A Golden Chain, Chapter 38 – Chapter 39
CHAP. 38. Concerning the third degree of the declaration of Gods louelove.
THe third degree, is Sanctification, whereby such as beleeue, beeing deliuered from the tyrannie of sinne, are by little and little renued in holines and righteousnes. 1. Ioh. 3.9. Whosoeuer is borne of God, sinneth not: for his seede remaineth in him, neither can he sinne, because he is borne of God. Rom. 8.1. There is no condemnation to those which are in Christ Iesus, which walke not after the flesh but after the spirit.
Sanctification hath two parts: Mortification, and Viuification.
The mortification of …inne, is the first part of sanctification, whereby the power of sinne is abated, and crucified in the faithfull. Rom. 6.2. How shall we that are dead to sinne, liue yet therein? 3. Know ye not that all we which hauehave beene baptized into Iesus Christ, hauehave beene baptized into his death? 4. We are buried then with him by baptisme into his death, that like as Christ was raised vp from the dead, by the glorie of the father, so we also should walke in newnes of life. Eccles. 5.6, 7, 11, 12, 13. Galat. 5.24. They which are Christs ha…e crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts thereof.
The meanes that worke mortification, is the death & buriall of Christ, frō whence, sinn being by it at the first nipped in the head, proceedeth such a vertue, as doth both keepe vnderunder the strength that it cānot break out as it would, and in man, as it were in a graue, doth cause it to die and eke putrifie. Rom. 6.6. Our old man is crucified with him, that the bodie of sinne might be destroyed.
The power of Christ his death, is a certaine power issuing into his humanitie, suffering, and dying, from his deitie; whereby he did; in the …ame his humanitie, both concerning the guilt, and also the punishment, vanquish our sinne, imputed vntounto him, beeing our suretie: that in like sort, he, in vsus his members, might by the same power abolish the corruption of sinne.
Viuification, is the second part of sanctification: whereby inherent holines being begun, is still augmented and enlarged. First, we receiue the fi…st fruits of the spirit, then a continuall encrease of them. Eph. 4.23. Be renued in the spirit of your minde. 24. And put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnes, and true holines. Eph. 2. 1. And you, hath he quickned, that were dead in trespasses and sinnes. Gal. 2. 20. Thus I liue, yet not I now, but Christ in me: and in that I now liue by the flesh, I liue by the faith of the Sonne of God, who hath loued me, and giuen himselfe for me. Rom. 8.23. We which hauehave the first fruits of the spirit, euen we doe sigh in our selues, waiting for the adoption, euen the redemption of our bodies. 1. Cor. 15.45. The first man Adam was made a liuing soule, …nd the second man Adam was made a quickning spirit.
The efficient cause of them both is the holy Ghost, who doth by his diuine power conuey himselfe into the beleeuers hearts, and in them, by applying the power of Christ his death; and resurrection, createth holinesse. Iob 3….24, 25. Rom. 8.9. Now ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, because the spirit of God dwelleth in you: but if any man hauehave not the spirit of Christ, the same is not his. 11. But if the spirit of him that raised vp Iesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised vp Christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mortall bodies, because that his spirit dwelleth in you.
The preseruatiue of viuification, is a vertue deriued from Christs resurrection, to those that are quickned, which maketh them to rise vp to newnesse of life. Philip. 3.10. That I may know him, and the vertue of his resurrection.
The power of Christs resurrection is that, whereby he …irst, did in his owne …lesh, as conquerer ouer death and sinne, beginne to liue with God, and to be exalted aboue eueryevery name: and then by it, he, in his members, sinne beeing d…ad and buried, doth cause in them a studie and purpose to liue according to the will of God.
Furthermore, this inherent holines is to be distinguished into parts, according to the seuerall faculties of the bodie & soule of man. 1. Th. 5.23. The very God of peace sanctifie you throughout: And I pray God, that your whole spirit, soule, and bodie may be kept blamelesse, vntounto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ.
I. The holines or renuing of the minde, which is the illumination thereof, to the knowledge of the will of God. Coloss. 1.9. We cease not to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be fully filled with knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spirituall vnderstanding. 1. Cor. 12.8. To one is giuen by the spirit, the speech of wisdome, to an other the speech of knowledge, by the same spirit.
Illumination, is either spirituall vnderstanding, or spirituall wisdome.
Spirituall vnderstanding, is an illumination of the minde, whereby it acknowledgeth the knowne truth of the word of God.
Spirituall wisdome, is also an illumination of the minde, whereby the same truth, is applied to the good ordering of particular both things and actions, as person, place, and time require.
These two, hauehave these effects, which follow.
I. To discerne betweene good and euill. Heb. 5.14. Strong meate belongeth to them that are of age, which through long custome hauehave their exercised to discerne both good and euill. Phil. 10.1. That we may discerne things that differ one from an other.
II. To discerne of spirits. 1. Ioh. 4.1. Deerely beloued, beleeue not eueryevery spirit, but trie the spirits whether they are of God. 1. Thess. 5.21. Trie all things, and keepe that which is good. Act. 17.11. There were more noble men, then they which were at Thessalonica, which receiued the word with all readines, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.
III. To meditate vponupon the word and works of God. Psal. 1.2. But his delight is in the Law of God, and in that Law doth exercise himselfe day and night. Psal. 119.15. I will meditate in thy precepts, and consider thy waies. Psal. 107. the whole psalme.
IV. To discerne and acknowledge mans owne inward blindnes. Psal. 119.33. Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes, and I will keepe it vntounto the end…. 28. Open mine eyes, that I may see the wonders of thy Law.
II. The sanctitie of the memorie, is an abilitie to keepe a good thing, when it is offered to the minde, and as neede serueth, to remember it. Psal. 119.11. I hauehave hid thy promise in mine heart, that I might not sinne against thee. Psal. 16.7. I will praise the Lord who hath giuen me coūsell: my reines also teach me in the nights. Luk. 2.51. His mother kept all these things in her heart.
III. The sanctitie of conscience, which is a grace of God, whereby a mans conscience excuseth him for all sinnes, after they are forgiuen him in Christ, as also of his vpright walking in the whole course of his life. 1. Tim. 1.19. Hauing faith and a good conscience, which some hauing put away, &c. 1. Cor. 4.4. I know nothing by my selfe: yet am I not thereby iustified. Act. 23. 1. Paul said, I hauehave in all good conscience, serued God vntill this day. Act. 24.16. I endeauour my selfe to hauehave alway a cleare conscience, toward God and toward men. Psal. 26. 1, 2, 3. Iudge me, O Lord, for I hauehave walked in mine innocencie, my trust hath beene also in the Lord: therefore shall I not slide. Prooue me, O Lord, and trie me, examine my reines and mine heart. For thy louing kindnesse is before mine eyes, therefore hauehave I walked in thy truth.
Hence, in all godly men ariseth the inward peace of God, and the outward alacritie in the countenance. Phil. 4.7. The peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding, shall preserue your hearts and mindes in Iesus Christ. Prov. 28.1. The wicked flee, when none pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a Lyon.
IV. Sanctitie of will, whereby man beginneth to will that which is good, and to refuse the contrarie. Therfore in this estate, the will is partly freed from bondage, partly in bondage to sinne. Phil. 2. 13. It is God which worketh in you, both the will and the deede, euen of his owne pleasure. Rom. 7. 18. I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me, but I finde no meanes to performe that which is good, &c. v. 19, 20, 21, 22.
V. Sanctitie of affections, is the right moouing of them. 1. Thess. 5. 23. Rom. 7.24.
Affections of most especiall note, are these:
I. Hope, whereby men with sighings, looke for the accomplishing of their redemption. Rom. 8.23. This hope, when it is once strong and liuely, hath also her foreign, that is, full assurance, as faith hath. Heb. 6.11. And we desire that eueryevery one of you shewe the same diligence, to the full assurance of hope vntounto the ende. 1. Pet. 1.3, Blessed be God, euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, which, according to his aboundant merciemercy, hath begotten vsus againe vntounto a liuely hope, by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead.
II. Feare of offending God, because of his merciemercy, 1. Pet. 1.17. If yee call him father, which without respect of person, iudgeth according to eueryevery mans worke, passe the time of your dwelling here in feare. Psal. 103.4. There is merciemercy with thee, that thou maist be feared.
III. A base account of all worldly things, in respect of Christ Iesus. Phil. 3. 7. But the things that were aduantage to me, I accounted losse for Christs sake. 8. Yea doubtlesse, I thinke all things but losse, for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesus my Lord, for whome I hauehave counted all things losse, and doe iudge them to be …o…g, that I might winne Christ.
IV. The louelove of God in Christ, which is like vntounto death, and as a fire that cannot be quenched. Cant. 8.6. LoueLove is strong as death, iealousie is cruell as the graue, the coles thereof are fire coles, and a vehement flame.
V. A feruent zeale to Gods glorie. Rom. 9.3. I vvould wish my selfe to be separate from Christ, for my brethren, that are my kinsmen, according to the flesh.
VI. An anguish of minde for our owne sinnes and others also. Psal. 119.1…6. Mine eyes gush out with teares, because men keepe not thy law. 2. Pet. 2.7. And deliuered iust Lot, being vexed with the vncleanly conuersation of the wicked. 8. For he beeing righteous, and dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soule from day to day, with their vnlawfull deedes.
VII. Exceeding great ioy in the holy Ghost. Rom. 14.17. The kingdome of God is not meate and drinke, but righteousnes, and peace, and ioy in the holy Ghost.
VI. Sanctitie of bodie, whereby it is a sit instrument for the soule to accomplish that which is good. Rom. 6.19. As ye hauehave giuen your members seruants to vncleannesse, and to iniquitie, to commit iniquitie: so now giuegive your members seruants vntounto righteousnes in holines.
CHAP. 39. Of Repentance and the fruits thereof.
FRom sanctification, Repentance is deriued, because no man can earnestly repent, except he, denying himselfe, doe hate sinne, euen from his heart, and embrace righteousnes. This no man either will, or can performe, but such an one as is in the sight of God regenerated and iustified, and indued with true faith. Therefore albeit in such as are conuerted, repentance doth first manifest it selfe, yet regarding the order of nature, it followeth both faith and sanctification. Hence also is it euident that this repentance, legall contrition beeing some occasion, and, as it were, a preparation to true conuersion, is begotten by the preaching of the Gospel.
Repentance is, when a sinner turneth vntounto the Lord. Act. 26.20. He shewed first vntounto them of Damascus, and at Ierusalem, and through all the coasts of Iudea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turne to God, and to doe workes worthie amendment of life. 1. Ioh. 3.3. EueryEvery man that hath this hope in him, purgeth himselfe, as he is pure.
This is performed, when as any one, by the instinct of the holy Ghost, doth purpose, will, desire, and endeauour to relinquish his former sinnes, and to become a new man. Psal. 119.112. I hauehave applied my heart to fulfill thy statutes alway, euen vntounto the ende. 1. Ioh. 3.3. Act. 11.23. Who when he was come, and had seene the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted all, that with purpose of heart, they would cleane vntounto the Lord.
The fruit of Repentance is, a Christian conuersation, wherein are brought forth fruits worthie amendment of life. Matth. 3.8. Bring yee therefore forth fruits worthie of repentance.
A Christian conuersation, is such a course of life, whereby we, following Christs example, doe by him, performe new obedience to God. Math. 11.29. Take my yoke on you, and learne of me, that am meeke and lowly in heart: and ye shall finde rest vntounto your soules. 1. Pet. 4.1. For as much as Christ hath suffered for vsus in the flesh, arme your selues likewise with the same minde, which is, that he which hath suffered in the flesh, hath ceased from sinne. 1. Pet. 2.21. For hereunto are ye called, for Christ also suffered for vsus, leauing vsus an ensample that we should follow his steps. 1. Pet. 3.10, 11. If any man long after life, and to see good daies, let him refraine his tongue from euill, and his lippes that they speake no guile. Let him eschew euill and doe good, let him seeke peace and follow after it.
There are two parts of new obedience: the deniall of our selues, and the profession of Christ. Math. 16.24. If any man will follow me, let him forsake himselfe, take vp his crosse, and follow me.
The deniall of our selues, consisteth partly in Christian warrefare, partly in the patient bearing of affliction.