that for the most part our thoughts words and workes are guided by the good spirit of God for as many as are led by the spirit 〈◊〉 8. 14 of God those are the sonnes of God then wee may assure our selues that we are Iustifyed How soeuer we be chosen from the beginning by Gods loue and after Called by his word yet there is neuer assurance vnto vs vntill the Holy Ghost hath sealed it vp in our hearts which sealing is our Iustifycation Thus to assure vs of our Iustification it is not enough to be Called to the knowledge of Saluation in Christ by his word but after this knowledge to lay hold vpon Christ by a working faith and so to hold on and continue still an holy Christian and sincere course of life that at length as Salomon saith In water face answereth face so in this 〈◊〉 27. 19 worke of Iustification our spirit may answer vnto Gods spirit that we are his Euen as the pure and Christall Glasse doth liuely represent the Image which is set before it so the heart once Iustifyed by a liucly faith in Christ in some good measure doth expresse the image of God and striueth to come vnto this marke which is here propounded namely our Glorifycation Glorifying THe fourth Linke of this Cheine is Glorifying Which Glorifying is the highest steppe of Salomons Throne it is the exceeding great reward which God promised vnto Abrahā it is that eternal weight of glory wherof I neither know how to begin nor how to make an end of speaking In vita aeterna faciliùs Au◠sim◠possumus dicere quid ibi non sit quà m quid ibi sit In describing the glorie of the world to come it is easier to expresse what is not there then what is there For there is no discontentment nor griefe no faintnesse nor infirmitie no mourning nor miserie no corruption nor death but ioy fulnes of ioy for euer such ioy as if we had once tasted wee would despise the pleasures of a thousād worlds in hope of assurance to inioy it For after we haue waded through the miseries of this life at length in the twinckling of an eye in a moment with the sound of a Trumpet wee shall bee carried into the heauenly Paradise into Abrahams bosom thousand thousands of Angels and Saints shall receiue vs with ioy and singing Our meate shall bee that bread of life and that Heauenly Manna which will tast like whatsoeuer thing wee desire our drinke shall be the water of life which if we haue once tasted we shall neuer thirst again our mirth and musicke shall be the song of the Saints Alleluia honour and praise and glory bee vnto him 〈…〉 13. that sitteth vpon the Throne and vnto the Lambe for euermore There shall we reioyce continually in the presence of the holy ONE wee shall be his Saints and he shall be our God neither shall we feare death any more neither sorrow nor crying nor feele any want againe The Lord of Hostes who is the King of glory he will take vs by the right hand and leade vs to the garden of comfort to the fountaine of ioy where all our garments shall bee washed pure in the blood of the Lambe and allteares shall be washed from our eyes There shall we see the Courts of the Lord of Hosts new Ierusalem the Citty of the great king Where there is no night nor any candle nor yet the light of the Sunne for the Lord himselfe shal be our light and with him we shall shine as the starre in Heauen Heere shall we bee clothed with white robes the innocency of Saints wee shall haue Palmes in our hands in token of victory We shall be crowned with a diadem of pure gold which is immortality and seruing God a while in this short life there shall we haue riches without measure life without death liberty without thraldome solace without ceasing ioy without ending O blessed are they Lord that dwell in thy house where the Sonne of God in glory is light vnto their eyes musicke vnto their eares sweetnes vnto their tast and full contentment vnto their hearts where in seeing they shall know him and in knowing they shall possesse him in possessing shall loue him and in louing shall receiue eternall blessednesse that blessed eternity the Garland we run for and the crowne we fight for In a word Here we shall come vnto the end of all our desires for what else is our end but to come to that endles glory which hath no end The Queene of Sheba when she had seene the 1. Ki 〈…〉 riches and royalty of Salamons Court she said vnto the King It was a true word which I heard in mine owne land of thy prosperity happinesse but now I haue seene it with mine eies lo the one halfe is not told mee so concerning the glorious fruition of eternity in the life to come whatsoeuer may possiblie he deliuered by the tongues of men yet vndoubtedly the one halfe cannot bee told vs. By this place of Scripture thus rising by degrees the Katharistes the family of Loue and the Puritanes of our times would gather this conclusion Forasmuch as here are certaine degrees set downe whereby Gods Church is builded and whereby the members of the same do grow vp in Religion therefore now in this life by a Godly reformation we may attaine vnto perfection This selfe conceited and head-strong opinion of theirs hath beene the first cause and ground of all the troublesome contentions which long since haue beene raised and now at this day are continued in our Church For diuers men while they take themselues as Iob saith The Onely-wise men and pure in their owne eyes dreaming still of a certaine imagined perfection they neuer ceasse to bee clamorous to the Christian Prince troublesome to the quiet state and diuers of them very dangerous people to the whole Church of God In this verse of our text there is an end propounded there is a marke set vp where-vnto euery Christian must labour to attaine and striue by all good endeuor to come But alas who can say that his heart is cleane and man that is borne in sinne and conceaued in iniquity while hee is clothed with sinfull flesh how can he attaine perfection That the Militant Church of Christ hath had imperfections in all ages it is a plaine and an vndoubted truth For if euery mēber be imperfect how can there be perfection in the whole Perfectio nostra magis constat remissione peccatorum quà m perfectione virtutum Our perfection consisteth rather in the forgiuenes of our sinnes then in the perfection of our vertues In truth thus stands the estate of a Christian mans life in this world As a man trauailing a long iournie to a far cittie hee doth not continually go but hee resteth here and stayeth there hee baiteth in one place and lodgeth all night in an other yet still hee is going forward and
THE Golden Chaine of Mans Saluation and the fearefull point of hardening opened and set downe in two seuerall sermons preached before the King By Anthony Maxey Batchelar in Diuinitie and Chaplaine to his Maiesty in ordinary The Poynts handled in the first are these Predestination Calling Iustification Glorifying The points handled in the second are these with additions That there is an Hardening That God Hardeneth not How men become hardened Most wofull to be Hardened The meanes to auoidit LONDON Printed by G. Eld. for Clement Knight dwelling in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the holy Lambe 1606. Romans 8. 30. vers Moreouer whom he predestinated them also he called and whom he called them also he iustified and whom he iustified them also he glorified EVery Scripture saith the blessed 2. T 〈…〉 Apostle giuen by inspiration is profitable to instruct the man of God and to make him perfect to good works Yet notwithstaÌ„ding if a man should seeke vpon purpose and line by line trace the whole body of the scripture ouer of all others this one short verse is most diuine most excellent Singuli Sermones Hi 〈…〉 cap. 3. Eph. Sillabae apices puncta in Diuina scriptura plena sunt sensibus In the holy scripture euery speech and sentence euery verse euery point and sillable is rich in sense and full of diuine and holy misteries So is it here For the points of doctrine it contayneth the whole summe of our religion for the manner it consisteth of a sweet gradation for the matter it is full of comfortable instruction for the depth of the vnderstanding it hath in it such sweet profound and heauenly misteries that as it is written the head of the Riuer Nylus could neuer be found so the height depth and spirituall knowledge which lyeth couched in this whole verse in euery point in euery word it is vnsearchable it cannot be sounded Concerning the Doctrine Surely howsoeuer men do liue at ease for a time in this life and carelessely passe on in this busie world yet the especiall and maine point is the saluation of the Soule to be assured of the life to come and if a man might bee satisfied therein then all were well all were sure indeede Alas this life endeth and God knoweth howe soone euen this night before to morrow may my soule bee taken from mee and if I could proue vnto my heart that God had chosen mee to eternall life then I should thinke my selfe the most happie and blessed creature aliue In this great and weighty point of saluation for euer to answere a man throughlie and soundly to satisfie a mans heart and soule vnto the full there is no one place in all the holy booke of God that can so briefely so plainely so sufficiently instruct vs as this one short verse The auncient Fathers in the course of their writings they doe call it the Golden Chaine of our Saluation because each one of these Predestination Calling Iustification and Glorifying are so coupled and knit together that if you hold faâ—t one lincke you draw vnto you the whole Chaine if you let go one you loose all For the manner of my proceeding according to the fathers allusion First I wil vnty this Chaine and weigh euery lincke in his owne proper ballance and so handling euery point seuerally by it selfe in the end I will knit them vp and close them all together againe And here before I enter any further I most humbly craue pardon and fauorable construction in this matter I know right well I am to touch a very great and weightye Pre 〈…〉 nati 〈…〉 part 〈…〉 Gos 〈…〉 may 〈…〉 prea 〈…〉 of d 〈…〉 ly a 〈…〉 uere 〈…〉 Aug 〈…〉 Bon 〈…〉 cap. 〈…〉 point of religion indeed so secret and deepe that I doe throw my selfe downe at the foote of Gods mercy seat beseeching him with all humblenesse to support my weakenesse to enlarge my heart to giue me an vnderstanding spirit that whatsoeuer I shall speake it may bee with such trueth of his word with such zeale of his glory with such reuerence of his Maiesty as becometh his seruant and this holy place For Predestination beeing De 〈…〉 tion 〈…〉 grat 〈…〉 5.14 〈…〉 Pe. 〈…〉 locis 〈…〉 clas 〈…〉 Zan 〈…〉 Dâ—i 〈…〉 cap. 〈…〉 so high a point wherein offence may bee giuen by wading too farre by Gods assistance it shall bee touched so plainely and with such moderation as euer-more I will be sure to keepe the rule of the sacred word of God for my guide The purpose and drift of Saint Paul in this place is to proue vnto the Romans beeing then in persecution that howsoeuer in this life misery and afflictions did befall them yet their saluation stood sure and most certaine because it depended vpon the vnfallible purpose of GOD which here is called Predestination So that Predestination is the secret and immutable purpose of God whereby he hath decreed from all eternity to call those whom hee hath loued in his Sonne Christ and through faith and good workes to make them vessels of eternall glory That God of his free mercie hath made choyse of some to eternall life it is apparent in diuers places Ephesians 1. and the 5. ver Hee hath Predestinated 〈…〉 vs to bee adopted vnto himselfe through Iesus Christ according to the good pleasure of his owne will In the 2. to Timo. 1. the 8. and 9. vers Hee hath 〈…〉 1. 8 saued vs and called vs according to his owne purpose and grace which was giuen to vs through Christ Iesus before the world was So then as the Potter 〈…〉 â—â— hath power ouer the clay to make it either a vessell of honour or dishonour so God hath power ouer the sonnes of men of his owne free mercy hath made choyse of some to eternall life and others hath left vnto perdition God hath created al for himselfe and the wicked for the euill day 〈…〉 6.4 Now if it be demaunded why God hath made choise of some and not of others and so thought iniustice and want of compassion that hee should reiect men before they bee borne and brought into the light and ere euer they haue done good or euill as it is said in the 9. to the Rom. the 11. and 12. ver Yer euer the children were borne when Româ— 12â— they had done neither good nor euill that the purpose of God might remaine according to election I haue loued Iacob I haue hated Esau In this case I first answer plainely with the Prophet Isaiah in his 45. Esa 〈…〉 Chap. the 9. ver Wo bee vnto him that striueth with his maker or what art thou O man that darest stand vp to plead against God The clay may not dispute with the Potter Man that is but dust and ashes hee may not reason the case with his Creator To knowe further why God hath made choise of some and not of others there is no
manifest that sinne doth proceede from the suggestion of Sathan working with our owne concupiscence yet euill and godlesse men they thinke they are tempted of God and when they sinne they do not sticke to say God hath so decreed it let him therefore worke his will for who hath euer resisted his will Homer that notable Heathen Poet hee answered such men very fitly in the person of Iupiter speaking in this sort 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Od. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O yee foolish mortall men euer and anone you cry out of the immortall Gods imputing to them the cause of yous miseries when indeede your selues are the workers of your owne wo. 〈…〉 4. 2. Perditio tua ex te O Israel Thou hast fallen by thine owne iniquity Stigias vltrò quaerimus vndas Like the Ostridge we do pricke our selues with our own feathers and we our selues do cause the shippe to leake where we saile Onely lo this haue I found that God hath made man righteous but they haue sought out many inuentions Quare peccas quianescis 〈…〉 31. c. How comes it to passe saith S. Aug. that thou dost sinne because thou art ignorant it is not so Why dost thou sin because thou art compelled there is no such matter why doest thou sinne because it pleaseth it delighteth thy wicked and corrupted nature In the transgression of a 〈…〉 9. 5. man is his snâ—re Of our owne accord wee runne wilfully into the dead fall of sinne so is it in the 9. Psal and 16. vers The vngodly is trapped how not by God but by the workes of his owne hands The Lord our God is good holy and onely holy so holy that as Iob saith the Angels are vncleane in his sight so pure that his Ministers the Cherubins Isa 〈…〉 are of fire most cleere and yet the Cherubins and Seraphins do couer their faces with their wings as not able to behold the perfect brightnes of his most pure and vndefiled Maiestie Therfore although no action can be done without God and that his power is so in all things that we cannot so much as lift vp our fingar without him For in him we liue and moue and haue all our being Yet is not God the cause of any sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 〈…〉 Wee cannot fasten the least touch of any euill vppon GOD. But so it stands Vna eademque actio tribuitur causae principali instrumentali In one and the selfe same action there is a double cause First the instrumentall cause mouing then God separated from the instrument yet giuing power of motion to the same Through this double cause of moouing there is a double worke which vnto vs seemeth to be but one For example God as appeareth in the 2. of the Acts and the 23. ver by his determinate counsell and foreknowledge deliuered vp our Sauiour Christ as the principall cause Iudas as the instrumentall cause yet neither is God to bee drawne in as a party in Iudas fault nor Iudas to bee excused as furthering the worke of God For God neuer coÌ„manded Iudas to deliuer vp Christ nor Iudas in deliuering him had any such intention as to doe God seruice in the execution of his will Deus agit per malos non in malis The wicked are the instruments of God Yet not God the cause of their wickednesse God is the cause of the action but not of the euill or quality in the action For example A man trauaileth his horse by the way he is the cause of his going but if his horse halts or haue an ill pace he is not the cause of his ill going A cunning man striketh an instrument with his fingars he is the cause of the sound but if the Instrument be bad or the strings not well chosen hee is not the cause of the ill sound The Iron rusteth thou wilt not wite it vpon the Smith Wine sowreth the fault is not in the vintner In the heauens there is a double motion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The fixed Starres and the whole 〈…〉 â— lib. â—amiâ—tâ— Globe of all is carried about with one Sphere and with one motion yet the planets in themselues haue a wandring and vncertaine course The like 〈…〉 we may vsually behold in euery clocke the greatest and highest wheele moueth and carryeth about all the rest yet in this motion some wheeles turne to the right hand others to the left and that by a contrary course So then it fareth thus with the wicked As hee that hath an euill and corrupt stomacke if hee doe eate hony it turneth into gall or as if a mans hand be out of ioynt when he would moue it one way it turnes another so the wicked and godlesse men whereas the light of nature Gods spirit and his word leadeth them one way their owne vilâ— inclination their own concupiscence leadeth them another Now then what shall we say is there vnrighteousnesse with God doth he cause vs to commit sinne No God forbid wickednesse should bee in God or iniquity in the Almighty But as it is saide before Euery man is drawne away by his owne concupiscence Iob. â—â— and is inticed lust when it hath conceiued bringeth forth sin and sinne when it is finished bringeth 〈…〉 forth death Hauing hitherto freed God from all imputatation of euil by shewing from whence sin comes and that God is not the author of it wee doe heere meete with the Pelagian Heretike who not able to vntie this knot affirmes that the wicked are reiected for the sins which God fore-saw they would commit and so contrariwise the godly preuenting the grace of God by their merits are predestinated and chosen through faith and good workes which GOD fore-saw they should doe Making Gods eternall election to depend vppon our faith and vppon our workes whereas cleane contrary our faith our good workes and all the good that is in vs doth wholy depend vppon Gods free election Saint Paul saith directly God hath chosen vs in 〈…〉 his sonne Christ before the foundation of the world was If in Christ Assuredly it appeares we were vnworthy in our selues and so Gods election is the cause of our good workes Et causa non est posterior suo effectu the cause it doth neuer follow the effect The learned Schooleman makes it plaine Non ideo electus est quis quia talis futurus erat sed ex tali Lomb electione talis est factus No man was euer chosen through faith and good workes which GOD fore-saw that hee should doe but the faith and good workes which we now doe proceede from the eternall election which went before This doth the Apostle very plainely set downe â—m 1. 9 God hath saued vs and called vs not according to our workes but according to his owne purpose and grace which was giuen to vs through Iesus Christ before the world was Calling Moreouer
whom he Predestinated them also he Called AS from the maine Sea we do strike into some chanell or riuer So froÌ„ Predestination the great depth of Gods Councel the Apostle commeth vnto Calling For whereas it hath beene shewedin opening the first point that God of his free mercy did choose some to life and others hath left vnto Perdition In this case if God should neuer Call men if he should neuer offer them grace it might seeme preiudiciall to his mercy and though wee did sinne yet it might be thought our selues could not redresse it For this cause the Apostle commeth from Predestination to Calling that is from Gods determinate counsell to the meanes which hee hath appointed for our saluation This Calling is two-fold eyther outward or inward The outward and generall Calling is by the workes of God and by his word First by his workes This world it is an Vniuersity or a Colledge wherein there are two Lectures whereof euery man liuing must bee an hearer and a learner The first is the Philosophy lecture concerning Gods 〈…〉 workes in the heauens and all his creatures by the which we are taught and daylie Called to know God This is a plaine and easie Lecture written in great Capitall Letters that euery simple and ignorant man may read it running The other is the Diuinitie Lecture when we are exempted from the first and led on further to know God in his word Both these Lectures they are expressed together 〈…〉 in the 19. Psal From the 1. vers to the 7. is contayned the Philosophie Lecture The Heauens declare 〈…〉 9. 1. the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handie worke Day vnto day vttereth the same and Night vnto night teacheth knowledge there is no 〈…〉 speech â—or language where their voyce is not heard Their sound is gone forth through all the earth and their words vnto the ends of the world In them hath hee set a Tabernacle for the Sunne which commeth forth as a Bridegroome out of his Chamber and reioyceth like a mighty man to run his race His going out is from the end of the heauen and his compasse is vnto the ends of the same and none is hid from the heate thereof The Diuinity Lecture begins at the seauenth verse and continues to the 11. verse The law of the Lord is an vndefiled Law conuerting the soule the testimony of the Lord is sure and giueth wisedome to the simple The Statutes of the Lord are right and reioyce the heart The commaundement of the Lord is pure and giueth light vnto the eyes The feare of the Lord is cleane and endureth for euer The iudgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether More to bee desired then gold yea then much fine gold sweeter also then hony and the honye combe Moreouer by them is thy seruant taught and in keeping of them there is great reward Touching the Philosophy Lecture that we are all first Called to know God by his workes it is most apparent For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est Diuinitatis symbolum the world is the glasse of Gods Diuinity The heathen I 〈…〉 De 〈…〉 riis Philosopher saith Deus tangitur in operibus God is euen touched in his workes He iumpeth with S. Paul Acts 17. 27. The heathen by groping Act. 〈…〉 might haue found him for doubtlesse he is not farre from euery one of vs. In the 143. Psalme and the 5. Psa 〈…〉 verse the holy Prophet saith thus I will muse vppon all thy workes and exercise my selfe in the workes of thy hands If a man will profiâ— by this philosophy lecture he must vse meditation For indeede if a man doe rightly consider of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea where of no reason can be rendred of the certaine course and change of the Moone with the secret influence of the same the nature of winde no man knowing whence it commeth nor whether it goeth the hugenesse of the sweeling Sea girt by Gods commaundement that it doth not ouerflow the banckes the raging 〈…〉 Thunder which makes al the beasts of the field to tremble the fearfull Lightning which in the twinckling of an eye passeth from East to West how all things keepe their appointed course wherin they were created As wee walke abroad in the fields if wee doe behold and view the glory of the Sunne and Moone the beauty of the Starres the sweet Dew distilling Showers greene Pastures 〈…〉 pleasant Meddowes cleare Springs thicke Woodes gushing Fountaines the wonderfull increase of Corne Cattle and such like Who is hee beholding these things and seriously meditating vpon this Philosophy lecture but hee must needes confesse that God doth Call him being so manifestly 〈…〉 taught to know him in his workes And as God is thus seene and taught vnto all the heathen people by his workes in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the frame and composition of this great world so likewise GOD doth Call vs by his workes in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the little World of man Homo est caeli simulachrum interpres naturae Man he is the picture of the Heauens and the interpreter of Nature Concerning God we acknowledge him to be a spirit concerning the World we haue found it to be a body in Man we haue an abridgement of both namely of God in regard of his spirit of the World in the composition of the body as though the Creator vpon purpose to set forth a mirror of his workes intended to bring into this one little compasse of man both the infinitenesse of his owne nature and the hugenesse of the whole world together As in the World so in the body of man there is a wonderfull mixture of the foure Elements The Heart placed in the midest as the Earth our centre the Liuer like the Sea from whence the liuely springs of bloud doe flow the Veines like riuers spredding themselues abroad vnto the vttermost members the Braine which giueth light and vnderstanding placed aloft like the Sunne the Senses set round about like starres for ornament the Countenance of man full of grace and Maiesty striking a terror into all Creatures Such and so wonderfull is God in his power that he is seene in the workemanship of the body But if man as it were out of himselfe could behold this body receiuing life and entring into the vse of all his motions Ioints mouing so actiuely Sinewes stirring so nimbly Senses vttering their force so sharpely The inward Powers so excellent the Spirit supernaturall Reason so Diuine the Minde Cogitation so quicke and infinite the Vnderstanding so Angel-like and the Soule aboue all Dei 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the ingrauen image of the immortall God If man could enter into himselfe and consider rightly of this he must needes bee driuen to confesse that God hath Called him by those workes which are most apparent in himselfe 〈…〉 Therefore as Saint Paul soundly reasoneth in the
1. to the Romans and the 20. vers No man can excuse himselfe Neither the Turkes who acknowledge Mahomet their great prophet nor the Indians that worship the Sunne nor the Egiptians who offer sacrifice to all manner of beasts neyther they or any other remote and barbarous people that 〈…〉 do worship strange Idols of their owne inuention none of these can excuse himselfe and say he is not Called because the inuisible things of GOD his eternall power and Godhead are sâ—ene by the creation of the world being considered in his workes to the intent all men might be without excuse Thus 〈…〉 we see by this Philosophy lecture all people whatsoeuer are instructed to know God But to his own people God reades Diuinity Lecture hee Calleth and teacheth them by his word In the 146. Psal and the two last verses GOD hath giuen his word 〈…〉 vnto Iacob his statutes and his ordinances vnto Israell Hee hath not dealt so with euery Nation neither haue the heathen knowledge of his Lawes So then as in the 1. of King 6. 28 verse there is mention made of three Courts of the Temple at Ierusalem wherein God was worshipped so here are three Courts First we behold God in the frame and composition of the Heauen and the Earth as the great and outtermost Court then we see God in our selues in the workemanshippe of the body in the powers of the minde and soule there is the inner Court Lastly with the high priest wee enter into Sanctum Sanctorum that is wee behold God and learne to know him in his sacred and heauenly Word All the Prophets Apostles all the Ministers of God they are Diuinity Lecturers and all Nations people and kinred to whom they haue do preach the Gospell of Iesus Christ all these haue their outward Calling and vnto all these grace mercie and saluation in Christ Iesus hath beene offered And hereof is that place vnderstood in the 20. of Mat. 16. vers Many are Called but few are chosen i by the outward Calling both of the workes of God of his word many are Called for this outward Calling is common both to good and bad but by the inward Calling effectually working in them a liuely faith apprehending Christ so very few are Called Here in this place of Saint Paul is ment a more speciall powerfull and inward Calling which is wrought by Gods spirit and ioyned with faith so doth Saint August expound it in his booke de Predestinatione sanctorum Non quacunque sed qua vocatione fit credens Whomsoeuer God hath chosen to life him hee hath also Called by that Calling whereby hee is made and becomes faithfull Acts the 16. and 14. A certaine woman named Lidia heard vs. There is the outward Calling and the Lord opened 〈…〉 14. 13. her heart she attended to the things which Paul spake and she was baptised there is the inward Calling 〈…〉 This then is the sound and plaine meaning of these words Wbom he hath predestinated those hee hath called that is those whom hee hath chosen to eternall life hee hath also ordained to vse the meanes of saluation which is an effectuall Calling by his word and spirit Hauing discussed this second point whereby it appeareth how all men liuing are Called both by 〈…〉 the workes of God and by his word we may here see how the dissolute liuers and prophane Atheists of these our times deceiue themselues It is a common conceit fostred in the bosome of many yea vile and sensuall men they will not sticke to say If I be saued I am saued If I be chosen to life I 〈…〉 am sure of saluation If otherwise I cannot auoide it Assuredly such men they doe speake as peruersly and as senselessely as if a man should say that hee would gladly be at Yorke and yet will vse neither horse foote nor Wagon but will flie thither For the determinate counsell of God it doth not take away the nature and property of secondary causes it doth not take away the meanes of saluation but rather Gods secret counsell it doth set those causes in order and doth dispose of those meanes to their appointed end Gods purpose his eternall decree is not to be sought out in his botomelesse counsell For then Ro 〈…〉 33. we must all cry out with Saint Paul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O the deepenesse of the riches both of the wisdome and knowledge of God how vnsearchable are his iudgements and his waies past finding out But Gods purpose his eternall decree is to bee sought out in the meanes and in the manifestation appointed for the same The course and order of mans Saluation is like a Golden Chaine And this verse may fitly bee called Iacobs Ladder whereupon the Angells and Saints of the Church doe discend and ascend vnto God Iacob wrestled with the Angel at the foote of the Ladder wee must not bee so hardye as to wrestle with God at the top of the Ladder Wee see here God hath set downe not onely Predestination as though wee should stay there but Iustification and Calling as middle steppes and degrees whereby we must ascend vnto God Wee must not pull downe the Ladder and thinke to iumpe into heauen To say If I be saued I am saued it is the Diuells Diuinity When our Sauiour was vpon the Pinacle hee bad him cast himselfe downe headlong for saith hee God hath giuen his Mat. 〈…〉 Angels charge ouer thee least at any time thou dash thy foote against a stone He left out the chiefe point in all his wayes it was not the right way from the pinnacle to cast himselfe downe headlong No more is it here the way to stand vppon this high point and dangerous pinnacle of Predestination to cast a mans selfe downe headlong desperately saying If I bee saued I am saued In the 2. of 〈…〉 11. Oze 11. ver the Lord there promising temporall blessings setteth downe an order a course howe they hang togither I saith the Lord will heare the Heauens and the heauens shall heare the Earth and the earth shall heare the Corne and wine and Oyle and the Corne VVine oyle shall heare Israell So likewise in the spirituall blessing of the Soule there are 〈…〉 meanes an order how we come vnto the same God by his sonne Christ Christ by his Word his Word worketh by his Spirit his Spirit doth certifie our hearts our hearts stand fast by faith Faith catcheth hold vppon Christ and so backe againe Christ presenteth vs vnto God Heere likewise in this Scripture God hath Chosen vs from euerlasting there is Predestination he doth not there leaue vs but then he doth teach vs by his word there is Calling this word through his spirit engendreth faith there is Iustifiyng this Iustifying faith lifts vs vp vnto God there is Glorifiyng Common sense and reason doth teach vs. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In euery action the end
â—h P. 7. the meanes of the end must go together The ende which euery one of vs doth desire and ayme at it is eternall glory we must be sure then to lay hold vpon Calling and Iustifiyng as the meanes ordained to come vnto this end For this is a certaine and sure ground in diuinity and Religion Whom-soeuer God hath appointed to eternall life he hath also appointed that man to vse the meanes whereby he may come vnto the same To make this more plaine let it please you to vouch safe the hearing of an accident which fell out very fitly to this purpose One Ludouicus a learned man of Italy yet wanting the direction of Gods good spirit and so neuer considering aduisedly of the meanes of our Saluation he grew at last to this resolution Si saluabor saluabor It bootes not what I doe nor how I liue For if I bee saued I am saued Thus Ludouicus bewitched with this desperate opinion continued a long time till at length hee grew very dangerously sicke wherevpon he sent for a cunning and learned Phisition and earnestly requested his helpe The Phisition before-hand made acquainted with his former lewd assertion how in his health hee would vsually say If I bee saued I am saued he likewise directed his speech to the same purpose and said Sure it shall bee needlesse to vse any meanes for your recouery neither doe I purpose to minister vnto you for if the time of your death bee not come you haue no cause to feare you shall liue and do well inough without Phisicke and if the time of your death bee nowe come it is vnpossible to auoide it Ludouicus musing in his bed of the matter and considering aduisedly of the phisitions speech finding by reason that as meanes were to be vsed for the health of the body so God also had 〈…〉 ordained meanes for the saluation of the Soule vpon further conference with shame griefe he recanted his former opinion tooke phisicke and so was happily cured both of soule and body at one time By this doctrine of Gods loue so manifestly Calling vs we directly learne that if a man doe thirst after his saluation if a man would bee throughly 〈…〉 assured in his heart and conscience that God hath chosen him to eternall life hee must not rush presently into Predestination into Gods secret Counsell but he must enter into himselfe to trie and examine whether hee bee rightly Called for as the surest way to come vnto the sea is first to finde out 〈…〉 a riuer so concerning our saluation the plainest surest way to finde out the depth of Gods counsell is first to come vnto Calling vnto Iustifying which are as sweet and liuely springs flowing from the same We know and see dayly by experience wee are not able to discerne wee cannot pierce with the eye to see what matter the Sunne is of but we can plainely see and manifestly perceiue both beames and heat and light proceeding from the same So heere concerning the first point of Predestination alone wee cannot conceiue it wee are not able to pierce it for it is the way which the Eagles eye hath not seene but Calling and Iustifying which are as heate and light proceeding from the same those we may as comfortably perceiue as wee doe sensibly feele the heate and operation of the Sun Here then is the duty of a true Christian heere is the part of a religious and good man indeede not to venter his saluation vpon a bare speech presumption of Predestination but to vse all meanes possible which God hath ordained That he may truely be Called to heare the word of God and to ioy in hearing of it with loue and with a desire to profit that hee may bee Iustifyed when he hath heard to be feruent in prayer zealous of well doing and abundant in all good works of Charity that he may be Glorified in the life to come to consecrate both soule and body and all the whole course of his life vnto God that so growing vp from faith to faith from vertue to vertue from hearing to beleeuing from Calling to Iustifiing at length Gods spirit may satisfie our spirits that we are his our bodies his our soules his wee setled and sealed vp in a Christian ioy for euer Wherefore I beseech you all by the mercies of God and I intreate you as you hope to stand with comfort before God and his Angels at the last day euery man lay hold vppon his soule betimes do not esteeme the loue of any thing in this World more then the loue of God purchased in his sonne Christ Iesus Take heede and beware of this profane speech If I be saued I am saued vtter it not in word thinke it not in heart away with it 〈…〉 For God is not the cause of our condemnation it is our selues Woe vnto vs wretches we our selues are the workers of our owne destruction Wisedome 1. 13. O seeke not Death in the error of the soule 〈…〉 13. and destroy not your selues with the workes of your owne hands Bis interimitur qui suis armis interimitur Euery man catch hold vpon this Chaine worke and make sure his saluation and striue to walke before 〈…〉 the Lord in trueth with a perfect heart On the one side let no man passe on in a secure and carelesse course of life nor on the other side curiously prie into the hidden counsell of the Lord but euery good Christan with an humble spirit with an honest minde with a cheerefull and good heart 〈…〉 seeke to apprehend those meanes which God hath appointed for his saluation Iustification The third Lincke of this Chaine is Iustification Whom he hath Called those he hath Iustified IT is a principle in reason Actio perfect a non recipitur nisi imperfectè primò An habit is not gotten at the first the work of our regeneration is not wrought on a sodaine But as the Psalmist saith The Codly grow from strength to strength and the wise Psal 8â— man sheweth how The light of the righteous shineth more and more to the perfect day So here the Apostle Pr. 56. â— foote by foote leadeth vs from one degree vnto another till at length we may come to make our election sure This Iustification it goeth a step farther then Calling For Calling is an enlightning the mind with spiritual knowledge Iustifying an establishing the heart with a grounded perswasioÌ„ Calling is the beginning of conuersion but Iustifying is a full clearing of the heart Calling is the first change of one that is regenerate but Iustifying is the full perswasion of the Soule when the spirit of grace resteth in vs and we setled and truely sanctified in an holy christian course of life So then when we haue not onely sorrowed for sinnes past which is the first step of our Calling but further when wee are renewed in spirit and so changed in our life