A Golden Chain, Chapter 36
CHAP. 36. Concerning the first degree of the declaration of Gods louelove.
THe declaration of Gods louelove, in those of yeres of discretion, hath especially foure degrees. Rom. 8.30. 1. Cor. 1.30.
The first degree, is an effectuall calling, whereby a sinner being seuered frō the world, is entertained into Gods familie. Eph. 2.17. And came, and preached peace vntounto you, which were a farre off, and to them that were neere. 19. Nowe therfore ye are no more strangers and forrainers, but citizens with the Saints, and of the …oushold of God.
Of this there be two parts. The first is, Election, which is a seperation of a sinner from the cursed estate of all mankind. Ioh. 15.19. If ye were of the world, the world would louelove his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I hauehave chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
The second is, the reciprocall donation or free gift of God the Father, whereby he bestoweth the sinfull man to be saued vponupon Christ, and Christ againe actually & most effectually vponupon that sinfull man, so that he may boldly sa…e this thing, namely Christ, both God and man, is mine, and I for my benefit and vse enioy the same. The like we see in wedlocke: The husband saith, this woman is my wife, whome her parents hauehave giuen vntounto men, so that, shee being fully mine, I may both hauehave her, and gouerne her. Againe, the woman may say, this man is mine husband, who hath bestowed himselfe vponupon me, & doth cherish me as his wife. Rom. 8.32. He spared not his owne sonne, but gaue him for vsus. Esa. 9.6. VntoUnto vsus a child is born, & vntounto vsus a son is giuen. Ioh. 17.2. Thou hast giuen him power vponupon all flesh, that he should giuegive eternall life to all thē whome thou hast giuen him. 6. I hauehave declared thy name to the men which thou gauest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gauest them me, and they kept thy worde. 7. Nowe they know that all things, whatsoeuer thou hast giuen me, are of thee. Ioh. 10.29. My father, which gaue them me, is greater then all, and none is able to take them out of my fathers hands.
Hence commeth that admirable vnion, or coniunctiō, which is the ingraffing of such as are to be saued, into Christ, and their growing vp togither with him: so that after a peculiar manner, Christ is made the head, and eueryevery repentant sinner, a member of his mysticall bodie. Ioh. 17.20. I pray not for these alone, but for them also which shall beleeue in me, through their word. 21. That they all may be one, as thou, O father, art in me, and I in thee: euen that they may be also one in vsus. Eph. 2.20. We are members of his bodie, of his flesh, and of his bones. Ioh. 25.1. I am that true vine, and my father is the husbandman. 2. EueryEvery branch that beareth not fruit in me, he taketh away: and eueryevery one that beareth fruite, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruite. Eph. 2. 20. Built vponupon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, …hose corner stone is Iesus Christ himselfe. 21. In whō all the building coupled togither, groweth vntounto an holy temple in the Lord. 22. In whome ye are also built togither, to be the habitation of God by the spirit.
This, albeit it be a most neere and reall vnion, yet we must not thinke, that it, by touching, mixture, or, as it were, by souldring of one soule with another, neither by a bare agreement of the soules among themselues: but by the communion and operation of the same spirit, which beeing by nature infinite, is of sufficient abilitie to conioyne those things togither, which are of themselues farre distant from each other: the like we see in the soule of man, which conioyneth the head with the foote. Eph. 2.22. 2. Pet. 1.4. Whereby most great and precious promises are giuen vntounto vsus, that by them ye should be partakers of the godly nature, in that ye flie the corruption, which is in the world through lust. Phil. 2.1. If there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of louelove, if any fellowship of the spirit, &c.
The things vnited. In this vnion not our soule alone is vnited with Christs soule, or our …lesh with his flesh: but the whole person of eueryevery faithfull man, is …erely conioyned with the whol person of our Sauiour Christ God & man.
The manner of their vnion is this. A faithfull man first of all and immediatly is vnited to the flesh, or humane nature of Christ, & afterward by reason of the humanitie, to the Word it selfe, or diuine nature. For saluation and life dependeth on that fulnesse of the godhead which is in Christ, yet it is not cō municated vntounto vsus, but in the flesh, and by the flesh of Christ. Ioh. 6.5…. Except ye eate the flesh, and drinke the blood of the Sonne of man, ye hauehave no life in you. 56. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
The bond of this vnion. This vnion is made by the spirit of God applying Christ vntounto vsus: and on our parts by faith receiuing Christ Iesus offered vntounto vsus. And for this cause is it tearmed a spirituall vnion.
Christ, because he is the head of the faithfull, is to be considered as a publike man sustaining the person of all the elect. Hence is it that the faithfull are …aid to be crucified with Christ, and with him to die, & to be buried. Rom. 6.4, 5,6, to be quickened. Eph. 2.5. to be raised vp, and placed in heauen. v. 6. Col. 3.1. the which is not onelyonly in regard of the hope of the faithful, but because they are accepted of God certainely to hauehave done all these things in Christ: euen as in Adams first sinne all his posteritie afterward was tainted of sinne.
A member of Christ is diuersly distinguished: and is so either before men, or God.
Before mē they are the members of Christ, who outwardly professing the faith, are charitably reputed by the Church as true members. But such deceiuing at length, both themselues and the Church, may be reprobates: & therefore in Gods presence they are no more true members, then are the noxious humours in mans bodie, or a woodden legge or other ioynt cunningly fastened to another part of the bodie.
Againe, members before God, they are such, as either are decreed to be so, or actually are so already.
Such as are decreed to be so, are they, who, being elect from all eternitie, are either as yet not borne, or not called. Ioh. 10. 16. Other sheepe hauehave I, which are not of this fold: them also must I bring.
Actuall members of Christ, are either liuing or dying members.
An actuall liuing member of Christ is, eueryevery one elected, which being engraffed by faith, and the spirit into Christ, doth feele and shewe forth the power of Christ in him.
An actuall dying or decaying member is, eueryevery one truely engraffed into Christ, and yet hath no feeling of the power and efficacie of the quickening spirit in him. He is like vntounto a benummed legge without sense, which indeede is a part of mans body, and yet receiueth no nourishment: such are those faithfull ones, who for a time doe faint and are ouercome vnderunder the heauie burthē of tentations, and their sinnes: such are also those excommunicate persons, who in regard of their engraffing are true members, howesoeuer in regard of the externall communion with the Church, and efficacie of the spirit, they are not members, till such time as they being touched with repentance, doe begin as it were, to liue againe.
God executeth this effectuall calling by certaine meanes.
The first, is the sauing hearing of the word of God, aEzech. 16.6. When I passed by thee, I saw thee polluted in thine owne blood, and I said vntounto thee, when thou wast in thy blood, thou shalt liue. Esai 55.1. H…, eueryevery one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and ye that hauehave no siluer, come, buie, and eate: come… I say, and buie wine and milke without siluer, and without money. Ioh. 1.12. As many as receiued him, to them he gaue this priuiledge, that they should become the sonnes of God: namely, to them which beleeued in his name.which is, when the said word outwardly is preached, to such an one as is both dead in his sinnes, and doth not so much as dreame of his saluation. bRom. 7.7. I knew not sinne but by the Law: for I had not knowne lust, except the Law had said, Thou shalt not lust.And first of all, the Law shewing a man his sinne, and the punishment thereof, which is eternall death: afterward the Gospel, shewing saluation by Christ Iesus, to such as beleeue. c1. Ioh. 2.27. But the annointing, which ye receiued of him, dwelleth in you: and ye neede not that any man teach you: but as the same annointing teacheth you of all things, and is true, and is not lying, and, as it is taught you, ye shall abide in him.And inwardly the eyes of the minde are enlightened, dAct. 16.14. A certaine woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the citie of the T…yatirians, a worshipper of God, heard vsus, whose heart God opened, that shee attended to the things that Paul spake. Psal… 40. v. 6. Thou art not delighted with sacrifice and burnt offerings, but mine eares hast thou opened. Ioh. 6.44. No man can come vntounto me, except the Father which hath sent me, draw him: and I will raise him vp at the last day. Esai 54.6. The Lord hath called thee, beeing as a woman forsaken, and as a young wife, when thou wast refused, saith the Lord.the heart and eares opened that he may see, heare, and vnderstand the preaching of the word of God.
The second, is the mollifying of the heart, the which must be bruised in pieces, that it may be fit to receiue Gods sauing grace offered vntounto it. Ezech. 11. 19. I will giuegive them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within their bowels. And I will take the stonie heart out of their bodies, and will giuegive them an heart of flesh.
There are for the brusing of this stonie heart, foure principal hammers. The first, is the knowledge of the law of God. The second, is the knowledge of sinne, both originall, and actuall, and what punishment is due vntounto them. The third, is compunction, or pricking of the heart, namely, a sense and feeling of the wrath of God for the same sinnes. The fourth, is an holy desperation of a mans owne power, in the obtaining of eternall life. Act. 2.37. When they heard these things, they were pricked in heart, and said vntounto Peter, and the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we doe? 38. Peter said vntounto them, Repent, and be baptized eueryevery one of you in the name of Iesus into the remission of sinnes, and ye shall receiue the gift of the holy Ghost. Luk. 15.17. Then he came to himselfe, and said, How many hired seruants at my fathers hauehave bread ynough, and I die for hunger? 18. I will rise, and goe to my father, and say vntounto him, Father, I hauehave sinned against heauen, and before thee, 19. And am no more worthie to be called thy sonne: make me as one of thy hired seruants, &c. Matth. 15. 24. He answered, and said, I am not sent, but to the lost sheepe of Israel.
The third, is faith, which is a miraculous and supernaturall facultie of the heart, apprehending Christ Iesus, being applied by the operation of the holy Ghost, and receiuing him to it selfe. Ioh. 1.1,2,6.35. Iesus said vntounto them, I am the bread of life, he that commeth vntounto me shall neuer hunger: and he that beleeueth in me, shall neuer thirst. Rom. 9.30. What shall we say then? the Gentiles which followed not righteousnesse, hauehave attained vntounto righteousnesse, euen the righteousnes which is of faith.
Christ is receiued, when eueryevery seuerall person doth particularly apply vntounto himselfe, Christ with his merits, by an inward perswasiō of the heart, which commeth none other way, but by the effectuall certificate by the holy Ghost concerning the mercy of God in Christ Iesus. 1. Cor. 2.12. Wee hauehave receiued, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of GOD, that we might knowe the things that are giuen to vsus of GOD. Ezech. 12.10. I will poure the spirit of grace vponupon the house of Dauid, and vponupon the inhabitants of Ierusalem: and they shall looke vntounto me, whome they hauehave wounded. Rom. 8.16. His spirit beareth witnesse to our spirit, that we are the sonnes of God. Eph. 1.13. In whom also ye hauehave trust, after that ye heard the word of truth, euen the Gospell of your saluation, wherein also after that ye beleeued, ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise. 2. Cor. 1.22.
In the worke of faith, there are foure degrees, or motions of the heart, linked and vnited togither, and are worthy the consideration of eueryevery Christian.
The first, is knowledge of the Gospell, by the illumination of gods spirit. Esay 53.11. By his knowledge shall my seruant iustifie many. Ioh. 7.3. This is life eternall, that they knowe thee to be the onelyonly very God, and whome thou hast sent Iesus Christ.
To this, in such as are truely humbled, is annexed a serious meditation of the promises in the Gospell, stirred vp by the sensible feeling of their owne beggerie.
And after the forsaid knowledge in all such as are enlightened, commeth a generall faith, whereby they subscribe to the trueth of the Gospell. Heb. 4.2. VntoUnto vsus was the Gospell preached, as also vntounto them: but the word that they heard profited not them, because it was not mixed with faith in those that heard it. 1. Tim. 1.19. Hauing faith and a good conscience, which some hauehave put away, and as concerning the faith, hauehave made shipwracke. 1. Tim. 2.4. Who will that all men should bee saued, and come vntounto the knowledge of the trueth.
This knowledge if it be more full and perfect, is called in Greeke foreign, that is, the full assurāce of vnderst… ̄ding. Col. 2.2. That their hearts might be comforted, and they knit togither in louelove, and in all riches, of the full assurance of vnderstanding, to knowe the mysterie of God, euen the father, and of Christ. Rom. 14.14. I knowe, and am perswaded through the Lord Iesus, that there is nothing vncleane of it selfe. Luk. 1.1. For as much as many hauehave taken in hand to set forth the storie of those things, whereof we are fully perswaded. 1. Thes. 1.5. Our gospell was vntounto you, not in word onelyonly, but also in power, and in the holy Ghost, and in much assurance.
The second, is hope of pardon, whereby a sinner, albeit he yet feeleth not that his sinnes are certainly pardoned, yet he be beleeueth that they are pardonable. Luk. 15.18. I will goe vntounto him father, and say, Father, I hauehave sinned against he…uen and against thee, and am no more worthie to be called thy sonne, make me as one of thy hired seruants.
The third, is an hungring and thirsting after that grace which is offered to him in Christ Iesus, as a man hungreth and thirsteth after meate and drinke. Ioh. 6.35. and 7.37. Reu. 21.6. And he said vntounto me, It is done. I am A and Ω, the beginning and the ende, I will giuegive to him that is a thirst of the well of the water of life freely. Matth. 5.6. Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousnes, for they shall be satisfied.
The fourth, is the approching to the throne of Grace, that there flying from the terror of the Law, he may take hold of Christ and finde fauour with God. Heb. 4.16. Let vsus therefore goe boldly to the throne of grace, that we may receiue merciemercy, and finde grace to helpe in time of neede.
This approching hath two parts. The first, is an humble confession of our sinnes before God particularly, if they be knowne sinnes; and generally, if vnknowne: this done, the Lord forthwith remitteth all our sinnes. Psalm. 32.5. I thought, I will confesse against my selfe my wickednesse vntounto the Lord, and thou forgauest the punishment of my sinne. Selah. 2. Sam. 12. 13. Dauid said to Nathan, I hauehave sinned against the Lord: wherefore Nathan said to Dauid, The Lord hath taken away thy sinne, thou shalt not die. Luk. 15.19.
The secōd, is the crauing pardon of some sinnes, with vnspeakable sighes, and in perseuerance. Luk. 15.21. Act. 8.22. Repent of this wickednesse, and pray God, that if it be possible, the thought of thine heart may be forgiuen thee. Rom. 8. 26. The spirit helpeth our infirmities: for we knowe not what to pray as we ought: but the spirit it selfe maketh request for vsus, with sighes which cannot be expressed. Hos. 14.2,3. O Israel, returne vntounto the Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquitie: Take vntounto you wordes, and turne to the Lord, and say to him: take away al iniquitie, and receiue vsus gratiously.
The fift arising of the former, is an especiall perswasion imprinted in the heart by the holy Ghost, whereby eueryevery faithful man doth particularly apply vntounto himselfe those promises which are made in the Gospell. Matth. 9.2. They brought vntounto him a man sicke of the palsie: and when Iesus saw their faith, he saide vntounto the sicke of the palsie, Sonne, be of good comfort, thy sinnes are forgiuen thee. Mat. 15.28. O woman, great is thy faith, bee it vntounto thee as thou desirest. Gal. 2.20. I liue, yet not I nowe, but Christ liueth in me: and in that I nowe liue in the flesh, I liue by the faith of the sonne of God, who hath loued me, and giuen himselfe for me.
This perswasiō is, & ought to be in eueryevery one, euē before he hauehave any experiēce of Gods mercies. Mat. 15.22. A womā, a Canaanite, came out of the same coasts, and cried, saying vntounto him, HaueHave merciemercy on me, O Lord, the sonne of Dauid, my daughter is miserably vexed with a deuill, &c. 23,24,25,26,27. Ioh. 20.29. Iesus said vntounto him, Thomas, because thou hast seene me, thou beleeuest: blessed are they which hauehave not seene, and hauehave beleeued. Hebr. 11. 1. Faith is the ground of things hoped for, and the euidence of things which are not seene. In philosophy wee first see a thing true by experience, and afterward giuegive our assent vntounto it: as in naturall philosophy; I am perswaded that such a water is hot, because when I put mine hand into it, I perceiue by experience an hot qualitie.
But in the practise of faith it is quite contrarie. For first, we must consent to the word of God, resisting all doubt and diffidence, and afterward will an experience, and feeling of comfort followe. 2. Chron. 20.20. Put your trust in the Lord your God, and ye shall be assured; beleeue his Prophets, and yee shall prosper. They therefore doe very ill, who are still in a doubt of their saluation, because as yet, they feele not in themselues, especiall motions of Gods spirit.
Thus much concerning the way which God vseth in begetting of faith. There are beside this, two notable degrees of faith. The one is, the lowest, and as I may speake, the positiue degree: the other is the highest, or superlatiue.
The lowest degree of faith, is called foreign, a little or weake faith, like a graine of mustard seede, or smoking flaxe, which can neither giuegive out heate nor flame, but onelyonly smoke. Math. 8.25. His Disciples awaked him, saying, Saue, master, we perish. 26. And he said vntounto them, Why are ye fearefull, O ye of little faith. Math. 7.20. If ye hauehave faith as much as a graine of mustard seede, ye shall say vntounto the mountaine, Mooue, and it shall remooue. Esay 42.3. The smoking flaxe shall he not quench.
Faith is then said to be weake and feeble, when as, of those fiue degrees aboue mentioned, either the first, which is knowledge, or the fift, which is, application of the promises, is very feeble, the rest remaining strong. Rom. 14.2. One beleeueth that he may eate all things, and another which is weake, eateth hearbes. 3. Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not: and let not him which eateth not, iudge him which eateth: for God hath receiued him. The Apostles although they beleeued, that Christ was the Sonne of the liuing God: yet they were ignorant of his death and his resurrection. Matth. 16. 16. Ioh. 6.69. Matth. 17. 22. Luk. 9.49. They vnderstood not that word: for it was hid from thē, so that they could not perceiue it. Act. 1.6. They asked him, saying, Lord, wilt thou restore at this time the kingdome of Israel?
For the better knowledge of this kind of faith, we must obserue these two rules.
I. A serious desire to beleeue, and an indeauour to obtaine Gods fauour, is the head of faith Mat 5.6. Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousnesse, for they shall be satisfied. Reu. 21.6. I will giuegive to him that it is a thirst, of the well of the water of life freely. Psal. 145.19. He will fulfill the desire of them that feare him: he also will heare their crie, and will saue them. For in such as begin to beleeue and to be renued, the minde will lie not idle, but being mooued by the holy ghost, striue with doubtfulnesse and distrust, & indeauour to put their assent to the sweete promises made in the Gospell, and firmely to apply the same to themselues, and in the sense of their weakenesse, desire assistance from aboue, and thus faith is bestowed.
II. God doth not despise the least sparke of faith, if so be, it, by little and little, doe encrease, and men vse the meanes to increase the same. Luk. 17.5. The Apostles said vntounto the Lord, encrease our faith. 6. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as much as a graine of mustard seed, and should saie vntounto this mulberrie tree, Plucke thy selfe vp by the rootes, and plant thy selfe in the sea, it should euen obey you. Man must therefore stirre vp his faith, by meditation of Gods word, serious prayers, and other exercises belonging vntounto faith.
The highest degree of faith, is foreign, a full assurance, which is not onelyonly certaine and true but also a full perswasion of the heart, whereby a Christian much more firmely taking hold on Christ Iesus, maketh full and resolute account that God loueth him, and that he will giuegive to him by name, Christ, and all his graces pertaining to eternall life, Rom. 4.20. Neither did be doubt of the promise of God through vnbeleefe, but was strengthened in the faith, and gaue glory to God. 21. Beeing fully assured that he, which had promised, was able also to doe it. Rom. 8.38. I am perswaded, that neither life, nor death, &c. can separate vsus from the louelove of God which is in Christ Iesus. 1. Sam. 17.36. Thy seruant slue both the lyon and the beare: therfore this vncircumcised Philistim shall be as one of them, seeing he hath railed on the hoste of the liuing God. Psal. 23.6. Doubtlesse, kindnesse and mercy shal follow me all the daies of my life. Conferred with v. 1,2,3,4.
Man commeth to this high degree, after the sense, obseruation, & long experience of Gods fauour and louelove.
Quest. Whether is iustifying faith commanded in the law?
Answer. It is commanded in the lawe of faith, namely, the Gospel, but not in the law of works, that is, in the morrall law. Rom. 3.27. the reasons are these: I. That which the law reuealeth not, that it commandeth not: but the lawe is so farre from reuealing iustifying faith, that it neuer knew it. II. Adam had fully before his fall written in his heart the morall lawe, yet had he not iustifying faith, which apprehendeth Christ.
Obiect. I. Incredulitie is condemned by the law.
Answer. That incredulitie which is toward God, is condemned in the lawe, but that incredulitie which is against the Messiah Christ Iesus, is condemned by the Gospel. For as by the Gospel… not by the law, incredulitie in the Sonne as Mediatour, appeareth to be a sinne: so likewise not by the law is incredulitie in the Messiah condemned, but by the Gospel, which commandeth vsus to heare him and to beleeue in him. Mat. 17.5. 1. Ioh. 3.23. Thus it is plaine that this sinne, not to beleeue in Christ, is expressely and distinctly made manifest, and condemned by the Gospel. And albeit the knowledge of sinne be by the law, yet not eueryevery thing which doth reprooue, and declare some sinne, is the lawe of workes or belongeth thereto.
Obiect. II. But ceremonies belong to the decalogue.
Answer. Ceremonies may be as examples referred to the decalogue, but indeede they are appendants to the Gospell.