The Mystery of Mankind, Part 6
GOD BELEEVED. on in the World.
Explication.
THat the World should beleeue in God,The fift day of the weeke. is the mystery of mysteries. First, that the World should beleeue in GOD, in the vnitie of his essence, and Trinity of existence, Then to beleeue God in the verity of his written word: And lastly, to relye vponupon God in the assurance of his louelove for his promise sake: this (I say) to know is eternall life, and for the World to know it, is a world of wonders.
For how should the World come by this sauing know…edge? … Take the World as in …oly writ it sometimes signi…ies the reporbate, of whome Christ sayth, I pray not for the …orld, Iohn 17:that is, for the reprobate of the world, these beleeue not. Take it Cosmographically for the frame of heauen, and of earth, contayning the firmamentary, and elementary regions, these parts are not …apable of such mysteries: …ut vnderstand it of the E…ect people of God, inhabi…ing within the limites of the knowne Christian world, and …else where dispersed and scattered vponupon the surface of the whole earth (as it is taken in this place) and then this mystery will bee reuealed vntounto vsus.
For otherwise as the world … more generally taken for the people of the world. It is altogether set vponupon wickednesse.1 Iohn. 5.
The World receyues not the Spirite of truth, I oh. 14.The Worlde knownes not God, The world is at defiance with God, as may plainely appeare by the contrariety betwixt God and the wo…ld.
The spirit of God being louelove, ioy, peace, long suffering, gentlenesse, goodnes,Gal. 5. faith, meekenesse, and temperance. The Spirite of the World being adulterie, fornication, vncleannes, lasciuious…es, idolatrie, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulation, wrath strife, seditions, hypocrisies, enuyings, murthers, drunkennesse, & reuellings.
How could it euer be thought that these thinges so contrariantly opposit, should euer accord? Yet behold this great mysterie, for this malignant, contrariant, exorbitant, refractory World is conquered by holy saith in the bloud of Christ, and multitudes of millions in the World, (albeit not of the World) Liue, louelove, and be…eeue in God amidst the furious, cruell, and deadly rage, …atred and bloudy cruelty of many miscreants, and infidell worldlings.
So that now God hath purchased by faith a world of people to himselfe, called out of the vniuersall masse, and multitude of people in the World, to know, and acknowledge him to be their God and Sauiour.
This is the sence of these words. And the sacred scriptures call those the Worlde, whom God hath thus called out of the world, because for their sakes onelyonly this world was made,2. Pet. 3. and this world is as yet preserued, and all things continue as from the beginning.
But when God hath his full number of these his chosen people out of the world, then this world shall hauehave an end, and there shall bee a new Heauen, and a new earth, wherein shal dwell righteousnesse.
To these his redeemed people in the world, God made his promises, both of the promulgation, extension, and augmentation of this Kingdome of Iesus Christ his Sonne.
First, that the extention thereof should be as large, as is the expansion of the Heauens, and so great, that it should encircle, and surround the earth.
Secondly, that the dominion thereof should bee from sea to sea. And from the riuers vntounto the end of the world. Psal. 72.The kings of Tharsis, and of the …sles should bring presents, yea all Kings should fall downe before him, at nations should serue him.
Thirdly, Apoc. 7.that Christ should …edeeme vsus to God by his bloud, …ut of eueryevery kindred and tongue and people, and Nation.
Fourthly, that there should …ee so great a multitude of beleeuers of all Nations, Kindreds people and tongues which standApoc. 7. before the throne, and before the …ambe that no man should bee …ble to number them.
The performance of which …rophesies, and promises God shewed most power…lly in the very commencement of this conquest of faith: …or Peter conuerred in one …ermon three thousand,Act. 2. and … another Sermon, fiue thou…and soules that beleeued, and …rned to God from their in…quities.Act. 4.
So mightily, yea so …uddenly grew the word of God, and preuayled, yea, … is ttuely obserued both by Suetonius in the life of Nero. and by Tacitus in the first booke of his Historie, beeing enemies to Christ & Christians, and also by Tertullian a friend to Christians, in his Apologeticall exhortation to the Gentiles, that the multitude of beleeuers was so great in the Prim…tiue Church, euen amidst those furious, bloudy butcheries, and wofull persecutions, that their strength and puissan…e, (if they should hauehave, waged warre) was oft times a feare and terror, euen to the ve…ry persecuting Emperours themselues.
This was exceeding strange, that a World of people so dissonan…, so dissolute, so aliant, so repug…nant to God, and to goodnesse, should become so plyable, so flexible, & so obediēt … submit, and subiect them…lues to the yoke of Gods ce…estiall direction.
And albeit this very acte …f beleeuing, may seeme very …aruellous vntounto vsus in it selfe, …et the strange means where…y this victorious conquest was wrought by Christ in …educing the world to the act …f faith, was indeed incompa…ably wonderfull, and aboue mans capacitie to conceiue.
For Christ Iesus the Sonne of God, when hee made this conquest of the World by faith, did not proclaym to the world (as king Cyrus did whē he intented his conquests) great pay, worldly promotions, magnificent titles, and honourable entertainements for his voluntaries and Followers, neither did Christ proffer as the diuell did, All this will I … thee (shewing all the king…omes of the world) if thou wilt fall downe and worshi… me: nor as the licentious Turk doth, grants libertie of wiueving, to what number of women men will, & of thriuing by what callusions, and deuises men can (so they doe no violence) to all that embrace his Mahumetanisme,Turcissimus Papa, ait▪ Luth. nor yet as the most Turkish Pope vseth, who grants pardons, and indulgences from all kinde of punishments, to all his Peccadilloes whatsoeuer.
For then Christ doubtlesse might hauehave had followers on a sudden more then enough. But behold, and consider the iniunctions, motions, and perswasions that Christ vsed to moue the world to beleeue and then tell me (Beloued in our Lord) if this be not a secret and hidden Mysterie. The very first mandate that Christ ienioyned to those that meant to follow him was, Re…nt yee: that is, Bee of another …inde, and leade another life … you hauehave done hereto…re:Mat. 3. Become new creatures; …at is, leaue off to doe euill, … learne to do good.
This was no lesson for the …lfe louers of the world to …arne, and of these there is an …finite number.
By this doctrine Christ …ight lose all the nice of the world, and all that were wed…ed to their owne selfe li…ings.
Another iniunction was, …n the world (if you will bee mine) you shall hauehave augariation Ioh. 14.and your hearts shall bee pierced …hrough with many sorrowes. This was no coppie to bee taken out by the effeminate, delitious, and delicate persons of the world.
A third was, You shall bee hated of all men for my names sake (saith Christ.) This was no condition to obligue faint and false hearted cowards of the world.
A fourth was, He that loues his life shall lose it. This was not the way to winne a worldling: notwithstanding all these, and other such like more conditions and entertainments, euen to exquisite torments, ye… I say, what euer could be sayd or done to the contrary by the infidell party, in all the bloud and but chery of Gods Saints, behold yee the power of God in this wonderfull conquest of the world by faith.
For a Centurion beleeue… euen to life, albeit Christ is absent from doing any act, & speakes this in the words of a beleeuer. Say the word onelyonly O Lord, Mat 8.and my seruant liueth.
A Canaanitish woman beleeues to health, if she might eate but the crums th… fall …om the table, or touch but …he hemme of Christ his ve…ure.
The good theefe beleeues … saluation in Christ Iesus,Luc. 23. …hom he beheld fastened to …rosse laden with disgrace…l reproches, and scoffings, forlorne and forsaken of the …hole world, strugling in his … dolours, gasping, gaping … weltring in his owne …oud. Oh wonderfull power … faith! Oh maruellous work …f God! Is there any reason … bee yeelded hereof? Are …ere any causes of this so rare … maruellous a change in the …eart, and resolution of man.Ier. 14.… …o surely, Mans reason in this …ynt is but as a beast, (as Iere…ie sayth.) But Almightie …od hath his reasons for it, …ost preg…ant, & most pow…full.
For this beleeuing in …hrist being an act of the vnderstanding, assenting to Gods diuine truth, at the commandement of the will, so moued by the grace and spirit of God, sheweth that it is the power onelyonly, and spirit of God that inclineth our hearts to beleeue,1 Spirit…s SS. causa fid…procatarctica. as the first mouing cause thereof.
This was the reason why Lydia the Thyatirian, hearkned to Paules preaching, which many other did not, that heard the word notwithstanding,Sp. est qui sensum dat, & assensum mouet. Bern. Act. 16. as well as she. For the Text saith, God opened the heart of Lydia, that she attended the the words of Paule, that is to say, She attended not, vntill God openeth her heart.
The inuisible finger of God being as you see a golden key to vnlocke our steely hearts, that may see, perceiue, and be moued to seeke after God for our saluation.
And this is the reason why …he Scripture calleth this cause The spirit of faith, 1. Cor. 4.or the spirite …f beleeuing.
Gods second cause of our …eleeuing is his blessed,2. Verbum praedicatum est causa demivrgica, & via ad verbum genitum. and …oly word read and preached … the ordinarie means of our …ith, which worketh vponupon …wo forcible, and perswasiue …enses the eye, and the eare, …he one for the reader of the word, the other for the hearer of the word preached, or read.
For the eare, God hath ordayned a voyce to call vponupon …s by the paynes of preaching.
For the eye, his sacred word is written, or printed, that it may be read, and vnderstood of vsus and our children, and this is the cause of our beleeuing which is called,1. Tim. 4. The word of Faith.
Aske a Christian then why he beleeues the Trinitie in Vnitie, and Vnitie in Trinitie: his answer is, because the Scripture records it, there is the word of faith, but reply vponupon him, and aske him why he beleeues the scriptures, his reason is, without reason in himselfe, for he saith The finger of God is there. If you vrge and say. Why doest thou beleeue, and I do not, I heare the word as well as thee? Saint Paule will answer with an out crie, O depth! That is a matter of amazement, not of argument, saith S. Ambrose. But what might be the cause that stayeth and vpholds the hearts of the sonnes of men along the misery of this life in this word of beleeuing? Surely eternall life the saluation of our soules, the last article of our Christian faith,3 Vita aeterna causa fidei teleiot i…a. is the finall cause,1. Pet. 1. and anchorholde of out beleeuing in Christ Iesus.
For the hope whereof, the holy ones of God purge thē selues,1. Ioh. 3. both in soule and body, that they may be accepta…le vntounto God through Iesus Christ our Lord. And there…ore S. Peter calleth eternall …ife the end of our beleeuing …uen the assured glorification …f soule and body, which by …aith wee expect in the other world. In respect whereof also it is that this faith goeth not alone, like some bankrupt, but is royally attended with a troupe of good works, semblable to the causes thereof. For the spirit of faith is not barren, but is in continuall motion in stirring and quickning vp the harts of gods children eueryevery day to goodnes.
Neither is the word of faith verball onelyonly,Heb. 4. But liuely and mightie in operation, and sharper then any two edged sword, & enters throgh, euen to the diuiding of the soule, and the spirit, and of the ioynts, and the ma…row, and is a discerner of the thought, and the intents of the heart.
The people of God therefore whose hearts are thus powerfully moued by the spirit of faith to beleeue, and thus effectually counselled by the word of faith, to liue well,Act. 15. endeauour nothing else but that their liuing may be answerable to their beleeuing, that so their soules might bee saued. For this sacred faith of Christ, first of all purifieth the heart; now if the fountaine be cleare and cleane, the whole streame that issueth thence will be cleane also.
Secondly, this faith of Christ worketh by louelove, and bringeth foorth good workes. I should euer therefore distrust that I neuer was a true beleeuer, vnlesse I felt my heart sanctified by grace, and my and working the deedes of haritie. This doubtlesse was …he faith of the primitiue …orld, while the bloud of Christ was yet warme in the …earts of those beleeuers.
Witnes all those Churches …olledges, Hospitalls, En…owments, Rents, Reuenews …ands, Liuings, Pensions, and …l other such donations, and …onsecrations appropriated, …nd giuen to the maintenance of religion and learning, to …he succour of the poore, and …o the perpetuating of Gods worship here on earth, vntill …he second comming of Christ.
For the people then liued, and beleeued, as men knowing that the faith of Christ is not fruitlesse, and that by the fruites therof, they are assured of their election past; and of their perfection by Christ to come: that their good deedes should follow them where nothing else …ould,Apoc. 14. and that according to the proportion of their workes, wrought in earth by grace in Christ, they should through the merciemercy of God, and not of merit bee allotted a portion of happines hereafter in the heauens.Act. 2. And therefore vnderstanding their weldoing here, to be necessarie to their well being for euer, they studyed nothing else but to goe on in that race of goodnesse, that they might attaine at the last the blessed end thereof, euen the reward of mercy promised vntounto them by the word of faith written vntounto them in the bloud of our faith, sealed, & assured vntounto thē by the death of our faith, stirred vp & moued herevnto by the spirit of faith Christs vicegerent on earth, whose they were, encouraged thereunto by the bloud of so …any faithfull beleeuers that …yed for the faith of Christ, …nd continue therein vntounto …heir liues end, by the exube…ant, and abundant riches of Gods mercy in Christ Iesus their Ruler, and Redeemer.
O Blessed Paule, Applicationfaithfull and beleeuing was the world, when as yet the bloud of Christ was warme in me…s hearts, and when the faithfull beleeuers inflamed with the louelove of God, and ouerioyed with the glad tydings of the Gospell, thus bespake. Gods seruants that preached th… faith vntounto them. Blessed in th… Lord, Act. 4.will our goods pleas… you? Gal. 3.Behold we lay them dow… at your feete, will our eyes … you good? Take ought of ou… that is neere, and deere vntounto … euen our right eyes. Apoc. 12.Will our liues steede you? Wee esteeme the… not for the testimonie of the fait… of Iesus Christ, as for all manner of tribulations that can happen for Iesus Christ sake, We accompt them not worthy … the glory that shall bee receiued.
A blessed and beautifull …ace of time it was (O Paule) when▪ the prime beleeuing Christians had no other fault …ound in them, no not by …heir verie enemies (as Plinius …ecundus an heathen testifieth … Traian the Emperour) but his was all hee could certifie …gainst them to the state, that …hey oft times assembled …emselues together before …ay in the caues, and holes of the earth to sing Psalmes, …nd prayses to the Lord of …ife, Christ Iesus, which seruice for feare of persecution they durst not performe publikely.
O then was the time (ho…y Paule) that faith wrought …y Gods louelove, and not by selfe louelove, by good workes, and not by goodly wordes, what time the beleeuing Christians were knowne not …o bee of the tribe of Naphta…, giuing goodly wordes,Gen. 49. but of the tribe of Ioseph beeing fruitfull boughes, euen fruitfull boughes by a Well, whose branches run ouer the wall.
When Placilla the wife of Theodosius a beleeuing Empresse, would resort vntounto the Almes houses, and Hospital…s of the poore to see them succoured and releeued, and when her nice Gentlewomen that wayted o… her, would dehort and disswade her not to debase her selfe to come into such meane places, and neere such nastie people, shee with teares in her eyes would re…ply, and say:
O I wou…d not doe thi… ▪ and this onelyonly, but so, and s… yea much more for the louelove … beare to my Sauiour Christ, an… to his blessed members … meane soeuer they bee, for I … him my selfe and all I hauehave, … thousand wayes.
(O sacred Paule) that was …etime when men beleeued, …nd loued God so sweetely, …at they would not bee allu…ed by the enticements of the …orld to fall from the faith …f Christ, as did couetous … …mas, they beleeued, and lo…ed him so wisely that they …ould not bee deceiued with …he vanitie of wretchednesse … fayle in their sacred seruic… … did prowd hearted Diotre…es that loued the prehemi…ence, they beleeued and lo…ed God so resolutely that …ey could neuer bee vtterly …an quished either by sinne, …eath, or Sathan as many mil…ons of vnbeleeuing, and …isbeleeuing Christians are.
But O blessed God of hea…ē, & earth, how is the case in …ese ourdaies altered. For the …iuell hauing heretofore ray…d vp diuers heresies, and …hismes in all ages to hinder, peach, and vtterly to ouerthrow this sacred acte of beleeuing and true seruice of God, as first against the faith of Gods creating the world, he raysed vp the Marcionites, Carpocrations, and Nicolaita…, against the word of grace and redemption of man by Christ, he stirred vp the Ebionites, Gnostiques, Ar… rian, and Sabellians, and against the assurance of glory for his Saints, hee enraged the auncient Cathari, Pepusians, and Anabaptists, and many other such like damnable miscreants, against all the articles of our Christian faith, but now in this dotage of the world, he like cursed Caligula (that monster of men) wisheth this holy people that beleeue in Christ had but one head, that hee might strike it off at once, euen with this one blow, and hellish blast, …here is no God, Psal. 14.to the vtter …olishing of all the ground …orke of our Christ…an faith. Oh that the diuell could but …ish this onelyonly, as hee desired …nce to sift and winnow …eter.
But it is a thousand pitties …o see and behold how much …e hath preuayled with mil…ions of thousands, euen in the Christian world. Else how …urst so many damned mis…reants insult, euen ouer God …imselfe. Let him make speede …nd hasten his workes that wee may see it. Yea that dare breath defiance, and out face Gods …udgments by denying them, …nd saying:
There is no plague, this pro…hesying is but words, this preaching is but winde, and in the ende fall away from all that …s called God, as did Pharaoh, saying:
Who is God that I should serue him? and what is Iehouah that I should yeeld vntounto him? These are such against whom there is no law in England, which is to bee feared will bee the prouoking of Gods iudgements vponupon this our Land, and state in particular, wherein there is so much care taken; and so many good laws made and that most worthily, for the preseruation of the kings crowne and dignitie, that whosoeuer speaketh against it is held a cursed Tray…or, and that most iustly, and is worthy to die an ignominious and cruell death, and that most deseruedly, yea particular and priuate mens cases, their lands, liuings, titles, pleas, and wrongs are by good, and wholesome lawes redressed, yet there is no extant and positiue Law, Statute or Ordinance against these impea…hers of this holy faith, and against the open cursed, and damnable Blasphem…rs, de…ier…, and defiers of the eternall God.
Oh England, this is a worke worth the best intendments, consultations, and determinations both of thy Princes, Peeres, and people that such hellish roaring Boyes, and such damned crues may not once bee named within the territories where thy renowned king is stiled the defendor of the faith.
For wee see that of such as make profession of faith, the Oracle of faith telleth vsus,1. Thes. 4. All hauehave not faith.
God sent Noah in the worlds infancie to preach this faith of the Messias, Abraham in the worlds childhood had the signe of the couenant of this faith for the same purpose, Dauid in the worlds youth beleeued, and defended the same. The Prophets in the worldes middle age guided the beleeuers vntounto it, Gods owne Sonne in his first comming preached it to the worlds old age, his Apostles and Preachers, to this our age, the worlds dotage, and all these found vnbeleeuers, and missebeleeuers in all their times. And last of all, when Christ shall come againe to iudge the liuing and the dead: Shall he finde faith on the earth?
In his first aduent hee had not (as he himselfe affirmeth) where to lay his head, but when he commeth againe to iudgement, hee will not hauehave where to set his foote, if the world continue as it hath …one along time, eloyning …rom Christs Church, and …poyling it of the meanes of …he Gospells preaching, those …acred donations & endowments which the faith of the …ormer and better ages con…ecrated, as the lands and re…enewes of Iesus Christ the Sonne of God heere on earth, …or the perpetuating of his ministerie and seruice. No …eloued these are the dayes of …inne, and wherein sinne a…oundeth, because the louelove of God in the world waxethMat. 24. …old.
These are the dayes where …n such a faith is professed by …any, that is, no where to bee …eene by good workes but …ard onelyonly in some certaine …oodly wordes, such a faith …s I told you before was the …ith of Lucius learned Par…ot like, and tunable to the eare, hauing no semblance, or qualitie of Gods spirit in it, but onelyonly this, that not working by louelove it is inuisible.
Africa was accounted in auncient time the mother of monstrous shapes, but Europe, Christian Europe is become the grandmother of many strange wonderments. For, as Saint Augustine sayth, Hee that beleeueth not now, seeing the world beleeueth, is aprodigious, and portentous amazement to himselfe.
And many there are who albeit they liue in the profession of this holy beleefe, yet they profite not in it, because they abuse the holy meanes thereof, neither doe they practise the religious manner, and methode of attaining vntounto it.
For first…, they abuse the meanes, by comming …reuerently and irreligiously …ot as beleeuers to heare the Word of this faith prea…hed.
Elias Gods Prophet when …ee comes where he heareth1 King. 19. God, hee couereth his face, with his mantle in reuerence of Gods Maiestie: For beleeuers, the nearer they come to God, the more modest they are.
Ezechiel hearing GOD speake vntounto him, wanting a vayle, falles with his face toEzech. 1. the earth, making the earth his mantle, to shew his reuerence, and fea…e to Gods maiestie.
Peter seeing Christ comming towards him, cryeth out, Depart from mee for I am a sinnefull man, as acknowledging he was not worthy to breath in the place where Christ was.
Abraham, when hee talkes with God about Sodome, sayth thus, Let not my Lord bee angrie, if I dust, and ashes speake vntounto him.Gen. 8.
And the Syrophenician comming to receiue comfort from Christ, stands behind him daring not to speake, but entendeth onelyonly to touch, not his body, nor his garment, but euen the very hemme of his vesture, and shee receyued a comfortable compellation from Christ, for hee owned her, and sayde, Daughter, bee of good cheare, thy beleefe hath saued thee.
For the more vereeundious and modest wee are in this our hearing of God, and in our comming vntounto him, the more bright and beautiful wee are in his sacred sight. If wee would thus serue the Lord in feare, and reioyce be fore him with trembling, wee should not goe so often to Church, and so often return againe neuer the better, ofttimes the worser, wee should not so often heare in vain, nor so often see, and not discerne.
But the manner is now with many to come, as sathan did (for company or custom, or worse) came also when the sons of God were assembled before him to the diuels Chappell, according to our English Prouerbe, Where God hath his Church, the Diuell hath his Chappell
For euen in the great assemblies while some are there hearing the word attentiuely, others sleepe profoundly, while some reade, others prate, while some lift vp their eyes to heauen, others point out the finger to note some vanity in the next pue, while som pray, othe…s scoffe, while some sing others curse, while some sigh for their sinnes, others laugh at sinne, & while others sit hearkening to the Sermon vntounto the end, others make hast to bee gone, and thinke eueryevery houre two, vntill they heare the Peace of God, which they will scarce vouchsafe to take with them, nor the Grace of GOD neither.
Cease therefore to maruell at our fruitlesse hearing the Word, if this bee our demeanour: when we present our selues before our God; were we perswaded of God, as wee ought, (and surely, hee that will come to God, must beleeue that God is) and of his sonne Christ Iesus, of whom the voyce from Heauen (and not from men) was this, Heare him; wee could not thus abuse our time,Mat. 17. when wee assemble our selues to heare this Word of faith preached vntounto vsus.
But those that thus de…mean themselues, the Prophe…ie of Esay is fulfilled, which God in his iust iudg…ment …ringeth vponupon them for their neglect of him in making their hearts fat, Their eares heauie, and their eyes dimme, that they may not see with their eies,Esay. 6. nor heare with their eares, nor vnderstand with their hearts, and should bee conuerted, and God should heale them, These are such that come into the house of God without feare, and offer the sacrifice of fooles, for albeit they liue wickedly, yet they imagine that they hauehave made GOD beholding vntounto them for sitting an houre or two in his seruice.
It was otherwise in Saint Iohn the Diuine,Apoc 1. who in heauenly meditations and seruice of God, was rauished in the Spirite, on the Lordes day, and in that holy extasie, heauen was opened vntounto him, and hee saw God, the Angels, the Elders, and the soules of the Saints clothed in white robes; whereas these diuelish hearers are ready to faint for water; yet sit (as Hagar Abrahams bondmaide did) by the fountaines of waters, and doe not see them, & are ready to perish for foode, and yet doe not see the heauenly Manna that is reached out vntounto them.
And as they thus abuse the holy meanes of their beleeuing▪ so also they vse not the heauenly and orderly proceeding in the practise of their beleefe. For a true Beleeuer at his very first awaking in bedde, is present with God in his thoughts, words and meditations, as Dauid speaketh: and after hee is vp, hee taketh vntounto him blessed wordes as …head directeth eyther publike…y or priuately,Hosh. 14. and offereth …God his morning sacrifice in …prayer, and then addresseth and addicteth himselfe to his calling, and therein abideth, performing his earthly vocation with an heauenly mind.
And if a true beleeuer happen into any company, he sits oft times still, and retired to himselfe, watching and waiting oportunity when hee may speake words, that may minister grace vntounto the hearers.
And if a true Beleeuer hauehave any leysure (not that hee will bee at any time idle) he sayth to himselfe, Now will I retire myselfe into my closet, and there will I powre out my heart vntounto my God.
If a true beleeuer prosper in the worke of his handes, he is thankefull, and not proude. If hee suffer aduersity, hee makes his patience knowne vntounto all men, without murmuring or repining, assuring himselfe that it proceedeth not of Gods hatred, but of his singular louelove t…ward him that hee is afflicted, for God delighteth not in the misery of his Creatures, for if hee did, hee would neuer hauehave made man a Paradise to liue in, euen in his innocency, but God knoweth in his wisedome, that by afflictions his dearest children are weaned from the louelove of the World, and take liking of the other world.
And thus hauing past the day, recalling to mind Gods great mercies, recounting his owne many and manifold infirmities and imperfections, magnifieth Gods fauours in all, craueth pardon for his great vnthankefulnesse, and so reposing himselfe in bedde in his Sepulchre, hauing now made, as it were, his last will to God, acknowledging himselfe a stranger, and Pilgrime here, as all his Fathers were, and beleeuing that the time will come, that as he is awaked, and riseth from bedde in the morning: so shall he bee raysed from his graue, and sleepe of death, to liue with GOD in Christeternally.
But the vnbeleeuers and fruitles professors in their carriage, are quite contrary. For their awaking is to euill, and that is euer present with them. Their morning Mattens is cursing and swearing, and that shall distill one day into their bowels as water, & like oyle into their bones.
Their vocation is to bee busie bodies in other mens matters. Their society is to seeke out the riotous to runne with them to excesse, their retirednesse is to study out mischiefe, to complot against their brethren, & to circumuent by politique stratagems their harmelesse associates▪
If these prosper, no man is able to endure their pride, their disdaine, their curiosity, their statelinesse. If they bee afflicted, the whole Countrie shall ring of their impatience, murmuring, rauing and blasphemie.
And thus hauing lost the day, they couch themselues in their beds of beastlinesse at night; as if they had made a couenant with death, and the diuell neuer to be good; This is the fruit of infidelitie, and thus godlesse professors demeane themselues, as if Barrahas had suffered, and Christ had beene let goe, as if Christ were yet in his graue …nd that Caiphas should bee …udge of quicke and dead.
But true beleeuers, know that without faith it is impossible to please God (let vsus prate what wee will) and whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne, (let vsus doe what wee will) and this faith must worke by louelove, or else all is in vaine, let vsus liue how we will, let vsus then begge this blessed boone of God, that wee may beleeue, and that hee would helpe our beleeuing, that wee may hauehave both theSaluific… fidei tribuuntur hi quatnor Tituli. 1 foreign 2 foreign 3 foreign 4 foreign. groundworke of faith to builde vponupon, the trust of faith to resolue vponupon, the boldnes of faith, to approach neere vntounto God, and the full perswasion of faith to die in, that so wee may goe on from faith, to faith, vntill wee hauehave our perfect blisse in Christ for euer. Albeit our condition be, that wee liue in these last and worst times, as Lot in Sodome, and as Abraham in Vr, of the Chaldes, yet hauing the rocke of our faith in Heauen,1. Ioh. 5. the Father determining, the word directing, the holy Ghost mouing, and these 3. are one, hauing the records of our faith on earth, the Spirit witnessing to our Spirite, that wee are the sonnes of God, the water of Baptisme, the seale of our Redemption in Christ, the bloud of the holy Martyres, as the signes of the power of faith in weakenesse, and these three a…gree in one, wee may bid defiance to the Diuell, and quiet our conscience in Christ for euermore.
Concluding, that wee can be iustified no other way in the sight of God, but onelyonly by this holy faith in the bloud of Iesus; but beeing there by onceiustified, wee are in direct order towardes God, wee are through the gate, and in the happie way that leadeth to Abrahams bosom, euen eternall life.
For God can direct vsus in the best way vntounto himself, that leadeth to euerlasti…g felicitie, in turning vsus from …ur euill wayes, and retur…ing vsus to himselfe by re…entance, and so on to good workes, the assurance to our …elues, of our election in CHRIST, from good workes to Gods mercy, and …rom thence to glory, where…nto this faith teacheth vsus, …hat CHRIST is already …ntered, and whether hee …ill vndoubtedly bring all …hat louelove him, that looke …nd long for his comming, … consummate and perfect …is our holy seruice in the Heauens, where is the fulnes …f ioy, and happinesse in the presence of God for euermore.
O Lord, I beleeue, helpe my vnbeleefe, and encrease my Christian faith.
WOnderfull art thou,Inuocation. O Lord God in thy manifold works, maruellous in thy Almighty power, and vnsearchable in thy diuine secretes. The goodly frame of heauen and of earth shew shy power, the disposition of all things therein tell of thy great wisedome, and the passages of so many millions of particulars, point out this gracious prouidence in all, and yet the workes of thy mercies surpasseth all this: For which, O heauenly Father, wee magnifie and praise thy name, and multiplie our thankefulnesse vntounto the in Iesus Christ from day to day: For it hath pleased thee, good Father, to elect vntounto thy selfe, and to call …ut of this Worlde, out of this world, (I say) beeing … sincke of sinnefulnesse, a deepe …den of despayre, an Asphatites of …ll filthinesse, a dead sea of sensu…lity, the vale of the children of Hinnon, a Babylon of beast. linesse, a Sodome of sorrow, a Gomorrah of vngodlinesse, a Seboim of security, an Adamah of Adulterie, and a world of wickednesse: to chose (I say) one of this route a remnant of people to bee thy beloued Spouse, and wife of the Lambe, to bee a royall Priesthood, an holy Nation, a peculiar people, the louelove of Christ, all faire vndefiled, and without spotte, the onelyonly Doue, to bee like an Orchard inclosed, a well sealed vp, a fountaine of liuing water, a Paradise of all pretious, delectable, and desirable fruites, and to be the mysticall body of Christ, which hee doth quicken with his owne spirite.
And these heauenly Father, thou hast sealed with thine owne fignet, dignified with thine owne fauours, and as it were di…sied by thine effectuall and sauing grace, in giuing them the holy faith of thy Christ, and our Iesus thine onelyonly sonne, and our Sauior, to purifie their hearts, to purge their consciences from dead workes, to serue thee the Father of light, and life, and so to be blessed by thee with light and life euerlasting. O Lord now behold mee poore silly wretch, that lyes here beneath in this miserable world, creeping in the dust, and crawling in mine owne infirmities, My soule cleaueth vntounto the ground, my belly vntounto the earth: I hauehave nothing in mee but sinne, sensuality a…d shame. Blind I am in mine owne vnderstanding: for I know thee not, obstinat in my will, for I little … regarde thy Counsels, corrupted in mine affections: for I hauehave no minde vntounto thee. My parents were of this world, I am borne in the world, and the world is all, my silly selfe looketh after, I cannot attaine to so much, at to know my selfe, how then shuld I know, and discerne thinges aboue my selfe? much lesse vnderstand the things that appertaine vntounto thee (O Father) and to the glory of thy Kingdome. EueryEvery good and perfect gift commeth feom thee, who art the Father of lights. O bowe downe thy goodnesse then vntounto mee, most mercifull Father, and extend thy bounty vntounto me poore wretch, that most humbly desires thy grace and fauour, that thou wouldest bee pleased to giuegive mee a portion and measure of thy blessings in the faith, and fauour of thy sonne.
Grant vntounto mee faith, O Lord, without the which, I cannot please thee, without the which I cannot hope for any good, nor hauehave any euidence of these things which are not yet euident, without the which I cannot come to Christ, nor doe any good works, nor bee raysed from sinne, nor know thee O God, nor resist the Diuell, nor ouercome the world, nor be iustified, nor bee saued.
O blessed Father, grant this mercy vntounto mee, without the which I desire not to be, without which I cannot bee, but a Cimmerian wretch, a stranger vntounto thee, an Atheist, a profane person, an Infidell, a cast away, and a Firebrand of Hell.
What prayse can bee to thee, O Lord in the deepe, in the land of obliuion, in the place of the damned? Shall the dead praise thee?, shall the bottomlesse pitte celebrate thee? shall the damned sing vntounto thee? no, no, The beleeuing, the repenting, the sorrowfull soule for sinne, whome thou shalt shine vponupon with the light of thy countenance, in the faith of Christ, that soule (O God) that soule shall euer bee magnifying thy mercies, extolling thy goodnesse, and celebrating thy greatnesse fro age to age
What euer I doe, what euer I thinke, what euer I say, without it hee seasoned with this grace of faith, it is sinne. O blessed plant of Paradise, O heauenly Iewell of incomparable valuation.
Deare Father, bestowe this blessing vponupon me, shut not vp my life with vnbeleeuers, which shall neuer see thy face, but rectifie me in al parts, to the right vse of the sacred meanes of obtayning this fauour of faith. It commeth by hearing of thy Word,
O sanctifie mee throughout, that I may attentiuely hearken what the Lord will say: For hee will speake peace vntounto my soule, and louelove to his Saintes, that they returne not to folly.
O holy Lord, Looke backe vponupon mine humbled Suite, & signe my petition for thy tender mercies sake in Christ. So shall my Sacrifices bee alwayes acceptable vntounto thee, as Abels, my conuersation holy as Enochs, my preaching powerfull as Noahs, my offeringes delectable, as Abrahams, so shall I contemne the World in respect of this, as did Moses the powers of darkenesse, and the gates of hell, as the walles of Iericho shall fall downe before mee, as those did before thy Ioshuah. I shall subdue all mine enemies, bee they neuer s… many, neuer so mighty, neuer so malitious, as did Dauid, & his Worthies, and shall sanctifie all my corrupted actions, & affections, healing that which halted, and binding vp the broken parts, as did thine Holy Prophets. So shall I triumph ouer hell, vanquish …death, and liue with thee for euer. O Lord, thou art not wont to quench smoaking flaxe, nor to breake a brused reed, nor to let a repenting soule goe pensiue from thy presence. O looke vponupon me with one glimpse of thy countenance, and enflame mine heart with zeale, that feeles it selfe touched with the fire of thine Alter.
Oh saue me for thy pitty sake, and take mee ou… of the multitude of vnbeleeuers, that I may seeke, and serue thee for euer.
Distill thy heauenly dewe into my bowels, Let it runne like oyle into my bones.
Let it bee as a fruitful, and effectuall plantation in mine hart, that I may not be one of the number of those, that say they hauehave faith, and professe it also, but without fruite, but of those who with neuer altering resolutions, treade the trace of that sacred faith that worketh by louelove, ouercommeth the world, holdeth alwayes the sacred truth, and leadeth into the wayes of eternall ioy, and happi…nesse, by thy effectuall and sauing grace.
Grant this O Father of Heauen, for Christ Iesus sake thy blessed Sonne, and mine eternall Sauiour, Amen.