mens bare wordes or actions without their intent and meaning wresting or any way peruerting them as the false witnesses against our Sauiour Iewes against Stephen 9. Bearing false witnesse or accusing falsely as Haman against the Iewes Amazia against Amos as also the accusations Amo 7. 10 against our Sauiour Ieremie Paul 10. Lying which is very falshood in word or deede with purpose to deceiue This is a principall sinne of Sathan Ioh. 8. 44. who was a lier from the beginning and the father thereof 11. Vniust or rash arbitrement or giuing iudgement as the Elders against Naboth 12. Malicious accusations not of any conscience to God or for amendment of the partie or good of others but of spite as Doeg 13. Betraying others or their cause craftily vnder pretence of friendshippe or otherwise as the Herodians intended and Iudas delt with our Sauiour 14. Bewraying the secret or infirmitie of our neighbour to his discredit which wee might well haue concealed Mat. 18. 15. 15. Lightly beleeuing flying tales or suspitions Psa. 15. 3. against our brother as Saul against Dauid and the Priestes much more spreading them or adding to them 16. Flattering as Corah and his company did the people and as Absolon or the false Prophets crying peace which is to lay nets for men and to be huntsmen for Sathan 10. Com. Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house wherein the Lord requires our very hearts to be vpright towards our neighbour Here we must examine our hearts how we grow 1. In intertaining only holy thoughts purposes and affections for the good of all men 1. Th. 5. 23 2. In suppressing euill thoughts and motions Zach. 7. 10. that we may neuer giue any consent Rō 7. 7. 20 23. 24. nor take the least delight in thē but labour to the vtter burying of all concupiscence vntill we be perfect in the heauens The glasse of the Gospell or the examination of our faith according to the Articles of faith which containe the summe of the Gospell Rules 1. THe measure of our faith is according to the measure of the power therof in comfort and sanctification 1. Cor. 4. 20 issuing from euery article 2. Tim. 3. 5. except in the time of temptation 2. Cor. 1. 22 2. All the benefits contayned in the articles of faith 2. Cor. 1. 20 are ours in through Christ onely when he is ours 3. Let vs proue our selues therefore whether we are in the faith let vs examine our selues 2. Cor. 1 3. 5 knowe wee not our owne selues how that Iesus Christ is in vs except we be reprobates 4. And if Christ be in vs Rom. ◠10. the body is dead because of sinne but the spirit is life for righteousnesse sake 5. For the Kingdome of God is not in word but in power 1. Cor. 4. 20 6. We must therefore shew our faith out of our workes for as the bodye without the spirit is dead euen so faith without works is dead I am 2. 18. 20. 26. 1. Article I beleeue in God 1. This is my faith that though by nature thorough Adam I the whole Church are Apostates from God Eph. 2. 13. and enemies to him his law yet by grace thorough the secōd Adam Iesus Christ God is our God and we his people reconciled vnto him Heb. 8. 3. to serue him in newnesse of life all our dayes Luk. 1. 74 75. 2. This is my comfort hereof that God is my God and hath sealed mee for himselfe Ioh. 20. 28. 29. and therefore I am most blessed being in such a case Psal. 144. 15. 3. This giues mee further assurance that this my faith is sound because together with this comfort he hath giuē me since I beleeued in his name a heart desirous to depart from all iniquity 2. Tim. 2. 29. Father 1. This is my faith Gal. 3. 22. 26. that though I was a child of wrath yet by grace in Christ I am the child of God Ier. 4. 19. and God my louing father 2. This comfort I receiue hereof that I being thus his child shall lacke nothing because my heauenly father doth tender me much more Mal. 3. 17. then any earthly father his child Esay 46. 15. 16. 3. This is my assurance that my faith herein is sincere Mal. 1. 6. because together with this comfort Mat. 12. 50. I feele my selfe affectioned to reuerence Gal. 4. 5. 6. loue and obey him as my most deare father and am inabled by his spirit to runne to him with boldnesse in al my wants crying Abba oh my father Rom. 8. 15. Almighty This is my faith that though I be weake and vnable to resist my enimies bodilie or spirituall no way able to helpe or prouide for my selfe yet my heauenly father is of all maiesty and power Mat. 8. 2. guiding continually men Angells Psa. 23. 4. deuils and all creatures to serue for his owne glory and the good of his children 2. This comfort I receiue hereof that he doth will continually make all things worke togither for the best vnto mee Rom. 8. 28. not only the holy meanes appointed thereunto 1. Cor. 3. 20 21. 22. but also myne afflictions Acts. 4. 28. yea my greatest enimies Sinnes and Sathan himselfe vntill I be perfected in the Heauens Gen. 50. 20. 3. This also doth further assure mee that he thus works for mee because he hath first shewed the same mighty power quickning and raysing mee vp from the death of sin Eph. 1. 19. 20. which he shewed in raysing my Sauiour from the graue and secondlie for that I haue sensibly felte all things thus working togither for my saluation Maker of heauen and earth 1. This is my faith that though thorow Adam I had lost the right both of heauen and earth and of euery creature so as I could haue no comfort in the vse of thē but terror as an vsurper being cast forth off the earthly paradice Gen. 3. 24. lest as an heire of the curse yet thorough my Sauiour the second Adam Rom. 5. 17. 18. since I truely beleued in him I am restored to a farre better estate Heb. 1. 2. being made in him a right heyre of all Rom. 8. 17. neuer to be cast forth off my inheritance any more 2. This comfort I receiue hereof that heauen is mine and all the ioyes thereof Eph. 2. 6. and that I am set already in the heauēly places in Christ my head who reserues the full fruition for mee And secondly that all the creatures in heauen and in earth bee they good or bad Iob. 5. 23. are at a league with mee 1. Cor 3. 21. 22. 23. to helpe for my good so far as may stand with his glory my saluation and the good of his Church Hos. 2. 18. 3. This is also my assurance that my faith is sincere herein because that
cry Come Lord lesus Apo. 22. 20 come quickly sith hee shall come to mee a most happy Sauiour and not an angry iudge 3. This is also for the accomplishmēt of my assurance 2. Cor. 5. 9. 20. 11. that this my faith is sincere because besides this comfort I labour alwaies to haue a cleare conscience that I may haue boldnesse at that day and can perswade men knowing The terrour of the Lord. 8. Article I beleeue in the holie Ghost 1. This is my faith that the holy Ghost is God 1. Cor. 12. 12. 13. the third person in Trinity sanctinfier and preseruer of his Church Eph. 4. 15 16. 4. 4. knitting the whole church to Christ the head thereof euery mēber one to another 2. This is my comfort that hee will perfect in mee this good worke of sāctification vntill the appearing of Iesus Christ Phil. 1. 6. hauing already so knit mee to Christ my head as I can neuer bee separated 3. This assureth my heart because I haue already receiued the first fruits of this blessed Spirit Rom. 8. 23. 26. whereby I am inabled to sigh wayting for the perfect adoption and to pray with groanes striuing against that corruption in me therefore it is to mee as the seale and earnest of my inheritance against the day of glory 2. Cor. 1. 22. 9. Article The holy catholike Church 1. This is my faith that God hath alwayes a chosen flocke Esa. 59. 21 not onely of those who triumph already in the heauens Rō 11. 3. 4. but euen militant here in the earth Mat. 28. 19 vniuersally scattered Mar. 16. 15. all which he hath ordained to eternall life Ioh. 4. 21. 22. 23. by his sonne Iesus Christ to whom all his promises appertaine Mat. 28. 29. 10. 14. hauing these principall markes Luk. 10. 16 a cheerefull submission to the word and sacraments outwardly Act. 2. 42. 46. and holy affections inwardly according to the same Mat. 7. 23. proceeding from this holy faith though the number of them haue beene very small in the most florishing ages of the church and those ordinarily of the baser sort 1. Cor. 1. 26 27. and shall scant be found when Christ shall come Luk 18. 8. 2. This is my comfort that GOD hath vonchsafed mee to bee one of that little flock Luc. 12. 32. 3. This assureth mee further hereof because I feele in my selfe a hungring after the word and Sacraments Ioh. 6. 27. 10. 27. as my spirituall nourishment and can willingly submit my selfe to be guided by the same word for the perfecting this worke of grace begun in me The communion of Saints 2. This is my faith Rom. 8. 15. 16. 28. 30. that this whole Church hath a communion or felowship together in Christ al his benefits Eph. 4. 4. 5. so in euery article of this faith 1. Cor. 1. 9. as in the same Sauiour 1. Iohn 1. 3. Father 2. Pet. 1. 2. preseruer sanctifier Phil. 2. 2. and also amongst themselues 1. Pet. 1. 10. being affected alike both inwardly in loue Act. 2. 44. 45. 46. 4. 32. hatred ioy griefe that is to loue the same things and for the same and outwardly in relieuing helping and caring for one another 2. This reioyceth my soule that the Lord hath vouchsafed mee to bee of this blessed communion 3. This further assureth me hereof because together with this comfort I am so affected to all the true seruants of God 1. Cor. 12. 26. thus soundly professing the Gospell Ro. 12. 15. that I can pray hartily for them Mat. 12. 49. 50. mourne and reioyce with them and for them as for my brethren and sisters and bereadie to helpe them in whatsoeuer esteeming of them as members of Christ with mee and can clayme the word as my portion and heritage for euer Psal 119. 111. 10. Article The forgiuenesse of sinnes 1. This is my faith Heb. 8. 10. 11. 12. that all this whole church euery member thereof Apo. 7. 14. haue all their sinnes forgiuen for Christ being all washed in his blood 2. This comfort I finde hereof that howsoeuer I am a miserable sinner many wayes yet none of all my sinnes shall euer be imputed vnto mee being of this holy Communion Rom. 8. 33. 3. This is also for my assurance Zac. 12. 10 because I can oft mourne bitterly Mat. 5. 11. when I looke at my Sauiour Rom. 7. 20. whom by my sinnes I haue crucified Mat. 6. 14. 5. 44. 45 and do abhor them as none of mine but fruits of that sin that still dwelleth in mee in part and moreouer because I can forgiue and pray euen for my very enimies haue set my selfe to wage continuall war against euery sin 11. Article The resurrection of the body 1. This is my faith that all bodies shall rise againe at the last day Ioh. 5. 29. when Christ comes the bodies of al the faithfull to eternall ioy by the resurrection of Iesus Christ though all the rest to condemnation 2. This is my comfort that this my body now subiect to diuerse infirmities Iob. 19. 25. 26. 27. as sicknesse manifold paines and sorrowes Phil. 3. 21. c. shall then arise a glorious body like the shining bodye of Iesus Christ Apo. 7. 16. 17. 14. 13 free from any more misery paine or labour all teares beeing wipt away from mine eyes 3. This is also my further assurance hereof because I feele in my selfe the first resurrection by a dayly rising in my inner man to newnesse of life Apoc 20. 6. 12. Article The life euerlasting 1. This is my faith that in steede of this transitory life so full of labours and griefs God hath prouided for all this holy church a most happy and blessed life which shall continue for euermore Apo. 21. 22. 22. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 2. This ioy I finde herein that though my life bee full of crosses and troubles euery day subiect to a thousand temptations and very momentanye Rom. 8. 18. yet then it shal be a most glorious life 2. Cor. 4. 17 12. 4 when I shall dwell in Paradice in the presence of God Psa. 16. 11. and all his blessed Saintes and Angels for euermore 1. Th. 4. 17 1. Thes. 1. 9. 10. 3. This finally confirmeth my assurance hereof because I feele the life of grace begunne in mee alreadie Gal. 2. 20. which is the beginning of this eternall life but that then it shall be far more holy and glorious Rom. 14. 17. and euery way more blessed then the heart of man can conceiue and moreouer for that he hath giuen me this grace to belieue in the sonne Iohn 3. 18. 36. 5. 24. 25. I therefore know by the testimony of my Sauiour that I haue eternall life 1.
Mat. 11. 30 and learne of him to beare his yoake Act. 3. 22. 23. if euer they will finde rest vnto their foules Luk. 10. 16 they must heare his voice or else they shall be destroyed from among his people For they that despise Christs messengers refusing to heare them despise him and all that boast of faith Iā 2. 17. 18 must shew their faith by their workes to be a liuing faith else it shall no more profit them then the faith of the deuills yea all must followe holinesse without which no man shall euer see God with comfort Heb. 12. 14. 3. To whom sound comfort belongs Q. Can any but they who indeauor to walke with GOD in holinesse all their daies haue any comfort that they shall be heard in their distresse or can they pray A. No for the iustice of God will not admitte it for hee that turnes away his care from hearing the law Pro. 28. 9. his praier is abhominable and what maruell is it if God call to vs and wee will not heare to obey him Prou. 1. 24. 25. 28. 29. though hee heare not vs Psal. 66. 18 when wee call and cry to him Therefore we must hold the prophets rule for certaine Iohn 9. 31. That if wee but incline vnto wickednes in our hearts Esay 1. 15. God will not heare vs. Esa. 66. 2. 3. Experiment generall Trie whether wee can finde any sound cōfort in our prayers that God will heare vs in the day of our affliction or any time of neede or that any one of the promises of GOD belong to vs or so much as beleeue any article of faith with comfort vntill we haue soundly repented of all our sinnes our known sinnes particularly vnknowne generally with a full resolution to know the Lord and feare him walking in all his commaundements for euer 4. Quest. Of the causes of backsliding Quest. Sith sinne hath such fearefull effects and men voyde of feeling of their sinne are in so dangerous a case how come a number who haue had some good feeling to such coldnesse in religion hardnes of heart and senselessnesse in sinne as to make no conscience almost of any sinne Ans. 1. By neglecting the meanes of the preseruation of grace as of ordinary hearing reading of the Scriptures and other good bookes prayer Mar. 4. 24. 25. meditation Heb. 10. 24 25. 38. 39. conference examination fasting and the like or doing these things for a fashion onely without reuerence or at least not waiting for the fruit of them 2. By committing some grosse sin or liuing in some knowne sin without repentance Mat. 25. 29 as Dauid or for not glorifiyng god according to our knowledge of him Rom. 1. 21 22. 24. 16. 28. in practising all holy duetyes which he requireth or at least not receuing the loue of the truth 2. Thes. 2 10. 11. 12. 3. By ouermuch greedinesse in seeking earthly things whether our pleasures profits Mat. 13. 23 44. 45 46 ease or credit which steale awaye our hearts and choke grace Luk. 8. 14 or seeking thē more then Gods glory and his fauour Mat. 6. 33. 〈◊〉 37. 38. with the things concerne his kingdome Mat. 6. 24. or with the neglect hereof 1. Ioh. 2. 15 and of the saluation of our brethren For our loue cannot bee in the highest degree to two contrary maisters but as it increaseth towardes one it decreaseth towardes the other neither will our iealous God part our loue with the world for eyther hee will bee loued with all the hearte Iam. 4. 4. and with all the soule Mat. 22. 37 and aboue all earthly things Luk. 14. 26 or not at all 4. By familiaritie with the enemies of Gods religion Psa. 26. 45 16. 3. 4 25. 4. or men notoriously prophane Pro. 22. 24. 25. or luke-warme professours for it is the iust iudgement of God to leade vs into temptation hereby Deut. 7. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. so giuing vs vp for these sinnes Some speciall preseruatiues against euerie sinne 1. That wee be resolute to choose rather to indure any misery then to sinne against God as Ioseph Dan. 1. 8. Daniel and the three children 2. That wee consider the haynousnesse of the least sinne that it is against Gods infinite maiestie and Christs bloud deseruing the eternal curse of God and more by the fearefull punishment of the sinne of the angels Num. 29. 12. of Adam Moses Vzzah Saul and chiefly Deut. 3. 26. that vppon the sonne of God himselfe 2. Sam. 6. 6. 7. so to accustome our selues to subdue the very least sinnes 3. That wee warily resist the first motions to any sinne 1. Chro. 13. 10. and bee carefull auoyd euery occasion thereof 1. The. 5. 22. as we doe of infectious diseases Gen. 39. 10. Pro. 5. 8. 6. 25. 27. 28. 4. That we liue alwaies as in Gods presence who may take vs away on a suddaine Gen. 17. 1. remembering also our appearance before him Iob. 32. 22. Acts. 24. 15. 16. 5. That wee keepe continually a freshe remembrance of Gods great goodnesse 2. Cor. 5. 10. 11. especially his chiefest mercies bodily Psal. 203. 2. 3. 4. 5. c. 116. 12. 16. 3. and spirituall ordinarie and extraordinary Gen. 39. 9. to say alwaies as Ioseph Psa. 91. 11. how can I doe this and sinne against my good God Neh. 6. 11. 13. 6. That we be walking euer painfully in our special calling with God Deut. 32. 15. 7. That we keepe withall a perpetuall memorie of the former miserie of sinne and blessings of righteousnesse 8. That aboue all wee vse seruent prayer vpon all occasions to bee kept by these preseruatiues 1. Thes. 5. 17. Eph. 6. 18. Meanes to keepe alwaies a tender conscience 1. This practise of considering our waies Psal. 119. 59. 2. Carefull vsing all the meanes of grace 2. Tim. 1. 6. neglecting no one 3. Auoyding presumptions Psal. 29. 13. or grosse sinnes 4. Companying familiarly onely with the godly auoyding the contrary so farre Psal. 15. 4. 16. 3. 119. 63. as is possible 5. Watching against worldly cares that they steale not away our hearts Mat. 6. 24. 13. 22. Luk 21. 34. This is the generation of them that seeke him of them that seeke thy face this is Iacob Psa. 24. 6. The way of the righteous shineth as the light that shineth more and more vnto the perfect day Pro. 4. 18. 19. The louing kindnesse of the Lord endureth for euer and euer vppon them that feare him and his righteousnesse vpon childrens children Vnto them that keepe his couenant and thinke vppon his commaundements to doe them Psal. 103. 17. 18. FINIS