A Compend of the Controversies of Religion, Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. OF CERTAINTIE OF Salvation.
§. I. That the Godlie may bee aſſured of their Salvation heere.
1. Authoritie of Scripture.
IOb. 19.25. For I know, that my Redeemer liveth, and that hee ſhall ſtand at the latter Day vp-on the Earth.
Note then, That Iob aſſureth him-ſelfe, that Chriſt is his Redeemer, and therefore that hee ſhall bee ſaved by Him eternallie.
Pſal. 17.15. As for mee, I will beholde thy face in righteouſneſſe: I ſhall bee ſatisfied with thy likeneſſe, when I awake.
Note then, That wee ſee the lyke aſſurance in David, of full ſalvation to ſoule and bodie, after his reſurrection.
2. Tim. 4.7.8. I hauehave fought a good fight, I hauehave finiſhed my courſe, I hauehave kept the faith; from hence-foorth is laide vp for mee the Crowne of Righteouſneſſe: (and leſt ſuch a great Apoſtle onlie, might ſeeme juſtlie to hauehave ſuch confidence, hee ſubjoyneth) and not onlie for me, but for all them that louelove his ſecond appearing. And therefore, againe al-ſo he ſayeth of all the faythfull.
Rom. 8.37. For I am aſſured, that neither Death, nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, or any other creature, ſhall ſeparate vsus, from the louelove of God.
Iohn 3.16. For God ſo loved the World, that hee gaue his onelie begotten Sonne, that everie one that believeth in him, periſh not, but may hauehave eternall life.
Note then, That everie one that is a true believer, may bee aſſured (according to Chriſt's owne Word) of eternall lyfe, as if his Name were ſpecified particularlie: for as wee apply the precepts of the Law, as ſpoken to everie one of vsus particularlie to doe them, why ſhall wee not in lyke manner the promiſes of the Goſpell, to belieue them?
1. Iohn 5.13. Theſe thinges hauehave I written vntounto you, that belieue in the Name of the Sonne of God, that yee may know, that yee hauehave eternall life.
Remarke then, That hee ſayeth, that all true believers may know, and be aſſured of their ſalvation; and that the Word of God is written, and left with vsus for this our certification.
Epheſ. 1.13. In whom al-ſo after that yee believed, yee were ſealed with the holie Spirit of promiſe, which is the earnest of our inheritance.
Conſider therefore, That to aſſure the Godlie of their ſalvation, the Spirit of God is given, with the word of promiſe, as a ſeale to ſtampe in that perſwaſion in their ſoules, and as an earneſt, or arles-pennie, to make faſt the Bargaine. And if anie man hauehave not the Spirit of GOD, the ſame is not his. Rom. 8.9.
Rom. 8.16. The Spirit it ſelfe al-ſo beareth witneſſe, with our ſpirit, that wee are the Children of God: and if children, heires of God, and coheyres with Christ.
Note then, What greater certaintie can bee wiſhed, than the godlie hauehave of their ſalvation? when they hauehave the verie Spirit of God inwardlie witneſſing the ſame to their ſoules.
Gal. 4.6. And becauſe yee are ſonnes, God hath ſent the Spirit of his Sonne in-to your hearts, crying, Abba Father.
Note then, That the ſpirit of prayer directed a-right, and felt with-in vsus, is a ſure fruit of our adoption, and a ſolide aſſurance of our ſalvation.
Rom. 8.14. For as manie as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the ſonnes of God.
Note then, That how manie ſo-ever follow the direction of God's Spirit, in an holie courſe of lyfe, may bee aſſured of their ſalvation.
1. Iohn 5.10. Hee that believeth on the Sonne of God, hath the witneſſe in him-ſelfe: hee that believeth not God, hath made him a liar.
Note then, What an hainous offence it is, to doubt of the trueth of God's promiſes to vsus, concerning our ſalvation, through his Sonne Chriſt Ieſus. Not but that manie deare Saincts labour vnderunder this doubting; (for God giveth not the full certaintie of faith to all, at one time, nor after a-lyke meaſure,) but they are diſpleaſed there-with, as a fruit of incredulous corruption; and they know, that they ſhould bee fullie aſſured of the trueth of God's promiſes to them-ſelues, with-out ſtaggering: lyke Abraham, of whom it is witneſſed, Rom. 4.20. that hee ſtaggered not at the promiſe of God through vnbeliefe, but was ſtrong in fayth, giving glorie to God.
Heb. 10.22. Let vsus draw neare then, with a true heart to God, in full aſſurance of faith, having our hearts ſprinkled from an evill conſcience, and our bodies waſhed with pure water▪ and let vsus holde fast the profeſſion of our faith, with-out wavering, for hee is faithfull that promiſed.
Note then, Here-in expreſſed our Chriſtian duetie plainlie, to the perfection where-of wee ſhould daylie aime, leaning to this ſure ground that can-not faile, to wit, that our God is faithfull, who hath firmlie promiſed.
2. Witneſsing of Antiquitie.
THou art made ſecure (ſayeth Augustine) not of thy ſelfe, but by the Lord; thou art ſecured of thy pledge, hope with Chriſt, for the Kingdome of Chriſt, even now thou haſt the pledge. Aug. ſerm. 5. de verbis Apoſtoli, tom. 10. Neither is this preſumption, but faith (ſayeth hee,) for to tell what thou haſt gotten, is no preſumption, but devotion. Aug. ſerm. 20. de verbis Domini. Wherevnto al-ſo accordeth Bernard. Epist. 107.
3. Confeſsion of Partie.
THoſe who are in Chriſt Ieſus, they hauehave no cauſe to feare, ſeeing they are ſure of their ſalvation, ſayth the Biſhop of Bitonto on the 8. of the Romanes. And there is none of the Eccleſiaſticke, nor Schoole-men (ſayth Caſſander) who diligentlie vrge not this confidence, and aſſurance of the merciemercy of God, and glorie to come; and teacheth that it ought to bee opponed to diffidence, and doubting. Caſſ. conſult. art. 4.