A View of Mans Estate, Tract 1 · Chapter 12
The tvvelfth Chapter.
¶How only faith wrought in vsus by the ſpirit of God, and grounded vponupon the word of God, maketh vsus partakers of the fruit of Chriſtes death.
THus is that worthy worke finiſhed. Nowe may Abraham reioyce with ful ioy, for his promiſed ſéede is performed, and he hath poured out his bleſſing moſte plentifully vponupon his faithfull children: now is Adam truly made vp a new creature, & thus far is he in the fauor of God, yt he hath ſent his only begotten ſon to purchaſe him his pardon: God ſaid in his indignation: thou ſhalt die the death: (but ſo hath the ſonne pleaſed him, that he nowe cryeth:) thou ſhalt not periſhe, but hauehave life euerlaſting: Nowe ſhalte thou liue, for ſo God loueth thée that Chriſt hath dyed in thy ſtead: now mayſt thou ſtand vpright, for ſo God loueth thée, that his Chryſte hath falne for thee: Chryſte is ryſen and beholde he ſo loueth thée, that he offereth his gentle hande to rayſe thée togyther with himſelfe: he hath deceyued the ſerpent that deceyued thee: he ſhall make his enimies his footeſtoole, and he hathe troden thy enimies vnderunder his féete, for this is thy ſéede that hathe cruſhed his heade: he hath obtayned a crowne of glorie, and he maketh thée alſo a glorious conquerour: Al this no doubt did S. Iohn conſider in the louelove of God, whē he wrote this worthy ſaying of our Sauiour, God ſo loueth the world, that he hath giuen his only begotten ſonne, that he ſhoulde liue with vsus, bycauſe we were deade to him, that he ſhoulde dye for vsus, to the ende we myghte liue with him, that he ſhoulde enter into the earth, to make vsus an entry into ye heaens. We hauehave by this ſéene ſome ſhadow of the maruellous worke of God concerning oure redemption: we ſée the louing worke of God the father, whoſe proper praiſe it is, that he hath ſent his ſonne: we hauehave ſeene alſo the painfull worke of God the ſonne who hath ſuffered as we ſée: nowe hauehave we to conſider the worke of the holy ſpirite likewiſe, whoſe worke it is that we enioye thoſe benefites ſente vsus by the father, & brought by the Sonne: for in whoſe hart that ſpirit worketh not, to him is the Croſſe of Chryſte altogyther fruitleſſe, to him is Ieſus no Ieſus, that is, no Sauioure, and he may inioy no part of that louelove of God whiche bringeth life with it: for what? now God hath ſent his ſonne, is that ſufficiente for vsus? hauehave we withoute any further adoe taken poſſeſſion of heauen? are we ſtreight by thys in the boſome of Abraham? ſhall we now take no further care? is ye Croſſe of Chriſt accepted an excuſe, indifferently for all? ſhall eueryevery ſoule be ſaued? Nay let no man deceiue hymſelfe: Chriſte indeede hathe made an entry into Heauen, he hath ſet open a gate vntounto vsus: but yet a ſtrayght gate where fewe ſhall enter: neyther yet is the gate of Hell cleane ſhut vp: no it ſtandeth wide opē with a gaping mouth, and many ſhall go that way. In the generall flocke, Chriſte hathe his ſheepe, and they are the fewer: he hath alſo his gotes, and they are the greater part? There is in Gods field good corne, but that is ouergrowen with euill chaffe: there be ſome likewiſe that ſhall be receiued with the right hand: O happie are they, for Chriſte is theirs altogyther: there are alſo whoſe place is prouided on the left hande: O vnhappie are they, for they hauehave no parte in Chriſt: let vsus therefore looke vntounto our ſaluation whiles yet the light ſhineth, for as much as there is a little flocke which that good ſheephearde hath choſen to himſelfe, let vsus get into the folde with them,Luke. 13. and following his councell, let vsus ſtriue to enter in at the ſtrayt gate, and that in tyme, leaſt the dore be ſhutte againſt vsus, when it ſhall be to late to knocke: Chriſt is ſent vntounto vsus, let vsus beware that we receyue him: Chriſt hath brought this rewarde with him, to as many of vsus as do receyue him: (that we ſhoulde not periſhe, but liue for euer.) Let vsus therefore prouide that we léeſe not oure part in that precious pearle: what then is there nowe to be done? Verily nowe we hauehave ſéene the louelove of God declared by Chriſt, there is but one ſteppe betwixt vsus and home, but one worde betwixt vsus and lyfe euerlaſting: neyther hathe the holy Euangeliſt left that out of his place: for thoſe are the footeſteppes he poynteth out vntounto vsus, the louelove of God the father, the patience and croſſe of Chriſt,Galath. 6 finally faith the good gift of the holy Ghoſt: for this is the condition: who ſo beleeueth in Chriſt ſent from God, he ſhould be ſure not to periſhe, but to hauehave life euerlaſting. Nowe then muſt we make prouiſion for beléefe, that fayth faile not, this muſt be all our care: for what ſhall it profit vsus though Chriſt come into the worlde, and come againe, if he bée not receyued of vsus. By fayth he muſt be receyued, or elſe he muſt be refuſed: his owne receyued him not ſayth S. Iohn:Cap. 1. and why, but for lacke of faith? for to as many as receyued him, to them he gaue power to bée the ſonnes of God: and what were they? euen to them ſayth he, that beleeue in hys name: accordingly as S. Paule ſaith to the Galathians,Cap. 3. by fayth are ye the ſonnes of God: the beleeuers then they are the beloued ſonnes of God, they are the right receiuers of Chriſt: when that Chriſt the glorie of God, firſt appeared amongſt vsus, then did the Angelles proclayme peace betwixt heauen and earth, and from God goodwill towardes men: for Chriſt indeede is the true Melchiſedech, that is, the King that brought peace wyth hym into the worlde. But what ſhall all this auayle vsus, if we beléeue not?Iohn. 3. for ſo ſayth our Sauiour himſelfe, he that beléeueth in the ſonne hath euerlaſting life, and he that obeyeth not the ſonne, ſhall not ſée lyfe, but the wrath of God abydeth vponupon him: ſo wrath remayneth for the infidell, what then for the faythfull? there is peace kept in ſtore for him as for a faythfull ſubiect to the king of peace: for we béeing iuſtified by fayth, hauehave peace with God through our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt:Rom. 5. Luke. 2. that is the ſaying of the Apoſtle. Chriſt is appoynted for the fall of many: who are they but the faythleſſe? he is ordeyned alſo to bée the ryſing of many: and who are they but the faythfull? for ſo ſayth oure Sauiour likewiſe,Iohn. 3. (who can not belie himſelfe,) hée that beléeueth in him, he ſhall not bee condemned: hée that beléeueth not is alreadye condemned, bycauſe hée beléeueth not in the name of the onelyonly begotten Sonne of GOD. Chriſt is alſo a ſtone of diuerſe operations:1. Pet. 2. hee is a precious ſtone, and hée is lykewyſe a ſtumbling ſtone. To whome then is it precious but to ſuche, as by ioyning the iewell of fayth therevnto, hauehave the right vſe thereof. So ſayeth the Scripture.Eſay. 28. Beholde I put in Sion a chiefe corner ſtone electe and precious, and hée that beléeueth therein ſhall not be aſhamed: and here Saint Peter maketh this concluſion, ſaying: to you therefore which beléeue it is precious, this part is for the beléeuer, nowe muſt the infidell take that which is left: they haulting for want of the ſteadie foote of fayth, make themſelues of Chriſt a ſtone to ſtumble at, and a rocke of offence: although Chriſt be ſet vp vntounto them a ſigne of ſaluation, yet they like the Cocke on the dunghill, do ſpurne him aſide, not knowing what vertue there is layde vp in that precious ſtone, for ſuch as by fayth doe finde him: wherefore that Prophecie is their portion:Eſay. 8. Math. 21. whoſoeuer ſhall fall on this ſtone, he ſhall be broken: and on whome ſoeuer it falleth, it ſhall grinde him to powder: the miſbeléeuers they ſtumble and lie vnderunder the ſtone, they fall and are fallen on, therefore muſt they be broken, and that grinding ſtone ſhall grinde them to powder. O the rocke of infidelitie that maketh Chriſt the rocke of offence, that rocke it is that ſhattereth our ſhippes, that ſhooteth vsus on the ſandes, but the anchor of fayth faſt fixed on the ſure ground Chriſt, hauing holde by his worde, that neuer deceyueth him that hopeth for helpe, that ſaueth vsus ſounde from ſtorme and tempeſt, from all winde and weather, he maketh ſure worke that worketh by the worthie and ſure inſtrument of fayth, and he buildeth once for all that hath Chriſt laid for his foundation, directing himſelfe alway by the right rule of his worde: for they that come to that liuely ſtone, they are a ſpirituall houſe as Saint Peter ſayth,1. Epiſt. 2. yea they are the ſure grounded and glorious temple of the liuing God: thus then we being builded vp by faith, & caſting anchor on Chriſt, nowe let the floudes aryſe, let the windes blowe, yet ſtande we ſure, for we beléeue in him that will ſée we do not periſhe, thoſe that are in that raging ſea of the wilde wicked worlde, they ſéeme to ſtande in great daunger of ſhipwracke, but if we enter the Arke by fayth with Noe, (for S. Paule attributeth his fauour vntounto fayth) then let the Pyrates come, let Satan aſſaulte vsus,Heb. 11. yet are we harmeleſſe, Chriſt is on oure ſyde, what maye preuaile againſt vsus? not ſands, not Rockes, not ſtormes nor tempeſtes, no windes ne floudes, nor fire nor water, no not all the power of Satan, not the gaping gates of hell ſhall moue vsus a whitte. Such commoditie doe thoſe finde that be ſo happie as to enioy the ineſtimable iewell of faith: but thoſe that hauehave no experiēce hereof, and féele not the force of faith, they make light of the matter, not ſéeking Chriſt by faith, nor faith by his word, and therfore no marueyl though they be ſtil ouerſhadowed with death, & being in darkneſſe comprehended not the light: howe ſhould they beléeue except they heare?Rom. 10. fayth commeth by hearing, hearing of the word of God. They then that hauehave loſt their hearing, howe ſhoulde they finde fayth? where the ſéede of the worde is not ſowne, how ſhoulde the fruite of fayth ſpring? howe may they enioy Chriſt or any part of his louelove that receyue not his witneſſes?Iohn. 5. The Scriptures (ſayth Chriſt) they beare witneſſe of mée. Theſe things ſayth S. Iohn,Cap. 20. meaning the contents of the Goſpell, are written, that ye might beléeue that Ieſus is Chriſt the ſon of God, and that in beléeuing ye myght hauehave lyfe through his name. Wherefore vnderſtande ye that vponupon this double point ſtandeth the whole courſe of oure ſaluation: art thou in the right waye? therefore then it is, bicauſe thou haſt followed the counſell of our ſauiour, ſaying:Iohn. 5. ſearche the ſcriptures. Art thou out of the way? The cauſe learne of Chriſt: ye are deceyued, Mat. 22.not knowing the Scriptures. This is the marke wherewith Chriſt marketh his ſhéepe, by the voyce we know our ſhepeheard, and by hearing we are knowne of him:Iohn. 19. my ſhéepe heare my voyce (ſayth that good ſhepeherd) and I knowe them and they followe mée: Thus knowe where we hauehave to fetche fayth, that wée bée not to ſéeke on this ſid…, where we finde alſo howe God loueth the worlde, in prouiding ſo mercifullye the lyuely foode of his worde, that our ſoules faint not in fayth: but let vsus treade a little deeper in thys matter, and that wée maye value faythe ſomewhat neere the worthie pryce it ſhoulde beare with vsus, let vsus conſider howe the market goeth with vsus, let vsus conſider in what caſe wée ſtand: then ſhall we ſee what ſeruice faith will doe vsus: firſt this we knowe, that we hauehave but borrowed breath and that lying in our noſtrelles, as the ſcripture ſpeaketh: our life what is it but a plaine warfare? wherein we hauehave either to yéeld or to ouercome? we vnderſtande with what enimies we are beſet, as that wily witch the world, the prowde ſwelling fleſhe euer rebelling agaynſt the ſpirit: the ſerpent and his ſeede dayly ſpetting out his fierie flames and venimous poyſon vponupon vsus, Satan I meane that ramping roring Lion continually ſéeking and ſearching how to deuour vsus. Now he that muſt abide the brunt of ſuch a battell, and hath to encounter with ſo fierce and cruell aduerſaries, as whome we ſée dayly murthering many a ſoule, it is neceſſarie that ſuch a ſouldiour ſhoulde go well appoynted to the fielde. Wherefore in this behalfe it ſhall be good we follow the counſell of Saint Paule,Epheſ. 6. who ſpeaketh not without booke, but of experience (for hée fought a good fight) his councell is, that we put on the armour of God, and this is the furniture that he appointeth for to arme ſuche a Souldiour as we ſeeke. He wiſheth our loynes to be gyrded with veritie, hauing on the breaſtplate of righteouſneſſe, oure féete being ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpell of peace: But aboue all (ſayeth he) take vntounto you the ſhield of faith wherewith ye may quenche all the fierie dartes of the wicked: and Saint Iohn likewiſe ſtrong in the ſpirite, he giueth vsus good inſtruction, and warneth vsus whiche waye we may winne the fielde. All that is borne of God (ſayth he) ouercommeth the worlde,1. Epiſt. 5. and this is the victorie that ouercommeth the worlde, euen our fayth: then he addeth this queſtion with his anſwere: who is it that ouercommeth the worlde,1. Epiſt. 5. but he whiche beleeueth that Ieſus is the ſonne of God? And S. Peter alſo when he had declared what an aduerſarie we hauehave of the deuill, as that lyke a roaring Lyon he ſéeketh to deuour vsus, then maketh he this exhortation ſhewing howe we may ſtande agaynſt the aſſaultes of Satan: reſiſt him (ſayth he) ſtedfaſt in the fayth. Thus is fayth commended vntounto vsus of all hands, as a ſhielde to defende vsus in all aſſaultes, and as a ſure tryed weapon to conquere and beate downe to the duſt, the diuell, the worlde, and all that ſtande agaynſt vsus, it is Chriſt in déede that hath gotten the victorie, but ſuche is his louelove, he dothe not enioy it alone, but he giueth vsus part alſo. Thus he comforteth vsus lyke a captayne of courage: be of good chéere,Iohn. 16. for I hauehave ouercommed the worlde. He fought the fight indéede, he hath taken the fort, but he giueth vsus the ſpoyle, and is content that his victorie be accounted our victorie, ſo ſpeaketh Saint Paule, acknowledging the louelove of God therein:1. Cor. 15. Thankes be to God (ſayth he) which hath giuen vsus victorie through our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: and howe hath Chriſt giuen vsus the victory, but as he ſayeth, fayth quencheth the fierie dartes of the wicked, and as Saint Iohn ſayth, our faith in Chriſt ouercommeth the worlde, and as Saint Peter exhorteth, by ſtedfaſtneſſe of fayth to reſiſt the Deuill? Suche is the marueylous vertue of true beliefe, that by it we enioye all the fruites whiche ſpring ſo plenteouſly oute of that flouriſhing roote of Iſhai: for Chriſt had ſubdued ſinne:Eſay. 11. ſo hauehave wée by fayth in Chriſte: Chriſte by death hath ouercommed death: ſo hauehave we by faith: Chriſt is proued by ſuffering a Sauiour, and wée by fayth are ſaued: Chriſt by his reſurrection hath purchaſed to himſelfe an euerlaſting kingdome: and wée ryſing in hym by faith are ioyned in that purchaſe. Chriſt by nature is the ſonne of God, ſo are wée of his grace by fayth: finally Chriſt is altogither ours by fayth, which doth incorporate all Chriſtians into his miſticall bodie: Chriſt (as Saint Paule ſayth) is our peace: howe but by fayth? as he ſayth,Epheſ. … we beeing iuſtified by fayth hauehave peace wyth God: and the Apoſtle ſayeth that the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt is our righteouſneſſe, and howe is that but by fayth? Chryſtes holyneſſe is our ſanctification, his iuſtice is our iuſtification: all this commeth by none other meanes: than as Saint Paule declareth when Chriſte dwelleth in oure heartes by fayth,Epheſ. 3. we are filled wyth all fulneſſe of God: ſuche then is the force of fayth, that wyth this one counter we may ſhortly caſt the whole ſumme of oure ſaluation. For art thou not deade to God, but lyueſt vprightly before him in holyneſſe and righteouſneſſe?Abacuc. 2. then haſte thou fayth, for the iuſt lyueth by fayth. Art thou wicked and ſinfull: no marueyle if thou haſt not fayth, for whatſoeuer is not of fayth is ſinne? thys is the roote,Rom. 14. we are the trées, the reſt as oure good workes they are but flowers and fruites. Nowe ſuche as the roote is, ſuche is the trée, and ſuch as the trée is, ſuche is the fruite: for Chriſt maketh no more differences of trées and fruites, but as in the Goſpell. Either make the trée good and his fruit good, or elſe make the trée euill and his frute euill: and what is that that maketh this difference but fayth the roote of all righteouſneſſe? for vnleſſe by this meanes we be truly graffed in Chriſt the true vine, all that we doe, it were as good vndone, as good neuer a whit as neuer the better, we make but wood for the fire,Iohn. 15. it is in effect nothing, but as hée ſayth, without me ye can do nothing: and our workes whatſoeuer ſhew they hauehave, if they be not rooted in Chriſt by fayth, they are neither figges nor grapes, but verie thornes and thiſtles, well may they grow for a while, but they may not flouriſh long: euen as herbes that growe in the ſhadowe, neuer well weathered with the warme ſunne: or rather as the graſſe on the houſe top which lacketh his roote, and therefore although it ſpringeth in the Sommer ſeaſon, yet it ſoone withereth in the Winter, and the mower neuer filleth his hand withal. Let thoſe then that ſéeme fruitful in good workes, conſider of what roote that ſpringeth: for the beleeuer worketh well moued by fayth, and his fruite is life euerlaſting: but the miſbeléeuing hypocrite he worketh of glory, and he hath his rewarde, miſſing farre of the right marke of righteouſneſſe: all that he maketh is marred for lacke of beléefe, his works are naught but bare leaues of the fruitleſſe figge trée, they are but paintings and ſhadowes, mockings and apiſh toies in cōpariſon of that iuſtice of the iuſt liuing by faith: for what is he that flouriſheth neuer ſo much in his painted grapes and wel coloured fruites, which is able to pleaſe God vnleſſe he be a true trée, planted of the heauenly father, in the faith of chriſt? what fruit is it that God will allowe vnleſſe it be fet by fayth of the true vine? doeſt thou faſt? well done if it be done in fayth: doeſt thou giuegive almes to the poore? doeſt thou breake thy bread to the néedie? doeſt thou cloth the naked, and ſuccour the harbourleſſe? Good fruites verily, therefore belike they come of a good trée, whoſe roote is fayth, watered with the precious bloud of our Sauiour. Doeſt thou withdrawe thy handes from iniurie? then doeſt thou beleeue of likelihood: doeſt thou ſuffer wrong with pacience? a good ſigne it is that thou art alreadie iuſtified by fayth: and all thoſe with ſuch like good works of men, of themſelues they are not meritorious, but with fayth they are acceptable: for ſo generally ſpeaketh the Apoſtle: without fayth it is vnpoſſible to pleaſe God.…b. 12. Marke, this infidelitie hath with it an impoſſibilitie: but contrariwiſe if thou hauehave fayth, feare not, for that bringeth a poſſibilitie: ſo large is the promiſe of Chriſt ſpeaking to the beléeuers: Nothing ſhall bée vnpoſſible vntounto you.Math. 18. O great is the force of fayth, as the whiche to withſtande it is impoſſible: a little fayth is muche worth, and will go farre, yea, although it be but as much as a grayne of Muſtarde ſéede, it ſhall plucke vp the rootes of ſinne, yea let the diuell caſt vp Mountaynes agaynſt vsus, yet will it hauehave his frée courſe, and may not be ſeuered from Chriſt, whatſoeuer ſtandeth in the way: it is whole in ſickneſſe, frée in bandes, ſtrong in torments, it ſhyneth in darkeneſſe, it dyeth not with death, it is caſt into the waters, and periſheth not, it is tried in the fiery fornace and yet waſteth not: it is troden downe, but it ryſeth againe, it is aſſaulted, but neuer yéeldeth: it is wounded, but yet getteth the victory. Such as Chryſt is, ſuch is the fayth of the Chriſtian: Chriſt is the body, fayth is the ſhadow: where ſo Chriſt goeth, there faith fayleth not to followe. It is no earthly thing, but as Chryſt came from the hyghe heauens, ſo is that the heauenly gift of the holy Ghoſt. Where Chriſte is occupied, fayth is not ydle, when Chryſte worketh myracles in the body, fayth worketh ſaluation in the ſoule, when Chriſte vttered the worde, fayth printed in the heart, whē he fed the body with bread, he fed the ſoule with faith, ye ſpittle was ye meane to heale the eye, but faith the inſtrument to ſaue ye ſoule, fayth hath his courſe with Chriſt in al places to al purpoſes, it folowed Chriſt to the temple, to the mountaine, it was with him in the fielde, in the houſe, on the Sea, on the lande, it abydeth with him in temptations, in torments, it ſuffreth the ſcourge with him, it hangeth on him on ye croſſe, it goth into ye graue with him, it riſeth with him, it foloweth him through ye clouds, as it were with ye wings of an Eagle, entring the heauens after him & there findeth foode to féede on, where Chriſte ſuffreth hir to hang on his breſt, and to ſucke of his precious bloud vntill ſhe be ſatiſfied. Thus is faith exalted, that it taketh vp hir place in the high heauens, and is ſtill ſo far in fauour with God, that it can no rather call, but it is heard, no rather aſke, but it obtaineth, no ſoner ſeeke but it findeth, no rather knock, but it is opened vntounto hir. So doth fayth worke for the beleeuer: for he is the beloued of god, to him is the ſonne ſent, he receiueth the ſonne: Chriſte is his Sauiour, the death of Chriſt is his life, Chriſt taketh him vp with him in his Reſurrection, Chriſt is altogither his, and who maye reſiſte him? for God ſo loueth him that by Chriſt he ſhall not periſhe but hauehave life euerlaſting.