The Whole Armor of God, Exegesis · Treatise 2 · Part 6 · Section 29 – Section 44
§. 29. Of the extent of Gods offer of Chriſt.
3 FOr the extent of the offer of Chriſt,7 Gods promiſes are offered to all. it is ſo large, ſo generall, as no perſon can hauehave any iuſt cauſe to thinke himſelfe exempted. The Angell that brought this glad tidings from Heauen, ſaid; That it was formLuk. 2. 10. all people. nIoh. 1. 6. 7The man that was ſent from God for a witneſſe, bare witneſſe of the light, that all men thorow him might beleeue. When Chriſt ſent his Apoſtles forth to preach the Goſpell, he bid themoMat 28. 19. Goe, and teach all Nations: And to ſhew that no particular man in any Nation was excepted, but eueryevery mothers child included,pMar. 16. 15. Saint Marke ſetting down the ſame commiſſion, expreſſeth eueryevery creature; meaning eueryevery reaſonable creature.
I will not here ſtand to diſcuſſe this queſtion, whether the ſound of the Goſpel hath been heard in eueryevery corner of the world, or no: it is ſufficient for our preſent purpoſe to know, that wherſoeuer the ſound therof cōeth, there by the miniſtery of it, tender and offer is made to eueryevery ſoule, of Chriſt and all his benefits, euen as when therNum. 21. 8. braſen ſerpent was lift vp, a remedy was afforded to all that looked vponupon it.aIoh. 3. 14, 15 Chriſt reſembleth this braſen ſerpent to himſelfe, and maketh this very application thereof. God herein dealeth with the world, as a King (againſt whom his whole kingdome, euen all his ſubiects hauehave riſen vp, and rebelled) who cauſeth a generall pardon to be proclaimed to all, and eueryevery one that will lay downe their weapons, and accept pardon.
This vniuerſall offer of Chriſt,The generall offer of Chriſt a meanes to draw all to receiue Chriſt is an eſpeciall meanes to draw a poore ſinner to receiue Chriſt: and it is to bee noted againſt the laſt barre, wherewith men vſe to keepe their hearts cloſe ſhut from entertaining Chriſt: for when they be brought to acknowledge that God is able to performe all his promiſes; that he is faithfull, and will performe them: that it is not mans vnworthineſſe that keepeth him from ſhewing fauour vntounto man, but that his owne goodneſſe moueth him thereunto, yea that the number and weight of many ſinnes cannot damme vp, and keepe backe the euer-flowing ſtreames of his mercy, they will obiect and ſay,
Wee know not whether we are any of thoſe perſons to whom the promiſes of the Goſpel are intended,Obiect. and for whom Chriſt indeed dyed. But for anſwere hereunto,
1 I exhort ſuch to learne of God by hearing him,Anſwer. and vſing his meanes how to know
§. 30. That the offer of Chriſt, is aſufficient ground to receiue Chriſt.
2 OF ſuch I would demand what further ground they would hauehave to receiue Chriſt, then this, that God offereth Chriſt vntounto them? wouldeſt thou (whoſoeuer thou art that diſputeſt againſt God, and againſt thine owne ſoule) wouldeſt thou climbe vp into Heauen, and enter into Gods ſecret cloſet, where his records are, to ſet whether thy name be written in the booke of life or not and then if it be, beleeue? what a prepoſterous conc… is this, directly thwarting the vnſearchable wiſedome of God? God hath reſerued his eternall counſell, concerning the election of men, as a ſecret vntounto himſelfe; yet hath he ordained and reuealed meanes vntounto the ſons of men, by the right vſing whereof, they may come tob2 Pet. 1. 10. make their election ſure: God hath alſo ſaid,cDeut 29. 29. that Secret things belong vntounto himſelfe, reuealed things to vsus. Now marke the prepoſterous courſe of theſe men; curious they are, and ouer-curious in that which is ſecret, but ouer-careleſſe in that which is reuealed. If this be not to oppoſe mās ſhallow braine to the bottomles depth of Gods wiſdome, I know not what is. Had it not been notorious folly for any of the Iſraelites to hauehave lien burning with the … of the fiery ſerpents till they had dyed, refuſing to looke on the brazen ſerpent, and ſaid, when I know that the ſerpent was lifted vp for mee, I will looke vponupon it? Did not the very lifting vp of the ſerpent ſhew that it … Gods will they ſhould looke on it, and looking be cured ſo God cauſing Chriſt to be lift vp by preaching of the Goſpel before thee, ſheweth that he would thou ſhould deft beleeue, and beleeuing hauehave life euerlaſting.
§. 31. That a mans vnworthineſſe ought not to keepe him from beleeuing.
SAy not therefore, I can ſee nothing in my ſelfe why Chriſt ſhould belong to me.Obiect.
I told thee before, that thou muſt cleane goe out of thy ſelfe, and looke vponupon God.Anſwer.
But for thy further ſatisfaction herein, let me demand two things of thee.
Firſt, whether any man before he beleeued, ſaw any thing in himſelfe why Chriſt ſhould rather belong to him then to any other.Queſt. 1. The Scripture ſaith,dRom. 3. 33. There is no difference, for all hauehave ſinned, and are depriued of the glory of God. What then? Wouldeſt thou be ſingular, and hauehave a ground of Faith proper and peculiar to thy ſelfe? Is not this a ſpice of vaine-glory? wouldſt thou not hauehave ſomething to boaſt in?
Secondly, whether thou ſeeſt any thing in thy ſelfe why thou ſhouldeſt not beleeue?Queſt. 2. The offer of Chriſt is vniuerſall to all. Who ſeparateth thee? Obiect not thine vnworthineſſe: for who is worthy? nor the multitude and grieuouſneſſe of thy ſinnes: for he that hath feweſt and leaſt, hath burden enough to preſſe him downe to the loweſt pit of hell, if God be not mercifull vntounto him. But tell me, is the number and weight of thy ſinnes an heauy burden vntounto thee? doe they grieue and vexe thy ſoule? art thou preſſed downe with them? Loe here is a motiue to make thee beleeue. This is an euidence that thou art one of thoſe to whom Chriſt is giuen: for Chriſt after peculiar manner inuiteth ſuch to come vntounto him, ſaying,aMat. 11. 28. Come vntounto me all ye that are laden and weary, and I will eaſe you. ForbLuk. 5. 32. he came to call ſinners and thereupon the Apoſtle with a vehement aſſeueration auerreth this point,cTim. 1. 15. This is a faithfull ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chriſt Ieſus came into the world to ſaue ſinners.
§. 32. Of long waiting.
Obiect. BVt many with heauy hearts hauehave long waited vponupon the meanes, and diligently attended to the Word, and yet find no faith wrought in them.
Anſw. We may not preſcribe any time to God: as he worketh on whom he will, ſo hee worketh when hee will:dHab. 2. 3. Though he tarry, waite: eHeb. 10. 37.for yet a very little while, and he that ſhall come, Eſt animi generoſi perdurare quo ad Deus miſereatur noſtri. Cryſ. parad Theod.will come, and will not tarry. God neuer failed any that continued to waite on him, At length he ſatisfied their longing. RememberfIoh. 5. 5. &c. the hiſtory of that poore diſeaſed man that lay ſo long at the poole of Betheſda: at length his deſire was effected, hee was cured.
Let me therefore (in the name of Chriſt Ieſus) prouoke eueryevery one before whom Chriſt is lift vp in the Miniſtery of the Word, and adminiſtration of the Sacraments, to looke vponupon him, and to perſwade themſelues that he belongeth vntounto them, and ſo receiue him into their hearts, and beleeue.
Neither let them ſay,Obiect. that if Chriſt ſhould not belong to them,Anſwere. they ſinne in beleeuing: for boldly I ſay againe if any vponupon the forenamed grounds beleeue,None ſinne in beleeuing. they finne not: no man can ſinne in beleeuing (in preſuming, hee may ſinne, but there is a great difference betwixt Faith and preſumption, as we ſhall*§. 88. hereafter ſhew)gIoh 3. 18. He that beleeueth ſhall not bee condemned, h1 Ioh. 5. 10.Hee hath the witneſſe… himſelfe: So that in beleeuing he ſinneth not. But whoſoeuer beleeueth not, refuſeth and reiecteth Chriſt, … theyiMat. 22. 3, 5, 6. who were inuited to the mariage of the Kings for and did not come.
§. 33. Of mans ſinne in not beleeuing.
Obiect. FAith is not in mans power. How then can a man ſinne in not beleeuing?
Anſw. How man ſinneth in not beleeuing.1 God gaue ability to man (when he created him after his owne image) to lay hold on any promiſe that at any time God ſhould make vntounto him: ſo as God gaue him power to beleeue. But man thorow his owne default diſabled himſelfe. May not God iuſtly exact what he gaue?
2 No vnbeleeuer doth what lieth in him to beleeue: but faileth in ſome thing that he might doe. To omit thoſe among whom the ſound of the Goſpell came not, (becauſe now we hauehave not to doe with them:)kMat. 22. 6. Some perſecute orlActs. 2. 13. ſcoffe at the Miniſtery of the Goſpel: mActs 13. 45. 1 Cor: 1: 23.ſome ſpeake againſt the meanes it ſelfe, counting it fooliſhneſſe: nLuke 14. 18.ſome are careleſſe in comming to it, pretending many vaine excuſes:oMat. 3. 7. ſome come for company, or other by-reſpects:p& 13. 19, ſome attend not though they come: q21,ſome ſoone let ſlippe what they heare:r22. ſome let the things of this world choake that which they heare: in ſomething or other all they which beleeue not come ſhort of that which they might hauehave done, for attaining vntounto this precious gift of Faith. And that is it for which another day they ſhall be condemned.
3 Vnbeleefe is in a mans power: who diſtruſt and gaine-ſay the promiſes of the Goſpel, doe it of their free will: they wittingly and wilfully refuſe and reiect the gracious offer of Chriſt Ieſus. Marke what Chriſt ſaith of Ieruſalem, tMat. 23. 37:How oft would I hauehave gathered thy children together, and ye would not?
§. 34. Of the heinouſneſſe of Incredulity.
THus we ſee that no vnbeleeuers can hauehave iuſt excuſe for themſelues:Incredulity a grieuous ſinne. their Incredulity is truly and properly a ſinne; yea, it is a moſt grieuous ſinne: heinous againſt God, and dangerous vntounto man.
As Faith of all graces doth moſt honour God,1 Diſ…honourable to God. ſo this of all vices doth moſt diſhonour him. It impeacheth the forenamed properties of God, namelyuPſal. 78. 19, 20. his power, as if God were not able to make good his promiſe:*1 Ioh. 5. 10. his truth, as if God were vnfaithfull, yea, a plaine lyer, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh:xGen. 4. 13. his mercy, as if it were dryed vp with the heat of mens ſinnes, and his*Pſal. 10 4, 5. preſence in eueryevery place, as if he were not euer by vsus. It maketh a man flie from God asyGen. 3. 8. Adam did, and contemne his gracious offer of pardon, as deſperate rebels and debtors: it maketh Chriſt to hauehave dyed in vaine: yea it is accompanied with a kind of obſtinacy, as in Thomas who ſaid,zIoh. 20. 25. I will not beleeue it.
In regard of men,2 Dangerous to men. no ſinne ſo deadly and dangerous; it ſtoppeth the current of Gods mercy, it barreth vp heauen gates againſt men,Filios Diaholi infide litas facit. quod peccatum proprium vocatur, quaſi ſolum ſit, &c. Aug. cont. ep. Pelag. lib. 3. c. 3 and openeth the mouth of hell for them, and maketh them Satans vaſſals. Whereas Faith bringeth an abſolution for all ſinnes, this layeth all our ſinnes open to the wrath of God. The truth is,aIon. 3. 18. He that beleeueth not is condemned already: and why? becauſe he beleeueth not in the Sonne of God. God hath made offer of his Sonne, but he will not receiue him. Is not this to reiect Chriſt, and to iudge ones ſelfebAct. 13. 46. vnworthy of eternall life? Wherefore to conclude this point, ſeeing there is ſo good ground to beleeue, & that not to beleeue is ſo heynous a ſinne, let none dare to diſtruſt, or to put off from him the promiſes of the Goſpel: we may hauehave a godly ieaiealouſie ouer our ſelues, and vſe a conſcionable care in trying the truth of our Faith, (as after I will ſhew;) but to reiect the offer which God maketh of Chriſt, wee may not dare: if we feele not Faith wrought in vsus, wee muſt waite till we feele it.
§. 35. Of prouing Faith.
THus we ſee how Faith may be gotten:V. Point. The tryall of Faith. the next point is to ſhew how it may be prooued. Wee hauehave heard how pretious a thing Faith is: it doth therefore greatly behoue vsus throughly to try our Faith, whether it be ſound or no.Simil. If a man goe to buy a gold chaine, hee will not be deceiued with a faire glittering ſhew, but hee will hauehave it toucht with the touchſtone againe and againe: butc1 Pet. 1. 7. Faith is much more precious then gold that periſheth.
§. 36. Whether Faith may be knowne or no.
BEfore I ſhew how Faith may bee proued,Faith may be knowne. it will bee needful by way of preparation and preuention, to declare whether a Chriſtian can know if he hauehave ſound true Faith or no: for, many conceit that it is ſufficient to hauehave a good hope (as they ſpeake,) imagining that no man can ſay certainly he hath a true Faith. If this were ſo, in vaine it were to ſeeke how it may be proued, who will labour to proue that which cannot be found out? But againſt that conceit I auouch, that The true beleeuer may know that he hath a true and found Faith. For the Saints hauehave profeſſed as much:dPſal. 116. 10 I beleeued ſaith Dauid. eIoh. 6. 69.We beleeue and know, ſay the diſcipleſ: andf2. Tim. 1. 12. S. Paul ſaith, I know whom I hauehave beleeued.
§. 37. Whether ordinary perſons may know they hauehave Faith.
Obiect. THoſe were extraordinary perſons, and had this knowledge of their Faith, by extraordinary reuelation.
Anſw. ThegAct. 8. 37. Eunuch, and thehIoh. 9. 38. blind man knew as much, and yet were no extraordinary perſons. But to ſhew that this knowledge came not of any extraordinary reuelation, proper to extraordinary perſons, the Apoſtle ſpeaking of that ſpirit which Dauid had, ſaith,i2 Cor. 4. 13. Wee hauehave the ſame ſpirit of Faith, &c. Paul had the ſame ſpirit that Dauid had, and other Chriſtians the ſame that hee, whereby they might diſcerne their Faith, and therefore he vſeth the plural number, We hauehave the ſame ſpirit, &c. yet more expreſly he ſaith,k1 Cor. 2. 12. We hauehave receiued the ſpirit that is of God, that we may know the things which are giuen vsus of God. Is not Faith one of thoſe things? yea, it is one of the moſt principall of them? VponUpon this ground the Apoſtle exhorteth vsus,l2 Cor. 13. 5. to proue our ſelues whether we are in the Faith, &c. In vaine were this exhortation, if Faith could not be diſcerned and proued.
§. 38. Of the difference betwixt thoſe who ſeeme to hauehave Faith, and thoſe who indeed hauehave it.
1 Obiect. THe heart of man is deceitfull aboue all things, who can know it? mIer. 17. 9.how then can the truth of any grace be diſcerned?
Anſw. In naturall and wicked men, there is anPſal. 12. 2. double heart, wherby it cometh to be deceitful: but the faithfull hauehaveoIſa. 38. 3. a ſingle, ſimple, honeſt, vpright, perfect heart.
2 Obiect. Many preſume of what they hauehave not: yea, very hypocrites goe ſo farre, as they can hardly, if at all be diſcerned. Many of them doe more reſemble the faithfull, then counterfeit coine doth current money: for herein the Diuell helpeth mans wit. Iudas was not diſcerned by the Diſciples, till Chriſt diſcouered him.Though they which hauehave no faith, may be deceiued, yet they which indeed hauehave it, may diſcerne it.
Anſwer. If that which is counterfeit coine be thorowly tried, if it be brought to the touch-ſtone, if clipped thorow, if melted, it will be diſcerned: ſo hypocriticall Faith. But ſuppoſe ſome be ſo (I know not what to ſay) cunning or ſimple, that they deceiue others and themſelues; yet thereupon it followeth not, that he which indeed hath faith, ſhould be deceiued, becauſe he which hath it not, is: A man which dreameth that he eateth and drinketh,Iſa. 29 8. Simil. may for the time ſtrongly be conceited that he doth ſo, and yet be deceiued: Can not he therefore which is awake, and in deed eateth and drinketh, know that he doth ſo? Hee that wanteth a thing, groundeth his conceit vponupon meere ſhewes and ſhadowes: but he that hath that which he is perſwaded he hath, groundeth his perſwaſion on ſure, ſound, reall euidences.
Obiect. 3. Many which indeede hauehave faith, make a great doubt and queſtion of it, yea, they thinke and ſay, They hauehave no faith at all. How then can Faith bee knowne?
Anſwer. That is thorow mens owne weakeneſſe,Though in a temptation a man doubt, yet out of it hee may hauehave aſſurance. or thorow the violence of ſome temptation. When they are ſtrengthned, and the temptation remoued, that doubting will be diſpelled. But it followeth not, becauſe at ſome times, ſome perſons are ſo exceeding weake, and ſo violently aſſaulted, that therefore they ſhould neuer know that they hauehave faith; or that other which are not ſo weake, nor ſo aſſaulted, ſhould not bee able to know their owne faith.Simil. In naturall matters there may be ſome, who thorow long ſickneſſe, or ſome wound, blow, or bruiſe on their head, know not what they doe: Can not therefore healthy, ſound men know? After Dauid had giuen many euidences of his aſſurance of faith, thorow ſome temptations hee doubted.
§. 39. Whether Faith and doubting may ſtand together.
Queſt. CAn then true Faith ſtand with doubting?True Faith may ſtand with doubting.
Anſw. Yea, it can: for what the Apoſtle ſaith of knowledge, may we apply to other Chriſtian graces, euen to the mother of them all, Faith; a1 Cor. 13. 9.we beleeue in part: The man that ſaid,bMar. 9. 24. Lord I beleeue, yet doubted: for he added, helpe my vnbeleefe. This doubting is not of the nature of Faith, but rather contrary vntounto it, ariſing from the fleſh which remaineth in vsus, ſo long as wee remaine in the World:Fidei praecipua virtus in eo eſt, vt non ambigas Chryſ. in Tit. hom. 3. therefore the more ſtrength Faith getteth, the more is doubting driuen away. Yet as the Spirit in truth may be where the fleſh is, ſo in truth may Faith be where doubting is: but as we muſt ſtriue to ſubdue the fleſh, ſo alſo muſt we ſtriue to diſpell doubting.
§. 40. Of trying Faith both by the cauſes, and by the effects:
NOw come we to the maine point, How Faith may be proued and knowne.
For the true triall of Faith,How faith may be proued. we muſt conſider both the cauſes, and alſo the effects of Faith: how it was wrought, and how it worketh; and compare theſe together. Moſt doe ſend men onelyonly to the effects of Faith, by them to make triall of the truth of them: but there is an hypocriticall Faith, which bringeth forth many fruits ſo like true Faith; and true Faith is oft ſo couered with the cloudes of temptations, that if reſpect be had onelyonly to the effects, counterfeit Faith may be taken for true Faith; and true Faith may be counted no Faith. The birth therefore and the growth of Faith muſt be conſidered iointly together, and one compared with another, that they may both of them giuegive mutuall euidence one to another, and ſo both of them giuegive a ioint and ſure euidence to a mans ſoule and conſcience that he is not deceiued.
§. 41. Of that illumination which cauſeth Faith.
VVE are firſt to begin with the birth of Faith:Note that many differences may be diſcerned in the cauſes of Faith after Faith is wrought, which cannot be found before faith. of the meanes and order of working Faith, I hauehave ſpoken before: for the proofe of Faith in this reſpect, we muſt apply the ſeuerall points before deliuered to our owne Faith, & examine whether it were accordingly wrought: namely, whether it were grounded on a true illumination of the minde, in regard of mans miſery, and the remedy appointed by God: and of a right diſpoſition of the heart, both in regard of true griefe for ſinne, and true deſire after Chriſt.
For Illumination, Cauſes of Faith.it is not ſufficient that we hauehave a generall knowledge of the fore-named miſery and remedy,1. Illumination. that ſuch and ſuch are all men by nature, that this is the remedy afforded vntounto them; but we muſt hauehave an experimentall knowledge of our owne wofull eſtate, as Saint Paul had,fRom 7. 7, &c when he ſet forth his own perſon as a patterne of a miſerable man,g1 Tim. 1. 13. and in particular reckoned vp his owne particular greeuous ſinnes: this is it which will driue a man to Chriſt: if at leaſt we alſo vnderſtand that the remedy is ſuch an one as may bring redemption vntounto our ſelues.
It is more cleare then needs be proued, that what Faith ſoeuer ignorant men, men that liue in neglect, and contempt of Gods Word, make ſhew of, hath not ſo much as a ſhew of ſound Faith, but is palpably counterfeit: therefore this firſt point may not be left out in the triall of Faith.
§. 42: That Griefe goeth before Faith.
FOr the diſpoſition of the heart,2 Compunction and griefe of heart. vnleſſe firſt it hauehave beene touched with a ſence of mans wretchedneſſe, and grieued thereat, it is to be feared that the pretence of Faith which is made, is but a meere pretence: for God healeth none but ſuch as are firſt wounded.aMat. 9. 12. The whole neede not a Phyſitian, but they that are ſicke. bLuke 4. 18Chriſt was annointed to preach the Goſpell to the poore, to heale the brok… hearted, &c.
Obiect. Many hauehave beleeued that neuer grieued for their miſery, ascActs 16. 14 Lydia, dHeb. 11. 31Rahab, cLuke 23. 42the theefe on the croſſe, and others, of whom no griefe is recorded.
Anſwer. Who can tell that theſe grieued not? It followeth not that they had no griefe, becauſe none is recorded: All particular actions and circumſtances of actions are not recorded; it is enough that the griefe of ſome, as offActs 2. 37 the Iewes, ofg& 16. 29 the Iaylor, ofhLuke 7. 38 the woman that waſhed Chriſts feete with her teares, and of others is recorded.
But the griefe of the theefe is implied both by reprouing his fellow, and alſo by acknowledging his owne guiltineſſe, Rahab ſaith,iIoſ. 2. 11 That their hearts melted.
Obiect. That which is ſaid of Rahab, is ſaid of others alſo, who beleeued not.
Anſw. Though the ſame affection be iointly attributed to all, yet it was very different in the kinde, manner, and end thereof. The heart of others melted for feare of a temporall deſtruction: it was a worldly ſorrow; but hers a godly ſorrow, becauſe ſhee was an aliant from the common wealth of Iſrael, and out of the Church of God, and therefore ſo earneſtly deſired to be one of them.
Lydia might bee prepared before ſhee heard Paul, for ſheekActs 16. 13, 14. accompanied them which went out to pray, and ſhee worſhipped God: or elſe her heart might bee then touched when ſhee heard Paul preach. The like may be ſaid oflActs 10 44. 45. thoſe which heard Peter when hee preached to Cornelius, and of others. Certaine it is that a man muſt both ſee and feele his wretchedneſſe, and bee wounded in ſoule for it, before Faith can be wrought in him. Yet I denie not but there may bee great difference in the manner & meaſure of greeuing. Somem1 Sam. 7. 6, draw water, and poure it out before the Lord: nLuke 7. 38.Their heart poureth out abundance of teares.oActs 16. 29 Other tremble and quake againe with horror. Other long continue in their griefe. Other are ſo deepely wounded within, that they cannot expreſſe it by outward tears, but are euen aſtoniſhed, as with a wound that bleedeth inwardly. Other ſee in what a wretched and curſed eſtate they lie, and are greeued, and euen confounded that they can greeue no more: yet it pleaſeth God after hee hath ſhewed to ſome their woefull eſtate thorow ſinne, and touched their heart therewith, (bringing them thereby to loath their owne naturall eſtate, to deſpaire in themſelues, and to condemne themſelues, vtterly renouncing all confidence in themſelues) preſently to ſtirre vp their hearts to deſire and embrace the ſweete promiſes and conſolations of the Goſpell.
Faith therefore is not to be iudged by the meaſure, but by the truth of griefe, which may be knowne by the cauſes and fruits thereof.
§. 43. How Griefe which worketh Faith is wrought.
FOr the cauſes,Cauſes of true griefe. 1 Gods word worketh it. true griefe which worketh Faith, ariſeth,
1pActs 2. 37. From the word of God, whereby ſinne and Gods wrath for the ſame is diſcouered.
Obiect. Theq& 16. 26, &c. Iaylor was humbled with an extraordinary iudgement.
Anſwer. No doubt but he had heard the word of God before: for Paul had beene ſometime in that City, ſo as that iudgement was but as an hammer to driue into his heart the nailes of Gods word: for it is the proper vſe of Gods iudgements to beate downe the hard and ſtoute heart of man, and ſo to make him ſenſibly apprehend▪ Gods wrath denounced in his Word againſt ſinners. So▪ wasr2 Chr. 33. 10, 12: Manaſſeh brought to apply the threatnings of Gods word to himſelfe by a great iudgement.
2 From deſpaire of all helpe in our ſelues, or any other creature:2 It ariſeth from deſpaire in our ſelues. This made the Iewes and Iaylor ſay;ſActs 2. 37, & 16. 30 What ſhall we doe? So long as man retaineth any conceit of helpe in himſelfe, all his miſery, and griefe for it, will neuer bring him to Chriſt.
3.And from ſence of Gods diſp…eaſure. From our wretchedneſſe and vildneſſe by reaſon of ſinne, whereby God is offended, and his wrath prouoked; as well as from our curſedneſſe by reaſon of the puniſhment and fearefull iſſue of ſinne: Thus was the prodigall childe grieued, becauſe he hadtLuke 15. 18. ſinned againſt his Father.
§. 44. Of the effects which that Griefe that cauſeth Faith, bringeth forth.
GRiefe thus wrought, bringeth forth theſe and ſuch like effects.Effects of true griefe.
1uIer. 31. 19 Shame for the euill which hath beene done.
2 A true and thorow reſolution to enter into a new courſe: Surely they which came to Iohn and ſaid,*Lu. 3. 10, 12, 14. What ſhall we doe? were thus minded.Rom. 6. 21.
3 A renewing of griefe,Vbi dolor finitur deficit poenitentia. Aug. de ver. pen. c. 13. ſo oft as occaſion is offered. True ſpirituall griefe which worketh Faith, is neuer cleane dried vp, becauſe ſinne, the cauſe of it, is neuer cleane taken away: Thus the griefe which breedeth Faith continueth after Faith is wrought, though not in the ſame manner and meaſure: for before Faith it cannot be mixed with any true ioy, and ſound comfort, as it may be after Faith is wrought.
Many who hauehave no better then a temporary Faith, are at firſt much grieued, and wounded in conſcience; but after they receiue ſome comfort by the promiſes of the Goſpell, are ſo iocund and ioyfull, that they grow ſecure againe, and neuer after let griefe ſeize vponupon them; no, though they fall into ſuch grieuous ſinnes as might iuſtly renew their griefe: they put off all with this, That once they grieued. Dauid, Paul, and many other faithfull Saints of God were otherwiſe affected, as is euident by thoſe aPſal. 6, 2, 3, & 32, 3, & 51, 1, &c.many grieuous groanes, ſighes, and exclamations which are recorded of them.Rom. 7. 24