regard of the stabilitie of the whole church and euery true member thereof according to that of the same Apostle 2. Tim 2.19 The foundation of God remaineth sure and hath this seale The Lord knoweth who are his And thus as it is written Heb 6.18.19 The stablenes of the counsell of God afordeth vs strong consolation vpon the which the ancre of our soules that is the hope which is set before vs may bee sure and steadfast in heauen against all the stormes and tempests which we shall meete withall while we sayle as it were in the discomfortable and dangerous Sea of this wicked troublesome world Read also Mat 16.18 The gates of hell shall not ouercome the Church There be likewise many comfortable testimonies in the holy Prophets As Psal 46.5 c. God is in the midest of it therfore shall it not be moued And Ps 125 1. They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion c. Isai 54.17 All the weapons that are made against thee shal not prosper c Ioel 2 32. In mount Sion and in Ierusalem shal be deliuerance And chap 3 20. Likewise Obad verse 17. And Micah 7.20 God will performe his truth to Iaakob and mercie to Abraham c. But to the end we may haue our part in this so singular a comfort How may we be assured Question that wee are in the number of the elect of God and consequently true members of the holy catholike Church of God Hereby may we knowe that we are the elect of God Answer if so be we haue receiued his Spirit of adoption and sanctification ExplicatioÌ„ proofe We may doe so indeede For so saith the Apostle Iohn 1 Ep ch 4 13. Hereby we knowe that we dwell in God and God in vs because hee hath giuen vs of his Spirit The which Spirit also as wee haue seene before is as the earnest or seale of our election to salution And therefore it beareth the name of the Spirit of adoption c. Question But that we faile not nor be deceiued in this our comfort how may we know that God hath giuen vs of his Spirit and that wee are sealed thereby vnto redemption and saluation Answer We may know it certainly by the inward effects which the holy Spirit of God worketh in vs and by the outward effects of holines which the same Spirit inableth vs to performe and causeth our Spirits to take delight and pleasure therein from a pure heart with a good conscience and through faith vnfeined ExplicatioÌ„ proofe You answer truly and well For so doth the Apostle Iohn mentioned euen now teach vs 1 Ep ch 2 v. 3. Hereby we are sure that we knowe him if we keepe his commandements And ch 3 23.24 This is his commandement that we beleeue in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ and loue one another as he gaue commandement For he that keepeth his commandements dwelleth in him and he in him hereby we know that he abideth in vs euen by the Spirit which he hath giuen vs. Now this Spirit leadeth vs into the obedience of Gods commandements whereby also it is discerned to be in vs. Prouided alwaies that our obedience be as was answered out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith vnfained According to that of the Apostle Paul 1 Tim 1 5. Moreouer the fruits of the Spirit whereby his abiding in vs may be assured vnto vs are in many particulars reckoned vp by the Apostle Paule Gal 5 22 23 And Eph 5. v. 9 in many other places Wherein if we take delight with care to practise them in our liues we may assure our selues that God hath giuen vs his Spirit And namely The Duties if we shall be carefull to acquaint our selues with prayer and supplication to God for the increase of these his good gifts and graces For this is a speciall propertie of the Spirit of adoption and sanctification as the same Apostle teacheth vs Rom 8 15. Whereby and by the other fruites of sanctification before mentioned the Apostle doth in the same place verses 14 and 16.17 assure vs that we are such as belong to God and to whom the inheritance of the kingdome of God doth belong For saith he as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sonnes of God For ye haue not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare againe but yee haue receiued the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father The same spirit beareth witnesse with our spirit that we are the children of God If wee be children we are also heires euen heires annexed with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that â—ee may also be glorified with him And marke this well that among many other things the holy Apostle sheweth vs that our willing suffering with Christ that is while wee walke in the holy waies of God is a sure token that wee are in the number of the elect children of God For as he saith further verse 29. of the same chapter Those whom God knewe before he also predestinated to be made like to the image of his Sonne to wit euen in the induring of afflictions c. And to the same purpose of comforting and incouraging of all such that they are the vndoubted children of God tendeth all that which followeth euen to the end of that most comfortable chapter Whervnto also the testimonie of the Apostle Peter serueth notably in the first chapter of his 2. Epistle verses 5 6 7 8.9 10 11. Therefore giue all diligence therevnto ioyne moreouer vertue with your faith and with vertue knowledge And with knowledge temperance and with temperance patience and with patience godlines and with godlines brotherly kindnes and with brotherly kindnes loue c. For as the Apostle saith hereby we shall make our calling and election sure And he assureth vs in the name of the Lord that if we doe these things we shall neuer fall but that an enterance shall bee ministred vnto vs aboundantly into the euerlasting kingdome of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Read also Ps 15. where the Spirit of God by his holy Prophet maketh the same conclusion from a rehearsall of sundrie like vertues in the former part of the Psalme And thus we see that the comfort of faith coÌ„cerning the Article of the holy catholike Church of God is very great and manifold in respect both of the vniuersalitie and holines of it and chiefly in regard of the holy election of God Hetherto therefore of the vse of the doctrine of this Article for the comfort of faith WE are now to inquire likewise after the vse of it touching the fruites of obedience and that in the same order wherein we haue inquired of the Comforts Question First therefore what is the dutie belonging to the comfort of faith concerning the vniuersalitie of the Church Answer Insomuch as there is but one Church of God and that without it here
the former promises of God And this assurance of faith for the perpetuall and endles continuance of our happines shall be a principal ground of our euerlasting reioycing in and with the Lord yea a chiefe argument of our eternall praising of him in so much as we shal be out of all doubt of loosing the same againe And beside vntill the resurrection the soules of the faithfull doe no doubt retaine the faith and expectation of the resurrection of their bodies to euerlasting life and of the finall confusion of all the enemies of the militant church of God according to that Reuel 6.9.10 11. But leauing this That faith ariseth from the knowledge of God the father and of his glorious grace shining in the face of Christ read 2. Cor. 4 verses 3 4 5. And it may euidently bee proued from that which the same Apostle writeth Rom. 10 14. How shall they beleeue in him of whom they haue not heard For indeed it is vnpossible that any should beleeue that whereof he hath no knowledge or vnderstanding Out of all question faith is a most wise gift and grace of Gods holy spirit making those that are indued with it wise euen vnto saluation 2 Tim. 3 15. And verily there can be no greater wisdom then that which is vnto saluation euen as on the contrary there is no greater folly then that which carrieth a man on forward to his eternall destruction Now that there is singular wisdome in faith we shall the rather discerne if we consider how great that subtiltie of the Serpent the Diuel is as also how great the deceitfulnes of sin is which are both of them defeated thereby In this respect it is that faith is sometimes called by the name of knowledge and vnderstanding it selfe as Iohn 17 3. This is life eternall saith our Sauiour Christ to knowe thee to be the onely true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ And Ioh. 1 Ep 2 verses 3 4. Hereby we are sure that we knowe him if we keepe his commandements He that saith I knowe him and keepeth not his commandements is a lyar and the truth is not in him What truth verily the truth of faith or of sauing knowledge which is in effect all one with faith Hence also it is that it is so nearely linked with knowledge as wee finde it to be oftentimes as T it 1 1 according to the faith of Gods elect and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godlinesse And 2 Pet. 1 1 3. You haue obtained like precious faith with vs through the knowledge of him that hath called vs vnto glory and vertue And againe verse 5. Moreouer ioyne vertue with your faith and with vertue knowledge c. And chap 3 verse 17. Read also Ephes 1 16 17 18. And Colos 1 9. And chap. 2 ver 2. The Apostle protesteth his great desire that the Colossians Laodiceans hearts and that the hearts of all other Christians might be comforted and knit together in one and in all riches of the full assurance of vnderstanding to knowe the misterie of God euen the Father and of Christ In whom are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge Thus then faith arysing from knowledge groweth to be euen the setled assurance of all holy vnderstanding and the very life of all true wisedome But on the contrary where this faith is wanting there is no true wisedome at all For as wee read 1. Cor. 1 19 20. It is written saith the Apostle I will that is the Lord God will destroy the wisedome of the wise and cast away the vnderstanding of the prudent Where is the wise where is the Scribe where is the disputer of this world hath not God made the wisedome of this world foolishnes Let vs now proceed That faith is of this nature that it doth sweetly repose it selfe onely and wholly vpon the faithfulnes of Gods most gracious free promise concerning iustification and saluation in and by our Lord Iesus Christ it may wel be obserued first more generally from that which is said of faith Heb. chap. 11 1 in that the Apostle writeth that it is a ground of things hoped for and an euidence of things which are not seene The which words doe plainely signifie yea rather they doe very significantly declare that faith hath a cleere and vndoubted confidence or perswasion concerning that which it apprehendeth And then the same may be more particularly obserued from that testimonie which is giuen of Sarahs faith ver 11 in these wordes Through faith saith the Apostle Sarah receiued strength to conceiue seede and was deliuered of a child when she was past age because she iudged him faithfull that had promised Now that which Sarah did in respect of this promise concerning him Isaake I meane from whom he should spring though long after that should be the iustification of all the faithfull the same must euery faithfull Christian doe concerning iustification it selfe that is wee must constantly beleeue that the promise of GOD in this behalfe is most faithfull and true to wit that hee will assuredly iustifie and saue euery one that shall truly beleeue in the name of Christ his Sonne Or else there can be no true faith in vs. To this purpose therefore let vs well weigh in our hearts and mindes the Doctrine of the holy Scriptures touching this so materiall a point What though some did not beleeue saith the Apostle Paul Rom. 3 verses 3 4. shall their vnbeliefe make the faith of God without effect God forbid Let God be true and euery man a lyar as it is written That thou maiest be iustified in thy wordes and ouercome when thou art iudged Moreouer the same Apostle as wee reade chap. 4 13 c. and chap. 9 7 8 c. And Gallat 3 14 15 16 17 18 c. and chap. 4 23 28 by the example of Abrahams faith and as a most excellent and faithfull interpreter of the holy Scriptures he teacheth very plainely and plentifully that the principall foundation and stay of faith is the vndoubted word of Gods promise The children of promise saith he are counted for the seede For this is a word of promise In this same time will I come and Sarah shall haue a sonne And againe Wee receiue the promise of the spirit through faith To Abraham and his seed were the promises made The inheritance it by promise The Scripture hath concluded all vnder sinne that the promise by the faith of Iesus Christ should be giuen to them that beleeue Such are the frequent and often speeches of the Apostle Paul in those his Epistles Read also Heb. 6 13. When God made the promise to Abraham because he had no greater to sweare by he sware by himselfe And a little after verses 17 18 19. So God willing more aboundantly to shewe vnto the heires of promise the stablenes of his Counsell hee bound himselfe by an othe That by two immutable things wherein it is
remained sure and both had and hath stil this seale The Lord knoweth who are his that is he so kâ—oweth them that he wil certainly preserue them to wit so many as shal truly â—orâ—ake their sinnes according to that which followeth in the same text let euery one that calleth on the name of Christ depart from iniquitie For the proofe of the second part read 2. Pet. 1 5. c. Therefore giue ye euen all diligence thereunto ioyne moreouer vertue with your faith and with faith knowledge and with knowâ—edge temperance patience c. And thus brethreÌ„ saith the Holy Apostle vse diligence to make your calling and election sure for if ye doe these things ye shal neuer fal For by this meanes an entrance shal be ministred vnto you aboundantly into the euerlasting kingdome of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Notable to this purpose is the profession of the holy Prophet Ps 119 v. 166. and v. 1â—â— Where he ioineth this trust and longing after saluation with delight in obeying the law of God Lord saith he I haue trusted in thy saluation and haue done thy coÌ„mandements And againe I haue longed for thy saluation ô Lord and thy Law is my delight To this purpose also is that of the Apostle Paul Phil. 2.12 My beloued as ye haue alwaies obeied not as in my presence onely but now much more in my absence so make ye an end of your owne saluation with feare and trembling And Rom. 11 20 Thou standest by faith be not high minded but feare c. For the proofe of the third part of the answere read Heb 10 22.23 24 25 Let vs draw neare with a true heart in assurance of faith c. And let vs keepe the pâ—ofession of our hope without wauering for he is faithfull that hath promised And let vs consider one another to prouoke vnto loue and to good works not forsaking the felowship which wee haue among our selues c. Touching the 4. part read 1. Thess 4.1 c. Furthermore we beseech you brethren and exhorte you in the Lorde Iesus that yee increase more and more as yee haue receyued of vs how yee ought to walke and to please God c. And chapt 5.23.24 Nowe the verie God of peace sanctifie you throughout and I praye God that your whole spirit and soule and bodie may be kept blameles vnto the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ. Faithfull is hee which calleth you who will also doe it Brethren pray for vs. For the proofe of the last branche reade Rom 12.6 All Prophesie must be according to the proportion of faith Reade also Galat 1.8 9. Though that wee or an Angell from heauen preache vnto you otherwise then that which wee haue preached vnto you let him be accursed As we said before so say we now againe c. And againe 2. Thes 1.2.2 We beseech you c. Be ye not sodainly mooued from your minde nor troubled neither by spirit nor by worde nor by letter c. let no man deceiue you by any meanes c. and verses 9.10.11.12 And 1 Iohn 2.21 No lye is of the truth Hetherto of the dueties of the particular comforts Question NOw what is the duety of all the comfortes of faith in our one onely very true God eternall and almightie infinite inuisible c. they being all put as it were together Answere It is our duty both generally in euery particular respect in most solemne reuereÌ„d religious maÌ„ner to magnifie the most glorious reuerend name of the Lord our God ExplicatioÌ„ proofe This is indeede a generall duety as it were belonging both iointly and severally to all the former comforts of faith The practise wherof we may read to our own instruction and for our example and imitation 1. Chro 29.10 c. King Dauid blessed the Lorde before all the congregation And Dauid saide Blessed be thou O Lord God of Israell our father for euer and euer Thine O Lord is greatnes and power and glorie and victorie and praise For all that is in heauen and in earth is thine Thine is the kingdome O Lord thou excellest as head ouer all Both riches and honour come of thee and thou raignest ouer all and in thy hands it is to make great and to giue strength vnto all Now therfore our God wee thanke thee and praise thy glorious name Read also Psal 47. and Ps 72.18.19 Ps 89.52 106.48 Rom. 16.25 27. 1. Tim. 1.17 and ch 6 15 26. and 1. Pet 5.10.11 and in the Epistle of Iude verses 24.25 and Reuel 5.13 Thus therfore according to the holy exhortation Psalm 34.3 Let vs euerie one for our owne parts praise the Lord with the rest of his faithfull seruants and let vs all magnifie his name together Yea let vs to this ende abound in all particular fruites of true thankfulnesse to his most plentifull honour and praise as much as wee may possiblie attaine vnto For assuredlie faith receiuing the manifolde and aboundant comforts of the manifolde and superabounding grace of God it standeth deeply bound to yeeld all the fruits of thankes that may bee neyther can it receiue the grace of our most gracious God in vaine THe last point of our inquirie now onely remaineth concerning this Article of our faith in one onely true God that is touching the danger of noâ— beleeuing in h m Question What is that Answere Such as will not beleeue in him to their comfort neither walke dutifully before him in the obedience of faith as a fruite thereof besides that they shall want that vnspeakeable peace and comfort of conscience which faith yeeldeth the which of it selfe is a heauy punishment they shall finde in the end that both the wisedome and power and iustice of God yea that euen God himselfe and all that he is in his eternall and infinite nature wil be armed against them to their euerlasting and most wofull destruction Beliefe in one 〈◊〉 God three dâ—stinct 〈◊〉 It shall certainly come so to passe indeede The Danger of not beleeuing If yee beleeue not saith the Prophet 〈◊〉 chap â— verse 9. sureâ—y yee shall not be established And further Ier chapt Exâ—â—â—cation 〈…〉 17. â— Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arme and withdraweth his heart from the Lorde For hee shal be like the heath in the wildernes c. And yet further Psal 73.27.28 Loe saith the Prophet they that withdrawe themselues from thee shall perish thou destroyest all them that go a whoring from thee And againe Psal 78.21.22 Wrath came vpon Israell because they beleeued not in God and trusted not in his helpe For they perished in the wildernes chiefly because of this their sin Likewise Hebr 10 38 39. They that withdraw themselues from faith doe it to their perdition Finallie Reuelat 21.8 The fearfull and vnbeleeuing shall haue their portion in the lake that burneth with fire brimstone which is the second death
let him reioyce in the Lord. In which respect also he is called our life and the hope of our glorie Colos 1.27 and chap. 3. verse 4. When Christ who is our life shall appeare then shall ye also appeare with him in glory This making of our Sauiour to be a fit person to these so great ends and purposes of Gods manifesting of his rich and glorious grace began euen by the most holy conception of his humane nature in the wombe of the Virgin Whence it is also that as the Apostle Peter teacheth vs God according to his godly power hath giuen vnto vs all things that pertaine to life and to godlines through the knowledge of him that hath called vs vnto glory and vertue Whereby or as wee may reade rather in so much as most great and pretious promises are giuen vnto vs that by them wee should be partakers of the diuine or godly nature that is of the renewing of the Image of God in holines and righteousnes as a fruit of this our spirituall communion with God in and through our Lord Iesus Christ in that as it followeth in the Apostle we flee the corruption that is in the world through lust Read also to this purpose Iohn ch 14. v. 16 c. 26. and so forth For these are those pretious promises which the Apostle Peter speaketh of which are the cause also of these so great effects The Duties according to that of the Apostle Iohn 1. Epist 1.3.4 and chap. 4.16 And all these haue their foundation in the conception and incarnation of Iesus Christ the verie true Sonne of God our Lord. Yet so as the confirmation and ratifying thereof hath a necessary and further reference not only to his birth and life but also euen to his death and thenceforth to his sitting at the right hand of God the Father in his diuine maiesty and glory O most blessed and happy time therefore that euer in Christ Iesus this only begotten Sonne of God our humane nature was thus gloriously vnited to the diuine nature by a most sacred bond neuer thenceforth to be dissolued againe that he might for euer be Immanuel God with vs and an euerlasting redeemer and Sauiour vnto vs. Thus much concerning the Comforts of faith in respect of this Article THe duties which ought to arise from the same Comforts are in the next place to be considered of vs. Question Which are they Answere First wee are to take diligent heede that we doe conceiue nothing carnally or corruptly but most purely and holily of this conception of our Sauiour the which though it was very naturall in the effect as touching the Virgin Marie and the humane nature of our Sauiour yet in the manner it was most heauenly and diuine in respect of the holy Ghost Secondly it is our dutie to esteeme most reuerendly of it blessing God alwaies with most thankefull hearts for his great mercie in reuealing this most secret and comfortable mystery vnto vs. Thirdly it may iustly admonish vs to humble our selues in the acknowledgment of our own natural and sinful corruption in the ordinarie course of our conception Fourthly hereby we may learne that without our Sauiour Christ our profane nature could by no meanes haue beene perfectly sanctified to God We may learne also from this consideration to beleeue in the holy Ghost as in God our sanctifier in so much as he had so diuine a hand in the chiefe meanes of our sanctification and whole redemption Finally we may iustly put our selues in minde from hence to sooke for our sanctification and all increases thereof by vsing those meanes onely which the holy Ghost hath sanctified to that holy end and purpose We may well doe so indeede But let vs see some particular proofes from point to point Explicatiō and proofe in order For the first point that which wee reade Iohn 3.6 may afford vs a good proofe in that our Sauiour himselfe saith That which is borne of the spirit is spirit For seeing he speaketh so of our spirituall regeneration it may much rather be affirmed that his conceiuing of our Sauiour was euery way most spirituall pure and holy For the second we haue Elizabeth for a notable example in that she reioiced at the conception of our Sauiour blessing the fruit of Maries wombe and God for reuealing it vnto her many months before it was borne Wee haue likewise the example of Marie her selfe who praiseth God and reioyceth in her Sauiour while yet he was in her wombe And thus from them wee may perceiue that we ought not to thinke reade or heare of the conception of our Sauiour but it ought iustly to be a matter of great ioy and thankfulnes euen to this day and for euer so long as the world shall endure Touching the third It is an euident conuiction of mans naturall corruption seeing our Sauiour who was to be pure from his conception might not be conceiued by humane generation For that which is borne of the flesh is flesh that is to say it is corrupt and sinfull as our Sauiour teacheth in the 3. chap. of Iohn the former part of the 6. verse before alledged According to the fourth point our Sauiour is called our holines and so is made vnto vs as it were by the hand of the holy Ghost as wee saw it plainely testified before 1. Cor. 1.30 The danger of not beleeuing this Article For the fift point reade Iohn cha 3. verse 3. and 5. Except a man he borne againe of water and of the spirit he can neither see nor enter into the kingdome of God Reade also 1. Pet. 1. verses 2. and 22. And 2. Thes 2.12 For the last point reade forward in the 14. verse of the same chapter And 1. Cor. ch 12. verse 3. and 13. For the word and sacraments are speciall meanes of our sanctification Reade also 1. Ioh. ch 17. verse 17. Eph. 5.25 26 27. and Tit. 3.5 Hauing thus seene the ground of this Article as also the meaning the promise comforts and duties the last thing to be considered according to our order is the danger of not beleeuing in our Sauiour Christ conceiued by the holy Ghost and thereby taking the true nature of man of the substance of the Virgin Marie Question WHat therefore is the danger of it They that beleeue not in our Sauiour Christ conceiued such manner of one as he was Answere and of necessitie must be can neither beleeue rightly in Iesus Christ either brought into the world or liuing in the world or going out of the same againe and consequently can haue no fruit or benefit by him It is very true The whole doctrine of faith is so nearely knit and lincked together Explication and proofe in all the parts of it as linkes in a golden chaine that the latter is not perfit and effectuall to the beleeuer without the faith of the former nor the former but in respect of the latter The diuine nature
teaching he doth very elegantly and plainely sit many notable similitudes and parables As for example by the parable of a certaine Lender who had two debtors Luke 7.39 c. he reproueth the rash and vnaduised iudgement of a Pharisie By a parable of the Plough-man looking backe he reproueth lightnes and inconstancy chap. â— 62 By the parable of a certaine rich man he reproueth couetousnes trust in riches ch 12.15 c. Likewise 16.13 by a parable of one that should take vpon him to serue two Masters he reproueth the same and sheweth the impossibility of it And chap. 13.6 c. by a parable of a barren figtree he reproueth all vnfrutfulnes in those which do professe the name of God as also that hainous abuse which all such doe make of Gods long sufferance and patience toward them And ch 16. verse 19 c. by a parable of the rich man and Lazarus he doth reproue and condemne vnmercifulnes in all rich men And ch 18.9 c. he doth by a parable of the Pharisie and Publicane reproue and condemne likewise the prowd opinion of iustification by mans owne works Contrariwise by a parable of guests bidden to a wedding he teacheth and exhorteth to humilitie ch 14.7 c. And likewise by a parable of a Master and his seruant ch 17.7 c. To continuance and watchfulnes in good duties our Sauiour moueth and perswadeth by a parable of men waiting to light their Masters home in the night from a marriage feast ch 12.35 36 37 38. And againe ver 39 40 c. by a parable of the Master of a family who watcheth against the comming of a theefe By the parable of a certaine warie and prouident Steward he commandeth and exhorteth all christians to mercifulnes and liberality to the poore ch 16.1 c. And ch 12.58.59 he exhorteth to speedie reconciliation from a similitude of one that hath gotten out an attachment for his debtour and hath already done him the arrest c. These are part of the parables whereby our Sauiour Christ hath partly giuen admonition and warning against vice and partly hath exhorted to godlines and vertue We haue alledged them out of the Euangelist Luke because he is most plentifull in this kinde of record Yet we must in no wise thinke that our Sauiour exhorteth thus to the duties of holines and righteousnes commanded in the law as though any might obtaine righteousnes thereby to their iustification before God for that is contrary to his expresse doctrine according to that parable of the vnprofitable seruant Luk. 17.10 but onely to declare our thankfulnes to God for his free grace and mercy toward vs by all good fruits of obedience so farre forth as by his grace we may attaine vnto As touching our iustification before God our Sauiour teacheth vs plainely that Moses the immediate giuer of the Law from the hand of God and all the holy Prophets who were the faithfull interpreters thereof doe in that respect direct all to looke vnto our Sauiour Christ himselfe according to that of our Sauiour Iohn 5.46 Had ye beleeued Moses ye would haue beleeued me for he wrote of me c. And verse 39. he saith more generally of the holy Scriptures They testifie of me And Luke ch 24.44 All things must be fulfilled which are written of me in the law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalmes Reade also Iohn 3.14 15. and ch 8.24 Thus much therefore for a taste of the most excellent and perfect doctrine of our Sauiour Christ concerning the law of God WEe come now to giue a like taste of his most holy and perfect doctrine concerning the Gospel And herein first more generally concerning Faith and Repentance and then more particularly concerning euery Article Secondly concerning Prayer Thirdly concerning the Sacraments Fourthly concerning the externall ecclesiastical gouernment of his Church For if we shall see plaine and full grounds for these things in the doctrine of our Sauiour wee shall haue sufficient ground to beleeue and acknowledge the perfection of his doctrine such as is recorded in the historie of his Gospel First therefore more generally concerning Faith our Sauiour Christ doth notably describe the nature of Faith and therewithall teacheth also the necessitie of it in so much as without faith none can be saued no more then a man can be nourished without bodily foode Iohn 3.18 and chap 6 3â— c. in a large disputation with the Iewes by a comparison taken from Manna and vnder the tropicall speeches of eating his fleshâ— and drinking of his blood Secondly he teacheth the excellencie of faith as of that grace which is specially well pleasing vnto God Iohn chap 6. verse 29. This is the worke of God saith our Sauiour that yee beleeue in him whom he hath sent And chap 3 14.15.16.17 the excellencie of it is noted in that this grace alone apprehendeth saluation And chap 7 50. Thy faith hath saued thee Moreouer it is through saith that our pâ—aiâ—rs are auailable with God Mark 11.24 And ch 9 23. To him that beleeueth saith our Sauiour all things are possible Thirdly â—o the end he might the rather stirre vp all to a carefull seeking after this gâ—ace and to continuance and abiding in it he telleth vs that it is rare and shall be found nothing so common as men in outward profession doe make shewe of it Luke chap 18.8 The doctrine of our Sauiour concerning Repentance is first that it is a grace arising from the apprehension of Gods comfortable grace and mercy through our Sauiour Christ as it may appeare Matth 4 17 Amend your liues saith he for the kingdome of God is at hand Wherein also our Sauiour giueth to vnderstand that it is a necessarie grace as it were the pathway to the kingdome of heauen And Luke 13.3.5 Except yee repent ye shall all perish Wherefore as our Sauiour teacheth further it was a speciall end of his comming to call sinners â—o repentance Mat 9.13 And chap 18.11 c. where he laieth it forth by a parable of the Shepheard who is exceedingly carefull to seeke vp his sheepe which he hath lâ—st In which respect also our Sauiour preferreth most grieuous sinners repenting them of their sinnes before the goodliest hypocrits that are in the world as we read Mat chap 21. verse 28 c. where our Sauiour laieth in forth in the parable of the two sonnes And chap 25.10.11.12.13 by the parable of the fiue foolish Virgines He preferreth them also before all secure and negligent â—â—â—deâ—bles such as we spake of before from the Euangelist Mat chap 22.12 In the which part of the parable our Sauiour seemeth to allude to some such custome among the Iewes as is among vs in giuing bride-laces or bride-gloues or some other thing whereby the guests of the bridegroome are for the time knowne from other Finallie for the incouragement of sinners to repentance our Sauiour teacheth by many parables one after another
is so manifold and great it is our duty Answer first of all to esteeme most highly and pretiously of the grace and vertue of it Secondly to labour earnestly that we may be partakers of the same grace or vertue and power Thirdly from the same power to indeuour to walke in all holy obedience to God in euery Christian duty Explicatiō That wee are thus both most highly and pretiously to esteeme of the vertue and power of the resurrection of our Sauiour and likewise most earnestly to seeke to apprehend it by faith the example of the Apostle Paul Phil 3. may be a sufficient proofe and inducement vnto vs both so to thinke and also to be earnest imitators and followers of him And in deede vnlesse wee doe with him carrie the same iudgement how can we drawe with him in the like yoake of affection Now touching a particular indeuour to walke in euery good dutie of obedience to God as a fruite of this power of the resurrection of our Sauiour Christ apprehended by faith it is good for vs to consider that the holy Apostles doe euery where hold forth the same as a reason of singular force to stirre vp the hearts of all Christians to minde repentance from all dead workes and to prouoke to the contrarie duties of godlines And namely for one instance 1. Corinth 15. the last verse of the chapter where so soone as the Apostle had professed thanks to God for this vnspeakeable comfort which the resurrection of our Sauiour affordeth he annexeth this exhortation forthwith Therefore my beloued bretheren be ye stedfast vnmoueable and aboundant alwayes in the worke of the Lord for as much as ye know that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. And Acts 2.38 after that the Apostle Peter hath layed open and confirmed the article of the resurrection he doth immediatly exhort and incourage vnto repentance And chap. 3.15.19 And the Apostle Paul againe chap. 13.30 c. 40.41 And Rom. 6 9.10.11.12 c. And 2. Cor. 5 15. And Coloss 3.1 c. 5. For sanctification as was noted before is very neerely linked vnto iustification Heereunto therefore we ought as the Scriptures doe speake to rise early in the morning with all cheerefulnes of heart and spirit euen as our Sauiour Christ did preuenting as it were the morning watch that he might manifest and make knowne that good hand which hee had in his so speedy a victorie ouer the dominion of the graue and of death and hell And this also ought to giue vs singular incouragement not onely to fight manfully against sinne and all the confederates thereof the flesh the world and the diuell but also with good hope of prosperous successe to seeke after mighty increases in godlines Neither let it be a small comfort and incouragement vnto vs to bethinke our selues that according to the ordinance of our Sauiour himselfe we doe together with the exercises of our Christian religion euery Lords day celebrate as it is meete the memoriall of the blessed resurrection of our Sauiour and of the restauration of the world by him partly alreadie begun and to be fully perfitted in time to come And in trust of this mercy of our God also let vs not cease to pray continually in this barren and dead time of godlines wherein wee liue for a new spring and resurrection in mens mindes to the zeale of the Gospell as a fruite of this resurrection of our Sauiour Christ Finally let all our life long in the premeditation of our resurrection at the last day by the vertue of his resurrection to euerlasting life and of that perpetuall feast of the Lambe which wee are inuited vnto be nothing else The danger of not beleeuing this article but a carefull addressing and preparing of our selues both soules and bodies against that great day that then wee may be partakers of a ioyfull resurrection and so liue for euer with him Amen These thinges in deede are to be further enforced vpon our consciences from the Articles following which doe set forth the further exaltation of our Sauiour but because as was said in the comforts the resurrection is the first and most familiar inducement heereunto therefore the exhortation vnto these duties might not be pretermitted here ANd now that we may fully finish the doctrine of this article What danger is there in not beleeuing the very naturall and bodily resurrection of our Sauiour Christ and not in yeelding that fruit of obedience Question which it most worthily challenged at our hands Answer If any doe not beleeue this Article of the resurrection of our Lord Iesus Christs true and naturall body his death shall profit them nothing but they shall die in their sinnes And further also as touching those that be not through the vertue of our Sauiours resurrection partakers of the first resurrection of their soules from the death of sinne they shall neuer be partakers of the resurrection of their bodies to euerlasting life by him at his second comming Explication For the proofe of this reade first of all 1. Cor. 15.12.13.14.15.16.17.18 Where the holy Apostle maketh the resurrection of our Sauiour Christ the ground and foundation of ours yea so the ground that they are as one would say coincident and of the nature of relatiues in a certaine sort For insomuch as our Sauiour Christ who is the head of his Church is bodily raysed vp it cannot be but the members of this mysticall body must be made conformable that is they must be likewise raised vp and vnited vnto him or else he should be as a head without a body And likewise insomuch as our Sauiour Christ is raysed vp to be a King and a Prince ouer his Church for euer his subiects also must be raised vp or else hee could not haue subiects of the same nature and kind with himselfe to rule add gouerne A King who is a man must be a King of men and not of beasts yea of men and not of spirits or ghosts c. It is so in this world it shall be so in the world to come as touching the Kingdome of our Sauiour Christ For as hee shall retaine the whole nature of man for euer and euer so hee shall rule ouer men consisting of soules and bodies euen as ouer his naturall brethren Answerable after a sort to that which the people saide to Dauid 2. Sam. 15.1 Beholde wee are thy bones and thy flesh And as our Sauiour himselfe sheweth plainely concerning himselfe in his message sent by Marie Magdalen Iohn 20.17 though hee be in another state and condition then wee are in nowe and is so to continue euen world without any end And therefore the holy Apostle after that he hath noted diuers grosse and hereticall absurdities accompanying the deniall of the resurrection of Christ 1. Cor. 15. hee addeth verse 17.18 If Christ be not raysed your faith is in vaine ye are yet in your sinnes And so they who are
with a religious worship as though the Angel shuld by his exaÌ„ple practise teach vs that we are vsuallie to pray to her to praise her saying Haile Marie full of grace c. But it is more then absurd that the extraordinarie salutation of the Angel fitted appropriated to his present message wherby he magnifieth the greatnes of Gods singular mercie in vouchingsafe to appoint Marie to so honourable a seruice as no creature was euer worthie to be vsed vnto it is more then absurd I say that it should be so superstitiously peruerted to an vsuall praier to be babled out of the mouth of euerie childe and to be mumbled vpon the beades of euerie ignorant sotte in wordes of a language vnknowen to the most of them that doe so vse it and in a false translation and sense by â—hose that haue any vnderstanding of them But some will say doth not the Vir Mary her self speaking by the holie Ghost say that all the nations of the earth shal call her blessed It semeth therfore that she prescribeth or at the least prophecieth that ther shuld a certain religious honor be yeelded vnto her Question in the whole Church of God May it not be thought so It canot be thought so Answer of any that do rightly vnderstand the meaning of the holy Virgin Why Question what was her meaning then Answer She vnderstanding by the salutation and speech of the Angel what a singular blessing God of his free grace minded to bestow vpon her in that he appointed her to be the Mother of our Lord Iesus Christ yea she considering also knowing by the Spirit of prophesie that shee should in this respect be accounted to be blessed aboue other women in the whole Church of God from generation to generation shee doth from the same consideration prouoke her owne heart to be the more thankfull vnto God ExplicatioÌ„ proofe It is verie true The blessed Virgin doth in no wise take vpon her to prescribe a lawe which shee knewe well she had no power to doe Neither could it agree with that holie modestie which was in the virgin so to do And if God had minded to set downe such a lawe as should haue prescribed anie religious worship to be done to her hee would haue commanded that by the mouth of any other rather then by her owne The truth therfore is this that shee from the most dutiful thankfulnes of her heart doth iudge it verie vnreasonable that she herselfe should be vnthankfull to God when all other should be thankfull Nay rather shee considereth in her mind that she herselfe ought to excell all other in thanksgiuing and all the dayes of her owne age to blesse the Lord for so inestimable a blessing bestowed vpon her yea and to set downe a memoriall and monument of that praise which God gaue her grace most dutifullie to yeeld and ascribe vnto him We doe as ye well know vsually account those blessed and happie women which bring forth such children as proue good and profitable instruments to glorifie God in his Church And it is a great blessing of God indeede Beliefe in God the Sonne who led a most holy iust life full of teÌ„ptations and sufferings Much more therfore yea aboue comparison The grouÌ„d and history of it must wee account the Virgine Marie most blessed of God in that shee was preferred before all other women to be the Mother of that Sonne of God who was not onelie an instrument of God in that hee was man but also the Diuine author and fountaine of saluation and all blessing to the whole Church of God in that being God he assumed and tooke our humane nature of the Virgin Mary to the same end And therfore also to the ende we may vnderstand the thanks-giuing of the blessed Virgine the better and therwithall in what respectes we are to esteeme and call her blessed we are to consider that she is not onely thankfull to God for that it pleased him to make her the Mother of our Sauiour but chieflie for that saluation which he gaue her grace to apprehend by faith in him as the words of her owne thanks-giuing doe giue vs plainely to vnderstand And thus I trust wee haue simplie the true reasons why the name of the Virgine Marie is mentioned in our Creed agreable to that further declaration thereof which wee hauâ—â—n the holie Scriptures As for all popish fictions like as they came into the Church either by craftie conveiance or else by violent intrusion against the good leaue of the word of God so haue we good leaue yea a streight commandement from the word not onely to leaue them but euen with all the disgrace that may be to thrust them out againe as it were by the head and shoulders And God himselfe of his infinite mercie by his owne scourge vouchsafe to whip such intruders and deceiuers out of his holie Temple for euer euen for our Lord Iesus Christes sake Amen Beliefe in God the Sonne who led a most holie and iust life full of temptations and sufferings THis thus obserued in way of an appendix to the article of our Sauiours natiuitie and birth of the Virgine Marie Question What followeth now in the Articles of our beliefe Answere It followeth that the same our Sauiour suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried So it followeth in deed immediatlie after the former words Borne of the Virgine Marie ExplicatioÌ„ Neuerthelese in so much as ther are three speciall things to be knowne and beleeued of vs according as they are recorded in the holie Scriptures betwixt the birth of our Sauiour and his sufferings vnder Pontius Pilate To wit 1. his education and life 2. his doctrine and thirdly his miracles the which the articles of our Beliefe in so great shortnes as was propounded in it in regard of the common weakenesse of memorie could not in any commodious manner set downe it shall be therefore to good purpose in this more large collection of the doctrine of faith to inquire of them before wee come to his sufferinges vnder Pontius Pilate Wherevnto that wee may the rather perswade our owne heartes Let vs I pray you earnestlie consider that wheras the historicall reporte of the liues of other men of anie speciall worth or note in common account are willinglie read and obserued as it is meete they should yea and not onely the report of the liues of the holie seruantes of God but also of many among the heathen such as Plutarch and other learned writers haue gathered together Much more willing yea aboue comparison more willing ought wee to be to reade heare and continuallie to meditate of the most worthie and memorable life of our most blessed Sauiour the onely true and perfect mirrour of all vertue as we shall by the grace of God from pointe to pointe obserue Ther are indeed many excellent things set downe in the historicall narration of the
liues of some among the heathen for their ciuile iustice and liberalitie for their bodilie chastitie and temperance for their fortitude stout courage in defence of the publique weale c but all were in them but shadowes of vertues and no true and holie vertues indeed if they be compared with the vertues which God by his holie Spirit of sanctification wrought in the hearts of manie of his people Neuertheles albeit the liues of the holie seruantes of God chieflie of them that are recorded in the holie Scriptures be much more profitablie to be read considered then any of the heathen men in so much as their vertues were in them the fruits of the holie Ghost as was said and therfore the words works done in truth and not for ostentations sake or in any other sinister and fleshly respect as were those of the heathen yet their liues are not to be cōpared with the life of our Sauiour For in reading the liues of the best of them wee doe meete with manie vnworthie and vncomfortable declinings both on the right hand and on the left which may iustly cause vs to blushe and be ashamed in beholding the corruption of our owne wicked nature represented before our eyes in them But the life of our Sauiour from the beginning to the ende is without anie the least blemish and staine Let vs therfore bend our mindes with the best attention that we may to inquire after this most holie and righteous life of our Sauiour And the rather because whereas the vertues of other men are their owne praise c the vertues of our Sauiour Christ are not onely his owne praise but also his merit and desert for vs in the sight of God as shall be hereafter more fullie obserued in the due place thereof In the meane while we are to obserue concerning the education and life of our Sauiour that it is to be considered of vs by certaine degrees according to some commodious distinction of the yeares of his age partlie concerning the time wherin hee liued a priuate condition of life and partlie concerning the time wherin hee liued in a publike estate or calling And concerning the time of his priuate life we are to consider of it first of all from the time of his Presentation in the Temple vntil about the fourth yeare of his age For of his Circumcision and of the Presentation it selfe wee haue considered alreadie as more nearely appertaining to his Natiuitie and birth Secondlie wee are to consider of it from the fourth yeare to the twelfth of his age Thirdlie of that which is recorded concerning the twelfth yeare Fourthlie from the twelfth yeare to the time that he was thirtie yeares olde at what time his publike estate and condition of life began Fiftlie from the thirtith yeare to the time of his Passion which was about the space of three yeeres and a halfe to be considered from the time of his baptisme vnder the note or marke as it were of foure seuerall Passeouers And herein when once we shall come vnto it we shal haue occasion to consider after what manner our Sauiour was made knowne to the people by the ministerie of Iohn the Baptist who was as the Lord said by the Prophet Isaiah the voice of a Crier in the wildernes by the voice of God the Father himselfe from heauen by the descending of the holie Ghost in the visible shape of a doue vpon him and last of all by the execution of his owne most holie ministery in preaching his heauenly doctrine and in working his most mightie and gracious miracles But of these also more hereafter It may suffice for the present that we haue an inckling concerning the order wherin we shall by Gods good grace proceed from pointe to pointe NOw therfore in the first place that we may begin frō the time of the Presentation of our Sauiour in the Temple to the fourth yere of his age And therin of his transportation or carying out of the land of Israel into Aegypt of his abode there and of his returne into Israel againe and also of that which fell out in the lande of Israel in the meane time Question What proofe of holie Scripture haue you for the declaration of this parte of his education and life It is notably though briefly described in the second chapter of the Gospel written by the Euangelist Matthew from the 13. verse to the ende of the chapter Quest It is so indeede In which of the verses is his carrying into Aegypt and his abode there testified and described vnto vs by the holie Euangelist Answer In the thirteene fourteene and fifteene Rehearse the wordes of the Text. 13 After their departure that is after the departure of the Wise men of the East countrey Beholde saith the Euangelist the Angel of the Lord appeareth to Ioseph in a dreame saying Arise and take the Babe and his Mother and flie into Aegypt and be there till I bring thee worde for Herode will seeke the Babe to destroye him 14. So he arose and took the Babe and his Mother by night departed into Aegipt 15 And was there vnto the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophet saying Out of Aegypt haue I called my Sonne In these wordes is contained indeed the holie historie both of the carrying of our Sauiour into Aegypt Explicatiō and proofe and also of the recarrying or bringing of him backe againe into the land of Israel with some notation of that space of time wherin he was there And all as the holie Euangelist saith that the prophesie which wee finde in Hosea the Prophet chapter 11.1 might be fulfilled For seeing God had determined to call our Sauiour his Sonne out of Aegypt it must needes be that he should be first sent into Egypt And beside wee haue in this Scripture a further delaration of the cause of this transporting of our Sauiour which was for that Herod maligning him minded to destroy him in his infancie we haue also a declaration of the means and instrument wherby God reuealed the same and gaue direction and commandement to Ioseph and Marie for the auoiding of his furie Moreouer ther followeth in the same 2. chapt of S. Matthew a like holy declaration of the returne of our Sauiour Christ out of Egypt verses 19.20 c. But betwixt the connexion of this and the former part of the Storie ther is inserted a narration of the lamentable euent which fell out in Israel while our Sauiour was in Aegypt wherin the deepe dissembled and most cruell malice of Herod against him is notablie discouered Question In which words of the text is this narration recorded Answer Verses 16.17 and 18. in these wordes 16 Then saith the Euangelist Herod seeing that hee was mocked of the Wise men was exceeding wroth and sent forth and slewe all the male-children that were in Bethlehem and all the coastes therof from