Joy in Tribulation, Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV. Further confirmation from the examples of the Saints, and testimonies of the Ancient.
LEt us looke now to the evidence which riseth from the examples of the Saints, & to the testimony of our predecessors, the ancient Doctors in the Christian Church. How transparently doth this confidence, and assurance of faith shine forth in the practice of the faithful? Upon what grounds could Abraham so readily forsake his own native Covntry, & his fathers house; so cheerfully confesse himself a sojorner in the earthly Canaan; so earnestly look for an heavenly habitations; so obediently sacrifice his onelyonly sonne, in whom were shut up all the promises, but from this assurance of faith? What was it in Moses that caused him to refuse the adoption of Pharaoh but the knowledge of his adoption by God? What made the reproach of Christ more glorious in his eyes than all the treasures of AEgypt, but this respect to the recompence of the reward? of which had hee not a full assurance, hee could not so easily have left (as we say) a bird in the hand for two in the bush. What was it that hardened his heart, and steeled it against the rage of the King, to cut through all impediments, but this assurance of Gods favour?
But had these Saints, in this point, no extraordinary revelations? What testifies the Spirit? By faith they did all these things; that faith, which made them acknowledge, not onelyonly that God is, but that he is a rewarder of all that diligently seeke him: Read Heb. 11. Whence sprung all those confident speeches of Iob, in the midst of a very hell in earthly misery? He shall be (saith that holy Patient) hee shall be my salvation. I know I shall bee justified. Himselfe points out the fountaine whence he drew these strong comforts: Though hee slay me, yet will I trust in him, Iob 13 15. 16.18. Whence also hee undauntedly averres, I know, (not the Redeemer generally of the faithfull, but) that my Redeemer liveth, Iob 19.25, 27.and I shall see him (I shall enjoy that beatificall sight of God) for my selfe.
How boldly doth David professe,Psa. 73.24. Thou shalt guide me by thy Counsell, and after receive me to glorie. And againe,Psal… 49.5. Wherefore should I feare in the daies of evill, when the wickednesse of my heeles compasse mee? But these examples are verie frequent, and every where meete us in the paths of holy Scripture.
Unto this practice of the Saints, let us annex some authorities of the ancient Fathers in the Church, who, no doubt, spoke from their knowledge, and feeling. Hilar. in Mat. c. 5. The Lord will have us hope for the kingdome of heaven without anie wavering of an inconstant will; Otherwise there is no justification by faith, if faith it selfe be doubtfull.
So Chrysostome in Rom. Hom. 9. We boast, or glorie (saith the Apostle) That thou maist know what minde he must have, who hath pledged his faith to God. For hee must not onelie have a full perswasion of those things which he hath received, but of those which are to come, as if alreadie given him; For a man glorieth of that which hee alreadie possesseth: Because, therefore, our hope is as firme of future things, as of present, therefore (saith he) we rejoice, or glorie of these, as of the other. But to omit many other, verily that of Bernard, who lived in the very darkenesse, and almost midnight of Popery, is not to be neglected. Thus he writes in Annunc. ser. 1.
It is necessary for thee first to beleeve, that thou canst have no pardon of sinne, but by Gods indulgence, &c. Lastly, that thou canst not d…serve, by any workes, the kingdome of heaven, but that it also must be freely given.
But these are not sufficient: they are but the beginnings and foundations of faith. If therefore thou beleevest that thy sinnes cannot be forgiven, but by him against whom they are committed, thou dost well. But to this, adde yet further, that thou beleeve this also, namely, that thy sinnes by him are forgiven. This is the testimonie of the holy Spirit, who witnesseth unto our hearts, saying, Thy sinnes are forgiven thee. Thus the Apostle determineth, that a man is justified by faith freely. So thou must also have the testimonie of the same Sp…rit, that thou by the gift of God shalt attaine eternall life. Thus farre Bernard.
Adde to these some reason for further confirmation, and so we will finish this point. It cannot bee denyed that true faith may ordinarily apprehend, by infallible certainty, any promise which God hath revealed. For this is by all confessed to bee the very end of faith, that wee might bee certainely perswaded (without doubting) of Gods promises. But God hath promised to every true Beleever eternall life (as cannot be denyed) Ioh. 5.24. &c. and hath many wayes confirmed his promise by oath, seales, earnest: hence it must necessarily follow, that the faithfull may bee infallibly assured of their salvation and glory.
But some here object; Indeed if men could surely know that they had true faith, then they might be surely perswaded: but how should they come to this knowledge? Certainly that we may attain this knowledge, & power of discerning our faith, is not only apparent by that sentence of the Apostle, exhorting the Corinthians to prove and examine their faith, 2 Cor. 13.5but by sense also, and every mans experience: when I beleeve an able man promising mee any kindnesie, I know, and even feele that I beleeve him. So that weake beleever could even from sense, say,Mar. 9.24. I beleeve, helpe my unbeliefe. But some object further; The promise (say they) is only generall: we have no particular promise, Thou Peter, or Iohn shalt be saved: therefore no sufficient warrant to apply that generall promise to our selves in particular. But this is both fond, and false. For as every man hath a particular command in the generall precept; (where God chargeth al men to beleeve, obey, feare, there he chargeth every one singly, Thou Peter, Iohn shalt beleeve, &c. So hath everie singular person a speciall promi…e to himselfe beleeving in the generall, where glory is promised unto every Beleever.