Seven Treatises, Treatise 1 · Chapter 9
CHAP. 9. The difference of beleeuers from them that are none.
NOw followeth the ſecond point, wherein for the cleerer manifeſtation of that which hath been ſaid, I muſt now diſcerne from the former ſort, ſuch as hauehave great ſhew of faithfull ones and beleeuers, and yet are nothing leſſe, and ſhew that the weakeſt Chriſtians, of whom I hauehave ſpoken, may ſee their eſtate apparantly different from theirs; who yet come neereſt of other, vntounto beleeuers: and then anſwere ſome doubts, which I know doe ſticke in the mindes of diuers about this matter.
And firſt whereas ſome may maruaile, that I in the deſcribing of Gods children, hauehave not reſted in theſe as infallible markes thereof, namely, 1. ſorrow for their miſerie, 2. confeſſion of their ſinnes to God, 3. feare of his diſpleaſure for the ſame, and 4. deſiring ſome kinde of amendment of life; ſeeing they are alſo in them, who are effectuallie called of God: I anſwere, I hauehave followed the Scripture herein, and that I hauehave in ſhewing who are the Lords, made mention, rather of thoſe graces of God, which are properly belonging to the faithfull, then of them, which may be in hypocrites, and hollow hearted profeſſors. Seeing we finde both by Scripture and experience, that theſe forenamed affections, and many good and commendable vertues (as they ſeeme to be) may hauehave place in thoſe which doe not appertaine to Gods election: For a man may be much burthened with the weight of his ſinne, his conſcience terrified by the ſpirit of bondage;Matth. 27.3. 1. King. 21.27. he may be penſiue afterward for his ſinne committed, and wiſh it were vndone, afraide for the puniſhment, and may promiſe amendment, and walke heauily, and expreſſe it by outward ſignes: and yet not releaſed, nor ſet free from that which he feareth. So the ſame perſon, by the hearing of the promiſes of the Goſpell, may finde ioy, and delight in the glorious tidings, which it bringeth: and take ſenſible pleaſure in the exerciſes of religion:Matth. 13.20. He may hauehave a taste of the life to come, as Balam; he may reuerence and feare the Miniſters of God, as Herod, Numb. 22. Mark. 6.20.and begin to amend ſome faults in his life, as hee and others, of whom wee reade in the Goſpell did; and yet for all this (though fearefull to thinke of) not ſealed vp to ſaluation: euen thus farre a man may goe in the profeſſion of Chriſtian religion; and yet a ſtranger from the power of faith, from the life of godlines, and from that, which accompanieth both; I meane, a good and peaceable conſcience.
Of the which argument, becauſe much is written, and where the Goſpell hath been preached (of ſome places I may ſpeake of mine owne knowledge) it hath been often handled, and largely, I thinke; I may ſay the leſſe. Neither doe I ſpeake that, which I hauehave ſaid, about this matter, to diſcourage any: but partly to driue them from deceiuing themſelues, which louelove to ſtay themſelues, they care not vponupon what rotten hold, and broken ſtaffe; partly to make the true teſtimonies of eternall life to be more pretiouſly eſteemed of thoſe which hauehave them: and ſuch as are without them, to beſtowe more diligence in ſeeking of them. For the weakeſt faith findeth Chriſt Ieſus no more to loſe him, ſeeing he hath ſaid, that he will not breake a bruſed reede, Matth. 12.20.nor quench the ſmoking flaxe; and the moſt glorious ſhewes of godlines, and boldeſt crakes, and moſt loude boaſtes of faith, where yet it is not indeede,Luk. 18.14. ſhall all vaniſh away in the ayre, and come to nothing, not hauing any part in him: euen as Sauls bragges, that God had deliuered Dauid into his hands, when he was ſhut in the citie, were fruſtrated to his owne ſhame, 1. Sam. 23.14. & 24.5. The which, how true it is, may appeare not only by ſome examples mentioned out of the Scripture, but alſo by the liues of ſundry in the Countrey, who hauehave receiued the Goſpell with ioy, and been much caſt downe by the force of the lawe: But as their humbling hath been a bowing of themſelues for a ſhort time, like a bulruſh with the wind; ſo their ioy hath been a ſuddaine flaſh of fleeting mirth, not well grounded in them, and an inlightning of them with the generall knowledge of ſaluation, rather then a ſealing of the aſſurance of their owne in their hearts for continuance.
Forwardnes in religion was ſometime in many. Hebr. 6.5. Exod. 22.Oh, how many hauehave after the report made by others, what great change the Goſpell had wrought; how many, I ſay, hauehave reſorted to the hearing of it, and giuen good and commendable hope of their owne change alſo, and repentance; who yet were ſoone wearie of the Lords yoke, and of being ſubiect to his holy gouernment? how many hauehave forſaken the fountaines of the water of life, Ier. 2.13.which could hauehave refreſhed their ſoules in their neceſſitie with ſound comfort, and hauehave digged to themſelues broken pits, which can hold no water to comfort them? And ſo hauehave ſtarted aſide, like a broken bowe, and hauehave returned ſhamefully to their vomit, 2. Pet. 2.22.and as the ſowe which was waſhed, to wallow againe in the mire? Which I ſpeake not, as though God had not both called out of this life many amongſt vsus (within theſe yeeres in her Maieſties raigne) of ſingular hope, and left a comfortable companie amongſt vsus ſtill, with others dailie comming on;Apoſtataes. but to caſt their ſhame as dung in their faces, who hauehave fallen from that feruent deſire of the ſincere milke of the word (which once they had) to the world,Iohn 6.66. 1. Iohn 2.19. to prophanenes, and to careleſnes. Theſe (as the Scripture ſaith of Iudas) went out from vsus, but they were none of vsus: for if they had been of vsus, they would hauehave continued ſtill with vsus. For when either proſperitie hath been graunted them,Iames 5.8. they hauehave waxen wanton, and hauehave turned the grace of God into looſenes: Matth. 13.21.or when affliction hath followed them, they hauehave growne wearie of their profeſſion, ſaying as we reade in Eccleſ. 7.12. That the former dayes were better, and wiſhed againe for the merrie world, which they inioyed, and the pleaſant life (as the Iſraelites did their fleſh pots) which they paſſed in ignorance of God,Exod. 16.3. and the luſts thereof in ſuperſtition, and ſuch like: and ſo hauehave fallen from the grace of God, and hauehave departed from him, to whom yet they had profeſſed themſelues to hauehave been infinitly indebted, as for his other benefits; ſo eſpecially for his Goſpell, in the which they ſeemed to take no ſmall delight for a ſeaſon.Iohn 5.35. But theſe when I conſider their falſehood towards God, and their double dealing, that they would not giuegive their hearts to him to beleeue his mercies,Matth. 19.29. to be their onelyonly treaſures, and ſo hold faſt their confidence in him (who would ſufficiently hauehave recompenced their forſaking of the world) I ceaſe meruailing at them, although they are fallen from an high account and eſtimation among the ſeruants of God,The fals of many Profeſſors hauehave made them vile. vntounto a vile and reprochfull eſtate, to be reckoned with the vnbeleeuers; ſome of them making this their chiefe religion, rather to be iudges and cenſurers of their brethren, then to hold and retaine louelove and fellowſhip with them. For whom yet, I will not ceaſe to intreate the Lord dailie, that if any of them belong to him, it would pleaſe him to awake them, and to bring them home with the prodigal ſonne, in the ſight of thoſe who hauehave ſeene their reuolt: that ſo, not onelyonly themſelues may be ſaued, though they take ſhame in the world; but others alſo, who were imboldened to ſinne by their example, may be reclaimed.
Thus, the louelove of theſe men hath conſtrained me, a little to go aſide in lamenting their miſerie, becauſe I hauehave knowne many of them, who hauing ſhined as lights for a ſeaſon, are become miſtie cloudes to hinder light from others: whom I alſo counſell to conſider, that they hauehave not been driuen away from their holy profeſſion by perſecution (which if they had been,Some hauehave fallen away before trouble came. might hauehave giuen better hope of them to their brethren, that meere weakeneſſe had hindered them) but they hauehave gone away from their first louelove, and broken off their fellowſhip with their brethren, euen in the time of the Goſpell flouriſhing, and preached in ſome places with more power, then when they were in the beginning moſt earneſtly ſtirred vp to imbrace it: yea, and ſome of them then forſooke their good beginnings, not when Moſes was gone aſide from them, for the ſpace of fortie daies, but whileſt he was amongſt them, and in the middeſt of their tents, calling vponupon them to be ſound and conſtant, and to goe forward, as he had done long before: and himſelfe alſo (to Gods glorie be it ſpoken of ſome) with great courage and cheerefulnes of good example going before them. And therefore ſeeing their ſinne is the greater, they are to be aduiſed to looke for better aſſurance of their ſaluation, and whom they hauehave offended, that ſo they may repent,Let ſuch repent. and now take ſurer hold of eternall life, with the hand of their faith, rather than by ſo weake and ſmall occaſions to let it goe. For if they had in the feeling of their ſinne, feare, ſorrow, and other diſtreſſes for the ſame, been vnfainedly humbled, their hearts mollified, and they reſolued to ſeeke the forgiuenes thereof, and righteouſnes thereby, and that through the free imputation thereof by Ieſus Chriſt: they ſhould ſoundly hauehave had their diſeaſes healed, their ſorrow and doubtes expelled, and true comfort miniſtred from their faith in him, which would ſo effectually hauehave wrought in them, and hauehave raiſed ſuch an vnfained louelove to God againe, that they would for no cauſe hauehave been withdrawne; but rather hauehave ſet themſelues to growe in godlines with their brethren, then in the leaſt manner to hauehave returned to their former lusts of their ignorance;2. Pet. 1.9. from which they profeſſed themſelues to hauehave been purged.
This I hauehave written for their cauſes, who hauehave been content to be deceiued with an opinion of happines, and yet to be voide of it: who becauſe they hauehave had ſome light in the beholding of their ſinnes, and hauehave been wounded in conſcience for the guilt of them, and puniſhment due to the ſame; hauehave therefore perſwaded themſelues, that they hauehave been effectually called, when yet they hauehave not ſeene nor found this, that their ſinnes hauehave been pardoned to them: and in token thereof that they themſelues,2. Cor. 5.17. hauehave been changed in will, affection, and conuerſation: and ſo hauehave become new creatures. For though they alleage (and that iuſtly) that in the conuerſion of Paul, the people mentioned Act. 2.37.Iudg. 10.16. 1. Sam. 7.3.5. the returning of the people of Iſrael to God, in the time of the Iudges, and in the dayes of Samuel, and in ſuch other examples; the holy Ghoſt ſetteth downe their trouble of minde, their pricke of conſcience, and their great abaſing of themſelues, which I graunt are wrought in ſuch, as hauehave been truly penitent: yet there hath been ioyned alſo with theſe, an earneſt hungring after Gods merciemercy, an vnfained faith, the ſpirit of adoption ſealing vp their ſaluation vntounto them, and the liuelie fruites of the ſame: They hauehave beleeued that God hath become their moſt louing father through Chriſt Ieſus, who was before their fearefull iudge; and they hauehave hereby been inforced to louelove him therefore,1. Pet. 1.8. and to ſeeke now to pleaſe him with all their hearts: and theſe graces hauehave ſet them forward in a godly life to bring forth fruites, beſeeming their profeſſion.
1. Tim. 1.4.But theſe men furniſh not themſelues with faith, a pure heart, a good conſcience, change of their life, through the louing of God; but they let time end their griefe of mind, and their woundes of conſcience are healed outwardly with opinion that it is ſufficient repentance, onelyonly to be ſorrowfull: ſome not abiding the gripes of griefe, and yet not finding ſound comfort againſt them, hauehave caſt them off, and therefore in affliction are from time to time vexed with the returning of them againe, becauſe they were neuer driuen away kindly, nor aright. If they ſhall further defend themſelues this way, that they thought their courſe was good, to be thus caſt downe, ſeeing the lawe was preached to them, which conſtrained them thus to doe: and if they will aske, why we preached the iudgements of God to them, if we ſaw it not meete for them to be humbled?The Law is not to be preached without the Goſpell. I anſwere: firſt, the law was neuer preached alone by any diſcreete teacher, who himſelfe was skilfull in the doing of his dutie, but the Goſpell with it. Secondly, the law was not, nor is not preached to hold men vnderunder, with the yoke of feare and bondage; but to cauſe men to ſee their ſinne more cleerely:VVhy the Law is preached. and thereby their puniſhment to be due; that ſo they might come to themſelues in truth, and ſet more ſtore by Gods merciemercy, and Chriſts merits, which onelyonly can ſaue their ſoules, and miniſter them comfort. Thirdly, we hauehave not as from God approued, nor wiſhed any to reſt in any workes of the lawe, or the beſt actions which they could doe, when as yet they had no faith, nor perſwaſion of the remiſſion of their ſinnes, truly ſetled in them: but to haſte from thence with all ſpeede; and to trie themſelues both by rules and doctrine, as well as by their owne experience,2. Cor. 13.5. if Christ were in them, that ſo through him they might become acceptable. Now then if they hauehave heard and receiued one part of our Miniſtery, and not the other: if they hauehave placed happines in the repentance, which they hauehave fancied; and not in the knowledge of God through Chriſt, which we hauehave vrged; they hauehave been deceiued through the ſubtiltie of the tempter: if they hauehave ſought to pleaſe God, for feare of his vengeance, and not becauſe they hauehave found deliuerance from death, by his vndeſerued fauour; they hauehave laboured in vaine, and been with-holden from the principall fruit of the Goſpell preached. But no meruaile, for many are the ſleights, by the which the diuell keepeth his poſſeſſion in ſuch, as are not yet eſcaped his wiles and ſnares, in the which he holdeth them; not without their own good liking. He diſcourageth ſome from hope and confidence, that they are the Lords; becauſe they hauehave been more deepely pricked for their ſinne, and longer holden in doubtfulnes, then other of Gods children are; and that none hauehave ſo great temptations and conflicts, as they hauehave: But hauehave not they theſe afflictions to bring them vntounto God?How men abuſe their afflictions through Sathans vviles. And others he diſmaieth, and holdeth vnderunder with the contrarie: as that they cannot be Gods children, becauſe they hauehave neuer had that deepe ſorrow, and long lying in it, for their ſinne, as many of their brethren hauehave had: As though mens examples, and not rather Gods word ſhould be their rule to follow. So he ſuggeſteth this to ſome others, that their eſtate could not be good, ſeeing they hauehave not had their liues full of ſome outward croſſes, as ſome of the godly hauehave: and yet on the contrarie, many hauehave been long holden captiues with theſe cogitations, that they durſt not thinke themſelues to belong to Gods election,Pſal. 73.13, 14. ſeeing they are eueryevery while vnderunder one croſſe or other. Thus the diuell (whoſe malice and ſubtiltie few doe know, fewer doe well weigh, but feweſt of all doe wiſely and carefully reſiſt) the diuell, I ſay, holdeth numbers occupied about theſe and ſuch like points: wherein the triall of their happines, and certaintie of their peace doth not conſiſt. And becauſe religion and holie doctrine doth affect them, and that he ſeeth they will needes imbrace the ſame, he laboureth to keepe them at this ſtay, to hold themſelues contented with that ſhadow, though they be vncertaine of their eſtate to Godward, and remaine in ſuſpence and little hope of their ſaluation: and ſo hee permitteth them to hauehave the letter of the Scripture in their mouth, and to talke generally about religion, or (if occaſion be offered) about ſome queſtions,Pſal. 50.16. and matters concerning the ſame; but they hate vtterly to be reformed. Who ſeeth not that he holdeth theſe in errour and bondage, as groſſely as he doth the other before mentioned?Looke to that which is principall. who trouble themſelues about opinions and conceits, which are not the chief and maine points to occupie themſelues about; as though happines conſiſted in them, but may faile of eternall life (for all that) when they hauehave all done?
For neither doth this commend a man to God, whether he hath long continued in griefe of minde, feare of conſcience, and doubtfulnes of ſaluation: but that he be well freed and deliuered from ſuch trouble, and diſcharged of his feare: I meane that hee can heartily thanke God through Ieſus Chriſt, that he ſeeth and feeleth himſelfe ſet at libertie, and by him is made happie: for if the truth of God and his promiſe make him free, then he is free indeed.Ioh. 8.32. Neither is this with a man, or againſt him in aſſuring himſelfe of ſaluation, whether his life be full of afflictions and croſſes, ſeeing God keepeth not alwaies, an euen hand in theſe things; for they are common both to good and bad: but that a man know himſelfe, though a wretched ſinner; yet through faith, to be iuſtified and acquitted before God: and therefore is at peace with God, Rom. 5.1.in himſelfe, euen ſuch as paſſeth all vnderſtanding, whether his croſſes bee many or few.
There are many things of like ſort, with which Sathan doth blindfold ſundrie of good hope: as that, for hauing ſome infirmities, or falles breaking foorth in them, therefore they cannot be beloued of God: and when they finde that in ſome ſort they can ouercome them, then they think they are the beloued of God: in neither of which a man is to place his ſafetie. For both the deare Saints of God may poſſibly be led out of the way,When a man is none of the worſt, he may be farre from being good. to commit ſomewhat offenſiuely: neither is he to promiſe well to himſelfe, who ſometimes keepeth from ſinnes, which at other times he hath fallen into: for it may be, that there is no great occaſion offered him that way; or he is otherwiſe buſied, ſo as he is not ſo eaſily carried after ſuch temptations; or ſome ſinnes of another ſort as grieuous, doe hold him vnderunder. And therefore ſeeing many are deceiued this way, partly for want of knowledge and grounded iudgement in the truth, and partly whiles they hauehave through long cuſtome been detained and holden in ſuch ſnares, they are to be deſired in the moſt earneſt manner, that they would beſtow ſome of their time and meditations about the ſubſtance and marrow of their happines, to ſee that they hauehave a part in it indeed:1. Pet. 1.10. and as S. Peter ſaith, to giuegive all diligence to make their calling and election ſure: and in trying by all meanes, whether their faith, their hope, their patience, and louelove be ſound, though vnperfect; and true and effectuall, though weake and feeble: for vponupon theſe the matter dependeth.
And if they can be certified, that the ſpirit of God ſince, and through their hearing of his Goſpel preached vntounto them, hath ſhed ſuch grace into their harts, as to make them partakers of the fruites thereof, they ſhall not neede to bee troubled about the other: and if they contrariwiſe finde that they doe yet want theſe, they muſt fully purpoſe to ſeeke for them; and not to feed themſelues with a vaine and a deceitfull hope, ſtaied vponupon no good ground nor foundation at all.
And here I muſt further require, that ſuch as, to whom God giueth any worke of his ſpirit, and whoſe hearts he ſeaſoneth with good affections and deſires through the Goſpell, ſo as they ſenſibly feele themſelues to looke after eternall life, that they would cheriſh, and make much of theſe holy ſparks of grace kindled within them: and whiles they bee warme in them, to blow them vp eueryevery while, with the bellowes of feruent prayer, and to inflame them by acquaintance, companie, and conference with ſuch, as in whom they ſee God hath wrought the ſame things before them; and in greater meaſure, then in themſelues: alwaies highly reuerencing Gods gifts in them,Iam. 4.2. that they may the ſooner come by them: and that the things which they ſee but dimly, they may behold more cleerely, and their doubts may be reſolued to them, and they may finde comfortable incouragement to goe forward.Let the vnſtaied ones vſe all meanes to be conuerted. But eſpecially, they muſt giuegive attendance daily and diligently to the doctrine of faith and godlines, where they may enioy that ſoundly preached vntounto them: aſſuring themſelues that if they finde not that the one thing aboue all things, chiefe and neceſſarie, they louelove it not, as Mary did, Luk. 10.42. and then they ſhall not hauehave their part in it. But otherwiſe they may know, that God, who doth ſhew himſelfe kind and louing to ſuch as ſeeke him not, (as it is written,Eſai. 65.1. I was found of them that ſought me not) will not hide himſelfe from them which doe ſeeke him; ſeeing he findeth all in their filth, when he calleth them to repentance, euen the beſt. And finally, they muſt waite vponupon him, deſiring him in his good time (notwithſtanding their vnworthines) to draw them by his ſecret grace vntounto him. But this ſhall ſuffice to hauehave bin ſaid of them who thinke themſelues Chriſtians and are not, but doe lie: and of them who hauehave left their firſt louelove of the Goſpell and of their brethrē, which ſometime (as it ſeemed) they had. Which two being of the forwardeſt ſorts of profeſſors, who goe for true beleeuers, and yet being none indeede, doe iuſtifie the eſtate of the weakeſt ſeruants of God, to be approued of him and happie, being farre different from them. Which although I hauehave by the way as it were ſpoken to admoniſh both: yet principally and moſt chiefly, I hauehave done it, for the vpholding & comfort of Gods weake ſeruants, who may ſee him moſt louing and gracious vntounto them euen in that, I meane their abaſement and humiliation: which they ſometime thought to be their vtter and extreame miſerie. And thus much of the ſecond point of the ſecond part or generall head: namely, of the ſtaying of the weake Chriſtians, and how they differ from vnbeleeuers.
Thus I hauehave, not as I would, but as I could,The third head ſet downe my meditations vponupon this firſt point, to ſhew, who are the true people of God, and giuen occaſion to many, who hauehave little to ſay for themſelues, why they ſhould claime any right or title in that great purchaſe, to conſider of their eſtate more deeply and ſeriouſly then they hauehave done. If theſe, who are almoſt Chriſtians, and (as I may ſay) not farre from eternall life, being many of them vſuall hearers of Sermons, would inquire about their eſtate, till they ſhould ſee it good, as I am ſure the other may bee well ſtaied by this which I hauehave written, I ſhould not be a little comforted, whom for their good (which I heartily deſire and pray for) this I beſeech to heare me in. What wiſedome ſhall they ſhew, to be careleſſe in ſo weightie a matter as this is, concerning their ſaluatiō, and that their care in matters tranſitorie can neuer be enough? or what ſound comfort doe they looke for, whiles they reſt but in vncertainties about the aſſurance thereof, which yet to miſſe and goe without, is their vtter and perpetuall deſolation? But they hope they are in good caſe, and perſwade themſelues that they are in the eſtate of grace. I am farre from enuying it them: I would to God that I could hope ſo too.
But what euidence or proofe hauehave they of it? They can anſwere, none, but this, that they profeſſe Chriſt, and louelove the Goſpell, and contemne Poperie. They heare Sermons oft, and thinke not well of them who doe not ſo. Some of the forwarder ſort, doe thinke verely ſometime, that they beleeue, and ioy therein, and ſometime weepe at a Sermon: but this is their anchor that they hold themſelues by, long after: when they be able to ſpeake of ſuch times and actions done in them. But when they hauehave been at the beſt, hauehave they then put foorth themſelues a little further, to demaund: are theſe things ſufficient markes and teſtimonies of our ſaluation? or if they be not, do they inquire what be? And do they not ceaſe trying their ſtate, till they can proue it to be good indeed? and vntill they finde reſt to their ſoules that cannot deceiue them? Nay rather, they come not to this at all, that they can applie Chriſt to them: that ſtudie is vtterly vnwelcome to them and vnſauourie. They can doe any thing but that: and why ſo? Verely, euen to the end they may be deceiued: as men that hauehave matter at law, and are in ſute, boaſt much of their caſe, but yet are very loath to come to triall of it: and why are they afraid ſo to doe, but for that they know they hauehave no good euidence to ſhew for it?
They may be compared in this, to King Nabuchadnezzar: Dan. 4.26.he was very earneſt to heare the interpretation of his dreame, and could not be ſatisfied vntill he heard the ſame. But this was not all that behooued him to doe. For when he ſaw that God gaue him twelue moneths to repent of his pride (for the which, his dreame told him his kingdome ſhould depart from him) he forgot his dreame like a dreame, and did not repent, but at the twelue moneths end began a freſh to increaſe his pride, crowing and boaſting of his wealth and honour, thus: Is not this great Babel, which I hauehave built, for the houſe of my kingdome, by the might of my power, and for the honour of my maiestie? Wherby we ſee, that he was more deſirous to know what his dreame meant, then to bee warned by it: Euen ſo, theſe profeſſors (which I ſpeake of) are very carefull to heare the glad tidings of the Goſpell preached, and cannot bee withdrawne or diſſwaded from it: but to lay their eſtate with it, and to take this warning by it, that they will receiue the print of it vponupon their hearts and liues, and bee caſt into the mould of it; that (I ſay) they cannot be brought vntounto: for then they ſhould finde it to be the power of ſaluation to them, for the which end it is preached.
But what is the cauſe that they going ſo farre before many other, who are profeſſors alſo, cannot be brought to goe beyond them in this as well? and herein to be equall to the beſt louers of the Goſpell? I meane, in prouing and examining,2. Cor. 13.5. Rom. 8.9. whether Chriſt be in them, without they be reprobates: and whether they hauehave not the ſpirit of God, without which they be none of his? The maine cauſe is this:Ierem. 5.3. Their hearts are not vpright: nor they will not deale plainly with the Lord. They cannot ſay in truth: Search me (O Lord) and ſee if there be any vnrighteouſnes in me, which I doe hide within me: and it ſhall be remoued out of thy ſight:Iob. 20.12. Nay it is certaine, if they might come to triall, that they doe keepe ſome ſinne (as Iob ſaith) euen as a child doth ſugar vnderunder the palate. Sundrie faults, I graunt, ſuch will refraine both themſelues, and driue them out of their families: but yet for all that, they will not bee brought to this, to make profeſſion that they will be willing to be reformed in what part of their life ſoeuer they may bee iuſtly chalenged: for then they ſhould not blemiſh their religion, as the beſt of that ſort doe.
Neither doe they ſet their priuiledges, which they hauehave by the Goſpell, before all other things alwaies: they thinke it ouer ſtrict, that they ſhould be tied ſo narrowly: and that it is neither beſeeming wiſedome, credit, ciuilitie, policie, grauitie, or ſuch place and calling as ſome of them may bee in, to ſhew what is in them (though they be zealous) they ſay, but too baſe a thing for them; when yet the Scripture ſaith, I beleeue, and therefore I hauehave ſpoke. And againe,2. Cor. 4.13. Pſal. 69.9. The zeale of thine houſe hath conſumed me. And againe, if this be to bee vile and baſe,2. Sam. 6.25. Pſal. 16. I will yet be more vile for the Lords ſake that hath honoured me. Yea and they thinke it is more then needeth, that all their delight ſhould be in the Saints which are on the earth,Pſal. 133.2. and ſuch as excell in vertue: and that they ſhould be companions with ſuch as feare God; when yet the communion of Saints is more pleaſant and ſweete then was Aarons ointment, and more fruitfull then mount Hermon was, with the dew, and Sion and her vallies about her, with the ſiluer droppes that fell vponupon them. Yea for the preciouſnes thereof the Church ſpake thus of it:Pſal. 137.6. If I preferre not Ieruſalem, that is, the welfare of Gods people, before all ioy that I hauehave on earth beſide, then let me loſe my beſt delight.
To returne, they of whom I ſpeake, though in their owne opinion, and in the iudgement of ſome others, they be in right good ſtate to Godward: yet God, whoſe thoughts are not as mans, and the truth which muſt giuegive good report of them, as well as men, iudgeth and determineth of them farre otherwiſe, if that be the beſt that can be ſaid of their faith and repentance, which I hauehave ſet downe. For the elect and deare children of God doe farre otherwiſe:Matth. 13.44. Luk. 10.42. They hauing found the pearle, ſell all that they hauehave to buy it; though they are occupied about many things, yet that one (euen the word of God) is chiefe with them. Their louelove of it, is ſtrong as ielouſie,Cant. 8.6. that admitteth no recompence; and as death that cannot be reſiſted. They caſt not away their confidence, if they once grow to ſee what recompence of reward it hath:Hebr. 10.35. Reuel. 3.11. Iohn 1.12. 1. Cor. 14.1 Matth. 15.6. nor will not ſuffer any to take their crowne from them, euen their honour that they hauehave in being the Lords ſonnes and daughters. They couet ſpirituall things, they hunger and thirſt after righteouſnes: they with good and honeſt hearts receiue the word, and bring foorth fruite in due ſeaſon.Luk. 8.15. They if they hauehave offended their moſt louing father,Cant. 3.3. cannot be quiet till they returne and come home againe, and ſay, wee hauehave ſinned. And if they be in worſe eſtate then this, they like it not, vnleſſe it be when they are fallen aſleepe,Cant. 5.2. and hauehave forgotten themſelues.
And yet what doe they in all this, more then they ought? feeling for all this, their wants and burdens, of which they complaine and crie out. And whereas they are mocked and euill ſpoken of, for this, that they doe thus carrie themſelues in the louelove of heauenly things, and in the hope of immortalitie, farre more feruently then they who are not intitled to any ſuch thing: it is hard to ſay, whether they who offer them this iniurie, doe moſt offend in hindring the honour of God thereby, or their neighbours welfare,Ioh. 6.27. or their owne ſaluation? For God commaunds, that wee ſhould labour rather for the foode that abideth to eternall life, then for that which periſheth. And what doe we offend then, who doe ſo? and is it not our gaine and benefit, if we doe ſo? Therefore let men for ſhame, and feare of iuſt damnation, deſiſt from ſuch madnes.
But to returne to them to whom I ſpeake, and to conclude in a ſentence or two to them, and ſuch as they are: I ſay therfore, giuegive no reſt to your ſelues, till you can prooue that you be in the eſtate of ſaluation: You hauehave many waies ſet downe, by which you may doe it, euen in this treatiſe; in other godly mens labours; and eſpecially in the Scriptures. Loſe not all your labour which you hauehave beſtowed in ſeeking to be ſaued: I meane your reading, hearing of Sermons, praying, and confeſſing your ſinnes (it is loſt, if you attaine not that which you ſeeke.) You are not farre from it, a little more humilitie and truth of heart, will bring you further into the eſtate of happines, then that ye can fall any more from it. Be neuer ſatisfied, till ye hauehave more then an vnrepentant perſon can hauehave. You count it no toyle to ſweate in hay and harueſt: This is another manner of ſubſtance; if ye once had part in it, ye would not forgoe your portion for a kingdome. And thinke this of me, who am not aſhamed to be ſaid to hauehave giuen you this counſell, I know what I ſay in thus prouoking, and labouring to perſwade you: if ye refuſe, neuer looke to come to the like offer. And to you, and as many as deſire ſaluation,Iohn 6.70. how farre off ſoeuer as yet ye be; know that ye are in the eſtate of diuels,2. King. 2.13. if ye continue as ye be: and ye are the liker to continue ſo, the longer ye liue, if while ye be called, ye refuſe. You are as outlawes: Gods care reacheth not to you, neither are you vnderunder his protection, being his enemies; but he or ſome of his ſergeants will arreſt you, when you thinke not of it: and hell will receiue you; and the happines which other ſhall hauehave, will flie from you: which God forbid.