a seale and an earnest-penny 2. Cor. 1. 22. And well may it secure a man because he that knowes he hath it may be sure he shall neuer lose it it 's an immortall seede 1. Pet. 1. 23. it endures for euer Psal. 19. 9. Obiect No doubt but he that hath the Spirit of God to witnesse to his conscience that he is Gods childe may indeed be certaine of it but who can be assured that he hath the Spirit of God How easie is it for a man to be deceiued in this seeing 1. The heart is so deceitfull Ier. 17 9. 2 There be many remnants of Gods Image in a naturall man that may seeme to be the fruits of the Spirit And 3. There be many common gifts of the Spirit which an Hypocrite and Reprobate may haue Answ. I answer iâ—… is true indeed and therefore the faithfull are oft called vpon to examine themselves 1. Cor. 11. 28. and proue the good things that are in them Gal. 6. 4. But yet this I say that he that hath the Spirit of God may certainely and vndoubtedly know that he hath it and as the Spirit is giuen vs to witnesse to our spirits that we are Gods children so like a good witnesse he speakes so euidently and plainely that he that hath him may know and discerne his voice and plainely vnderstand what he saith Hezechia knew he had walked before God in truth and with a perfect heart and had done that which was good in his sight Esay 38. 3. and Peter knew well that he loued Christ vnfainedly aboue all things Iohn 21. 17. and Paul could say he was assured he had a good conscience in all things Heb. 13. 18. And least any should say these were extraordinary men may all that haue the Spirit be so certaine they haue it as were these three I will therefore shew you that this is the case of all them that haue Gods Spirit not of some rare and extraordinary persons onely The Apostle speakes thus not in his owne name onely but in the name of all the faithfull 1. Iohn 5. 19. We know that we are of God that is borne of God Yea they that haue receiued the Spirit haue beene so certaine of the vprightnesse of their hearts that no opposition of men or Sathan nor any affliction could driue them from it For this we haue a notable example in Iob Iob 27. 5 6. God forbid that I should iustifie you vntill I dye I will neuer take away mine innocency from my selfe I will keepe â—…y righteousnesse and will not forsake it mine heart shall not reprooue me all my daies 3. The third Reason why he that hath Faith may be so certaine of his saluation is because the hope and assurance he hath of his perseuerance to the end is grounded wholly vpon God not vpon any thing that is in himselfe 1. Pet. 〈◊〉 2. Peter saith of the faithfull that their faith and hope is in God The maine argument against the certainety of saluation is the vncertainety of perseuerance Now I haue shewed you in the proofe of the Doctrine that the faithfull may bee certaine of their perseuerance vnto the end Psal. 1â—… 8. 8. The Lord will pâ—…rfect that which concerneth me Phil. 1. 6. Being confident of this very thing that hâ—…e which hath begunne a good Worke in you will performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ. Vpon what ground will you say is this certainety built Surely not vpon any thing that is in vs for we are exceeding variable and apt to fall and when we had our saluation in our owne keeping though wee were then farre stronger than now we are we lost it quickly But now our state in Christ is in this respect better than it was in Adam we cannot now lose it because it is not in our own keeping our assurance of perseuerance is grounded wholly vpon God If we looke vpon our selues we see cause of feare and doubting but if we looke vp to God we shall finde cause enough of assurance Psal. 61. 2 3. Leade me vnto the Rocke that is higher than I for thou hast beene a shelter for me and a strong Tower 2. Tim. 2. 19. The foundation of God is sure This Rocke how sure it is you shall see in three points 1. We are maruellous vnconstant and fickle in our loue to God and good things we are apt quickly to turne out of the good way Iudg. 2. 19. but God is constant and vnchangeable in his loue I haue loued thee with an euerlasting loue Ier. 31. 3. The decree and counsell of God is vnchangeable I am the Lord I change not Mal. 3. 6. From hence the faithfull man reasoneth thus By his spirit which I know he hath giuen me I am sure God elected and loued me in Christ before all worlds for he neuer bestowed iustifying faith on any but on such so many as were ordained vnto eternall life belieued and none but they Acts 13. 48. therefore true faith is called the faith of Gods Elect Tit. 1. 1. he neuer called any to the loue and obedience of his truth but such whom he did predestinate them he also called Rom. 8 30. Therefore I am sure that how vnconstant and vnchangeable how prone soeuer I am to fall yet I shall neuer fall finally for he is constant in him is no variablenesse neither shadow of changing Iames 1. 17. His decree is immutable it is not possible that any whom he hath elected should perish if it were possible they shall deceiue the very elect Matth. 24. 24. his loue that he hath borne to any in Christ is vnchangeable hauing loued his own which were in the world he loued them to the end Iohn 13. 2. For his loue was free not occasioned by any goodnesse he foresaw would be in vs but the cause of it was his owne good pleasure onely Ephes. 1. 5. At that time when he did perfectly foresee how ignorant weake vntoward vnconstant vngracious we would be yet euen then he set his loue vpon vs and what should then alter or alienate his affection from vs Therefore God speakes thus of his loue to his Elect Ieremie 31. 3. I haue loued thee with an euerlasting loue therefore in mercy haue I drawne thee Esay 54. 10. My kindnesse shall not depart from thee saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Esay 64. 5. In those is continuance and wee shall bee saued When God hath once drawne a man by his spirit to the faith and obedience of his truth he may then be sure he hath loued him with an euerlasting and vnchangeable loue Rom. 11. 29. The gifts and calling of God are without Repentance Vpon this Dauid grounded his comfort and assurance Psalme 25. 6. Remember Lord thy tender mercies and louing kindnesse for they haue beene for euer And thus he stirres vp all Gods people to doe Psalme 118. 2 3 4. Let Israel and the house of Aaron and they that feare the Lord now say
that he pretends he hath of Gods fauour emboldneth him to sin Ieremie 3. 4 5. Didst thou not still cry to me Thou art my Father c. but thou doest euill euen more and more They are wicked therefore can they haue no true peace there is no peace saith my God to the wicked Esay 57. 21. But on the other side the true assurance that Gods Spirit workes in the faithfull makes them carefull to please God fearefull to offend him Psalme 26. 3. Thy louing kindnesse is before mine eyes therefore haue I walked in thy truth Psal. 119. 166. Lord I haue trusted in thy saluation and haue done all'thy comman dements 1. Iohn 3. 3. Euery one that hath this hope in him purgeth himselfe euen as hee is pure And indeed none can haue any true trust in God but such as feare him Psalme 115. 11. Yee that feare the Lord trust in the Lord. For God vseth not to speake peace to any but to his Saints and such as he doth withall by his grace restraine that they turne not againe vnto folly Ps. 85. 8. The third Vse of the former Doctrine is for the comfort of such as doe vnfainedly feare God and haue sometimes had an vndoubted assurance of their saluation and haue now lost the feeling of it This hath beene the case of many of Gods seruants and may be the case of euery one of vs. You know the Church complaines of this I sought him whom my soule loueth I sought him but I found him not Cant. 3. 1. And how oft doth Dauid complaine That his soule cleaued to the dust Psal. 119. 25. That is melted for heauinesse verse 28. That his spirit was in perplexity and his heart within was amazed Psal. 143. 4. Lord why doest thou reiect my soule and hidest thy face from mee Psal. 88. 14. Hee said in his haste hee was cast out of Gods sight Psal. 31. 22. Yea secondly sometimes he continued in this estate a great while together Psal. 13. 1. How long wilt thou forget me O Lord how long wilt thou hide face from me Psal. 119. 82. Mine eyes faile for thy promise saying When wilt thou comfort me And thirdly he had these fits oftentimes also Psal 88. 16. From my youth I suffer thy terrours Seeing therefore the dearest of Gods children doe oft lose this comfortable assurance and when they haue lost it are so apt to conclude against themselues that they were neuer in the state of grace they neuer had true faith I will therefore giue you fiue Rules for the comfort of such as are thus distressed 1. The first is to search out the speciall sinne that hath depriued thee of this comfort and repent of it This Rule is prescribed why is liuing man sorrowfull Let vs search and trie our waies and turne againe vnto the Lord Lam. 3. 39 40. Thus did Dauid recouer his comfort when I kept silence my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long and I acknowledged my sin vnto thee c. and thou forgauest the iniquity of my sinne Psalme 32. 3 4. 5. 2. To call to minde the grace that in former times thou hast felt in thy selfe whatfaith and feeling and comfort in prayer what care of a good conscience thou art sure thou hast had in thee heretofore for from thence thou mayest boldly conclude That there is grace in thee still though thou canst not now feele it the gifts and calling of God are without repentance Rom. 11. 29. This rule Dauid followed when he had lost his feeling of Gods fauour and grace Psal. 77. 5 6. Then I considered the daies of old and the yeares of ancient time I called to my remembrance my songs in the night And 143. 5. Yet doe I remember the time past 3. To search thine owne heart diligently and thou shalt obserue euen when thou art at the worst certaine notes of grace in thee Now there is no Christian but when he is at the worst and hath least feeling of his Faith and of the certainety of his saluation but if he would looke into himselfe he should finde these graces in himselfe 1. That hee yeelds not to his infidelity but striues against it and grieues vnfainedly that he hath lost the assurance of Gods fauour Psalme 77. 2. His soule refused comfort Uerse 3. His spirit was full of anguish Verse 10. And I said this is my death 2. That he desires aboue all things and seekes vnfainedly and earnestly to recouer his feeling of Gods fauour againe Cant. 3. 1 2 3. The Spouse sought her Beloued in her bed verse 1. about in the City by the streets and by the open places verse 2. enquired of the Watchmen for her Beloued verse 3. So saith David of himselfe when his spirit was in perplexity within him Psalme 143. 6. I stretched forth mine hands vnto thee my soule desireth after thee as the thirsty Land 3. That though he haue no feeling of Gods loue to him yet he loues God and desireth to please and honour him is affraid to doe any thing that might offend him Psalme 44. 18 19. Our heart is not turned backe neither haue our steps declined from thy way though thou hast smitten vs downe to the place of Dragons and couered vs with the shadow of death Now if any one of these graces be in thee thou maist be sure thou art aliue As if we discerne in one that by many likelihoods seemeth to be dead that he eyther breatheth or moueth or heareth we are sure there is life in him So is it in this case And euery Christian is bound in the affliction of his conscience to take notice of that grace that is in him as well as of that corruption that is in him that he may be as well thankfull to God for the one as he is humbled for the other 1. Thess 5. 18. In all things giue thankes for this is the will of God in Christ Iesus toward you This rule Dauid followed Psalme 77. 6. I communed with mine owne heart and my spirit searched diligently 4. Vse the benefit of their aduice that can better iudge of thine estate than thou thy selfe for the present canst This rule the Apostle prescribeth Is any sicke among you Let him send for the Elders of the Church and let them pray ouer him And the prayer of faith shall saue the sicke and the Lord shall raise him vp and if hee haue committed sinnes they shall be sorgiuen him Confesse your faults one to another and pray one for another Iames 5. 14 15 16. and this course the Church tooke when by her secret and priuate endeauours in her bed by night she could not finde her beloued she went out into the streets of the City among her godly acquaintance for their helpe and when that would not serue she sought helpe of the watchmen and Ministers of the Church Cant. 3. 2 3. 5. Lastly rest assured that though thou haue for the present lost it yet thou
the professors of Gods truth that they heare nothing they talke of nothing so willingly as they do of the faults of others euen of their brethren Psal. 50. 20. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother c. There is no talke that men will sit so long at and so willingly as this Pro. 18. 8. The words of a tale-bearer are as flatteries and they goe downe to the bowels of the belly O if the Lord should so gladly pry into all the faults of his seruants as we that are fellow-seruants do into the infirmities one of another who were able to abide it Psal. 130. 3. If thou O Lord shalt streightly marke iniquities O Lord who shall stand Let vs therefore in this also shew our selues the children of our heauenly father that as he doth vnwillingly see the faults of his children hee hath not beheld iniquity in Iacob Num. 23. 21. and passeth by many of their transgressions Micah 7. 18. so let vs learne to do Let vs be loth to see and heare of the infirmities of Gods seruants Thirdly thou must take heed that when his infirmities and faults be such as thou canst not choose but take notice of then that thou despise him not nor reiect him for his infirmities not for errour in iudgement Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not and let him that eateth not iudge him that eateth Why doest thou iudge thy brother or why doest thou set at nought thy brother Rom. 14. 3. 10. not for infirmities and slips in his life and conuersation Mat. 18. 10. See that yee despise not one of these little ones Where our Sauiour cals the faithfull so neither in respect of their stature as verse 2. nor in respect of their pouerty and contemptible estate in the world but in respect of their many errours and infirmities as is plaine by the comparison he vseth vers 12. It is not lawfull to despise so little and meane a Christian as through his errours and falls is like vnto a stray and lost sheepe And marke our Sauiours reason for this vers 10. Because God despiseth them not but makes great account of them and hath appointed his Angels to guard and attend them yea vers 11. he sent his Sonne into the world chiefly for their sakes therefore must we take heed we despise them not Now it is certaine that many offend this way that take themselues to be right good Christians they that pretend great loue and respect to good men and euen to all them that feare God yet will be found to be despisers of these little ones This will appeare euidently in three things First by the aptnesse that is in Christians to iudge one another If any differ from them in iudgement but euen in the controuersies of our Church about matters of ceremony If we discerne in any professor neuer so little frowardnesse or vnthankfulnesse or pride or such like corruption though both the one and the other do professe the feare of God not in word only but in their whole conuersation straight we are apt to conclude surely he is but a carnall man he is but an hypocrite there is no soundnesse or sincerity of heart in him Now this is a plaine despising of Christs little ones When the Apostle had said Rom. 14. 34. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not he adds presently And let not him that eateth not iudge him that eateth for God hath receiued him Who art thou that condemnest another mans seruant he standeth or falleth to his owne master The second signe of this is the aptnesse that is in Christians to estrange themselues one from another in affection in countenance in society for euery small infirmity they discerne one in another This is also a plaine despising of Christs little ones and a spice of that foule sin that the Prophet notes in the hypocrites of his time Esay 65. 5. Which say Stand apart come not neare mee for I am holier then thou Of our Sauiour we reade that though his kinsfolkes and all the company that met at the wedding in Cana of Galile were addicted to the superstitious purifications of the Iewes yet did not he for that their errour in iudgement and practice shunne their company and society Iohn 2. 6. And of the first Christians in the Primitiue Church it is said Acts 2. 42. that as they did ioyne together in the Apostles Doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayers so they were not strange one to another but maintained a sweet fellowship and society together vers 46. They did eate their meate together with gladnesse and singlenesse of heart And so should we doubtlesse do vpon the same ground Certainly they that are of the same minde in all substantiall points of Religion and are enliued and guided by the same spirit of grace ought not to be strange one vnto another Not loue onely but brotherly kindnesse is required of vs one toward another 2. Peter 1. 7. A third signe of this is the generall neglect of all meanes to reclaime or strengthen a weake brother we are apt to obserue euery fault in a weake brother to dislike him for it to speake of it also to others but neither by prayer to God nor by brotherly admonition will we seeke to reclaime him This is a plaine despising of Christs little ones count him not as an enemie but admonish him as a brother 2. Thess. 3 15. we count him not as a brother but as an enemy whom we refuse to admonish Now because this is so generall a fault and such a fault as greatly hindreth not only the loue that should be among vs and the comfort that Christians might finde in their mutuall society but also the growth of grace and religion in the Church I will therefore shew you out of Gods Word by what meanes euery one of vs may master and sudue this corruption in our selues The first is the consideration of the commandement of God whereby we are so oft and straightly charged to shew our loue and tender respect to Christs little ones We know it is oft made a certaine note of one that is in the state of grace when he can loue the brethren when he can loue a Christian because he is a Christian and he that loueth not his brother abideth in death 1. Iohn 3. 14. Now this is no certaine argument that we loue the brethren when we can loue and esteeme such as excell in grace for so farre forth many a wicked man hath loued Gods seruants Herod himselfe reuerenced and esteemed of Iohn Mar. 6. 20. but therein appeares the truth of our loue when we can loue such a one as we know to be a brother though wee doe see sundry faults and infirmities in him The louing of all the Saints is oft noted for an argument of this true loue Ephes. 1. 15. Col. 1. 4. Phil. 1. 5. Marke therefore how oft we are charged with this respect to