Seven Treatises, Treatise 1 · Chapter 4
CHAP. 4. How this knowledge worketh, and namely, the firſt worke that God maketh them beleeue their miſerie, and to be troubled in minde for it.
THere is yet wanting the true imbracing and applying of Chriſt, with all the merits of his death and paſſion,The third poynt of the first part of this Treatiſe. to this man that hath the foreſaid knowledge, or elſe he can in no wiſe be happie. Let vsus ſee therefore how this knowledge worketh in him, on whom God will ſhew merciemercy, how God by the light and helpe of it draweth him forward, vntill he beleeue for his owne part, and in his owne perſon, which the other, who hauehave onelyonly the generall knowledge before mentioned, neuer attained to. And this is the laſt of the three points, which I purpoſed to handle about this matter, namely in ſhewing who is the child of God. Which being done, the queſtion in hand ſhall appeare and be manifeſt. This onelyonly by the way it ſhall be fit to admoniſh the reader of (as I ſaid before) that he is in no way to the kingdome of heauen, who is yet voide of this knowledge altogether, of his miſerie (I meane) and of the remedie: which kind of people, although they are leaſt troubled in their conſciences of all other men, but are merrie,Rom. 7.9. They are most light, who hauehave most cauſe to mourne. as though no daunger were comming toward them (and therefore keepe a courſe in their liues which is after the faſhion of the world) are to be pitied and prayed for, and to be perſwaded to heare the word preached, rather then to be allowed in their madnes and follie. Who verifie moſt rightly the ſaying of the Wiſeman: That there is a way that ſeemeth pleaſant to them, Prouer. 14.12. Act. 14.16.but the iſſues thereof are the way of death. God ſuffering them (as he did the Gentiles) to walke in their owne waies.
But to leaue them as ſufficiently conuinced of a wofull eſtate, euen by the teſtimonie of men, who hauehave any iudgement, and to goe forward with that which is in hand, that is, to ſhew how this doctrine worketh in him, who by it ſhall come to true faith and aſſured hope of ſaluation, we are to know, that he remaineth not an idle and vnprofitable hearer, as ſometime, and as many other ſtill doe, but is ſecretly drawne, he cannot tell how, by the vnſpeakable worke of the ſpirit of God to be perſwaded, that the doctrine taught doth conerne him;Col. 1.9. the Lord giuing him with his knowledge, wiſedome, which is a gift of the ſpirit, whereby he applleth generall things particularly to himſelfe: and that he thereby ſpeaketh vntounto him, as well as he doth to any other, in the denouncing the threats of the law,Rom. 15.4. and euerlaſting damnation: and (his eyes being now opened to beleeue this) he thinketh himſelfe the miſerableſt of all other, who before nothing at all regarded the welfare of his ſoule, but thought himſelfe in as good caſe to Godward, as any other. Hee now perceiueth (I ſay) himſelfe not onelyonly a loathſome creature in Gods ſight, through the Ieproſie of ſinne, but withall a moſt curſed and damned creature, ſubiect to all Gods plagues in this world, and to condemnation in the world to come. For although the world lie in darknes, and beleeueth not the law of God, leaſt it ſhould be conuicted by it (and therefore cannot beleeue the promiſes of the Goſpell) yet God otherwiſe prouideth for his, that they by ſeeing and feeling the deſert of their ſinnes, may hauehave an appetite thereby to ſeeke merciemercy and forgiuenes, which without it is vnſauourie to them: as our Sauiour Chriſt ſaith, The whole hauehave no neede of the Phiſition, but the ſicke, Matth. 9.12. Neither let this deepe impreſſion of the doctrine of the law preached (being no leſſe ſenſible to the partie that feeles it, then the print of the ſeale is to our eye in the ſoft waxe:) let it not (I ſay) be counted a meane and common merciemercy: In deede it is meanly accounted of, the doctrine of it being ſo common and oft taught. For as it is ſaid of faith, Luk. 18.8. that when the Sonne of man commeth, he ſhall finde it rare in the world: ſo in ſome ſort wee may ſay of this, that it is rare, that men, who know that all are vnderunder the wrath of God, till the Sonne of God make them free, doe beleeue indeede that it is ſo with them, and euen their owne caſe.
Oh, men ſhunne this as death (and yet without beleeuing it there is no life) for did they beleeue it perſonally for their owne parts, they could not but lay it to heart: ſo as the whole powers thereof ſhould be taken vp with the cogitation of it (as it is with vsus at the ſudden hearing of heauie newes) yea all the powers of the minde and heart would be affected with it, euen as a man is by the ſting of an Adder, or when he is pricked with the point of a ſword: ſo (I ſay) it is with him that doth vnfainedly beleeue his owne miſerie, without exception caſting away all deluding conceits which might hinder it: ſuch a ſudden alteration it ſhall worke in him, how farre off ſo euer hee was before that from it.Act. 2.37. And that is liuely ſet foorth in the example of the three thouſand that were conuerted at Peters ſermon: who for their eſtate before, had been of them that crucified Chriſt, and euen at that preſent time were mockers and railers at the Apoſtles, ſaying, they were drunken with new wine: yet when on the ſudden the Lord arreſted them by his word and challenge, and with his ſpirituall ſword, by Peters skilfull handling the ſame, had wounded and ſtriken them (ſo as they could not ſcape nor reſiſt the power and ſtroke of it) they were pricked in their harts, as if an arrow had pierced their liuer, crying out immediatly, that the paine which they felt within them was intolerable: which they expreſſed in their words when they made their mone euen vntounto them whom they had ſo lately railed vponupon; now ſpeaking with new tongues (which is admirable) Men and brethren, what ſhall wee doe? Euen thus in ſome ſort doth the Lord worke, when hee maketh them to giuegive credit to this his thundring voyce by his law arraigning men for their ſinnes: which is no leſſe fearefull to them then the roaring of a lion, when yet other men, whoſe ſinnes are as great, and hauehave as good cauſe to be feared, and to faint vnderunder the burthen of them, are not a whit mooued thereat: not moued, I ſay, through the commonnes of it, any more then the fowles are afraid of the ſcar-crow, after they hauehave been long accuſtomed to it, who in time dare ſit vponupon the head of it, and plucke ſtrawes out of the very noſe thereof.
And this I doe the more ſtand vponupon, to make this point cleere, becauſe I hauehave obſerued by long experience, how groſſely the people of our age doe ſuffer themſelues to be bewitched about this matter. For to bewaile them who are ſoone healed, if they be pricked at all, and them who fall deadly to raging at the Miniſter, if their hearts be vexed by hearing their daunger: I ſay, to bewaile the eſtate of them, there is yet a third ſort (in number an hundred for one of the other) who were neuer troubled in conſcience for their ſinne, or the woe that it hath purchaſed them; neither doe once dreame that ſuch a thing is needfull for them: but eate, drinke and ſleepe, ſome play,Matth. 24.27. and ſome worke; and, as they did in the daies of Noah, imbrace this preſent euill world, prophane, merrie, yea and light-hearted, when (as S.Iam. 4.9. Iames ſaith) they ſhould houle and mourne: and as though they feared no more then they would make men beleeue they doe, are neuer ſcared, till the very time and houre of death, or deadly daunger. But what do they then? when they hauehave called in luſtily, as men at a banquet, I meane, when they hauehave taken their pleaſure and liued therein? I ſay, when they ſee their reckoning, and day of accounts is neere, then what doe they? where is their mirth become? Oh, they die as Nabal, that is, as fooles, and are as he was, when he heard he ſhuld die, as a ſtone, and a blocke: or deſpaire, as Iudas did, and ſome of them die as he died, that is, ſooner then they needed (as well as they loued their life.) And the beſt ſort of them are but as they that are ſpoken of by the Prophet, that is, they hauehave no bands in their death: they die quietly, perhaps with a Lord hauehave merciemercy on vsus: but they not regarding bleſsing in their life,Pſalm. 73.4. Luk. 13.2. it is now farre from them at their death, and therefore dying without repentance, let other be feared by them.
And yet while the world is full of ſuch people (as I hauehave ſaid) behold, as if they yet wanted ſomething to make them miſerable, how this vnſauourie and dangerous ſpeech is ſpread farre and neere among ſuch,The lavv is to be preached. by many miniſters as well as common perſons: who crie out, that it is pitie that ſome are ſuffered to preach the lawe: and that ſuch vrging of mens conſciences for their ſinnes, is enough to driue the people to deſperation: and ſuch like. When yet S.2. Tim. 4.2. Paul commaunds that the word be preached with all authoritie, which men may not be able to reſiſt, and with conuincing of the conſcience. And S. Luke in the Acts commends the fruite of that doctrine ſo highlie, euen that they were pricked in their harts for their ſinnes, without which they had neither repented,But not vvithout the Goſpell. nor obtained pardon of their ſinnes. Indeede, if any preach the law alone without the glad tidings of the Goſpell, or vrge repentance without the incouragement of Gods merciemercy through Chriſt and forgiuenes of ſinnes, he were worthie to be ſharply reproued, and to bee reſtrained till he ſhould amend ſo dangerous an error and ſo grieuous a fault. But if any finde fault with the ioyning of both together, when experience and Scripture doe ſhew, that no other kinde of preaching can profit and doe good in the Church, they are earneſtly to be deſired, if they doe it of ignorance, to be taught; if of a worſe minde, to deſiſt from it. But this ſhall ſuffice for anſwere to this ſpeech, raſhly and vnwiſely caſt foorth to cauſe many to ſtumble at. I returne to that from which I went aſide a little, to perſwade thoſe which are teachable, that God doth vſe to make his law to caſt downe ſuch as he purpoſeth to lift vp againe, as I hauehave ſaid.
The Scripture yeeldeth many complaints and cryings out of Gods ſeruants, who acknowledged as much: Some when they had once eſcaped the daunger of their former woe;1. Tim. 1.13. as that of Paul to Timothie doth teſtifie; I was a blaſphemer, a perſecutor, and an oppreſſor: Some in the time of their diſtreſſe, as by that in Ieremy; Ierem. 21.18. Iudg. 2.3. & 10. 1. Sam. 7.2.3.I heard Ephraim complaining thus: Conuert me O Lord, or els I cannot be conuerted: and they in Sam. 1.12.20. with many other. And God be thanked, although they are but a few of ſo many thouſands as hauehave liued in former ages, yet he hath not left this vnwitneſſed by many in this our age, of whom ſome are fallen aſleepe, and others remaine amongſt vsus vntounto this day, who with bitter complaints, ſalt teares, and dolefull groanes, no leſſe ſenſibly, then Iacob ſorrowed when he thought that a wild beaſt had deuoured his ſonne Ioſeph, Gen. 37.34. hauehave confeſſed the depth of their woe, ſighing and ſeeking, if by any meanes they might finde eaſe and deliuerance: although the moſt are hardned, and can bee brought to no ſuch abaſement.
Obiection.And if that which I hauehave ſaid before to this purpoſe perſwade not men to thinke ſo: but this which I ſay is the leſſe beleeued and regarded, ſeeing many, and thoſe as great ſinners as moſt others, are as merie, or at leaſt as farre from any wound or ſting of conſcience as any, which a man would thinke were not like to be, if they were in ſuch depth of miſerie: Let them know, they hauehave little to take comfort in that;Anſvvere. for (as I hauehave ſaid) this is ſo with ſome, becauſe they neither know nor beleeue this, but they lie in ignorance and vnbeliefe, and therefore neither ſuſpect, nor feare any ſuch thing, and ſo it is with all the world vntill they hauehave knowledge by the law: and Paul ſheweth that it was ſo with him, till the law reuealed it to him, for ſo he ſaith Rom. 7.8. I once was aliue before the Lawe, that is, I thought myſelfe in moſt perfect ſafetie: euen through this ignorance I ſay, and vnbeliefe it is, that this which I hauehave ſayd lieth as dead, and not a man of a thouſand dreameth of, or is feared with any ſuch matter. And this is furthered by the vnskilfulneſſe and careleſneſſe of the Miniſters, who as the Lords watchmen ſhould awake their people out of their deepe and deadly ſleepe, when they yet hauehave ofttimes healed the hurt of the daughter of Gods people with ſweete words, ſaying, peace, peace, when there is no peace, Ierem. 6.14. For with ſuch as by the louelove and labour of their faithfull teachers hauehave been wiſely plied and followed, it may be ſeene to be otherwiſe; and there ye may find many (though all take not good thereby) which hauehave knowledge of and beleeue theſe things, which bewrayeth the blindnes and bondage of the reſt, almoſt the whole world, who would laugh out, and mocke at this doctrine, and make al beleeue that there is no ſuch matter. But I hauehave bin long in this; I will now proceede to the next point, and ſhew further how God worketh in him, whom he will ſaue, when he hath brought him thus farre.
The ſecond worke: they conſult in this caſe what to doe.
AFter that he ſeeth by the doctrine which hee hath heard, how the caſe ſtandeth with him, namely that he is guiltie before God of eternall puniſhment and wrath, and ſeeth not how to eſcape the ſame hanging ouer him; the Lord directeth him and guideth his heart to enter into further conſideration with himſelfe of and about his preſent eſtate, and conſulteth what to doe in that his extremitie. Neither doth he this lightly or houerly (as many) after he hath heard the neceſſitie of that dutie taught him, and the ſame earneſtly vrged vntounto him: but mindeth it ſeriouſly, and goeth about it as a matter of life and death.
That God thus moueth him to deliberate in ſo weightie and doubtfull a caſe, no man neede to call it into queſtion, when nothing is well done without it, in earthly matters of any moment, where the wit of man is the chiefe or only agent and dealer. For we know that raſhnes doth nothing well: how much more then may we think, that God will not ſuffer him, whom he meaneth to bring to ſo great honour as the aſſured hope of ſaluation is, to goe about it without due regard and conſideration? eſpecially, he dealing by ordinary meanes, where they may be had and come by? But that he entreth into conſultation what to doe,Ierem. 8.6.7. it is euident by that the Prophet Ieremy ſaith with a vehement complaint, when the people were called to repentance, and the Prophet waited to ſee what fruit ſhould follow, that there was none that ſaid, What hauehave I done? that is, none entred into conſultation about the matter. Therefore it is ſaid, that the prodigall ſonne,Luk. 15.17. who reſembleth moſt rightly the ſinner, and in his returning home to his father reſembleth the penitent ſinner in turning to God: that he did before that, come to himſelfe, and ſay, How many hired ſeruants in my fathers houſe hauehave bread enough, and I die for hunger? Which, what other thing was it, then to conſider and deliberate what he were beſt to doe? And the Steward queſtioning with himſelfe what to doe, when hee was warned to giuegive an account of his ſtewardſhip, doth plainly teach this. Beſides all that hath been ſaid, if the godly who had fallen, could not repent before they remembred and conſidered their fall, and from whom they were fallen, as we reade of the Church of Epheſus,Reuel. 2.4. and Peter before he wept bitterly remembred the words of Ieſus, and how he had tranſgreſſed againſt them: VponUpon all theſe conſiderations, let vsus not doubt, but that God draweth his, to conſult about their eſtate what they ſhould doe, being in anguiſh and diſtreſſe of mind. And that they may looke for little good to come of their caſting downe, and ſorrow, which by the law is conceiued in them, if they doe not in the moſt ſerious manner, as they be able, and as the caſe requireth, thinke and deliberate about it. And therfore they whom God watcheth ouer, if they be not able to counſel themſelues, yet the Lord guides them to aske counſell of others, as the forementioned example in the Acts, and of the woman of Samaria doth teach: And in what manner hee doth this, & what thoughts he hath about the ſame, is not hard to coniecture; but euen as other in the ſame eſtate, mentioned in the Scripture doe teſtifie: namely what he is to doe, and whether there bee any hope, how hee was bewitched to come to that eſtate;The complaint of the penitent ſinner. what he hath loſt, and depriued himſelfe of, in this his eſtrangement from God, by following and ſeeking his owne will, and fooliſh libertie: he ſeeth an end is come of the curſed race which he hath runne, and that little time which he hath yet remaining, will alſo full ſoone be gone: His delights, ieſts, merrie conceits, dreames, and vaine hope that hee had of long life, of promotion, increaſe of riches, of good cheere with his companions, or ſuch like, alas they are gone! he is aſhamed to thinke what deceiueable pleaſures they were. And as for ſafetie and ſound peace, he ſeeth how farre off from them he is. He ſeeth that his former life will be called to an account, and is alreadie. And although he thinketh of delaies, excuſes, or other vaine ſhifts and deceiuing of himſelfe: yet he ſeeth that theſe cannot put away the deadly remembrance of his wofull eſtate, eſpecially when hee conſidereth, that God will not be mocked, nor his word be fruſtrate, which hath bewraied his miſerie.
He will therefore conſult no longer with fleſh and bloud, as he hath done, but putteth away all fleſhly and carnall ſhifts and holds; and by Gods gracious direction taketh counſell by the knowledge that hee hath; and conſidereth that no man can come to Chriſt, if the heauenly father draw him not by his ſpirit: And therefore although the ſorrow of hypocrites vaniſheth away, and commeth to nothing, yet by Gods gracious working in him, it becommeth an occaſion of humbling and breaking of heart vntounto him, and of much other good, as hereafter wee ſhall ſee. Alſo he conſidereth that God is ſlow to anger, and readie to forgiue ſinners, being gracious and full of merciemercy: And though that thought be repelled through the remembrance of the greatnes of his ſinne, and vnacquaintednes with the promiſe; yet there is no doubt, but that he is ſecretly vpholden by it from dreadfull deſpayre. Thus while preſent comfort faileth he ſorroweth ſtill, and the more deeply, for that he thinketh verely that he hath no part in it: and therfore being cut off that way for the time, he cannot but returne to think of his deſolation and woful condition, which breedeth deepe ſighs and ſorrowes afreſh: And he breaking foorth, as one full, which can hold no longer, it wrings out ſuch ſtrong cryes, Oh miſerable man that I am! what ſhall I doe? how ſhall I eſcape this fearefull vengeance? In this heauines, he accuſeth himſelfe, and complaineth: but to auoide that miſerie, he ſeeth it impoſſible; and to go vnderunder it ſtill, he feeles it intolerable. And although he knoweth that there is a remedie, and what it is (which yet many in ſuch heauines and abaſement doe dimmely and weakly know, and therefore their ſorrow is the more) yet can he not apply it to himſelfe by any meanes. In this extremitie therefore of his, and being in this ſtreight and diſtreſſe,Rom. 7.24. he crieth out with Paul: O wretched man that I am! who ſhall deliuer me? And therefore the Lord guideth him to ſome inſtructour, as hee did Paul to Ananias, Act. 9.17. or ſtayeth him by the publike miniſterie, or by his owne knowledge bringeth him, as wee reade of the prodigall child, Luk. 15.17. to counſell himſelfe by that which he hath heard.
The third worke: they are broken hearted and humbled.
THe former conſultation by Gods working, bringeth this reſolution to him, that he will no more looke backe to his old Sodom, what hard conditions ſoeuer he go vnderunder, and ſo he falleth to relenting, his heart is broken, and he humbled and abaſed, and in this ſpirit of meeknes ſaith,Luk. 17.9. as Paul did after he was caſt down, Act. 9.6. Lord, what wilt thou hauehave me to doe? And now he ſeeth that the Lord hath him at aduantage (as a man bound in chaines) readie and attendant to whatſoeuer it pleaſeth him, who before, for his ſtiffe-necked ſtubbornnes was neither to be entreated, commaunded, nor feared. This vnfained humbling of himſelfe before God, for all his wants, breaches, and wounds in conſcience, is a beginning of all goodnes and grace, which man feeleth in himſelfe, and caſteth off pride, and the ſtrength of an high minde: and what knowledge of religion, or any other good gifts ſoeuer a man hath without humilitie, he is but vnreformed and vnmortified. An happie diſcipline and nurture to be wondred at, that can ſo ſoone and ſuddenly breake the clods of ſo hard an heart, and ſo eaſily winde him as a twigge or wand, whether it liſteth him, who could not before, any more then the great tree in the leaſt manner, be bowed.
Thus muſt the Lord worke and ſhew his wiſedome and power vponupon this vnframed and crooked perſon, before he can be made right and ſtraight. But what then (perhaps you will ſay) and what is this man the neerer to Gods kingdome, and the ſight and knowledge of his redemption, out of his forementioned miſerie? I anſwere, Very much eueryevery manner of way. For being thus humbled, he is now eaſily to be perſwaded: and being by the ſame ſpirit of God enlightened, whereby he was caſt downe with heauines and feare before, he is fit to thinke of, and to remember the ſweete promiſes of God, which before though he had heard, yet ſaw that he had nothing to doe with them, and therfore durſt not hearken after them: Now he can thinke of that, which by preaching he ſometime heard, as one who may be in hope to be the better for it, that God is of that nature, that he may be entreated, and reconciled to him.
The fourth worke: a ſecret deſire of forgiuenes.
ANd by ſuch conſiderations he raiſeth vp himſelfe, and the Lord kindleth in him an eſpeciall deſire of the forgiuenes of ſinnes, and of the fauour of God, which cannot be right and well ordered, if it did not proceede from ſome hope that God will be entreated of him.
Here therefore he ſetteth before his eyes, more cleerely then he could before, the nature of God, how louing and kinde he is: how readie to pardon: and how how great ſinners (who might more eaſily be diſmaied then he) hauehave found fauour with him. It is alſo (by Gods good directing of him) much to the helping forward of him, that he remembreth none are exempted from this benefit,Matth. 12.20. Matth. 11.24. Matth. 5.4. but ſuch as exempt themſelues: And that the bruſed reede eſpecially, ſhall not be broken, nor the contrite heart deſpiſed, but the heauie laden comming to him ſhall be eaſed, and they who mourne ſhall be comforted, being bleſſed alreadie.
And although through ignorance, and ill building vp, many are farre from thoſe thoughts & affections a long time (the diuell working vponupon their weaknes) and God ſo diſpoſeth it alſo, that euen ſome ſuch as hauehave the beſt meanes and helpes to ſet them forward, may feele and ſee their owne weaknes for a time; yet doth he worke thoſe things in them at one time or other, if he purpoſe to ſaue them: and this feruent deſire (I meane) though in ſome with more timorouſnes, and this hungring after merciemercy which God ſtirreth vp in him, and this earneſt longing after a remedie by Chriſt, is ſuch and ſo feruent in him, that as a man appointed to death ſetteth not by all the pleaſures and gaine in the world, in compariſon of a pardon, without which he cannot hauehave ioy in any thing: So this poore ſinner feeling the terrour of Gods curſe, and knowing that there is no releaſe for him, but only in Chriſt, (whom if he hauehave,Matth. 9.12. Luk. 7.38. he ſhall be ſaued; and if he hauehave not, he ſhall periſh euerlaſtingly) doth aboue all things in the world ſigh after him, longing to bee made partaker of him.
In this hunger therfore and thirſt of his, after pardon, how welcome think we ſhall good tidings be now vntounto him? Such a man ſo low brought, and ſo abaſed in his owne eyes, and ſo farre from all hope of worldly remedie either in himſelf or in other; if he might be ſtaied with any word of comfort at that time, how acceptable were it like to bee vntounto him? Much more welcome doubtleſſe then all the promiſes of the Goſpell hauehave euer been to him before, or then all things in the world be now to him beſides. Then if hee might hauehave the courſeſt diet, it would be ſweete and moſt ſauourie, to whom an hony combe before, Prou. 28.9. Matth. 15.27. Luk. 15.17.18.was not pleaſant: nay, crummes vnderunder the table are comfortable refreſhings to him; who before, was glutted with the childrens dainties. Oh, how glad ſuch an one would be, if he might be receiued of his heauēly father to be but as an hired ſeruant, who could not before be brought to like of the place of a ſonne? But he that could bring him tidings of righteouſnes, that is, a meſſenger ſent of God to tell him that God will be mercifull to his offences, Iob. 33.23.and thinke vponupon his ſinnes no more, this ſhould be vntounto him an odde man, and one of a thouſand. Then to heare that Ieſus Chriſt hath vanquiſhed ſinne, death and the diuell, who had power ouer him, and brought to light immortalitie and life to him, and hath giuen him perfect righteouſnes to couer his ſhame, and to make him comely and well fauoured in the ſight of God, and that hereby he is fully reconciled to him againe: all the former diſgrace, anguiſh of minde, and deadly thraldome abandoned, what thinke we can be more welcome?
Is it to be thought, that a man being in this caſe before mentioned, filled with miſerie from top to the toe, not knowing where to hide himſelfe, not ſeeing how to go vnderunder the burthen of his griefe, would make no reckoning of this meſſage? as if a man thirſting almoſt to death ſhould refuſe to drinke; or one at the place of execution ſhould reiect his pardon. Among other thoughts, this is not the leaſt profitable which God enableth him to faſten vponupon, that laying (as it were) his eſtate in a paire of ballance, he ſeeth that there is no hope of merciemercy, but certaine condemnation by lying ſtill in the eſtate, wherin he hath liued; and that he cannot appeare before Gods iudgement ſeate in it: now on the otherſide, he conſidering that God calling ſinners to repentance, & giuing his ſon to redeeme euen great offenders, that it may be (as the King of Niniueh ſaid) he will hauehave merciemercy vponupon him; ſo that there is ſome hope by ſuing and ſeeking in humility & remorſe vntounto God: thus the Lord ſtill bringeth him on. And whereas ſome other in this caſe haſteth out of his ſorrow, if by any meanes he may either break through it, before it hath humbled him, or wrought any ſuch effect, as to long after a remedy & deliuerance, or els ouercome of it: yet the ſoule of the poore ſinner whom God meaneth to ſaue, being meekned & humbled, waiteth till God doth further ſtay and vphold it, with continued ſighs & deſires, that the bright beames of his fauour through Chriſt might ſhine vponupon him, he deſiring aboue al things to be vnburthened of this woe, & pardon of his ſins, and yet hath no power perhaps to pray for that which his ſoule moſt feruently deſireth. After this and ſuch like manner (as hath bin ſaid) is his conſultation & reſolution: and this is his mind, & thus he deliberateth and caſteth with himſelf: for though he in this caſe is not able to expreſſe his meaning, yet if he could vtter that which he conceiueth, he would ſay, that theſe are his very thoughts and conſiderations with himſelfe. In which eſtate of his, although I affirme not that he is able to applie the remedie to himſelfe, yet this generall hope which hee hath found by the promiſes, that God is kind and mercifull to broken hearted ſinners, doth cauſe him to ſtay himſelf, that he may perhaps be ſo to him: and reſolueth vnfainedly and with full purpoſe, to goe forward in ſeeking forgiuenes of his ſinnes at Gods hands, this way he will take, if he periſheth he periſheth: yet ſome hope he hath; he reſoluing with himſelfe that he will neuer walke in his former deadly eſtate, but that he will confeſſe and lay foorth his long continued wickednes, vntounto the Lord, though it be againſt himſelfe: neither will he ſpare himſelfe, wherein he hath moſt pleaſed his owne heart: for why? he ſeeth what and how vaine the deſires of it be: and therefore is reſolute neuer to turne to them any more: yet (he being well inſtructed) maketh not this purpoſe of forſaking ſinne any meanes of his iuſtification, but in deteſtation of his former wickednes is moued and drawne by God ſo to doe. This reſoluing therefore, is one ſteppe or degree by which he paſſeth vntounto the fuller certaintie of that happines which he ſeeketh: and he hath receiued a great meaſure of grace and fauour, when he hath attained to it: therfore Sathan who knoweth this, holdeth men by many ſtrong cords from it, that although they bee long about it, yet as faint chapmen who are bidding ſtill, for the ware which they would hauehave, but yet buy it not: euen ſo doe they. For when they hauehave been well counſelled to make haſte in ſeeking the Lord, as that which is beſt of all for them, yet profit or pleaſure, friendſhip or feare holdeth them backe: who although in their heate and haſte, being ſore driuen by ſicknes, tempeſts, feare of death, or the like occaſions, they doe raſhly purpoſe and proteſt, that they will neuer be the men, which they hauehave been; yet doe but how for a day (as it were) like the bulruſh, with the wind: and therefore they are farre from the truth of it: But he of whom I here ſpeake, who hath ſo neerely and deeply looked into his eſtate (which the other hauehave not done) he (I ſay) cannot be drawne backe, to his former looſenes and licentiouſnes, nor holden and kept in it any longer by any torture, becauſe he well knoweth that none is like terrible to it.
Now if it be asked, what he is the better for his reſoluing: to the end it may more cleerely appeare, I anſwere, that when this is wrought in him, his heart is mollified, humbled and ſoftned, as Pauls was; who after hee ſaw that God ſet himſelfe againſt his going to Damaſcus to perſecute his Saints, and threw him down on the ground,Acts. 9.6. ſaid: Lord, what wilt thou hauehave me to doe? And when he is brought to this point, his heart is both full of relenting, and ſorrow for diſpleaſing God, though not in ſuch ſort as afterward it ſhall be, (which from another not hauing thus reſolued, is farre off) and is now an heart of fleſh, Ezech. 36.26.not of ſtone, in which, the ſauing grace of God being offered, may be planted and receiued. And all this is wrought in him by the marueilous and ſecret operation of Gods holy ſpirit; who as he beginneth, and finiſheth the whole worke of his receiuing Chriſt; ſo doth he the middle part of the ſame: for it is not in any other, thus to bow and bend mans heart. Neither doth Gods ſpirit that onelyonly, as with an hammer breaking and bruſing the clods of it, but alſo doth leade him further.
The fift worke: they confeſſe and aske pardon.
FOr with theſe holie affections in this poore ſinner, there is wrought an encouragement and ſome more bold acceſſe to God by the ſame ſpirit, to confeſſe his ſinnes to God, euen as particularly as he can, eſpecially thoſe in which he hath taken moſt pleaſure, and which hauehave moſt preuailed in him: and to ſay with the prodigall child, I will goe vntounto my father, and confeſſe, father, I hauehave ſinned againſt heauen and thee, Luk. 15.18.&c. how much ſoeuer it goeth againſt him: and as he confeſſeth his ſin, ſo he powreth out earneſt praiers to him for the pardon of thē, through the mediation of Chriſt. All which, howſoeuer they ſeeme to him to be no great matters (who is not as yet a competent and ſufficient iudge in this caſe) yet the Scripture commendeth them to be great, euen the fruite of ſome little and weake faith,Rom. 10.14. and him, who obtaineth them, to be in eſpeciall fauour with God: as in the forenamed parable is moſt liuely to be ſeene: where the father (reſembling God) is ſaid to hauehave met his loſt ſonne before he came at him, and to hauehave imbraced and kiſſed him, after that hee was reſolued in himſelfe to goe and ſeeke to him for fauour and pardon, and to acknowledge his faults vntounto him, &c. Now was there any thing (thinke we) in the naturall father, which is not much more in the father of merciemercy? who exceedeth all the fathers of the earth in kindnes and compaſſion. Thus the Lord by his holy ſpirit worketh in the hearts of his children, and with all theſe forementioned graces, which he giueth them, he draweth them to priſe and value this benefit of redemption ſo highly, as the wiſe Merchant doth the field, Matth. 13.44.wherein the pearle is hidden, ſelling all to buy it: ſo doe they (I ſay) ſet light by all things, in compariſon of this, and are caried with this mind, that they will forſake whatſoeuer may hinder, for the obtaining of it.
The ſixt worke: they forſake all for it, and highly prize it.
BVt what then? (ſome perhaps will ſay) do you affirme that theſe things can do a man any good without faith? (for of this nothing hath yet bin ſaid) and doe you affirme a man to be iuſtified (for ſuch an one is he who is in fauour with God) hauing no faith? or that any thing is accepted of God which he doth (as his deſire to bee forgiuen, his hungring after it, his humiliation, acceſſe to God in prayer and confeſſion of ſinnes) all theſe being without faith? or if not ſo, do ye then ſay that we our ſelues muſt thus prepare our ſelues to receiue faith? but that is to attribute free will vntounto man being yet in the eſtate of miſerie and bondage, and vnrenewed, as being yet without faith. To the firſt I ſay, that although none of theſe be faith, yet I ſay, that they are not without it, as I will more fully ſhew afterward: neither that God is pleaſed with any man, neither he himſelfe is iuſtified, but only by it: but wee cannot diſcerne or ſet downe the very moment when faith is wrought: but when the other forenamed graces of God are effectuallie wrought in the heart, then is this of faith wrought alſo by the ſame ſpirit: neither can hee that hath receiued this faith into his heart, ſo certainly and eaſily iudge of it, as of thoſe other gifts which accompanie it. To the latter obiection, I anſwere, that I am farre from aſcribing to man vnrenewed, any inherent goodnes, whereby he may prepare himſelfe to receiue faith: he is, I ſay, deſtitute of all goodnes in his will, and of power to doe good: ſuch graces are giuen him of God, as was ſaid before. For God findeth all men in their filthines and gore bloud, as the Prophet Ezechiel ſpeaketh:Ezech. 16.6. and ſhe whom he vouchſafeth to make his beloued ſpouſe (I meane his Church) he raiſeth out of the duſt, waſheth and clenſeth her from her filthines wherein hee found her, and then taketh her to him to delight in, as his deare and onelyonly ſpouſe. It is the Lord therefore which is the author, Heb. 12.2.and finiſher of his faith who ſhall be ſaued: and he, as he hath abaſed him, and filled his heart with ſorrowes for the ſame purpoſe; ſo it is he that ſoketh it by little and little, and ſeaſoneth it in time with faith, hope, and comfort: This is his only worke. And although it be hard to determine whē faith is wrought (as I hauehave ſaid) and how long dreadfull feare continueth: yet by meanes of the knowledge of his miſerie, and redemption, God worketh them both in his heart, and that when, and in what manner it ſeemeth beſt to his wiſedome; ſo that it may be ſeene that it is ſo. And thus I hauing anſwered theſe two obiectiōs, I wil now proceed, morefully to ſhew how he guideth & bringeth home this loſt ſheep, as I had in ſom ſort proceeded to do, before I was occaſioned to digreſſe a while, by reaſon of the two former queſtions now anſwered.
To proceede therefore with this perſon whom the Lord wil ſaue, when he hath wrought thus farre in him earneſtly to deſire the remedie againſt his miſerie, he leaueth him not there, as many through ignorance & wāt of wiſe building vp, are held longer at this ſtay: and although not lying in vtter vnbeleefe, yet not bold to applie Gods promiſe to their ſoules; euen as there are many, who hauehave had compunction of heart, that neuer goe further; but waueringly are off and on; and whē the deſire is not accompliſhed, the heart fainteth, and they for all their deſire, ſeeing it vaniſheth away, & is not conſtant, fall away altogether. But God goeth further with this perſon, as I hauehave ſaid.
For he hauing now with the skilfull merchant weighed the price of this pearle,Matth. 13.44. He whom God loueth highly priſeth the pearle. namely, to hauehave Chriſt to become his, hath it in ſuch eſtimation, that he counteth meanely of all things, in compariſon of this: and in good aduiſednes ſelleth all that he hath, to buy it. But what hath he (you will aske) of his owne, to purchaſe or come into the poſſeſſion of it? As for his goods and riches, whatſoeuer he inioyeth, they are not his owne, but an others, and borrowed:Luk. 16.12. (yet many thouſand poore ſoules which ſhal be ſaued, hauehave little or no wealth at all) but this precious pearle is not bought with money. What hath he then (ye ſay) to procure it?Eſay. 55.1. verily, he hath nothing, but an intereſt and hold in ſinfull pleaſures,He hath nothing of his owne but ſin. and worldly luſts. But alas (ſome man will ſay) what doe ye naming of them, as things any thing worth? But I ſay againe, I muſt mention that which he hath of his owne: and that is his ſinne: which though eueryevery reaſonable man will ſay, that it is not worth the mentioning, yet it was ſometime, more precious to him then ſiluer, and in account aboue the pureſt gold:Yet hard to renounce that. and therefore to renounce it, is no eaſie nor ſmall matter. And yet (ſo well it falleth out for him) there is no other thing required of him, to the attaining of the forementioned pearle, then the caſting away and the forſaking of that his ſinne. For ſo the Lord plainely teſtifieth: he that denyeth himſelfe, he ſhall be my diſciple: and whoſoeuer forſaketh any thing (that is,Matth. 19.29. which God condemneth) he ſhall hauehave an hundreth fold more then he forgoeth, (ſo bountifull a rewarder is the Lord of all that ſeeke him) and afterward, eternall life.
Therefore, when this ſilly ſinner vnderſtandeth, and giueth credit vntounto it: as deare and pleaſant as his ſinnes were vntounto him, that he could neither by feare nor ſhame, neither by allurements or perſwaſions before that, be brought to abandon and waxe wearie of them; yet now, he diſclaimeth and cryeth out of them,But he deſpiſeth it. Hoſ. 14.9. and in an vtter deteſtation of them, ſaith: as Ephraim ſaid of Idols (in which ſhe had ſo much delighted) What hauehave I to doe with them? A thing all may ſee to be verie admirable. A man to forgoe that, which he loued beſt of all, yea better then life it ſelfe, (for how many loſe their liues for their ſinfull pleaſures?) yea and that willingly and readily, only for the hope of that, which as yet he hath not, is it not admirable? and muſt not that hope (thinke we) be ſure and certaine, though in him ſo weak as yet,This is a great worke of God. that they cannot profeſſe it? Thus doth the Lord worke in the heart of him, who ſhall imbrace Chriſt for his Sauiour, that nothing ſhall ſeparate betwixt them.Ioh. 6.44. It may well be ſaid, No man commeth to him, except the father draw him by his ſpirit: for otherwiſe, we reade, that it is as hard for a wicked man to become good,Ier. 13.23. as for the blacke More to chaunge his skin, or the leopard his ſpots.
And whereas it may be ſaid, there are many, when they are pricked in conſcience for their ſinnes, who doe thus cry out of them, for the time; but it appeareth afterwards to hauehave been but a blaſt, and as it may ſeeme, a ſodaine paſſion, which vaniſheth away, and commeth to nothing: I affirme the ſame, and grant it to be ſo: but this is a farre other thing, and this worke of grace to forſake all,He forſakes not ſinne as the wicked. for the hope of merciemercy and forgiuenes of ſinne, differeth as much from that raſh and ſodaine cracke of fearefull crying out of ſinne while onelyonly terror oppreſſeth; as cannon ſhot differeth from the ſhot of paper: the one caſting out the diuell for bearing any more dominion in him, the other ſeeming to fray him with bold and lowd words (I defie the diuell, &c.) but driuing him away in deede, no otherwiſe then the popiſh holie-water: as may be ſeene in comparing both ſorts together. For example: though Ahab gaue ſignes that he forſooke his ſinnes,1. King. 21.27. Ioel. 2 13. 1. King. 22.8.26. by rending his cloathes, (but not his heart) putting ſackcloth vponupon him, and faſting; yet he ſhewed by and by after, that al was but a ceremonie, by wilfull reſiſting and diſobeying the meſſage of God by the prophet, and boldly affirming, that he hated him: Yet on the other ſide, Zacheus did farre otherwiſe: for how he receiued Chriſts doctrine, he declareth by the fruites following:Luk. 19.9. reuenging himſelfe for his ill gotten goods with a reſtoring fourefold, and giuing halfe the reſt to the poore: and Chriſt alſo teſtified of his forſaking and leauing his gainfull vnlawfull trade, by open affirming him to be the ſonne of Abraham. An other example: the people,1. Sam. 7.3.4. whom Samuel perſwaded to forſake their ſinne, for the hope of the promiſe, did not only lament after God, but they did in deede forſake it: they did caſt away Baalim and Aſhtaroth, idoles, which they ſo delighted in: declaring thereby, that they found by the prophets miniſterie, a farre greater treaſure: that is, the merciemercy of God in forgiuing them their ſinnes: according to that, which is written ſince;Pro. 28.13. but true before, euen ſince the firſt mans repentance: He that confeſſeth and forſaketh his ſinne, ſhall finde merciemercy. But their fathers, who made as great profeſſion and ſhew as they, returning to God and ſeeking him early:Pſal. 78.36. yet they did but flatter him with their mouth, and diſſemble with their tongue, for they were not faithfull in his couenant.
But theſe ſhall ſuffice: like vntounto the which, there are many more: Let it be graunted therefore, that this is a mightie and admirable worke of Gods ſpirit, which thus perſwadeth this ſillie ſoule, which is trauailing hard to finde peace & reſt vntounto his heart, thus (I ſay) to bid farewel to his ſweeteſt delights for the hope of the gaine that is ſet before him: For theſe two goe together: highly to eſteeme and priſe the promiſe of life and happines: and for the ſame, to deſpiſe and ſet light by the things which were beſt beloued. And yet this, as impoſſible as it is to any other, in thoſe whom God chooſeth out of the world, he worketh it as ſenſibly, as we may diſcerne the wilde beaſt to be tamed; and the cleere and ſunſhine day to be ouercaſt and darkned. For God kindleth a feruent deſire & longing after that glad tidings (namely that he will freely beſtow it vponupon him that thirſteth after it) till he hold and inioy it, as his owne. And that which S. Paul ſaith of himſelfe,Phil. 1.7.8. that when he began to ſee the beautie of this bleſſed meſſage, he counted thoſe things loſſe, which had been vantage to him, yea very doung for Chriſts ſake, that he might win him: the ſame is verified in all ſuch as I now ſpeake of, euen whoſoeuer he be: and then he is truly come home, no more to be caſt off or forſaken of the Lord. And this gracious affection is thus riuited into him, and as it were writtē with an adamant pen, neuer to be raſed out any more, to the end it may alwayes after remaine and be found in him after experience: as it ſtandeth with great reaſon it ſhould: euen as it was with Moſes, when he was of a ripe age, full fortie yeares old, he did ſhew the fruite of it, as many other wayes, ſo this one: that he refuſed to be called the ſon of Pharaos daughter, and to inioy the pleaſures of ſinne for a ſeaſon. And when this worke is wrought in him, that he forſaketh all things for this which he ſeeketh, and ſo highly priſeth it, then he is fit to apply it: as followeth: which is the laſt worke.
The ſeuenth worke: they apply Chriſt and his promiſe.
FOr by the doctrine of ye promiſes, which he heareth, or hath heard publiſhed and preached vntounto him, he draweth his hart to applie thē to himſelfe, and to faſten vponupon them as his owne, euen as if they had bin properly made to him: he perſwadeth him by that which he heareth, no longer to feare God as a terrible Iudge, and ſo ſlauiſhly to abide in his former bondage,God ſealeth vp his promiſes to the beleeuer as one in danger of damnation ſtil, and vnderunder the curſe; but ſealeth vp his ſaluation in his heart, and maketh it as effectually his, as any bargaine is made ſure to vsus, when he, who ſold it, hath ſealed it vntounto vsus, or giuen earneſt thereof.2. Cor. 1.22. And therefore it is that the Scripture doth ſo often vſe this phraſe of ſpeech, We are ſealed vp by the ſpirit of promiſe, and by the ſpirit of our God: to giuegive vsus to vnderſtand, that as nothing is with greater ſecuritie aſſured vntounto vsus then a writing ſealed; ſo there cā be no ſurer way for a man to hold this redemption and ſaluation, then by hauing it ſealed vntounto him by the ſpirit of God: who onelyonly knowing the minde of the father and of the ſon, doth make the ſame knowne vntounto his minde, and beare witnes to his ſpirit that he is the Lords: Rom. 8.16. The beleeuer reaſoning with himſelfe.and teacheth him thus to reaſon. If God will forgiue him, who hath receiued grace to ſeeke without fainting & wearines, who longeth for it in a melting heart for offending him, who deſireth it more then al earthly pleaſure and profit, and is willing to caſt away all impediments that may hinder it: if he will forgiue ſuch, and he hath framed me to be ſuch a one; then (doubtles) he will be mercifull and forgiue me.
Thus God maketh him (of whom I ſpeake) to ſee cleerely that he is his, no more to be ſeparated from him, when he hath opened his heart, as he did the heart of Lydia, Act. 16.15.and cauſeth him to beleeue that the ſonne of God who was giuen to the vnworthie world, is giuen to him, being one of the ſame. For if earthly fathers be kind to their childrē crying to thē, how much more the father of fathers?Luk. 15.20. He weigheth all things hereto belonging. For we muſt think that this afflicted perſon now mentioned, doth often and deeply weigh the truth, vnchangeablenes, and perpetuitie of the pretious promiſes which hee heareth preached vntounto him; yea and that with more delight, then he doth any thing els; he weigheth what may be like to hinder and hold him from hauing his part in thē: and when he conſidereth that God, who willeth him not to feare, is greater thē al that letteth him; what hee may, hee remoueth it, though neuer ſo precious to him; and conſidereth what doth giuegive him greateſt encouragement, and ſo imbraceth the ſame: we muſt think when he once cōceiueth the incomprehenſible excellencie of eternall life, and how it maketh the ſoule alwaies cheereful euen here: we muſt think (I ſay) that he weighing what his miſery is without it, counteth it the moſt ſoueraigne medicine to heale his ſore: and therefore he is readie to vſe any meanes, and beſtow any diligence to come into the poſſeſſion of it, and to make it his owne, eſpecially when he ſeeth that it is ſo freely and mercifully offered.
Thus ſetting his heart vponupon it, as that which hee ſeeth would make him more happie, then all the world; though for a time he hath not been able to attaine vntounto the aſſurance of it (the diuell holding him backe by many lets and ſubtilties, abuſing his errour, weakenes, and ſimplicitie thereto) yet the Lord ſuffereth him not to giuegive ouer, till he hath waded thorough and ouercome all hinderances. And if this be too hard to doe by himſelfe,He ſeekes helpe of others. he ſeeketh the helpe of others, whereſoeuer they may be come by, men of deeper inſight, and greater iudgement and experience in and about the will and purpoſe of God, concerning ſaluation, by whoſe louing trauaile, counſell and labour he groweth more expert and reſolute, and ſo ſetleth his heart in beleeuing, as he ſeeth he hath good cauſe, and ſtrong incouragement, to his full quiet and contentation: The Lord himſelfe ſpeaking thus: If any thirſt, Ioh. 7.37.let him come to me, and I will giuegive him the water of life to drinke. So that as Iacobs hart failed when he beleeued not his ſonnes report that Ioſeph was aliue, and the chiefe gouernour vnderunder Pharaoh; yet when they told him the words of Ioſeph, and ſhewed him the Chariots which he had ſent to carrie him,Gen. 45.26.27. the ſpirit of Iacob reuiued, and he ſaid, I hauehave enough, &c. Ioſeph my ſonne is yet aliue. So though the goodnes of the meſſage ſhall be ſo farre beyond the expectation of him to whom it is brought (as fearing the cleane contrarie) yet when hee ſhall weigh and conſider aduiſedly the truth of the matter, and certaintie of the promiſes, and therein behold the depth of louelove which is in God, and that to the broken hearted, though vnworthie, it quickeneth the ſoule, and refreſheth it aboue all that can be expreſſed: And ſo hee beholding his eſtate without theſe promiſes, and what neede he hath of them, and who it is that offereth them, euen he who cannot be gainſaid, that is, the Almightie, he imbraceth them, and by little and little, as he gathereth more ſtrength by the infalliblenes of them; ſo he beleeueth them, and taketh exceeding comfort by them, giueth God thankes, and (as he hath good cauſe) he cannot ſatisfie himſelfe therewith, nor (as he thinketh) hauehave enough of them.
And thus doth his ſoule ſtay vp it ſelfe: for ſeeing God doth giuegive it freely to him, and he deſireth it aboue all other things, as ſeeing that he cannot bee ſafe without it, who is hee which ſhall hinder it? Thus are all teares wiped away, the ragges are caſt off, the robes are put on:VVhat will follow of applying Chriſt. the ſpouſe is betrothed to Chriſt her husband, and ſhe by faith made partaker of all the good things which he bringeth with him: who is giuen vntounto his Church, not poorely nor bare; but to be her wiſedome, righteouſnes, ſanctification, and redemption. 1. Cor. 1.30.And he that hath thus put on the Lord Ieſus, God will know him for his, whereſoeuer he findeth him, neither ſhall any take him out of his hands, ſo ſaith our Sauiour himſelfe: My ſheepe (whom in the verſe before he calleth thoſe which beleeue in him) My ſheepe heare my voyce, and I know them, and they follow me, Ioh. 10.27. &c.and I giuegive vntounto them eternall life, and they ſhall neuer periſh, neither ſhall any plucke them out of my hands: for my father which gaue them me, is greater then all, and none is able to take them out of my fathers hand. Like vntounto theſe are they all, who ſhall glorifie God in this life, ſeparated from the world, though annoyed by the people of it, as the ſillie ſheepe are by the goates: whoſe conuerſation what it is, another place ſhall declare, and lay foorth hereafter. And this is faith, which making them inwardly perſwaded in ſome ſort by ſo cleere euidence, (as I hauehave ſaid) cauſeth them outwardly in time to profeſſe the ſame more boldly, & without feare, as occaſion ſhalbe offered: although it be for ye time, both weake and faint, yet is it ſound and ſure; and after experience in a godly life (I meane the life that is led by faith) it ſhall be ſtrengthened, better confirmed, and procure withall, reſt to their ſoules. For where the forementioned graces are, as true contrition, the heart broken with ſorrow, and meekened, hungring and pining for merciemercy and grace, confeſſing and forſaking the ſinne, with accuſation and deepe groanes for pardon; there is ſome true meaſure of ſauing faith; for Gods graces are not ſeparated: for our Sauiour pronounceth them bleſſed which hauehave theſe graces: but none are bleſſed without faith:Mat. 5.4.5. Pſal. 48. therefore faith is there alſo; becauſe the ſpirit of Chriſt dwelleth in ſuch, and he dwelleth in his by faith, therfore it muſt needs be in them. Which thing I doe the rather ſtand vponupon to proue, ſeeing it is rather tried and diſcerned by theſe, then knowne by it ſelfe without other holy affections going with it, and for that many of tender age in Chriſt, and yonglings, cannot be certaine and throughly perſwaded that they hauehave faith, and conſequently, that their ſinnes are forgiuen them, and yet by infallible ſignes and tokens we know that it is ſo. I ſpeake of the leaſt meaſure of it: for of the ſtronger faith, the queſtion is eaſier. And the weakeſt meaſure of faith I call that, when an humbled ſoule longeth,A deſcription of the ſmalleſt meaſure of faith. and almoſt fainteth for Gods merciemercy in Chriſt; and although he be not aſſured of it, yet he ſeeth that it cannot be denied: and therefore waiteth for it, and is ſtaied from deſpaire. I ſay he ſeeth that it cannot be denied, but that God doth graunt pardon to him againſt his ſin: becauſe he ſeeth himſelfe to hauehave obtained many graces and workes of the holy Ghoſt, which cannot be in a reprobate, as was ſaid before; and thereby he is holden from deſpaire and dreadfull feare. And yet through weaknes and want of experience cannot call God father, though he cannot ſuffer the contrarie thought to hauehave any place in himſelfe: and therefore the thing that he moſt laboureth to be ſatisfied in and reſolued of, is, that he may hauehave ſome cleerer light, and lay better hold of it, that Chriſt hath redeemed him indeed; yet is he as the child firſt taught to goe alone, who at the firſt is weake in the ioynts, but in time can runne about: ſo ſhall it be with the ſoule which thus longeth and lamenteth after God.
This I hauehave ſpoken for their ſakes who more hardly doe lay hold on Gods merciemercy, and doe with more difficultie applie the promiſe to themſelues: the which to doe with all poſſible care, and not to be turned aſide from examining our ſelues ſoundly and throughly by any let, is a grace of the greateſt importance. And he is wiſe indeede, who will not ſtay before he hauehave it: which wiſedome God will teach them whom he loueth: for though many very ignorant and careleſſe hearers doe hardly, yea neuer come to any reſolution of faith; yet ordinarily, where people are ſoundly, cleerely and wiſely taught, it is otherwiſe: for (to ſpeake of them, who ſhall be ſaued) the word ſo preached,How God worketh faith. by little and little ſoketh and diſtilleth into the hearts of many of them. And though they know not when this gracious worke of God was wrought, for the moſt part, as neither can we diſcerne and ſee the plants and hearbes when they ſhoote out, though in time wee ſee it is ſo: yet ſome there are, whom God in ſpeciall manner doth priuiledge at one time and in one day to receiue that grace, and gift of aſſurance, which others are long labouring and trauailing for, before they attaine it:Luk. 19.9. As our Sauiour Chriſt pronounceth of Zacheus: This day is this man become the ſonne of Abraham, and ſaluation is come into his houſe. So Lydia, and they in the Act. 2.37.Faith vniteth to Chriſt. And this is the faith whether it be weake or ſtrong which vniteth to Chriſt; and maketh them that hauehave it (which is a myſterie and riddle to the world) to hauehave and enioy their hearts deſire; yea and indeed more then they could deſire or thinke, namely, to be truly the children of God, and thereby happy. Euen the ſame faith, for which Chriſt pronounced Peter bleſſed: who when hee ſaw him but in baſe eſtate the ſonne of man, yet for the words which Chriſt had ſpoken, and his miracles, had beleeued him to be alſo the ſonne of God, the annointed of the Lord, and his Sauiour, he pronounced this of him: Bleſſed art thou Simon, for fleſh and bloud hath not reuealed it vntounto thee, Matth. 16.17.but my father which is in heauen.
This faith though Peter had, and he hath it of whom I ſpeake, euen whoſoeuer it be whom the Lord maketh bleſſed (for both weake and ſtrong are partakers of one and the ſame precious faith, 2. Pet. 1.1.Common profeſſors hauehave not this faith.) yet the common profeſſors and hearers of the Goſpell hauehave it not, becauſe they doe not looke that the Lord ſhould reueale it to them, without which they cannot hauehave it, but take counſell of their owne wiſedome and reaſon, which doe hinder and hold them backe from it. For reaſon thinketh it an abſurd thing, and to bee laughed at, that a man ſimple in the world, & a ſinner, eſpecially ſore burthened with his miſerie, and confeſſing the ſame, ſhould yet be more happie before God, and in his owne knowledge, then all the worlds good can make him: Mans wiſedome (I ſay) can neuer be perſwaded of this; but faith holdeth it for truth, and enioyeth ſuch an eſtate with good ſecuritie. And how God reuealeth any ſuch thing vntounto men (which yet is plainly ſaid he did vntounto Peter) they cannot tell nor ſee: except this be it, when they thinke and hauehave a good hope that it is ſo: as though ſuch a thing might be wrought in them, and they not know how, the change which it worketh being ſo apparant: or that God might reueale this ſecret myſterie of faith to them, & they not aware of it; yea and that (which is more) eſpeciall ſignes accompanying it.
But ſuch men ſhould vnderſtand, that as it is the gift of God to beleeue, Phil. 1. How God worketh faith.and he draweth men hereto by his ſecret working grace: ſo yet, hee doth it by meanes outward, euen whiles men obey his ordinance in attending vponupon the preaching of his word, and waite for this worke, ſeeking it and praying for it daily: his miniſters ſo ſpeaking, and the people ſo reuerently hearing,Act. 14.1. that they may beleeue: and if not in the time of hearing, yet after by their owne examining of their eſtate, and comparing it with the doctrine taught, as I hauehave ſhewed before in the perſon whom the Lord will ſaue.VVhy many want faith. And this thing verely men doe not, that is, heare, trie their eſtate by the rule taught them, weigh after examination, and remoue lets, vntil they may ſee that they hauehave found that which they ſought, and that there is no iuſt cauſe to hinder it. Few will beſtow any labour, or beate their braines about any ſuch matter, nor any trauaile of the minde: for that is vnſauourie and vnwelcome vntounto them. Therefore it is, that after ſo long preaching of faith, there is (as our Sauiour foretold) little faith in the world, Luk. 18.8.few hauehave acquaintance with it, (though they cannot like in any wiſe to be ſo thought of) as by this which I hauehave ſaid may appeare, and ſhall better appeare (I truſt) by that which ſhall follow.
The concluſion of this third part.But before I goe any further, I will, for the readers better remembrance, conclude that which I hauehave taken in hand in this third branch of the firſt part of this booke to proue, that is to ſay: although there be many departings from the right way leading to eternall life, and many breakings off from it, and though it be eaſily conceiued but of few: yet he whom the Lord will chuſe and repute for his, ſhall both ſee into it, & diſcerne it from al by-paths, and walke in it; and ſo be partaker of happines by beleeuing. Whereby alſo appeareth who is the Lords, and who it is that in reuerent boldnes may (though it is at the firſt hardly obtained) aſſure himſelfe againſt all the ſubtilties of the diuell and other curſed ſpirits, that he ſhall ſee the Lord in the land of the liuing: euen he who hath been truly humbled in the ſight of his miſerie, ſeene Chriſt Ieſus the onelyonly deliuerer of ſuch, and therefore himſelfe hath, and doth beleeue in him vnfainedly.
And thus I hauehave ſhewed how both the doctrine of miſerie and redemption ought to worke, which is the third point. But ſeeing we are ſo fearfull at the firſt beginning of our effectuall calling, that wee dare not reſt perſwaded that we hauehave any faith: theſe few markes of it following I hauehave ſet downe in a briefe manner, which both accompanie the weakeſt faith: and where they be found,Markes of faith. Ioh. 3.23. Seeing God commandeth vsus to beleeue. Pſal. 77.3.8.9.10. 1. Pet. 2.2. Pſal. 32.5. are infallible tokens, that in ſuch a perſon there is ſome true meaſure of iuſtifying faith. That is to ſay, firſt, if wee ſtriue againſt doubting, Iudg. 6.17. Secondly, if we not feeling faith, complaine bitterly of the want of it. Thirdly, if we ſeeke feruently to be ſetled in beleeuing. Fourthly, if we deſire to ſearch out the ſinne which may poſſibly hinder vsus, and to expell it. And ſome one of theſe, or other graces like them, ſhall euer be ſeene in the beleeuer by ſuch as can iudge, though not alwaies perceiued of the partie himſelfe.