great blissings vnto our children and posterity from age to age from generation to generation Phila. You haue fully answered my question and well satisfied me therin out of the scriptures yet I pray you giue me leaue to adde one thing vnto that which you haue at large set downe The Lord saith by the Prophet Amos that for their sinnes and rebellions hee had giuen them cleannesse of teeth that is dearth and scarcitie and yet they did not turne vnto him Also hee with-held the raine from them and punished them with drought and yet they did not turne vnto him Moreouer hee smote their Corne their great Gardens their Orchards Vineyardes Figtrees and Oliue-trees with blasting and mildeaw and the Palmer-worme did deuoure them and yet they did not returne vnto him Last of all hee smote them with pestilence and with the sword and ouerthrew them as he ouerthrew Sodome and Gomorrah and they were as a fire-brand pluckt out of the burning yet for all this they did not turne vnto him Yee haue not turned vnto mee saith the Lord. But now to come to the point Out of this I gather that if wee multiply our transgressions God will multiply his plagues vpon vs but on the contrary if wee would vnfainedly turne vnto the Lord our God with all our hearts all plagues should bee staied all dangers preuented and no euill should fall vpon vs. For because they would not turne therefore hee smote them If therefore they had turned hee would not haue smote them But now I pray you briefely conclude this point and declare in few words what it is that doth most materially concerne our peace and publike good Theol. These fewe then briefly I take to be the things which belong to our peace Let Salomon execute Ioab and Shemei Let Iohn and Eliah slay the Priests and Prophets of Baal Let Aaron and Eleazar minister before the Lord faithfully Let Ionas be cast out of the ship Let Moses stand fast in the gap and not let downe his hand Let Iosuah succed him Let Cornelius feare God with all his household Let Tabitha be full of good workes and almes-deeds Let Deborah iudge long in Israel prosper and be victorious Let vs all pray that the light of Israel may not be quenched And this I take to be the summe of all that belongeth to our peace Phila. The summe of all our conference hitherto as I remember may be reduced vnto these few heads First mans naturall corruption hath beene laide open Secondly the horrible fruites thereof Thirdly their euill effects and workings both against our soules and bodies goods name and the whole land Lastly the remedies of all Now therefore I would grow to some conclusion of that which you touched by the way and made some mention of namely the signes of saluation and damnation and declare vnto vs plainely whether the state of a mans soule before God may not by certaine signes and tokens bee certainely discerned euen in this life Theol. Besides those which before haue béene mentioned wée may adde these nine following Reuerence of Gods name Keeping of his Sabbaths Truth Sobrietie Industrie Compassion Humility Chastity Contentation Phila. These indeede I grant are very good signes but yet all of them are not certaine For some of them may be in the Reprobats Theol. What say you then to Saint Peters signes which are set downe in the first chapter of his second Epistle which are these eight Faith Vertue Knowledge Temperance Patience Godlinesse Brotherly kindenesse Loue. Saint Peter saith If these bee in vs and abound they will make vs neither idle nor vnfruitefull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Which is as much as if hée had said they will make vs sound and sincere Professors of the Gospell Phila. All these I grant are exceeding good signes and euidences of a mans saluation but yet some of them may deceiue and an hole may bee picked in some of these euidences I would therefore heare of some such demonstratiue and infallible euidences as no Lawyer can finde fault with For I hold that good Diuines can as perfectly iudge of the assurances and euidences of mens saluation as the best Lawyer can iudge of the assurances and euidences whereby men hold their lands and liuings Theol. You haue spoken truely in that And would to God all the Lords people would bring foorth the euidences of their saluation that wée might discerne of them Phila. Set downe then which be the most certaine and infallible euidences of a mans saluation against the which no exception can bee taken Theol. I iudge these to be most sound and infallible Assured faith in the promises Sinceritie of heart The spirit of adoption Sound Regeneration and Sanctification Inward peace Groundednesse in the truth Continuance to the end Phila. Now you come neare the quicke indeed For in my iudgement none of these can be found truely in any reprobat Therefore I thinke no Diuine can take exception against any of these Theo. No I assure you no more then a Lawyer can finde fault with the Tenure of mens lands and fee-simples when as both the Title is good strong by the law and the euidences thereof are sealed subscribed deliuered conueied and sufficient witnesse vpon the same and all other signes and ceremonies in the deliuering and taking possession thereof according to strickt law obserued For if a man haue these forenamed euidences of his saluation sure it is his Title and interest to heauen is good by the law of Moses and the Prophets I meane the word of God God himselfe subscribeth to them Jesus Christ deliuereth them as his owne déede the holy Ghost sealeth vnto them yea the three great witnesses which beare record in the earth that is water blood and the spirit doe all witnesse the same Phila. Now you haue very fully satisfied me touching this point And one thing more I do gather out of all your speech to wit that you doe thinke a man may be assured of his saluation euen in this life Theol. I doe thinke so indéed For he that knoweth not in this life that he shall be saued shall neuer be saued after this life For S. Iohn saith Now are we made the sonnes of God Phila. But because many doubt of this and the Papists doe altogether denie it therefore I pray you confirme it vnto vs out of the Scriptures Theol. The Apostle saith We know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle bee destroied wee haue a building giuen vs of God that is an house not made with hands but eternall in the heauens Marke that he saith both he and the rest of Gods people did certainely know that heauen was prouided for them For the spirit of adoption beareth witnes with our spirits that we are the children of God And againe the same Apostle saith From henceforth is laid vp for me the crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall
aright or to will and doe aright As it is written Wee are not sufficient of our selues to thinke any thing as of our selues but our sufficiencie is of God And againe It is God which worketh in you both the will and the deed euen of his good pleasure And as concerning the other point S. Iames saith That all men are made after the similitude of God meaning therby that there remaine some reliques and parts of Gods Image euen in the most wicked men as reason vnderstanding c. so that our nature was not wholly destroyed Phila. Then you thinke there be some sparks and remnants left in vs still of that excellent Image of God which was in our first creation Theol. I thinke so indéed and it may plainly appeare vnto vs in the wise spéeches and writings of Heathen Poets and Philosophers in all which wée may as by certaine ruines perceiue what was the excellent frame and building of mans creation Phil. Can a man please God in any thing which he doth so long as he continueth in the state of nature Theol. No not in any thing for till wée be in the state of grace euen our best actions are sinfull as preaching prayer almes déeds c. As it is written Who can bring a cleane thing out of that which is vncleane Iob. 14. 4. The Apostle also saith They which are in the flesh cannot please God that is such as are still in their naturall corruption And our Lord Jesus himselfe saith Doe men gather Grapes of thornes or Figges of thistles Meaning thereby that méere naturall men can bring foorth no fruites acceptable to God Phila. This is a very harsh and hard saying I pray you for my further instruction make it more plaine Theol. Men in the state of nature may doe those things which of themselues are good but they doe vtterly faile in the manner of doing them they do them not as they should be done that is in faith loue zeale conscience of obedience c. neither yet with any chéerefulnesse delight or feeling but euen as it were forcing themselues to doe the outward actions Thus did Cain sacrifice the Pharisies pray Ananias and Sapphira giue almes and the Jewes offer vp their oblations and burnt offerings Phila. Haue men any true sight or liuely and sound feeling of this misery and wofull estate so long as they be meerely naturall Theol. No surely but are altogether blinded and hardened in it being nothing desirous to come out of it but doe greatly please themselues in it and can hardly bée perswaded that they are in any such wofull case as appeareth plainely in the example of that ruler who being commanded or rather required of our Sauiour Christ to kéep the commandements answered All these haue I kept from my youth And againe although the Church of Laodicea was wretched miserable poore blind and naked yet she thought her selfe rich encreased with goods and wanting nothing It followeth then that so long as men are in the state of nature they haue no true sight and féeling of their misery Phila. Do you not thinke that all men being meerely naturall are vnder the curse of the Law Theol. Yea certainly and not only so but also vnder the very tyranny and dominion of Satan though they know it not see it not féele it not or perceiue it not for all that are not in Christ are vnder the curse of the law and the power of darknesse and the diuel as appeareth Ephes 2. 2. where the diuell is called the prince that ruleth in the aire euen the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience In another place he is called the god of this world who blindeth the eies of all vnbeléeuers And againe it is said that all men naturally are in his snare being taken captiue of him at his wil. Phila. Few will be perswaded of that they will say they defie the diuell and thanke God they were neuer troubled with him Theol. Their hot words do nothing amend the matter for the diuell is no more driuen away with words then with holy water but he sitteth in the tongues and mouthes nay possesseth the very hearts and intrals of thousands which say they defie him and are not troubled with him as appeareth manifestly by their particular acttions and the whole course of their life Phila. Me thinkes if the diuell do so inwardly possesle the hearts and consciences of men they should haue some sight and feeling of it Theol. The working of the Diuell in mens soules being an inuisible spirit is with such vnconceiuable sleight and crafty conueiance that men in the estate of nature cannot possibly féele it or perceiue it for how can a blind man sée or a dead man féele Phila. Shew this more plainely Theol. Euen as a crafty Juggler doth so prestigiate and blinde mens outward senses by the delusions of Sathan that they thinke they sée that which they sée not and féele that which they féele not Euen so the diuell doth so delude and bewitch our inward senses the naturall faculties of our soules that we hauing a mist cast before our eies thinke we are that which wée are not sée that which wée sée not and féele that which wée féele not For the déepe cunning of Sathan lieth in this that hée can giue vs our deaths wound and wée shall neuer know who hurt vs. Phila. Few will beleeue this to be true Theol. True indéed for few will beléeue the Scriptures few will beléeue this because few féele it where it is not felt it can hardly be beléeued only the elect do féele it and therefore only the elect do beléeue it As for all others they are the very prentises and bond-slaues of the diuell which is a thousand times worse then to be a galley-slaue Phil. How long do men continue in this wofull state of nature being vnder the curse of the law and the very slauery of Sathan and sinne Theol. Till they be regenerate and borne againe and so brought into the state of grace as our Lord Jesus saith Except a man be borne againe he cannot see the kingdome of God Phila. Do not many die and depart this life before they be borne againe and consequently before they be brought into the state of grace Theol. Yes no doubt thousands for many liue fortie or thréescore yeares in this world and in the end die and goe out of this life before they knowe wherefore they came into it as it is written My people perish for want of knowledge Phila. What may we thinke of such Theol. I quake to speake what I thinke for surely I doe not sée how such can be saued I speake not now of infants and children whereof some no doubt are saued by vertue of the promise couenant through the election of grace Phil. It seemeth then that you thinke none can be saued but those only which are borne againe Theol. I thinke
Pride goeth before destruction and an high mind before the fall Wherein he sheweth that pride is the forerunner of some deadly down-fall either by disgracing or displacing For it is an old and true Prouerbe Pride will haue a fall And oftentimes when men are most lifted vp then are they néerest vnto it as the examples of Haman Nabuchadnezzar and Herod do plainely declare When the Milt swelleth the rest of the body pineth away Euen so when the heart is puft vp with pride the whole man is in danger of destruction Moreouer the holy ghost saith The Lord will destroy the house of the proud Iob saith of such kinde of men The sparke of his fire shall not shine feare shall dwell in his house and Brimstone shall be scattered vpon his habitation And in another place he saith The fire which is not blown shal deuoure him Me thinketh therefore if there were any sparke of grace in vs these terrible spéeches of the holy ghost might serue to humble vs and pull downe our pride especially sith the Scriptures doe affirme that God resisteth the proud and setteth himselfe exprofesso against them therfore wo vnto them for if God take against a man who can reclaim him for he doth whatsoeuer he wil. Phil. But tell me I pray you when you speake against pride what pride it is that you meane Theol. I meane all pride both that which is inward in the heart that also which breaketh out in mēs forheads I mean that which apparantly sheweth it self in mens words works Phila. Do you mean also pride of mens gifts Theo. Yes surely for there is no pride worse or more dangerous then that Beware saith one of spiritual pride as to be proud of our lerning wit knowledge reading writings sermons praiers godlines policy valor strength riches honor birth beauty authority For God hath not giuen such gifts vnto men to the end they should make sale-ware of them and set them a sunshining to behold seking only themselues with their gifts the vaine praise of the multitude and applause of the people so robbing God of his honor and proudly arrogating to themselues that which is due vnto God which is the praise of his gifts But he hath giuen his gifts to an other end namely that we should vse them to his glory and the good of others either in church or common-wealth especially of those which doe most concerne vs. Phila. Yet we see commonly men of greatest gifts are most proud Theol. True indéed For the finest cloth is soonest stained And as wormes ingender sooner in soft and tender wood than in that which is more hard and knotty and as moths do bréed sooner in fine wool then in course flocks Euen so pride and vaine-glory doe sooner assault an excellent and rare man in all kinde of knowledge vertue then an other of meaner gifts And therefore pride is said to spring out of the ashes of all vertues For men will be proud because they are wise learned godly patient humble c. Pride therefore may very fitly be compared to the crab-stock speins which grow out of the root of the very best apple-trée Therefore to say the truth this is one of the last engines and weapons which the diuell vseth for the ouerthrowing of Gods owne children euen to blow them vp with pride as it were with gunpowder For as we sée it come to passe in the siedge of strong holdes when no battery or force of shot will preuaile the last remedy and policy is to vndermine it and blow it vp with traines of gun-powder so when Sathan can no way preuaile against some excellent seruants of God his last deuice is to blow them vp with pride as it were with gunpowder Phila. I see it is a speciall grace of God for men of great gifts to be humble minded he is an old man of a thousand which excelling in gifts doth excel in humility the more gifts he hath the more humbly he walketh not contemning others but esteeming them better then himselfe For commonly we are the woorse for Gods gifts because we haue not the right vse of them and againe because they ingender so much proud flesh in vs that we had need daily to be corzied Therefore God sheweth great fauour mercy to that man whom he humbleth and taketh downe by any afflictions or infirmities whatsoeuer For otherwise it is sure proud flesh would altogether ouergrow vs. Theol. You haue spoken the truth for the Apostle himselfe confesseth that he was tempted and troubled this way had like to haue béene puffed vp out of measure with the abundance of his reuelations but that God in great mercy sent him a cooler and a rebater to wit a pricke in the flesh which he calleth the messenger of sathan whereby the Lord cured him of his pride And euen so doth he cure many of vs of our pride by throwing vs to sathan leauing vs to our selues and giuing vs ouer to commit some grosse euill euen to fal downe and breake our neckes and all to the end he may humble vs tame vs and pull down our pride which he séeth we are heart-sicke of It is good for vs therefore to be humble in the abundance of graces that we be not proud of that which we haue or that which we haue done For humility in sinne is better then pride in well doing Phila. Heerein surely appeareth the great wisdome and mercy of God that he so gratiously wringeth good out of euill and turneth our afflictious infirmities fals and downe-fals to his glory and our good Theo. It is most true For euen as of the flesh of a Uiper is made a soueraigne medicine to cure those which are stung of a Uiper and as Physitians expell poison with poison so God according to his maruellous wisdome doth of the infirmities which remaine in vs after regeneration cure other more dangerous diseases as pride vaine-glory and presumption Oh blessed therefore be his name for euer which thus mercifully causeth all things to worke together for the good of his owne people of whom these things are specially to be vnderstood Phila. Is there no cause why men of great gifts should glory in their gifts Theo. No surely none at all For the Apostle saith Who separateth thee And what hast thou that thou hast not receiued If thou hast receiued it why boastest thou as though thou haddest not receiued it Where the Apostle plainely sheweth that no man is to be proud of his gifts because they are none of his own he hath but receiued them to vse We count him worthy to be laughed at as a foole who hauing borrowed braue apparell of others as a silke gown a satten doublet a chaine of gold veluet bréeches c. should proudly iet in the stréets in them as if they were his owne Euen so they are worthy to be Chronicled for fooles which are proud of good gifts which are none of