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A06065
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The trial of a Christians estate: or a discouerie of the causes, degrees, signes and differences of the apostasie both of the true Christians and false in a sermon preached in London by Master Paul Bayne, and afterward sent in writing by him to his friend W.F.
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Baynes, Paul, d. 1617.
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1618
(1618)
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STC 1648; ESTC S101585
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13,946
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28
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THE TRIAL OF A CHRISTIANS ESTATE OR A DISCOVERIE OF THE CAVSES degrees signes and differences of the Apostasie both of true Christians and false IN A SERMON PREACHED IN LONDON by Master PAVL BAYNE and afterward sent in writing by him to his friend W.F. AT LONDON Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for Nathanael Newbery and are to be sold at his shop vnder S. Peters Church in Cornhill and in Popes head Alley 1618. TO THE READER CHristian Reader good Wine needeth no garland it will praise it selfe so I perswade my selfe will this ensuing Sermon which a learned holy and faithfull seruant of God formerly viuâ voce in publique sounded in the eares of me and many and afterwards as a token of his Christian loue to me bestowed vpon me in writing which being so fruitfull and necessarie a labour in the iudgement of the godly and learned that haue seene it and so specially befitting these luke-warme and backsliding times I thought I could not without preiudice to thee suffer it to lie by me for my priuate instruction and benefit alone and therefore for thy good the keeping in precious memorie the Preacher thereof whom the Lord hath gathered into his barne and for the glorie of God especially I haue consented that it be made more publique and common by comming vnder the presse The Lord grant that it may haue that successe in mee and thee which hee that gaue first life vnto it in studying and brought it foorth by preaching intended and I in consenting and causing to haue it printed desire so shall the feeble weake and doubting Christian be taken by the hand staied and comforted against the feares of totall backsliding and we all shall be of the number of them which follow faith to the conseruation of our soules which the Lord for Iesus Christ his sake grant Amen Thine in his best desires W. F. THE TRIAL OF A CHRISTIANS Estate HEBR. 10. vers 39. But we are not they which withdraw our selues into perdition but follow faith vnto the conseruation of the soule THE Apostle hauing in the verse before remembred the fearefull estate of such who through vnbeleefe are withdrawne from God doth in this verse preuent a scruple which might arise in some timorous consciences doubting whether they were not in this case next before threatned Hee doth therefore take such weake ones by the hand strengthning them by bearing them witnesse of their condition manifested by the fruites aboue mentioned verse 32.33.34 which estate is set downe here in this verse First negatiuely by deniall of their vnbeleeuing reuolt Secondly affirmatiuely by auouching their perseuerance in faith Either of these properties of vnbeleefe and beleefe being amplified from the effects which accompanied them viz. destruction of the soule for that is to be vnderstood from the latter clause and saluation of the same The summe of the words Feare not though I tell you that backsliders are vessels of no delight for your selues with my selfe are not such who steale from our companies leauing our militarie profession which would turne in this life and the life to come to our further destruction but we continue in faith and put foorth our beleefe more and more as occasion requireth which bringeth vs here and euerlastingly to see the Lords saluation Now for the instructions which both the scope and matter of the verse include in them First that Paul doth confirme them by bearing them witnesse of their estate It doth teach vs that we must stablish our weake brethren by bearing them record of the graces wrought in them wee who haue found grace must confirme others If any thing more smart be vttered we must mollifie it with such wise preuention as Physitions if they foresee ought harmefull to the bodie they correct it with other ingredients that it may wholesomely be receiued If we saw one ready to trip wee would reach him a hand and sustaine him from falling much more must wee shew this loue to the soule shaking through frailtie This wisedome Christ vsed he quenched not the smoaking flaxe the seasonable testifying to men their good things causeth them to take increase our honour of them our dutie to the comfort of their liues and to the truth doth require it Such therefore are to be taxed who wanting this prudence handle the word in diuiding it like him in the Emblem who gaue to the Asse a bone to the dogge straw such are those Pastors who discourage good deuotions and incourage men carnally minded like vnto them wee reade of Ezechiel chap. 13.22 Such againe are they amongst priuate Christians who like Iobs friends are a breaking to them whom they should comfort and confirme Secondly we must be prouoked by this example to incourage weake ones when they are doubting of their estates for as a timorous patient imagining twentie euils when his Physitian assureth him that his case is nothing so is well satisfied so here Againe in that hee saith Wee are not they that withdraw Hence wee are giuen to vnderstand that some may fall away from the graces receiued In some manner Gods owne children and others are reported to haue fallen Dauid Saul Peter Alexander c. But that this may be more distinctly opened three things must be considered 1. First from what the godly truly sanctified may fall how farre other 2. Secondly from whence falls come and the difference of them 3. Thyrdly what are the symptomes or signes of a state declining from God To the first a man not hauing the true grace of the elect may fall from all outward priuileges which hee holdeth as a member of the visible Church Secondly from the effects of his grace in life and conuersation Thirdly from the very habituall gifts which were the fountaine whence his fruites flowed Thus he may come to be twice dead and in worse case then euer The Lords chosen may fall from their outward prerogatiues and from the fruites but that diuine nature still abideth in them and it is only with their graces as it is with the minde in distempers of melancholie and phrensie with the Sunne in eclipses with the tree when leaues and fruites faile it with the naturall life when it moueth not ne yet breatheth sensible which in diseases of the Mother is often discerned Their faith is a neuer failing faith their life an eternal life their seede a seede abiding in them Now for the second viz. what are the causes of falling away and that so diuersly this opened will lend a more thorough light to the former The causes which worke in withdrawing vs are inward or outward But the varietie of these declinings springeth chiefly from the inward The cause in the Lords children is the state of their grace which is such as hath still reliques of sinne dwelling with it The cause of the others totall fall is an essentiall defect in their grace which reacheth not to make a true vnion betwixt Christ and them nor yet to
time cast vp their hopes and are ready proudly to say It is in vaine to serue God Amongst the Lords children how many are there who follow not faith growing vp from faith to faith renewing the exercise of it in fastning on the gratious promises which are made vnto vs Men that will checke themselues if they omit the act of mercie of testifying truth of iustice where occasion is offered blame not themselues for neglecting to renew their faith towards God when his promises renewed or experience of his goodnesse and truth doth call for it from vs. Some there are who weakly forespeake things signifying their vnbeliefe by saying they shall neuer see this or that euill mending with them that it is but a folly to attempt further seeing wee striue against the streame But this is not to be carried with full saile of faithfull perswasion on him who hath spoken good to vs but thorough attending to that sense and reason speaketh to yeeld to vnbeliefe Secondly wee may hence gather the truth of our beliefe Hath it stood thorough helpe of Gods grace in tentation Christ letteth vs see that he was our supporter it is a true signe of grace neuer failing buildings which stand when windes and stormes beate on them are presumed to bee surely grounded whereas the paper-walls and painted castles of these who haue not vnfained grace cannot endure any sound assault which is made against them The last thing to be marked is what it is that doth bring vs to see saluation here and euerlastingly it is our beleefe 1. Pet. 1.5 Gods pleasure of working this or that for vs is first made knowne by his word reuealing it Secondly it is delaied for a triall of them to whom it is giuen Thirdly it is executed Now the reuelation of this future pleasure onely faith apprehendeth the delay wherein many occurrences are incident speaking the contrary this faith beareth by cleauing to that word which formerly it heard from God When the thing is executed then faith is changed with sight so that it is plaine that faith bringeth vs to see saluation for it neuer giueth ouer till the thing be in present it doth keepe vs within the tower of Gods impregnable strēgth for the present which is our safetie against all enemies it doth bring vs out of all troubles by holding Gods gratious word as a man commeth from a deepe dungeon by climing a scaling ladder cast to him or sitting vpon an Eagles wing which would mount vp with him In the Chapter following there is a catalogue of glorious beleeuers the end of their faith being likewise recorded Whence we may first see that error of Papists who though they ascribe our first forgiuenes of our sinnes to faith yet our after-righteousnesse and saluation they referre to good workes penall satisfactions application of the Churches treasurie c. withdrawing themselues from faith when now they are brought to be in state of grace but faith is neuer to cease till the thing beleeued be now in sight neither will the same thing bee got both by faith and workes for these are such as will not be compounded the Apostle being witnesse Againe hence we see how wofull a thing it is to cast away our confidence wee fling away the plaister that should heale vs for whatsoeuer euils were vpon vs yet holding our faith on the truth and mercie of God in Christ they should vanish away as shewers which on our garments drie vp in time and come to nothing Yea their danger is hence discouered who though they make conscience of murther adulterie iniustice yet care not to liue in vnbeliefe which is of all sinnes the most dangerous for the other should not hurt vs deadly were it not for this that wee will not by faith take that medicine which should heale vs. Secondly this must incourage vs to perseuere in our faith as Christ looked to the end of the Crosse so must we looke to the end of our faith that we may endure all difficulties the better with which wee are incountred True it is that men are often most deceiued where they trust most but leaning on the Lord and waiting on him thou shalt neuer bee deceiued nor misse of his promised saluation But in temporarie euils we cannot assure our selues of deliuerance Answ The truth is we see not deliuerance because we exercise not faith in particular promises so farre as wee might Secondly we must euer be assured of issue such as is ioyned with saluation Thirdly though it keep vs not out of the fire yet faith will keepe vs from burning or taking hurt in our most fierie trials wherefore let vs renew our faith in Gods pretious promises assuring our selues that the end of it shall be saluation of soule and body in the day of our Lord Iesus Christ To whom with the Father and Spirit c. Amen FINIS Obseruat 1. Reason 1. 2 Vse 1. 2 Obseruat 2. Causes of defection 1 1 Obiect Answ 2 3 2 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 Vse 1. Vse 2. Obseruat 3. Obiect Answ Obseruat 4. Obseruat 5. Obiect Answ