borne of the virgine Mary that he the promised Messiah is their king priest and prophet and by his obedience vnto death hath wrought their full Redemption and made their reconciliation with God these through faith in his bloud haue Christs righteousnesse imputed to them for the attaining of saluation these haue a ioy glorious and vnspeakable these cleaue to God in true holines and in the end for this their Mediators sake receiue a crowne of righteousnesse and the blessednesse promised that lasteth euermore This litle Treatise will so far lay open vnfold these three profound mysteries as may giue occasion to the well-minded readers to make further search into so high holy and necessarie doctrines as are primary pillars of true Religion And now worthie Madame in that I commend vnto you my poore endeuours contained in this litle booke it is out of a good desire to further you in the best things to procure you some litle helpe to get greater increase of the chiefe blessings to cast in my myte by writing also to adde that way somewhat to your spirituall treasure of knowledge holinesse and comfort as one desirous to be thankfull to God for his manifold mercis to you in that since your coming among vs you make it daily euident that you haue a hearty loue to true Religion and take much comfort in the Ministery and publike worship of God established as also that by your good example blamelesse conuersation you grace your holy profession going before many in many Christian duties Assure your selfe your careful labouring to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ will giue you an heauen vpon earth and shall be your crowne in the day of the Lord when all those that suffer their hearts to be stolen away from God and godlinesse by excessiue cares or pleasures of this world shall haue their sorrowes come vpon them like armed men and their end shall be fully miserable Mind you it well I pray you Eccl. 8.12 Though a sinner do euill an hundred times and his daies be prolonged yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that feare God which feare before him But it shall not be well with the wicked neither shall he prolong his dayes which are as a shadow because he feareth not before God Earnestly constantly seeke after those lasting ioyes where is mirth without all mourning life without vexation eternall happinesse by a blessed communion with the eternall God who wil be all in all to them that loue him Passe ouer no day wherein you call not to minde the many sweete free blessings of the almighty bestowed vpon you but by them prouoke your selfe to offer to him the heartiest sacrifice of thanksgiuing that you can attaine to accōpanied with hūble faithful feruent prayers for increase of his best blessings to you and yours that your happinesse begun here may be continued euerlastingly Act. 20.32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you vp and to giue you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified 1. Thes 5.23 And the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout and I pray God your whole spirit and soule and bodie be preserued blamelesse vnto the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ Amen Be thou faithfull vnto the death and I will giue thee a crowne of life Reuelation 2.10 THE BLESSEDNES OF THE VIRGIN MARIE the Mother of our Lord IESVS CHRIST LVKE 1.28.45 Blessed art thou among women Blessed is she that beleeued THE holie Euangelist Saint Luke Luke 1.28 writing the miraculous Incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ that is his wonderfull Conception and Birth describeth the messenger that manifested these glad tidings to be the Angell Gabriel the woman that should be mother to Iesus by name Marie by condition a Virgin affianced to Ioseph of the house of Dauid the place of their dwelling Nazareth a towne of Galile in the land of Iudaea the time in the dayes of Augustus Caesar the child to be conceiued and borne of her by name Iesus by office and dignitie a King ouer the house of Iacob for euer by nature the Sonne of the eternall God by speciall fauour and in regard of his humane nature the sonne of the Virgin Marie conceiued in her wombe the holie Ghost comming vpon her and the power of the Highest ouershadowing her she thrice by holy Oracle assured that she is exceedingly blessed The Virgin Marie lineally descending from the royall Kings of Israel found grace and fauour with God was freely beloued of him precious and honorable in his sight had great honour put vpon her was exceedingly blessed by Gods speciall loue to her euen blessed aboue all women Maries blessednesse is twofold The first is singular and proper to her selfe a prerogatiue granted to her alone and neuer to any other creature euen to be the Mother of Iesus Christ the Sauiour of all the Elect the mother of Emmanuel God-with-vs euen God manifested in the flesh Thus saith Gabriel from heauen Blessed art thou among women Luke 1.28 thus saith holy Elizabeth on earth Blessed art thou among women 42. and blessed is the fruite of thy wombe The second is that hauing obtained like precious faith with the Saints in the common saluation she with them abiding in the truth of Religion did beleeue and waite for the promised Messiah and her owne saluation by him as in her holy prophecie she acknowledgeth Luke 1.47 My soule reioyceth in God my Sauiour She had also a peculiar proper holy faith in a peculiar promise which was made to her alone Gen. 3.15.12.3 which was That the blessed seede in whom all the families of the earth should be blessed should be her seede that the Sonne of God would become her sonne and be borne of her wombe and of these holy Elizabeth the mother of Iohn Baptist Luke 1.45 saith Blessed is shee that beleeued Blessed art thou among all women The singular blessednesse and rare prerogatiue that Marie at once is a maide and a mother beareth a sonne and is still a Virgine is both a daughter of God and a mother of the Sonne of God is a wonder of wonders a strange miracle glorious and comfortable not fruitfully beleeued of any but of them that are taught of God who maketh knowne the mysteries of his kingdome to babes and little ones according to the good pleasure of his wil and this part of the sauing truth he writeth in our hearts by his Spirit and the manifestation of it is in his word thus recorded by the Euangelist Saint Luke In the sixt moneth Luke 1.26 the Angell Gabriel was sent from God vnto a Citie of Galile named Nazareth to a Virgine espoused to a man whose name was Ioseph of the house of Dauid and the Virgins name was Marie and the Angell came in vnto her and said Haile thou that art
the necessitie of it for receiuing Iesus our Sauiour to be our owne and in him to haue and enioy free full and eternall saluation Looke we carefully into the gracious dispensation of our blessednesse and we shall find it both plainly and plentifully taught in the word of grace Life is primarily in the Father from him in the Sonne and that for as many as receiue him The Father hath life in himselfe Ioh. 5.26 and he hath giuen to the Sonne to haue life in himselfe but not onely for himselfe but for all that beleeue on him This is the record 1. Ioh 5.11 that God hath giuen TO VS eternall life and this life is in his Sonne Now if it be giuen to vs we must receiue this life and blessednesse and Christ the giuer to dwel in our hearts by faith Eph. 3.17 By it we haue a neare vnion with his person as members of his body whereof he is Head giuing vs life as feeling and motion are from the head to all the naturall bodie And communion with all his graces to our full blessednesse And that it is the proper act of faith alone to RECEIVE is thus taught The true Light came vnto his owne and his owne receiued him not Ioh. 1.12 but as many as RECEIVED him to them gaue he power to become the sonnes of God euen to them that BELEEVE on his name Paul thus speaketh Gal. 3.14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Iesus that we might RECEIVE the promise of the Spirit THROVGH FAITH In the same sence the word of laying hold on is vsed expressing the nature and act of true faith in this exhortation Fight the good fight of FAITH 1. Tim. 6.12 lay hold of eternall life whereto thou art called Faith is not a disposition to holinesse or a beginning of other vertues which vnited together might be meritorious of life and glorie as some haue greatly mistaken it but it is a receiuing apprehension laying hold on and applying of Christ vnto vs for whom and by whom we are acceptable to God and heires of blessednesse Our iudgement and faith must be grounded on Gods holy word which is most plaine and cleare in this great mysterie It is no where said thy faith hath begun vertues in thee though indeed there is no true vertue but which floweth from faith but it is said by the Lord himselfe Luke 7.50 Thy faith hath saued thee as also 1. Ioh. 5.24 He that beleeueth hath passed from death to life And the holy Apostles in like manner set forth the sweete and comfortable fruites of faith Heb. 10.39 We follow faith to the conseruation of the soule In another place he saith Rom. 3.24 We are iustified freely by his grace through the Redemption that is in Iesus Christ whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud to declare his righteousnes for the remission of sinnes that are past through the forbearance of God to declare at this time his righteousnesse that he might be iust and a iustifier of him which beleeueth in Iesus To this agreeth that in Peter 1. Pet. 1.9 Receiue the end of your faith euen the saluation of your soules Christ Iesus is the obiect of our faith which assureth vs of our adoption iustification and full blessednesse and hath his seate partly in the vnderstanding partly in the heart In the mind and vnderstanding faith is a sure knowledge and apprehension that Iesus Christ the sonne of the Virgine Marie is the eternall Sonne of God the long promised blessed seed the Sauiour of all his chosen And in the heart it is a true and sure perswasion wrought also in vs by Gods spirit a confident application that I haue right to him as giuen to me waiting for all my blessednesse through him relying and casting my selfe wholly vpon him So I put to my seale Ioh. 3.33 that God is true iust and gracious infinitely good that extendeth such mercie to me freely for his beloued Sonnes sake neither dare I do that wrong to God and my selfe as to mistrust and doubt of his gracious promises He that shall beleeue and be baptized Mar. 16.16 shall be saued Ye are of God in Christ Iesus who of God is made vnto vs 1. Cor. 1.30 wisedome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption Hauing Christ to be ours in whom the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelleth we haue by him free pardon of all our sinnes and vnrighteousnesse the imputation of Christs righteousnesse to be ours by his free gift redemption through his bloud freedome from the curse and rigor of the Law from guiltinesse bondage and punishment of sinne from condemnation and hell torments By him we haue Reconciliation and Attonement sure sweet and lasting peace with God boldnesse with confidence to come to the throne of grace the spirit of Adoption whereby as deare children of God we call him our Father ioying in his presence desiring to do his will we haue prosperitie and aduersitie sanctified vnto vs to further vs to grow vp to full holinesse we haue peace of conscience sense of Gods loue ioy in the holy Ghost the Spirit of Christ dwelling in vs teaching enlightning guiding vpholding and comforting vs repairing the image of God in vs setting beauty vpon our soules giuing grace to be fruitfull in holy desires and meditations in all good words and workes strength to perseuere in the knowledge loue of the truth and carefull practise of all pietie to fight the Lords battels valiantly prosperously to get Satan trampled vnder our feete to triumph in Christ and finally with him to bee partakers of glorie and eternall blessednesse An obiection and doubt From these words of the Apostle Now abideth faith 1. Cor. 13.13 hope charitie these three but the greatest of these is charitie If charitie be greatest say some how then doth faith iustifie and assure euery beleeuer of his blessednesse Let such be put in mind that although charitie in two respects be greater then faith yet is it not that grace which receiueth iustification and life but the excellencie and greatnesse of it is seene in other things First charitie is greater then faith in continuance of time neuer falling away neuer ceassing but lasting euer more as may appeare in the words going before from 8. verse Faith and hope bring vs to Christ possessing him and with him full blessednesse there will be no more vse for them twaine Like as a man got into his countrey arriued where he will euer abide needeth no more a ship to passe ouer the seas Faith hope end with time Charitie ouer liueth all time When faith and hope ceasse with the world charitie then commeth to a fuller perfection Secondly charitie is greater in fruitfulnesse to do good to Gods people the proper worke of faith being to fetch comfort from Christ and conuey it into our owne soule
the booke of Iudges vsed a parable to declare his mind more plainly saying The trees went forth on a time to annoint a king ouer them so forth So we desire without offence to vse a Dialogue or disputation to see if this mysterie so profound may be better vnderstood or leaue a deeper impression of so holy learning Whē Adam and in him all his posteritie by disobedience had sinned against God before he should receiue the doome of his iust damnation sundrie stood vp to pleade IVSTICE tooke the first place and with much vehemencie alledged that the righteousnesse of God required that vnlesse there were a ful satisfaction made by man for mans transgression man must necessarily die and that eternally for his sinne and that God could not be iust if any of his debts should passe vnsatisfied Infinite Iustice is wronged therefore must man endure infinite torments The most holy and iust God hath spoken Gen. 2 17. In the day thou eatest of the tree of the knowledge of good and euill thou shalt die the death Againe he hath said Deut. 27.26 Cursed is euery one that continueth not in all things which are written in the booke of the Law to do them Yea and againe The soule that sinneth shall die Ezek. 18.5 TRVTH likewise stood vp and said My sentence must needs be to second make good all that Iustice hath spoken for what God saith is true all his words are as the faithfull witnesses in heauen and He will be knowne by executing of iudgement Psal 9.16 Be ye well assured Num. 23.19 God is not as man that he should lie hath he said and shall he not do it and hath he spoken and shall he not accomplish it MERCIE then put forth her voice Giue me place also to stand for and to witnesse what is noted in the Scripture of truth For though I may in no part derogate from Iustice or Truth whose greatnesse I know and reuerence yet know ye also that Mercie will lose neither her right or preheminence but will take first place of you both for it is allotted by the word vnto me It is first said Gracious and then Righteous is the Lord. Psal 25.8 Yea let it be engrauen in pillars of marble and written with letters of gold and in the hearts of all the holy ones Psal 145.8 The Lord is gracious and mercifull slow to anger and of great mercie Yea I will auouch it confidently that where there is one title of Gods Iustice He maketh not the wicked innocent there are seauen titles of his Mercie Iehouah Iehouah Exod. 34.6 strong mercifull and gracious slow to anger abounding in goodnesse and truth reseruing mercie for thousands forgiuing iniquitie and transgression and sinne If Iustice say man shall die Mercie saith he shall liue Eze. 16.6 PEACE then very mildly tooke part with Mercie and said Sister Truth I blame thee not for speaking on Iustice side for we haue learned that God is true in his threatnings none will herein gainsay thee but speake vnpartially as I well know thou wilt when it cometh to thy turne to speake againe is not God also as true in his holy Couenants and all his sweete promises But without more vrging thee I will speake for vs both and in the words of the holy Ghost As I haue sworne Isa 54.9 that the waters of Noah should no more go ouer the earth so haue I sworne that I would not be wroth with thee nor rebuke thee for the mountaines shall depart and the hils shall be remooued but my kindnesse shall not depart from thee neither shall the Couenant of my peace be remooued saith the Lord that hath mercie on thee If rigor of Iustice should take such place that man for his Sinne should eternally perish then Mercie and Peace should be quite banished out of the earth But I know assuredly That he will speake peace vnto his people Psal 85.8 and to his Saints The Lord will blesse his people with peace Yea vnto man Isa 9.6 for man is giuen the Prince of peace WISDOME then as best able to decide this controuersie tooke place and said All of you haue spoken well and as beseemeth you for God will make his Name glorious in manifesting before men and Angels the holinesse of his Iustice Truth Mercie and Peace Mercie must be shewed otherwise man cannot be saued and yet God will not shew Mercie to violate or wrong his Iustice There is a way found out by him whose name is Wonderfull and Counseller Isa 9.6 how to please you all and to giue you full contentment and to saue men from deserued damnation There is a law made by the most High the Iust and Mercifull God wherein it is thus enacted If thy brother be impouerished Leuit. 23.47 and sell himselfe to a stranger by thee after he is sold he may be bought out ONE OF HIS BRETHREN may buy him out any of the KINRED of his flesh among his familie may REDEEME him According to the equity of this law some second Adam that is a Brother must make the Redemption and Attonement who can pay all the forfets and debts of man who can die and yet ouercome death die and be no debter to death but meerely of loue lay downe his life to saue other from dying who can perfectly fulfill the whole Law and purchase the Creators fauour and an eternall inheritance For God by his Commandemēt requiring of man sound full and perfect obedience without a perfect and complete obedience will not make man righteous and threatning a curse setting downe the penaltie will admit of no satisfaction but by the suffering of that curse denounced by God himselfe Now such a suretie and man of worth that can thus suffer and thus do where shall he be found Here Adam and all his sonnes were silent deiected and heartlesse for no such could be found on earth man could do nothing to worke his recouerie no more then a dead man can raise vp himselfe out of his graue Ephes 2.1 being dead in trespasses and sinnes so that Desperation was readie to arrest Adam and to take him from Gods gracious presence for euer but the SONNE OF GOD came in due time to helpe at neede and to saue that which was lost and he graciously spake I will take flesh of the wombe of a Virgine I will become man rather then man shall perish whom I created after mine owne image He fell not altogether of himselfe but by temtation of another another that is more mighty shall raise him vp and restore him fully into the fauour of his Creator And this shall be accomplished as Wisedome hath made it plaine vnto you altogether according as it is written of me in the volume of Gods booke Isa 53.5 The iniquitie of all shall be laid on me and I will make reconciliation I will be wounded for mans transgression
woman beleeueth the Angell once assuring the promise which he a man was often told and that by the Lord himselfe It is said of Abraham Rom 4.18 That against hope he beleeued in hope that he might become the father of many nations according to that was spoken So shall thy seede be and being not weake in faith he considered not his body now dead when hee was about an hundred yeares old neither yet the deadnesse of Saraes wombe he staggered not at the promise of God through vnbeleefe but was strong in faith giuing glorie to God being fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able to performe and therefore was it imputed to him for righteousnesse So holy Marie knowing her selfe to be a Virgine and by that ordinarie course of nature she could not bring forth a child yet minding there was a sure promise made by the God of truth recorded by a holy Prophet beleeued by all the Israel of God Behold a Virgine shall conceiue and beare a Isa 7.14 sonne and shall call his name Immanuel And seeing now the God of her fathers had spoken to her by his holy Angell Gabriel Luk. 1.30 Thou hast found fauour with God and behold thou shalt conceiue in thy wombe and bring forth a sonne and shalt call his name Iesus She firmly beleeuing that with God nothing is impossible that all the promises of God are most sure she strong and stedfast in her most holy faith gaue glory to God being fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able to performe made this sweete answer Luk. 1.38 Behold the handmaide of the Lord be it vnto me according to thy word It followeth then that as Abraham the Father of the faithfull was accounted righteous by beleeuing so likewise the faith of holy Marie was imputed to her for righteousnesse and so consequently for blessednesse as it is said Blessed is she that beleeued If any hard of beleefe take exception and say Maries blessednesse is auouched onely by a woman let such remember that Elizabeth that said it was both an holy woman a Prophetisse and the word of God speaketh euidently of her Luke 1.41 Elizabeth was filled with the holy Ghost Moreouer if any say we hold it for good that sound true and particular beleeuing the promises of saluation giueth assurance of full blessednesse but is Maries faith such in beleeuing she should beare a sonne yet remaine a Virgine still We desire such not to seuer things so nearely ioyned together her faith of hauing a sonne and her faith in her sonne who also is the Sonne of God blessed for euer For it is euident by the word that she both beleeued her own saluation by him the Messiah as Abraham did as also with a fuller light of knowledge that the hope of Israel should be her sonne By the one she hath a prerogatiue to be blessed aboue all women by the other a preeminencie amongst all the Lords holy ones By comparing Scriptures together we shall see very clearly that we ought not so to restraine the meaning of those words Blessed is she that beleeued We reade in Genesis Gen. 15.5 The word of the Lord came to Abraham againe One shall come out of thine owne bowels he shall be thy heire looke now vp to heauen and tell the starres if thou be able to number them and he said So shall thy seede be and Abraham beleeued the Lord and he accounted that to him for righteousnesse It is not to be gathered hence that Abraham was accounted righteous in beleeuing he should haue a wonderfull great posteritie like the number of the starres for multitude but he formerly beleeued this promise of the Almightie Gen. 12.3 In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed Now the latter promise Gen. 15. containeth in it the former Genes 12. and hath ouer and aboue it a promise of the boundlesse enlargement of the Church which should be blessed with him by the promised seed euen by him who is called Shilo Gen. 49.10 Isa 7.14 Dan. 9.26 Immanuel and Messiah So the holy Virgine Marie euen before the Angell came to her soundly beleeued in the promised Messiah and that he should be the sonne of a Virgine as the Prophet Isaias had foretold but after that Gabriel the Lords messenger had reuealed more to her she beleeued that she was that Virgine to whom this dignitie and prerogatiue was freely giuen to be the mother of the most holy Immanuel So hauing the common faith of blessednesse with Abraham this peculiar faith aboue Abraham for he saw Christ afarre off but she felt him in her wombe first saw him manifested in the flesh heard his gracious words enioyed him as her sonne and Sauiour we may hold it as a manifest truth that she was before all in true and holy faith in the Sonne of the euerliuing God hauing testimonie of her faith and blessednesse from the whole Church of God as is prophecied All generations shall call her blessed Luk. 1.48 and from the sound and worthie fruits of sauing faith which are mentioned in the word It is among the praises of Abrahams faith by Christs owne mouth Ioh 8.56 Your father Abraham reioyced to see my day and he saw it and was glad Marie did not onely reioyce in God her Sauiour Luk. 1.47 but also magnified the Lord that is with heart and voice praised and extolled the greatnesse and goodnesse of God to her and the whole Church From her faith flowed the glorifying of God ioy and gladnesse to her owne soule and a comfortable reuiuing of the hearts of all the godly by witnessing in her sweete song the fulfilling of Gods promises for helping vp his seruant Israel Luke 1.54 We conclude then that the Virgine Marie was a gracious woman freely and fully beloued of God a Maide and a Mother a faithfull Israelite a primarie Christian an holy prophetisse a daughter of God by adoption a Mother of the Sonne of God by speciall fauor blessed in bearing Christ blessed in beleeuing in Christ blessed by him on earth blessed with him in heauen for euermore The first vse and fruite Which wee must reape by knowing and beleeuing that Marie was blessed in beleeuing is that we be taught and strengthened by her example to seeke all our blessednesse out of our selues in Iesus Christ as he is the Head of his body the Church Eph. 5.23 and by him as he is our holy Redeemer and Reconciler Rom. 3.24 And that this gift is giuen of God and receiued of vs by faith onely For that faith and no other grace giueth vs right vnto Eph. 2.8 and maketh vs owners of this blessednesse which is in Christ the proper act of this faith being to receiue Christ and apply him to vs in particular So that we must be soundly instructed and vnmoueably setled in this high holy doctrine of the excellency of faith and
sanctification Secondly it is Gods ordination We are his wormāship Eph. 2 10. created in Christ Iesus vnto good workes which God hath before ordained that we should walke in them Thirdly there is a necessity of the doing and presence of good workes for the manifestation of the righteous iudgments of God when he will come to be glorified in his Saints and crowne his owne works in them Mat. 25.35 Reu. 22.12 For he will iudge all men according to their deeds And giue to euery man as his worke shall be Fourthly a necessity is imposed vppon vs because we are debters as it is said Luk. 17.10 We haue done what was our dutie to do Rom. 8.12 And Paul saith Ye are debters but not to the flesh but to God our Creator Redeemer and Sanctifier Euer thinke we on it Tit. 2.14 that Iesus Christ gaue himselfe for vs that he might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purifie vs to himselfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes The obligation and bond of our debt is our Baptisme We are buried with him by Baptisme into death Rom. 6.4 that like as Christ was raised vp from the dead by the glorie of the Father so we should walke in newnesse of life Fiftly because there is no other way to eternall blessednesse but by the practise of holinesse For though good workes cannot be the cause of saluation but onely Iesus Christ as it is said Isa 49.6 I will giue thee for a light of the Gentiles that thou maist be my saluation vnto the end of the world yet are they the way and path vnto life and blessednesse Pro. 12.28 In the way of righteousnesse is life and in the path thereof there is no death Ye haue your fruite in holinesse Rom. 6.22 and the end euerlasting life The vses of good works are many and great in regard of God our selues others and our holy profession First God is glorified by our good workes which are being rightly performed a speciall part of his holy worship and seruice Ioh. 15.8 Herein is my Father glorified that ye bring forth much fruite His grace is manifested by enabling vs vnto a measure of obedience Eze. 36.27 I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walke in my statutes and ye shall keepe my iudgements and do them God is honoured and praised for them and by them They glorified God for me Gal. 1.23 1. Pet. 2.9 Ye are a peculiar people that ye should shew forth the praises of him which hath called you out of darknesse into his maruellous light 1. Pet. 4.11 Do it as of the abilitie which God giueth that God in all things may be glorified through Iesus Christ As a father delighteth in a dutifull sonne so God delighteth in all those that beare his image imitate his holy nature that take pleasure in well doing Ioh. 4.34 whose meate and drinke it is to do their fathers will Secondly by our blamelesse and good conuersation we become followers of the example of Christ of his Saints Ioh. 13.15 I haue giuen you an example that ye should do as I haue done to you As Christ forgaue you Colos 3.13 so also do ye Take the Prophets who haue spoken in the name of the Lord Iam. 5.10 for an example of suffering affliction and of patience Thirdly by our holy life and obedience to God we gaine assurance that God hath chosen vs to be heires of saluation 2. Pet. 1.10 Giue diligence that ye make your calling and election sure for if ye do these things ye shall neuer fall If we loue in deed and truth We know we are of the truth 1. Ioh. 3.19 and shall assure our hearts before him Thus the truth of faith is knowne for faith that hath no works is dead Gal. 5.6 being alone Neither Circumcision nor vncircumcision auaileth any thing but faith which worketh by loue Thus also is the soundnesse of repentance knowne Act. 26.20 I shewed to them that they should repent and turne to God and do works meete for repentance Fourthly by carefulnesse of well performing our dutie we are heartned to looke for the performance of Gods free promises made vnto vs. So Moses had respect vnto the recompence of the reward Heb. 11.26 Godlinesse hauing the promises of this life 1. Tim. 4.8 and that which is to come We may looke for obtaine if God see it expedient for vs long life a blessed posterity peace plentie ioy of heart preseruation in the euill day and whatsoeuer good is 1. Cor. 15.58 Be ye stedfast vnmoueable alwaies abounding in the worke of the Lord forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vaine in the Lord. Gal. 6.9 Let vs not be wearie of well-doing for in due time we shall reape if we faint not Know that whatsoeuer good thing any man doth the same he shal receiue of the Lord. Fiftly they that liue righteously escape curses and calamities when the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience 2. Pet. 2.5 For when God spared not the old world he saued Noah the eight person a preacher of righteousnesse God said he would spare Sodome and Gomorha Gen. 18.32 Isa 65.14 for ten sake that were righteous Behold my seruants shall sing for ioy of heart but ye shall crie for sorrow of heart and shall houle for vexation of spirit Sixtly they that are of vpright conuersation and are studious to abound in good workes shall auoid offences Giue none offence 1. Cor. 10.32 neither to the Iewes nor to the Gentiles nor to the Church of God Mat. 18.7 2. Cor. 6.3 For wo vnto the world because of offences Giuing none offence in any thing that the Ministerie be not blamed Seuenthly by our good deeds we win others to God or make way and prepare some to conuersion I am made all things to all men 1. Cor. 9.22 that I might by all meanes saue some Haue your conuersation honest among the Gentiles 1. Pet. 2.12 that whereas they speake against you as euill doers they may by your good workes which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation Rom. 11.14 I magnifie mine office if by any meanes I may prouoke to emulation them which are my flesh and might saue some of them 1. Pet. 3.1 Ye wiues be in subiection to your husbands that if any obey not the word they also may without the word be wonne by the conuersation of the wiues Eightly righteous behauiour stoppeth the mouthes of the aduersaries that they cannot speake ill of vs. So the loyall and iust cariage of Dauid towards Saul ioyned with loue and meeknesse preuailed so far that he made this acknowledgment Thou art more iust then I. 1. Sam. 24.17 1. Pet. 2.15 So is the will of God that with well doing ye may put to silence the