24. according to our seuerall necessities Ioh. 15. 7. 1 and after the will of God in faith 1. Ioh. 5. 14 â—â— 3. 22. and withall to make a most sound confession of our sinnes generall or particular with feeling and so most seweet thankesgiuing for all mercies with a like comfortable profession of our faith 7. We shall so grow in Christ and repayre his image as by beholding obseruing our selues 2. Pet. 1. 10. 11. we shall get most strong consolation 1. The. 1. 3. 4. 5. that wee are true branches of that holy vine liuely meÌ„bers of Christs body Iohn 15. 1. 2. 7. 8. the very sheepe of his fold to stand at his right hand and hence most certaine assurance of eternall life sealed vnto vs by his holy Spirit 1. Tim. 4. 8. hauing in the meane time all the promises of this life 1. Cor. 3. 21. 22. 23. and that to come all being ours and for vs. 8. Seeing our growth in grace perceiuing what sinnes wee haue ouercome Rom. 5. 10. and what graces we haue obtained Gal 3. 3. we shal be incouraged to striue forward to perfection Heb. 10. 32. 33. vntill wee obtaine the ende of our strife 2. Tim. 4. 7. 8. the crowne of glory Apoc. 2. 9. 10. 9. Wee shall shine as starres in the world Phil. 2. 15. to the greater glory of our god the comfort and good ensample of Gods seruants 1. Pet. 2. 12. 15. the conuersion of the wicked or stopping their mouthes and leauing them more without excuse 10. We shall increase the brightnesse of our glorie in heauen Dan. 12. 3. as wee haue more glorified God in the earth Rom 2. 6. 7 for the practise of this examination in the course of our life Mat. 19. 28. 29. is a spirituall sowing 2. Cor. 9. 6. whereof wee shall in due time reape a plentifull haruest if wee faile not Gal. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Wee shall be sure to gette and keepe a good conscience wherof such peace boldnesse securitie and heauenly ioy will follow in vs Pro. 15. 15. as passeth all vnderstanding Rom. 5. 3. 2. 3. and no carnall man can possibly feele Phil. 4. 7. but onely those for whome the kingdome is prepared 2. Cor. 1. 12 because it is the beginning of it in this world Ro. 14. 17. 12. Briefly which is the summe of all we shall get this assurance that Iesus Christ is our Sauiour anointed for vs our King Priest Prophet hauing made vs also Kings and priests Apo. 1. 6. to our God for euermore 1. Pet. 2. 9. Some necessary questions appertayning hereunto 1. Of senselesnesse in sinne Quest. Can any man liuing without feeling of his sinne and misery by it or of his spirituall pouerty haue any sound hope of his saluation by Christ Ans. No. Christ is a phisition onely to them that are sicke Luk. 4. 18. a deliuerer to them who feele themselues in prison Esa. 61. 1. calls them only that trauell Mat. 11. 29 30. and are ready to faint vnder the burthen of their sinnes Of obstinacy in sinne Q. Can any who continue stubbornely in any one sinne not submitting themselues to bee ruled by the word of Christ and his ministers in all things hope for eternall life by Christ or the fauour of God A. No Mat. 16. 24. 25. they that come to Christ must followe him forsaking themselues Luk. 9. 23. taking vp their crosse dayly