The Sinners Safety if Here He Look for Assurance, Part 2
Your calling and election ſure.
Doctrine. YOur calling, that is, which you hauehave taſted of by the miniſtry & preaching of Gods word; giuegive all diligence to make it ſure, ſee it be not vocall, but effectuall; not a calling to an externall profeſſion, but to an internall ſanctification bloſſoming forth in good workes. Make this ſure: but doe you aske how? How to make our calling ſure.by good workes, that is by knowing, feeling, and euer retaining ſuch graces as are Gods good workes, wrought in a man effectually called, at the time of his conuerſion. The true knowledge of By knowledge.the Lord Ieſus is a worke of God in a mans conuerſion (Act. 9. 5. 18) who openeth the eies of the blinde, turneth men Ier. 31. 33from Satan to God, from darknes to the light (Act. 26. 18) True ſight of ſinne, with humiliatiō for the ſame is an other: Humiliatiō.when certaine were conuerted, they ſaw their ſinnes, confeſſed them, & left them. Act. 2. 37. and. 19. 18. Faith in the Lord Ieſus is an other; the firſt grace of one truly ſtanding in the ſtate of grace: for he is not by the word called effectually, that beleeueth not faithfully; for hearing bring… beleeuing: and ſuch as are Rom. 10, 14called of God, beleeue in the ſonne (Ioh. 8. 30. Act. 8. 37). After this followeth a plyable hart to obey God: the ſtony heart remoued, in ſtead thereof God giueth a heart of fleſh, yielding ſubiection to God, his word and ſpirit. (Eze. 36. 26. 27.) This will make Paul going to perſecute, ignorant of Chriſt, after one queſtion made and anſwered, (Who art thou Lord? I am Ieſus whom thou perſecuteſt), Act. 9.in the next place to ſay, Lord what wilt thou that I doe? not making any more reſiſtance. This made Dauid ready to do any thing willingly at Gods bidding; yea, and it cauſeth vsus humbly to condiſcend to his good pleaſure, and ſay with Ezechias, The word of the Lord is good; with Ely, Its the Lord let him do what ſeemeth him good; and alwaies with Ieſus Chriſt, Father not my w… …ut thy will be fulfilled. Laſtly, the Vnion with Chriſt.Lord worketh an vnion of hart & ſpirit with other in Chriſt *…er. 32. 40: wherby it cōmeth to paſſe that we do conioine in one together one with another: thus, Act. 2, 42, the church is ſet forth, & in that verſe are 8: graces of the Church; their conſtancy in this word they cōtinued, in the next word The eight graces of the Church.daily their ſeruencie, with one acord their vnitie, in the Temple their audacitie, in other words following, their charity, familiarity, alacrity & ſincerity, vntounto which by the voice of Chriſt they were called, and wherewith we muſt be endued and therein continue, elſe we cannot make our calling ſure.
Vſe. Therfore ſuch as remaine in blindnes, ſuch as are not humbled for ſins, neuer came to the ſight of them, neuer ſorrowed or ſought for pardon for thē, but liue in their luſts, & loden themſelues with iniquity; ſuch as giuegive not credyt to the word of God, beleeue not his faithfull meſſengers; ſuch as be obſtinate & ſtubborne, refuſing the eaſie yoke of Chriſt, or to draw with the godly therin, but rather mocke at holy exerciſes, raile on ſuch as deſire to pleaſe God, endeuor to bring trouble vniuſtly vponupon them: theſe though they be come to externall bare profeſſion, yet ſithen they are not come to reformation, by their calling, they cannot bee ſure that they are ſaued: they may liue in the Church, but yet are none of it; tares they be, but none of the Lords wheat: they are in that number of the many called, but not of the fewe that ſhall bee ſaued: they are like the gueſt comming in without his wedding garment, whom the Lord one day will command to bee bound hand and foote, and to be caſt into vtter darkenes, where is weeping and wayling, and gnaſhing of teeth.
Calling and election. In the order of Expoſition.cauſes, election is before vocation: for therefore are we called, becauſe wee are elected. Rom. 8. but in ſearching out our ſaluation, according to the work wroght vponupon vsus, and the ſame felt in vsus, calling muſt be before election; ſo is it in iuſtification and ſanctification, that is before this, if we note the cauſe and effect; but this muſt wee finde in vsus, before the other, for our owne aſſurance: ſanctified we be in our owne perſons, but iuſtified onelyonly in Chriſts righteouſnes: Election is ſecret in God, and by effectuall vocation knowne and reuealed to vsus, and the firſt ſenſible worke of GOD vponupon vsus touching ſoules ſafety: God commeth forward, beginning in and from himſelfe to doe vsus good; wee, to find this, muſt goe backward, from within our ſelues, by ſanctification to iuſtification, by vocation to election, and thence conclude our eternall ſaluation. Therefore Eſay, 43. 1.is it that here the holy Ghoſt hath thus ſet downe the words, and the like elſe where. The wiſedome of God doth nothing without iuſt cauſe: he breaks not order, as ignorant of order: neither ſets downe matter as miſtaken; but euer to teach vsus from thence ſomewhat, which by the help of Gods ſpirit we vnderſtā ding may further to ſaluation.
Doctrine. From this order firſt wee learne, how to make ſure our election, if wee hauehave made ſure our vocation. There is no doubt of the former, where wee make certaine the latter: and hee that cannot finde himſelfe called, cannot poſſibly be truly perſwaded, that he is one of the elect: for he hath not the next and immediate worke of God following election, & going before iuſtification. Vſe. Therfore to know our election, watch for our Rom. 8. 30.calling, follow the meanes, the miniſtry and preaching of Gods word; the ordinary means to bring men to Chriſt. It pleaſeth him by the fooliſhnes thereof to 1 Cor. 1. 21. Rom. 1. 16ſaue them that beleeue. It is the power of God to ſaluation: where this is careleſly neglected, ſuch ſhall finde no other means to be ſaued; and ſuch as perſecute it, may feare iuſtly to be damned.
Sythen our election is made ſure by our calling, and our calling confirmed to vsus, as is ſaid; I neede not ſay more of this: yet becauſe the word affordeth vsus more marks to ſettle our ſelues in better aſſurance, a word thereof or two, alſo.
Our election is further made ſure by Markes of election.other markes of the elect, if we find them in vsus, & they euer remain vpō vsus: which is, to be ſanctified (1. Pet. 1. 2) fruitfull in good things, (Ioh…. 16) ſequeſtred from the world (Ioh. 17. 6. & 15. 19) a note which is notto be loued of the mē of the world, perſeuerance (Ioh. 15. 16) following after Chriſt (Ioh. 10. 28) without departing from him (1. Ioh. 2. 19) louelove to the godly, (1. Ioh. 3. 14) faith in Gods promiſes, and a holy reuerence to Gods ordināces, his word and ſacraments: and he that continueth herein vntounto the end ſhalbe ſaued.
Again this order obſerued preuenteth Another vſe, how to preuēt the abuſe of that holy doctrine of Predeſtinatiō.preſumption in the doctrine of predeſtination. If I be ordained to a certain end, ſaith the wicked wight, and that Gods decree muſt ſtand, thē its no matter how I liue, its all one to ſerue God or to liue as I like beſt: if I be ordained to be ſaued I ſhall not be damned; if to dānation, its in vaine to hope for heauen. It is true that Gods decree ſhall ſtand, but its a deſperat ſpirits collection, to hold therefore that we may liue as we liſt. Election is ſecret, & ſo Gods decree, his will vnreuealed: whence wee may gather nothing, but as the ſcripture, the written word, his reuealed will teacheth. It auoucheth predeſtination, & Gods vnchāgeable decree: but it ſaith, Work out your ſaluation with feare & trembling, & ſo beareth downe preſumption. It talketh of reprobation, but not to make mē deſperat: for touching eueryevery mans ſelf in particular, he is to hope the beſt, & may ſay with the king of Niniuie, Who can tell if God wil turne and repent and turne away Ionah. 3. 9.frō his fierce wrath that we periſh not? EueryEvery man in particular by the reuealed will of God is commanded to liue religiouſly, and ſo bound to beleeue his owne ſaluation: this word are wee to liue after, and ſtriue we muſt to go in at the ſtrait gate, hoping to finde paſſage. Math. 7.No man is to iudge himſelfe to be damned, whilſt he here liueth in the way to be ſaued, if hee wilfully refuſe not the meanes. None will ſo reaſon from Gods decree concerning the bodie; It is ſaid, that mans daies are determined, the number Iob. 14. 5.of his monthes are with God, & that hee hath appointed the bounds which man cannot paſſe: who hereupon will thus reſolue? then will I be careleſſe of my life, I will neither eate nor drinke, nor vſe meanes of life, becauſe I cannot liue beyond my appointed time. Herein is none ſo madde; but for all this, will vſe the meanes which God hath appointed to liue by, for that his time is kept ſecret from him, and onelyonly knowne to God: euen ſo ſhould we do in this caſe, for our ſoules, vſe the meanes to liue for euer, ſo are wee commanded: this wee know; but whither God hath reiected vsus before the end, we know not: neither may any one herein make ſearch, but vnderſtand in ſobrietie that which is meet, obey what is commanded, beleeue what is promiſed, and ceaſe to imagined deſperately, and ſinne not preſumptuouſly, & hope well in the end. And ſo ſhall wee make ſure to ourſelues that which is euer certaine and vnchangeable with God: this note. And thus much for the exhortation: the reaſon followeth.
For; a note of a reaſon of the exhortation foreign. Enim.which goeth before, concluded as an vſe from the former arguments: a grā maticall obſeruation in this cōiunction, to be well marked; there is differēce between for & therefore; both in this verſe: foreign. Quapropter.for ſheweth the reaſon of that which goeth before, & therfore concludeth ſomewhat from the antecedent by neceſſarie conſequent. The thing chiefly herein to What to be obſerued as the doctrine, from the Apoſtles practiſe.be marked is, that the Apoſtle neither ex…or…eth to practiſe, but vponupon manifold inſtructions before; neither endeth the vſe in the exhortatiō, without ſhewing alſo further reaſon why: Thus he guardeth before and behinde his words, vrging by reaſon as did Iohn Baptiſt and our Sauiour, to well doing; that ſo they might take place. He well kn…w mens ſlownes to practiſe, and that they neede hauehave good grounds laid before them to build thereon the exhortation to obey, and alſo reaſons after to perſwade thervnto. All of vsus naturally affect to know; but without louelove to doe: whence it is, that men vnregenerate can run to heare ſermons of cōtrouerſies, (ſuch as preach by ſentences, that can now and then ſatisfie fantaſie with ſome noueltie) & returne with their mouthes full of praiſe, applauding the perſon, who hath …ailed happily to preſſe all to practiſe, and ſanctification of life. Learning is Gods good gift, eloquēce a ſingular bleſſing, wit and memorie rare …auours, to make men amongſt men honourable: but vnleſſe theſe be employed in the miniſtry to make men vertuous, as the Apoſtle doth here, Saint Paule in his Epiſtles, & as the Prophets did, and profound I ſee with his admirable eloquence, we may heare, learne, ſpeake and admire, as without obedience, ſo without hope of that heauenly inheritance. Vſe. Therefore let our wit for inuention of reaſons, our learning to collect ſound grounds, bee guides to our liberty of ſpeech in vtterance, and this gift end in exhortation to good workes, and to make men zealous. So deale we faithfully, the people ſhall reape benefite, and we that preach gaine great comfort by our labours in winning ſoules, which onelyonly we ought to aime at, and therein reioice.
If yee doe theſe things. The conditionall word, If, in the Original is not expreſſed, nor the perſon Yee; the words foreign. Haec faciet…s.beeing, Theſe doing: but the perſon and the condition is neceſſarily vnderſtood, and therefore expreſſed in the tranſlation very fitly: which wee following in the diuiſion of the Text, do take as granted implied in the text. Doctrine. Whence we learne, that God ſo promiſeth aſſurance of ſaluation, as we hauehave care in vsus, to liue well and to keepe the condition: the one cheareth the heart; but leaſt we be wanton, the other is added to keepe vsus in awe: but neuertheleſſe, here may we not thinke therefore, that Gods gift is not free, or that it is changeable, except we make it ſure: no ſuch end of the condition.
GOD firſt beſtoweth freely, without any thing on mans p…t: ſo hee gaue Adam firſt … preheminence ouer all his other creatures, and placed Gen. 1. 26him freely in Paradiſe, without any forenamed condition, then afterward expreſſeth he mans duetie to be performed, not as a cauſe procuring or continuing Preuention.goodnes, but as an effect of louelove in harty thankfulnes, or as a token and ſigne by which we may know God to be ſo long in vsus, and with vsus▪ God promiſed Chriſt, of his mere good pleaſure; Adam neuer once deſiring, no… at all deſeruing Ioh. 3. 16.that fauour… Chriſt came in the appointed time, and was freely giuen for vsus, of louelove in merciemercy and compaſſion; all this done truely, fully, and abſolutely on Gods part: yet after commanded hee the obedience of faith, and promiſeth ſaluation, with condition of beleeuing, Mark. 16. 16.on our behalfe; not as a cauſe, but as a ſigne by which men may know to whō Chriſt is freely giuen of the father, and in him hauehave eternall life.
It is then, as if …eter had ſaid; If ye do theſe things, you thereby hauehave a true ſigne and token from God of his louelove euerlaſting and ſhall neuer fall from him: the like is that in the Pſalme 15, 6. He that doth theſe things ſhall neuer fall.
Vſe. Therefore to attaine to the benefite of this promiſe, let vsus here looke to the condition; which is, carefully to exerciſe our ſelues in theſe vertues afore mentioned. Firſt well doing, keepeth vsus from euill; eueryevery gift of grace is a ſentinell to Firſt reaſon.watch againſt the oppoſite vice, ſeeking entrance to the heart. Hold ſobriety, drunkenneſſe getteth no place: chaſtity preſerueth from diſhoneſty; feruency of ſpirit cannot abide luke-warme to lodge with it; light liketh not of darknes; righteouſnes of vnrighteouſnes; knowledge of Ignorance; nor godly humility of Sathanicall pride and arrogancie; & looke how much we hauehave of goodnes, ſo much aduantage get we againſt wickednes: eueryevery vertue aduancing it ſelfe and keeping it proper place in the ſoule, when the contrary vice aſ…aileth it; Sathan ſuggeſting, and by outward obiects inticing the heart to yield thereunto.
Secondly, theſe vertues are the fruits Second reaſon.of the ſpirit: whence a mā may cōclude, that hee hath the ſpirit; and hee which hath this hath Chriſt, without whom no redemption, no ſaluation. Theſe vertues are pleaſant flowers, which gathered, are aſweete noſegay to garniſh our ſoules with, for the Lords delight. They are the guariſon of the holy Ghoſt lodged in the ſoule, to keepe out ſuch euils, as yet hauehave not entrance, and to bridle ill motions of the heart, daily ariſing, that we periſh not. Thus much of thē in generall. But let vsus, if but briefly weigh them in particular; and the goodneſs of them, will more allure vsus to louelove them.
Faith is the crowne of graces, and the The commendations of ſeuerall vertues: Faith.roote of vertues; it maketh morality by the lawe, to turne into Chriſtianity by the Goſpell: without it we cānot pleaſe God: by it we make the word preached profitable: and by it wee apprehend Chriſt, who ſatisfieth iuſtice, aſſwageth wrath, bringeth downe mercy, and heauen gates are open for vsus, and wee enter, and take poſſeſſion.
Vertue, integrity; the generall word Vertue.for a ſpeciall, which is the breſt-plate of righteouſneſs, keeping countenance without bluſhing; it is the ioy of the ſpirit, and maketh men bold as a Lyon: it dare anſwere at the barre to the beſt, & ſay truely, Not guilty; it deſireth tryall, and therein alwaies getteth approbation, and credite of euerie cauſe; not fearing malice, though lying and deceipt manage the matter with all the friends that may be made: it maketh man looke vp chearefully vntounto God, and ſo reſteth quiet in his owne innocency.
Knowledge; it is the candle of the ſoule, Knowledge.the rule of actions, the diſcerner of cauſes, the Iudge of controuerſies, the guide of affection, the bridle for the tongue, and the life of conſcience, and the firſt motor to obedience: it ſaueth from errour, condemneth hereſie, and ſtandeth alwaies for verity, if peruerſeneſſe of ſpirit turne it not into ſophiſtry.
Temperance; knowledge is the firſt motor, this is moderator: it qualifieth & Tēperance.allayeth extreames; it is in nothing violent: it preuenteth liking before lookeing; it ſtoppeth rage of luſt, and brideleth appetite; it diſcuſſeth cauſes with deliberation; it ordereth words with diſcretion; hot ſpirits by it may expoſtulate iniuries done without contention: by it, knowledge telleth his tale wiſely, and integrity is bold with ſafety.
Patience, is the mother of peace, a ſtrong back to beare all burthens; it Patience.ſaith nothing to reuiling ſpeeches, and is not an auenger of priuate iniuries: it waiteth for accompliſhment of promiſes long; it is the daughter of humility, and the ſafe conductor of integrity: by it we poſſeſſe our ſoules, and the enemy getteth not aduantage; it is neuer in want, dwelling alwaies with contentment.
Godlineſs, this is the chiefe goodneſs; Godlineſs.by ſenſe we are better then the creature ſenſleſs; by reaſon, better then the beaſt; by religion, better then man onelyonly hauing reaſon; but godlyneſſe is the quinteſſence of religion: it is the eſpeciall fruit of faith, ſincerities comfort, the principall end of all learning, the perfection of all knowledge, the creatures admiration, and here to the mightieſt in the world their higheſt exaltation: godlineſſe is great gaine; it hath the promiſe of this life, and of the life to come.
Brotherly kindnes, the procurer of louelove, Brotherly kindneſs.the diſpoſition of the heart, to doe good to other; it graunteth fauour to euerie frined; it liueth euer in charity; it is mercifull and lendeth, it is ready to doe pleaſures, and liberall without delay; it is the goodnes of a mercifull heart, pliable to eueryevery good worke.
LoueLove is the laſt, which is the fruit of LoueLove. 1. Cor. 13.brotherly kindneſs; the grace which the Apoſtle ſo highly extolles, and neede not here to be ſtoode vponupon: but I will conclude it, with that abſolute commendation, that LoueLove is the fulfilling of the lawe. And thus we ſee, what reaſon there is for vsus to hauehave theſe excellent vertues, and to exerciſe our ſelues in them, that we may neuer fall: otherwiſe we are without certainty of our ſaluation and tokens of eternall comfort.
The looſe and careleſs liuer, the vicious Reproofe to the leud & vicious.and leud man is heere vtterly left hopeleſs; he cannot looke for heauen; the ſcripture tels him, that there hee hath no enheritance: he that committeth ſin is of the Diuel, the reward is death, the 1. Iohn. 3. 8 Rom. 6. 23. Pſal. 9. 17.wicked ſhall goe into hell and all the people that forget God. If any, for better ſatisfaction, would know for what ſinnes in particular death is threatned, and for which men are denyed heauen; they ſhall finde, that eueryevery ſinne vnrepented of procureth damnation; but it pleaſeth the holy Ghoſt to number vp many particulars: the places not vnfit to be mentioned, to ſee and conſider of them, Rom. 1. 29. 30, are reckoned vp Rom. 1. 29. 30. reckoned vp 23 ſins.three and twenty ſins, Vnrighteouſneſs, fornication, wickedneſs, couetouſneſs, maliciouſneſs, full of enuie, of murther, of debate, of deceipt, taking all things in euill part, whiſperers, backbiters, haters of God, doers of wrong, proud, boaſters, inuenters of euill things, diſobedient to parēts, without vnderſtanding, couenāt breakers, without naturall affection, ſuch as can neuer be appeaſed, mercileſſe; for which, not onelyonly they that doe them, but alſo that fauour them that doe them are worthy of death. In 1. Cor. 6. 9. 10. are ſet downe ten kindes 1 Cor. 6. 9. 10. ten ſorts of vicious perſons.of vicious perſons; Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, wantons, buggerers, theeues, couetous, drunkerds, raylers, and extortioners, which ſhall not inherit the kingdome of God. In Galathians. 5. 19. 20. Gal. 5. 19 20, workes of the fleſh 17.are particularized ſeauenteene workes of the fleſh; Adulterie, fornication, vncleanneſſe, wantonneſſe, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, debate, emulations, wrath, contentions, ſeditions, hereſies, enuie, murthers, drunkenneſſe, gluttonie: which who-ſo doth, ſhall not inherite life. In the ſecond of Timothie, 3. 2. 3. 4. 5. are reckoned vp nineteene ſorts of the 2. Tim. 3. 2. 3 4. 5. Ni…eteene ſorts of vngodly.wicked and vngodly, who will riſe vp in the laſt daies, when times ſhall be perillous: louers of themſelues, couetous, boasters, proud, curſed ſpeakers, diſobedient to parents, vnthankfull, vnholy, without naturall affection, truce breakers, falſe accuſers, intemperate, fierce, no louers at all of them which are good, traytors, headie, hye minded, louers of pleaſures more then louers of God, hauing a ſhewe of godlineſſe but hauehave denyed the power thereof: from whom, ſuch as truly profeſſe Chriſt muſt turne away. In the Reuelations, 21. 8. there are eight ſortes threatned with the ſecond death, and Reu. 21. 8. Eight ſorts.to be tormented in the lake which burneth with fire and brimſtone: Fearefull, vnbeleeuing, abhominable, murtherers, whoremongers, ſorcerers, idolaters, and lyers. The ſpirit ſaith, Reuelations, 21. 20, None defiled ſhall enter into heauen. But our ſauiour in Mark. 7. 21. Mark. 7. 21, 22. are 14.22. whereto ad Math. 15. 19, telleth vsus of foureteene euils which defile a man. Euill thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murthers, thefts, couetouſneſs, wickedneſs, deceipts, vncleanneſſe, a wicked eie, backbiting, pride, fooliſhnes, falſe teſtimonies, and ſlaunders. And therefore ſuch ſhall not inherit the kingdome of God and of Chriſt. Theſe ſix be the chiefeſt places Sixtie and od diſtinct ſins mentioned in ſix places.in all the newe teſtament, ſetting forth ſo many particular vicious perſons & hate ful ſinnes: wherein albeit, in ſome the ſame be againe repeated; yet in all, there be diſtinct and ſeuerall in number three ſcore and odde, beſides other ſinnes mentioned in ſeuerall places elſewhere, which without repenting of and forſaking, depriue men of life and ſaluation. If any of vsus yet bleſſe our ſelues in our hearts hearing ſo plainly theſe things, then conſider what the Lord ſaith to ſuch, Deut. 29. 20. Great and fierce is the wrath of God againſt ſuch a one. Ma…ke and cōſider thou that readeſt, & preſume not.Firſt he ſaith plainly that he will not be mercifull vntounto him: ſecondly, that his wrath and his iealouſie ſhall ſmoke againſt that man: thirdly, that eueryevery curſe written in the booke ſhall light vponupon him: as if the curſes in the former chapter mentioned, aboue forty and three, were too few to plague ſuch a preſumptuous Catiffe; but all the curſes in the booke muſt light vponupon him; and laſtly, the Lord will roote out his name from vnderunder heauen, and ſeparate him vntounto euil out of all the tribes of Iſrael. What is this, but to depriue him of the cōmunion of ſaincts, and to pronounce ſentence of damnation againſt him, in the laſt day? O therfore thou that heareſt conſider, as ſome that hauehave heard it: If Gods truth herein may be taken for truth with thee, if the anger of God may preuaile to feare thee, if the fierce-wrath of God may terrifie thee, if all the curſes in Gods booke denounced may worke any dread in thee; hope not vainly of mercy whilſt thou liueſt vnrepentant of any ſinne: let not conceipt of pardon make thee put farre from thee the euil day; for, ſurely elſe in one ſinne thou ſhalt bee puniſhed, and thine end confuſion: marke, vnderſtand and pray.
Ye doe. The condition is, if wee doe Doctrine.theſe things; not heare, learne, profeſſe them: doing is that which hath with God approbation; after our deedes ſhall we be rewarded, Rom. 2. 6. Math. 16. 27. 2. Cor. 5. 10. Math. 25. 35. 42. Vſe. Therfore let vsus hope well, if we be doers: here is approued the reading in the exhortation, make your calling and election ſure by good vvorkes: for the reaſon of aſſurance here, is from deedes: If ye doe theſe things; that is, If ye ſhew the fruits of theſe eight Chriſtian vertues in good works, ye ſhall neuer fall.
This is ſeriouſly to be noted; for that moſt thinke to hauehave eternall life, and yet are no doers of theſe things; but vponupon falſe euidences claime a right in that which without good workes they ſhall neuer enioy. For as aſſurance here, is vponupon condition, that we be doers: ſo there is nothing otherwiſe approued, though wee doe bring in many things to perſwade Eighteene deceiue able euidē ces which men preſume to clame heauen by, without good workes.vsus otherwiſe. 1 Thou art baptiſed, what then? Neither circumciſion auaileth any thing, nor vncircumciſion, but the keeping of the commandements. 1. Cor. 7. 19, but a nevv creature. Gal. 6. 15. 2 Thou art a hearer: what of this? Not the hearers but the doers of the Lavv ſhall be iuſtified. Rom 2. 13. He that heareth & doeth not, is a foole. Math. 7. 26, & deceiueth himſelfe, …ames. 1. 22. Thou knovveſt the vvil of God. neuer a whit better without obedience, thou ſhalt be beatē vvith many ſtripes, Luke 12. 47. thou increaſeſt thy ſinne. Ia. 4. 17. and the ſcripture ſaith: Hee that ſaith hee knoweth me, & keepeth not my cōmandemēts is a lyer & there is no truth in him. Thou beleeueſt: ſo do the diuels, and more alſo; they feare & trēble, which thou doſt not & ſo art worſe then a diuell: but if thou haſt faith, ſhew it by thy works, Iam. 2. 8: els its dead, and thou a dry tree for the fire. Thou loueſt God: then hearken: This is the louelove of God, that we keepe his cōmandements. 1. Ioh. 5. 3. Thou hopeſt yet well; but without cauſe at all: for he that hath this hope in him purgeth himſelf as he is pure. 1. Iohn. 3. 3 Thou feareſt God: then thou muſt ad with Eccle. 12. 12.Salomon to it, feare God & keep his cōmandements; for they are neuer ſeparated. Thou doſt profeſs Chriſt the Lord: ſo did the diuels; but, Not eueryevery one that ſaith vntounto me Lord, lord, ſhal enter in…o the kingdome of Mat. 7. 21heauen, but he that doth the wil of my father which is in heauē. Thou canſt preach: a ſoū ding braſſe & tinkling Cymball without workes: many will ſay in the day of the Lord that they hauehave prophecied and caſt out diuels, yet as workers of iniquitie, God will reiect them, & ſend them packing with diuels. Mat. 7. 23. Thou vſeſt to pray: but where no practiſe is, there is but hypocriſie; Let eueryevery one that calleth on the name of Chriſt, depart from iniquitie. 2. Tim. 3. 19: elſe may we call, but God will not heare vsus. Iſai. 1. 15. Thou happily doſt faſt: but it is no faſt that God requireth, without obedience. Iſa. 58. 6. 7. Thou commeſt orderly to the Church; more of faſhion then of ſincerity, without doing Gods will: God requireth it not at thine hands to treade in his courts, whilſt thou liueſt vnreformed …ai. 1. 12. Thou makeſt the houſe of God a denne of theeues. Ier. 7. 10, 11. Thou payeſt duely tithes and offerings, and obſerueſt the appointed daies to keepe them holy: Without ſubiection to Gods will and commandement; he is wearied with thē, he cannot ſuffer them, and to thy ſelfe they are iniquity, Iſa. 1. 13. Thou haſt often good motions and flaſhes, making thee wiſh well to thy ſelfe; ſo had & did Balam that wicked wiſard. Thou haſt more then ſo, Thou canſt be moued to weepe now and then: ſo could Saule. 1. Sam. 24. 17, and Eſau found no place to repentance, though hee ſought the bleſſing with teares. Heb. 12, 17. Thou canſt bow at the name of Ieſus and often be made ſad by the word, and canſt in countenance and geſture carry thy ſelfe religiouſly: So Diuels did fall downe and worſhip Chriſt. Felix, he at the word trembled, and Ahab humbled himſelfe before the Lord. 1. King. 21 27. 29. Scribes and Phariſes looked ſad, and were in ſhew full of grauitie & holineſs. Iudas did ſhewe reuerence to Chriſt and ſaid, Haile maſter: yet Diuels are damned ſpirits: Felix a heathen miſcreant, Ahab an accurſed Idolater, who had ſold himſelfe to worke wickedly in the ſight of the Lord, Scribes and Phariſees notorious hypocrites, and ſworne enemies of Chriſt, and Iudas was a diuell and a traytor. And therfore its not bowing nor becking, nor lookeing ſowrely vponupon the matter, neither any geſture or fawning faſhions, that can without holy obedience make men perſwade themſelues truly of their happyneſſe.
Thou doſt ſpeake vvell of God and his miniſters, praiſe them and commend them as they deſerue: So did the Herodians commend Chriſt, with moſt high commendations, Mark. 12. 14.ſo as they could not ſpeake better: So did the Pythoniſt ſo commend Act. 16.Paule and Barnabas, as no man can ſay more of the worthieſt ſeruants of God, nor more truly; yet the one ſorte Chriſt his enemies and the other poſſeſſed with a diuell. Good words then cannot go away with it: wee may like Sermons now and then, wee may commend the preachers of Gods word, and yet be out of the ſtate of grace: to conclude, Thou muſeſt of thy good meaning, though thou dost amiſſe: but remember, Vzza had 2. Sā. 6. 7.no ill meaning, To ſaue the arke from falling, yet againſt Gods word; for which it coſt him his life. Meane well, but let the word rule thee, and liue thereafter, and then doubt not to finde peace for euer.
Vſe. This I hauehave vrged, thus much: firſt to pull downe the preſumption of common and time ſeruing proteſtants; and ſecondly againſt the Papiſts, who doe ſay we allow not good workes, but do make our religion a religion of liberty & of faith without workes.
Doing. The word is in the time preſent, foreign Doctrine. Exod. 3.to ſhew that onelyonly preſent doers may looke for a bleſſing; God is I am; not I was, or wil be: ſo muſt wee all bee now, that which wee ought to be, Pſal. 15, the queſtion pronounced in the firſt verſe, Lord who ſhall dwel in thy tabernacle, Pſal. 15.who ſhall reſt in thy holy hill? the anſwere is made in the time preſent, he that walketh, worketh & ſpeaketh; to ſhew, that ſuch (as is in the verſe 5) ſhall neuer be moued.
This ſerues to reproue two ſortes of Vſe of reproofe againſt backſlyders.perſons: firſt ſuch as hauehave done wel, men of the time paſt, but hauehave falne away frō that which they were; theſe are hopeleſs of heauen, except they returne againe, becauſe they hauehave loſt that which ſhold giuegive them aſſurance, Well doing; alſo for that the ſcripture ſaith, that ſuch can looke for nothing but vengeance: Heb. 6. 10. Therefore if we hauehave left off, either in whole or in part, let vsus returne to our firſt louelove, elſe wee ſhall neuer be able to Reue. 2 5anſwere it; for what do wee diſlike, that maketh vsus not either at all religious, or not ſo much as we hauehave ben? the Author, Nothing in religion ſhould cauſe vsus to leaue it.that is God, the euerliuing God: matter, that is Ieſus Chriſt, verity & holineſs & vertue: maner, that is, in ſpirit & truth: the end, that is Gods glory & our eternal ſaſafety: wee therefore hauehave no cauſe from religion it ſelfe to leaue it; but the cauſe muſt be found, to be either the diuell, as in Iudas: or in the world, as in Demas, or the curſed corruption of our fleſh, as in Salomon, that hath drawne vsus away from God to the Diuell, from heauen to the earth, from the ſpirit to the fleſh, a madde and miſerable exchange: neither let any of vsus dreame to bee better for that we hauehave beene, except wee be as we ought: For the righteouſneſs of Eze. 33. 12the righteous ſhall not deliuer him in the day of his tranſgreſſion. They that forſake the Ier. 17. 13Lord ſhall bee confounded: they that depart from him ſhall be vvritten in the earth. Dogs are ſuch as returne to their vomit, 2. Pet. 2.and ſwine to wallow againe in the mire. It will not ſerue Iudas turne to ſay, I was an Apoſtle, no… Demas that he was a diſciple, nor Iehu that hee had a zeale for the Lord God of hoaſts, nor Ioaſh that he was a good king for a time: for then would Sathan ſhuffle in amongſt the reſt & hope to hauehave a ſhare, & might ſay; Lord let me hauehave entrance, for I was an Angell in heauen, and ſo neuer were any of them. Brethren know this, If our lamps light goe out before the bridegroome come, wee may call, the gates being ſhut; but the Lord will ſay, Go ye curſed I know you not. Therefore let Heb. 3. 12.vsus take heede brethrē, leaſt at any time, there be in any of vsus an euell heart of infidelity to depart from the liuing God.
Second ſort are ſuch as be all for the time to come, who hauehave not yet attained Reproofe to ſuch as deferre off their amē dement.to well doing, liuing in hope for hereafter; youth dreaming to ſee olde age, and then thinke they, it is time enough to repent, as if it were not ſaid: Remember thy creatour in the daies of thy Eccleſ. 12. 1.youth, while the euill daies come not, nor the yeares approache wherin thou ſhalt ſay I hauehave no pleaſure in them. May we giuegive the firſt of our life and beſt of our yeares to the ſeruice of Sathan? and thinke wee that God will receiue vsus in old age, when ſin hath forſaken vsus and not we it? old perſons ſuppoſe to liue yet longer, and ſo deferre off till the laſt gaſpe, when the generall ſūmoner hath called them vppon their death bed; but late and conſtrayned repentance is ſeldome true. Our time is not, when we will, but when God doth call; heare we muſt when he Pro…. 1. 28ſpeaketh, or elſe hee will not hearken when we pray. The firſt and beſt is his due; the laſt & worſt of vsus, he iuſtly may reiect; our yielding to his will by his word, is voluntarie ſubiection, which he accepteth; but to his wil by his work, is conſtrained obedience for feare of deſtruction, which he little regardeth. God indeede receiued to merciemercy the thiefe in the laſt houre; this cānot be denyed; but yet one onelyonly, though there were two; one, that a true penitent ſinner may not deſpaire; & but one, that vngodly wilfull trāgreſſours, may not preſume. Many cannot heare the threats of the Law, for feare of deſperation: yet can they willingly run on in ſin, & ſo periſh by preſumption. By this, many millions of thouſands hauehave fallen headlong downe into hell (remember what Chriſt ſaid of Luke. 17. 27 28.Sodom & the old world) but the Scripture mentioneth few that hauehave gone to deſtruction by deſperation, Cain, Sau…e, Achitophel, & Iudas. Doſt thou hope, to ſpeede as did the good thiefe? and why rather doſt thou not feare to be like the bad thiefe? they both were in one caſe, had the like puniſhment, Chriſt betweene them, and death before thē: nay the worſe thiefe had the good thieues rebuke & admonition to warne him of his wickedneſs, and to ceaſe to ſin; yet he had no grace to repent. Meanes wil not preuaile in the latter end, where God vouch ſafeth not the gift to amend: If thou doſt perſwade thy ſelfe, that God wil giuegive thee grace then to repent; thou art deceiued, if now hee offer grace and thou refuſe it. At what time ſo-euer a ſinner doth repent from the bottome of his heart, at that time will GOD freely forgiue; but that time is not when we lift, God is not at our beck, but the time is at his call. To day if ye will heare Heb. 3. Pſal. 95.his voice harden not your harts: to day if we be not ready, wee ſhall be leſſe apt to morrowe: the longer we continue in ſinne the older it is, and the more ſtrength it getteth: It is not as other things, the older the weaker; but daily it groweth ſtronger. If we ſay we can repent when we wil, that is not in our power: and if it be, then if thou doſt not repent now, and can, thou encreaſeſt ſin by wilfull tranſgreſſion, and ſo makeſt more iuſt thy deſerued damnation.
Therfore let vsus now amend, & not deferre Concluſion.off till he eafter, when at death there is no remedie but either to heauen or to hell, to God or to the diuell; in which caſe men hardly or neuer finde that cōfort which preſumptuouſly they hauehave exp…cted, but doe dye as they hauehave liued in ſinne without ſenſe or taſte of ioies euerlaſting, prepared onelyonly for the righteous: for, Hee that beleeueth in Iohn. 3. 36the ſonne hath euerlaſting life; but he that obeyeth not the ſonne, hath not life, but the wrath of God abideth vponupon him.
Theſe things: that is which before he foreign.hath mentioned. Men do many things; ſome, the inuentions of their owne braine; ſome, the cuſtome of forefathers; ſome one thing, ſome another: but not theſe things, that is which the word teacheth, Men do, but not what they ſhould doe.the perfect rule of righteouſnes, from which we may not decline to the right hand or to the left; neither adding thereto nor taking there from: for if wee doe, we keepe not our ſtanding, we loſe our comfort, and wander without our guide we know not whither; ſome wholy as Apoſta…ates; ſome in part perſiſting obſtinately as hereticks; ſome againſt louelove as ſchiſmaticks; and moſt as lawleſſe, for our liues like prophane Eſaus, will deſpiſe our birthrights and ſell heauen, ſoules health, conſcience comfort, the words of eternal life for a meaſe of pottage, euen for our momentanie pleaſures, luſts and liking in this life.
Many there are which will doe this Men doe ſome things but not all things.thing and that thing: theſe ſingularly, but not theſe things plurally; when a mā deſirous of the aſſurance of ſaluation, muſt be ſtudious of eueryevery vertue, which helpeth thereunto: It is the nature of vertue to louelove vertue: whence it is that one vertuous man imitateth an other, wherein one ſeeth another to go before him any way. One, two, or few vertues cannot liue, where other vertues are either hated or not ſought after: one dependeth vponupon another, as links in a chaine, and cannot be ſundred; we may not be like Agryppa almoſt a Chriſtian, for almoſt is not a Chriſtian; neither content our ſelues with many things, as Herod, though with gladneſs; whilſt we nouriſh ſome ſinne, and be infected but with one notorious vice. God will hauehave all of vsus or none of vsus; though Sathan deſireth but any leaſt part, he wel knowing that where he hath any thing at all, God will hauehave there nothing at all. He that breaketh one of the leaſt of theſe commandements ſhalbe the leaſt in the Mat. 5.kingdome of God: Iames ſaith, He that Iames. 2.breaketh one is guilty of all; and one vice is enough to ouerthrow…s, though wee hauehave ſome vertues: one ſinne of couetouſneſs ouerthrew Iudas; the deſire of a bribe got Gehezi the leproſie; Sampſon his luſt, loſt him his ſtrength and eies: Caines enuie made him ſo to ſinne as hee became accurſed: Iſmaels mocking caſt him forth: Eſaus prophaneneſſe loſt him his birth-right: Ely his indulgency was his breaknecke: Michols deryding ſpirit made her barren: and Ananias, for hypocriſie, was a ſpectacle of iudgement to others: Herod, albeit he doe many things, yet will hauehave his Herodias, his beloued ſinne ſtill, for enioying whereof wee are content to leaue other vices. I Wee will leaue any ſin to keepe our beloued ſin.will, ſaith the boone companion, doe any thing and let me bee but drunke: And I ſaith the carnall caitiffe, and let mee but ſatisfie my luſt, bee wanton, liue in dalliance and commit filthyneſſe: And I ſaith the couetous man, and let mee gaine goods and wealth: And I ſaith the proud man, and yield me honour; little knowing that ſuch a maiſter-ſinne is not without his many attendants: It ruleth; but the other hauehave their power, to which the miſerable is alſo in bondage vnwittingly: for we muſt know that no one vice wil be ſingled out from his fellowes: but if one get head, other hauehave gone before as harbengers, and other waite and followe after as Aſſiſtants: one breedeth an other, and one nouriſheth an other continuallie. Examples hereof, not onelyonly in the wicked, who heape ſinne vponupon ſinne, as Ioaſh murther to his Idolatrie, Iudas treaſon to his couetouſneſſe: but euen in the falles of the faithfull children of GOD; Dauid his lying in the bed and gazing idlely abroad, bred his luſt, luſt adulterie, and adultery murther.
Therefore ſuch as ſuppoſe to walke with a partie coloured coate, betweene vertue and vice, or rather with ſome vertues, and ſome vices, theſe men yet know not that vertue will dwell alone, as God; or vice alone; they are contraries, they neuer can accord in one; where vertues are careleſly neglected, there no one vertue hath full poſſeſſion; and where any one ſinne beareth ſway, there viciouſneſſe is Lord & maſter.
Therefore let vsus not doe this or that The meere ciuill honeſt man is no commendable Chriſtiā.vertue, for ſo may we ſiniſterly; but endeuour to doe all, and this is right. Many men go vnderunder a good name by ciuil honeſty, either thorow reſtrayned nature, or good education in commendable maners of ciuility, who are farre from ſanctification and the graces of the ſpirit. They doe many actions of vertue, either of a cuſtome or by imitation, or reſpectiuely for this or that perſon, for this or that by-end; but not for vertue it ſelfe: neither doe they ſhew fruits of vertue, other then may preſerue common honeſty, their credit to liue amongſt mē, & to procure them praiſe; ſecret or leſſe publick they regard not: dueties of holineſſe, prayer, reading the ſcripture, ſā ctifying of the Sabaoth, inſtruction of their family, countenancing of the word preached, and ſuch like, they be ſo farre from, as they mock at men herein zealouſly affected: for vices which they ſhunne, they be ſuch onelyonly, as be diſcō modious, or odious amongſt men that hauehave but common honeſty: but to ſweare in ordinary communication, to be companions with men ſuperiour in place, how wicked ſoeuer, they make no conſcience of, neither of many other euils which by the rule of godlineſs are odious to God and ſuch as ſincerely ſeeke him. A ſanctified ſpirit doth not thus ſhuffle things together, neither maketh a mixture of that which cannot be compounded: but they truly hate all vice, & are affected to eueryevery good thing; and become in their place, after the meaſure of grace giuen them, doers of theſe things.
But leaſt naturall men ſhould carp & Preuentiō of obiection.ſay, Belike I wold hauehave men here without ſinne, or elſe to be without grace; & vnleſſe we do all things, we do nothing: I anſwere, It is not mine intendment to teach any ſuch thing; but that mē ſhould leaue ſin to the vtmoſt, & not dally with any; that they ſhould doe vertuouſly & liue in purpoſe of heart, and will, without ſinne. Legal obedience is beyond what is legal obedience.our power to performe, which is after the exactneſſe of the law, the commanders holineſs, and mans perfection by creation, which we hauehave loſt, and is not here in our owne perſons recouerable, whatſoeuer the Phari…a…cal Papiſts ſay to the contrary: but I ſpeake of obedience Euangelical obedience.and vertuous liuing Euangelically; which is an earneſt endeuour in louelove & thankfulnes to God for his mercies in Chriſt, in faith apprehending his merits, in whom we be acceptable and welpleaſing to God, in truth and ſincerity of heart to doe whatſoeuer we are commanded, and is commended vntounto vsus: which will appeare by our ioy in well Sig…es of …rity.doing, by our prayers and holy deſires to doe well, by our feare to offend, & by our ſorrow when we faile in our dueties; wherein ſtands the perfection of the beſt Chriſtian: wee can neither be equall to the lawe to fulfill it, nor go beyond to do more any way to merit. S. Paule in his Apoſtolical eſtate found imperfections: And Hezechias could ſpeak of vprightneſs, but of no perfectiō. And thus much for the condition of the promiſe.
Ye ſhall neuer fall. Ye ſhall neuer ſ…ip or ſlide downe, ye ſhall not come to any foreign. The expoſition.hurt: the word here vſed is drawne from the bodie to the minde, and is diuerſly taken in ſcripture; ſometime for ſinne; Prou. 24. 16. therefore is the word ſo tranſlated in the vulgar tranſlation: ſometime for deſtruction. 2. Sam. 3. 38. 1. Cor. 10. 8. ſometime to be downe on a ſodaine, ſo as a ſtanding and courſe is not kept; which is the common ſignification thereof. All theſe three may here very fitly ſtand, Ye ſhall not ſinne, ye ſhall not be deſtroyed, ye ſhall not decline from your standing, to fall away from the ſtate of grace, whereunto ye are called. And therefore here I wil ſpeake of them all, as reaſons to ſpur vsus on to a vertuous life, which is the ſcope of the words.
Doctrine. Ye ſhall not ſinne. Vertuous men ſinne 1. Iohn. 3.not. He that committeth ſinne is of the Diuel, and he that is borne of GOD ſinneth not: yet he that ſaith hee hath 1. Iohn. 1.no ſinne …s a …yer, and the truth is not in him. It is true neuertheleſſe, that he which abideth in Chriſt ſinneth not, ſuch do cō mit Pſal. 119. 3none iniquity; to wit, firſt in Gods acceptation, according to that ſaying, He ſaw none iniquity in Iacob, nor tranſgreſſion How godly are ſaid not to ſin. Num. 23. 21. Ier. 50. 20.in Iſrael: their ſins ſhall not bee found ſaith Ieremie: and the reaſon is, becauſe the Lord will be mercifull vntounto them; ſecondly in Chriſts ſatisfaction, in whom we are the righteouſneſs of God, and in him there is no condemnation. Thirdly 2 Cor 5. 21 Rom. 8. 1 Rom. 7.in a godly mans will; for as the Apoſtle ſaith, good they would doe; and wherein they doe euill, they ſorrowe and would not doe; and herein the will ſtands for the deede. Laſtly in reſpect of time; for as the child of God ſinneth not wholly, ſo neither finally; for God hath put his feare into him, that hee ſhall Ier. 32. 40. Pſ. 37. 24.neuer depart from him; but if he fall, he ſhall not be caſt off, for the Lord putteth vnderunder his hand. Thus the vertuous ſinne not: and this grace ſhall be attained vntounto by ſuch as doe theſe things, ſaith Peter.
Vſe. Now this reaſon hath great force to perſwade vsus to be vertuous: to bee free from ſinne is bleſſedneſſe, as Dauid affirmeth in Pſal. 32. 1. 2. This bleſſing can we not better know, then to conſider What it is to ſin, and to liue therein.what it is to ſinne, and to liue in it. It is the ſtate of corruption, ſeruice to the Diuell, contempt of Chriſts death, the reſiſtance of grace, the racing out of Gods image, the bearing vponupon vsus the D…uels likeneſſe: it is cauſe of calamities, the curſe in our calling, the eating canker in the ſoule; the obiect of Gods wrath, and deaths ſting: it breaketh the vnion betweene God and vsus, it maketh conſcience to accuſe, and the lawe to condemne, it maketh our life miſerable, death fearefull and the laſt day terrible: and to conclude, by it we loſe heauen, Angels attendance, ſaincts ſociety, and all celeſtiall comforts eternally; and we purchaſe hell; fiends attend vsus, diuels accompany vsus, the curſed crue of damned ſoules abide with vsus, and we vtterly depriue our ſelues of all good, & liue in woe and paines euerlaſtingly; This is to ſinne, this is to liue in ſinne; and not to ſinne is to be acceptable to God, in Chriſt righteous, our will plyable to his bidding, and our end comfortable as we to goodnes are conformeable.
Doctrine. Ye ſhall not be deſtroyed. The vertuous, as they ſinne not, ſo they periſh not. Godlineſs hath the promiſe of this life, and of the life to come: there is no cauſe of feare then; A great inducement to liue vertuouſly, wee all naturally feare deſtruction, we deſire to preuent it no greater ioy then to be ſure of ſafe… Vſe. then let vsus liue vprightly, embrace vertue, & ſhun vice carefully: deſtruction remaineth for the vngodly, but peace and Gal. 6. 16.merciemercy to Syon and vponupon the Iſraell of God. Let Pharao be drowned, the Iſraelites ſhall paſſe ouer ſafely: wicked Iſraelites may be deſtroyed, yet faithfull Caleb and Ioſua ſhall liue: Lotte ſhall eſcape, when Sodome ſhall flame with fire, and all the inhabitants therof: And Noah with his ſhall be aliue in the Arke, when the whole world ſhal hauehave an end.
Thus, vertuous men hauehave a Superſedeas againſt Gods iuſtice, not of merit but in merciemercy: their ſoules be ſprinkled with the blood of the Lamb, ſo that the Angell of wrath muſt paſſe ouer their perſons: they are aforehand marked Eze. 9.in the forehead, for that they mourne & cry for the abhominations which they ſee: theſe, the Angel muſt not ſo much as touch, whē they be cōmāded to ſmite other without pittie. O let vsus therfore liue vertuouſly, and be doers of theſe things.
Ye ſhall not leaue your ſtanding. You D…e. Pſa. 15. 5ſhall neuer, as Dauid ſaith, be moued, you ſhall not like dogs returne to the vomite againe, nor like ſwine to the Ioh. 10. 28myre: it is Chriſts promiſe, None ſhall pluck them out of his hands whom hee hath choſen: the more they exerciſe vertue, the more they louelove it, and grow more zealous in it. Dauid findeth the Pſa. 19.words of God ſweeter then honey, and the keeping of the commandements more precious then pearles: ſo is it with euerie one, that ſeeketh GOD in righteouſneſſe.
Vſe. This keeping of our ſtanding that we fall not away, is alſo a forcible reaſon to moue vsus to exerciſe our ſelues in theſe vertues. What more comfort then euer to abide with God in the ſtate of grace? to call God father, Chriſt (the Iudge) our bleſſed ſauiour, the holy Ghoſt our comforter, glorious Angels our fellow ſeruant…, earth our right, and heauen our inheritance? And what more vncomfortable, then by falling away to bid adue to God, to grace & to goodneſſe? It is to cauſe the Lord to abhorre vsus and to bid the Diuell take vsus: It is to runne from vnderunder Gods protection, and to ſeeke death and deſtruction: who therefore would not liue in doing vertuouſly, to keepe his ſtanding in the ſtate of grace that hee fall not away?
Doubt not of falling, if thou liue in Euangelicall obedience, & in theſe vertues: thou haſt a perpetuall pledge of Gods louelove, euen by thy godly life, his promiſes are annexed to ſuch a one; by well doing thou haſt aſſurance of deliuerance, and art in Gods ſeruice; and he that hath called thee, will mercifully reward thee in the end. But many hauehave falne thou wilt ſay: true; from what they Obiection anſwered.ſeemed to bee, but not indeede from what they were: their gifts were common fauours, but not the ſpeciall graces of election: they neuer attained vntounto the aforenamed Euangelicall obediēce; ſecretly they were hypocrites: none fall finally, but the good things they do, are done ſiniſterly, as appeareth in Iehu; and they nouriſh ſome ſinne which doth breake out at the length openly, as in Iudas is manifeſt. Search therefore thy ſelf how thou ſtandeſt: if vprightly with feare, louelove, and in humility; feare not to fall finally. The elect fall for a time, as we ſee in Dauid: but they ſo cōtinue not euer; this is the fall of a reprobate.
If you demand how in falling we may know the difference betweene the elect A queſt.and reprobate, it may appeare thus to a man; firſt by the truth of grace before the fall; by the remainder of grace in falling, with a kind of feare and with ſome ſtruggling vnwilling to yield, and yet through infirmity & violence of affection, forced to yield; for the godly truely conuerted cannot ſin after, with full conſent: Laſtly, after the fall to be checked in conſcience; and though for a time they do lie in ſin, yet then, not without the Lords externall chaſtiſements to make them remember themſelues, & when a faithful meſſenger cō meth, as Nathan, to ſay thou art the man, Dauid yieldeth and ſaith I hauehave ſinned; which the reprobate do not.
If further through feare, thou that art in the ſtate of grace doſt obiect Sathans Elect neede not to fear, they ſhall no way be ouercome.powre; hee ſhall not preuaile; Chriſt hath ouercome him. Math. 4. And his triumph is thy victorie, ſo read it and beleeue. If thou dread the world, Chriſt ſaith, Be of good comfort I hauehave ouercome the world. Iohn. 16. 33. If the fleſh which ouerthrew Salomon, & conquered Sampſon: hee that is in Chriſt hath mortified Rom. 6.the deedes of the fleſh; and why was Chriſt pure, but to ſubdue thy corruption? If yet thou ſay, But for all this, thou maiſt be ouercome by many temptations & fall away in time of perſecution, remember that God wil not try thee aboue thy ſtrength. 1. Cor. 10. 13. And for other afflictions for Chriſt, in them thou ſhalt be more then a conqueror through him that loued vsus. Rom 8. 37. And I am perſwaded that neither death nor life, nor Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things preſent, nor things to com, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature ſhall bee able to ſeparate vsus from the louelove of God which is in Chriſt Ieſus. verſe. 38. 39. But many falſe teachers ſhall ariſe: true to deceiue certainly the reprobate, and to beguile the elect, if it were poſſible. Math 24. 24. But therefore it may bee inferred that it is an vnpoſſible thing; bee humble and meeke, for them that be m…ke will he guide in iudgement, and teach the humble his way. Pſal. 25. 9. LoueLove the truth for the truthes ſake, & God wil not giuegive thee ouer to beleeue lies, as hee doth thoſe that hauehave not a louelove of the truth. 2. Theſ. 2. 10. Oh, but I feare, my daily offences wil cauſe the Lord to caſt me off, to take his grace from me, & ſo ſhall I fall finally. For this know, that the beſt ſinneth often▪ & it is not ſinning but the lying in ſin that dā neth: If thou canſt confeſſe ſin & forſake Pro. 28. 13.it, thou ſhalt hauehave merciemercy. Prou. 28. 13. though thou doſt fall, thou ſhalt not be caſt off, for the Lord putteth vnderunder his hand. Pſal. 37. 24. To conclude, the Lord wil not forſake his people for his great names ſake, becauſe it hath pleaſed the Lord to make them his people. 1. Sam. 12. 22. Thus ſaid Samuel to Iſrael to cōfort them, euen when they had greatly offē ded God.
Therefore let Sathan roare, and compaſſe the earth, Iob is hedged about: let A comfortable concluſion.the world lie in wickedneſſe, the elect ſhall ſee light to come out; the fleſh is ſtrong, but the ſpirit of God is ſtronger to caſt it out, to ſubdue and kil it: perſecution ſhall not ouercome; the louelove of Chriſt wil conſtraine vsus to hold. Falſe teachers ſhall not miſlead vsus ſo, but wee ſhall ſee & returne, or preuent them before: & though we ſin, yet this doth not condemne vsus, for no Chriſtians; but that we are weake, and not wholly freed frō corruptions. Here is no perfection, here is vprightneſſe to bee had; hold this, beware of hypocriſie; ſtriue to perfection, that thou maiſt after attaine it in glory. So beloued ſhall no ſin raigne over vsus, grace ſhall grow in vsus, peace ſhal be vponupon vsus, faith ſhal ſet comfort before vsus, this wretched worlde ſhall not bewitch vsus, pleaſures ſhall not deceiue vsus, nor any thing cauſe vsus to miſcarie, but that wee ſhall run on & run out our race with ioy, vntill the full end of our daies. Which, the Father of mercy, & the God of all comforts graunt vntounto vsus, for his ſonnes ſake, Chriſt Ieſus. To whom with the Father, and the holy Spirit, be euerlaſting praiſe and glory, for this his grace, and all other his mercies, now and henceforth for euermore.
Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Richard Bernard, The Sinners Safety if Here He Look for Assurance (1609)