without marking or once considering whether they haue put on this faith as a garment to walk in and as an armour to fight in that they may see themselves in it cloathed both as their garment and adorning them and as an armour defending them for its manyfest by the doctrine of Iames that many boast they haue faith who yet doe not walke in it nor use it as a shield against sin and sathan therefore wee are never to esteeme the ministry of the Gospell to bee the power of God to our salvation for any light or perswation it worketh in our hearts inwardly excepte likewise it make us put on that light to walke in it as the children of light and arme us with it to fight against the prince of darknes and all his works For scripture and experience teach us that manie haue the lighte of the knowledg and truth of God within them boasting of it in words who yet in their deeds deny it doing as the Apo. speaks of the gentils who held and detained the truth in unrighteousnes and supprest it in their hearts because when they knew God they glorified him not as God neither were thankfull Rom. 1. 18. 21. And thus much for the first point of the tryall we should now speake of the second but that the Apostle doth stay us with an argument preventing an objection before he specifieth the second point of tryall which is the mean to know the former for they might haue said how shall we be able to know these things which thou willest us to try either that which goeth before viz. Whether we be in the faith or that which followeth viz. whether Christ be in us The Apostle to take away this pretence of ignorance and so to enforce them to acknowledg by this tryall of themselvs the power of Christ in his ministry towards them doth use this argument You must eyther by tryall perceave these things in your-selvs being christians or then ye knowe not your selves but its absurd that you Christians should not know your selves therefore you may easily try these things in your selves Of argument wee haue no more set downe but the second part yet so as in the manner of speech he leadeth us to the collection and gathering of the rest the words being these know ye not your selves as if he would say this wherein I will you to examine your selves cannot be hid from you if ye know your selves which knowledge of themselves he inforceth upō them by this his interrogation which implyeth as much as that it was not only a shame to thē but also an impossible thing not to know themselvs so insinuateth the conclusiō to wit that therefore they behooved to know these things where in he willd them to try themselves In this forme of the Apostles proceeding wee haue first to learne what backwardnes and untowardnes lurks in our nature stil in that wee are loath to acknowledge any thing whereby wee ourselvs may be convinced except confession bee wrested from us by forcible and unresistable argument wee being still inclind to use all sort of pretences to excuse and amongst the rest ignorance rather then by simple acknowledgment of the known truth to condemne our selves in any thing This vice did evidently appeare in Cain when God inquired where his brother Abell was who although he knew perfectly he had kild him yet used a shifting answere to the Lord first pretending ignorance and then bringing in an argument to convince God of unrighteousnes in requiring such a-thing at his hand in that he said he was not his brothers keeper the like wee see also in Saul when he was accused by Samuell for sparing Agag the King of Ameleck in strongly affirming he had performed the will of the Lord notwithstanding that he knew that the preserving of Agag aliue and reserving of the best of the spoile was direct contrary to the direction of the Lord whereby he was commanded to smite Ameleck and to destroy all that pertained unto them but to stay both man and woman both infant and suckling both oxe and sheepe both Camell and asse 1. Samuel 15. The same also is cleerly to bee marked in Annanias and Saphira Acts. 5. And this same infirmity appeareth here in the Corinthians although not in the same manner nor measure of inquity In Cain Saul Ananias and Saphira it proceeded from profane and unsanctified hearts filled with malice pride and coveteousnes but in the Corinthians as in other Godly men it falleth through infirmity and negligence but never of obstinate malice or contempt yet still to bee acknowledged a great weakenes having always mixt with it some selfloue of our selvs which makes us rather to dissemble a knowne truth then to disgrace our selvs in any sort but leaving this wee come to thosethings which principally are to be marked in this argument of the Apostle which yealds us two things to our consideration the first is that a Christian who is caled out of darknes to the marvelous light of God hath amongst all others this great blessing that his eies are open to know himself which no man can doe till he be effectually called of God and haue receaved the spirit of truth whereby he is made able to discerne all things this knowledge of our selvs was known to bee a great vertue amongst the very heathen and was propounded to be followed as a singular vertue by the philosophers but never any of thēselves could ever attaine to it it being the speciall prerogative of those who are taught by the truth of God revealed in his word to haue this grace to know themselves according to that saying of Iohn wee know that wee are of God this whole world lyeth in wickednesse Iohn 1 Epist 5 19. And therefore is it that the same Apostle sayth concerning the elect that the annointing which they haue receaved of the father dwelleth in them and that they need not that any man teach them but as the same annointing teacheth them of all things and it is true and not lying The 2. thing which hereby wee learne is this That the calling of God to the knowledg of his truth giues to men in the knowledg of themselves the sight and knowledge of all graces that are given them of God according to that saying of the Apostle speaking of the unsearchablenes of the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him but saith he God hath reveyled them unto us by his spirit for wee haue not receaud the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God that wee might know the things that are given us of God 1 Corint 2 10 12. Therefore is it that Christ calles his disciples no more servaunts but friends because as he saith the servant knoweth not what his master doth but vnto them he had made known all things which he heard of his father Iohn 15 15. And in another place hee shewes the reason of
often wanting in the greatest both of knowledge and eloquence and oft yea most times accompanieth the most simple delivery of the truth in men having far lesse measure of the aforesaid gifts And this tryall taken from the power of the word heard must needs force every maÌ„ back to himself to examine himself if he will know how to judge aright of the preacher seeing his hart soul is the subject wherein the vertue efficacy of all preaching is to bee found For he is the most powerfull preacher who most stirrs and mooves the hart of the hearer unto faith and obedience so that a man needs not to go out of himself to looke to anie thing but that that 's in himself whereby to discern whether Christ speak or not in the preacher whom he heareth even as it s not so much colour or tast of the wine or matter of the cup whereout we drink as the felt virtue in our spirits refreshed thereby wherby the valour and vertue of wine is discerned both colour and tast though in a golden cup deceiving us As in matereall temples built of stone the more the windowes be painted the lesse is the light So in the true spirituall Temple of Christ those that are the lights thereof the more their preaching be painted with the intising words of humane wisdom and eloquence the lesse solid light of the knowledge of the glorie of God in the face of Iesus is ministred by them to the harts of their hearers And thus much for the first point sett down by the Apostle Now followes the second vizt Touching those things wherein the Corinthians were to try and examine themselvs which are two First their faith 2. Christs being in them this last being the evidence of the first It is true that the words may be taken two manner of waies For these words If ye be in the faith may be either the condition required in those that shall try themselvs concerning the power of Christ in â—â—e ministry of those who teach â—â—em or then it may be takâ—n for the matter it self wherâ—â— they are to find out the evidence of Christs power in their â—â—achers In what sence soeâ—er we take it it servs for the â—postles purpose and yeelds â—â— great instruction In the â—â—â—st sence it teacheth us that â—hich is most true viz. That â—ntill a man beleeve hee can â—â—ue no right judgment of spiâ—â—tuall things it being faith â—â—â—ely that purifies the heart â—â—om all sinne and filthines â—esides that it remaines sure which the Apostle saith That â—he naturall man comprehends not â—â—e things of the spirit of God for â—â—ey are foolishnes unto him beâ—ause they are spiritually discerned â—ut the spirituall man discerneth all things Now no man can be a spirituall man but he that beleeveth Therefore justly doth the Apostle call faith the evidence of things that are not seen So that before a man can be able to perceave the spiritual power of Christ in anie manâ— preaching he must haue this faith else how can he perceavâ— or apprehend that which is invisible of which nature this power is Hereby we learne that it is no wonder that the Word of the crosse is foolishnes iâ— most part of men yea to all that perish as saith the Apostle For the arme of the Lord therein is not revealed unto them because they beleeve not the report of Gods messengers as saith the Prophet Esa For beleife and knowledg of the power of God in preaching are never seperate for which cause Christ himself giving the reason that â—is disciples loved him sayth â—hat they belieued that the was â—ome out from the father And â—gaine when in his prayer to the â—â—ther he hath set downe divers â—â—asons why he recommended â—hem to the father as that he â—â—d declared his name unto them â—ut they had kept his word that â—â—ey knew that all things which â—â— father had given him was â—â—m the father that he had given â—â—to them the words which the â—â—her had given him that they â—â—d receaved them and that they â—â—ely knew he was come out from â—â— father he subjoynd as the â—â—und and foundation of all â—s their knowledge that they â—â—eued that the father had sent â—â— The use hereof is first to â—â—ch us that faith is the only eie of the soule whereby its ablâ— truely to discerne the nature oâ— all spirituall heavenly things 2. It lets us see the miser able â—â— state condition of all infidels who are utterly deprived of aâ— ability to know or rightly tâ— perceaue the nature of God oâ— Christ of his gospell or hiâ— ministers yea also of themselves in any spirituall thing Lastâ—â— it teacheth us not to stumble â— the base account and contemâ—â— of the Gospell and ministeâ— thereof in the most part â—â— men in this age seeing pooâ— blind wretches being destituâ— of faith are not able to knoâ— these things nor to give aâ— right judgment of them or themselvs this either having or wanting of fayth in men the very cause of all differeâ— judgment of all things in religion and specially of things indifferent as may be perceaved by the Apostles words to the Romans Cap. 14 saying One man beleveth that he may eat al things and another which is weake eateth hearbs againe I know and am perswaded through the Lord Iesus that there is nothing uncleane of it self but to him that judgeth ought uncleane to him it is uncleane and againe hast thou faith haue it with thyself before God blessed is he that condemneth not himself in that which he alloweth but he that doubteth is condemned if he eate because he eateth not of faith and what soeuer is not of faith is sinne in all which words the Apostle attributeth knowledg and full perswasion of the indifferent use of all externall things as meat drink c. unto fayth and ignorance doubting to infidelity or weaknes of faith which giues us a cleare light to discern betwixt man and man in their judgment touching things indifferent in their use where it may be without scandall And abstinence from them where the use is scandalous for undoubtedly true faith where it is giues a man knowledg and full perswasion that ther is no difference betwixt one meate one garment or oneday and another c. in themselvs but where one day one meate one garmeÌ„t c. is esteemd above another or where ther is doubting of their indifferency and equall law fulnes in use as before there must needs be weaknes of faith which is a faith accompanied with much infidelity But leaving this sence of these words notwithstanding that it may be probably taken to be the Apostles meaning wee come to the other sence as being in most mens judgment the true meaning of the Apostle taking the words as a declaration of that wherein they shall try themselues viz. whether they be in the fayth or no according to which
this knowledge in his disciples as also why the world is destitute of it speaking concerning the spirit saying whom the world cannot receaue because it sees him not neither knowes him but yee know him because he dwelleth with you and shal bee in you Iohn 14 17. This place being conferd with the former two teacheth us 3 speciall things touching the estate of a true Christian The 1 is that they are not ignorant of the things of God nor of any grace or blessing spirituall given them by God in Christ the 2 is That all this knowledge is taught thē by the spirit of God which is given them remaines within them The 3 that both the gift of this spirit and knowledge by him proceedes from this that God hath not left us in the world nor in the estate of servitude bondage but hath taken us out of the world and by reconcyling us to himself in Christ hath made us his friends as Abrahā was The use of this is to convince the doctrine of the papisticall church of falshood whereby they maintaine that a Christian truely called can haue no certaine knowledge whether he bee in the estate of grace or not for if the Apostle urge the Corinthians by this speciall knowledge of their owne being in the faith and of Christs being in them to bee witnesses of the power of Christ in his ministry toward them it must necessarily follow that both they and all others called as they were must haue vndoubted knowledge of themselves that they are in the faith and Christ in them otherwise Christs argument before alleadged could not bee true when he saith that his disciples did know the spirit of truth because he dwelt with them and should be in thē which argumēt teacheth us thus much that the saints cannot bee ignorant of any gift or grace of God which dwelleth with them and is in them so that wee may Iustly concluded that a Papist houlding the former position for a truth must bee both faythles and gracelesse seing if eyther faith or grace were in them they could not be ignorant of them neither can they haue anie evasion by their old argument of the necessitie of some speciall revelation from God For this which we haue said before compared with the words of Iohn doth fully answer them saying If we receive the witnes of men the witnesse of God is greater For this is the witnes of God which he testifieth of his sonne He that beleeveth in that sone of God hath witnes in himselfe By which words we are plainly taught that faith can never be without the testimonie both of those three which beare record in heaven to wit the Father the Word and the Holy-ghost nor of these three witnesses which beare record in earth viz. The spirit the water and the bloud and therefore that it must follow that everie true beleever hath a most undoubted revelation of his salvation and blessed estate in grace and on the contrarie that whosoever hath not this vndoubted warrant is faithles indeed seeing as saith the Apostle whosoever beleeveth in the sonne of God hath this witnes of the Father of the Word and of the Holy ghost which are in heaven of the spirit and of the water and of the blood which are in earth then which there can be no revelation of greater force to confirm the certaintie of ones salvation For if according to Gods owne law at the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter shal be established how much more must a true beleeving christian know the certaintie of his salvation who hath it witnessed vnto him and that within himself by those sixe witnesses before mentioned of which none can lye and this is so much the clearer by that which Iohn in the same place speaketh ver 13 saying these things haue I written unto you who beleeve in the name of the sonne of God that ye may knowe that ye haue eternall life Whereby he utterly annulleth that blind argument of the Papists seing it enforceth thē eyther to confesse that they know they haue eternal life or then plainely to confesse that they beleeue not in the sonne of God for faith and knowledge of salvation are two unseparable adjuncts and ever such knowledge as is not builded upon a doubtfull opinion or conjecture but which is buylt upon the unfallible testimony of the six witnesses mētioned before Wee conclude therefore this point with the confortable use thereof to all true beleeving Christians viz. that they rejoyce always I say againe with the Apostle that they rejoyce always seeing their salvation is sure and that it s given unto them to knowe that it is sure Thus much for the Apostles argument for remooving of all pretence of ignorance Now followes the 2 point of tryall which is whether Christ bee in them or not but it s propounded in another manner then the first for touching faith he willd them to try if they were in it but this last he propounds as a thing which he would haue them undoubtedly to acknowledge and no marveil for the effects are more easie to be known then their causes now Christ he dwells in our hearts by faith and therefore wee can never have a true evidence that we beleeue untill we find that Christ is assuredly within us for this cause wee said before that this 2 point of tryall was the meane to know the former Moreover the Apo. subjoins this point unto his former argument whereby he remooves all pretence of Ignorāce purposely to teach us both whē and wherein it is that a Christian comes to know himself to bee in the faith and so receaves experiēce of the power of Christ in the ministry of the Gospell to his salvation whereof before wee spake wee will first somewhat consider the order of the Apostles words Wee see that in the first place he puts them to the tryall of their faith as being the evidence of the power of Christ in his ministry toward them to their salvation 2. In this examination he brings them to the acknowledging of themselves as the proper effect of true faith in all true beleevers 3. He brings thē to the acknowledgment of Christs presence in their hearts as the onely true testimony of the first proper matter of the 2. For if any man thinks he beleeves not having Christ within him he is miserably deceaved and if any man think he knowes himself to bee the child of God except he find himself and Christ united by faith pittifully abuseth himself by his owne judgment This order therefore of the Apostles proceeding teacheth us this lesson what way and by what meanes it is that wee come to the knowledge of the mighty power and outstreched arme of God in the ministry of his word to our salvation in the which 3 things are principally to be marked Our faith our selvs and that in our selves which makes us know our selves by faith to bee
recreation of the flesh and had rather loose the opportunity of gayning Christ in a sermon then fayle to accomplish the least desire of their sinfull hearts in fulfilling the lusts of the flesh whose judgment must needs bee heavy and greivous before God seing willingly they choose death with the contempt of life And thus much for the points of tryall now followes the fourth point which is the argument it self whereby the Apostle enforceth them to acknowledge that Christ in his ministry was not weake towards theÌ„ but mighty in them which may be fully gathered after this manner in 2 several arguments the first whereof is containd in the preceding words in this forme If ye by tryall find yourselves to be in the faith and Christ in you theÌ„ must ye acknowledg that Christ is not weake but mighty in my ministry towards you but by tryall ye shall find that you are in the faith and Christ in you therefore yee must acknowledge Christ to bee mighty in my ministry toward you The 2. Argument is the coÌ„firmation of the 2 part of this that is that by tryall they shall find themselves in the faith and Christ in them after this maÌ„ner eyther ye must find your selvs in the faith Christ in you or theÌ„ ye must bee reprobate ChristiaÌ„s but wee confidently trust yee shall find yee are not reprobate ChristiaÌ„s therefore ye must find yourselvs to bee in the faith and Christ in you Al the 3 parts of this argument may be easily gathered out of the Apo. words for the proposition is plaine in the 5 verse the assumtion or 2 part is set downe in termes equivalent in the 6 verse the conclusion is implyed in the Apostles urged interrogation what c. in the 5 verse of which conclusion we haue spoken already touching the assumption or 2 part we are not to speake so it rests that we only entreat of the proposition or first part which seemes at the first to be a difficile and hard saying but yet is most certaine true for if that senteÌ„ce of the Apo. be marked which is set downe in the 13 of the Acts to wit that all they who were ordeyned to eternall life beleeved we shall finde that the Apo. reasons according to the truth of the Gospell that it followes necessarily that whosoeuer by the true ministry of the Gospell are not made to believ to embrace Christ must bee of the noÌ„ber of those whom God never ordeynd to eternall life this is cleare by 2 places of scripture besides many other the 1. is in the Epistle to Tytus Cap. 1. verse 1. where the Apostle calls faith the faith of Gods elect which is as much as to tell us not onely that the Gospell begets faith in none but such only as are elected but also that it doth beget faith in every one that is elected The 2 is in the Gospell of Ioh. 10 26 27 viz. But ye beleeue not because ye are not of my sheepe as I said unto you for my sheepe heare my voyce I know them and they follow mee this is coÌ„firmed by the words of Christ in the 6 of Iohn verse 35 36 37. he that beleeveth in mee shall never thirst but I sayd unto you that ye also haue seene mee and beleeue not all that the father giveth me shall come unto me where he playnely affirmeth the cause why they did not beleeue to be because the father had not given theÌ„ unto him or which is equivalent because they were not of his sheepe both which phrases import asmuch as that they wer none of Gods elect so that wee may conclude in the very words of the Apo. answering this demand hath God cast away his people what then saith the Apostle Israell hath not abtayned that he sought but the election hath obtayned it the rest haue bene hardned Out of all which wee are plainely taught by God that in whom the Gospell truely preached worketh no faith in whom by faith it planteth not Christ they must be reprobats hereby we learn that tho Gospell preached is the fan of Christ by which in this life he maketh a division of the chaffe from the corn severeth those whom the father hath given him from the wicked and such as are forsaken of God what then have they to boast of who vilipending the Gospell ministry thereof as foolishnes do therby testify against themselves that they are reprobats but wisdom is justified of her owne children for whomsoever the Gospell begetteth they do acknowledg it to be both the wisdom power of God unto salvation to them the feete of those that publish it are beautifull To conclude this point we may justly dispise those dispysers al their contempt of our ministry seing it doth no hurt to us nor our blessed ministry but doth discover them to us although not to theÌ„selvs that they are rejected of God for if the Apo. conclude aright in the first Epist 1 Chap. to the Thes that he knew that they were elected of God because his Gospell was unto them not in word onely but also in power doth not also this conclusion stand on the contrary that they are not elect of God to whoÌ„ the Gospell is onely in word not in power the words of Peter do demonstrate the truth of this matter plainly when he setteth downe this different judgmeÌ„t of men touching Christ Iesus our faviour saying unto you therefore which beleeve it is precious but unto them which be disobedient the stone which the builders disallowed the same is made the head of corner a stone to stumble at Rocke of offence even to them which stumble at the word being disobedient unto the which thing they were even ordayned We need no clearer evideÌ„ce therefore to make knowne unto us who are elect who are reprobate forsaken of God but this even the judgmeÌ„t estimation of every man concerning the Gospell ministry thereof What shall we say then of this miserable age wherein we do live in which there be so few that make any accompt at all of the blessed word of God messengers of Christ who of all men are couÌ„ted the basest their calling the most contemptible O Germany Germany this is the cheiffest cause of thy preseÌ„t misery that thou above all natioÌ„s art coÌ„tinually troad upoÌ„ because of all nations thou didst most basely esteem of Christs servaÌ„ts use them in most slavish manner Lord upon the eies of these Provinces wher we dwell that seing theÌ„selvs guilty of the same offence they may in tyme preveÌ„t the lyke judgment upon the like sin by unfained amendemeÌ„t surely we may say that there is no hope of delivery for the one nor of farther blessing to the other from God untill this iniquity be redressed oh that they wold give us occasioÌ„ with coÌ„fideÌ„ce to pray to God for his mercie to them boldly to say to him thou wilt aryse have mercy upon Zion for the tyme to have mercy theroÌ„ for the appoynted time is coÌ„e for thy servaÌ„ts delight in the stones thereof have pity on the dust therof certainly that promise of the Lord in his prophet I say is coÌ„stantely true viz. that in the day whâ—â— the bud of the Lord shal be beautifull glorious the 〈…〉 shal be excellent 〈…〉 that day the Lord 〈…〉 every place of mouÌ„t Zion 〈…〉 assemblies thereof a cloud smoke by day the shyning of a flameing fyre by night for upon all the glory shal be a defence a covering shal be for a shadow in the day for the heate a place of refuge a covert for the storm and for the raine And now beloved I end with this warning from that same prophet to you to them and al the churches of God if thou turn away thy foote froÌ„ the sabbath from doing thy will on myne holy day call the sabbath a delight to coÌ„secrate it â—s glorious to the Lord and shalt honour him not doing thyn owne wayes not seeking thyn own will nor speaking a vain word then shalt thou delight in the Lord and I will 〈…〉 to mount upon the high places of the earth feed thee with the 〈…〉 vid thy father 〈…〉 Lord hath 〈…〉 AMEN 2. Cor. 2. 14. 2. Cor. 12. 13. 2. Cor. 12. 11. 2. Cor. 10 Cap 1 10. vers 2. Cor. 13 9. 2. Cor. 12. 11. Deut. 19. vers 15. Cor. 2. cap. 4. vers 7. 2. Cor 2. cap. 10. vers 4. 1 Cor. 1. cap. 3. vers 5 1 Cor. 1 24 Ibidem 18. 1. Iohn 4 1. Psal 34 8. 1 Pet. 2 2 â— Psal 19. 10. Rom. 10 15 Esai 52 7. Galat. 4 13 14 15. 1 Cor. 14. 32. 1. Io. 4 1. 1. Cor. 10. 4 5. Rom. 1 19. Ibidem 11 21. 1. Pet. 1 3 4 Rom. 5. 5. Habr 4. 12. Rom. 14 4. Mat. 7 12. 1 Cor. 4 3. Ibidem 11 30 38. 2 Thes 3 14 15. 2 Tim. 2 19 1. Cor 2 14 15. Heb. 11. 1. 1. Cor. 1 18 Cap. 53 1. Eâ—an Iohn 16 27. Iohn 17 6. 7 8. 1. Rom. 16. Mat. 6 20. Acts. 8 Mat. 13 47. Mat. 20 16 Rom. 14. 23 1. Cor. 1 30. 2. Tim. 1. 4. 5. Col. 1. 23. Ibidem 2 6 7. 2. Cor. 3. 5. Iohn 15. 5. Phil. 4. 13. Rom. 12. 3. Gen. 4 9. 1 Iohn 2 27 Iohn 1. 5. 9. 10. Dent. 19. 5. Iohn 14 20. 1. Pet. 2 7. 8. Isa â— 14. Isa ◠〈…〉 13.