Saint Pauls Triumph, Collection · Sermon 6
THE SIXTH SERMON,
VponUpon ROMANS 8. the two laſt Verſes.
For I am perſwaded, that neither Death, nor life, &c.
AS God hath beene pleaſed to giuegive ſtrength and opportunity, we hauehave proceeded in the handling of this Scripture to theſe fiue points; the firſt is contained in the Text by way of Intimation; namely, that there is a neere Communion betwixt God and all the faithfull in Ieſus Chriſt, intended in the word ſeperation: Secondly, we hauehave ſpoken of the Bond of this Communion, which is the louelove of God: Thirdly, we hauehave ſhewed both the ground of this Communion, and of the Bond of it, and that is Ieſus Chriſt: Fourthly, we hauehave ſhewed the neere reference that is betwixt Chriſt and the faithfull, hee is our Lord, and we are his Subiects and Seruants: Fiftly, we hauehave ſhewed the ſafety of all the faithfull in the midſt of all dangers which the Apoſtle auoucheth here, That neither death, nor life, &c. ſhall ſeperate vsus from the louelove of God; the Children of God are and ſhall be in the louelove of God, let their enemies doe what they can.
Now we come to ſpeake of the ſixt point, and that is, the confident perſwaſion which the Apoſtle hath concerning this heauenly truth, I am ſure hee is ſure of it: Firſt, I will propound the Doctrine; in that the Apoſtle ſaith, I am perſwaded, or I am ſure, that all the faithfull ſhall continue in the louelove of God without ſeperation; the obſeruation is this:Doctrine. Gods Children, all true Beleeuers, may and ought to hauehave a confident perſwaſion in themſelues of their owne certainty and continuance in the ſtate of grace and ſaluation: for howſoeuer the perſwaſion here ſpoken of, is a perſonall and a particular perſwaſion of Paul, (I am perſwaded) yet the matter which he is peſwaded of, is generall to all beleeuers, I am perſwaded (ſaith he) that nothing ſhall ſeperate vsus: and therefore the eſtate of all true beleeuers being in it ſelfe as firme and ſure as Pauls was; then their aſſurance muſt be in ſome meaſure anſwerable to his. To ſet the Doctrine right, that we may receiue it in the truth of the Apoſtles intendment, and apply it to our ſelues rightly againſt deſpaire, and yet without preſumption;Doctrine cleared for ſuch exceptions as ſeeme to lye in the Text. we are firſt to cleare it of ſome exceptions, and then to bound it within certaine bounds or limmits: Firſt, of the exceptions, I doe not meane ſuch exceptions as are made againſt the Doctrine it ſelfe, (for of them we ſhall ſpeake in the vſes,) but of ſuch as are made againſt this Scripture, from whence the Doctrine is raiſed. The firſt exception is this; the word here tranſlated, I am perſwaded or ſure, doth not alwaies in Scripture ſignifie ſuch a confident perſwaſion, as we heare ſpeake of; it ſignifies indeed a probable or hopefull opinion, not a confident perſwaſion, as for inſtance, Rom. 15.14. I my ſelfe am alſo perſwaded of you my Brethren, that ye are full of goodneſſe, and filled with all knowledge, &c. Is this a confident perſwaſion? The Apoſtle knew not their hearts, and therefore could not be confidently perſwaded of this, it was onelyonly a probable and hopefull opinion (ſay they:) and ſo that in 2 Tim. 1.5. I call to remembrance the vnfained faith that is in thee, which dwelt firſt in thy Grand-mother Lois, and in thy Mother Eunice, and I am perſwaded that it dwelleth in thee alſo. To this exception I anſwere, that it is true, that theſe places are to be vnderſtood of a hopefull, or charitable, or probable perſwaſion, and ſo the word may ſometime ſignifie (and yet in theſe places Paul might ſpeake by ſpeciall reuelation, but wee will not ſtand vponupon that:) But yet it is as true, ſometime this word ſignifies a certaine knowledge, and a confident perſwaſion, as Rom. 14.14. I know, and am perſwaded through the Lord Ieſus, that there is nothing vncleane of it ſelfe, &c. Here is a confident perſwaſion; and ſo in the 2 Tim. 1.12. For I know whom I hauehave beleeued, and I am perſwaded that he is able to keepe that which I hauehave committed vntounto him, againſt that day: Here is a confident perſwaſion, becauſe it is ioyned with certaine knowledge, and therefore the perſwaſion muſt be certaine too; ſo that all this while the matter lyes in ſuſpence, for in ſome places it ſignifies a confident perſwaſion, and in others a probable perſwaſion; Which then is here meant? Goe to the Rule: Where one and the ſame word is vſed in diuers ſences, in diuers places of Scripture, the circumſtances of the Text muſt iudge and declare in what ſence it is to be taken in that place: Now looke into the circumſtances of this Text, and we ſhall finde, that it is here to be taken, and muſt be meant of a confident perſwaſion, for in the 35. Verſe the Apoſtle had confidently inſulted ouer all dangers, what ſhall ſeperate vsus from the louelove of God in Chriſt? &c. And he giues the reaſon of it in this Verſe, for I am perſwaded, &c. Why doth he ſleight his enemies ſo? Becauſe hee is ſure nothing ſhall ſeperate him from the louelove of God, For I am ſure. Doth he ſo confidently inſult ouer all dangers, becauſe hee ſuppoſeth, or hath ſome probable opinion or ſlender perſwaſion? That were too weake a ground to cauſe him to inſult ouer ſuch ſtrong enemies as theſe are; but becauſe he is ſure and certainly perſwaded that they ſhall not hurt him, therefore he may and doth ſafely and confidently inſult ouer them; therefore this a confident perſwaſion. Againe, in the 30. Verſe, he had pronounced himſelfe a Conquerour, yea, more then a Conquerour, as if the victory were already gotten: In all theſe things we are more then Conquerours; and he giues the reaſon of it in the 38.39. Verſes, for I am perſwaded, &c. And doth the Apoſtle pronounce himſelfe a Conquerour before he be ſure of the Conqueſt? that were a proud and a vaine boaſting, which Paul was free from: but he doth pronounce himſelfe a Conquerour vponupon this perſwaſion here ſpoken of, becauſe hee is ſure, that neither death, nor life, &c. can hurt him: therefore the word in this place ſignifies a certaine and a confident perſwaſion, ſuch as the Apoſtle dares build his ſoule vponupon againſt all commers. Secondly, it is excepted, that Paul might hauehave this certaine perſwaſion, that he, nor any of the faithfull, ſhould euer be cut off from the louelove of God by ſpecial reuelation; Had he ſo? They that make this exception, will deny this when it comes to the proofe; For, if Paul had it by ſpeciall Reuelation, that he nor none of the faithfull ſhall euer fall away from the louelove of God, then it is certaine that the ſtate of the faithfull is vnfallible, and that they ſhall neuer fall from it; for ſpeciall Reue…ation is neuer of falſe things: But ſecondly, I ſay Paul had it not by ſpeciall Reuelation, but by the liuely power of a iuſtifying faith: For firſt, ſpeciall Reuelations are of matters not reuealed in the word, but this is; ſecondly, they are extraordinary, this is ordinary, (as we ſha…l ſhew in the proofes) in others of Gods Children in their meaſure; our perſwaſion is built vponupon a ſure and ordinary ground, the promiſes of God rightly built vponupon, and his louelove truely felt in Chriſt, true faith and repentance, &c. and therefore Paul had not this certaine perſwaſion by ſpeciall Reuelation.
The Doctrine limited and bounded within certaine limits.Secondly, we will bound this Doctrine within certaine limits and bounds, and they are two: The firſt is concerning all true beleeuers in generall; the ſecond concerning one and the ſame Beleeuer in particular. Firſt, concerning all in generall, we muſt not thinke that it is the portion of eueryevery Beleeuer to attaine to this high ſtraine of confident perſwaſion, as Paul had; no, we muſt come ſhort: God giues his graces to his Children in ſeuerall portions, to ſome more, to ſome leſſe, as he will himſe…fe; but yet eueryevery true Beleeuer hath ſome meaſure of this confident perſwaſion, eſpecially at ſometimes, and eueryevery one muſt ſtriue to hauehave it in the higheſt meaſure: We muſt ſtriue after the moſt excellent gifts, ſaith the Apoſtle, and when they hauehave it not, it is their owne fault: EueryEvery Beleeuer muſt labour for it, and when they come ſhort of this height of perſwaſion, they muſt know that they come ſhort of that high ſtraine that God would hauehave them come to, and they muſt ſay with the man in the Goſpell, Marke 9.24. I beleeue, Lord helpe my vnbeliefe: And ſo farre as we come ſhort of this full and confident perſwaſion, ſo farre our beliefe is tainted with vnbeliefe, and yet this doth not vtterly ouerthrow our faith, but it doth much diſparage it, for all this our faith is a true faith, and we ſhall be ſaued by it. So that the Doctrine ſtands firme, that wee may, and ought to hauehave this certaine and confident perſwaſion, &c.
The ſecond limit is concerning one and the ſame particular Beleeuer, hee muſt not alwaies thinke to hauehave this confident perſwaſion alike; the ſtrongeſt faith is ſometimes abated to much weakeneſſe: There was a time when Iob ſaid, that though God did kill him, yet would hee truſt in him, Iob 13.15. And there was a time againe when the ſame Iob ſaid, Oh that I might hauehave my deſire, that is, that God would deſtroy mee, &c. Iob 6.8.9. Here is a great difference betwixt Iob and Iob, betwixt Iob in the ſtrength of his faith, and Iob in the weakeneſſe of his faith, yet ſtill he had true faith: There was a time when Dauid ſaid, Pſal. 23.4. Though I ſhould walke through the valley of the ſhadow of death, I would feare none euill; and there was a time when the ſame Dauid ſaid, Pſal. 31.22. that he was caſt out of Gods ſight, here is a great difference betwixt Dauid in the ſtrength of his faith, and Dav…d in the weakeneſſe of his faith: And ſo it is with Gods Children, there is a great difference of perſwaſion in one and the ſame Beleeuer at ſundry times; ſometimes they ſinne, and that weakens their faith; ſometimes they are grieuouſly tempted, and that weakens their faith; ſomet…mes God withdrawes his ſpirit, and that weakens their faith; and ſometimes they are negligent in the meanes, & that weakens their faith, yet ſtill in the true beleeuer there is faith, & true faith, though a weake faith: and when he is in ſuch weakeneſſe, he grieues, and mournes, and goes to God by prayer, and by all means ſtriues againſt it. So we ſee that Gods Children may and ought to hauehave this confident perſwaſion.
Proofes.Now wee come to the Proofes of the Doctrine. Heb. 10.22. Let vsus draw neere with a true heart in aſſurance of faith: The Apoſtle ſtirres vp himſelfe, and all true Beleeuers to draw neere to God in prayer, and other holy exerciſes, and when they doe draw neere, he inioynes them to bring theſe two ſpeciall graces with them to mannage theſe duties withall: Firſt, a true heart; take heed we come not as Hypocrites with their lips onelyonly, but with a true heart: Secondly, with full aſſurance, with full confidence and repoſe, and reſting on the mercy and promiſes of God. The manner of the phraſe is effectuall, the word ſignifies in the originall, full ſaile, and it is a ſpeech borrowed from a Ship at Sea, that is vnderunder Sayle, and hath Winde and Tide, and all her Sailes ſpread, that goes a long ſnugge in her courſe towards her Port with full ſayle; ſo ſhould all true Beleeuers, when they come to God, and draw neere to him in prayer, hearing the word, or receiuing the Sacraments, we muſt hoiſt vp all the Sayles of our Faith, that we may be carryed along in the performance thereof, in the ſtrength and power of Gods Spirit, as with winde and tyde, and with full aſſurance, as with full Saile, euermore reſting vponupon the promiſes and mercies of God in Ieſus Chriſt, and being confidently perſwaded of the louelove of God to vsus in him; and this the Apoſtle exhorts to in this place; and therefore all Gods Children may & ought to attaine to it. 1 Iohn 3.2. We are now the Sonnes of God, but yet it is not manifeſt what wee ſhall hee, and wee know that when he ſhall be made manifeſt, we ſhall be like him, for wee ſhall ſee him as hee is. The perſons there ſpoken of, are true beleeuers, their preſent ſtate is a bleſſed eſtate, for they are the Sonnes of God. Yea, but what is their future eſtate? who knowes what ſhal become of them hereafter? The world knowes it not, it doth not appeare to them what we ſhall be; haply they thinke that we may fall away from grace, and looſe our adoption, and be ſeperate from God: yea, but ſaith the Apoſtle, We know better then ſo, we know that when he ſhall appeare, we ſhall be made like vntounto him: we know not onelyonly our preſent eſtate, but our future too: we know we are now in a happy eſtate, in the ſtate of ſaluation, for we are the Sons of God; and though it appeare not to the world what we ſhall be, yet we know, & are confidently perſwaded, that as we are in the ſtate of ſaluation now, ſo we ſhall continue firme in it, we ſhall ſo liue, and ſo dye, and ſo riſe againe at the laſt day; this we know, it is as ſure as if it were done already; When hee appeares, we ſhall be like vntounto him. 1 Iohn 5.10.11. Hee that beleeueth in that Sonne of God, hath the witneſſe in himſelfe, &c. What is this ſauing truth which God doth witneſſe, and which eueryevery beleeuer muſt be perſwaded of? It is this, That God hath giuen vntounto vsus eternall life in his Sonne Ieſus Chriſt, which is the ſame in ſubſtance with that in the Doctrine, that wee ſhall ſtand faſt in the ſtate of Gods louelove to eternall life. And what perſwaſion hauehave the children of God concerning this truth? A true and ſound perſwaſion, ſuch as he hath good warrant for in himſelfe, and in his owne heart; He hath the witneſſe of it in himſelfe: But what witneſſe is this? It may faile: No, it is not the witneſſe of man, but of God himſelfe, as verſe 9.10. ſo that it is the witneſſe of God in our hearts, and therefore cannot deceiue vsus: See then if it be not a confident perſwaſion; If we hauehave it not, ſaith the Apoſtle, we make God a lyar. Rom. 4.21. being fully aſſured, that he that had promiſed, was able to doe it: Here Abrahams faith is ſet before vsus, as a patterne for all true beleeuers, and the ſtrength of his faith is commended vntounto vsus, by theſe two particulars, each directly touching the point in hand, one in the 20. verſe, that he was ſtrong in faith & doubted not: if he was ſo perſwaded as he doubted not, it was a confident perſwaſion: the other in the 21. verſe, that hee was fully aſſured, that God which had promiſed, was able to doe it; there was the height of a confident perſwaſion; this was Abrahams faith, and that faith which he was iuſtified by, verſe 22. And leſt any man ſhould, It was Abrahams faith indeed, but that is too high a ſtrain for vsus to aime at; No, ſaith the Apoſtle, in the 23. and 24. verſes, It is not written for him onelyonly, but for vsus alſo; where the Apoſtle impoſeth the ſame dutie on vsus, that we alſo ought to bee ſtrong in faith, and not doubt of the promiſes of God, but be fully aſſured, that they ſhall be performed and made good vntounto vsus; and this is to walke in the ſteps of the faith of our Father Abraham, verſe 12. And thoſe are good children that follow ſo good a Father.
The Reaſons of the point are theſe: Firſt, the giuing & the receiuing of the Spirit begets this perſwaſion: Secondly, the voyce of the Spirit in vsus confirmes it: Thirdly, the nature of faith requires it: Fourthly, the fruits of the Spirit, and of faith approue it: Laſtly, the truth of Gods promiſes ratifie it, and eſtabliſh it.
Firſt, the giuing and receiuing of the Spirit begets Reaſon 1 this perſwaſion; for in our conuerſion to God, (marke theſe things well, bleſſed is hee that heares, and hath his part in them) I ſay in our true Conuerſion to God, there is the Spirit giuen and receiued; God giues his Spirit, Man receiues it in the Act of Conuerſion; GOD neuer conuerts any man, but he giues him his Spirit; neither is there any man euer conuerted but he receiues the Spirit; and this giuing and receiuing of the Spirit, begets this confident perſwaſion, that ſurely God will be his God for euer, 1 Iohn 4.13. Hereby, we know that we dwell in him, and he in vsus, becauſe he hath giuen vsus of his Spirit: Hence it is that this Spirit thus giuen is called an earneſt, Epheſ. 1.13.14. It is a ſignificant compariſon and moſt pregnant to our purpoſe; An earneſt we know is ſomething giuen in hand at the making vp of a bargaine, the buyer giues it, the ſeller receiues it, and thereby both parties are bound to the full performance of the bargaine: ſo it is betwixt God and our poore Soules in our conuerſion, God bargaines & couenants with vsus to be our God, and to make vsus his children, and heires of ſaluation; he giues vsus an earneſt, and we receiue it; what is that? His Spirit to aſſure vsus that as he hath begun, ſo he will go on with vsus, and that his Couenant ſhall neuer be broken; and wee receiue it vponupon the ſame condition. If but a man giuegive vsus an earneſt, if he be an honeſt man, wee are perſwaded he will go on with his bargaine; much more will God, if he giuegive vsus an earneſt, wee may be confidently perſwaded that he will not breake with vsus: If God ſhould giuegive but a ſmall earneſt, but a penny, we would beleeue that he would performe with vsus; but he giues vsus his owne Spirit, as great an earneſt as himſelfe (in reuerence be it ſpoken to his great Maieſty) and therefore he will ſurely goe on with vsus: he giues vsus his Spirit to aſſure vsus, that he will not faile vsus, and therefore we may confidently be perſwaded of it, that he will performe his word to vsus; and he giues vsus this earneſt nor in our hands, for haply we might looſe it then: but in our hearts, and there it reſts as a Seale, to ſeale vsus vp to God for euer and euer, 2 Cor. 1.22. Who hath alſo ſealed vsus, and giuen the earneſt of his Spirit into our hearts. Wee vſe to cal this earneſt giuen and receiued, a Gods penny; Here is a Gods penny indeed, the beſt Gods penny that euer we tooke, & giuen vsus vponupon the greateſt and beſt match that euer we made, to aſſure vsus & certainly perſwade vsus that God wil perform his couenant to vsus.
Secondly, the voyce of the Spirit in vsus, confirmes it, for vponupon our true conuerſion, as we receiue this Spirit, ſo our Spirit growes into a bleſſed familiarity with Gods Spirit, and in this familiarity, Gods Spirit acquaints our ſpirits with many heauenly truthes, and amongſt other, the Spirit tells vsus in plaine tearmes, that wee are in the number of thoſe that ſhall be ſaued: thou poore ſinfull ſoule art in truth the child of God. Rom. 8.16. The ſame ſpirit beareth witnes to our ſpirits, that we are the children of God; there is a liuely voyce in the hearts of all Gods true children, wherby the Spirit tels them plainly ſo. The Apoſtle in the 1 Cor. 2.10. to the 16. reaſons the caſe plainely. This is a ſecret might ſome ſay▪ Yea, but ſaith the Apoſtle, God hath reuealed them to vsus by his Spirit, &c. But it is hid in Gods minde: Wee know the minde of God, ſaith the Apoſtle, verſe 16. But how doe we know Gods minde? why, God hath reuealed it to vsus by his Spirit, verſe 10. And in the 12. verſe, the Apoſtle ſaith, that he hath giuen vsus the Spirit that is of God, that wee might know the things that are of God; he hath giuen vsus his Spirit to this end, to confirme and ſeale vntounto vsus that wee are appointed vntounto life.
Thirdly, the nature of faith requires it: Faith requires Reaſon 3 a confident perſwaſion; how elſe can we ſay, I beleeue in God? and doubting is oppoſite to faith; Iames 1.16. Aske in faith, and wauer not: Doubting is oppoſite to faith, as darknes is to light, they cannot ſtand together but with ſtrife and contradiction one againſt another-
Fourthly, the fruits of the Spirit, and of Reaſon 4 faith approue it; what are the fruits of the Spirit? why, the Commandements of God, 2 Pet. 1.10. If yee doe theſe things ye ſhall neuer fall; God giues his word for it; hereby we are ſure (ſaith the Apoſtle 1 Iohn 2.3.) that we know him, if we keepe his Commandements, and 1 Iohn 3.14. we know that wee are tranſlated from death to life, becauſe we louelove the Brethren; If I louelove my Brother truely for Chriſts ſake, I am ſure that I am tranſlated from death to life, as ſure as I know it to be day by the light.
Reaſon 5 Laſtly, the truth of Gods promiſes ratifie and eſtabliſh it, for as this makes our ſtate ſure in it ſelfe, ſo alſo it makes it ſure to vsus, Heb. 10.23. Hee is faithfull that hath promiſed, and therefore let vsus draw neere vntounto him with full aſſurance, and hold faſt the profeſſion of our hope without wauering, this will carry vsus out through thicke and thinne.
Vſe 1 The firſt Vſe is matter of Confutation, it ſerues to confute Popiſh doubting; I will inſiſt ſpecially vponupon that, becauſe it is true that there is doubtings, ſometimes, in the deareſt of Gods children, but they acknowledge and confeſſe them to be ſins and infirmities, and ſtriue againſt them▪ and repent of them: But Popiſh doubting is maintained, and they cheriſh men in it, and they condemne an vndoubting faith to bee groſſe preſumption: Alaſſe, all our doubting is of our ſelues, and not of God; and confident perſwaſion is of God, and not of vsus; and ſhall doubting be called good Religion, and aſſurance condemned to bee preſumption? This is a groſſe iudgement, and a damnable cenſure: But it is ſtrange that euer the Papiſts ſhould doubt of their ſaluation, ſeeing they pretend that they hauehave the Law and the Goſpell for them too: The Law ſaith, Doe this and liue; and they pretend to performe perfect obedience to the Law, and yet they doubt whether they ſhall liue. The Goſpell ſaith, Beleeue this and thou ſhalt be ſaued; and they ſay they are onelyonly the true beleeuers; HaueHave they both the Law and the Goſpell to aſſure them, and yet doe they doubt whether they ſhall be ſaued? If the Law aſſure them not of ſaluation, yet the Goſpell might, at leaſt both together ſhould not faile them: But all things well conſidered, it is no maruell; ſeeing they ioyne their merits with Chriſts, it is iuſt with God to deny them the greateſt comfort in the world, namely, this full aſſurance by the merits of Chriſt: And ſeeing they will be iuſtified by their owne workes, no maruell though their iuſtification faile them, ſeeing their workes faile them.The euils of Popiſh doubting. But let vsus ſee the euill of this their Doctrine; hereby they impeach Gods truth, and call all his promiſes into queſtion, and deny one of the chiefeſt priuiledges in the world to Gods children, and bereaue them of their beſt comfort, and hereby they diſhearten Gods children, and dampe them in the courſe of grace, and many other euills follow hereupon. I will inſiſt onelyonly vponupon theſe: Firſt, If I muſt doubt of my ſaluation, then my louelove cannot be ſo intire to God as it ought; How can I louelove God ſo heartily, when I doubt whether he loues me or no? But if I know that God loues mee; If I be confident in that, then am I carried with the ſtrength of my louelove to him againe, 1 Iohn 4.10. Hereby is louelove, not that we loued God, but that he loued vsus. Secondly, our prayers will be but faint prayers, I ſhall pray but faintly, if I doubt whether God will heare me or no. Iames 1.6.7. Aske in faith and wauer not, neither let that man thinke that hee ſhall receiue any thing of the Lord. Marke 11.24. Whatſoeuer you deſire when you pray, beleeue that you ſhall hauehave it, and it ſhall be done vntounto you. If we beleeue that God will heare vsus, this makes vsus to pray earneſtly; but if we come wauering and doubting, we ſhall hauehave little heart to pray; nay, wee ſhall not receiue, (ſaith the Apoſtle Iames.) Thirdly, our ſpirituall fight muſt needs be vncomfortable; we ſhall hardly endure and ſtand out the combate, if we doubt of the victory; but if once we know that we ſhall ouercome, that will make vsus to fight to the knees in blood. In the 7. of Iudges, Gideon was fearefull at the firſt to fight againſt the Midianites; but when God had promiſed him the victory, then verſe 15. he ſaith to the people; Vp, for the Lord hath deliuered into your hands, the hoaſt of Midian; and ſo it is with vsus in our ſpirituall fight; If we beleeue that we ſhall ouercome, we will vp and fight manfully againſt all our ſpirituall enemies. Fourthly, our peace of conſcience will be vnſetled: What ſetled peace can there be of doubtings? Againe, our hope cannot be a liuely hope, if we doubt of our ſaluation. 1 Theſſ. 5.8.9. Put on the Breſt-plate of faith and louelove, and the hope of ſaluation for an Helmet; for God hath not appointed vsus vntounto wrath, but to obtaine ſaluation by the meanes of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. If wee doubted whether God had appointed vsus vntounto wrath, and not to ſaluation, we ſhould hauehave little comfort to put on hope of ſaluation for an helmet: but if we be perſwaded of our ſaluation, then wee would put it on with good comfort. Againe, our patience will be heartleſſe, when wee hauehave no certainety of a Crowne. Iames 1.12. Bleſſed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is tryed he ſhall receiue the Crowne of life; If once we beleeue that we ſhall receiue the Crowne of life, we will endure all tryals patiently. Again, our repentance wil be but an hourly repentance, if we hauehave not a good perſwaſion to find mercy, Mar. 1.13. Repent, and beleeue the Goſpell. We muſt beleeue the Goſpell elſe we cannot repent.
Laſtly, faith mixt with feares and doubtings, is but a ſmall and a little faith. Math. 8.26. Why are yee fearefull O yee of little faith? And ſo in the whole courſe of grace, all the duties of Gods ſeruice will be much dampt in vsus, if we goe not along with this full Sayle, this full perſwaſion: Yea, but ſay the Papiſts, where doe you finde in any place in all the Scripture, that it is written that eueryevery particular man by name ſhall be ſaued? Is there any among you named in the Scripture? If it be not written there, how can it be beleeued? I anſwere, we hauehave as good cauſe to beleeue, as if our names were ſet downe in Scripture: God hath made his promiſes vponupon ſuch and ſuch quallifications; if I then finde theſe in my ſelfe, I may build vponupon Gods promiſes, that they are made to me: As if the King ſhould proclaime, that a…l his true-hearted Subiects ſhould hauehave ſuch and ſuch fauours; why, if I finde I hauehave a true heart to the King, I may conclude, that I am there meant, as well as if I were there named; and ſo it is betwixt God and vsus; God ſaith in his word, that whoſoeuer beleeues and repents, ſhall be ſurely ſaued; then ſay I, I beleeue and repent, in my poore meaſure, therefore I conclude that I ſhal be ſaued. For the firſt Propoſition, the aduerſaries agree with vsus, that whoſoeuer beleeues and repents ſhall be ſaued: but to the ſecond they ſay, how doe you know that you beleeue and repent? I anſwere, faith is an act, and therefore may be known of the beleeuer, as he that ſees, doth know he ſees, and he that heares, doth know he heares, &c. and is not our beliefe a matter of our vnderſtanding, as well as of our will? Therefore eueryevery one that beleeues, knowes that he doth beleeue; it is a very vntoward faith that is without knowledge of it, and he a goodly beleeuer, that knowes not whether he beleeues or no. Math. 9.28. Ieſus asketh the blinde men, beleeue ye that I am able to doe this? and they ſaid vntounto him, yea Lord: and ſo Ioh. 9.35.38. he asked the blinde man whom he had cured, Doſt thou beleeue in the Sonne of God? Verſe 38. He ſaid, Lord I beleeue: EueryEvery true beleeuer knowes, and can truely ſay he doth beleeue. Againe, we may know we hauehave faith, by the proper effects of faith, which is a godly life. Laſtly, we may know it by the Spirit bearing witneſſe to our Spirits, Rom. 8.16. And there cannot but be certainty of faith, where there is the ſence of faith by the Spirit.
Vſe 2 The ſecond Vſe is for reproofe of ſome amongſt vsus, that mince this matter of aſſurance: We hope well ſay they, that we ſhall be ſaued, but we are not ſure of it: Doe you hope well? It is fit you ſhould, and if your hope be a true hope, it will neuer make you aſhamed: But let vsus examine it, doe you hope to be ſaued without ground, or vponupon ſome good ground? If without ground, then it is a vaine and fooliſh hope that will deceiue thee; if vponupon good ground, then know that there is no true ground for hope but faith; Faith is the ground of things hoped for, Heb. 11.1. and therefore if we hope to be ſaued, we beleeue we ſhall be ſaued, for true hope is as certaine as faith, Heb. 6.9. If we beleeue certainely, wee hope certainely; ſo much faith as we hauehave, ſo much hope we hauehave; and ſo much hope as wee hauehave, ſo much faith we hauehave; and therefore labour to know the ground of thy hope: Why doſt thou hope thou ſhalt be ſaued? why, becauſe thou beleeueſt thou ſhalt be ſaued.
The laſt Vſe is to teach eueryevery one of vsus to labour Vſe 3 for this confidence, it is worth our labour, it is the ſweeteſt comfort that euer we can hauehave, liuing or dying, to know certainly that our ſinnes are forgiuen vsus in Chriſt, and that we are perfectly in the fauour of God, and hauehave true right and intereſt to heauen. We looke into our Euidences for our Lands, and make all ſure for them, much more ſhould we make ſure for our eſtate in grace, and intereſt in heauen; we had need of this comfort alwaies, ſpecially in time of temptation, and at the houre of our death; and therefore let vsus get it before we are ſicke, it will be too late to get it then; many put it off to the laſt gaſpe, like the fiue fooliſh Virgins, that ſlipt the opportunity of getting Oyle into their Lampes▪ till it was too late. And therefore let vsus labour for it in time, if wee once get this confident perſwaſion of Gods louelove in Chriſt Ieſus, vponupon good grounds, we ſhall neuer wholy looſe it; It may be quelled and loſt in ſence, in thy extremity, but it ſhall neuer dye in vsus, but it ſhall comfort our hearts when we hauehave not the ſence of it.
Meanes how this aſſurance may be gotten·But how ſhall we get it, may ſome ſay? I anſwere, firſt by prayer, if we aske we ſhall hauehave; ſo did the Apoſtles, Luke 17.5. they prayed, Lord increaſe our faith, and ſo did Dauid, Pſal. 35.3. Say vntounto my ſoule, thou art my ſaluation: Secondly, we muſt get it by hearing and obeying the word of God, 1 Ioh. 5.13. Theſe things hauehave I written vntounto you that beleeue in the name of the Sonne of God, that ye may know that ye hauehave eternall life, and that yee may beleeue in the name of that Sonne of God; Labour to heare the word, and to know it, and to obey it, and then wee ſhall know that we hauehave eternall life; it was written for that very end and purpoſe, Ioh. 14.21. Thirdly, by the vſe of the Sacraments; they are Seales to confirme this vntounto vsus: We hauehave heard of the inward Seale, Gods Spirit, theſe are outward Seales, Rom. 4.11. After he receiued the ſigne of Circumciſion, as the Seale of the Righteouſneſſe of faith, &c. By the vſe of the Sacraments we come to hauehave this confident perſwaſion: In Baptiſme the Miniſter ſaith, I baptize thee in the name of the Father, &c. Some ſay, where is it ſaid in particular, that I or thou ſhalt be ſaued? Yes, in Baptiſme, the Miniſter ſaith to me and to thee in particular, I Baptize thee; and God ſaith, I reeciue thee: So the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, that is a Seale to vsus, and how? why, God hath annexed it to his word, as a Seale to our ſoules, of the forgiueneſſe of our ſinnes; and if we come with beleeuing hearts vntounto it, then we eate Chriſts body, and drinke his bloud, and ſo ſhall not dye eternally; and there is alſo the particular app…ication of the Miniſter, eate thou, and drinke thou, in remembrance that his body was broken for thee, and his bloud ſhed for thee; and ſo by this means this confident perſwaſion is increaſed in vsus. Fourthly, another meanes is this, make much of the motions of Gods Spirit, grieue not the holy Spirit, whereby ye are ſealed, Eph. 4.30. The Spirit workes this confident perſwaſion in vsus, if we grieue this Spirit he will goe away, and withdraw the ſence of this perſwaſion; If we hauehave but a little fruits of the Spirit, a little faith, &c. let vsus make much of it, and God will giuegive vsus more, as Chriſt ſaid to Nathaniel, Iohn 1.50. Becauſe I ſaid vntounto thee, I ſaw thee vnderunder the figge-tree, beleeueſt thou? Thou ſhalt ſee greater things then theſe: So God ſaith to eueryevery poore beleeuing ſoule; I giuegive thee but a glimpſe of aſſurance now, but thou ſhalt ſee greater things then theſe. Fiftly, another meanes is to walke vprightly and conſtantly before God, Gen. 17.1.2. If we walke vprightly before God, he will be our God all-ſufficient. Sixtly, another meanes to get this aſſurance is a ſerious meditation on the promiſes of God, and an humble and ſound application of them to thy ſelfe, Heb. 10.22.23. they ſhall ſtand though our faith be weake; if we hauehave our eyes ſurely fixt on them, it will comfort vsus in all troubles. Pſal. 119.50. Dauid profeſſeth that Gods promiſe was his comfort in trouble, and that it did quicken him. Seauenthly, let vsus obſerue faithfully, the daily experiments of Gods truth on others, ſpecially on thy ſelfe, and that will helpe vsus greatly herein, Iudges 13.23.22. Manoah ſaid to his wife, We ſhall ſurely dye, becauſe wee hauehave ſeene God, but his wife ſaid, If the Lord will kill vsus, he would not hauehave receiued a meat offering, and a burnt offering at our hands, neither would hee hauehave ſhewed vsus all theſe things, &c. Shee obſerued and builded vponupon Gods former mercies, and that workes a confident perſwaſion in her for the time to come. So if we hauehave got ſome perſwaſion of the louelove of God, though afterward we looſe the ſenſe of it, yet let vsus ſay to our ſoules, ſurely God would neuer hauehave done all this for me, he would neuer hauehave ſhewed me the way of Religion, and wrought ſome good perſwaſion in mee of his louelove towards me, if euer he had purpoſed to deſtroy me. Laſtly, let vsus try, and finde, and labour to be well acquainted with our vnion, which we hauehave with Chriſt, for that will be an excellent meanes to worke this confident perſwaſion in vsus; therein is thy fulneſſe of grace, and ſo the fulneſſe of thy aſſurance, 2 Cor. 13.5. Prooue your ſelues whether you are in the faith, &c. The Apoſtle would hauehave vsus to attaine to this certainty of perſwaſion, and how? why, ſaith he, proue your ſelues, try your ſelues: of what? whether Chriſt be in you: Whether he liue in you by his grace, and by his Spirit; whether by his death he mortifie your ſinnes, and by his reſurrection quicken you vp to newneſſe of life; if he do, then we may be fully aſſured that we ſhall neuer be caſt off.
This point we muſt bring our ſelues to, for this will bring comfort to vsus in our ſinnes, in our ſickneſſe, in our temptations, in all theſe if we looke to our vnion which we hauehave with Chriſt, we may hauehave comfort: God hath knit me to himſelfe in Ieſus Chriſt, and therefore I know that all theſe ſtormes ſhall end, and turne to my good. And ſo in the want of any grace, this is our comfort, that we are knit vntounto Chriſt, & al-ſufficiency is in him, and of his fulneſſe wee ſhall receiue grace for grace; therefore let vsus labour to bee well acquainted with this grace, our vnion with Chriſt. And let vsus make good vſe of this word now deliuered vntounto vsus, wee know not what tryals God hath in ſtore for vsus; and therefore let vsus labour by all theſe meanes for this confident perſwaſion of Gods louelove to vsus: God giues vsus his Sacrament to aſſure vsus of it, and would hauehave vsus be perſwaded that he loues vsus, and though we cannot attaine to this perſwaſion in that ſtrength that we ſhould, why yet God is not captious, he will take all things at the beſt, walke before him and be vpright, and hee will be our GOD all-ſufficient.
FINIS.