The Mystery of Redemption, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Of the Effects of Iuſtification.
The Effects of Iuſtification.THe Effects of Iuſtificatiō, are Peace of Conſcience (Rom. 5.1.) Acceſſe vntounto God (Rom. 5.2. Epheſ. 3.12.) Adoptiō into the ſonnes of God (Rom. 8.15.16.17. Galat. 3.26. Epheſ. 1.5. Ioh. 1.12.) Regeneration (Ioh. 5.11.) Externall life &c. (Rom. 6.22.23.) al which may bee reduced vntounto this one, Glorification.
Of Glorification.2 Glorification, is the execution of the ſentence of life pronounced by God in Iuſtification. 1. Pet. 1.2.2. Pet. 1.4.
3 In Glorification we muſt cōſider a twofold Application; the one of God; the other of ſuch as are to be Glorified.
4 The Application of God, is that whereby God ioineth Chriſt vntounto vsus, as the Head to the reſt of the body, whereby he alſo giueth vsus his holy Spirit.
5 In this Application God ioineth Chriſt vntounto vsus, being firſt Dead, for mortification of our fleſh or old man; ſecōdly quickned or raiſed from Death, for viuification of our Spirit or new man.
6 The Application of ſuch as are to be Glorified, is that whereby we apprehend Chriſt being ioyned vntounto vsus in his Death and in his Life, by faith, wrought by the holy Ghoſt.
7 And in this Application, both of God & of our ſelues, whereby Chriſt is ioyned vntounto vsus, as Head vntounto the Body, is manifeſtly deprehended our Glorification or renewing.
8 For by the ſame act (as it were) and at the ſame inſtance, as ſoone as euer Chriſt is ioined vntounto vsus, as Head, we are preſentlie made his Members, and ſo renewed by Regeneration or new birth.
Glorificatition twofold.9 Glorificatiō is twofold: Inchoatiue Glorification, (Ioh. 3.3.) & Conſummatiue Glorification. Matth. 19.28.
1. Inchoatiue.10 Inchoatiue Glorification, is that whereby (we being vnited vntounto Chriſt) our corrupt Nature, euen in this life, beginneth to be renewed by the holy Ghoſt, according vntounto the Image of God. 1. Pet. 1.2.2. Pet. 1.4. Tit. 3.5. Eph. 4.23.24.
11 The ſame is alſo termed, Regeneration & Sanctification. But Paul ſimplie calleth it, Glorification (Rom. 8.30.) that is, a glorious renewing of our Nature, an aboliſhing of our corrupt Nature, and making of vsus fit for eternall Glory.
Regeneration hath two parts.12 Of this Inchoatiue Glorificatiō or Regeneration, there are two parts, 1. Mortification or killing of the Olde Man, that is, Hatred of ſinne. 2. Viuification or quickening of the New Man, that is, LoueLove of Righteouſnes.
Old Man what.13 By Olde Man, I meane, the whole Nature of man, aſwel ſoule as body, addicted vntounto ſinne and death: or the vnregenerated part and corrupt nature of man; termed alſo the Outward Man, & Fleſh (Ioh. 3.6. Rom. 8.6.) alſo the Body of ſinne (Rom. 6.6.) & the ſinfull body of fleſh, Coloſſ. 2.11.
14 Mortification of the Olde-Man, 1. Mortification.is that wherby the holy Ghoſt by litle and litle worketh in vsus a deteſtation and hatred of ſinne, and exſtinguiſheth the vigour of our corrupt nature in vsus, that it might not bring foorth moſt bitter fruits to condemnation.
New Man what?15 By New-Man, is meant the Nature of man, that beginneth to ceaſe from ſinne, or that part of man, that is regenerate and reſtored according vntounto ye Image of God: termed alſo, the Inward man (Rom. 7.22.) and the hidden man of the heart (1. Pet. 3.4.) alſo Spirit, Ioh. 3.6.
The Viuification of the New-Man, 2. Viuification.is when we are raiſed vp into a new and ſpirituall life (hauing the habite of Charitie infuſed into vsus) that wee might liue vntounto righteouſnes, Eph. 2.4.5. Ioh. 5.11.
17 Againe, Regeneration, is as well of the Soule, as of the Bodie, 1. Theſſ. 5.23.1. Cor. 6.20.
Regeneration of the Soule.18 Regeneratiō of the Soule, is that whereby the faculties of the ſoul are renewed.
19 Of the Regeneration of the Soule there are two parts, 1. Illumination. 2. The gift of Repentance.
20 For as there are two parts of the Soule, the Vnderstanding and the Will: ſo in both Regeneration is required. Illumination is of the Vnderſtanding (Coloſſ. 3.10.) and Repentance of the Will, Epheſ. 4.5.
21 Illumination, 1. Illumination.is that wherby God diſpelleth the naturall darkeneſſe, blindnes & ignorance of our minds, and enlightneth it with the ſauing knowledge of himſelfe (Pſal. 16.11. Coloſſ. 3.10. Rom. 12.2. Rom. 7.23.2. Cor. 1.21.) which is Eternal Life, Ioh. 17.3.
22 It is alſo termed, Note.the Vnction, or anoynting of the holy Ghoſt. 1. Ioh. 2.27. Pſal. 89.20. Eſa. 61.1. Dan. 9.24.
23 The gift of Repentance, 2. Repentance.is that whereby our Will is renewed & willeth not euill any more, but only good, Act. 11.18. 2. Tim. 2.25. Rom. 6.4.5.6. Eph. 4.22.23.24. 2. Cor. 5.7. Philip. 2.13.
Repentāce hath two parts.24 Repentance hath two parts, 1. Auerſion from the Diuell and all euill. 2. Conuerſion vntounto God & all good, Pſ. 34.15. Pſalm. 37.27. Eſay 1.16. Rom. 6.4. 1. Cor. 5.7. Eph. 4.22.23.24. Col. 3.9.10. 1. Pet. 3.11.
25 So much for the Regeneration of the Soule: Now followeth the Regeneration of the Body.
Regeneration of the Body.26 Regeneration of the Body, is that wherby the Body is made obedient vntounto the renewed Spirit, ſo that it attempteth nothing, but what is conformable vntounto the will of God. Rom. 12.1. 1. Theſſ. 5.23.
27 Of the Regeneration of the Body, there are two parts. 1. Bridling of the Affections. 2. Gouerning of the moueable Members.
28 The Bridling of the Affections, is the ſubduing of them vntounto the regenerated or renued Reaſon.
29 The Gouerning of the moueable Members, is whē all the Members are ſo guided, that they commit nothing being ruled by diſordred paſſion or euill luſt, againſt the conſent of the regenerated Minde & Will.
30 The infallible token, and certaine marke of Regeneration, is a Holy and iuſt life.
31 And thus much of Inchoatiue Glorification: It followeth to ſpeake of that which is Conſummate.
32 Conſummatiue Glorification, 2. Conſummatiue.is that moſt perfect and eueryevery way happie fruitiō of GOD, which all the Elect ſhall eternally enioy in Heauē after this life, where they ſhall ſee God face to face, and know, as they are knowne, hauing full fellowſhippe with IESVS CHRIST, and raigning with him for euer. Wherof (God willing) according to our mediocritie, wee purpoſe to entreate in a ſeuerall Treatiſe hereafter.
A THANKS GIVING for our Redemption, ioyned with Prayer.
WHat? Can Man ſay, that he hath any thing, that he hath not receiued? Who hath elected? who hath created? who hath called? who hath iuſtified? who hath ſanctified? who hath preſerued you from day to day, O Soule, O Bodie? The Lorde hath made all things for you, and you for himſelfe. O moſt gracious & louing Father, which art loued for thy goodneſſe, honoured for thy greatnes, reioyced in for thy happineſſe, praiſed for thy merits, and prayed vntounto for thy mercies! I acknowledge I cannot worthilie praiſe thee, nor thanke thee, as I ought: my tongue faultreth, my heart faileth, my Spirit languiſheth. I want words to expreſſe and powre out my mind; I want a mind to conceiue and apprehend thy benefits. My words are ſhort of my vnderſtanding; and my vnderſtanding farre vnderunder the dignitie of thy deſerts. By thy louelove I was elected, by thy goodnes I was created, by thy Spirit I was called, by thy mercy I was iuſtified, by thy grace I was ſanctified, and by thy power I am preſerued. When I had no being thou diddeſt elect me, when I was nothing thing thou didſt create me, when I was worſe than nothing thou diddeſt call mee, when I was thine enemie thou didſt iuſtifie me, when I was habitually euill thou didſt ſanctifie me, and now being vnthākfull for all thy mercies thou doeſt preſerue me ſtill. O exceeding boū tie, proceeding from vnſpeakable goodnes! O ineſtimable merciemercy flowing frō ſurpaſſing louelove! What thankes? what praiſe ſhall I render vntounto thee for this thy vndeſerued kindnes? If I had the tongue and knowledge of Angels, yet could I not ſufficiently laud thee, ſeeing thy incomprehenſible goodnes infinitly exceedeth all bounds both of vtterance and vnderſtanding? Well therefore may I admire thy mercies in ſilence, but ſpeake of them as is meet, I cannot, I am not able. Yet, O ſweete Sauiour, let mee not bee vnthankfully ſilent for theſe thy benefits, but teach my heart how with reuerēce it ſhould thinke of thee; giuegive my tongue ſome power to liſpe and ſtammer out thy praiſes, ſeeing it can not ſpeake and powre them foorth with ſuch volubilitie & freedome it ought, and grant that in ſome meaſure I may louelove thee, though not ſo much as thou deſerueſt, yet ſo much as I am able to performe. O good Lord, diddeſt not thou elect mee, that I ſhould louelove thee? didſt not thou create me, that I ſhuld louelove thee? didſt not thou call me, that I ſhould louelove thee? didſt not thou iuſtifie mee, that I ſhould louelove thee? didſt not thou ſanctifie mee, that I ſhould louelove thee? & doeſt not thou ſtill preſerue me, that I ſhould louelove thee? It is true, Lord, that I hauehave not deſerued what I craue; but wilt thou therefore loſe thy due? for I can neither thank, nor praiſe, nor think of thee as I ought, except I louelove thee. Accept therfore, O bleſſed Redeemer, accept of my baſe and bare louelove. I hauehave no other thing to giuegive thee for all thy mercies, but euen my louelove, my ſelf, which yet is alreadie thine owne: But I am ſo ſoiled and defiled with ſinne, that it is a point of extraordinarie fauour, if in cō paſſion thou wilt now accept, that which in right hath been alwaies thine. But if I be full of wickedneſſe, art thou therefore not full of goodnes? If I be blameworthie for my impietie, art thou therefore not praiſe-worthie for thy merciemercy? If I confeſſe my iniquitie, wilt thou therfore deny thy pitie? I am a ſinner, but yet thy creature. I am a Sinner, but yet redeemed with thy precious blood. I am a Sinner, but remember, Lord, thou cameſt into the world to ſaue Sinners, whereof I am chiefe. Thou cameſt to ſaue Sinners, and wilt thou reiect me? Thou cameſt to ſeeke that which was loſt, & wilt thou ſee me periſh? Thou cameſt to ſeeke thoſe which ſtraied, and wilt thou refuſe them which crie after thee? Thou cameſt to call Sinners to repentance, and wilt thou not heare them when they doe repent? Why thē, ſweete Ieſus, I am a ſinner, I am loſt, I hauehave ſtraied, I repent, I am he for whoſe ſake thou cameſt into the world: help me now, or tell me who ſhall helpe mee? Saue thy ſeruant, or tell me who ſhall ſaue me? I know, Lord, I know there is no Redeemer, there is no Sauiour beſides thee. If thou refuſeſt a poore captiue, that condemneth himſelfe, and calleth vponupon thee; ô Redeemer whō haſt thou then redeemed? If that ſinner ſhall be drowned in hell, that deſpaireth in himſelfe, and truſteth in thee; O Sauiour whō wilt thou then ſaue? HaueHave mercy therefore vponupon mee, O Sauiour, O Redeemer, aſſwage my grief, heale my diſeaſes, purge my ſinnes. Thou that haſt called me, before I called vponupon thee, hearken now vntounto my prayer, and let my crie come vntounto thee, euen for thy mercies ſake, for thy loues ſake, for thy own ſake, ſweete Ieſus. Amen.
A MORNING PRAYer, for a priuate Familie.
It is vaine to riſe early, and to lye downe late, except the Lord be with vsus: ſo vaine a thing is Man. Therefore wee will not attempt any thing, before we hauehave taken coū ſaile and ſtrength from the Lord, that hee may deliuer vsus from eueryevery euill worke. If wee aske that thing which is euill, deny our ignor̄ace; If wee aske that thing which is good, O Lord, remember thy promiſe.
WE ſlept and roſe againe, O Father, for thou diddeſt watch for vsus that wee might take our reſt. The heauēs declare thy glorie, and the earth is full of thy goodneſſe. Yet haſt thou not dealt ſo with all Natiōs, as thou haſt loued Sion thy litle hill; a corner of the world farre ſeparated from the Serpent, and fenced from the wilde beaſt. Yet who conſidereth that our perill is gone into other lands, becauſe their Gods be not like vntounto our God? Wee hauehave ſeene thy workes, & yet we proue … …ue thee … we ſee thy w… … Thou haſt ſepara… vsus from the Turke, and deliuered vsus from the Pope: & why haſt thou ſeparated vsus from them, but that we ſhould bee ioyned to thee? euen a new Creature come out of darkeneſſe to light, according to ye working of knowledge. O bind our harts with thy feare, that wee part not from thy louelove! For our ſelues and for our Brethren, wee are proſtrate heere before thee, ô Prince moſt excellent. For the name of thy only Son, one drop of mercy to coole this fire of ſinne. Nothing, good Lord, to change thy mercy? yet the whelpes doe eate the crummes that fall from their maſters table. Firſt wee yeelde thee hartie thankes for all at once. Next, we humblie beſeech thee for the general quittance which thy Son hath ſealed for our ſinnes. Then, for all graces, we pray thee let vsus not wāt the thing without which wee cannot ſerue thee. Plant in our hearts true feare of thy name, obedience to our Prince, and louelove to our Neighbours. GiueGive power, good Father, to our prayers: graunt vsus true humilitie in proſperity, perfect patiēce in aduer ſitie, peace in Chriſt, & ioy in the holy Ghoſt. This is our deſire, to liue godly, righteouſly and ſoberly: ſo bleſſe vsus and keepe vsus, good Father, vntounto the end of our liues. Turne vsus, O God of our ſaluation, graunt that we may grow from ſtrength to ſtrēgth, that thy Church Militant may be like thy Triumphāt in heauenly Charitie and all Communion of Saints. Send thy labourers into thy vineyard, purge thy Church of idle & ignorant Miniſters; write thy lawes in ye tables of our harts, & powre thy grace vponupon the hearers. Bleſſe them which bleſſe vsus; look vponupon this Realme in thy mercy. Preſerue our King; let not the eye of Great Britaine loſe his ſight. Be gracious and mercifull vntounto our friends [and Parents] according vntounto the fleſh: comfort thine afflicted Saints. Confoūd the power of Antichriſt, ſend thy feare amongſt them, make their time ſhort, defend thine owne cauſe: As thou art ſanctified in vsus before them, ſo be thou magnified in them before vsus; that al the world may turne & ſay, Great art thou, O Lord God of the Chriſtians, and there is none beſides thee mightie, iuſt and mercifull, rewarding righteouſnes, & reuenging iniquitie, the ſame now, and euer, and eueryevery where. Graunt theſe things, ô heauenly Father, & whatſoeuer elſe thou knoweſt to bee needfull for vsus, euen for his ſake, who died for ſin and ſinned not; in whoſe name we farther pray vntounto thee, as hee hath taught vsus, ſaying, O our Father which art in heauen &c.
God the Father which hath made vsus, bleſſe vsus; God the Sonne, which hath redeemed vsus, preſerue vsus; God the holy Ghost, which hath ſanctified vsus, confirme our ſaith, to the end, and in the end. Oh God, Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost ſaue vsus, Amen.
AN EVENING Prayer for a priuate Familie.
Wee hauehave ſinned: wee repent. O Father hauehave mercy vponupon vsus. Amen.
O Lord God, which haſt created vsus of nothing, which haſt deliuered vsus from Death and damnation, if wee doe not wilfully runne vntounto it; that haſt been good and gracious vntounto vsus in continuing thy tēporall bleſſings both at home & in the field, euen as thou ſeeſt moſt expediēt for our eſtate, and haſt drawne out the thred of our life vntounto this preſent time. Theſe are thy greate mercies, O Lord, giuen vntounto vsus freely without any deſeruing of ours. And for all theſe thou requireſt nothing elſe of vsus, but that we know thee, and acknowledge thee to bee the giuer thereof, and to obey thee, and to walk in the paths of thy commandements, that ſo wee might become thy children, & be partakers of thine euerlaſting kingdome, dome, and raigne with thee for euer. O Lord, we confeſſe againſt our ſelues our wonderfull fooliſhnes & vnthankfulnes: For wee hauehave, euen as much as in vsus lieth, ſtopped ye ſtreame of thy mercies, that they ſhould not come neere vsus, wee hauehave not hearkened vntounto ye voice of thy word, neither tooke wee any delight in keeping thy lawes & thy ſtatutes: And therfore if thou haddeſt lōg before this cut vsus ſhort, as thou haſt done many, and that ſuddenly and fearfully, and ſummoned vsus to appeare, & to hold vp our hands at the barre, before thy iudgement ſeate, and hauehave the fearefull ſentence of eternall condemnation ſpeedily giuen foorth againſt vsus: who is there could ſay, What doeſt thou? Nay our owne conſciences would acquite thee, & ſay thou haſt done iuſtly. For ſeeing thou calledſt after vsus, and we refuſed to heare thee, it was good reaſon wee ſhould crie and find no merciemercy. But, O Lord, as our ſinnes are mightie, and cannot bee numbred, ſo thy merciemercy far exceedeth and ſtriueth againſt our lewdneſſe. Thou haſt ſpared vsus long, and giuen vsus a large time of repentāce. Thou haſt driuen off thy vengeance frō day to daye, waiting and watching for our turning againe vntounto thee. Thou haſt called vsus by ſignes in Heauen, by ſhaking the earth, by drowning vsus with waters, by threatning vsus warre, ſamine and peſtilōce, beſides the fearfull threatnings of thy word. Euen ſo, O Lord, le… theſe hauehave their working in our hearts together with thy mercies in time to repent, & turne from our wicked waies, to abuſe thy patience no longer, but euen with all our heart to turne vntounto thee, if ſo we may be ſaued in the day of thy wrath. So work thou in vsus, O heauenly Father, that wee delay no longer to aske counſaile at thee, and thy word, what wee ought to doe, what we ought not to doe, and duplicate page duplicate page how wee may liue ſoberly in proſperitie, and how wee may be comforted in ſickneſſe and aduerſitie, that we may goe out of our ſelues and looke for all things at thy goodneſſe, that wee may truſt no further to theſe tranſitorie things, but wholly relie vponupon thee. Bleſſe, O Lord, we beſeech thee thy whole vniuerſall Church, the Kings Maieſtie, the Queene and Prince, the priuie Coū cell, Magiſtrates and Commōs of this land; ſpecially hauehave merciemercy as vponupon this familie and eueryevery member of the ſame, ſo alſo vponupon all our friends [and Parents] according vntounto the fleſh, and continue thy Goſpel vntounto vsus and to our poſteritie after vsus, euen for thy deare Sonne Ieſus Chriſt his ſake, in whoſe name we further pray vntounto thee as hee hath taught vsus, ſaying, O our Father which art in heauen &c.
Let thy mighty hand, and out ſtretched arme, O Lord, be ſtill our defence, thy merciemercy and louing kindneſſe in Ieſus Christ thy deare Son our ſaluation, thy true and holie word our inſtruction, thy grace and holie Spirit our comfort and conſolation, vntounto the end and in the end. Amen.
The Lord bleſſe vsus and ſaue vsus, the Lord make his face to ſhine vponupon vsus, and be mercifull vntounto vsus; The Lord turne his fauourable …untenance toward vsus, and this night and euermore vouchſafe to ſend vsus thy euerlaſting peace. Amen.
The Grace of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and the louelove of God, and the fellowſhip of the holy Ghoſt be with vsus all euermore. Amen.
A PRAYER TO BE ſaid for a ſicke man: or by the ſick man himſelfe, altring but the perſon.
O Moſt merciful God & gracious Father, which through corporal diſeaſes putteſt vsus in minde of our mortalitie, and alſo calleſt to repentance; we acknowledge, that vntounto thee belongeth health and ſaluation, thou raiſeſt vp and caſteſt downe, thou makeſt ſicke and makeſt whole, thou reſtoreſt to life and takeſt away by death: We, thy vnworthy ſeruants, doe here preſent our ſelues before thy heauenly Maieſtie, in the name and mediation of thy deareſt Son Ieſus Chriſt, humbly praying thee in the behalfe of this thy poore ſeruant, that lieth viſited vnderunder thy hand, that thou wouldeſt not rebuke him in thine anger, nor chaſten him in thy wrath. HaueHave mercy on him, O Lord, for he is weake, O Lord heale him, for his bones are vexed. Wee know, O Lord, and himſelfe acknowledgeth, that being of the ſame mould that we are, and deſcended frō the ſame loines, he muſt needes be infected with the ſame corruption of originall ſin that wee are, and alſo ſubiect to ye ſame death and damnation. But, O gracious & louing Father, wee beſeech thee, ſeale in his heart by thy holy Spirit the forgiuenes of all his ſinnes, lay not to his charge what he hath ſaid or done amiſſe throughout the whole courſe of his life, but reare him vp in hope, and let thy holy Spirit lead him vntounto the throne of thy mercy. Let the ſweet feeling & taſte of a liuely faith, diſtaſt al corruptiōs that are in him, yt his ſinfull body and ſoule may be cleered and waſhed by the blood of thy Son. And if this his ſickneſſe be not vntounto the death, may it pleaſe thee, O Lord, to help him, vponupon the bed of his ſorrow: turne the whole palate of his weaknes into ioy. Heale him & he ſhal be whole, ſaue thou him & he ſhall bee ſaued. Deliuer him from the pit of corruption; for ye graue will not acknowledge thee nor death confeſſe thee; but the liuing, we ſay, the liuing will extol thee for euermore. But if it be more expedient for him to die then to liue, thē deale with him according to thy wil, O Lord, & cōmād his ſoul to be receiued in peace, which we cōmend into thy hands that haſt redeemed it. Take frō him all the feare & ſorrowes of death, and giuegive him a through ſtrēgth againſt all the aſſaults of the diuell, that he may hauehave a perfect victory. Rayſe the ſiege of his ſpiritual enemies that are round about him, and let thy gracious defēce & protection be ouer him to keep him faſt to thee & thy truth to ye end. And, good Lord, ſhew this mercy vpō him that the knowledge of thy Goſpel, which he hath learned ſince thou haſt called him thereby, may now ſtād him in ſteed, & releeue his faith, yt in the knowledge of thee and of himſelfe, he may hauehave true repentance, that he may yeeld vntounto thee true obedience; & be thākfull, whatſoeuer thou ſhalt do vntounto him, & in regard of thy glorie, and of thoſe ioyes which thou haſt prepared for him, he may willingly forſake this preſent euil world, & come vntounto thee fighting a good fight, & fighting with ioy, and ſo receauing an vncorruptible crowne, may liue with thee for euer and euer. And now, good Father, for vsus yt are about him, teach vsus to know our owne weaknes, that we may worthily thinke of the frailties of our vaine and tranſitory life, that wee may prepare our ſelues vntounto death, alwaies to be in a readines looking vp to that euerlaſting kingdom which thou haſt purchaſed for vsus. Grant theſe things we hūbly beſeech thee, both for him and for vsus, for Chriſt Ieſus ſake our only Sauiour and Mediator, Amen.
Reuel. 7.12.
Amen. Praiſe, and Glory, and VViſdome, and Thankes, and Honor, and Power, & Might, be vntounto our God for euermore, Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Gabriel Powel, The Mystery of Redemption (1607)