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 2 COR. 13. 5. Examine your selues whether yee be in the faith proue your owne selues Knowe ye not your owne selues how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates LONDON Printed by IOHN BEALE for IONAS MAN 1614. TO THE TRVELY RELIgious and his most affectionate frend Mistris Iane Ratclife wife to Mr. Iohn Ratclife Esquier Alderman and Iustice of peace late Maior of the Citie of Chester PEace be vnto you and loue with faith from God the father and the Lord Iesus Christ. The impertunitie of diuerse of my hearers and the expectation of many of all sorts together with my desire to yeeld some account of my long vndelightfull leasure haue inclined me to prepare some of my publike and priuate labours for the common view hoping that the abounding respect of my friends will couer the wants and weakenesses which other men will sooner espie Howsoeuer I haue long meditated a worke of greater labour then this ensuing treatise yet in the meane time I haue beene willing to tast the approbation of good men and make my best aduauntage of the censures of the many minded multitude by aduenturing to send foorth these first fruites as a handfull gathered out of the rest Worthie Gentlewoman there are manie reasons induce me to publish these signes vnder your name your singular loue and liking of my ministerie together vvith your reuerent and willing entertainement of faithfull Ministers receiuing them as the messengers of the Churches and the glorie of Christ as partners and fellow helpers walking in the same spirit challengeth from vs some publike testimonie of our acknowledgemeÌ„t of Gods grace and of the ioy vvherewith vve reioyced for your sake besides constant indeauour to make vse of all opportunities for your resolution and direction in the seuerall conflicts and cases of your conscience I haue had occasion fully to know your order and manner of life your desires purposes teares vprightnes your faith your loue your obedience and therfore being assured that you are marked euen with euerie one of these signes vvhy should I not say vnto you as somtimes Iob said of himselfe Behold your signes that the Almightie wil witnesse for you And I am vvell assured that this treatise vvill finde good accesse vnto the hands and hearts of diuers in these parts euen for the loue they beare to you and for the good they novv heare you haue by experience reaped from these Neither had I beene easily drawne to publish these but that hauing occasion in conference with many to make vse of theÌ„ I could hardly satisfie them vvith coppies I spare to alleadge other reasons Novv vvhat remains but that I should beseech you and all those vvho finde by these signes the assurance of Gods eternal loue euen to honour the Lord vvith the continuall sacrifices of praise the fruite of your lips vvith confession to his name oh loue the Lord vvith your whole heart and make his praise glorious and abound more and more in the fruites of sincere life and in all holy and humble conuersation liue by faith and in nothing be carefull but in all things let your requests he made knowne to God vvith thanksgiuing and as you haue receiued mercy faint not neither be descoraged vnder the sence of your infirmities and vvants for they that vvaite vpon the Lord shall renevv their strength the Lord vvill power his spirit vpon your seede his blessing vpon your buds the sunne of righteousnesse vvill arise and there is healing vnder his wings You haue a high Priest that is touched vvith infirmities and therefore you may goe boldly to the throne of grace to seeke grace and mercy to helpe in time of neede the power of God is made knowne in vveakenesse and his grace will be sufficient the Lord keepeth the feete of his Saints and vvill supplie all your vvants vvith his riches in glory Blessed be the Lord that holdeth our soules in life and suffereth not our feeâ—e to be moued Gracious gentlewoman be confident in this that God which hath begun his good worke will performe it till the day of Christ for his foundation remaineth sure and hee euer liueth that maketh intercession for you and the mortall seede abideth and Christ will be Omega as well as Alpha the end as well as the beginning neither feare the reproach of men for there is a hiding place with the Lord from the strife of tongues and he will put to silence those lying lipps that speake such grieuous things so proudly so contemptuously vvaite on the Lord and keepe his waie they shall assuredly make an account to the Iudge of quicke and dead that speake euill of the innocent And the same God and father of mercie that hath directed your heart vnto his loue and refreshed your spirit with the vnspeakeable ioies of his presence finish his owne worke in you and as you haue professed a good profession before many that will witnesse how vnblameably you haue behaued your selfe among them that beleeue so stand fast in the Lord be stil an example of faith and puritie of loue and feruencie of meekenesse and humilitie of tendernesse and harmelesnesse of shamefastnesse and sobrietie of mercie and good workes as becommeth a woman professing godlinesse that they may bee ashamed which shall falsely accuse your good conuersation in Christ keepe the Doctrine you haue receiued seeing you haue learned Christ as the trâ—th is in him Striue to increase in loue and obedience to your husband and care of your chrildren familie and shew all faithfulnesse and diligence in your particular calling Prouoke your kindred and acquaintance vnto repentance faith praier loue fellowship in the Gospell and good workes that thanksgiuing may be giuen by many to God for you Let the word of Christ bee still your guide watch vnto praier receiue them that feare God and make much of such Let patience haue her perfect worke and commit your waies to God and trust in him The Lord make you to abound in loue yet more and more in knowledge and in all iudgement that you may still approue things that are excellent and be blamelesse in the middest of a crooked peruerse people the Lord perfect in you whatsoeuer is vvanting and fulfill the good pleasure of his goodnesse and the worke of your faith with power The Lord increase in you that holy couetousnesse to be with the Lord looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ. Farewell May. 1614. Yours according to the common faith N. BYFIELD A SHORT Treatise concerning Assurance COncerning the assuraunce of Gods fauour three things may be considered of First the proofes Secondly the Lets Thirdly the
signes That a Christian in this life may be infallibly assured of Gods fauour to himself in particular and that hee ought to seeke this assurance as a matter of singular necessity these places of Scripture proue The Apostle Paul chargeth the Corinthians to Examine themselues whether they be in the faith and requireth this prouing of themselues with such earnestnesse that he saith know yee not your owne selues how that Christ Iesus is in you except ye be reprobates As if he would auouch it that a man can neuer haue found comfort of his election till he get this assured knowledge of Gods fauour in Christ. And the Apostle Peter exhorts Christians to vse all diligence to make their calling and election sure whatsoeuer carnall persons speake against it Iob vehemently desires there were a perpetual record of his words when he speaks of his assurance that no man might thinke he spake passionately or vainegloriously He knew that his redeemer liued and that at the last day his very flesh should be raised he should see God with ioy By the spirit of God a Christian knowes the things of God yea to this end haue we receiued this Spirit which is of God that wee might know the things which are freely giuen vs of God yea it searcheth the deepe things of God And in the second of the Corinthians Gods children are said to know their glorification as certainely as by sence and experience they know that their bodies which are their earthlie tabernacles shall bee dissolued so certainely are they assured of the building of God not made with hands eternall in the heauens yea they are alwaies confident herein and therefore Gods seruant are taught to pray for the spirit of wisdome and reuelation that the eyes of their vnderstanding may bee inlightned that they might know the hope of their calling and the riches of their inheritance and the exceeding greatnes of Gods power towards them vpon this assurance Paul knowes whom hee hath beleeued and no afflictions should hinder him but he will settle vpon this perswasion that God will keepe his soul which he hath cōmitted to him against the day of Christ. The Apostle Iohn saith We know that we haue passed from death to life And again ye may know that ye haue eternall life And again we know that wee are of God And the Apostle to the Ephesians saith that in Christ we haue boldnesse and accesse with confidence by faith in him yea the very words of assurance are found in Scripture where it is shewed that we may haue much assurance yea full assurance yea the riches of full assurance and men are earnestly exhorted to vse all diligence to get this full assurance to the end and when it is once had neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor anie other creature should be able to seperate them from this loue of God in Iesus Christ. Le ts THe attainment of the sence power comfort of this assurance is exceedingly hindered in all sorts of people First For many can neuer attaine it beecause they are forestalled with euill opinions about it they thinke it is impossible to be had or it is needelesse or it is presumption to seek it or it would prooue a nurse to security if it were had Secondly in the most common hope serues the turne and supplies presumptuously the roome of this sacred gift Thirdly many heare professe and goe farre in the opinion of others and yet get not assurance because they take not a soūd course for the mortification of the body of sinnes that are passed whereas it is certain assurance can neuer be had till there be some sound course taken in the acknowledgement bewailing and reformation of them Fourthly besides a barraen life is an vncomfortable and vnsetled life and contrariwise to abound in Gods worke hath stedfastnesse and a secret rest of heart as an vnspeakeable companion of it Fifthly Melancholy also that is terrors and griefes of which a man can yeelde no true reason is in diuers a mighty let to the setled assurance they might haue They are so eaten vp with those strong conceits that all the comfort is propounded most anend prooues as water spilt vpon the ground especially when this humor is nourished by some extraordinary distemper of the body Physicke not arguments of Scripture must here be vsed or rather both of them Sixthly the loue of earthly things is another great impediment many professors haue their thoughts and cares so eaten vp with worldlinesse that they cannot seriously hold out to follow the directions requisite to the attainement of assurans This grace requires a minde some way fitted for contemplation It is a knowledge will neuer be had with looking downeward Seuenthly further many are so passionate and froward they can get no rest in their heart when as ful assurance would bee lodged in an humble quiet brest Eighthly Others want assurance because they neglect the meanes of assurance which are the word praier or fellowship in the Gospell Ninthly In some there lodgeth some secret sinne vnrepented of and this either keepes out faith or keepes it downe in the cradle that it can get no strength Lastly assurance is the gift of God and hee bestoweth it on whom hee will The signes generally propounded THere are sixteene infallible signes of a child of God as may appeare by the testimonie of most apparent Scripture First Pouerty of spirit for the poore of spirit are blessed and theirs is the kingdome of heauen Secondly Godly sorrow for it causeth repentance not to be repented off euen such a repentance as is vnto saluation Thirdly the loue of the word for this is a sure comfort in affliction and may quicken a mans heart this is a sauour of life vnto life in them that are saued Fourthly The loue of Gods children for hereby we know wee are passed from death to life because wee loue the brethren Fifthly Faith for god so loued the world that hee gaue his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life Sixthly Vprightnesse of heart for God will giue grace and glorie and no good thing will hee with-hold from them that are vpright in heart Seuenthly The spirit of Adoption For it beareth witnes to our spirit that wee are the sonnes of God and if anie man haue not the spirit of Christ he is not his Eighthly Holy desires For euery one that thirsteth shal haue of the water of life freely if they will heare their soules shall liue and enioy the sure mercies of Dauid they are blessed and they shall be satisfied Ninthly The spirit of praier or supplication for whosoeuer calleth on the name of the Lord shall bee saued 10
conscionablie endeuor to forsake thy particular formerly beloued and speciall sinnes 24 Whether thou be free from the raigne of frowardnesse in thy way or peruersenesse of thy lips 8. Holie desires OVr desires may bee tried fiue waies First by obiects of them Secondly by the quallities of them Thirdlie by the concomitants or companions of them Fourthly by effects or consequents of them Fifthly by the causes or accidents of them For the first those desires are meant in the promises that are carried after things aboue nature as the fauour of God the pardon of sinnes the righteousnesse of Christ the presence of God and the saints in the new Ierusalem the comming of Christ to iudgement victorie ouer the deerest sinnes the remouing of spirituall iudgements the damnation of their owne soules that Israel might be saued and such like There are three principall quallities in the holie desires of Gods elect for First they are fierieâ— that is such as cause the heart of man to burnewithn him with some measure of zeale for Gods glorie indignation at sinne and feruent affection in Gods seruice whereas the desires of the wicked at least are either dull and cold or transported by the wrongs ends to the fauouring of sinne Secondlie they are constant both because they are renued dailie as the metaphors of hunger and thirst doe import as also because they are alike carried to the eternall fruition of the things desired as to the present enioying of them Gods seruants desire the fauour of God the abolishing of sinne the possession of grace not to serue a turne for the present but to be enioyed as their portion for euer for looke how the man vnregenerate desires to commit sinne so doth the regenerate desire to forsake but the former in some sins doth commit them with a desire euer to sinne and a secret discontentmeÌ„t to thinke that at anie time he should not be able to sinne Euen such a contrarie desire is there in Gods elect truely called they so desire not to sinne as it is their griefe to thinke that at any time they should againe sinne yea affliction doth not quench them but manie times inflame them Thirdlie they are not idle which may appeare three waies First because they are carried after themeanes of good aswell as good things themselues and that in a great measure too Secondly because they are attended with a resolution to doe any thing that their desires may bee accomplished they aske what should they doe to be saued as taking it for graunted that they must bee industrious in Gods worke There is no labour but they would endeuour to doe it so the Lord would bee mercifull vnto them to graunt them their desire yea when they haue done all they still are humbled because they can doe no more nor no better Thirdlie they cannot rest till in some happie measure they ouercome the most maisterly corruption either of nature or life Thirdlie holy desires are accompanied First with a supernaturall valuation of the worth of spirituall things accouÌ„ting them pearle of the best price not to deere bought if they buie them with the sale of al they haue and contrariwise accounting themselues exceeding poore and distressed if they want them or the meanes of them esteeming Gods louing kindnossâ— better then life Secondly with avoluntary forsaking of the vnnecessarie pleasures and profit of the world thankfully receiuing the promises of a better life and easily confessing that they are strangers and pilgrimes on the earth Thirdly with a constant and secret meditation of heauenly things desired what one desires feruently hee thinkes on almost continuallie Fourthly Holy desires shewe themselues by diuers effects or consequents of them especially if they be satisfied First they chase out euill desires and raise vp a dailie combat against the most secret corruptions of nature Secondlie the excite a frequencie and feruencie in praier to God in secret Thirdlie they worke a resolution to walke in the way that is called holie yea so gracious is the Lord that the most simple if their desires bee most true attaine to some happie measure of reformation Fourthlie if the Lord graunt their desires there followes First heauenlie kinde of satisfaction and contentation with singular delight in the soule Secondlie the vowes and wishes of infinite and eternall thankfulnesse Thirdlie a groweth and springing vp as among the grasse or as willowes by the water courses Lastlie they arise from a broken humbled spirit and the more they are inflamed the more humbled they continue to be 9. The spirit of praier HE that calleth on the name of the Lord aright discouereth the spirit of grace praies in his heart by these things 1. He askes according to Gods will 2. Hee praies with perswasion that God will heare he beleeueth he shal haue it he praies in faith and assurance of heart before God 3. He praies in the name of Christ in the sence of his owne vilenesse by reason of his wants and sinnes 4. He will praie at al times 5. He is effectuallie ferueâ—t he hath the affections of praier 6. Praier makes him exceeding wearie of the world and willing to forgoe societie with the workes of iniquitie 7. When he knowes not how to pray as he ought the spirit prepares his heart excites holie desires supplies with words and power of affection or else worketh inward vnexpressable groanes 8. He findes a holie rest and quieâ—nesse in his conscience heart with spirituall boldnes and confidence of trust in God if the Lord heare graciouslie 9. He findes answers from God by the witnesse of the spirit of adoption in which the Lord deales somtimes wonderfully with his people 10. He loues God exceedinglie for hearing his praier and desires to keepe himselfe in the loue of God 11. His praiers proceede from a heart that loues no sinne but willingly departeth from iâ—iquitie and desireth to keepe his commaundements and to doe that which is pleasing to Gods sight 12. He loues praier in others 13. He is oftentimes dissolued into much sorrow for his sinnes while he stands before the face of God 14 He feeleth the confideÌ„ce of assurance that God is his father 15. If the Lord be silent and answer not but hides his face his spirit faileth and hee is as one that goeth down to the pit it troubleth him as a sore crosse contrariwise 16. Praier is his chiefe refugâ— and he wil pray though praier bee in neuer so much disgrace and power out his complaint shew all his trouble 17. Hee striues against deadnesse of spirit and distractions as a heauie burthen 10. The obedience of Christ. OVr obedience wil be approued and accepted in Christ if it be
an obedience that will beare triall in the rules following First if it arise out of loâ—e to God and goodnesse The obedience of Gods elect is from the heart not constrained but voluÌ„tary 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 coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts 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 CoÌ„maundements 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 coÌ„comitants 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 negatioÌ„ 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 SecoÌ„dly 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 childreÌ„ 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 â—ro 8. 19. and by the fruites or effects it may be knowne 1. It lasteth out concâ—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