Mans Active Obedience, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
How men may be miſtaken in this point, of their beleeuing, with the vſe thereof.
Queſtion.
BVt may not men be miſtaken about this point of their beleeuing, and thinke they hauehave obtained like precious faith with Gods Elect, looking to be ſaued as ſoone, and as well as the beſt (as many may be heard ſo to ſpeake); and yet miſſe of all in the end, and fall ſhort of their reckoning, both deceiuing others by their ſo confident boaſting, and to their euerlaſting woe, prouing by lamentable experience, that they are worſt and moſt of all deceiued themſelues?
A. Yes vndoubtedly; and in nothing ſooner then inMany deceiued. this, according as there is no one ſauing grace (though Satan be an enemie to all), againſt which that vowed enemie of our ſaluation, doth more bend all his forceSatan beguiles with falſe faith. to the ouerthrowing of it, where hee findeth it to be in truth: or about which that deceiuer of the world doth more beare his braine, or ſet a worke his ſeuen heads, to vſe greater couſonage, or more ſleighty working, and cunning craftineſſe to deceiue, then about this one grace of faith: either for the keeping of men from hauing faith, or caring to hauehave it (if he ſeeth they bee without it); or elſe in making them beleeue (when hee perceiueth they are of mind that faith is needful to bee had), that they hauehave faith without all doubt, and that euen of the beſt and ſtrongeſt faith that is in the world beſide, then the which no better can bee had; when their faith ſcarce hath ſo much to be ſeene in it as the very ſhadow or ſhew of a true faith; or when it is at the beſt, it is but a counterfait mocke-faith, euen a falſe fained faith; which he well knoweth can doe them at all no good, nor ſtand them in any manner of ſtead. This is his ſubtilty and diuelliſh policy, with the ſhewes of nothing, to make men beleeue they hauehave all things; and when they are emptie, to thinke they are full. This is truly ſaid to bee one of the chaine-ſhot, wherwith he ſlayeth thouſands vponupon thouſands: and with which (as it were) with the Iaw bone of an Aſſe (Sampſon-like) he daily doth make heapes vponupon heapes. Men are fowly and fondly deceiued, and moſt childiſhly couſened by the diuell in this point of their beleeuing: which yet is a caſe of ſo great waight, and a matter of ſuch importance and conſequence, as to bee miſtaken about it, proueth to be the vtter vndoing of men, and their finall ruine. For altogether lamentable it is to ſee, that men ſhould truſt ſo much to their broken & bankerupt eſtate in their ſoules affaires; and ſhould ſo hazard their ſoules, and beare ſo great an aduenture of their liues for euer, vponupon the hope of being ſaued by ſuch a faith as can no way helpe them, but will vtterly faile them in the end. They are like fooliſh and deſperate perſons, that dare goe to ſea in a rotten or riuen ſhippe: or like the fooliſh man, of whom our Sauiour ſpeaketh in the Goſpell, that buildeth his houſe vponupon the ſand, looking to bee ſheltered there, and ſaued from all harme againſt eueryevery ſtorme; but whē the ſtorm cōmeth & beateth vpō his building, all falleth about his eares; and the fall therof is the greater, by how much the more he hoped, and was conceited in himſelfe that he had built it ſo ſtrong, as it could neuer faile him in any need. True and pretious ſauing faith is not ſo commonTrue faith rare. a grace, nor ſo eaſie to come by, as many doe thinke for. There bee that doe trauell as painfully to bring it forth, and doe with as great difficulty and hardneſſe come to finde and to feele that they hauehave it; as any weake woman by her foreſt labour when ſhee endureth the ſharpeſt brunts, and ſtrongeſt paines of trauell in child-birth, commeth at the length to bring forth her fruit. So that in reſpect of their hard comming by it, and the paines they endure for it, and charge that it coſt them at the length to obtaine it, & become owners of it, it may well be called and reckoned in their account to be indeed pretious faith (according as it is in it ſelfe, in regard of the ineſtimable worth that is found to be in it, and of the admirable effects that it cauſeth, and of the precious fruites that it doth bring forth, it moſt worthily and deſeruedly hath that honourable ſtile and title put vponupon it, to be called precious faith), for it is vntounto ſome the price (in a manner)2. Pet. 1. 1. of their deareſt life. And I doubt not but as Rachel hauing hard labour, died herſelfe when Beniamin wasGen. 35 16. 18. borne: ſo ſome may as well die in the throwes of the new birth, and pangs and paines of their trauell about hauing faith to be borne, and getting that fruit to bee brought forth (which yet being once borne, and ſo brought forth, will neuer faile to ſaue them that beare it, though they die themſelues in the birth thereof). And therefore in regard of their owne feeling, they may ſeeme to hauehave cauſe with Rachel, to call it their Ben-oni, euen the ſonne of their ſorrow: though as Iacob changed the name of that ſon whom Rachel called Ben-oni, for the ſorrowfull trauell ſhe brought him forth with, and called him Beniamin: ſo in regard of the powerfull and bleſſed effects that faith worketh, for the vndoubted ſauing and bringing to eternall life ſuch as truly doe beleeue, he that is the author of this precious faith, and the onelyonly true father that hath begot it in them, may iuſtly hauehave it named, not Ben-oni, but Beniamin, that is, the …n of ſtrength, againſt which no power of the enemic can preuaile; or the ſonne of the right hand, euen ſuch a hand as layeth hold of life, and ſuch life as neuer will hauehave an end. I know there be a companie, who reſting vponupon a vaine and falſe fained faith; that may be truly ſaid of them, in regard of their ſpeedy and eaſie comming by ſuch faith (which they yet conceit to be as good as any bodies faith is beſide), which the Egyptian midwiues ſaid of the women ofExod. 1. 19. the Hebrewes, that they were not like other women of Egypt, but were ſo liuely, ſo luſtie and ſtrong, as they needed not their helpe, but were deliuered before euer they could come at them. So this ſort of people they are deliuered of this kind of faith, without any aide of Gods Miniſters; they are ſo healthie, ſo luſtie, and ſo ſtrong, as themſelues doe deeme, that they neede none of their helpe: for they are not acquainted with the pangs of conſcience in the new birth, whereby others are hazarded: there being many a poore weake Chriſtian that is ſeene to lye trauelling, to bring out true ſauing faith in ſuch weakneſſe, as they are ready to faint and giuegive ouer before euer that can bee brought forth and ſeeme to bee borne. But theſe of a ſudden, growing great, and ſwelling bigge with a windie conceit that puffeth them vp, make their reckoning that faith is formed in them: they trauell indeed about it, but (as the Prophet ſpeaketh) they trauell with the wind, and bring out nothing but theHoſ. 8. 7. Iſa. 33. 11. Pſal. 7. 14. whirle-wind: they conceiue chaffe, and ſhall bring forth ſtubble; they trauell with falſhood, and bring forth a lie; their ſureſt faith being nothing elſe but moſt dangerous preſuming. There is then great miſtaking about this queſtion of faith. Some thinking their faith to bee leſſe then it is; and though it be in them in truth, yet that it is not in them at all. Others thinking their faith to bee greater then it is, and that they are richly ſtored therewith, when they are wholly emptie of it, and hauehave not of it in quantitie ſo much as is the leaſt graine of muſtard-ſeed. Who therefore hauehave no cauſe to be ſo ſecure as they are, and to reckon vponupon ſuch ſafety as they doe: for vndoubtedly their faith ſo failing them, & they from miſtaken grounds deceiuing themſelues, they cannot but periſh in the end, and wofully at the length miſcarry for altogether.
Q. This then being a matter of ſo great importance and caſe, which many times on both ſides is ſo much miſtaken (as you hauehave already ſpoken), me thinkes it were worth the labour to hauehave this thing ſomewhat better ſcanned vponupon, for the clearing of the doubts that may ariſe about the ſame, And firſt, where you made mention of ſome, who thinke worſe of themſelues then there is cauſe; in whom though there is true faith indeed, they yet feele it not to bee ſo, but are as much diſmayed, as though they had no faith at all. I deſire to heare what you conceiue of the eſtate of ſuch, and what you thinke may be the reaſon why faith being giuen vntounto them, they yet ſhould not hauehave giuen vntounto them the feeling of the ſame?
A. When God the onelyonly author and finiſher of pretiousFaith without feeling. and ſauing faith in all his elect, hath begun to put his hand to this bleſſed worke of giuing life and being to this indeleble and neuer-failing grace, till the laſt end thereof be attained vntounto, which is the eternall ſaluation of eueryevery ſoule that hath it: when (I ſay) God hath once infuſed this grace into vsus, and planted it in our hearts, that it hath a true being there, though wee be not aware thereof (for God who can worke without vsus, without our merit and deſart, without all manner of helpe and aide from vsus; can alſo worke within vsus, without our diſcerning of his worke, or his making vsus priuie to that hee is in hand with, or any way acquainting vsus with what he is a doing, and a working for vsus, till in his wiſedome hee ſeeth it fit and meet to hauehave this made knowne vntounto vsus, for our greater comfort), then and from thenceforth for euer, may it be ſaid of that ſoule which was ſaid of Zacheus Luk. 19. 9.houſe, after Chriſt Ieſus once ſet his foot within the doores thereof, this day is ſaluation come into this houſe: ſo that day and houre, that inſtant time wherein faith had any entrance & way made for it to be planted, & to hauehave being in the ſoule that once hath it wrought therin; it may bee ſaid of that ſoule, this day is ſaluation come to this ſoule, and that ſaluation that will be euerlaſting: ſo as it is thenceforth ſafe for euer, from finally periſhing, or euer miſcarrying. And the ſafety of ſuch a ſoule is as ſure by the true being of it, without the ſenſible ſeeling and diſcerning of ſuch a being, as euer it ſhall be ſafe either by the moſt liuely and comfortable feeling of the being of faith. Yea or of the hauing of that for which faith euer had ſuch being, namely, ſaluation it ſelfe, when wee ſhall be moſt ſurely and fully poſſeſſed of it in Gods kingdome. We are (I ſay) from that very inſtant of time as ſure to be ſaued, as if wee were ſaued alreadie and were euen now in heauen. It is therefore no ſmall fauour from God vntounto vsus, when our eſtate is thus moſt certainly in it ſelfe become an eſtate of ſaluation; and moſt euidently many times diſcernable ſo to bee by others to whom a ſpirit of diſcerning is giuen: though in like manner, not ſo beleeued, ſo felt or perceiued to be by our ſelues. And though the Lord for good reſpects and cauſes beſt knowne to himſelfe, doth ſee it meete not to exempt vsus from ſtaggering and doubting, and ſtill calling into queſtion the ſtate of our owne ſaluation: yea letting vsus abide vnderunder great feare and much trembling, leſt that wee ſhould not at all belong vntounto him: that ſo wee may giuegive the better diligence to make our election, which is euer ſure2. Pet. 1. 10. in it ſelfe, to be alſo ſure to vsus; yet ought wee herein to ſubmit our ſelues. And if it ſhall pleaſe him (leſt wee ſhould become laſie and idle and carnally ſecure, by knowing too ſoone, before we are fitted to vſe well that which in this behalfe we ſo ſhould know, euen the certaintie of our ſaluation) to keepe vsus from knowing for a time, that which is and hath been knowne to himſelfe before2. Tim. 2. 19. all beginnings; to the end hee may ſet vsus a worke about the more diligent vſing of all ſuch meanes, and carefull endeuouring to doe all ſuch things as are needfull to be vſed, and done by eueryevery one for the attainment of ſaluation: and that not without great feare and trembling alſo, leſt (eſpecially if we ſhould in any reſpect herein be found wanting) we ſhould miſſe of our deſired ſaluation in the end. And if he will that, by ſuch our painfull endeuours in the diſcharge of all Chriſtian duties, we ſhall ſo worke out our owne ſaluation as with our owne hands;Phil. 2. 12. that is to ſay, labour that our owne ſelues may at the length come to know that which alwaies was knowne to God before; which is that wee with the reſt of Gods elect ſhall vndoubtedly alſo be ſaued, that ſo that ſaluation may (after a ſort) by ſuch our endeuours be wrought out by vsus: which yet was fully accompliſhed & wrought out before for vsus by him, which was thereunto appointed before the world had a beginning; and who therefore came into the world in the fulnes of time, that hee might become the author of ſaluation to all that ſhould beleeue Heb. 5. 9.in him: who is Ieſus▪ our Lord. Who are we, that we ſhould controll the wiſedome of our heauenly Father, in thus diſpenſing out his owne gifts, which are alwaies moſt freely beſtowed, and can neuer by any be deſerued? eſpecially ſeeing the Lord is God onelyonly wiſe, who alone knoweth both what is meeteſt for the meaſure; and when1. Tim. 1. 17. is fitteſt for the time for any to receiue grace from his hands, vponupon whom it ſhall be his good pleaſure to beſtowWhy faith is not ſeene. any grace at all. It is not vnknowne to the Lord how depraued our nature is, how deeply infected and enuenomed wee are with moſt poiſonfull and deadly corruption; ſo as it is hard for any grace to bee put into vsus, which we ſhall not be found to ſpot and defile: wee are apt to abuſe not only the gifts of nature which God hath giuen vsus; but the ſupernaturall graces alſo, and gifts of his ſpirit beſtowed vponupon vsus: yea euen this gift and grace of faith it ſelfe, which is a gift of gifts and grace moſt gratious that God doth beſtow vponupon thoſe, whom hee loueth beſt; then the which none is either more pretious or excellent in ſelfe, nor none is more ſoueraigne or ſauing vntounto vsus. Which howſoeuer it hath vertue in it, according to the naturall working thereof, to purifie our hearts; yetActs 15. 9. being once placed and planted in our hearts (ſuch is the ſtrength of corruption that it meeteth with there), as it becommeth polluted it ſelfe, and that with all other graces put into vsus: as our beſt workes that doe goe from vsus, and are done by vsus, they all by being once in vsus, and by comming ſo from vsus, are but as ſpotted and polluted Iſai. 64. 6.cloathes are. Let the Lord beſtow this moſt pretious faith vponupon vsus, which is called the faith of Gods elect (whichTit. 1. 1. is ſo pretious, as whoſoeuer hath once receiued it, can neuer periſh afterward), if alwaies vponupon the firſt beſtowing of it vponupon vsus, and at the very firſt being of faith in vsus, we ſhould vndoubtedly know that we had true ſauing faith, which is auaileable euen in the leaſt meaſure and degree thereof to ſaue eueryevery ſoule that truly is poſſeſſed with it; it were poſſible, yea and that very likely too (vnleſſe wee were better aided with a ſecond grace giuen), that we might abuſe this firſt, ſo as the knowledge thereof might cauſe vsus become negligent in further vſing good meanes to attaine to greater degrees of faith and increaſes thereof, becauſe we would thinke a little would be ſufficient and ſerue our turne well enough. Contrary to that which he that is the author of our faith would hauehave to be done of vsus, who ſetteth vsus a worke euer to deſire and daily to pray to God for the more encreaſing of our faith. Euen as we are alſo willed not to be wanting to our ſelues in building vp and edifying our ſelues in our moſt holy faith. Iude 20.Not without iuſt cauſe then is it, that the Lord is found to take this vſuall courſe with many of his children, whom he full dearely doth louelove; that in this point of hauing the aſſurance of their ſaluation by the liuely feeling of ſauing faith to be in them, hee holdeth them off for a long time before he granteth them herein their deſire; though they deſire nothing more earneſtly, and long for the finding and feeling thereof, euen to the very fainting of their hearts; giuing to them that which is moſt needfull for them to hauehave (which is faith to be ſaued), though withholding from them that which might be thought moſt comfortable for them to hauehave in regard of their owne feeling, namely the aſſurance of faith for ſaluation. And though the Lord knoweth that ſuch his children deſire to know nothing ſooner, nor nothing more, then to know themſelues to bee of that number that are appointed to life and ſaluation for euer; yet doth he ſee it fit not to acquaint them too ſoone with what hee either hath done for them, in the free electing of them Eph. 1. 4.before euer the world had any beginning, or what hee hath now wrought in them, by putting faith into them, for the making their eſtate ſafe for euer, in the matter of their ſo much deſired and longed-for ſaluation; becauſe he well fore-ſeeth (ſuch is our pronenes and readineſſe to abuſe, euen Gods beſt fauours and mercies beſtowed vponupon vsus), that if we ſhould know too ſoone, that all were wrought and made ſure by God himſelfe for our euerlaſting ſaluation, we our ſelues would take little paines to make ſure our owne ſaluation to our ſelues: whereas the Lord would hauehave this to be the worke of eueryevery man, that we our ſelues ſhould worke out our owne ſaluation, as with our owne hands, and that not without feare and trembling too. This is a worke inioyned vntounto all, and a dutie that is to be done and practiſed by all, not onelyonly of them that are the weakeſt younglings, that are but as infants in the faith, and babes in Chriſt; but of thoſe alſo that1. Cor. 3. 1. Eph. 4. 13. 14. are the ſtrongeſt and of ripeſt age, that are growne men in the faith, and hauehave attained to the greateſt degrees therein. For though the Lord (as ſeemeth beſt to his wiſdome) doth in a differing manner diſpence of this grace of ſauing faith to ſuch, as ſhall be heires of eternall ſaluation: to ſome he giueth to hauehave a leſſer, and to ſome to hauehave a greater meaſure therein; ſome to hauehave great doubting remaining with their true beleeuing; others to bee more comfortably perſwaded, and at times alſo moſt vndoubtedlyRom. 8. 38. 39. aſſured of their obtaining ſaluation with God for euer; and that with ſo great a certaintie and clearenes, as nothing can make them at all to doubt, or call the matter once into queſtion; yet who ſo hath the greateſt aſſurance of all, hath no ſuch aſſurance, as will allow him to be carnally ſecure, or exempt him from paſſing the time of his 1. Pet. 1. 17.dwelling here infeare, or free him from an awfull kind of trembling alſo, euen then when he hath his greateſt comfort, and is in the midſt of his chiefeſt reioycing; ſeeing theſe are both coupled and commended vntounto vsus to bee vſed together, to ſerue the Lord with feare, and to reioyce Pſal. 2. 11.with trembling: which may occaſion the very beſt neuer to be idle nor vnfruitfull in the Chriſtian conuerſation, neuer to ſlacke their diligence; by adding vertue to vertue, ſtil to make ſure to themſelues their eternall election, and neuer to withdraw their hand from the labour of this bleſſed worke, of euer working out their owne ſaluation, and that not without ſome feare and trembling alſo. Which if they ſhould be wanting in, and faile to doe, and by abuſing the aſſurance they hauehave at one time become ſecure at another, growing to preſume by an ouer-weening that ſhould be within them; there is no ſuch promiſe to be found in the whole book of God made to any, that are moſt preferred in Gods fauour, and that hauehave allowed them the beſt aſſurance that may be, of their ſaluationThe ſtrong faith may hauehave feares and doubts. for euer: but through ſuch default, that aſſurance may be ouertaken with feare and trembling againe; yea, with a horrible feare comming vponupon them, and they ſhaken with another manner of trembling, then before would hauehave been ſufficient, and hauehave ſerued the turne. Wee reade of no mans faith better graced, or more ſecured, or vntounto which greater promiſes were made, euen by our Sauiour himſelfe, then was the faith of Peter, and profeſſion that he made thereof; which was not onelyonly approued of by him, but Peter was pronounced bleſſed for the ſame out of Chriſt his owne mouth, and the ſame ſecured by a moſt gracious promiſe made thereunto; thatMat. 16. 16. 17. 18. the gates of hell ſhould neuer preuaile againſt it. Howbeit, when Peter began to preſume, and to hauehave an ouerweeningMark. 14. 31. 37. 38. 68. 70. 71. of himſelfe, when hee became careleſſe and ſecure, neglecting by prayer and watching to ſafegard his faith, he entred into tentation, his faith was dangerouſly winnowed, and moſt ſoarely ſhaken. Dauid, who was a man of an inuincible courage, and of a moſt noble and heroicall ſpirit, a man of that reſolution, and ſo ſtrongly holding faſt the confidence of the hope he had in God, as he cared not for thouſands, nor ten thouſands of themPſal 3. 6. that ſhould ſet themſelues againſt him; who feared not, though he ſhould walke through the valley of the ſhaddowPſal. 23. 4. 6. dow of death; but reckoned, that goodneſſe and merciemercy ſhould follow him all his daies, and that he ſhould dwell vnderunder Gods protection in his houſe for euer. All this was during ſuch time as he kept his integritie, and continued his diligence and paines taking in ſuch religious exerciſes and holy endeauours, whereunto he had been wont to inure himſelfe; which made grace ſo happily to grow in him, and his comfort ſo greatly to abound: But when he once came to giuegive ouert is ſo bleſſed a courſe, and began to grow careleſſe and negligent in the beſt things, ſetting himſelfe to ſeeke after his ſinfull pleaſures, and the ſatisfying of his luſts; when in his proſperitie his heart began to be lifted vp, & by an ouerweening of his eſtate promiſed vntounto himſelfe, and preſumed that he ſhould neuer be remoued: then God hid his face, and with-drew hisPſal. 30. 6. 7. comforts from him, and how then became he troubled? then were the ioyes that he was wont to hauehave in God vtterlyPſal. 51. 8. 11. 12 to ſeeke; then in ſtead of all that confident and comfortable boldneſſe hee was wont to hauehave in his heart, fearefulneſſe and trembling began to come vponupon him, and an horrible feare to ouerwhelme him; then began thePſal. 55. 5. arrowes of the Almightie to be ſhot at him, which ſtooke ſo faſt in his ſides, that hee was made to roare out for thePſal. 38. 28. very diſquietneſſe of his ſoule; then he that was wont to call others to praiſe God for his mercies, began to doubt of Gods mercies for himſelfe, whether they were not come wholly to an end; whether he were not caſt off for euer, Pſal. 31. 22,which in his haſte hee did not ſticke both to thinke, and alſo to ſpeake. Yea, that great Apoſtle Paul himſelf, that elect and choſen veſſell of the Lord, who ſo gloriouſly did triumph and inſult ouer all the greateſt enemies ofRom 8. 33. 34. 35. 37. our ſaluation that wee hauehave; challenging them all to doe their beſt and their worſt, for doing vsus any harme; and ſhutting vp that whole matter with that great aſſurance of faith, that conſtant reſolution, that full and vndoubted perſwaſion, that there was nothing preſent, nor to come, that euer ſhould be able to ſeparate vsus from the louelove of God in Chriſt Ieſus; hee was not voyd of all manner of weakeneſſe, he was not freed from all kind of fearing and trembling; but as hauehave other the ſeruants of God, hee had alſo his weakeneſſe which hee could not be freed from: when Satans meſſenger was ſent to buffet him, though he2. Cor. 12. 7. 8. prayed earneſtly vntounto God for the remouing of the ſame: he felt that ſtrength of naturall corruption at ſometimesRom. 7. 24. ouermaſtering him, that made him crie out of himſelf, as of a moſt miſerable man: He ſerued the Lord in all humilitie Acts 20. 19.at Epheſus (as himſelfe ſaith) with many teares and tentations: he profeſſeth, he was among the Corinthians in 1. Cor. 2. 3.weakeneſſe, in feare, and in much trembling: he ſaith, when he was come into Macedonia, hee had no reſt in his fleſh, but was troubled on eueryevery ſide: he met with fightings without, 2. Cor. 7. 5.and felt terrors and feares within: he had care, and took paines as well as doe other the ſeruants of God, to looke to the maine point of the ſafetie of his owne ſaluation, by taming and keeping vnderunder his own body, and bringing it into1. Cor. 9. 27. ſubiection; left by any meanes when he had preached vntounto others, he himſelfe ſhould become a caſt-away. It is not forNone muſt be ſecure. any then (let their aſſurance be what it will be) to caſt off all manner of feare or care, but let eueryevery one that thinketh he ſtandeth, take heed that he fall not: nay, he that ſtandeth indeed, and ſtandeth by faith, yet let him liſten to the counſell giuen by the Apoſtle, thou ſtandeſt (ſaith he) by Rom. 11. 20.faith, be not high-minded, but feare. Though ſuch cannot fal finally away, and their faith faile for altogether; yet may they fall ſo fearefully, and into ſuch a decay of their faith, as in regard of their owne feeling, the comfort of their faith may be wholly gone and loſt for a time: yea, and it is poſſible (ſo lamentable may their fall be), that for ſo great a degree of aſſurance of faith and meaſure of comfortable feeling, as they had before, they ſhall neuer hauehave againe; nor during their whole life-time fully recouer all their loſſes, which they hauehave ſuſtained by ſo wofully falling. And who would not feare and tremble, if it were but at the thoughts of this thing, that through a mans owne careleſſe negligence, ſuch a caſe as this may too truly befall him? This then is the work which eueryevery one, bee hee weaker or ſtronger in the faith, muſt be ready to put his hand vntounto, and muſt neuer be willing to pull his hand from it againe, after hee hath once begun to fall a working, n…mely, to worke out with feare and tremblingPhil. 2. 12. his owne ſaluation. Not that the ſaluation of any doth depend vponupon the worke and labour of his owne hand; for it is a thing put out of all queſtion, that no man can redeeme his owne ſoule, or make agreement with God for his ſinne: it coſt more to redeeme a ſoule, then the whole world …ither hath, or is worth beſide; ſo that he muſt l…t it alone for ouer. God in his infinite louelove hath prouidedPſal. 49 7. 8. vsus a redeemer, and ſent vsus into the world a mightie Sauiour, Heb. 7. 25.that hath been perfectly able by himſelfe alone to ſaue all that will come to God by him; and this worke he hath fully finiſhed, and ſo hath perfected and accompliſhed this worke of our ſaluation, as in it ſelfe it is moſt ſafe and ſure. But he that hath thus purchaſed and prepared ſaluation for vsus, howſoeuer hee keepeth in his owne handColoſſ. 3. 3. that, which he ſo dearely hath bought and paid for; yet hath he preſcribed and appointed a way, which muſt bee taken of vsus for the comming by it, if euer we deſire to hauehave the comfort of the fruition of it; he hath ſet vsus a race 2. Tim. 47. 8. Phil. 3. 13. 14.to runne, and a courſe for vsus to finiſh, at the end where of he hath laid the crowne of righteouſneſſe, and this eternall ſaluation, as a rich recompence of reward for the trauel that ſhall be taken therein: but ſo, as except that race be run all out, and that courſe be fully finiſhed▪ there is no lookingHeb. 12. 1. for any to be ſaued. EueryEvery one therefore muſt fit himſelf with the Apoſtle, ſo to runne as he may obtaine, endeauouring1. Cor. 9. 24. with him to ſight a good ſight, to finiſh his courſe, and to keepe the faith; and ſo he may make reckoning to weare the crowne, when thus hee hath won it by ſuch a2. Tim. 2. 5. lawfull kind of ſtriuing.
Q. Seeing you hauehave rendred this as a probable reaſon, why the Lord doth many times withhold from ſome of his children the comfortable feeling of that ſauing grace of pretious faith, which by the worke of his ſpirit he hath once wrought in them, and ſhall neuer more (till ſaluation it ſelfe be obtained) be taken from them, though they cannot ſo feele and apprehend the ſame: namely that they might hereunto giuegive all diligence to make their election ſure, and by their painfull endeuours worke out their ſaluation, euen with feare and trēbling. And ſeeing vponupon this occaſion you hauehave begun to ſhew how needfull a worke this is for eueryevery one (without exception of any, be they ſtronger or weaker) to put his hand vntounto, and diligently to be imployed about. I pray you before you goe from this point, ſhew ſomewhat more particularly, what is to be done by eueryevery man that would worke out his owne ſaluation, thereby the better to get comfort to his heart, and to ſuccour and ſuſtaine the faith that is in him whereby he beleeueth, or deſireth to beleeue better, to be ſaued in the end?
A. This is the worke and trauaile that eueryevery ſuch a one muſt principally ſet himſelfe about, and neuer giuegiveWhat is to be done for getting more feeling of faith. ouer to be laborious and painfull therein. Firſt and aboue all things he muſt take paines and beſtow labour about his faith. If he thinkes he hath it not, he is by all poſſible meanes to ſeeke to get the feeling of it, and to get daily increaſes in it: and when hee hath once obtained it, his labour muſt be no leſſe to keepe and maintaine the ſameIude 3., that it may not faile him in his greateſt neede. This is ſaid to be the worke of God, and the chiefeſt worke that heIohn 6. 29. would ſet vsus about, if wee would hauehave the queſtion anſwered from out of Chriſts owne mouth. When faith is thus gotten and well prouided for, then is he foorth with to ioyne vertue with his faith, and to learne the courſe and2. Pet. 1. 5. way of a godly life; ſtanding and enquiring after the old Iere. 6. 16.way, which is the good way that hee may walke forward in it; doing wiſely in that perfect way, by ſetting ſtraight ſteps to his feete; ſtill walking before God in the vprightnes Pſal. 101. 2. Prou. 4. 26.of his heart; and euer pondring the path of his feete, ſeeing that all his waies be ordered aright. And hauingMatth. 24. 13. thus well begun, he is to hold out to the end without any letting, ſtill labouring to encreaſe more and more, as hee hath receiued how to walke and pleaſe God: that his way1. Theſ. 4. 1. in well doing may be as the way of the light, which ſhineth cleerer and cleerer till the perfect day come. He is toProu. 4. 18. labour luſtily in putting forward himſelfe, euermore gathering ſtrength as hee goeth on in his way, till hee hath finiſhed the whole taske that is put vponupon him, and till all may be done that is required of him. For which purpoſe let him looke vponupon that worthie leader that hath ſo well led the way before him, and ſo follow on, doing herein as hee hath him for an example: (I meane the Apoſtle Paul) let him euer forget the things that are behinde, Phil. 3. 13. 14.and reach foorth and ſtraine on to the things which are before, preſſing hard towards the marke, and contending with all his might for the price of the high calling of God: neuer turning head for any oppoſition of enemies, that will (like as did the Amalekites) come out to make reſiſtance, and ſeeke to let and ſtop him in the way from going on in ſuch a courſe: but arming himſelfe with the armour of righteouſneſſe (on the right hand and on the2. Cor. 6. 7. 1. Tim. 6. 12. 2. Tim. 1. 8. left) be alwaies prouided to fight that good fight of faith, and make readie to partake in the afflictions of the Goſpell, ſince none can make reckoning without ſuffering perſecutions to hold out in well doing. And thus hauing2. Tim. 3. 12. finiſhed all things, and ouercome the whole labour of this worthie worke in working out his owne ſaluation, let him be aſſured that when his worke is well brought to an end; then ſhall his full felicitie moſt happily begin, then ſhall the wages of his worke be fully paid him, and that recompence of reward be giuen that will fully anſwere all the expectation of his hope, and farre goe beyond all that euer he could looke for too; then ſhall he receiue the full end of his faith, euen the fruition of that ſaluation whereof before he had the promiſe. And faith being thus come to an end, from beleeuing he ſhall come to hauing, and to enioying of that which he beleeued, euen his promiſed ſaluation, and that eternally in Gods kingdome.
Q. This is indeed a happie end of a hard labour, and a royall amends for all paines that hauehave bin taken in the Chriſtian courſe, all the daies of a mans life time: but what is this to the ſtrengthening of a mans faith, or to the furthering of his comfort while he doth line? or how doth it helpe a man to better aſſurance of his ſaluation againſt feare and doubting?
A. Yes doubtleſſe; this worke yeeldeth ſweete comfort, it will quit well all the coſt of whatſoeuer paines ſhall be taken about the ſame; a man may very comfortably reape and eate the fruite of theſe his holy labours, euen all the while he is in the trauaile of them; who working the worke of God, by labouring to beleeue for the obtaining of ſaluation, and ioyning vertuous liuing with his true beleeuing, the more laborious hee is in taking paines about this worke, and the better it is wrought, the more doth his comfort increaſe: (the confidence of his hope euer growing ſtronger, as his life is found to be made better), if to faith be added vertue, and to vertue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godlineſſe, and to godlineſſe brotherly kindneſſe, and to brotherly kindneſſe louelove (ſeuerall labours to be beſtowed about the ending and finiſhing vp of the whole and great worke of our ſaluation): if2. Pet. 1. 5. 6 7. 8. 10. theſe things be in you (ſaith the Apoſtle Peter) and abound, as you ſhall not be idle and vnfruitfull, ſo ſhall you be ſure neuer to fall. There is a common and moſt dangerous diſeaſe that taketh hold of the whole ſtocke and race of all mankinde, wherewith all are tainted and inſected without exception of any (he only being excepted, that is higher then the heauens, and euer ſeparated from ſinners); which is the harder to be holpen, becauſe it is an hereditarie euill, and wee hauehave taken it from our parents. We all are ſicke of that ſore diſeaſe of the fallingFalling ſicknes. ſickneſſe; we are in danger of falling in eueryevery place; we know not where, we know not when, nor wee know not how wee may fall. How would men troubled with that kinde of diſeaſe make of a receipt, that were good againſt the falling ſickneſſe to keepe them from falling? Peter hath here giuen vsus ſuch an excellent receipt, as will make a preſeruatiue remedie moſt ſoueraigne to keep vsus from falling: we may be bold vponupon it the better, and the more comfortably receiue it from his hands, becauſe hee that preſcribeth it was one that was ſicke of the diſeaſe himſelfe, and that fell grieuouſly, and yet was cured of it. The remedie is made of theſe ſimples that are here ſet downe. How then are theſe graces worthie the looking after, that wee may gather them and get them (the greater quantitie is euer the better), and put them all together, that they may hauehave their kindly working in vsus, and wee by them may ſo worke in our owne ſaluation? How comfortable is the labour wee take about them in daily practiſing of them, ſince Peter doth warrant vsus that ſo long as we are found ſo doing, wee ſhall be ſure neuer to fall? If after this manner then we ſhall keepe a working, we ſee that good aſſurance may be gotten by our ſo doing, and we ſhall be ſure comfortably to worke out our owne ſaluation, till that which is moſt ſure in it ſelfe be alſo fully aſſured vntounto vsus. The further a man goeth holding on this courſe, and keeping ſtill his hand at this bleſſed labour, as his ſaluation doth ſtill gather vponupon him, and is much neerer vntounto him then when he firſt beleeued; Rom. 13. 11.ſo doth hee by thus proceeding gather alſo vponupon his owne ſaluation, and faſteneth eueryevery day better hold vponupon the ſame: for to be more vndoubtedly aſſured of obtaining it in the end, ſo that the longer hee thus liueth, the more comfort he ſtill reapeth, and the more groweth hee to bee ſetledly confirmed in that that he firſt beleeued.
Q. But if the working out of our owne ſaluation, after the manner as you hauehave ſpoken, would bring vsus any comfort, or further increaſe our aſſurance of ſaluation: why doth the Apostle adde, that we muſt doe it in feare and trembling?
A. That feare and trembling which the Apoſtle thereFeare and trembling needfull. ſpeaketh of, is not contrary to the boldneſſe of faith, or to the aſſurance of ſaluation, and of God his vnchangeable election: whereby thoſe that are once knowne to be the Lords, are ſure for euer to remaine his: but dependeth rather vponupon theſe, and is to be ioyned with the ſame. For as the ſaluation of the faithfull is ſafe and ſure in it ſelfe: ſo hath the Lord appointed, that in ſuch as ſhall be ſaued by meanes of this awfull fearing and trembling, which as a double bridle holdeth them hard in, and keepeth them from ſinning, and by this carefull endeauouring and working the things that are good and meet to be done; both that ſame aſſurance of ſaluation ſhall be euer maintained in it ſelfe, and likewiſe be made the more ſure vnro them that are moſt ſtrict to hold on in this courſe, and keepe themſelues cloſe within the compaſſe of theſe lyſts and limits thus ſet them, without daring once wilfully to aduenture any way to breake out of them. This feare and trembling may well hauehave (and indeede ought to hauehave) this good and holy vſe to humble vsus, and to breede a watchfull circumſpection and care ouer our ſelues in all our waies, and cauſe vsus by a holy iealouſie of the hidden corruption that is within vsus, and of the many infirmities that hang about vsus, to preuent the danger of thoſe ſinnes that otherwiſe we might fall into: but not wholly to diſmay vsus, or put vsus out of heart, which might enfeeble our hands to goe on with this worke. This ſhould worke a care that may driue away ſecuritie, not a feare to take away the boldneſſe of faith; but a feare of falling into ſin, leſt thereby we ſhould offend our mercifull father, and he hiding his countenance, we ſhould then become troubled, and looſe our former comfort: not a feare of falling from grace, and from out of Gods fauour for euer, that ſo he ſhould take his mercy from vsus for altogether. Feare and trembling in the working out of our owne ſaluation may ſtand vsus in this ſtead, the better to looke about vsus, that nothing be wanting which is neceſſary in this reſpect to be done, leſt we ſhould faile in the end, and fall ſhort of our reckoning. When wee hauehave once begun to take vp this courſe, and are entred vponupon that way that ſhould bring vsus to life and happineſſe; or paſſing on with feare and trembling as wee are a going, may become a good meanes to cauſe vsus to ſet ſtraight ſteps, and make euen Heb. 12. 13.paths to our feet, leſt that which is halting ſhould be turned out of the way. They may well ſerue as two ſharpe ſpurres to both our ſides to pricke vsus forward, and cauſe vsus to trauell the harder, & ply vsus the faſter, making ſpeed in our way, leſt we ſhould be caſt too much behind; or ſo runne, that we ſhould not obtaine. Our caſe by our ſinning, and by Gods mercy prouiding a remedie to ſaue vsus from periſhing (if we will looke out for it in time) is not vnlike the caſe of one among the Iewes, that had vnwillingly ſlaine a man, and Gods mercifull indulgence vntounto ſuch a one for the ſauing of him, by appointing Cities ofDeut. 4. 41. 42. refuge for him to flie vntounto, that there he might be reſcued and ſaued out of the hands of the reuenger of blood: now we may well thinke there was no need to bid ſuch a man runne to that Citie; for if he were taken before hee came thither, he was in danger to be ſlaine: and though he ran toward that Citie neuer ſo faſt, yet wee may eaſily conceiue he ran not without feare and trembling all the way as he ran, leſt the reuenger of blood ſhould hauehave ouer taken him before he ſhould hauehave gotten thither. So is it with vsus; Chriſt is our onelyonly refuge and propitiation 1. Ioh. 2. 1. 2.for our ſinnes: if we be taken out of Chriſt, we are loſt for euer. Should we not plie vsus then with all poſſible haſt to get vsus vntounto Chriſt; and labour with the Apoſtle, aboue all things in the world to take ſuch a courſe as we may be found in him, not hauing our owne righteouſneſſe, butPhil. 3. 9. the righteouſneſſe which is by faith in his name? Now who ſhall be found to be in Chriſt, but thoſe that ſhall be found walking in this good way; not walking after the Rom. 8. 1.fleſh, but after the ſpirit? hauehave we not cauſe then by faith to get vsus into this way with all the ſpeed that may be, and to ply vsus as faſt on in it after wee be once entred, as poſſibly we can? and will any blame vsus if we doe not all this without feare and trembling, ſeeing there is ſo much danger on eueryevery hand? For if either wee ſhould miſtake the way at our firſt entring, or goe out of the way againe after we had once well begunne, or ſlacke our pace as we are a going, that heauen gate ſhould be ſhut before wee come, all were loſt with vsus, and wee were vtterly gone; if we had a thouſand liues they would periſh all without any redemption. Is not feare and trembling then worthily remembred by the Apoſtle in this caſe; and not without great neede commended vntounto vsus, which are ſo good helpes for vsus, and fit meanes to remedie all this, that will not ſuffer vsus to abide ſecure, but ſtirre vsus vp with all carefulneſſe to looke well about vsus in eueryevery reſpect? And where it is conceiued that ſuch fearing and trembling would hinder our Chriſtian reioycing, and daſh all our comfort; let mee adde this for a concluſion about this point; that as the ſweeteſt ioyes doe many times ſpring out of the bittereſt griefes, and out of the loweſt bottomes of the deepeſt ſorrowes, the higheſt ſprings of the liuelieſt and moſt laſting comforts doe oftentimes fall out to be found and fetched forth: ſo out of this feare and trembling, leſt in any thing wee ſhould be wanting that were needfull to be done for our attaining to ſaluation, a moſt comfortable boldneſſe and moſt ſolide aſſurance of our firme ſtanding in the ſtate of grace and ſaluation, will at the length bee fetched and wrought out as by a ſtrong hand. For what ſhould make vsus to doubt or cauſe vsus to feare any more, if Gods ſpirit hath pronounced peace to all ſuch as walke accordingGal. 6. 16. to the rule that himſelfe hath ſet downe for their direction, giuing his word and promiſe that there ſhall bee no condemnation to ſuch, as walke not after the fleſh but after the ſpirit. And our owne conſciences which hauehave been witneſſes with vsus in all our waies, are ready to comfort vsus in this behalfe, and to ſay for vsus, that ſuch hath been our moſt vſuall and moſt ordinary courſe: who ſhall then ſtand vp to make vsus afraid; or what ſhould hinder the ſtableneſſe of our comfort, and the aſſurance of our peace? Nay, hauing warrant from God to goe with this meſſage, and to ſay to him that walketh in his righteouſneſſe, it ſhall be well with him: I would meetingIſa. 3. 10. with ſuch, greet and ſalute them: as did the children of Beniamin greet and encourage Dauid, ſaying, Thine are we O Dauid, and with thee thou ſonne of Iſhai, Peace, 1. Chro. 12. 18.peace be vntounto thee, and peace to all thy helpers, for thy God helpeth thee.