receiue the righteousnes of God euen as wee receiue himselfe who so becommeth ours as that we abide in him and hee in vs wee are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones we are really and truely by the power of his Spirit one with him and he with vs yet he is not personally and bodily brought vnto vs faith seeketh Christ and findeth him and holdeth him in the Virgins wombe in the manger in the garden vpon the crosse in the graue in his Resurrection and ascension to heauen and in his now sitting at the right hand of God making intercession for vs. Euery where faith embraceth him and in euery of these seeth him to bee ours as hauing vndertaken and atchieued al these things for our sakes CON. 55. For a speciall aptnesse in faith hath God appointed it to be the instrument for applying vnto vs the whole benefit of Christ. EXPLA. The will and ordinance of God doth not without cause appoint one cōdition when as well it might appoint another neither appointed any thing to bee done which is not more fitly to be done that way that he appointed then any other way But beside this our iustification is by faith that it may be by grace for faith is the fittest meanes to set forth the grace of God Secondly that the promise might be sure to all the seede for no otherwise can we rest assured of the promise of God but as it is of Grace who in our workes can finde nothing to assure our selues Thirdly faith is specially appointed to exclude boasting that no man should glory in his own doings but that God should haue the glory of mans saluation CON. 56. That man cannot haue fellowship with Christ by iustification who by sanctification also hath no fellowship with him EXPLA. Doe not thinke that hee that hath such a faith as whereby being iustified hee hath to reioyce with God can together therewith haue vnrighteousnes for if he that beleeueth that Iesus is Christ is borne of God and he that is borne of God sinneth not and if he doe sinne that is giue himselfe to sin it is certaine that he beleeueth not certaine it is that hee that truely beleeueth doth work the work of faith and righteousnesse and all goodnesse The root of all is faith by which alone we are iustified and so the barre of sinne is taken away that before diuided betwixt God vs that so the sanctifying Spirit of God may haue accesse vnto vs to work in vs the good work of God so to prepare vs to that inheritance to the hope whereof hee hath called vs. The theefe in his short time being vpon the crosse had with his faith many good workes the feare of God hope repentance confession of sins loue towards God and his neighbour in reprehending his fellowes blasphemies and defending of Christs innocency The good workes of the godly are glorious and acceptable in Gods sight for Christs sake being done in his name and offered vpon the Altar of faith in him the imperfection thereof is accidentall taketh not away the nature of a good worke but maketh it an vnperfect good worke which imperfection notwithstanding were sufficient to make the worke to be reiected if in rigour and extremity God shuld weigh the same which hee doth not but mercifully pardoneth it for Christs sake CON. 57. The righteousnesse wherby we are to be iustified before God admitteth no encrease as sanctification doth EXPLA. It admitteth no encrease because it must bee perfect and the righteousnesse of Christ is alwayes vniforme and alike if any thing bee taken from it it is not perfect and if it be not perfect it cannot iustifie before God but to the first grace of sanctification and all the succeeding increase thereof is of grace for God to the thankfull receiuing and vsing of his gifts doth adde greater measure thereof for to him that hath shall bee giuen yet that which is added is grace for grace and the rendring of one gift for another gift God giuing occasion himselfe by one gift of the bestowing of another as he giueth faith and to faith that which we beleeue as he giueth vs to pray and so praier giueth that for which wee pray so in all the rest hee giueth grace and giueth to vse wel the grace he hath giuen and to the wel vsing thereof hee giueth also further measure increase of grace that both in the gift in the increase al praise glory may redound to him The meanes in vs whereby this increase is wrought is faith which as it first receiueth the spirit so receiueth also the increase of it whilest by the growth thereof we grow more into Christ and thereby more more partakers of his life By imputation of the merits and obedience of Christ a man is a righteous the first day of his conuersion as hee is in the end of his life howsoeuer as touching sanctification and inherent righteousnesse he grow much and therein be renued from day to day in putting off the old man and putting on the new and stil cleansing from all defilement of the flesh and of the spirit finish his sanctification in the feare of God for euery one that beareth fruit in me my Father purgeth that hee may bring forth more fruit We must then grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ not as though I had already attained or were already perfect but one thing I doe I forget that which is behinde and endeuour my selfe to that which is before and follow hard toward the marke the price of redemption in the shedding of the blood of Christ one and alike to all and euery faithfull man but yet it is not alike apprehended by euery one There is perfect righteousnesse required of vs and the same is yeelded vnto vs in Christ there may be a difference in vs but Christ cannot be diuided neither is there in him any difference from himself where hee goeth hee goeth whole and therfore what he is to the strōg the same he is to the faint and feeble soule there is greater and lesse assurance but the matter whereof each doth take assurance is the whole mercy of God in Christ. CON. 58. When we teach Christ alone wee exclude not our faith vnto iustification or Christ excluding our owne works vnto sanctification for charity is inseparably with faith in the man that is iustified EXPLA. Faith is the onely hand which putteth on Christ vnto iustification and Christ the only garment which being so put on couereth the shame of our defiled natures hideth the imperfections of our workes preserueth vs blamelesse in the sight of God before whom otherwise the weakenesse of our faith were cause sufficient to make vs culpable yea to shut vs out from the Kingdome of heauen whither nothing that is not absolute can enter so Christ without any associate finished all the parts of redemption
purchased saluation himselfe alone yet for conueyance of this eminent blessing into vs these things are required as most necessary CON. 59. Our saluation is giuen to vs by Christ alone yet to our iustification faith to our sanctification the fruites of the Spirit c. are necessary EXPLA. For our saluation it is requisite to be chosen and knowne of God before the foundation of the world in the world to bee called iustified sanctified after wee haue left the world to be receiued into glory Now Christ in euery of these hath somewhat which hee worketh alone through him according to the eternall purpose of God before the foundation of the world borne crucified buried raised c. we were in a glorious acceptation knowne vnto God long before wee were seene of men God I say knew vs loued vs was kinde to vs in Christ Iesus in him we were elected to bee heires of life Thus God in Christ hath wrought in such sort alone that our selues are meere patients working no more then dead senselesse matter wood or stone or iron doth in the artificers hands no more then the clay when the potter appointeth it to be framed for an honorable vse nay not so much for the matter whereupon the tradesman worketh he chooseth for the fitnesse which is in it to serue his turne in vs no such thing Now touching the rest which is laide for the foundation of our faith importeth further that by him we are called that wee haue redemption and remission of sins by his blood health by his stripes iustice by him that he doth sanctifie his Church and make it glorious to himselfe that entrance into ioy shall be giuen by him alone yea al things by him alone howbeit not so by him alone as if in vs to our vocation the hearing of the Gospell to our iustification faith to our sanctification good workes to entrance into rest perseuerance in hope in faith in holinesse were not necessary which workes haue no power of satisfying God for sinne or of vertue to merit both grace here or glory in heauen for workes are a thing subordinate without which our sanctificatiō cannot bee accomplished yet God doth iustifie the beleeuing man not for the worthinesse of his beleefe but for the worthinesse of the person which is beleeued that is Christ and God also rewardeth euery one that worketh not for any meritorious dignity that is or can bee in the worke but throgh his mercy by whose commandement hee worketh CON. 60. That which we know either by sense or by infallible demonstration is not so certaine as the Principles Articles and Conclusions of Christian faith EXPLA. If the things which wee beleeue bee considered in themselues it may truely be said Faith is more certain◠then any science that meere natural men do neither know nor acknowledge the things of God is no maruell for they are spiritually to bee discerned and they in whose hearts the light of grace doth shine and are taught of God are so yet weake in faith and their assenting to the law scrupulous mingled with feare and wauering for the foggy dampe of originall corruption is so great that no heart can be so inclined in the knowledge or established in the loue of that in which his saluatiō standeth as that hee doth not doubt and if any were such what doth let why that man shold not bee iustified by his owne inherent righteousnes For righteousnes inherent being perfect will iustifie and perfect faith is a part of perfect righteousnes inherent yea a principall part the mother and roote of all the rest and if it were thus what need we the righteousnes of Christ wherefore we must learne to challenge a strength which wee haue not lest wee lose the comfortable support of that weakenes which indeed we haue CON. 61. All men haue not equall certainety of faith but some beleeuers are more scrupulous and doubtfull then others EXPLA. The reason is there is ◠double certainty a certainty of euidence as when the minde doth assent to this or that not because it is true in it selfe but because the truth is cleere and manifest to vs for things most certaine in themselues except they bee also most euident our perswasiō is not fully assured as it is of things more euident although in themselues they be lesse certaine it is as certaine that there be spirits as that there bee men but wee bee more assured of these then of them Now if there were equall euidence and truth there shold be equality of faith Yea that we see by the light of grace though it be indeed most certaine yet it is not so euidently certaine as that which sense or the height of nature will not suffer a man to doubt of as that the fire is hot c. Therefore God laboureth to confirme vs in the things were beleeue by things whereof we haue sensible knowledge for proofes must be more certaine then is the thing prooued The other is a certainety of adherence as when the heart doth cleaue and sticke to that which it doth beleeue and this certainty is greater in vs then the other because the faith of a Christian doth apprehend the words of the couenant and promises of God not only as true but as good and therefore when the euidence which hee hath of the truth is so small that it grieueth him to feele his weakenesse in assenting thereto yet is there in him such a sure adherence vnto that which hee doth but faintly and fearefully beleeue that his spirit hauing once truely tasted the heauenly sweetnesse thereof all the world is not able quite and cleane to remooue him from it but he striueth with himselfe against all hope of beleeuing For though he wold kill him yet wil he trust in him For why This is his lesson It is good for me to cleane vnto God CON. 62 Doubting doth alwayes accompany faith yea in the most faithfull that euer did beleeue EXPLA. If God did worke in vs like a naturall agent as the fire doth inflame and as the Sun enlightens according to the vttermost ability which they haue to bring forth their effects there should be nothing in the beleeuer but the incomprehensible wisedome of God doth limit the effects of his power to such a measure as seemeth best to himselfe Wherefore he worketh that certainty in all which sufficeth abundantly to their saluation in the life to come but to none so great as attaines in this life vnto perfection which is fittest for vs that feeling still our owne infirmities we may alwaies pray Lord helpe our incredulity Lord increase our faith Indeed it is said Abraham beleeued and doubted not which Negation doth not exclude all feare all doubting but onely that which cannot stād with true faith it freeth Abraham from doubting through infidelity not from doubting through infirmity from the doubting of vnbeleeuers not of weake beleeuers as is euident Genes 17.17 CON. 63. The faith
dead it is dead indeede touching the guilt but it is not yet dead as touching corruption and infection and therfore doth infect the works of the most regenerate for none is perfect as long as he continueth in this life Indeed God hath quickened vs together with Christ and hath raised vs vp together and hath made vs sit together in the heauenly places in Christ Iesus but that is not yet really but in hope yea in our prayers there is much weaknesse and imperfections and distractions yet God respects the truth and not the measure of our faith pardoneth the same for Christs sake who is our high Priest to beare the iniquity of our offerings to make them acceptable before the Lord therfore the godly say Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant O Lord for in thy sight no man liuing shal be iustified The righteous fall seuen times a day and dayly prayeth for forgiuenesse and when by frailty he doth fal God doth in mercy looke vpon him as he did vpon Peter and cause him to rise againe CON. 51. Faith created in our hearts is the onely sufficient supernaturall instrument to apprehend the free couenant of grace in Christ that is Christs righteousnesse for our iustification EXPLA. Faith is the instrument to receiue because it is the hand which wee stretch to heauen to take holde of Christ and to hold him sitting there it is the mouth whereby we eate and drinke Christ because to beleeue is to eate it is the stomack whereby we digest him for he is to be digested by faith it is the foot wherby we enter in possession of the benefits of Christ and possesse so farre as we stretch the same it is the vessell whereinto God putteth the oyle of his mercy it is by faith wee touch him and looke how much faith we bring to receiue so much we draw out of the abundant grace of God Now that whereby we are iustified is the obedience of Christ for by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous and his obedience is his righteousnesse and wee are made the righteousnesse of God in him by apprehending and receiuing the righteousnesse which is in him He is called the Lord our righteousnesse not who maketh vs righteous only but who also himselfe is our righteousnes and how should he be our righteousnes but by his righteousnes therefore in apprehending receiuing Christ by faith we apprehend and receiue the righteousnes of Christ to be our iustification before God which is that merit and obedience of Christ imputed vnto vs. The efficient and finall cause of iustification then is God in Christ Iesus for our saluation the glory of his name the Materiall is the merit obedience of Christ the Formall cause is Gods imputation apprehended and receiued by vs the instrument of this apprehension is faith alone CON. 52. Iustifying faith is euer accompanied with godlinesse and care of godly life EXPLA. As naturall birth draweth not onely guilt but also corruption so faith wherein is our new birth giueth not onely forgiuenesse of sinne to iustification but also sanctification to holinesse and newnesse of life In the iustified man faith onely is the seat and fountaine of spirituall life because as the quickning faculty and power of the liuing soule dwelleth in the heart so Christ who is our life dwelleth in our faith or in our hearts by faith But yet we consist not spiritually of faith onely but many other vertues and graces are required to make vp the perfection of a Christian man to which as to the other members frō the heart so from faith life is imparted and communicated that in them wee may bee aliue to God which are signes and tokens of a iustified man not any causes of iustification but a declaration and testimony of his being formerly iustified by the faith of Iesus Christ. So good workes follow a man being iustified but are not precedent to iustification and nothing that man can doe either by nature or grace concurreth to the act of iustification as any cause but faith alone for our hearts are purified by faith by faith we reeiue the promise of the spirit and the Law of the Spirit of Christ which is in Christ Iesus deliuered vs from the law of sinne and of death Neither is the very act of faith any part of our righteousnesse but onely the merit and obedience of Christ apprehended and receiued by faith but as the heart giueth life to the body not by the substance of it selfe which is but flesh as the rest of the body is but by the vitall and quickning power of the soule that is seated therin and as the hand feedeth the body not as beeing it selfe the food of the body but by receiuing and ministering vnto it meate wherby it is sustained euen so faith iustifieth and giueth life by receiuing Christ to bee our righteousnesse and life in him receiuing forgiuenesse of sinnes inheritance among them that are sanctified vnto eternall life CON. 53. When God promised tied the effect of his promise to the beleeuing of it not to beleeue that in beleeuing whereof wee are partakers of that which we beleeue is to make God a lyar and to frustrate that which he hath promised EXPLA. By faith onely we accept of a promise in all the benefits of God wee are the children of promise heires by promise heires of promise expecting all things by the gracious promise of God by promise to be partakers of the diuine nature the blessing by promise the spirit by promise the inheritance by promise life eternall by promise by promise a new heauen and a new earth wherein righteousnesse dwelleth all which be promises in Christ and are yea and in him amen that is for his sake first made and for his sake to bee performed also Now seeing God hath taught vs that by faith wee obtaine the promises that wee receiue the promise of the spirit by faith that the promise of blessing is giuen by the faith of Iesus Christ to them that beleeue that as we beleeue so it shall be vnto vs that whatsoeuer wee desire when wee pray if we beleeue we shall haue it it shall be accordingly vnto vs. Why should wee then not beleeue such God hath promised Christ to bee our righteousnesse and that by the faith of Iesus Christ that is by beleeuing in him to bee that vnto vs which God hath promised surely in beleeuing him to bee our righteousnesse hee is our righteousnesse and we are made the righteousnesse of God in him CON. 54. The righteousnesse and merit of Christ is spiritually and really ours within and without in spirit and body and soule to sanctifie and cleanse vs vnto God EXPLA. And this is indeede not by receiuing Christs righteousnes really into vs but by hauing righteousnesse imputed vnto vs for his sake for we
SPIRITVALL ENCREASE OR Conclusions for pacifying the perplexed Conscience of the weake Christian. To him that hath shall be giuen LONDON Printed by NICHOLAS OKES for William Lee and are to be sold at his shop in Fleete streete at the signe of the golden Buck neare Seriants Inne 1621. ⧠TO THE GODLY AND euer-honored Lady Anna Lady Caluart wife to the right Hon Sir George Caluart Knight one of his Maiesties principall Secretaries and of the most honorable priuy Councell MADAME AS Piety and Righteousnes are two noble vertues of the Regenerat part of the soul so Humility and Loue are the neuer-perishing fruit of such euer-blessed trees The eminency of these in your Honor hath encouraged mee but alas what am I to entreat your Honor to shelter this vnpolished Treatise vnder the shaddow of your Honors Patrocinie In it your Honor may finde selected medicines out of Scripture and the godly and learned of our time for the restoring of the Christian his weak conscience not embellished with deceitfull cauillations of humane wisedome but arayed with the Euidency Nakednesse and Simplicity of truth In it your Honor may finde I say the wauering faith confirmed not with cordialls of foolish empiriacks but with the al-curing Balme of Gilead froÌ„ Gods Sion which dignifieth all mens actions here crowneth them in Christ hereafter Thus Madame wishing eternall continuance of your Honors good and happy beginnings euer seconded with the fauour of God in Christ I commit your Honor to him who is able to doe aboue all we aske or thinke Your Honors remembrancer at the Throne of Grace B. R. The Contents of this Booke A ASsurance of the perpetuity of faith fol. 13. Con. 9. fol. 21. Con. 13. fol. 33. Con. 18. fol. 38. Con. 20. fol. 66. Con. 32. The true vse of afflictions fol. 72. Con. 35. C Christ dwelleth in vs by faith fo 30. Con. 17 fo 75. Con. 36. Christ's obedience is ours fol 99. Con. 46. To knowe the sufferings of Christ is our greatest consolation fol. 184. Con. 75. Confession of sinne a ready way to saluation fol. 179. Con. 73. The benefits of Gods chastisements fol. 196. D Doubtfulnesse accompanies our saluation fol. 4. Con. 3. fol. 55. Con. 27. The benefit of desertion fol. 7. Con. 5. Degrees of faith fol. 23. Con. 14. Man must not depend on himselfe fol. 89. Con. 41. Doubting accompanies faith fol. 147. Con. 62. E Great difference of errors fol. 83. Con. 39. Experience of God is goodnesse strength and faith fol. 163. Con. 68. F The Christian is faithfull in weakenesse fol. 2. Con. 2. fol. 58. Con. 28. How faith and feare be in a Christian. fol. 51. Con. 26. The foundation of faith is Christ. fol. 59. Con. 29. Difference of faith fol. 62. Con. 30. Faith sufficient to apprehend righteousnesse in Christ. fol. 115. Con. 51. Death not to bee feared fol. 198. G God not changeable fol. 70. Con. 34. God will not forsake vs. fol. 79. Con 38. God offereth assurance of his fauour in the first entrance to his seruice fol. 91. con 42. The Elect are Gods free gift to Christ. fol. 182. con 74. H Hunger for Christ is a possession of him fol. 1. con 1. A heart to hear the gift of God fol 11. Con. 8. Hope and patience beareth the crosse fol. 97. Con. 45. L Faith the fountaine of our loue to God fol. 16. Con. 11. They liue to God who appeare in themselues to be dead fol. 76 con 37. By the Law of faith God pardoneth sin fol. 105. con 48. God will haue them that walke in light to feele what it is to sit in darkenesse fol. 151. Con. 64. Excellent loue appeared in Christs sufferings fol. 192. Con. 77. M Gods mercy fol. 47. Con. 24. Markes of our election fol. 64. con 31. fol. 68. con 33. Christs merits most seene in our vnworthinesse fol. 102. con 47. Ordinary meanes must bee vsed for the strengthning of faith fol. 167. con 70. O There is a remainder of original corruption while we are here fol. 112. con 50. Our faith hath priuie operations secret to vs. fol. 154. con 65. Preaching increaseth faith fol. 9. con 7. Particular apprehension fol. 15. con 10. Faith assures prayer fol. 26. con 15 fol. 49 con 25. Particular application requisite to saluation fol. 95. con â—4 R One righteousnesse here another in the world to come fol. 43. con 22. Remission of sinne is iustification before God fol. 108. con 49. S Saluation hangeth not vppon any sufficiency in vs. fol. 17. con 12. fol. 28. con 16. con 23. The holy Spirit is giuen to the Elect. fol. 36. con 19. fo 60. con 29. No man voyd of sinne fol. 41. con 21. Sanctification and iustification euer goe together fol. 1â—8 con 52. The Serpent laboureth to peruert the simplicity of faith fol. 156. con â—6 We neede not feare sinne for Christ hath abolished it fol. 169. con 71. T Trouble shal be rather matter of ioy then of displeasure fol. 174. con 72. V Weake assurance argueth weakenesse of faith fol. 8. co 6. Vnbeleefe is naturall to vs. fol. 6. con 4. Saluation not of our works fol. 86. con 40. fol. 92. con 43. By our vnion with Christ we are faultlesse before God fol. 188. con 76. Conclusions for pacifying the perplexed Conscience of the weake Christian. CONCLVSION 1. Hunger and thirst after righteousnesse and faith is a sure possession of some measure of them EXPLANATION IF man bee grieued for his vnbeliefe and wish striue that it may bee otherwise he hath the roote of faith in him from whence commeth this but from a secret loue and liking which hee had of those things that are beleeued no man can loue things which in his owne opinion are not and if they thinke those things to be which they shew that they loue when they desire to beleeue them then must it needs be that by desiring to beleeue they proue themselues true beleeuers for without faith no man thinketh that things beleeued are This Argument all the subtilty of infemall powers will neuer be able to dissolue CONCLVSION 2. Man may remain faithfull in weakenesse though weake in faith EXPLANATION Such is our weake and weaning nature that wee haue no sooner receiued grace but wee are ready to fall from it for many and grieuous downe-falls haue beleeuers yet still continue inuincible though we finde in our selues a most willing heart to cleaue inseparably to God euen so farre as to think vnfainedly with Peter Lord I am ready to goe with thee into prison and death yet how soone and how easily vpon how small occasions are wee changed if wee bee but a while let alone and left vnto our selues for the higher wee flow the nereer we are to an ebbe if men be respected as meere men according to the wonted course of their alterable inclination without the heauenly support of the Spirit
CON. 3. The assurance of our saluation is many times accompanied with feares doubts which doe perplex the soule of the most righteous EXPLA. The true worke of Faith is to assure vs of Gods loue and to enioy that comfort without let to cherish the same and resist the contrary but the weaknesse of our faith and strength of corruption is such that we doe not alwayes attaine these but as in the practice of good actions we sometime reioyce and finding great infirmity in sinning wee mourne for them such change by turnes are in the most regenerate so in faith wherein we receiue a Testimony of Gods loue there is a change because we apprehend not this assurance immediatly as a principle but by collection or conclusiō so the alteration is in apprehēding of the premises wherupon the cōclusiō arose for Gods promises and effects of grace appeare not alwayes the same yea sometimes contrarie CON. 4. The seedes of vnbeliefe are naturally sowne in vs which euer casteth vp obiections EXPLA. Our heart by nature is full of mire dirt which trouble the springs of the water of life and therefore the dayes of faith are like the dayes of the yeere some faire some foule some times in hell as it were sometimes mounted to heauen some times triumphing sometimes striuing euer counting what it hath felt striuing to the same again euer in feares running vnto God expecting better seeing a glimpse of light in darknesse of hope in despaire of comfort in distresse of life in death of heauen in hell and if they lose the sight hereof yet recouered it soone againe CON. 5. Often God leaues vs to our selues that wee may take the faster hold when we returne againe EXPLA. The taste of loue is the sweeter and the ioy the larger when we come to it out of the flouds of tentations For afflictions brings forth patience and patience experiēce and experience hope while by this meanes the loue of God is spred abroad in our hearts by the holy Spirit which is giuen vs the more trees on the tops of hils are blasted the deeper roote they take CON. 6. True faith euer giueth assurance which is the greater by how much our faith is the greater and weakenesse of our assurance argueth the weakenesse of faith EXPLA. Euen in the true faith there is degrees for there is variety of gifts which how little soeuer it be yet is able to saue vs that thou mayst learne what it is whereunto thou art to striue reioycing in that thou hast atttained to already and to pray for that which is behinde that God would increase thy faith feeling of imperfections is the common frailety of all Gods children and faith that it may bee strong must haue time to grow and haply seemeth weake to thee when it is strong to God For the ioy of the faithfull is as a garden enclosed CON. 7. As faith is by hearing so it is ordinarily increased by preaching whereunto the weake beleeuer must attend EXPLA. Preachers are Proclamators which teach euery beleeuer their interrest in the matters of saluation which apprehend the promises vpon conscience of their owne repentance and faith for where the seede shall grow there it shall bring forth the fruite of faith and it shall bring forth eternall life for this assurance is giuen by the mouth of the Minister by the word of Christ which the faith of the hearer apprehendeth the man warmeth the bed the bed warmeth him euery man hath not accesse to the priuy seale but by the imprint there of in waxe he knoweth it to be the priuy Seale CON. 8. It is the Lord that giueth a heart to heare the voyce of Christ deliuered by the minister out of the Gospell EXPLA. My owne heart could neuer minister comfort vnto mee which is deceitfull aboue all things and is rather cast downe with acknowledgement of misery and therefore wee must dicerne betwixt the true assurance of the heart from carnall presumption floating fancies swimming in the head for true assurance is accompanied with the Spirit of grace and prayer by which the heart is conformed to the voyce of God with ioyfull acceptance and affectionate desire of that which is vttered thereby which is the fruite of the spirit of adoption which beareth witnesse vnto our spirit that wee are the sonnes of God and beareth record that God hath giuen vs eternall life for he is God that doth neitherly nor change whose foundation is sure for hee knoweth them that are his CON. 9. Thou mayst be assured of the perpetuity of thy faith for God will not forsake the worke which hee hath begunne EXPLA. The reason is because that he who beleeues in Christ shall neuer be confounded and his sheepe shall neuer perish but he will giue them eternall life and although the godly oft times fall yet God is faithfull in his promise to them I will put my feare in their hearts and they shall not depart frō me resting in this that they not onely apprehend Christ but much more that they are apprehended of Christ and not that they know God onely but that they are knowne of him for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance so that whether they liue or die they are the Lords for nothing can separate them from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus and therefore doe they boldly say thy louing kindnesse and mercy shall follow mee all the dayes of my life and I shall dwell in the house of God for euer CON. 10 Faith taketh hold of the particular apprehension as to beleeue that God is my God my life peace strength deliuerance and my saluation EXPLA. We must not beleeue only that he is these things in himselfe but that hee is indeed the same to vs for because God is ours whatsoeuer is his is ours for vs and for our vse his mercy his power his prouidence to watch ouer vs both in life and death for by couenant hee bound himselfe to the heires of promise I will bee their God and they shall be my people and againe Loe this is our God and wee haue wayted for him and hee will heare vs we will reioyce and be ioyfull in his saluation for that Christ hath already done for thee is a greater matter then that he promised so thou beleeue not onely that thy sin may forgiuen thee by his mercy which is a beginning or foundation of Christ but also that thy sinnes are forgiuen thee CON. 11. Faith is the fountaine of our loue towards God for while wee beleeue he is so mercifull vnto vs it swalloweth vp our affections and draweth our loue to him EXPLA. The loue arising of faith so much felt in vs assureth vs that wee are beloued of God who loued vs first and therefore place we the confidence of our saluation in him onely to whom wee are vnited and
made one with him in whom we are incorporated as members of his body we dwell in him and hee in vs and as a faithfull Mediator will performe the will of his heauenly Father For of all that he hath giuen him hee will lose nothing but shall raise it vp at the last Day CON. 12. Our saluation hangeth not vpon the sufficiency of our faith repentance or righteousnesse for they are neuer such as they ought to be EXPLA. It is not the valew or worth of any thing in vs that can merit pardon but in faith there is a sincerity and truth required For wee are Iustified freely by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Iesus whom God hath set forth for an attonement for vs by faith in his blood onely by faith I say thaâ— it may bee of grace that the promise may be sure to the seede that through the name of Christ euery one that beleeued in him shall haue forgiuenesse of sinnes for as many as are vnder the workes of the Law are vnder the curse for it is written cursed is euery one that continueth not in all things that are written in the booke of the Law to doe them now the Law is not of faith but he sayth he that doth these things shall liue in them Yee are voyded of Christ yee are fallen from grace that will bee iustified by the Law for if they which bee of the Law bee heires then faith is made voyde and the promise is made of none effect if the inheritance bee by the Law it is no longer by promise but God hath giuen vnto vs eternall life and this life is in his Sonne So eternall life is the gift of God through Iesus Christ our Lord. Neither yet shall we euer haue that fulnesse of grace here to keepe perfectly the commandements yet as grace increaseth so wee increase in keeping of them in this life and in the end sinne being wholly abolished for euer we shall bee fully conformed to the Image of righteousnesse that God desired in the Law Now Christ was circumcised for vs and he that is circumcised is made debter to the whole Law in the which circumcision hee entred bond for vs and shed fewe drops of blood as a pledge hee would shed all the rest for vs thereafter CON. 13. By the grace of God begunne in vs though mixed with many imperfections our faith receiued further confirmatioÌ„ that he which wrought this beginning of life will go forward therewith to the end EXPLA. God who made vs partakers of one part of his promises will also make vs partakers of the other while wee take these first fruits of sanctification as a pledge froÌ„ him of the performance of the whole for if wee hunger and thirst for righteousnesse hate sinne grone vnder the burden of it hanging so fast on this light of saluation shining in vs though not fully cleere may bee ouercast with clouds yet neuer shal haue any night for God doth accept our endeuour and pardon our defects and not onely by Christs death as by the death of our sacrifice by the blood of his Crosse as by the blood of the Paschall Lambe the destroyer passeth our vs and we shall not perish but also by his death as by the death of our high Priest for hee is Priest and sacrifice both we are restored froÌ„ our exile euen to the former forfeited estate to the laÌ„d of promise CON. 14. Our faith it selfe is as infallable as the word of God that assured vs of it but not alwayes so in our apprehension and feeling for though the principall be true which wee beleeue yet are wee iealous lest wee haue mis-applyed it to our selues EXPLA. There are diuers degrees of faith little faith great faith full assurance of faith euen as a weak eie a strong eie he weake eye seeth weakely and vnperfectly and the strong eye seeth strongly and more fully discerneth the thing seene a little faith beleeueth faintly though truely greater faith beleeueth more stedfastly full assurance of faith beleeueth vnder hope against hope they were as wel saued from the biting sting of the venimous serpents which were young and could not well perceiue and the old which were bleare and sore-eyed when they looked vpon the brazen Serpent as they that were vigorous strong and of most quick sight This we see in the Apostles We beleeue say they and know that thou art Christ the Sonne of the liuing God which 〈◊〉 was soone shaken and therfore our Sauior telleth theÌ„ that hee did forewarne them of his death and resurrection that when it was come to passe they might beleeue not with a new faith but repaired and increased Peter vpon Christs word beleeued that he should bee saued in the water but the faintnesse of his faith made him begin to sinke and said Master saue me to whom he answered O thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt and so another time to the Disciples which said Master saue vs we perish Christ answered Why are ye fearefull O ye of little faith So this little faith is not voyd of doubt or feare which is yet true faith and maketh vs run to Christ for sometimes the godly by hasty cogitations questioned their faith and are ouer-taken as Dauid in that case sayd I am cast out of the sight of thy eyes and therefore wee ought to pray Lord increase our faith that we may reioyce vnder the hope of the glory of God which is the proper effect of faith and to know by faith that wee haue eternall life howbeit by occasions wee bewray great infirmitie in the apprehension thereof CON. 15. Alwayes pray and by faith rest assured that vndoubtedly we haue that for which we pray according to his will EXPLA. We pray for forgiuenesse of sinnes not for that wee haue not assurance therof but for that we desire greater assurance that our hearts may bee enlarged that the testimony of the Spirit may more freely sound into vs Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee for our faith hath sometimes a full sometimes a wane as Peter confesseth Christ to be immortall another while he is afraid Christ should die Now here we walke by faith and not by sight and doe pray for the sight of that which we haue but by the comfort of faith hope so doe we beleeue that wee are redeemed both in body and soule and still yet we sigh in our selues wayting for the â—â—demption of our bodyes So the Lord hath taken away Dauids sinne and yet hee prayed Haue mercy vpon me O Lord according to thy great goodnesse according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away my offences then doe wee pray we may inioy by realitie possession that which we beleeue we already haue in Gods affection CON. 16. We must withdraw our eyes from our selues and assuredly beleeue that
and iustified them hee glorified because hee called and iustified none but whom he had predestinated to glory and therefore giueth them perseuerance for the attainement of the same glory Yea and they also account all things but losse for the excellent knowledge of Christ Iesus our Lord and doe iudge them but dung that they may win Christ and bee found in him not hauing their owne righteousnesse which is by the Law CON. 21. There was neuer any meere naturall man for Christ was God also void of all sinne EXPLA. Surely if any at any time was it must be she who by speciall prerogatiue nine moneths togither entertained Christ within the closet of her slesh the hope of all the ends of the earth the honor of the world the common ioy of men but hee of whom all things had their beginnings had his beginning from her of whose body he tooke the blood which was to be shed for the world yet of her hee tooke that which for her he payed The world cannot shew a righteous man much lesse perfectly righteous but Christ is made to vs wisedome reuealing his Fathers will Iustice in offering himselfe a sacrifice for sinne SanctificatioÌ„ because he hath giuen vs his spirit Redemption because he had appointed a day to vindicat his children out of the hands of corruption into a glorious liberty CON. 22. There is a glorifying righteousnes in the world to come as there is a iustifying sanctifying righteousnesse here EXPLA. The righteousnesse wherewith we shall bee clothed in the world to come is both perfect and inherent that whereby here wee are iustified such as is the faith of Abraham is perfect but not inherent that whereby wee are sanctified the workes of Abraham is inherent but not perfect for the righteousnesse wherein we must be found if wee will bee iustified is not our owne for in Christ God findeth vs and the man altogether vnrighteous beeing found in Christ through faith God putteth away his sin by not imputing the same takes quite away the punishment due thereunto by pardoning it and accepted him in Christ Iesus as perfectly righteous as if he had fulfilled all that was commanded him in the law for God made him sinne for vs who knew no sinne that wee might bee made the righteousnesse of God in him that is such we are in the sight of God the Father as is the very Sonne of God himselfe this is all men had sinned God had suffered God had made himselfe the sonne of man and men are made the righteousnesse of God and the grace which elected vs is no grace at all if it elect vs for our workes sake CON. 23 There is no mans case so dangerous as his whom Satan had perswaded that his own righteousnesse shal present him pure blamelesse in the sight of God EXPLA. The more wee haue our fruite in holinesse the more we abound therein the more neede we haue to craue that wee may bee supported and strengthned our very vertues are snares vnto vs it is harder for Sathan to ouerthrow an humble sinner theÌ„ a proud Sainct if we could say as we cannot doe wee are guilty of nothing God sees farther into our hearts then we our selues can doe with hands we neuer offered violence yet a bloody thought doth prooue vs murtherers before him our secret cogitations are laid in the eyes of God and our best things intermingled with many defects God respects the intention of the doer which is seldome vpright our best actions are prayers but how in them are wee distracted little reuerence to the great Maiestie of God little remorse of our owne miseries little influence of his mercies doe wee feele vnwilling to beginne and glad to make an end wherefore wee must euer say Lord beare with our infirmities and pardon our offences CON. 24. Onely man can escape the iudgement of God by appealing to the seate of his sauing mercy EXPLA. God had fixed the limits of his sauing mercy within the compasse of these terms God sent not his Sonne to condemne the world but that the world thorow him might be saued and thereafter mercy is restrained to beleeuers for he that beleeues shall not be condemned hee that beleeues not is condemned already because he beleeues not in the Son of God and in another place mercy is restrained to the penitent Of Iesabel and her sectaries thus hee spake I gaue her space to repent and she repented not behold I will cast her into a bed and them that commit fornication with her into a great affliction except they repent them of their workâ—s and I will kill her children with death If thou be therefore not altogether faithlesse and impenitent there is mercy in store for thee abundantly CON. 25. Faith is the fountaine of prayer and God in keeping of our faith continueth our prayer because the stream cannot faile so long as the fountaine faileth not EXPLA. Prayer is the breath of faith which neuer ceaseth to breathe so long as it is aliue Prayers are the beames of faith if the light of faith bee not quenched it certainely sendeth forth these beames of prayer wherefore they neuer giue ouer to pray that it may bee fulfilled in them which is promised Euery one that calleth vpon the name of God shall be saued God vseth instruction of the word and Sacraments and correction of crosses and tentation to preserue both faith prayer by afflictions he fretteth off the rust and blotteth away the ashes of carnall â—ecurity Wherefore it is said Lord in affliction they visited thee they haue powred out a prayer when thy chastisement was vpon them Thus God keepeth the fire of his Spirit continually burning in our hearts opening our eares by his corrections to cause vs to ceasse from our euill enterprizes and to heale our pride and to keepe backe our soule from the pit Wherefore when wee are iudged wee are chastned of the Lord that we may not be condemned with the world CON. 26. Doubting or distracting feare cannot stand with assurance of faith but awfull and regarding feare is an vndiuided companion of true faith EXPLA. As feare is opposed to faith we heare God appointing his Ministers to call his people from it Say vnto the fearefull bee thou strong feare not behold our God commeth with vengeance and hee will come and saue you and againe Feare not for I am with thee be not afraid for I am thy God I will strengthen thee and helpâ— thee and sustaine thee with the hand of my Iustice And againe Feare not for I haue redeemed thee I haue called thee by name thou art mine And againe Feare not for thou shalt not be ashamed nor confounded in righteousnesse shalt thou bee established and be farre from feare for it shall not come neere thee this is the heritage of the Lords seruants whose righteousnesse is of me for Christs merit is our
righteousnesse And all this is because wee should rest in full assurance of safety without feare or doubt because hee promised to preuent all occasions whence any feare should arise And so he deliuered them out of the hands of their enemies without feare and Christ died that he might deliuer them who for feare of death were all their life time subiect to bondage and now wee haue not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare any more but the spirit of adoption to cry abba Father for God hath not giuen vs the spirit of feare but of power and of loue and of a sound minde for there is no greater bondage then that feare when we are vncertaine what shall become of vs but he said Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to giue you the Kingdome Now that other commendable feare doth not shake assurance of saluation but the faithfull finding that in him doth gather the greater assurance to himselfe For the punishment of God is fearefull vnto him that dreades Gods iudgements abhorreth wicked courses laboureth in righteousnesse is strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and doe work their saluation with feare and trembling with humility and acknowledgement of their own frailety and neuer to commit themselues to themselues but to him who hath wrought all our workes for vs for by his owne might shall no man be strong Now there is difference betwixt absolute doubting weake assenting and interruption in assent with some feare for the seeds of all impiety land in the corruption of the heart whereby we are assaulted with doubt of the principall poynts of our beleefe the wisedome power iustice mercy of God yet do not wholly relinquish the assent thereof CON. 27. In application of our generall faith to particular occasions wee many times goe halting and lame and stagger somewhat at that whereof our faith should giue vs full assurance by the will of God EXPLA. Thus did Sarah cast doubt of Gods promise touching the hauing of a child who yet is said through faith to haue receiued strength to conceiue when she was past age because she iudged him faithfull that had promised Thus did Moses call in question the power of God as touching prouiding flesh for the people of Israel when God promised so to do So Dauid and Habacuck staggered as touching the prouidence of God and his care of the iust and righteous men So did the Disciples murmure concerning the Godhead of Christ and the hope of redemption by him which before they had imbraced surely when we look vnto our selues in our greatest perfections we are subiect to that amazed distraction as to say Who shall ascend into heauen as if Christ were not ascended to make way for vs and Who shall descend into the deepe as if Christ had not died to deliuer vs from thence we can neuer satisfie our selues how either to escape the one or to attaine the other CON. 28. They are not faithlesse which are weake in assenting to the truth EXPLA. As many as hold the foundation which is precious thogh they hold it but weakly and as it were with a slender thread although they frame many base and vnsutable things vpon it things that cannot abide the triall of fire yet shall they passe the fiery triall and be saued which indeed haue builded themselues vpon the Rocke which is the foundation of the Church CON. 29. The foundation of faith is not onely the generall ground whereupon we rest when wee beleeue the writings of the Prophets and Apostles but also it is the principall thing which is beleeued that is Christ. EXPLA. There is a foundation of our faith God manifested in the flesh iustified in the Spirit and this Thou art the Sonne of the liuing God thou art the King of Israel and that of the inhabitants of Samaria This is Christ the Sauiour of the world Which who directly doth deny doth vtterly rase the very foundation of faith for Christ in the worke of mans saluation is all without our workes for hee is that seede in whom all the Nations of the world shall be blessed and among men there is giuen no other name vnder heauen whereby we must be saued other foundation can no man lay CON. 29. The holy Spirit in the very moment when first he is giuen of God bringeth with him infused vertues proper and peculiar to the Saincts of God EXPLA. There bee two kindes of christian righteousnesse the one without vs which wee haue by imputation the other in vs which consisteth of Faith Hope and Charity as Abraham had not onely the one because the things beleeued was imputed to him for righteousnesse but also the other because he offered vp his son They are both Gods gifts and the first by accepting vs for righteous in Christ and the second by working christian righteousnesse in vs by the spirit of adoption which we haue receiued into our hearts which maketh two kindes of sanctifying righteousnesse habituall and actuall CON. 30. The wicked haue not such faith as that wherewith a Christian man is iustified EXPLA. It is the Spirit of God which worketh faith in the Elect the things which they beleeue are not apprehended onely as true but also as good and that to vs as good they are not apprehended by the wicked as true they are The Christian the more hee increaseth in faith the more his ioy and comfort aboundeth but they the more sure they are of the truth the more they quake and tremble at it for the wicked doe rather wish that they might then thinke that they shall ceasse when they ceasse to liue because they hold it better that death should consume them into nothing then God reuiue them vnto punishment On the contrary to the Elect there is no grief nor torment greater then to feele their perswasion weake in things whereof when they are perswaded they reape such comfort and ioy of the Spirit CON. 31. Faith giueth vs the comfort of saluation because it beleeueth that which the word of God hath deliuered concerning them in whom the signes marks of our Election are found EXPLA. Faith giueth assurance of saluation by the Word of God not only by apprehending the promise of life and saluation but also obseruing such marks and tokens as the Word of God setteth down to discerne them vnto whom this saluation doth appertaine and therefore it doth not onely looke to that which Christ saith that whosoeuer beleeueth shall haue euerlasting life but because Christ also saith hee that is of God heareth Gods word therefore the faithful man delighteth in the word of God beleeueth concerning himselfe that he is of God because the Apostle saith Euery one that calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saued and this also doth the faithfull man vnfaignedly calling on the name of
Yea and the elects sinnes doe euen worke for their good which are made a Triacle or preseruatiue against sinne for they neuer so fall but that his seede remaineth in them and his hand is vnder to lift them vp againe Thus the Lord is our righteousnesse Christ is to vs a Iesus a Sauiour by sauing vs immediately himselfe not by giuing vs power to saue our selues or to be our Sauiours CON. 47. The worth of Christs merits is most cleerely seene in the true acknowledgement of our vnworthinesse EXPLA. Gods light is most cleerly seene in our darknesse his power in our weakenesse his goodnesse in shewing vs mercy that are euill his righteousnesse in the confession of of our shame God hath appointed vs to be for the glory of his grace and therfore he disposeth that no flesh shal reioyce in his presence and that he onely may be exalted in that day and reioyce that we haue found mercy with the Lord who couereth our sinnes with the mantle of his righteousnes who seeth no iniquity in Iacob nor beholds transgression in Israel God seeth sinne with the eye of his knowledge but by reason of that couerture will not see it with the eye of his iudgement he seeth it with a discerning but seeth it not with a reuenging eye for the iustified man delighteth in the Law of God as touching the inner man yet hee hath still in his members the law of sinne hanging fâ—â—st on and lusting and rebelling against the Law of the spirit of life For though he hath within him an army of vicious desires yet hath hee a will and desire of righteousnesse hee hungreth and thirsteth wayting to be satisfied because according to his promise wee looke for a new heauen and a new earth wherin righteousnesse dwelleth the purpose of his life tendeth wholly to it it is grieuance to him that he failed to performe it and maketh him to cry out Wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from the body of death And therefore though he sinne he sinneth not maliciously purposely and with desire and delight in sinne but of ignorance and infirmity by occasion and by the creeping and stealing of sin vpon him CON. 48. By the Law of faith God pardoneth sinne EXPLA. God is a iust iudge as wel when hee iudgeth by lawes of mercy as when he iudgeth by the lawes of extremity as well in the law of faith as in the law of workes by the law of faith God forgiueth and considereth with fauour and if there bee a willing minde it is accepted according to that a man hath not according to that that hee hath not And all this hee doth as a iust Iudge because by law he doth whatsoeuer he doth but in the rigor of the Law which is the law of workes he remitteth nothing but requireth all to the vttermost farthing nothing pleafeth but what is exact and perfect and fully answerable to the rule So Paule expected that God as a iust iudge would yeeld vnto him the Crowne not by the Law of workes but by the Law of faith wherin God crowneth in mercy louing kindnesse because his crowne is a crowne of Iustice not of Pauls owne Iustice but of the Iustice of God for it is iust with God to pay that he oweth and he oweth that which hee hath promised which is mercy to the beleeuing penitent for Christs sake For all wee like sheepe haue gone astray and the Lord hath laid vpon him the iniquities of vs all for hee bore our sinnes in his body vpon the tree Thy righteousnesse couereth in mee a multitude of sins but in thee O Lord what but the treasures of piety the riches of Goodnesse CON. 49. Wee are reputed iust by the forgiuenesse of our sins and this is iustification in the sight of God EXPLA. What are wee but iust in the sight of God when there is taken from vs the imputation of all sinne To be iust is the same as not to be a sinner and in the way of faith they to whom their sinnes are not imputed are accounted not sinners and therfore are accounted iust for all the commandements of God are reputed to bee done when that which is not done is pardoned and hee who is reputed to haue done all the commandements of God is reputed iust Hee therefore to whom God pardoneth that which hee hath done is reputed iust and that which God determineth not to impute is all one is if it had neuer beene for wee are iustified through the redemption which is in Christ and redemption is by forgiueness of sinnes and the not imputing of sinne is the imputing of righteousnesse without workes now forgiuenesse of our sinnes is yeelded vnto vs by vertue of the merit and righteousnes which Christ hath wrought for vs who was giuen for vs and gaue himselfe for vs who was made vnder the Law to redeem vs and therefore is iust and righteous for vs and whatsoeuer he hath done he hath done for vs hee hath shed his blood for vs died for vs rose againe for vs and hath fulfilled all righteousnesse and obedience to his Father for vs and so very iustly is accounted ours Whatsoeuer hee hath done for vs is no lesse then if wee our selues had performed the same for our selues And thus by the imputation of Christs righteousnesse our sinnes are couered pardoned and forgiuen and we are reputed iust by the righteousnesse of Christ because in the righteousnes of Christ is the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and thereby no accusation is liable against vs either as hauing done that which we ought not to haue done or done that which we ought not to doe for who shal lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect And as Adam did beare the person of all mankinde and wee all were that one man and therefore what hee did was as done by all and euery one So did Christ beare the person of all the Elect and faithfull and was accounted as them all in one not one that made the forfeiture and another the satisfaction because one Christ is both the head and the body and therefore what hee did is likewise as done by all and euery one of vs. CON. 50. In the Elect with sanctification there is still a remainder of originall corruption EXPLA. Iustification in the sight of God by the imputation of Christs merits is alwayes accompanied with the sanctificatioÌ„ of the holy Ghost whereby the inward quality of the man though not wholly yet in part is altered and changed and is thenceforth further to bee renued from day to day In part I say because together with their sanctification there is still remnants of originall corruption by the touch staine whereof the holinesse newnesse that is wrought in vs is defiled for although originall corruption hath receiued a deadly wound yet it is not wholly