Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 2 · Lecture 34
LECTƲRE XXXIV.
PHILIP. 2. …erſ. 12.13.
With feare and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both the will and the deede, euen of his good pleaſure.
WIth feare and trembling] From theſe words ſome there are that gather that vncomfortable doctrine of the vncertaintie of our ſaluation,Rhem. in loc. affirming it to be pride and preſumption to dare to be ſo bold as to be aſſured of our ſaluation, and cleane contrary to the teaching the Apoſtle in this place. So that the meaning of the A…ſtle by their iudgements in this place is this, that we ſhould worke our ſaluation that yet wee ſhould alwaies doubt of …r ſaluation. But how farre this is wide of the Apoſtles meaning, may eaſily appeare by thoſe manifold Scriptures whe… by the certainety or our ſaluation is affirmed, and conſequ… ly this vncomfortable doctrine of the doubting of our ſal… tion is vtterly ouerthrowne. I am ſure, Iob. 19 25.26.27.ſaith Iob, that m… … deemer liueth, and he ſhall ſtand the laſt vponupon earth, and though after my shinne wormes deſtroy this body, yet ſhall I ſee God … fleſh, whom I my ſelfe ſhall ſee, and mine eies ſhall behold, and … other for mee. Lord how this holy man ſo aſſureth himſelfe of his ſaluation, that he beates vponupon it as if hee could … ſatisfie himſelfe with any words, but fills his mouth with… ioycing hereat amidſt all his afflictions.Rom. 8.38. I am ſure, ſaith …, my Redeemer liueth, I ſhall ſee God in my fleſh, I my ſelfe ſhall … him, mine eies ſhall behold him, none other for mee but I my … ſhall behold him. He doth as fully aſſure himſelfe of his ſaluation as if he were already in full poſſeſſion thereof. Of the like aſſurance of his ſaluation our Apoſtle proteſteth, ſaying, I … perſwaded that neither death, nor life, nor Angells &c. Whe… the Apoſtle doth not onelyonly ſpeake of a probable perſwaſion, but of ſuch a ſure confidence; as whereby elſe where he ſaith, from henceforth there is laid vp for me a crowne of righteouſnes &c. 2 Tim. 4.8.Neither groundeth he this perſwaſion vponupon any ſpeciall re… lation, but vponupon that ground which is common to him … all the faithfull euen the louelove of God in Chriſt Ieſus. No… as Iob, and Paul, not to inſtance in any others, aſſured themſelues of their ſaluation, ſo we by the power of the ſame ſpir… and vponupon the ſame ground of the louelove of God in Chriſt Ieſus may and ought to aſſure our ſelues of our ſaluation. True… is that if our ſaluation and the certainty thereof ſtood any way in our ſelues, or depended vponupon our workes, wee might indeed iuſtly doubt of our ſaluation, as knowing our ſelues by reaſon of our ſinnes and iniquities to hauehave deſerued death and damnation. But the ground, and the foundation of the certainty of our hope is the ſure promiſes of God in Chriſt Ieſus, who hath promiſed in his word eternall life to all th… beleeue. We looke not vponupon our ſelues, or our owne works, or our owne worthines (for then muſt we needs doubt) b… we looke vponupon him that hath promiſed: euen as Abraham did, whoſe faith we are to follow; of whom it is ſaid, that her neither did conſider his owne body, which was now dead, …eing almoſt an hundreth yeares old, neither the deadneſſe of …raes wombe;Rom. 4.19.20.21. neither did he doubt of the promiſe through … beliefe (where note how doubting is tearmed vnbeliefe) …t was ſtrengthened in the faith, and gaue glory to God, be …g fully aſſured that he which had promiſed was alſo able to …e it. He then being faithfull which hath promiſed ſaluati…n to them that belieue in his name, we are ſure to be ſaued. …ut what neede we to looke farther for this point then into … every nature of faith? which the Apoſtles hauehave defined to …e ſuch a full aſſurance, that if ye take away aſſurance ye take way faith. For what elſe doth that meane that the Apoſtle …metimes calleth faith the ground of things which are hoped for, Heb. 11.1. Coloſſ. 2.5.…d the euidence of things that are not ſeene, ſometimes a ſtedfaſt …th; ſometimes a full aſſurance, Rom. 4.21. Iam. 1.6.ſometimes an aſſurance without …uering; and ſometimes the anchor of the ſoule both ſure and …dfaſt? Let vsus draw neere. ſaith the Apoſtle, with a true heart aſſurance of faith, ſprinkled in our hearts from an euill conſcience, Heb. 6.19.10.22.23.…d waſhed in our bodies with pure water. Let vsus keepe the profeſ… of our hope without wauering. for he is faithfull that promiſed. …oth the Apoſtle exhort vsus vntounto an aſſurance of faith, vntounto hope without wauering, reſting vponupon his promiſes that is …thfull and true? Surely if we ought thus to belieue, if wee …ght thus to hope, and that vponupon this ground that hee is …thfull that hath promiſed; then may we and ought to aſſure …r ſelues of our ſaluation. Whether then wee looke vponupon …e examples of holy men in the Scriptures, or vponupon the ſure …omiſes of God in Chriſt Ieſus made in the Scripture, or vp… the nature of faith in the writings of the Apoſtle; ſtill we …ll finde that we ought not to doubt, but certainely to aſſure …r ſelues of our ſaluation through a ſure and ſtedfaſt faith in …hriſt Ieſus, who hath promiſed life and ſaluation to all them at beleeue in his name.
This then may ſerue for the confutation of that vncom…rtable doctrine of the Papiſts, where they teach, that with…t ſpeciall reuelation no man ought, or can aſſure himſelfe … faith of his ſaluation. The erroneouſneſſe of which do…trine though it hath beene fully manifeſted by that which already hath beene ſaid for confirmation of the plaine oppoſite doctrine which we teach; yet for a further clearing of the truth in this point, I beſeech you in a few words to conſ… how weake proofes they bring for what they teach.
Why then I demand, may no man without ſpeciall re… lation aſſure himſelfe by faith of his ſaluation? Becauſe … man can ſay my heart it cleane, Pro. 20.9.I am pure from ſinne. Men … be cleane from ſinne, ſaith Bellarmine, but no man, ſaith he, … ſo, Lib. 3. de Iuſtif. c. 4.becauſe they that are cleaue cannot certainly know that they o… cleane, therefore no man without ſpeciall reuelation may aſſure himſelfe by faith of his ſaluation. But ſee the weaknes of this pro… which 1. is grounded vponupon a corrupt reading, as the te… the originall ſheweth, whence the words are thus to be read, who can ſay, I hauehave made my heart cleane? and are ſpoken to … preſſe the inſolencie of ſuch as thinke to be iuſtified by th… owne ſtrength. And 2. leaneth vponupon a point of mans p… from ſinne in this point, which plainely contradicteth the holy Ghoſt, both in that text, and throughout the whole Scripture which hath concluded all vnderunder ſinne. And 3. con… deth without promiſes,Gal. 3.22. inaſmuch as nothing thence can be concluded againſt aſſurance by faith of iuſtification, or ſal… tion. For though no man can ſay, that he hath made his be… cleane, that he is pure from ſinne in himſelfe, or by himſelfe, yet inaſmuch as the holy Ghoſt witneſſeth, that by faith … purifieth our hearts, Act. 15.9. 1 Ioh. 1.7.and that the bloud of Ieſus Chriſt clenſeth … from all ſinne, in him, and by him through faith in his blo… we may aſſure our ſelues of our iuſtification, and ſaluation.
Eccleſ. 9.1.Yea but the Preacher ſaying, that a man, (ſpeaking, ſaith Belarmine, of the iuſt, and wiſe,) knoweth not whether he be worthy of louelove, or hatred, but all things are kept vncertaine for the time … come, ſheweth thereby that not the iuſt, or wiſe, and ſo not the faithfull; can aſſure themſelues of their iuſtification, or ſaluation. But ſee the weakneſſe of this proofe alſo, which 1. as the forme… is grounded vponupon a corrupt tranſlation, as the originall … ſheweth, where the reading is much different from the vulgar and ſo very obſcure both there, and in the Greeke, that it i… an vnfit place for the proofe of ſuch a point. And 2. fail… in vnderſtanding that of the iuſt and wiſe only, which is ſpoken of all, both iuſt, and wicked, as the next verſe where the …eacher expoundeth himſelfe, ſheweth. And 3. prooueth …ely, that no man by outward things in this life knoweth …hether he be loued, or hated of God. For ſo the words are be read, that no man knoweth louelove, or hatred; i. whether hee loued, or hated of God, by all that that is before them. By the outward things which happen vntounto them. Which …peareth to be moſt true, in that neither the iuſt onelyonly proſ…er, nor the wicked onelyonly are afflicted, but the wicked many …nes flouriſh more than the iuſt, and the hand of God many …nes lieth heauier vponupon the iuſt then vponupon the wicked; but …aketh nothing againſt aſſurance of ſaluation by faith, which …neth not vponupon any outward things, but onelyonly vponupon the …omiſe of God in his word. Yea but Saint Paul, ſay they, …rſt not aſſure himſelfe that he was iuſtified, as appeareth by …at he ſaith, I know nothing by my ſelfe, 1 Cor. 4.4.yet am I not thereby iuſti…d: and therefore no man may aſſure himſelfe of his ſaluati…. But they might ſee,Rom. 8.33. 1. that the Apoſtle there ſpeaketh …t of any vncertainety of his iuſtification, whereof elſe where aſſureth himſelfe; but by expreſſe negatiue plainely denieth at he was iuſtified by the cleaneſſe of his conſcience that he …oweth nothing by himſelfe. 2. That he ſpeaketh there of …s miniſterie, and ſeruice therein, and acknowledgeth that …ough his conſcience accuſe him not of any crime therein, …r he is not thereby iuſtified. Which maketh againſt iuſtifi…tion by any thing in a mans ſelfe, though done in as great …rfection as mortall man can doe it, but not at all againſt iu…fication, or aſſurance of ſaluation by faith. Yea but when …e ſaith, worke your ſaluation with feare and trembling, Phil. 2.12.he ſpeak …h againſt the vaine preſumption of Heretikes, ſay the Rhe…ſts on that place, that makes men ſecure of their predeſti…tion and ſaluation, and willeth the Philippians to worke …eir ſaluation with feare and trembling,Pro. 28.14. according to that …her ſcripture, bleſſed is the man that alwaies is fearefull. Wher…nto the anſwere is, 1. that both the Apoſtle here, and Salo…on in that other Scripture, and the ſame Apoſtle againe when …e ſaith, be not high minded, but feare, and Peter when he ſaith,Rom. 11 20 1 Pet. 1.17 …ſſe the time of your dwelling here in feare: and the Spirit of God generally when he ſpeaketh to like purpoſe, ſpeaketh other againſt vaine preſumption in our ſtrength, without doe acknowledgment of our owne frailty, and due depending vponupon the Lord; or againſt careleſſe ſecuritie of our ſaluation, without due regard of Gods threats and iudgments, and without inward grace and feare of God, iſſuing into a godly life and conuerſation, but not againſt faithfull boldnes and confidence, not againſt aſſurance of our ſaluation by faith grounded vponupon the promiſes of God in Chriſt Ieſus.
2. That there is a twofold feare, a ſeruile feare, and a fili… feare; a feare oppoſite vntounto faith, and a feare attending vponupon faith; a doubting and diſtruſting feare, and a carefull and louing feare; a feare of diſcouraging diffidence, and a feare o… awefull reuerence; a feare from the law to be puniſhed, and a feare from grace to offend and deſerue puniſhment; a feare begotten by the ſpirit of bondage, and a feare begotten by the ſpirit of adoption; a feare whereof S. Iohn ſaith, there is … feare in louelove, 1 Ioh. 4.18. 2 Co. 7.11. Pro. 28.14.but perfect louelove caſteth out feare, and a feare when of S. Paul ſaith, that godly ſorrow cauſeth feare; and Salomon that bleſſed is the man that feareth alway. Now from that feare the Holy Ghoſt eueryevery where dehorteth, ſaying, Feare not, for I am with thee, Eſay 41.10.43.1.be not afraid, for I am thy God: and againe, feare not, Mat. 8.26.for I hauehave redeemed thee &c. and againe, why are yee feare full, O yee of litle faith? But vntounto this feare he eueryevery where exhorteth,Pſal. 2.11. ſaying, Serue the Lord in feare, and reioyce vntounto h… in trembling, or, with reuerence: and againe, feare him which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell, Luk. 12.5.yea, I ſay vntounto you,1 Pet. 2.17. Apoc. 14.7. him feare: and againe, Feare God, honor the King: and againe, Feare God, and giuegive glory to him; & generally where …e exhorteth vntounto feare, it is to this feare. So that when the Apoſtle exhorteth to worke our ſaluation with feare and trembling, …e exhorteth vntounto this feare, euen to feare the iudgements and threatnings of God, which the faithfull alwaies doe, becauſe faith beleeueth them; and to feare to truſt in our ſelues, which eueryevery faithfull man alſo doth, becauſe faith it ſelfe importeth truſt in God, and as the Apoſtles reaſon alſo ſheweth we ſhould, becauſe it is God which worketh in vsus both the will, and the deede, euen of his good pleaſure; and ſo to feare, as the Prophet doth, when he ſaith, ſerue the Lord in feare, and reioyce to … with reuerence; the words are as in the Apoſtle, cum timore tremore: but neither here, nor any where doth the Holy …hoſt exhort vntounto that ſeruile, and doubting, and diſtruſting …re, as to ſtand in feare of our ſaluation. Yea but ſeeing the …rd of God doth no where ſpeake namely and particularly … or of any of vsus, therefore by faith which is to be grounded on the word of God, we cannot aſſure our ſelues of our …uation. Whereunto firſt we anſwer, that though the word God ſpeake no where immediatly by name, and perſonally any of vsus, yet what it ſaith to beleeuers generally, it ſaith to …ery beleeuer; and what to ſinners generally, it ſaith to eueryevery …ner, and eueryevery man is to conceiue it as particularly ſpoken himſelfe, and to beleeue the ſame word preached by the …iniſter of the Goſpell, as if Chriſt himſelfe did perſo…ly ſpeake vntounto him. So that when as the word ſaith, …ecept yee repent, yee ſhall periſh, Luc. 13.3.hee that beleeueth this …rd, beleeueth alſo touching himſelfe that except he repent ſhall periſh; ſo when the word ſaith, that whoſoeuer belee…h in Chriſt ſhall not periſh, but hauehave euerlaſting life, Joh 3.15.as hence …ul ſaid to the Iaylor, Beleeue thou in the Lord Ieſus, Act. 16.31.and thou …t be ſaued; ſo eueryevery Miniſter of the Goſpell may ſay to …omas ſuch a one, Iohn ſuch a one, and Iames ſuch a one &c, …eeue thou in the Lord Ieſus and thou ſhalt be ſaued, and …ery beleeuer which beleeueth this word, may by faith …ounded on the word particularly aſſure himſelfe of his ſal…ion, becauſe he beleeueth, inaſmuch as otherwiſe the word …e not true, whoſoeuer beleeueth ſhall be ſaued. Secondly, we …e them whence their Prieſts, ſeeing the word doth no …ere ſpeake namely and particularly to any of them, hauehave …horitie to remit the ſinnes of their poenitentiaries? They …l tell vsus, though vntruly as they practiſe it, that they hauehave of them particularly authoritie from Chriſt his word, where ſaith, whoſoeuer ſinnes yee remit they are remitted vntounto them, Joh. 20.23.…d their poenitentiaries muſt beleeue it. Thus they will take …ue to themſelues, though they will not giuegive vsus leaue, from …enerall to inferre a particular. But if their ſeduced ones …ſt beleeue, that though their Prieſts be not there named, yet thence they hauehave all of them particularly authoritie to f… giuegive ſins, much more may eueryevery man that beleeueth, though he be not named where Chriſt ſaith, whoſoeuer beleeueth ſ… be ſaued, yet thence aſſure himſelfe particularly by faith of … ſaluation. Yet but ſeeing it is no article of the Creede, to beleeue a mans owne ſaluation, therefore no man is bound … beleeue it. Whereunto we anſwer, that in profeſſing the art… cles of our Creede, we profeſſe the aſſured beleefe of our o… ſaluation: for each man in his particular to profeſſe and ſay, I belieue in God the Father, I belieue in Ieſus Chriſt his Sonne, &c. is all one as to profeſſe and ſay, I beleeue in God, that he is … God, and my Father, and my ſtrong ſaluation; I beleeue … Ieſus Chriſt, that he was borne vntounto me, and died for my … and roſe againe for my iuſtification; I beleeue in the H… Ghoſt, that being ſanctified by his worke, I ſhall be glori… with my Sauiour; and I beleeue the holy Catholike Church that I am a member of it, and that vntounto me belongeth the forgiueneſſe of my ſinnes, the reſurrection of my bodie, a… life euerlaſting, without which particular application to … ſelues, the Deuill may beleeue the articles of the Cree… And albeit we doe not alwaies ſo infallibly beleeue our o… ſaluation as we doe aſſent vntounto the articles of the Creede, … as our faith is in degree leſſe, or greater, ſo our apprehenſion of ſaluation is weaker, or ſtronger; yet in our weake apprehenſion of our ſaluation we truely beleeue it, and ought… waies ſtrongly and ſtedfaſtly to beleeue it, and to pray wi… the Apoſtles, that from weakneſſe of faith, and ſlender aſſurance,Luc. 17.5. we may grow vntounto ſtrength of faith, and full aſſurance as the Apoſtles did. Yea but the greateſt certaintie we … hauehave of our ſaluation is onelyonly the certainety of hope, not an… certainety of faith; we may hope well of ſaluation doing o… duties, but we may not without great preſumption aſſure … ſelues by faith of it. Wherevnto we anſwer, 1. that howſoeuer hope as vulgarly men talke of hope, and as the Pap… ſpeake of it, be alwaies ioyned with feare, and doubt, and … vncertaine; yet the certainty of that Chriſtian hope where… the ſcripture ſpeaketh, and which nothing elſe but a conſt… and patient expectation of that which we beleeue ſhall be, … a vndoubted and ſure, as the certainety of faith, whereon it grounded, and whereof it is the proper effect;Rom. 5.5. inaſmuch as …e ſcripture ſaith of it, that hope maketh not aſhamed, which as Iuſtin noteth it ſhould doe,in Pſ. 36. Rom. 5.2. if he that hopeth failed of his …pe: and againe, that hope makes vsus to reioyce, which it ſhould …t if it made vsus not certaine and ſure of that we hope for: …d againe, he calleth hope an ancre of the ſoule, Heb. 6.19.both ſure and …dfast; and giueth vntounto it, confidence, 3.6.and reioycing, and aſſu…nce. 2. That doing our dutie can yeeld vsus neither faith, …r hope truely ſo called, becauſe wee come ſo ſhort of …ing our dutie, that as Hierom ſaith, if we conſider our owne …erits, we muſt needs deſpaire; and ſo our hope is grounded, …t vponupon doing our dutie, but vponupon faith, and it vponupon the …omiſe of God in his word, whence both faith and hope are …rtaine of that they beleeue, and hope for. 3. That it were …eat and wicked preſumption to hope for ſaluation by vertue our owne doings, but no other preſumption then godly to ſure our ſelues of our ſaluation by faith, inaſmuch as this is …e preſumption of true faith, which preſumeth not vponupon our …ne workes, but vponupon the grace of Chriſt, and vponupon the …omiſe of God made in his word. Let vsus now looke a litle …erer into the words; and the meaning of the words in this …ace of our Apoſtle is euident.
With feare and trembling] We are therefore to remember …hat I hauehave already told you, that there is a double feare men…oned in holy ſcriptures: the one a ſeruile and ſlauiſh feare, …ch as is in the children of diſobedience, who feare not to …end and diſpleaſe the moſt high God, but ſo feare the hor…r of that puniſhment which is due vntounto their ſinnes, that …ey carry with them euen an hell within their owne boſome. …ch a feare in the end breedeth deſpaire, and is alwaies ſo re…gnant vntounto louelove, that in louelove there is no ſuch feare, but per…ct louelove caſteth out ſuch feare. There is another feare,1 Ioh 4.18. which is godly, & a ſonne-like feare, ſuch as was in Iob, of whom it is …id, that he was one that feared God, and eſchewed euill; Job 1.1.and ſuch was in Cornelius, of whom it is ſaid, that he feared God with … his houſhold, and that he gaue much almes to the people, Act. 10.2.& that …aied continually. This is ſuch a feare as wherewith the good childe ſtandeth in awe of his father, and feareth to diſpleaſe him. For as the good and dutifull childe feareth his father albeit he doubteth not of his fathers louelove towards him, nay as he doth the more feare to diſpleaſe his father, the more certainely that he is perſwaded of his fathers louelove towards him: ſo the childe of God in whom this godly feare doth dwell, the more certainely he is perſwaded of the louelove of God towards him in Chriſt Ieſus, the more he feareth him with this feare, the more he feareth to diſpleaſe him; and therefore doth the more eſchew that which is euill, and follow after that which is good and acceptable in his ſight. And this is ſo farre vnlike vntounto that ſeruile and ſlauiſh feare, that this feare is neuer ſeuered from louelove, but the more we louelove the more we feare to diſpleaſe him whom we louelove, and the more we feare to diſpleaſe him whom we louelove, the more we louelove him. Now it is not to be doubted but that the Apoſtle in this place ſpeaketh of this godly feare, the other being ſuch a feare as the Holy Ghoſt throughout the whole ſcriptures would hauehave vtterly abandoned in all the children of God. Yea but it is added with feare and trembling, which ſheweth that the Apoſtle doth not ſpeake of ſuch a feare as hath with it ioyned aſſurance of louelove, but of ſuch a feare as is full of doubt; for trembling muſt needs argue doubtfulnes. See then I beſeech you that place of the Prophet where they are both ioyned as here in the Apoſtle, Serue the Lord with feare, Pſal. 2.11.ſaith the Prophet, and reioyce in trembling. Where by trembling cannot be meant any doubt or diſtruſt: (for what reioycing can be in ſuch trembling as ariſeth of doubt or diſtruſt?) but by trembling is meant a reuerence of his maieſtie, in whoſe louelove we are ſo to reioyce, as that withall we feare to diſpleaſe him. And as there the Prophet, ſo here our Apoſtle would hauehave vsus to ſerue the Lord with feare, to exclude all carnall ſecuritie, whereby we grow careleſſe and negligent to doe that which is good; and with trembling, to exclude arrogant preſumption, whereby we grow phariſaically proud of that good which we doe. The Apoſtle then when, he exhorteth vsus to make an end of our owne ſaluation with feare and trembling, his meaning is this, that we ſhould finiſh our courſe in doing ſuch good workes as God hath ordeined vsus to walke in. But how? with feare and trembling, .i. with all humblenes and reuerence towards God, not doubting of his louelove towards vsus, but becauſe we know he loueth vsus, fearing to diſpleaſe him, either by carnall ſecuritie of doing any good at all, or by vaine preſumption of our owne worthineſſe for that good which we doe.
The leſſon then which hence we are taught is, what ought to be the continuall conuerſation of a Chriſtian, and how we ought to walke in the whole courſe of our life. We ought to paſſe the time, euen the whole time of our dwelling here, 1 Pet. 1.17.as the Apoſtle ſpeakes, in feare, euen in the reuerent feare of his moſt holy name, in whoſe fauour is life, and ioy for euermore. Becauſe we know he loueth vsus in his well beloued Sonne, we ought to be moſt loth any way to diſpleaſe him, and as dutifull children we ought to auoide and eſchew eueryevery thing that may offend his godly will. If I be a maſter, Mal. 1.6.ſaith the Lord by his Prophet, where is my feare? Whence it is plaine that all that are his ſeruants ought to feare to deſpiſe his name, as the Prieſts there did, and to diſpleaſe the moſt high. Now two motiues there are which may perſwade vsus vntounto this reuerent and carefull walking in the whole courſe of our life, and feare to diſpleaſe him. The one is this, his eyes alwaies behold vsus, whatſoeuer wee doe is naked before him, hee knoweth the very thoughts of our hearts before wee doe conceiue them, and there is nothing hid from him. This ſurely ſhould make vsus watch euen ouer our thoughts, it ſhould make vsus carefull in all our waies that we doe not any thing whereby we may grieue his holy ſpirit. And if we kept this alwaies in remembrance, that whatſoeuer we doe God ſees vsus, it would ſtay oftentimes euen the beſt of vsus from many things which we doe. For therefore it is that we fall into many noyſome luſts, that we defile our ſelues with much filthineſſe of the world, that by many ſinnes we diſpleaſe our God, becauſe we thinke not of his preſence and forget that he ſees vsus. Which of vsus is there that in our Princes preſence would not, feare to diſpleaſe him? How much more ought we to feare to diſpleaſe our God, in whoſe preſence we are alwaies, and who beholdeth whatſoeuer we doe? Euen the regard of his maieſtie, before whom we ſtand, ſhould cauſe vsus to walke before him with feare and trembling. The other motiue to perſwade vsus vntounto a reuerent and carefull walking, as fearing to diſpleaſe our God, is this, the quicke and eagle-ſighted eyes of the wicked are euer prying and looking into all our waies, that they may hauehave ſome aduantage againſt vsus, whereby they may take occaſion to diſhonor our God, and to ſpeake ill both of vsus, and of the Goſpell which we profeſſe. This alſo ſhould make vsus watchfull ouer all our waies, that thereby we do not offend and diſpleaſe our God. HaueHave your conuerſation honest, ſaith the Apoſtle,1 Pet. 2.12. among the Gentiles, that they which ſpeake euill of you, as of euill doers, may by your good workes which they ſhall ſee glorifie God in the day of the viſitation. The Apoſtle ſaw that the Gentiles, among whom they liued, were ready to picke a quarrell at eueryevery litle thing wherein they offended, thereby to diſhonor God, and to diſcredit the Goſpell. And therefore he exhorted them to looke vntounto their conuerſation, that therby God might be glorified amongſt the Gentiles. And ſurely the Gentiles then were not more prying into the waies of Chriſtians, then the wicked and vngodly of the earth now are into the waies of Gods children. For if they tread awry, if they through the malice of Sathan, or the infirmitie of the fleſh, or the deceitfulnes of ſin ſlip out of the right way, wherin they ſhould walke, by and by the wicked hauehave it, and with open mouth they cry, theſe be our pure and holy men, theſe be our great profeſſors of the Goſpell, theſe be the men that would be counted the onelyonly religious men. How carefull then ought we to be of our conuerſation, euen in regard of the watchfull eye of the wicked, that we doe or ſay nothing, whereby they may take aduantage againſt vsus, or occaſion to diſhonor God, or to ſpeake ill of the Goſpell? Whether therefore we regard the maieſtie of our God, whoſe eyes alwaies behold vsus; or the quicke eyes of the wicked which narrowly eſpy into our waies, we ſee that we ought to paſſe the time of our dwelling here in feare, and to make an end of our ſaluation with feare and trembling.
Ought we then thus to walke before the Lord with feare and trembling? Here then are two extremities, which are as two cancres of the ſoule, to be looked vntounto; the one, carnall ſecuritie, thother vaine preſumption. For ſuch is Satans ſubtiltie, that firſt he laboureth to make vsus careleſſe of doing that is good; and then if he cannot ſo deceiue vsus, he taketh another courſe, and laboureth to make vsus proud of that good which we doe. But we ought to walke before the Lord with feare and trembling, therefore firſt we ought not to be careleſſe of doing that is good, but ſtill we ought to feare leſt our Lord and Maſter come in an houre when we ſhall be found doing no good. It was the fault of thoſe diſperſed Iewes vntounto whom Iames wrote, that they boaſted too much of their religion, and were too brag of their faith, but were altogether careleſſe of doing thoſe good workes wherein God had ordeined them to walke. And I wiſh it were not a fault in our daies, that men did now but too much content themſelues with the names onelyonly of faith, and religion, and were too careleſſe of doing that which is good. But beloued, let vsus know that if we beleeue in God we muſt walke before him in holineſſe of life with feare and trembling. We muſt not be careleſſe to doe good, but we muſt be carefull to ſhew forth good works, as the Apoſtle telleth vsus. This feare wherein we muſt walke muſt expell all careleſneſſe in walking.Tit. 3.8. And as this feare wherein we muſt walke muſt expell all careleſnes in our walking, ſo muſt it likewiſe expell all vaine preſumption and pride in our walking. It was the Phariſie you know that ſtept forth and ſaid,Luc. 18.11. O God I thanke thee that I am not as other men, extortioners, vniuſt, adulterers, or euen as this Publican: I faſt twiſe in the weeke, I giuegive tithe of all that euer I poſſeſſe. 12.And others there are as phariſaicall as this proud Phariſie was, who preſume ſo much of the worth of their works, that they dare by the merits of them chalenge heauen vntounto themſelues. But if the perſon of the poore Publican better beſeemeth vsus, of whom it is ſaid,13. that he did not ſo much as lift vp his eyes vntounto heauen, but ſmote his breaſt, ſaying, O God be mercifull to me a ſinner. We muſt not be puft vp with the vaine opinion of the worth of our works how good ſoeuer they ſeeme to be, but we muſt runne on the race that is ſet before vsus with feare and trembling. As holineſſe, ſo humbleneſſe and reuerence becommeth the houſe of God, which wee are, if wee beleeue aright in the Sonne of God,Pro. 14.16. and ſo liue as he hath commanded. A wiſe man feareth, and departeth from euill; but a foole rageth, and is careleſſe, ſaith Salomon. Whereby he teacheth vsus, that a reuerent feare of Gods Maieſtie is a notable meanes to make a good man to auoid ſinne. Paſſe the time therefore, I beſeech you, of your dwelling here, in feare, and walke in thoſe good workes which God hath ordained you to walke in, with feare and trembling, with feare (I ſay) and trembling, both in regard of the maieſtie of God, whoſe eyes alwayes behold vsus, leſt you diſpleaſe him; and in regard of the wicked, whoſe eyes are prying into whatſoeuer wee doe, that they may hauehave no aduantage againſt you. Grieue not the holy ſpirit, either by carnall ſecuritie and careleſneſſe to doe that good which yee ſhould, or by vaine and proud preſumption of the worth of that good which yee doe, but walke before the Lord as becommeth the Saints of God, with feare and trembling, fearing not to doe good, and trembling at the good which yee doe, leſt either not doing that good which yee ought, or preſuming of that good which yee doe, yee diſpleaſe him who loueth you, and in whoſe louelove is life and ioy for euermore. And let this be ſpoken touching the manner how wee ought to walke and to finiſh our courſe. Now followeth the reaſon why wee ought thus to walke.
For it is God which worketh, &c.] This is the reaſon why wee ought not ſimply to make an end of our owne ſaluation, but to make an end of our owne ſaluation with feare and trembling: with feare and trembling, why? For it is God which worketh, &c. Neither the will nor the deed in any thing well done is from our ſelues, that we ſhould be puffed vp with any pride thereof, but from the Lord; and therefore when hee guides vsus, wee ſhould not be ſecure to follow. It is God (ſaith the Apoſtle) that worketh in you both the will: the will, how? not by helping the weakneſſe of our will, as if being a little holpen by grace, it were in vsus to will that is good; but by ſanctifying our corrupt will, that whereas before it was wholly and only inclined vntounto euill, now it loueth, and liketh, and followeth after that which is good: and the deed, how? by giuing grace to doe that good, to the deſire whereof hee hath ſanctified our will. It is then as if the Apoſtle ſhould thus hauehave ſaid: Walke in well-doing before the Lord, but with feare and trembling; why? for it is not in you either to will or to doe that is good, but it is God that firſt ſanctifieth your wils, to deſire the things that belong vntounto your peace, to hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſſe, to acknowledge and lament your ſinnes, and the like, and afterwards giueth grace to beleeue and to liue according to God in Chriſt Ieſus. Whence are many leſſons for vsus.
Here then firſt that doctrine of free will is vtterly ouerthrowne. If wee will or doe any thing that is good, it is God that worketh in vsus both the will and the deed. Whoſoeuer therefore ſhall tell you, that wee hauehave power in our ſelues to will and to doe that which is good, and that wee need only to bee holpen, but not wholly aſſiſted by grace, beleeue him not. For I aske what it is that is left vntounto vsus, when both the will to doe good, and the deed it ſelfe, are giuen vsus of God? If it be God that worketh in vsus both the will and deſire to doe good, and likewiſe the grace of doing that which is good, then what is it that wee can challenge vntounto our ſelues? If it had beene ſaid, that God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end of eueryevery good thing that wee doe, then happily ſome ſtarting-hole might hauehave beene found. But when it is ſaid, that it is God that worketh in vsus both to will and to do that which is good, out of doubt all power is taken from vsus of doing any thing that is good. True it is, that Adam before his fall had free will to chuſe the good, and to refuſe the euill: but by his fall he loſt that which in his creation he had, euen all free will vntounto all the things of the ſpirit; ſo that till ſuch time as hee bee regenerate by the ſpirit of God, he cannot at all by his owne power vnderſtand, thinke, will, or doe any thing that is good, but is wholly and only carried to that which is euill, and can doe nothing elſe but ſinne, lying bound in the chaines of ſinne, not as a man fettered, which hath a deſire to be looſe, but of himſelfe naturally willing and deſirous ſo to lie. The naturall man (ſaith the Apoſtle) perceiueth not the things of the ſpirit of God, for they are fooliſhneſſe vntounto him: 1 Cor. 2.14.neither can he know them, becauſe they are ſpiritually diſcerned. Where the Apoſtle vnderſtanding by the naturall man, the vnregenerate man, whoſe knowledge and vnderſtanding the Lord ha…h not yet cleared and lightened by his holy ſpirit, plainly ſheweth, that the vnregenerate man hath none vnderſtanding at all in the wayes of God, and the things that belong vntounto his peace, neither can hauehave till the Lord ſanctifie him by his holy ſpirit, changing his corrupt will, and working in him both the will and the deed. Many Scriptures might be brought for the enlarging and further proofe of this point: but by that which hath beene ſpoken yee ſee what the truth is in the point, namely that it is not in our owne power at all to will or doe that which is good, but that it is God which worketh in vsus both the will and the deed, ſo that the thing which wee doe is no further good, than it is wholly guided and directed by the ſpirit of God. Take heed therefore and beware of ſuch as tell you otherwiſe than as yee hauehave now heard and learned, that yee be not deceiued by them.
Secondly, hence wee are taught whence all our ſufficiencie and all our ſtrength to walke in the wayes of God is, euen …rom God, who is the alone author of all goodneſſe, and the giuer of all bleſſings. What haſt thou (ſaith the Apoſtle) that thou haſt not receiued? To prepare our hearts vntounto that which is good,Pſal. 10.17 2 Cor. 3.5. this is from the Lord, for he prepareth the heart. To thinke a good thought, this is from the Lord, for wee are not ſufficient of our ſelues to thinke any thing as of our ſelues, but all our ſufficiencie is of God. To will and deſire that which is good, and to doe that which is good, is likewiſe from the Lord, for it is God that worketh in vsus both the will and the deed. So true is that of our Sauiour,Ioh. 15.5. Without mee yee can doe nothing. Where the meaning is not only that wee are ſo weake that we are not able of our ſelues to doe any thing that is good, vnleſſe we be aſſiſted by grace; but that wee are no more able than the branch that is pluckt from the tree is able to bring forth fruit. The ſumme of this point is, that the fruits of the ſpirit in vsus are altogether from the ſpirit, euen as the fruits of the fleſh are altogether from the fleſh. Doeſt thou then at any time feele any good motions of the ſpirit within thee, any deſire to flie that which is euill, and to doe the thing that is good? Is thine heart enlarged to runne the way of Gods commandements, and to glorifie thy Father which is in heauen? Are the bowels of thy compaſſion opened towards thy poore brethren, to releeue the neceſſities of Gods Saints? It is God that worketh in thee all theſe, and whatſoeuer is like vntounto theſe; and they are ſo many teſtimonies vntounto thee of Gods holy ſpirit dwelling within thee. Acknowledge therefore Gods mercy towards thee, who when thou waſt in thy bloud, ſaid vntounto thee, Ezek. 16.6.thou ſhalt liue; that is, who when thou waſt dead in ſinnes and treſpaſſes, and hadſt no will to be raiſed from the dead ſleepe of ſinne whereinto thou waſt fallen, hath quickned thee by his ſpirit, and of vnwilling made thee willing to doe thoſe things that are good and acceptable in Gods ſight. Glorie not in any good thing that thou haſt, as though thou hadſt not receiued it. For when thou waſt as vnable to will or to doe any thing that is good, as the dead man is vnable to exerciſe any function of life, then did hee circumciſe the foreskinne of thine heart, and did not onelyonly worke in thee a power to will and to doe the thing that is good, but gaue thee alſo grace both to will and to doe the thing that is good. Glorie therefore in thy God, let thy ſoule reioyce in him, and let his praiſes be euer in thy mouth. He it is that filleth thy heart with good deſires, and hee it is that directeth thy ſteps in the way wherein thou ſhouldeſt walke, and which leadeth vntounto life. And why doth he ſhew ſuch mercy on vsus? Euen of his good pleaſure.
Euen of his good pleaſure.] Wee hauehave heard that it is God that worketh in vsus both to will and to doe that which is good. And why doth he ſo? That God may be all in all, and all the glory of out ſaluation may be wholly his. The Apoſtle telleth vsus, that this he doth euen of good pleaſure: it ſo pleaſeth him, and howſoeuer the cauſe or this his pleaſure be hidden from vsus, yet it is good, and iuſt, hee doth it euen of his good pleaſure. Here then wee hauehave the firſt and furtheſt cauſe euen of the whole myſterie of our ſaluation. Hee hath predeſtinated and choſen vsus vntounto eternall life through Ieſus Chriſt,Eph. 1.4. before the foundation of the world. And why? The Apoſtle telleth vsus he did it according to the good pleaſure of his will. 5.He hath opened vntounto vsus the myſterie of his will. And why? This alſo he did according to his good pleaſure. He hath made vsus accepted in his beloued, Eph. 19.6.7.by whom wee hauehave redemption through his bloud. And why? This alſo is according to his rich grace. He hath wrought in vsus both to will and to doe the things that belong vntounto our peace. And why? Euen of his good pleaſure. Wilt thou then know why God hath choſen thee, and refuſed him; why hee hath made thee a veſſell of honour, and him a veſſell of diſhonour; why he hath taken away the hardneſſe of thy heart, and ſuffereth him ſtill to walke in the hardneſſe of his owne heart; why he hath ſanctified thy will, and left him in the frowardneſſe of his owne will? Hee hath not done theſe things for any good thing which hee ſaw in thee, or for any goodneſſe which hee foreſaw would be in thee, not for thy birth, wealth, ſex, or condition, but euen of his good pleaſure: for looke into the whole booke of God, ſtill thou ſhalt finde that the laſt and great cauſe of all our good is his grace, his mercy, his louelove, his purpoſe, his will, the purpoſe of his will, his good pleaſure, the good pleaſure of his will. And when thou commeſt hither, here thou muſt ſtay thy ſelfe, and crie with the Apoſtle, O the depth of the riches both of the wiſdome and knowledge of God, &c. Rom. 11.31.If it be the potters pleaſure to make of the ſame lumpe of clay one veſſell to honour, and another to diſhonour, who ſhall queſtion further with him, when this anſwer is once giuen. It was his pleaſure, euen the good pleaſure of his will?
Is there then nothing in vsus to moue him, but is it euen of his good pleaſure that he ſaueth vsus, and that he doth ſo great things for vsus? O what great thankfulneſſe, what dutifulneſſe, what obedience ought this to ſtirre vsus vp vntounto? The greater that the gift is, and the freer that it is, the more it ought to ſtirre vsus vp vntounto theſe duties. Now what greater gift than our ſaluation, and all the meanes thereunto? And how could this gift be more free, than to hauehave it giuen vsus euen of his good pleaſure, without reſpect of any thing that was or might be in vsus? Let vsus then with all thankfulneſſe yeeld all obedience vntounto this ſo mercifull a God, who hath done ſo great things for vsus, euen becauſe his good pleaſure was ſuch. Hee hath giuen vsus all: let him hauehave the glory of all. Neither can we attribute too much vntounto him, neither can wee detract too much from our ſelues. Whatſoeuer good thought, whatſoeuer good deſire, whatſoeuer good deed is in vsus, he of his good pleaſure hath wrought it in vsus, and he is to be glorified in it, and for it. Other fountaine of our good there is none, and therefore all the praiſe, and honour, and glory thereof, is due vntounto him alone.