A Golden Chain, Chapter 42
CHAP. 42. Of the second Assault.
THe second assault, is concerning faith.
The temptation, is an illusion which the diuell casteth into the hearts of godly men: as when he saith, Thou art not of the number of the elect: thou art not iustified: thou hast no faith: thou must certenly be condemned for thy sinnes. Mat. 4.3. Then came to him the tempter, and said, If thou be the Sonne of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Helpes, which the deuil abuseth for the strengthening of such illusions, are these:
I. Aduersitie: as dangers, losses, persecutions, iealousie, grieuous offences, &c. Psal. 73.12. Loe, these are the wicked, yet prosper they alway, and increase in riches. 13. Certainely, I hauehave clensed mine heart in vaine, & washed mine hands in innocency. Iob. 13.23. How many are mine iniquities & sinnes? shew me my rebelliō and my sinne. 24. Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and takest me for thine enemie? 25. Wilt thou breake a leafe driuen to and fro, and wilt thou pursue the drie stubble?
II. The remembrance of sins past. Iob. 13.26. For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possesse the iniquities of my youth.
III. A feeling of death euen alreadie at hand.
The resistance is made by a true faith, applying Christ with all his merits particularly, after this manner. I assuredly beleeue that I shall not be condemned, but that I am elected, and iustified in Christ, and am out of all doubt that all my sinnes are pardoned. Esai. 53.11. Hee shall see the trauaile of his soule, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous seruant iustifie many: for he shal beare their iniquities. Rom. 8.38. For I am perswaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate vsus from the louelove of God, which is in Christ Iesus our Lord.
The preseruatiue, is in temptation, not to behold faith, but the obiect of faith which is Christ. Philip. 3.12. Not as though I had alreadie attained vntounto it, either were already perfect: but I follow if that I may comprehend that, for whose sake also I am comprehended of Christ Iesus. 13. One thing I doe, I forget that which is behinde, & indeauour my selfe to that which is before. 14. And follow hard toward the marke, for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus. Ioh. 3.14. And as Moses lift vp the Serpent in the wildernes, so must the sonne of man be lift vp, that he that beleeueth in him, &c.
The falling, is doubtfulnes, and distrust of our election, and of Gods merciemercy. Psal. 77.6. I called to remembrance my song in the night: I communed with mine owne heart, and my spirit searched diligently. 7. Will the Lord absent himselfe for euer? and will he shew no more fauour? 8. Is his mercy cleane gone for euer? doth his promise faile for euermore? So Dauid of himselfe saith, Psal. 22.1. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me, and art so farre from my health, and from the words of my roring.
The remedie is double.
First the operatiō of the holy spirit stirring vp faith & increasing the same. Phil. 1.6. I am perswaded of this same thing, that he that hath begunne this good worke in you, will performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ. Luk. 17.5. And the Apostles said vntounto the Lord, Increase our faith.
The second is, an holy meditation, which is manifold.
I. That it is the commandement of God that we should beleeue in Christ. 1. Ioh. 3.22. This is then his commandement, that we beleeue in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ, and louelove one another, as he gaue commandement.
II. That the Euangelicall promises are indefinite, and doe exclude no man, vnlesse peraduenture any man doe exclude himselfe. Esay. 55. 1. Ho, eueryevery one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and ye that hauehave no siluer, come, buie, and eate: come, I say, buie wine and milke without siluer and without money. Matth. 11.28. Come vntounto me, all ye that are wearie and laden, and I will ease you. Ioh. 3.15. That whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish, but hauehave eternall life. Also the Sacraments of Baptisme and the Lords Supper, doe to eueryevery one seuerally applie indefinite promises, and therefore are very effectuall to enforce particular assurance or plerophorie of forgiuenes of sinnes.
III. That doubtfulnes and despaire are most grieuous sinnes.
IV. That contrarie to hope, men must vnderunder hope beleeue with Abraham. Rom. 4.18. Which Abraham aboue hope beleeued vnderunder hope, that he should be the father of many nations: according to that which was spoken to him, so shall thy seede be.
V. That the merciemercy of God, and the merit of Christs obedience, beeing both God and man, are infinite. Esai 54.10. For the mountaines shall remooue, and the hills shal fall downe: but my merciemercy shall not depart from thee, neither shal my couenant of peace fall away, saith the Lord, that hath compassion on thee. Psal. 103.11. For as high as the heauen is aboue the earth, so great is his merciemercy toward them that feare him. 1. Ioh. 2.1. My babes, these things write I vntounto you, that ye sinne not: and if any man sinne, we hauehave an aduocate with the Father, Iesus Christ the iust. 2. And he is the reconciliation for our sinnes: and not for ours onelyonly, but also for the sinnes of the whole world. Psal. 130.7. Let Israel wait on the Lord: for the Lord is merciemercy, and with him is great redemption.
VI. That God measureth the obedience due vntounto him, rather by the affection and desire to obey, then by the act and performance of it. Rom. 8.5. For they that are after the flesh, sauour the things of the flesh, but they that are after the spirit, the things of the spirit. 7. Because the wisdome of the flesh, is enmitie against God: for it is not subiect to the law of God, neither indeede can be. Rom. 7.20. Now if I doe that I would not, it is no more I that doe it, but the sinne that dw…lleth in me. 21. I find then by the law, that when I would doe good, euill is present with me. 22. For I delight in the law of God, concerning the inner man. Mal. 3.17. I will spare them, as a man spareth his sonne, that reuerenceth him.
VII. When one sinne is forgiuen, all the rest are remitted also, for remission being giuen once, without any prescriptiō of time, is giuen for euer. Rom. 11.29. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Act. 10.43. To him also giuegive all the Prophets witnes, that through his name, all that beleeue in him, shall receiue remission of sinnes.
VIII. That grace and faith are not taken away by falls of infirmitie, but thereby are declared and made manifest. Rom. 5.20. Moreouer, the law entred thereupon, that the offence should abound: neuerthelesse, when sinne abounded, there grace abounded much more. 2. Cor. 12.7. And least I should be exalted out of measure, &c. there was giuen vntounto me a pricke in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me. 8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrise, that it might depart from me. 9. He said. May grace is sufficient for thee.
IX. That all the workes of God are by contrarie meanes. 2. Cor. 12.9. My power is made perfect through weakenesse.