Sermons Experimental, Sermon 1 · Verse 10
VERSE. X.
I beleeved, therfore have I ſpoken: I was greatly afflicted.
COnnexion this; Why all this? Anſw. I beleeved, therefore have I ſpoken; the ſenſe, ſee 2 Cor. 4.13. The particulars are. 1. His Act. 2. The iſſue, or fruit of that Act. In the Act again we conſider. 1. What it is to beleeve. 2. What it was that David here now beleeved.
For the firſt, Firſt, There is doubting, that is, when a man hangs in aequilibrio in even poyſe betwixt both parts of the Contradiction, as ſuppoſe the queſtion were, Whether Adam fell immediately upon his Creation? Secondly, There is ſuſpition, that is, When a man hath ſome inclination to beleeve the thing to be true, meerely out of the poſſibility of the thing to be, as ſuppoſe the queſtion were, Whether Chriſt ſhould have been incarnate, if man had never fallen? Thirdly, There is opinion, that is when a man hath ſome probabilities inducing him to beleeve the thing propounded to be true, as if the queſtion were, Whether we ſhall know each other in heaven? Fourthly, There is Science, when a man upon certain demonſtrative proofs aſſents as upon certainty to the Trueth of the thing propounded, ſuppoſe the queſtion to be, Whether there be a God? whether this God be one? Fiftly, There is Fides, when a man firmly aſſents to the trueth of the propoſition, not for argument probable, or demonſtrative, but for the authority of the Teſtis, or witneſſe that doth ſpeak it; as for example, Whether God be One and Three? There can be no argument, a priori, brought to demonſtrate it, onelyonly becauſe God teſtifies it to be ſo, Who beſt knows himſelf, and the divers manners of exiſtance: Now, firmly to aſſent to this Article, is an Act of Faith.
What was it that David profeſſeth here to beleeve?
Anſw. It was, That he ſhould walk before God in the land of the living.
The quaere is, Whence was this Teſtimony?
Anſw. It might be, that he had, as*Iſa. 38. Hezekiah, his word from God, that hee ſhould live to raign over Iſrael, notwithſtanding all the oppoſitions of Saul; Nay, queſtionleſſe it is true, he had from Samuels mouth ſuch aſſurance, that he ſhould raign over Iſrael, 1. Sam. 16.12.
Secondly, There is a Two-fold Teſtimony of God. Firſt, One is Verball. Secondly, Another is Reall, as for example, When the Apoſtles preached Chriſt to the Gentiles, they teſtified it was he, whom God had appointed to be Saviour of the World; this was a Verball Teſtimony. Secondly, But God confirmed this word by miracles, by ſignes, and wonders, This was a Reall Teſtimony, Heb. 2.4.
But whereto ſerveth all this?
Anſw. It is well, if from this you underſtand the nature of Faith; wherein who almoſt erres not? not every perſwaſion, or firm aſſent to a thing as true, is divine Faith; Saint Paul ſaith of himſelf before his Converſion, Act. 26.9. he thought, and was perſwaded he might do many things againſt the Name of Ieſus; according to that of our Saviour,*Ioh. 16.2. They that kill you ſhall think they do God good ſervice; And who makes queſtion, but theſe all were lead by a word of God, ſounding to their apprehenſion ſuch, as carryed away their Concluſion cleare. I am perſwaded it is true, there is many a Papiſt in this Kingdom, thinks truly, and is throughly perſwaded, that all the errors of the Trent Councill are Gods Trueth; and they are not all ſo ſottiſh, but they ſee Texts of Scripture alledged to that end. And what can you think of Anabaptiſts, have they not Scripture. to induce them to beleeve that Children ought not to be baptized? What of Browniſts? Have they not*2 Cor. 6.17. Scripture for their ſeparation? Tertullian did no wrong, when he ſaid Scriptures were officina haer…ſium, a ſhop of Hereſies, if by Scriptures you underſtand the Scriptures taken after the Letter; for it is true, the Letter is often fairer for Hereticks, then for Orthodox Chriſtians; as that paſſage was for Arrius, Pater major eſt me, The rather is greater then I: I ſpare mentioning the errours of our own people; onelyonly I adviſe.
Firſt, Beware how you make ſcripture ſound otherwiſe, then the Inſpirer of Scripture, meant it; and this know, not every concluſion, or Article that hath the Letter of Scripture fair, is Gods Teſtimony; but onelyonly the Scripture taken in true ſenſe, after the intenſion of him, who inſpired it.
For my part, I ſay as Moſes, would God you did all propheſie, and were able to interpret! But this let me tell you, it is fearfull taking Gods Name in vain, when men ſhall peremptorily ſay, God ſaid what never came into his heart: Said God ever, Infants ſhould not be baptized? It never came into his heart: Said God ever, that we may have no commerce with wicked men in word, and Sacraments? or that otherwiſe we could not be aſſured, we were ever taken out of the world; that is, out of the ſtate of the world? He never ſaid it, nor did it once come into his heart. Said God ever unto the people, It ſhall be lawfull for you to interpret Scripture publickly, or privately, doubtfull Scriptures, I mean? or, Did he ever promiſe, ye ſhould know what was concealed in them, but by your miniſters? He never ſaid it, it never came into his heart to think it: It was never Gods minde, the people ſhould be their own guides; for if ſo, he would never have ſent Philip to guide the Eunuch, Act. 8. 31. nor Saint Peter to teach Cornelius, Act. 10. Think of it as you pleaſe, it is not my Popery, but your Pride to think, or do otherwiſe. Secondly, This well helps us to diſſolve the doubt Papiſts caſts on us, when we teach, that the Aſſurance we have of Gods love in particular to us is a point of Faith:
They ask, Where is our Word?
Anſw. To which many things might be anſwered, Firſt, That we have a word Intentionally particular, as when Saint Peter ſaith, …o *Act. 2.39.you were the Promiſes made, it is all one as if he had ſaid to thee, and thee. Secondly, Generale applicatum ad hunc & hunc is aequipollent to a particular, as when they in their penetentiall Forum ſay, abſolvo te, ſo we when by Sacraments we apply the generall promiſe. Thirdly, Gods Teſtimony is not all Vocall, there is a reall Teſtimony Gods work in us, 1 Ioh. 5.10. He that beleeveth in the Sonne of God hath this witneſſe in himſelf, his very beleeving the impreſſion of Faith on his ſoul, is Gods Teſtimony; wherefore ſuch are ſaid to be ſealed by the Spirit of God, 2 Cor. 1.22.
Follows now the fruit of Davids faith, in theſe words; Therefore have I ſpoken: It lovs not to conceal, delights rather to utter its Credulity, pro loco & tempore, ſee 2 Cor. 4.13. Rom. 10.10 alſo Pſal. 40.9, 10.
How farre we ſtand bound to the performance, is matter of profitable enquiry, and in theſe times (though peaceable) ſomething neceſſary?
This is the Reſolution for the generall. Firſt, It being a precept affirmative, though it binds ſemper, yet it binds not ad ſemper, nor is abſolutely neceſſary to ſalvation to be actually performed; ſave only pro loco, & tempore; ſuppoſe when it draws with it neglect of honour due to God, or edification & furtherance in faith to brethren. The Precept touching confeſſion is two wayes to be conceived. Firſt,Conſule 2 Theſ. pag. 71, 72, 73. & in cap. 1. v. 11 Negatively, binding not to deny. Secondly, Affirmatively, binding to confeſſe. Not to deny the faith at any time, we are bound at all times upon pain of damnation; whether this deniall be by words, or deeds, or ſignes; Chriſt thunders, ſpeaks not, Luke 9.26. Secondly, The tears were bitter which Saint Peter wept after this ſinne, Matth. 26.75. Thirdly, Church-Cenſures in all times ſevere againſt it, admitting none to reconciliation, but after tedious, and longſome penance. Fourthly, No marvell, for that is ſimpliciter, & ex ſe malum.
Now, when, or in what caſe we are bound to actuall, and open confeſſion of faith upon pain of damnation, (I ſuppoſe in times of perſecution) is matter of difficult reſolution: Rules herein ſome thus aſſigne: Such confeſſion is ſometimes an act of religion, as when without it the honour due to God, and his truth, ſhould fall to the ground, then a duty to confeſſe. Secondly, Of duty, either by courage to win an alien, or confirm a weakling, or to prevent apoſtacie of the wavering; then a duty to confeſſe. Thirdly, Of juſtice, in reſpect of the perſon a man ſuſtains, or office he bears, ſuppoſe of a Paſtour, or Teacher in the Church; then a duty to confeſſe: Howbeit, when religion, or charity, or juſtice binde to confeſſe, they leave us to the dictate of prudence.
We have a more ſure word of propheſie, to which we ſhall do well to attend; That one Text in Saint Peter, *1 Pet. 3.15.as to my apprehenſion it (ſounds) ſpeaks more fully to guide us, then all the voluminous writings of their Angelicall, and Seraphicall Doctours; Be ready alwayes, &c. Rules theſe; Firſt, Secundum animi praeparationem, The precept of confeſſion binds all, ſo that we muſt be ready at all times to make confeſſion of faith, when God calls thereto; yea, though death ſtand ready to deterre us; ſee Luke 9.23. Take up the Croſse daily; 1 Cor. 15.31. Die daily. Secondly, When actuall confeſſion is neceſſary, as when our confeſſion puts on the nature of an Apologie, or neceſſary defence, and juſtification of truth exagitated by oppoſitions, and calumnies of adverſaries, or is endangered to ſuppreſſion by violence of perſecution; then ſay the Lord calls thee to confeſſe thy faith, then think a wo belonging not onelyonly to the denyer, but even to the betrayer of the faith. Thirdly, Eſpecially, if there be foreign, one that of authority interrogates, or elſe, of neceſſity begs of thee an opening of thine underſtanding, and credulity in the myſtery of faith in Chriſt. Other queſtions here alſo fall in to be diſcuſſed as pertinent to this purpoſe; As, Firſt, Whether it may not be lawfull to conceal our faith in times of danger▪ or, whether it be lawfull to flie in times of perſecution? or, whether it be warrantable ultroneouſly to offer our ſelves to martyrdome? &c. For the plenary reſolution of each whereof, together with their ſeverall applications, I remit the Reader to my Notes upon the 2 Theſ. 1.11. where theſe queſtions are purpoſely, and upon ſomewhat like occaſion, largely diſcuſſed, and reſolved.