Seven Treatises, Treatise 1 · Chapter 1
CHAP. 1. The ſumme and order of this first Treatiſe.
ALthough my chiefe purpoſe be to direct the true Chriſtian, who is already a beleeuer, how to walke daily through the courſe of this life, in ſuch wiſe as he may finde a very ſweete and effectuall taſte of eternall happines, euen here (which few doe thinke can be obtained) yet I hauehave thought it meete: firſt, to ſhew who are true beleeuers, and the children of God,Hovv any may knovv they be the Lords. and how men are brought vntounto this eſtate, and thereby may know that they are ſo. Partly for them who deſire to be directed in a Chriſtian life, that they may hauehave this ready at hand by them, to ſhew them that they are the Lords, notwithſtanding many doubts be oft raiſed by Sathan againſt them, and that others may learne to know it, who are yet ignorant of it, as without the which, in vaine ſhould they goe about a godly life. Which as it is the weightieſt and chiefeſt poynt of all others in diuinitie, and the ground of the reſt which I hauehave taken in hand to intreate of; ſo it is with the greateſt regarde to be dealt in, whether we reſpect thoſe, which vnfolde and lay open the ſame, or thoſe, which deſire to be inſtructed, and perſwaded in the truth thereof.
For it comes to paſſe by our corrupt nature, and ſlownes of heart to beleeue, and Sathans ſubtiltie many waies beguiling vsus,Most are deceiued in the aſſurance of ſaluation. that we in nothing more deceiue our ſelues, then in, and about the aſſurance of ſaluation: for proofe hereof, we may vnderſtand that ſome, yea, many thouſands thinke that no man can know whiles he liueth here that he is the Lords,1. Papists think it impoſſible. neither can hauehave any aſſurance of his fauour till his death, vnleſſe it be by ſpeciall reuelation. And this is the error of the Papiſts. On the other ſide,2. Carnall Proteſtants thinke it eaſie. many thinke that this is not ſo hard a queſtion, as that any that profeſſe the goſpell ſhould doubt of their ſaluation (notwithſtanding our Sauiour Chriſt ſaith that his flocke is but ſmall, Luk. 12.32. Matth. 7.14. Luk. 19. Matth. 7.21.and that in compariſon but few ſhall be ſaued.) And this is the opinion of our common Proteſtants, which ſay Lord Lord, and yet are not prepared to doe the will of the Lord, and therefore farre from entring into the Kingdome of heauen.
3. VVeake Christians full of doubting.Beſides both theſe, many poore ignorant ſoules thinke whiles they doe well and ſerue God, they may be aſſured of their redemption by Chriſt: but if they be by any meanes hindred from pleaſing God, yea, though it be by meere frailtie, and corruption of nature, then they can hauehave no hold thereof; which vncertaintie, though it cleaue vntounto many who are deare vntounto the Lord, yet it is to be counted their error and ſinne, and they muſt be brought to a more ſtaied iudgement, then thus to thinke: that either there is changeablenes with God, or to be ſo much their owne enemies, as by meanes of this error to fill their liues with ſuch vncomfortablenes, and depriue themſelues hereby of this aſſurance of Gods louelove, which is the ſtrongeſt perſwaſion to true godlines.
Theſe are ſome few of a great many doubts and erronious opinions about this matter, as after ſhall appeare. For reſolution whereof, though many things muſt be ſaid, yet the matter it ſelfe may cleerely and ſoundly be ſet downe in few words.
To the end therefore that theſe and ſuch like many ſee how farre differing Gods thoughts are from mans, and (as I hauehave ſaid before) that al which hauehave receiued this doctrine, may hauehave it before their eyes daily in ſome eaſie and familiar manner to confirme them, I will, as God hath made me able, ſet downe that which is expedient for this point: and this I hauehave thought good to referre to theſe three heads.Three generall heads, or parts of this first treatiſe. Firſt, to ſhew how a man may attaine to this, to know that he is the child of God, and how God worketh it by his ſpirit in the hearts of thoſe which are his. Secondly, how the weake beleeuers may vphold themſelues in temptation, and ſo be ſtaied, as ſeeing that they differ apparantly from thoſe, which are not the Lords. And thirdly, how they may afterwards more eaſily prooue that they hauehave true faith, and be able to confirme and preſerue the ſame: and finde how much ſuch an eſtate is to be deſired.
Three branches of the first head.And for the plaine declaration of the firſt point hereof, theſe three things muſt be handled. The firſt, the cleere knowledge of mans miſerie. The ſecond, of his redemption and deliuerance out of the ſame. And the third, how both theſe ought to worke vponupon their hearts, and what fruite they will bring foorth by the operation of the holy Ghoſt in ſuch as ſhall be ſaued: That is to ſay, that the one which is the knowledge of miſerie, will wound and humble their hearts, when they ſhall ſee thereby, that they are but dead and damned people. The other will heale the ſores of their hearts, and lift them vp againe, to the beholding of all their ſinnes pardoned, and their woe remoued ſo, as if they had neuer been preſſed downe with the ſame. And to this ſhall be adioyned a diſcourſe of the lets of faith, and what deſire it is from which it commeth.