The Whole Armor of God, Exegesis · Treatise 2 · Part 6 · Section 59 – Section 73
§. 59: Of the iſſue of ouer-much boldneſſe.
THe third point is how it may be preſerued: which point is the rather to be deliuered to preuent two extreames,Two extreams whereinto many are ready to fail. The one is ouer-ſecure boldneſſe: 1 Ouer-ſecure boldneſſe.the other, ouer-childiſh fearefulneſſe. For when men hauehave gotten and proued their Faith, ſome thorow the pride of fleſh are proane to be inſolent, and too much to boaſt of it: other thorow their weakeneſſe (which alſo ariſeth of the fleſh) to feare the decay and loſſe of it.
The ground of the former extreame is,Obiect. that Faith is an immortall ſeede, which ſhall neuer cleane vtterly decay, and cleane fall away. This they know, and are able to proue by teſtimony of Scripture, and euidence of reaſon.
But though this ground be very ſound and orthodoxall,Anſwer. yet the collection which is made from thence is vnſound, and impious: for it croſſeth Gods wiſdome, who hath ordained and reuealed meanes for the preſeruing and cheriſhing of that which hee hath appointed to continue to the end: wherefore wee are exhortedePhil. 2. 12. to worke out our ſaluation (though it bef1 Pet. 1. 4. in Heauen reſerued for vsus) withfeare and trembling. But, to preuent that illuſion, let it be noted, that a man if hee make not the better proofe of his Faith, may be deceiued, and take counterfeit for current; a temporary Faith for iuſtifying Faith: which if he doe, then his ground faileth: for a temporary Faith may cleane drie away,gLuke 8. 13. as the Corne ſowen in ſtony ground: witneſſehActs 8. 13. Simon Magus, i2 Tim. 4. 10.Demas, andkIohn 2. 23. many that beleeued in Chriſt. It is likely that they which are ouerbold, neuer thorowly tried the truth of their Faith: for one note of true Faith is an holy iealouſie, leſt Faith ſhould decay.
§. 60. Of loſing Faith.
2 THogh true Faith cannot totally & finally fall away,How farre the ſence of faith may be loſt. yet it may to their feeling be ſo farre gone, as it will make them with heauy harts to repent their proud boldneſſe, and careleſſe ſecurity. For,
1 It may be ſo couered ouer and ſmothered, as it cannot be diſcerned: they can for the time hauehave no aſſurance of it.
2 All the ioy and comfort of it (wherewith they were formerly vpheld) may be cleane taken away, and they euen faint for want of it.
3 No fruits thereof may appeare, but they be as trees in winter: little conſcience of any duty, dull in hearing Gods word, cold in prayer, nothing remaining but a formall profeſſion, if that.
4 Their conſciences may proue a very racke, a greeuous torture and torment vntounto them.
5 It is not like to be recouered with a wet finger, with a light ſigh, and a groane: but they may call, cry, and roare againe and againe, before they be heard.
6 When they recouer it, it may be they ſhall neuer attaine to that meaſure which once they had: if to that meaſure of the thing it ſelfe, yet not of the ioy and comfort of it: they may carry the griefe of this their folly to their graues.
§. 61. Of the grounds of Scripture againſt ſecure boldneſſe.
FOr preuenting theſe fearefull effects, they who are tempted to this extreame, muſt be very watchfull ouer themſelues, and ſeriouſly meditate of thoſe premonitions which tend to this purpoſe, asa1 Cor. 10. 12. Let him that thinketh he ſtandeth, take heed leſt he fall. bRom. 11. 20Thou ſtandeſt by Faith, be not high minded, but feare. cHeb. 12. 15Take heed that no man fall away from the grace of God. d& 3. 12.Take heed leſt at any time there be in any of you an euill heart of vnbeleefe in departing from the liuing God. e& 4. 1.Let vsus feare leſt at any time by forſaking the promiſe, any of you ſhould ſeeme to be depriued. fMat. 26. 41.Watch and prau that ye enter not into temptation. gHeb. 10. 38.If any withdraw himſelfe my ſoule ſhall hauehave no pleaſure in him. Not without iuſt cauſe are theſe and ſuch like premonitions much vrged and preſſed by the Holy Ghoſt: for well hee knoweth how prone we are to fall away from grace. Lead, iron, ſtone, or any other earthy heauy thing, is not more prone to fall downeward, if it be not continually drawne and held vp by ſome meanes or other; nor water more ſubiect to waxe cold if fire be not kept vnderunder it, then we are to decay in grace, if wee bee not watchfull ouer our ſelues, and carefull to vſe all good meanes for nouriſhing and increaſing thereof. Beſides, we are ſubiect to many temptations, which are as water to fire; they will ſoone quench the Spirit, if we be not the more watchfull and carefull to ſtirre it vp. Yea, if once we waxe ſecure, ſelfe-conceited, and ouer-bold, wee prouoke God to giuegive vsus ouer to Satan, and our owne luſts,2 Sam. 11. 2. as for a time he gaue Dauid ouer.
§. 62. Of the aſſurance of Faith.
THe ground of the latter extreame is,2 Ouer-childiſh fearefulneſſe. that they feele the fleſh in them, they are very weake and prone to fall away; and many in all times hauehave fallen away.
Anſwer. Aſſurance in Chriſt.Theſe that are thus tempted, muſt know that the cauſe of our aſſurance is not in our ſelues, but in Chriſt our head; as we lay hold of him, ſo he faſt holdeth vsus: for there is a double bond whereby we are knit vntounto Chriſt, one on Chriſts part, the other on ours. That, is the Spirit of Chriſt:e1 Iohn 4. 13 Hereby wee know that wee dwell in him, and he in vsus, becauſe he hath giuen vsus of his Spirit. This, is our Faith: forfEph. 3. 17. Chriſt dwelleth in our hearts by Faith: Now though our Faith ſhould let goe her hold, yet Chriſts Spirit wōld not let go his hold. This ground of aſſurance the Scripture expreſly declareth: for ſaith Chriſt, gIoh. 10. 27. 28.I know my ſheepe, I giuegive vntounto them eternallife, and they ſhall neuer periſh: now marke the reaſon, There ſhall not any plucke them out of my hand: My Father which gaue them me is greater then all, and none is able to take them out of my Fathers hand. Wherefore the Diuell and all his adherents can doe no more, to put out the light of Faith, and plucke vsus from Chriſt, then all Creatures on Earth can to extinguiſh the light of the Sunne. For why? The Sun from whence this light commeth, is farre aboue all, they cannot come at it: So Chriſt on whom our Faith is founded, is farre aboue all our enemies. Chriſt muſt be plucked out of Heauen, if true Faith vtterly fall away.
2 Let the fore-named weake ones conſider,The power of Chriſts Spirit n the weakeſt that as the fleſh is in them to make them weake, ſo alſo the power of Chriſts Spirit is in them to make them ſtrong. Though the ſpirit ſuffer the fleſh ſometimes to preuaile; it is not becauſe the fleſh is ſtronger then the ſpirit, or the ſpirit weaker then the fleſh; but becauſe the Spirit in wiſdome will hauehave vsus ſee our weakeneſſe, ſee in what need we ſtand of the power of God, flie to God, depend vponupon him: and at length the Spirit will preuaile, and get full conqueſt:
3 As for the fals of other, wee know not what they were in truth.
§. 63. Of the grounds of Scripture for perſeuerance.
TO be freed from this laſt temptation, they which are ſubiect thereunto, muſt ſeriouſly ponder thoſe ſcriptures which ſet forth the certainty and perſeuerance of Faith; which are ſuch as theſe,aIohn 5. 24. He that beleeueth, hath euerlaſting life, and ſhall not come into condemnation, but is paſſed from death vntounto life. b& 4. 14.He that drinketh of the water that I ſhal giuegive him, ſhall neuer thirſt: but the water that I ſhall giuegive him, ſhal be in him a well of water ſpringing vp into euerlaſting life. c1 Iohn 5. 4.This is the victory that ouercommeth the World, euen our Faith. d1 Pet. 2. 6Hee that beleeueth on Chriſt ſhall not be confounded. *Pſal. 125. 1.They that truſt in the Lord ſhall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be remoued, but abideth for euer. The grounds of this ſtability of Faith are in the Scripture noted to be theſe,
1 The conſtancy of Gods louelove, mercy, truth, couenant, calling, gifts, and the like; which is ſet forth by theſe, and ſuch like promiſes as theſe be: eIer. 31. 3.I hauehave loued thee with an euerlaſting louelove.fIſa. 54. 8. With euerlaſting kindneſſe will I hauehave mercy on thee.g2 Sam. 7. 15 My mercy ſhall not depart away from him.hPſal. 132. 11 The Lord hath ſworne in truth, hee will not turne from it.iIer. 32. 40. I will make an euerlaſting couenant with them.kRom 11. 29. The calling and gifts of God are without repentance.
2 The perpetuall efficacy of Chriſts interceſſion, manifeſted in one particular example, which is to be applied to all his Elect: for what he ſaid to Peter, (lLuke 22. 32. I hauehave praied that they Faith faile not) he performeth for all.
3 The continuall aſſiſtance of the Holy Ghoſt: in which reſpect it is ſaid, ThatmIohn 14. 16. hee ſhall abide with vsus for euer, and thatnPhil. 1. 6. hee which hath begunne a good worke, will finiſh it. If well we weigh and apply theſe and ſuch like teſtimonies of Scripture, though we worke out our ſaluation with feare and trembling, yet ſhall we not be fearefull and doubtfull of the iſſue.
§. 64. Of preſeruing and encreaſing Faith.
AS a preſeruatiue againſt thoſe two poyſonous potions, and as a meanes to keepe vsus in the right way from falling into any of the two extreames, diligent care muſt bee vſed to preſerue and encreaſe this precious gift of Faith: for if Faith be kept aliue, ſo as it may beare ſway in vsus, it will keepe vsus both from boaſting and doubting.
Two eſpeciall points there be which make to this purpoſe.VI. Point. How Faith may be preſerued and increaſed.
1 A conſcionable and conſtant vſe of the meanes which God to this end hath appointed.
2 Faithfull and hearty prayer for Gods bleſſing on thoſe meanes.
The meanes are two. Firſt, the miniſtery of Gods Word. Secondly, the adminiſtration of the Sacraments.
§. 65. Of vſing the word for increaſe of Faith.
VVEe hauehave heard before how Faith was bred by the word;1. By the word now the word is like to a kind natural mother, which giueth ſucke to the child which ſhee hath brought forth: whereupon ſaith the Apoſtle, As new borne babes deſire the ſincere milke of the word, … 1 Pet. 2. 2that yee may grow thereby. He had ſaid before, That we wereb& 1. 23. borne anew by the word of God: Here hee ſheweth that the Word hath a further vſe; namely, to make vsus grow. For by the Word the promiſes of God (which at firſt were made known vntounto vsus, and whereby Faith was bred) are againe and againe brought to our remembrance, the tender and offer of them oft renewed; ſo as thereby our Faith (which otherwiſe might languiſh away thorow our own weakeneſſe, and Satans temptations) is not onelyonly preſerued, but exceedingly quickened, ſtrengthened, and increaſed.
Vſe Our care therefore muſt be diligently to frequent the publike miniſtery of the Word; for by it Chriſt is lift vp in the Church, as the braſen Serpent was in the Wilderneſſe. Yea, alſo to reade and ſearch the Scriptures in Families, and with our ſelues alone. We heard*§. 24. before that we muſt attend on the Word, till we find Faith wrought in vsus.
Here we further learne neuer to giuegive ouer, but ſo long as our Faith hath neede to be confirmed and increaſed (which will be ſo long as we liue in this world,) to vſe the Word. Wee may not therefore thinke it ſufficient that we hauehave had this benefit of the Word to beleeue: we muſt labour for a further benefit, to be eſtabliſhed and confirmed thereby more and more in our moſt holy Faith.
§. 66. Of vſing the Sacraments for increaſe of Faith.
THe Sacraments are purpoſely added for this end,2 By the Sacraments. to ſtrengthen our Faith, which they doe two wayes. Firſt, they are GodscRom. 4. 11. ſeales added vntounto his word, that by two immutable things (Gods promiſe, and Gods ſeale) wherein it is impoſſible that God ſhould lie) wee might hauehave ſtrong confidence. Secondly, they doe as it were viſibly ſet before our eyes the ſacrifice of Chriſt (which is the ground-worke of our Faith) ſo as in, and by them Ieſus Chriſt is euendGal. 3 1. crucified among vsus.eRom. 4. 11. The Apoſtle noteth, that Abram after he beleeued, receiued the ſigne of circumciſion: & withal rendreth the reaſon becauſe it was a ſeale of the righteouſneſſe of the Faith which he had: therefore it ſerued to the confirmation and preſeruation of his Faith. To this endfActs 8. 37. Philip baptized the Eunuch after he beleeued.
Vſe God in wiſedome hauing ordained theſe meanes to cheriſh our Faith, we ought to bee conſcionable in a frequent vſe of them, otherwiſe ſhall we ſhew our ſelues rebellious againſt GOD, and iniurious to our owne ſoules.
§. 67. Of prayer for increaſe of Faith.
2 PRayer is that meanes which God hath appointed to obtaine all grace,3 By prayer. all ſtrength of grace, yea and a bleſſing vponupon all his ordinances (as I will*Treat. 3. part. 1. §. 20. after ſhew) ſo that it muſt needs in that reſpect be a notable preſeruatiue of Faith. Beſides, by prayer wee make our ſelues after an holy manner familiar with God, and ſo hauehave more and more euidence of Gods louelove and fauour to vsus, whereby our Faith muſt needs be much ſtrengthened. When Satan deſired to winnow the Apoſtles, what meanes did Chriſt vſe to preſerue Peters Faith:gLuk. …2. 32. I hauehave prayed (ſaith he to Peter) for thee that thy Faith faile not. Thereby Chriſt alſo teacheth vsus what we muſt do to preſerue our Faith. After that once Faith is bred in vsus, in Faith we may pray that it faile not, but we cannot ſo pray to get Faith. A man that heareth the ſweet promiſes of the Goſpel, and withall heareth that Faith is that meanes whereby the benefit of them is receiued, may earneſtly wiſh for Faith, and deſire God to giuegive it him: but in Faith (which yet he hath not) he cannot pray for Faith, as after he hath it, he may for the preſeruation of it: therefore faithfull prayer is a proper meanes to cheriſh, keepe, ſtrengthen and increaſe Faith.
§. 68. Of well vſing Faith.
THe laſt point obſerued out of this exhortation is,VII. Point. How faith may bee well vſed; How Faith may be well vſed.
The Apoſtle doth not ſimply ſay, Take Faith, but addeth this reſemblance ſhield, ſaying, Take the ſhield of faith: teaching vsus thereby that we muſt vſe Faith as ſouldiers vſe their ſhield. I ſhewed before how ſouldiers vſe to hold out their ſhields againſt all the aſſaults and weapons of their enemies: to keepe themſelues ſafe, they vſe to lie vnderunder their ſhields, and ſo couer and defend their bodies: thus muſt we ſhelter our ſoules by Faith, holding it out againſt all ſpirituall aſſaults, and (as I may ſo ſpeake) lie euen vnderunder it.Faith is vſed as a ſhield by reſting on gods promiſes This in general is done by reſting on Gods promiſes, which are the ground-worke and rocke of our Faith. For by true Faith we doe not onelyonly giuegive credence to the truth of Gods promiſes, but alſo truſt to them, and build vponupon them, aſſuring our ſelues that they ſhall be effected to our good, anda2 Chro. 20. 20 ſo remaine ſecure whatſoeuer fall out.
This vſe is to be made of Faith, both in proſperity, and in aduerſitie.
§. 69. Of the vſe of Faith in proſperity.
IN proſperity Faith hath a double vſe.
1 It maketh vsus acknowledge that it is the Lord which hath ſo diſpoſed our eſtate,Two vſes of faith in proſperity. b1 King. 8. 20. 24.as Salomon did, ſaying, The Lord hath made good his word, &c.
For Faith hauing an eye to the promiſes of God, and exerciſing it ſelfe about them, when any good thing falleth out, it attributeth and applyeth it to ſuch and ſuch a promiſe, and ſo acknowledgeth it to be brought to paſſe by the word and prouidence of God.
2 Faith maketh vsus reſt vponupon God for the time to come, that all ſhall goe well with vsus,cPſal. 16. 5. &c. as Dauid did. For it maketh a man thus to reaſon: God hath made many faithfull promiſes neuer to faile or forſake them that truſt in him. He hath hitherto made good his word to me. He ſtill remaineth the ſame God, true and faithfull. I will therefore trouble my ſelfe with vndue feares. I feare no euill; but beleeue that it ſhall euer go well with me. Hereupon alſo faithfull parents exhort their children to truſt in God: yea quietly they commend their owne ſoules into Gods hands, and commend their children to Gods prouidence, and that vponupon this ground, exhorting them alſo to depend on God, as Dauid did, 1 Chr 22. 11. and 28. 9.) For*Habet fides o culo▪ ſuos quibus quodammodo videt verum eſſe quod nondum videt. Aug. epiſt. 85. faith hath eyes whereby it doth after a maner ſee that to be true, which yet it ſeeth not.
§. 70. Of the vſe of Faith in aduerſity.
IN aduerſity it hath alſo a double vſe.
1 It vpholdeth vsus in the preſent diſtreſſe, when elſe we know not what doe: inſtance Dauid (1 Sam. 30. 6.) and Iehoſaphat (2 Chr. 20. 12.)
2 It moueth vsus patiently togOſe. 6. 1, 2. waite for deliuerance: for God hauing promiſed to giuegive a good iſſue, Faith reſteth vponupon it, euen as if it were now accompliſhed.
Thus in generall we ſee how Faith hath his vſe alwaies in all eſtates.
§. 71. Of oft calling to minde Gods promiſes.
I Will furthermore particularly ſhew how we come to ſhelter our ſoules vnderunder Faith.Two helpes of Faith. For this, two eſpeciall things are requiſite.
1 A faithfull remembrance of Gods promiſes.
2 A wiſe and right application of them.
For the firſt, Dauid h hid Gods promiſes in his heart: thus it came to paſſe that thoſeiRemembrance of p…omiſes. promiſes vpheld him in his trouble,qPſal. 119. 11. …50. and he receiued admirable comfort by them. Aſſuredly if the beleeuer doe call to mind Gods promiſe of ſuccour and redreſſe in his diſtreſſe, it will quiet him for the time, and make him reſt in hope till he enioy the accompliſhment of that promiſe.It is dangerous to forget Gods promiſes. While a beleeuer well remembreth, and duely conſidereth what great and excellent promiſes are made, how mighty, faithful and mercifull he is that made them, hee thinketh that the world may be as ſoone ouerthrowne, as his Faith. But the letting of Gods promiſes ſlip out of his memory, is that which maketh him faint. The Apoſtle hauingkHeb. 12. 3, 5. ſecretly intimated vntounto the Hebrewes their fainting, declareth the cauſe thereof,Sicut lucerna niſi ei ſubminiſtraueris oleum extinguetur, ſic fides niſi aſſiduis nutriatur meditationibus ſcripturarum. Chryſ. in Mat. 25. by telling them they forgat the conſolation: for that which is not remembred, is as not knowne. Now Gods promiſes being the ground and very life of Faith, what vſe of Faith can there be, if Gods promiſes be vnknowne, or (which for the time is all one,) not remembred? As a lamp wil ſoon be out, if oyle be not continually ſupplyed: ſo Faith, if it be not nouriſhed with continuall meditation of Gods promiſes, will ſoone faile.
Vſe By way of exhortation let vsus be ſtirred vp to ſearch Gods word, where his promiſes are treaſured vp: and note what promiſes are there made for our comfort and encouragement: yea let vsus vſe the helpe of others, eſpecially of thoſe to whomlIſa. 50. 4. God hath giuen the tongue of the learned: yea (among and aboue all others) of them whom God hath placed in his ſteed, to whomm2 Cor. 5. 19, 20. he hath committed the word of reconciliation: let vsus vſe their helpe for the finding out of Gods promiſes, and hauing knowledge of them, oft meditate and thinke on them, that ſo they may be the more firmely imprinted in our memories, as in a good treaſury and ſtore houſe, and the more ready to be brought forth for our vſe; like thatnMat. 13. 52. good houſholder which bringeth forth out of his treaſure, things both new and old. As we vſe our memories, ſo ſhal we find them ready to help vsus in time of need:oNum. 15. 38. Deut. 6, 7. &c. God therefore preſcribed vntounto his people diuers helpes for their memories.
§. 72. Of well applying Gods promiſes.
IN the ſecond particular helpe (which is wiſe and right application of Gods promiſes) conſiſteth the greateſt vſe of Faith,2 Right application. for which we hauehave need of the Spirit of wiſedome and reuelation.
The promiſes of the Word are declarations of Gods fauour towards man, and of his prouidence ouer him for his good: for it pleaſed God as to take care of man, and to prouide for him all things needfull, ſo before… hand to make faithfull promiſes to him thereof, to vphold him till the time of the accompliſhment of them.
Now for the better application of them, wee are to conſider both the promiſes themſelues, and the perſons to whom they are made.
In the promiſes three things are to be obſerued. Firſt, the matter contained in them. Secondly, the kinde or quality of them. Thirdly, the manner of propounding them.
The matter of Gods promiſes,Generall promiſes. is either generall, concerning ſupply of all good things, and deliuerance from all euill: or particular, concerning the ſeuerall particular eſtates, and needs of men.
§. 73. Of applying generall promiſes.
THat firſt promiſe which God made to man after his fall (pGen. 3. 15. He ſhall breake thine head,) was a generall promiſe: for by it is promiſe made of Chriſt Ieſus, and of that full redemption which Chriſt ſhould make of man. So that promiſe which God made to Abram (qGen. 22. 18. In thy ſeed ſhall all the nations of the earth be bleſſed:) Heere is all happines in Chriſt promiſed to all the faithfull. And that which the Apoſtle ſetteth downe,aRom. 8. 28. All things ſhall worke together for the good of them that louelove God, &c. And again, b1 Cor. 3. 22.All things are yours: that is, all things tend to your good, and helpe forward your happineſſe and ſaluation. Many other like generall promiſes there be in the Scripture,Why general promiſes are to be obſerued. which are the rather to be remembred, becauſe they extend themſelues to all eſtates, to all conditions, and to all kinde of diſtreſſes whatſoeuer; ſo that if we cannot call to mind particular promiſes, fit for our preſent eſtate, we may vphold our ſelues with theſe generall promiſes. For example,Gen. 3. 15. when the diuell or any of that ſerpentine brood ſhall aſſault vsus, remember we that all that they can doe, is but to nibble at our heeles, he ſhall neuer be able to cruſh our head, to deſtroy our ſoule: yet his head ſhall be cruſhed, he vtterly vanquiſhed. If we be in any miſery, remember we that bleſſedneſſe is promiſed vntounto vsus,Gen. 22. 18. and bleſſed ſhall we be. If any thing ſeeme to make againſt vsus,Rom. 8. 28. this is promiſed to be the iſſue, that all ſhal turn to our good.