gracious it doth not of necessitie follow that Iohn was the most gracious of al the Apostles though hee were most beloued Againe as our loue must bee extendent to all saints so also must it be to all times we must loue them aswell when they are in aduersity disgrace temptation sicknesse or any misery as when they abound in prosperitie or good estimation c. For the third this loue is without dissimulation it is indeede and trueth not in word or appearance onely And besides it is a most affectionate and brotherly loue Lastlie there are sixe effects of true christian loue for it shewes it selfe First by honor and this honoring of them that feare the Lord hath in it First an estimation of them as the onely excellent people in the world Secondly a free acknoweledgement of their iust praises in all places for their grace and obedience Thirdly a willing proposing of them as examples to imitate Fourthly a holy endeauour to couer their infirmities taking things in the best part and sence not receiuing disgracefull reports of them suffering long not vauâ—ting themselues in comparison of them not easily prouoked not enuying them hoping all things induring all things and yet not reioycing in their iniquity Fiftly Apology for them against the reproches and scornes of the world Sixthly by delight in their fellowship and society in the Gospell in which respect they can be equall to them of the lower sort Such as finde no need of nor delight in the company of Gods children or are willing to sort with none but their betters or equals may see great cause to bee humbled either for the want of this grace or for the weakenesse of it Thirdly by simpathy and fellow-feeling for in some measure a childe of God is like affectioned He can in some measure weepe with them that weepe and reioyce with them that reioyce especially they reioyce to heare or know their soules prosperity Fourthly by weldoing mercy this loue is bountifull pittifull tender hath bowels both of spirituall and outward mercy it gladly receaueth the saints it communicates to their necessitie willinglie and with a readie minde Fiftly by a desire to walke in offensiuely he that loueth his brother there is no occasion of stumbling or scandall in him Lastly the true loue of Gods children will make a man grow vp the faster into Iesus Christ in all grace and holinesse 5. Faith INasmuch as there are diuers kinds of faith and experience shewes in many that giue no signes of repentance that they will not bee beaten from a confident perswasion that Christ died for them euen for them in particular It stands vs in hand to try our perswasion by the true rules of scripture and if it will abide the triall of the touchstone we may lay it vp as hid treasure and a wonderfull grace of God and if otherwise we may repent of presumption as a deceaueable sinne Faith may be tried 1. By the Cause 2. By the Properties 3. By the Concomitants 4. By the effects For the first true faith commeth by the hearing of the word preached It is no naturall endowment nor gotten by naturall helpes But first is wrought by the holyghost in the preaching of the Gospell as is plaine by the Apostle How shal they beleeue in him of whom they haue not heard and how shall they heare without a Preacher Secondly there are 6. properties of faith First it accounts all things most base in Comparison of the knowledge of Christ and the loue of God in him Christ is more precious then all the world besides Secondly it will receaue the testimony of Gods faithfull Ministers out of the world against the world Thirdly it is such a perswasion as cannot abide hipocrisy but purgeth the heart of it as of a most hatefull sinne and is therefore called vnfained Fourthly it will endure triall cast it into the fire of tribulation and manifold afflictions and disgraces and temptations yet it will not perish nor be ashamed it is a plate for the breast and a helmet for the head 1. Thess. 5. 8â— Eph. 6. Whereas the best faith that is not the faith of Gods elect will proue but drosse if it be cast into the furnâ—ce of temptation further then it is supported by carnall ends and helpes Fiftly it will beleeue all things that it apprehendeth to be required threatned or promised in the word to belieue some things may be in other kindes of faith especially such things as stand with reason affecting common opinion c. Sixtly in affliction it laieth hold on Gods promise or prouidence so as it will rest with quietness trust and patience and not make hast to the vse of euill and vnwarranted meanes he that beleeueth maketh not hast Thirdly it may bee tried by the concomitants of it for First it is â—ealed by the holy spirit of promise for in euery beleeuer the promised spirit doth print in his heart the sauing graces of Christ from the sight of which as from so many markes compared with Gods promises in his word ariseth by the effectuall working of the spirit this assurance or perswasion of faith for though grace and faith bee giuen together and grow vp together yet the assurance of faith discouers not it selfe till it discerne those companions of it with which it is daily incouraged and confirmed and setled that faith that can be without sanctification of the spirit is not the faith of Gods elect Secondly it is ioyned with a good and pure conscience Hee that is truly perswaded of Gods loue in Christ maketh conscience of all his wayes to seeke or doe thee good God requires and auoyde the euils God forbids Thirdly it is ioyned with a spirit of discerning or wisdome in matters of saluation the minde being enlightened to obserue in some comfortable measure the meaning of the holy ghost in all things needefull to saluation in vse of the word through the power of Gods ordinances so as the verie simple may and doe attaine to a holy kinde of insight and sharpenesse of iudgement Fourthly The true beleeuer hath a witnesse in himselfe euen the witnesse of the spirit of adoption infallible certifying himselfe of Gods loue and his adoption Fifthly faith may be discerned by certaine effects of it for 1. It breedeth ioy vnspeakeable and glorious and that either through the sence of Gods sauour and your presence or in the hope of glorie to come 2. It puts on and applies a righteousnesse that is not by the worke of the same but in Christ onely 3. It will make a man speake in the confession profession and defence of the truth of God I haue beleeued therefore I spake 4. It workes the longing desires of Gods presence of glorie 5.
rest we must labour after and without which we can hardlie haue true assistance that our sorrowes are right First it is inquisitiue it is a hard thing to make sorrow silent and hee that is truelie pricked in his heart cannot with contentment smother his doubts hee will aske the way to Sion and cannot rest till he haue knowne what to doe to be saued those that finde so little to aske and can be so silent in the presence of Gods seruaunts by whom they might bee directed may suspect their sorrowes Secondlie it must not rest in the beginnings or probabilities or hopes or others good opinions or the mending of manie things but a Christian that is truelie humbled will repent stil though he haue turned that is he is so fearefull of being deceiued through the corruption of his owne heart and the wils of Sathan that he will constantlie hold on to confesse and bewaile his sinnes till he may finde assured rest vnto his soule Thirdlie it will admit nothing against God but it makes a man condemne himselfe rather then God when Dauid lay in that mournfull plight that he could finde no comfort night nor daie for a long season and that the question was to be debated whether God had forgotten to bee mercifull c. Hee resolues the fault was in himselfe that it was his infirmitie and that his soule refused comfort Fourthlie it will not rest without cleanenesse godlie sorrow is not water but washing nor euery washing but such as maketh cleane worldlie sorrow may haue much water but cleanseth nothing but godlie sorrow greatlie desireth and loueth puritie Thus of the causes and properties concerning the concomitants there are diuerse things doe accompanie godlie sorrow by which it is discerned for First it is ioyned with a secret trust in the ac-acceptation of God so as no miserie can beate them from the consideration and inward affiance of hope of mercie in the verie disquietnesse of the heart the desire of the soule is to the Lord before his presence though a childe of God be neuer so much cast downe yet hee waits vpon God for the helpe of his countenaunce and in some measure condemnes the vnbeliefe of his owne heart and supporteth himselfe with the hope of the neuer failing compassions of God thus it differs from the sorrowes of Caine and Iudas Secondlie it is ioined with a wonderfull loue of God for hearing of praier it is most deepelie affected with euerie mercie of God felt in praier Dauid loues the Lord because he hath heard his praier at that time when his sorrowes was as the paines of hell Thirdlie it is ioined with a longing after the word Fourthlie it is ioined with a constant desire to glorifie God by a fruitefull profession euerie one that truelie mourneth in Sion is a tree of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord that he may bee glorified Fifthlie it is ioined with a spirit of supplications sorrow that is after God will teach a Christian to pray that could neuer praie before the spirit of compassion is a spirit of supplication Lastlie our sorrowes must be tried by their effects for godlie sorrow First driues vs to a dailie and serious confession of sinne in particular without hiding anie sinne Secondlie it breedes a tender sence of the burthen of sinne neuer doth a Christian feele the heauie loade of sinne as it is sinne till God hath softned his heart by his spirit Thirdlie It workes a mindefulnesse of God and his presence and a deepe impression and thought of good things Fourthlie it causeth a man to sacrifice and deuote himselfe to God Fifthlie it breedes sensiblenesse thankfulnesse for all sorts of mercie Lastlie the Apostle notes seuen effects of Godlie sorrow care apologie indignation feare vehement desire zeale and reueuge 3. Loue to the word IN so much as wicked men especiallie such as are indued with a temporary faith may haue some kinde of affections to the word we must carefullie trie our selues and examine our selues seriously 1. Whether we desire it as our appointed foode constantlie 2. Whether wee loue them that loue the word 3. Whether the loue of the word seperates vs from the wicked 4. Whether we can mourn because others keepe not the word 5. Whether wee loue it aboue all riches and could esteeme it as our heritage 6. Whether it bee our chiefe comfort in affliction 7. Whether in hearing wee receiue it as the word of God and not of men 8. Whether we receiue it in power and much assurance 9. Whether it worke effectually in vs theredresse of our waies and freedome from the bondage of sinne 10. Whether wee loue all the words of God euen the law that with threatning shews vs our sinnes as well as the gospell desiring to hide the word in our hearts that wee might not sinne 11. Whether it be our desire and delight to exercise our selues in it day and night 12. Whether wee can accompt and feele the famine of the word to bee a most bitter crosse 13. Whether wee could bee contented constantlie to labour for it as men doe for the foode that perisheth 14. Whether wee finde a constant sweete taste in it especially in the powerfull preaching of it 15. Whether for the gospell sake we can bee content to denie our reasons affections credits carnall friends pleasures and profits 4. The loue of Gods children OVr loue to the Saints may be tried First by the cause Secondly by the extent Thirdly the manner Fourthly by the effects For the first to loue Gods children because they are begotten of God and for the grace of Gods spirit by which they resemble God or rather for the Lord himselfe desiring to expresse our affections to them because wee doe no good to God himselfe is not found in anie reprobate and so to loue them simplie for the truths sake whereas to loue them for beautie profit companie sake or any naturall or carnall reasons or ends in no signe at all Secondlie hee that truely loues the brethren loues all the brethren hee that loues not all the Saints loues no Saint aright a true Christian hath not the glorious faith of Christ in respect of persons he loues the poorest if he haue true grace aswell as the richest yea he loues the absent aswell as the present yea he loues for the truths sake those he neuer saw yet this hinders not the difference of degrees of loue so as some may be more beloued then others and that by reason of the greater measure of Gods gifts and graces or els by the speciall prouidence of God when the Lord linketh the affection of some Christians in some speciall eminencie of respects and so it is not alwaie needefull that the persons most loued bee most
THE SIGNES OR AN ESSAY CONcerning the assurance of Gods loue and mans saluation gathered out of the holy Scriptures By NICHOLAS BYFIELD one of the Preachers for the Citty of CHESTER 2 COR. 13. 5. Examine your selues whether yee be in the faith proue your owne selues Knowe ye not your owne selues how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates LONDON Printed by IOHN BEALE for IONAS MAN 1614. TO THE TRVELY RELIgious and his most affectionate frend Mistris Iane Ratclife wife to Mr. Iohn Ratclife Esquier Alderman and Iustice of peace late Maior of the Citie of Chester PEace be vnto you and loue with faith from God the father and the Lord Iesus Christ. The impertunitie of diuerse of my hearers and the expectation of many of all sorts together with my desire to yeeld some account of my long vndelightfull leasure haue inclined me to prepare some of my publike and priuate labours for the common view hoping that the abounding respect of my friends will couer the wants and weakenesses which other men will sooner espie Howsoeuer I haue long meditated a worke of greater labour then this ensuing treatise yet in the meane time I haue beene willing to tast the approbation of good men and make my best aduauntage of the censures of the many minded multitude by aduenturing to send foorth these first fruites as a handfull gathered out of the rest Worthie Gentlewoman there are manie reasons induce me to publish these signes vnder your name your singular loue and liking of my ministerie together vvith your reuerent and willing entertainement of faithfull Ministers receiuing them as the messengers of the Churches and the glorie of Christ as partners and fellow helpers walking in the same spirit challengeth from vs some publike testimonie of our acknowledgemeÌ„t of Gods grace and of the ioy vvherewith vve reioyced for your sake besides constant indeauour to make vse of all opportunities for your resolution and direction in the seuerall conflicts and cases of your conscience I haue had occasion fully to know your order and manner of life your desires purposes teares vprightnes your faith your loue your obedience and therfore being assured that you are marked euen with euerie one of these signes vvhy should I not say vnto you as somtimes Iob said of himselfe Behold your signes that the Almightie wil witnesse for you And I am vvell assured that this treatise vvill finde good accesse vnto the hands and hearts of diuers in these parts euen for the loue they beare to you and for the good they novv heare you haue by experience reaped from these Neither had I beene easily drawne to publish these but that hauing occasion in conference with many to make vse of theÌ„ I could hardly satisfie them vvith coppies I spare to alleadge other reasons Novv vvhat remains but that I should beseech you and all those vvho finde by these signes the assurance of Gods eternal loue euen to honour the Lord vvith the continuall sacrifices of praise the fruite of your lips vvith confession to his name oh loue the Lord vvith your whole heart and make his praise glorious and abound more and more in the fruites of sincere life and in all holy and humble conuersation liue by faith and in nothing be carefull but in all things let your requests he made knowne to God vvith thanksgiuing and as you haue receiued mercy faint not neither be descoraged vnder the sence of your infirmities and vvants for they that vvaite vpon the Lord shall renevv their strength the Lord vvill power his spirit vpon your seede his blessing vpon your buds the sunne of righteousnesse vvill arise and there is healing vnder his wings You haue a high Priest that is touched vvith infirmities and therefore you may goe boldly to the throne of grace to seeke grace and mercy to helpe in time of neede the power of God is made knowne in vveakenesse and his grace will be sufficient the Lord keepeth the feete of his Saints and vvill supplie all your vvants vvith his riches in glory Blessed be the Lord that holdeth our soules in life and suffereth not our feeâ—e to be moued Gracious gentlewoman be confident in this that God which hath begun his good worke will performe it till the day of Christ for his foundation remaineth sure and hee euer liueth that maketh intercession for you and the mortall seede abideth and Christ will be Omega as well as Alpha the end as well as the beginning neither feare the reproach of men for there is a hiding place with the Lord from the strife of tongues and he will put to silence those lying lipps that speake such grieuous things so proudly so contemptuously vvaite on the Lord and keepe his waie they shall assuredly make an account to the Iudge of quicke and dead that speake euill of the innocent And the same God and father of mercie that hath directed your heart vnto his loue and refreshed your spirit with the vnspeakeable ioies of his presence finish his owne worke in you and as you haue professed a good profession before many that will witnesse how vnblameably you haue behaued your selfe among them that beleeue so stand fast in the Lord be stil an example of faith and puritie of loue and feruencie of meekenesse and humilitie of tendernesse and harmelesnesse of shamefastnesse and sobrietie of mercie and good workes as becommeth a woman professing godlinesse that they may bee ashamed which shall falsely accuse your good conuersation in Christ keepe the Doctrine you haue receiued seeing you haue learned Christ as the trâ—th is in him Striue to increase in loue and obedience to your husband and care of your chrildren familie and shew all faithfulnesse and diligence in your particular calling Prouoke your kindred and acquaintance vnto repentance faith praier loue fellowship in the Gospell and good workes that thanksgiuing may be giuen by many to God for you Let the word of Christ bee still your guide watch vnto praier receiue them that feare God and make much of such Let patience haue her perfect worke and commit your waies to God and trust in him The Lord make you to abound in loue yet more and more in knowledge and in all iudgement that you may still approue things that are excellent and be blamelesse in the middest of a crooked peruerse people the Lord perfect in you whatsoeuer is vvanting and fulfill the good pleasure of his goodnesse and the worke of your faith with power The Lord increase in you that holy couetousnesse to be with the Lord looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ. Farewell May. 1614. Yours according to the common faith N. BYFIELD A SHORT Treatise concerning Assurance COncerning the assuraunce of Gods fauour three things may be considered of First the proofes Secondly the Lets Thirdly the
signes That a Christian in this life may be infallibly assured of Gods fauour to himself in particular and that hee ought to seeke this assurance as a matter of singular necessity these places of Scripture proue The Apostle Paul chargeth the Corinthians to Examine themselues whether they be in the faith and requireth this prouing of themselues with such earnestnesse that he saith know yee not your owne selues how that Christ Iesus is in you except ye be reprobates As if he would auouch it that a man can neuer haue found comfort of his election till he get this assured knowledge of Gods fauour in Christ. And the Apostle Peter exhorts Christians to vse all diligence to make their calling and election sure whatsoeuer carnall persons speake against it Iob vehemently desires there were a perpetual record of his words when he speaks of his assurance that no man might thinke he spake passionately or vainegloriously He knew that his redeemer liued and that at the last day his very flesh should be raised he should see God with ioy By the spirit of God a Christian knowes the things of God yea to this end haue we receiued this Spirit which is of God that wee might know the things which are freely giuen vs of God yea it searcheth the deepe things of God And in the second of the Corinthians Gods children are said to know their glorification as certainely as by sence and experience they know that their bodies which are their earthlie tabernacles shall bee dissolued so certainely are they assured of the building of God not made with hands eternall in the heauens yea they are alwaies confident herein and therefore Gods seruant are taught to pray for the spirit of wisdome and reuelation that the eyes of their vnderstanding may bee inlightned that they might know the hope of their calling and the riches of their inheritance and the exceeding greatnes of Gods power towards them vpon this assurance Paul knowes whom hee hath beleeued and no afflictions should hinder him but he will settle vpon this perswasion that God will keepe his soul which he hath cōmitted to him against the day of Christ. The Apostle Iohn saith We know that we haue passed from death to life And again ye may know that ye haue eternall life And again we know that wee are of God And the Apostle to the Ephesians saith that in Christ we haue boldnesse and accesse with confidence by faith in him yea the very words of assurance are found in Scripture where it is shewed that we may haue much assurance yea full assurance yea the riches of full assurance and men are earnestly exhorted to vse all diligence to get this full assurance to the end and when it is once had neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor anie other creature should be able to seperate them from this loue of God in Iesus Christ. Le ts THe attainment of the sence power comfort of this assurance is exceedingly hindered in all sorts of people First For many can neuer attaine it beecause they are forestalled with euill opinions about it they thinke it is impossible to be had or it is needelesse or it is presumption to seek it or it would prooue a nurse to security if it were had Secondly in the most common hope serues the turne and supplies presumptuously the roome of this sacred gift Thirdly many heare professe and goe farre in the opinion of others and yet get not assurance because they take not a soūd course for the mortification of the body of sinnes that are passed whereas it is certain assurance can neuer be had till there be some sound course taken in the acknowledgement bewailing and reformation of them Fourthly besides a barraen life is an vncomfortable and vnsetled life and contrariwise to abound in Gods worke hath stedfastnesse and a secret rest of heart as an vnspeakeable companion of it Fifthly Melancholy also that is terrors and griefes of which a man can yeelde no true reason is in diuers a mighty let to the setled assurance they might haue They are so eaten vp with those strong conceits that all the comfort is propounded most anend prooues as water spilt vpon the ground especially when this humor is nourished by some extraordinary distemper of the body Physicke not arguments of Scripture must here be vsed or rather both of them Sixthly the loue of earthly things is another great impediment many professors haue their thoughts and cares so eaten vp with worldlinesse that they cannot seriously hold out to follow the directions requisite to the attainement of assurans This grace requires a minde some way fitted for contemplation It is a knowledge will neuer be had with looking downeward Seuenthly further many are so passionate and froward they can get no rest in their heart when as ful assurance would bee lodged in an humble quiet brest Eighthly Others want assurance because they neglect the meanes of assurance which are the word praier or fellowship in the Gospell Ninthly In some there lodgeth some secret sinne vnrepented of and this either keepes out faith or keepes it downe in the cradle that it can get no strength Lastly assurance is the gift of God and hee bestoweth it on whom hee will The signes generally propounded THere are sixteene infallible signes of a child of God as may appeare by the testimonie of most apparent Scripture First Pouerty of spirit for the poore of spirit are blessed and theirs is the kingdome of heauen Secondly Godly sorrow for it causeth repentance not to be repented off euen such a repentance as is vnto saluation Thirdly the loue of the word for this is a sure comfort in affliction and may quicken a mans heart this is a sauour of life vnto life in them that are saued Fourthly The loue of Gods children for hereby we know wee are passed from death to life because wee loue the brethren Fifthly Faith for god so loued the world that hee gaue his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life Sixthly Vprightnesse of heart for God will giue grace and glorie and no good thing will hee with-hold from them that are vpright in heart Seuenthly The spirit of Adoption For it beareth witnes to our spirit that wee are the sonnes of God and if anie man haue not the spirit of Christ he is not his Eighthly Holy desires For euery one that thirsteth shal haue of the water of life freely if they will heare their soules shall liue and enioy the sure mercies of Dauid they are blessed and they shall be satisfied Ninthly The spirit of praier or supplication for whosoeuer calleth on the name of the Lord shall bee saued 10