with his face thitherward renewing his couenant Ier. 50.4.5 You finding then you haue a constant will to bee healed in nature to beleeue repent and doe spirituall workes in such a manner as God may be pleased that in doing good things you are carried with inward inclination as agreeable to your nature the new creature delighting in it purely for the holinesse and goodnesse of the law so commanding that you ly not drowned in naturall sinfulnesse as one lyeth drowned in the water but haue sin in you out of the full power whereof you are gotten as one gotten out of the water hath yet water in him and labour to draine out your corruption through the holinesse in your will set against it desiring to follow that will which resists the will of the flesh That your will is better then your deed feare not you are so led by the spirit as that you giue not your selfe as a seruant to sinne to obey and fulfill it in the lusts of it As many as are led by the spirit of God they are the children of God His leading frees not here from all sinne but enlightening the mind and applying to cōsider things to be done or to be auoided and by working vpon habits of grace infused it excites the renewed will and confirmes it and as he sees God either preserues it from or giues strength in temptation though not alwaies to euery duty nor to auoid euery sinne yet to hold a course in goodnesse to the end and to preserue from dominion of sin that in general you make no declinatiō from God though in many things you sin He that said his sinnes were more then the haires of his head said also I haue not declinēd from thy statutes Obiection IX True grace will grow and he brought forward I finde it not so in me and therefore feare I haue none Answere Grace is small in the beginning and is scarce perceiued but by will and desire to haue it and that some goodnesse God takes notice of Grace in the beginnings of it is resembled to the light before we see the Sunne that light wee know is from the Sunne to corne in the seed which first dieth then is quickened and after appeares in a blade the husbandman knowes not how Mar. 4.27 Growth is where it is not sensible till after sometime You must consider growth diuersly 1. In parts of sanctification which though all be infused in seed yet they are brought to appeare by diligence 2 Pet. 1.5 Adde to your faith vertue c. some vertues are hardlier produced then other yet by exercise become easie we are commanded to learne to doe well Esa. 1.17 Secondly In degrees of the same parts 1 Thes. 4.10 so we are required to cloth our selues adorne and arme as with putting on vertues more and more Rom. 13.12 Coloss. 3.12 1 Pet. 3.4 5.5 Thirdly In more acts of the same vertue Reu. 2.19 or of the same renewed faculty the mind more fruitfull in good thoughts the will in good elections Fourthly In spirituallnesse of the same acts and faculties which haue lesse mixture of sinne in them Examine whether as a plant of the Lord you are not more fastened in your root spread in your branches filling thē more with fruits and they growing in bignes or ripenes to better rellish Or consider in particular your loue which faith worketh by it groweth in intension becoming more feruent flames now that was before but a sparkle 2 Thes. 1.3 Secondly In extension when it is not partiall but takes in more persons euen bad men to make thē good enemies to reconcile them procuring their good weake brethren to support them bearing with them pleasing in that which is good to edification giuing them time and helpe to profite poore neighbours to fulfill the royall Law Thirdly In rooted firmenesse not changed with changes in the persons loued abiding in aduersity in falls couering trespasses ouercōming offences passing by them deuouring indignities Fourthly In guiding the acts of loue with more iudgement Phil. 1.6 We are to loue with our heart and with our minde thus the Apostles loued a while though intirely yet not wisely Math. 16.22.25 Fiftly In naturalnesse and purenesse carrying to the good of the loued more with lesse self-loue and respect of our owne good more benevolence lesse concupiscence in it Sixtly In labours and works of loue vnto store of good fruits old and new Cant. 7.13 1 Cor. 15.58 1 Tim. 6.18 2. The growth of grace hath stoppes 1. In Gods desertion 2. By inordinate affection vnto and contentment in lawfull things Eccl. 2.2 3. By suffering some fowle lust too far as Samson lost his strength as Dauid found all out of frame 4. By our own dulnes slownes of hart Heb. 5.11.12 Luk. 24.25 We are called vpon to bee diligent in following after faith hope loue and other graces and not to be slothfull Heb. 6.12 Fiftly by wilfull want of meet helpes forsaking holy assemblies and ordinances by preiudice and conceit Disaffecting powerfull meanes for externall flourish so the Corinthians were hindred till rebuked they were sensible of their euill and became feruently minded Sixtly vnlawfull fellowship with euill persons Pro. 13.20 Dauid the neerer he comes to God with resolution to keepe his Law the further hee remooues from the wicked who were no helpes but hindrances to his performing of his purpose Psal. 119. 115. dangerous for cooling zeale snaring with temptations and learning their way Not that all fellowship with such persōs is vnlawfull to all godly men the Apostle allowes a christian table fellowship with a professed Infidell and open Idolater in the case of aduantage of Religion if hee be bidden aduise about the conuenience of his going for probable good either in winning or making lesse auerse to heare the trueth more equally with lesse preiudice Or it may bee to further a mans owne peace or confirme it Genesis 26.29 30. Or when a godly man is ioyned in office with them not cōmunicating in their sinnes shewing them good example knowing how to answere euery man Thirdly sense of want of grace complaint and mourning from that sense desire setled and earnest with such mourning to haue the want supplied vse of Gods meanes with attending vpon him therein for this supplie is surely of grace For promises are made to the poore in spirit that mourne that thirst that desire the holy Ghost Mat. 5.3 4. Reuel 21.6 Luke 11.13 Such come from a spirituall sight discerning the worth of grace a spirituall tast that the Lord is gracious holinesse of will inclining a man to holy things Exercise your knowledge faith hope loue spirit alredy receiued to your Lords aduantage and you shall haue more Mar. 4.24 Pray consider in Pauls prayers for the Churches how farre your desire may extend to be filled with all the fulnesse of God as you are capable till there bee no want of that in you
ouercame her doubt Heb 11.11 by faith she receiued power to cōceiue seed and was deliuered of a child when shee was past age because shee iudged him faithful who had promised yet laughed at the message of the Angel and is reproued for it Gen. 18.12 Our Sauiour doth reproach the two Disciples honestly testifiing of him for follie and slownesse of heart to beleeue all that the Prophets haue spoken Luk. 24.25 he vpbraides the eleuen with their vnbeliefe because they beleeued not them which had seene him after his resurrection Mar. 16.14 Moses and Aarons faithfull seruants of God were iudged to death temporall for not sanctifying the Lord by beleeuing his promise of bringing water out of the rocke and to lose the honour of bringing Gods people into the Land of promise When a doubt creeps into a mans minde whether that which God hath spoken shall come so to passe it is iniurious and greiuous to him much more when with full vnbeliefe his promise is reiected Psal. 106.24.25.26 2. King 7.2 Reasons SIns are more greiuous as they haue God for their obiect more immediately hating of God despaire vnbeliefe the mother sinne it dishonours God aboue many sinnes of morality 1. In questioning his truth 2. In limiting his power 3. In disgracing his promise and messengers Esa. 7.13 Is it a small thing for you to grieue men that you will grieue my God also Secondly it is of prauity of nature mans faithlesse disposition whereunto being indulgent he beares with himselfe in it too much where God offers to fence him not onely with promise but sometimes with signe God saith of his sonnes and daughters that they are children in whom is no faith Deut. 32.20 Christ to his fearefull Disciples how is it that yee haue no faith Mar. 4.40 Vse 1. We ought therefore to feare with hatred all vnbeleefe all kinds and degrees of it and to sway our hearts against their natural disposition we ought to beleeue God speaking to vs whatsoeuer how often soeuer in what manner soeuer he do speake to vs and be violent against the hindering disposition so breaking into heauen The deuil flies not from vs by dallying but by resisting him Iam. 4.7 Faith makes supernaturall things possible Math. 17.20 It obtaines wonderfull things Heb. 11.11.33.34 It sanctifieth God in a mans heart Esa. 8.13 and giues him glory before men Rom. 4.20 Out-looking improbabilities impossibilities in nature resting on his truth and power When God hath spoken let vs reioyce in his word saying I haue the word of God whereof I glory the word of God I say whereof I will glory Dauid assures himselfe to the ouercomming of sorrowes and quickening him with spirituall ioy that it shall be as God hath said Psal. 60.6 God hath spoken in his holinesse I will reioyce I shall diuide Shechem and measure the valley of Succhoth Gilead is mine c. when the Lord hath said I will not leaue thee nor forsake thee we may boldly say the Lord is my helper I will not feare Heb. 13.5.6 God will doe that which he hath spoken to me of Genes 28.15 Thus Paul did giue hope to them in the Ship with him in great extremity Bee of good courage for I beleeue God that it shall bee euen so as he hath spoken to me and they were all of good cheere At length wee shall say to Gods praise As wee haue heard so haue wee seene in the Citie of our God Psal 48.8 Let vs lay vp the promises in our hearts set them still before vs digest them in a holy hope and feede our selues with them bee they generall or particular to this or that state and condition absolute or with exception of the crosse wee shall beleeuing perceiue in sensible effect that God hath not said in vaine Seeke yee mee None shall bee ashamed that waite for him either wee shall haue the very thing which wee doe desire or the good of the want of it Vse 2. Seeing one act of distrust in a particular promise is so offensiue to God how grieuous is it to forsake the generall promise of mercy in Christ Iesus made to euery one that beleeues on him Heb. 4.1 Let vs feare it is full of sinne and danger First It is a manifest disobedience Rom. 10.16 21. against the first and great commaundement of the Law which though it doe not directly command faith in Christ nor reueale the righteousnesse whereby wee are saued Rom. 3.21 yet bindes vs to hearken to God in all that hee commands vs to whomsoeuer Christ is preached the commandement to beleeue in him is giuen Mar. 1.15 Ioh. 6.29 They that reuolt after profession of faith are saide to turne away from the holy commandement giuen to them 2. Pet. 2.21 Secondly Vnbeliefe is a kinde of blasphemy it makes God a lyar which agrees not with his nature it is impossible to him Heb. 6.18 Tit. 1.2 His witnesse is greater then the witnesse of man Hee that honours a man with cap and knee yet counts him a vaine lying fellow doth more dishonour him thereby then with all the outward signes he honours him so hee that beleeues not God testifying of his Sonne that whosoeuer receiues him hath life what respect soeuer hee giue him in other things dishonours more then hee honours him making the credite of his testimonies suspected as hee that beleeueth hath sealed that God is true Thirdly Vnbeliefe hath in it an odious vnthankfulnes in refusing Christ with his grace so freely offered to euery creature Mark 16.15 Christ louingly cals euery one that is athirst to come to him with gracious promise that they shall not come in vaine Ioh. 7.37 38. beseeching men by his seruants in his stead to be reconciled to God and not to receiue the grace of God in vaine Hee waits that hee may haue place in mens hearts promising sweete and refreshing familiarity to any that heares his voyce and opens vnto him Reuel 3.20 He puts none away that come to him Iohn 6.37 God expostulates with men why they will die seeing life is so freely offered them Eze. 18.31 lamenting their folly and losse in refusing him Therefore whether it bee of sottish negligence or of obstinate rebellion it is inexcusable vnthankfulnesse to reiect him Fourthly Vnbeliefe holds a man in the power of sinne in an vniuersall pollution of nature the seate of it is an euill heart Heb. 3.12 a heart full of euill affections so it robbes God of that inward worship which faith purifying the heart sets vp and maintaines it is ioyned with loue a pure heart and a good conscience 1. Tim. 1.5 No true inward worship can be performed without faith as may appeare by considering all the parts of it I. Confidence in God whereby wee rowle our selues vpon him for all needfull good and to bee helpt and defended against all hurtfull euill so as not to bee afraide at any euill tydings to laugh at destruction when
manner of persons they be that God admitts into heauen And what manner of person may receiue Christ vnto iustification of life The answere to the first is that God receiueth none into heauen but such as he hath made meete thereunto by iustification and sanctification in Christ Iesus Col. 1.12 2 Thes. 1.11 The Apostle praies for the Thessalonians that God would make them meete for or worthy of his calling of the high things in heauen vnto which hee called them by the Gospell not that there is inherent dignitie in any man but by imputation of the worthinesse of Christ which is euer accompanied with sanctification or Godly nature The inheritance is vndefiled 1. Pet. 1.4 no vnrighteous person nothing that is vncleane shall enter into it Reu. 21. 27. Whosoeuer remaines in the full power of sin working iniquitie though he blesse himselfe in his heart transforme God in his thoughts deceiue himselfe in his imagination he shall finde that God will not be mercifull to him Deut. 29.19 but set his sinnes in order before him Psal. 50.21 His religion is in vain Iam. 1.26 Without holinesse no man shall see God Heb. 12.14 The answere to the latter question is whosoeuer finds his owne guiltinesse and death euery burdened sinner hearing Christ propounded and the couenant of grace in him may come receiue him with the promise of mercy though when he heares the Gospell preached he be in a cleane contrary way to righteousnesse Rom. 4.5 He that worketh not but beleeueth in him that iustifieth the vngodly his faith shall be counted for righteousnesse Faith possesseth the sinner of Christ and his righteousnesse which God of his grace imputes to him which is then as truely his own as if he had wrought it himselfe and so is not putatiuely iust as some blaspheming say but truely and perfectly iust and in that iustice worthy of heauen Christs passions are his actions Christs workes his merits by the vnion which by faith he hath with Christ. God cleares not the guiltie against order of iustice his sin is translated frō him to Christ in whom God finds him and Christs righteousnes to him receiuing in Christ full satisfactiō he holds him no longer guiltie but is iust in the forgiuenesse of sins and the sentence of righteousnesse pronounced vpon him he receiueth right vnto life Christ and the couenant in him is offered to vnregenerate men who inabled by Gods spirit to performe the condition of the couenant which is to beleeue in Christ the promises conteined in the couenant are surely his as a true heire of them Galath 3.29 If ye be Christs then Abrahams seed and heires by promise Regeneration is not the condition of the couenant but a promise conteined in it which is receiued by faith in Christ in whom the beleeuer is a new creature the workmanshippe of God created vnto good workes A man must not stay to beleeue till he finde regeneration and repentance towards God the worke of it but first beleeue that he may receiue in Christ the promise of the spirit vnto his new creation or conuersion to God which declares it selfe in outward workes Christ is sent to blesse men in turning them from their iniquities Act. 3.26 Him God hath lifted vp with his right hand to bee a prince and Sauiour to giue repentance to Israel Act. 5.31 We are not to looke first to find repentance in our selues and then come to Christ to obtaine forgiuenesse but seeke both in him As the woman beleeued first that shee should be healed touching the hemme of Christs garment and vpon the touch felt in her selfe that she was healed so we feeling our loathsome disease of sinne are to beleeue that we shall in Christ be healed comming to him who healed all manner of diseases in them that sought to him after to seeke experience of his vertue in our soules Childrē of the promise are such as are borne by faith of the promise as Isaac was when Sara was vnlikely to beare children as if shee had been dead Heb. 11.11.12 Gal. 4.28 Offer violence to your vnbeleeuing nature resolue and bind your soule by vow promise to God as Dauid doth to keepe his commandements whereof this is not the least to beleeue in the name of his Son and hold to your promise think of the rebuke you will not come to mee that you might haue life vnlesse you see signes and wonders you will not beleeue how it is that you haue no faith Thinke of the praise of faith in such as without any experience vpon the hearing of the Gospel when before they were great sinners staying merely vpon the word of promise whith by faith was neere vnto them euen in their heart and mouth Thus much of the second vse 3 Vse Seeing there is such danger in not beleeuing when God promiseth it requires our examination whether since wee heard the Gospell preached to vs wee haue truely beleeued Iames and Iohn disprooue some in their profession of faith by the want of vertue with it to testifie of it When men doe beleeue in Christ indeede he makes them free and God that knoweth their hearts giueth testimony in fact of his accepting for iust by their faith in giuing them the Holy Ghost The Apostle Paul cals to examination of faith by experience of Christ in vs. 2. Cor. 13.5 Obiection I. This seemes not to bee by ordinary way attained infallible knowledge that I doe sincerely beleeue in Christ seeing there is a kinde of faith which alters men so as they escape the filthinesse of the world yet it saues them not How may I know the right kind Answer First The exhortation had beene vaine if they which beleeue could come to no certainety of faith in themselues 2. Their profession ouer-bold that from sense professed that they did beleeue and their comfort to bee suspected that reioyced that they did beleeue Secondly It is true there bee diuerse kindes of faith historicall which hath some degrees temporary faith may be counted a higher degree of the historicall and iustifying faith they differ in subiects efficacie and parts of nature The historicall and temporarie faith may bee in reprobates as it was in Iudas and Alexander the coppersmith and such as hauing beene illuminated and tasted the word of God fall totally and for euer away Iustifying or faith properly so called is onely in the elect the seate of that is onely the minde that assents to the truth and goodnes of the word This is in the heart receiuing Christ with his blessing staying vpon him with affiance of heart for our whole felicitie The temporarie faith receiues neither what should bee receiued nor as it should nor is effectuall in giuing out as the sauing doth by diuine vertue Faith which is onely historicall receiueth not Christ vnto vnion and communion what it receiueth is neuer with an honest heart it purifieth not the affections Faith properly so called
and so as to guid them it is denied therefore the account of knowledge for the liuelesnesse of it 2. Pet. 1.9 1. Ioh. 2.4.9 Fourthly their thoughts and deuises declare the fleshlinesse of their mindes that which riseth naturally as the fruite of their minde is as an ill fauour out of a sinke they minde things of the flesh and when they take counsell and deliberate it hath the same sauour with the roote when they rowle some good thing in their heads they corrupt and defile it the diuell also whose power is yet in their minde puts ill thoughts into them as his first borne and his breath to blow vp the fire of fleshly lusts vnto which they so attend as they forget God his properties works and wayes and walke in the sparkes of their fire that they haue kindled Isa. 50.11 But the true beleeuer is not so First his knowledge is an abiding light shining constantly till hee come to life called for that the light of life Iohn 8.12 He is taught of God so as hee declines not from his statutes Psal. 119 102. Because he taught him hee cannot beleeue otherwise then hee hath receiued though false teachers confirme their doctrine with signes and wonders Matthew 24.24 They will not heare a stranger specially in fundamentall doctrine they know not his voyce Iohn 10.8 1 Ioh. 4.4 They know by an holy annointing abiding in them the truth and that no lye is of the truth 1 Ioh. 2.27 and discerne the particular lye vsing such meanes and helps as God affords them They be tempted troubled with the temptation but are alwayes with God and ouercome the temptation and returne to their minde with confirmation knowing whom they haue beleeued Psal. 73.2 23. Gal. 5.10 Secondly Though they may erre in many things because sight is not perfected at once it is with some darkenesse as it were in the dawning betweene light and darkenesse yet not in full darkenesse true light hath shined to them and they see though with many fancies as hee who at the first touch of his eyes saw men walke but as trees not in their perfect lineaments till Christ set to the cure againe then he saw cleerely hence comes such diuersitie of iudgements among learned and good men yet truth beeing propounded to them and defended by others they haue a gracious aptnesse to yeeld to it when they see it Esay 11.6 A little child shall leade them Iames 3.17 The wisedome from aboue is tractable they offer sincerely their emptied minds vnto Christ that he may fill them with a frame of truth so renouncing the wisedome of the flesh they allow their wits no liberty but in God The eare tastes words as the palate doth meate Iob 12.11 1 Cor. 14.37 38. Heresies in the Church manifest the approoued 1 Cor. 11.19 As Aegles to the carcase by proper sagacity so are they gathered to the truth concerning Christ Luke 17.37 Thirdly their knowledge is effectuall life eternall is begun continued and consummate in it Iohn 17.8.12 For Gods teaching is such as the effect followes Iohn 6.45 Euery man that hath heard and hath learned of the Father commeth to mee These are together 1. knowledge of him 2. beeing in him 3. loue of him 4. and keeping his word 1 Iohn 2.3 5. They by this light see God specially as hee is reuealed in Christ Ephes. 3.18 19. They see themselues in the very secret chambers of their hearts for defects contrarietie to Gods law inwardly whence hindering of good and furthering of euill comes admire the rich and abounding loue and grace of God in Christ 1 Tim. 1.14 confessing their owne vnworthinesse haue meane thoughts of themselues compared to God compared to Saints and shew by good conuersation their workes in meekenesse of wisedome They be called the meeke of the earth that doe Gods iudgements Fourthly The thoughts of the iust are right Prou. 12.5 their renued minde giueth disposition thereunto and they are as fruits brought forth to God by the vertue of Christ specially as the spirit breaths obedience and gouernes them to deuise good things Isaiah 32.8 They not onely haue a good treasure in their hearts whence good thoughts are brought forth but they forme their thoughts vnto good minding with studie and carefull thought how to do acceptably pray for pleasing meditations and labour to keepe their thoughts in an order to serue God with their thought Secondly The conscience of a temporizer whether you consider quiet or troubled differs much from the beleeuers in the execution of the function because the beleeuer hath some holinesse restored to his conscience which none can haue but in Christ who haue learned him and haue beene taught as the truth is in Christ Iesus to put off the old man and to put on the newe Ephes. 4.22 1. The cause of quietnesse 2. the effects 3. the continuance difference it First The quietnesse of an vnbeleeuer or that beleeues not so as it may properly bee called faith is vpon mistaken grounds as that his faith giues him right in the Couenant which God hath made to all that truely receiue Christ whose merit is the foundation of the couenant it is infalliblie true in the proposition whosoeuer hath his Sonne hath life to as many as receiued him he gaue this dignity to be the children of God but it is false in the assumption I beleeue in Christ and receiue him So in the point of sanctification deceiued with shew when he hath not the truth he rests vpon the promise made to the sanctified but falsely assumed to him as before Secondly Or it is by a wilfull presumption of finding God peaceable towards him against the expresse words of the curse trusting in a lying word wherein sometimes they are strengthened by false teachers that giue life to them that should not liue Thirdly Or by not stirring of corruptions slumbering in error without sense By ignorance of the law I was a liue without the law but when the commandement came sin reuiued and I died Fourthly By earthing themselues as it were in a caue of forgetfulnesse of God and their own estate diuerting their thoughts to other things not considering that he remembers all their sinnes and that they shall come to iudgement Fiftly Oppressing their conscience with false reasonings they take euill for good good for euill lye vnder the woe denounced against it without feare Secondly it giues no true comfort in God as reconciled no delight in him Iob. 27.10 it is not renewed vnto that righteousnesse which was lost holds not to vniuersall obedience but suffers to liue in some sinne knowen consciencelesly it witnes not nor holds a man vnto right manner and end of actions with due circumstances but onely excuseth the worke done as Iehu did when he said to Iehonadab the Sonne of Rachab come with me and see the zeale that I haue for the Lord. He was caried with a great will to the fact