A Christian Survey for the Conscience, Confession · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. What things are controuerted, and what are not in this Article of Perſeuerance.
NOW ſuch things are to be remoued out of the way, as are not incident to this preſent Queſtion, touching the perſeuerance of the Saints; and that for two reaſons: one, for that my Lords may more clearely conceiue the ſtate of the controuerſie and ſo better perceiue euen the arguments, whereby I doe confirme my determination, and more eaſily ſee whether they conclude … another is, that when they ſhall ſee wherein the controuerſie betweene vsus ſtandeth, and where not, they may withall vnderſtand what honeſtie and learning my aduerſaries hauehave, who obiecting againſt me ſuch things, and impugning, and condemning, as I either neuer auouched or called in 'queſtion, they make manifeſt that they either know nor what they ſay, or whereof they ſpeake, or that they are carried by a ſpirit that is good.
And firſt, verily here is no controuerſie of the faith of thoſe hypocriticall Saints, who doe ſo diſſemble faith and pietie, as with all they are in no caſe ignorant of their owne diſsimulation; as was that Doctorall Hypocrite, who pretended faith in Chriſt, and that hee embraced his doctrine, and therefore demanded of him as his Maſter, ſaying; What ſhall I doe that I may inherit eternall life? Luk. 10. And of like qualitie were thoſe, who being ſent by the Phariſees ſaid vntounto Chriſt, Maſter, wee know that thou are true, and to atheſt the way of God truely, and careſt for no man, neither reſpecteſt any mans perſon. But one and other did ſo diſſemble their faith in Chriſt, and reuerence, as that likewiſe they knew their owne diſsimulation thereof. So there be many in the Chriſtian ſtate, who although with others they do profeſſe Chriſt, yet certainely doe they know that they doe not truely beleeue in Chriſt; and all their profeſsion of pietie to bee but meere ſimulation; which thing euen their owne impious life, and firme reſolution to continue in wickednes, doth confirme vntounto them. Of the faith of all theſe (or rather ſhadow of faith) this preſent Queſtion of perſeuerance of the Saints in faith, is in no reſpect to be vnderſtood.
Neither yet is it to be vnderſtood of the temporary faith of that other ſort of hypocrites, that is, of th…, who ſeeme to themſelues ſo … beleeue from the heart and truely in Chriſt, and by a certaine … ſanctitie of life, doe both …gui… themſelues and others; … much … at no hand they doe acknowledge their hypocriticall faith, though God himſelfe doth well … that it is not altogether in … and truth. For there bee many, in whoſe hearts, fraud, hypocriſie, i… pietie, doth ſo lie hid, that even themſelues cannot find it out … knowledge it, but God onelyonly. I…. 17. The hart of man is wicked and … ſearchable, and who ſhall know … Of this kinde were they of whom Ioh. 2. Many, ſeeing the ſignes which hee did, beleeued in him: but Ieſus did not commit himſelfe vntounto them for that he knew them all, and had no neede that any ſhould teſtifie of man, for hee knew what was in man: as though …e ſhould hauehave ſaid, They were ignorant of their incredulitie, …rking in them, and of fraud and hypocriſie lying ſecretly in their hearts, but yet Chriſt knew their qualities, & whether they did truely beleeue or not, …or he alone knew what was in man. Such like are all they who are called of the Lord foreign temporizers: for their faith is not ſincere, therefore not true, though both to themſelues and others they appeare to be endued with true and ſincere faith. But that their faith is not found, nor iuſtifying, I will ratifye heereafter both by the manifeſt teſtimonies of holy Scripture, and of Luther and Bucer. Wherfore ſeeing neither their faith is true nor ſincere, neither their ſanctity and piety; themſelues cannot bee true Saints, or truely religious. And our Queſtion is of the true faith of true Saints.
Neither yet is the controuerſie touching the true Saints as we ſp…k… of late, whether the Elect euen after they be iuſtified and … and ſanctified, & endued with true faith and the holy Spirit, can ſ…, and doe often fall into ſinne, For thi… i… without al queſtion, for that no m… is ignorant what the Apoſtle write… of himſelfe and all the regenera… ▪ 1. Ioh▪ 1. If we ſhall ſay that … … no ſinne, we deceiue our ſelues and … truth is not … vsus S. Hier. 2. To▪ … beth this error to Iouin…, and doth refute him moſt learnedly by many Texts of ſcripture, lib. 2. adu…rſ… …. But St. Augustine▪ … 6. de hareſib… ad Quod-vnit-… hereſ▪ 88. doth attribute this h… ſie to Pelag… the Monke. But yet Iren…us long before Auguſtire and Hiero… doth reckon this haer…ſ… amongſt the errors of Valen…i…us … his fellowes lib. 1. For whereas of othermen, ſome they called foreign earthly, ſome foreign, naturall, themſelues they termed ſpirituall, vponupon whom …o ſinne nor impiety could befall
Neither in very deed is this … controuerſie, whether the Elect and Saints doe ſinne, onelyonly while they feele the flames of Concupiſcence, which to be incident to all the Saints while they remaine in …his mortall fleſh, none doth doubt of; or whether euen ſometime they fall by ſome conſent into diuers ſinnes, and thoſe moſt greeuous, being committed as well againſt the firſt as ſecond Table. For we all do know that Dauid and Peter did commit moſt notorious crimes, the one againſt the ſecond, the other againſt the firſt table, and that by conſent and voluntarily, but yet, as heereafter I wil declare, not by plenary conſent. This is the error of c…rtaine Anab…ptiſts and Libertines who affirme, That although they do likewiſe feele the affections of the fleſh, yet they neuer ſo conſent therevnto, as that they truely and properly do ſinne.
Neither alſo is this the controuerſie, whether the Saints ſinning in this manner, that is, with conſent, do diſple…ſe God, and prouoke hi… wrath againſt them. For all godly men do grant, that God is offended with all mens ſinnes as well Godly as vngodly, and that God diſpleaſure is prouoked againſt … ſinners, whether godly or vngodly as well the Elect as Reprobate, … none is ignorant what is pronounced from God by the Prophet, … of the ſonnes of God, Pſal. 88. … if my children for ſake my l…, I … zit their iniquities with the r…d, Li… wiſe thoſe moſt greeuous … wherewith wee doe read, in … Scriptures that the Godly hauehave … puniſht for their ſinnes, and we eueryevery day doe ſee them puniſhed, … make proofe that God is offe…ded with all, and the ſinnes of all, … the Scriptures ſpeake, prouoked to ….
And from hence alſo it is m…ifeſt, that it is without controuerſ… whether the Saints by thoſe … in ſome ſort are become the e… mies of God, and fallen from th… grace of God; that is, in that … as ſonnes are ſaid to be … from the fa…ur of their … children when they diſple…ſe their … …nd doe now in cenſe them …; are ſaid after a manner to … of the … of their … in this reſpect, that is … ſay) That although they hauehave … caſt of… their fatherly affection … and their children▪ neither yet … th…i… r…ſolution of o…ining …d declaring them to be the heires … their good… ▪ yet taking offence … the ſinne… of their children, they … turne their fathe…ly cockerings (in …) in… … ſeuerity, and … effect of louelove into ſuch … as … vtterly ha…ull▪ for … bitterly …full▪ and be …old … with … them …, and as … they doe moſt … …ear … onelyonly excepted that they … life away. … were … in very deed … and quite … their … of God … …a…d to be made by their ſinnes … of God, and to be … from the grace of God▪ … … God, though … doe neu… … his fatherlike …ffection … them, o… change his purpoſe of … …nto the… by Chriſt … life, yet being diſpl…ſ…d with … ſinn… the effects of his lo… … change into the effects of a … hat…d; hat…ed I ſay … agai… … children▪ b…t hi… … both internally in … … externally, of ſuch is do … … wardly while he do… bring …o … that they feele a … them, God to be …ngry … them, and themſelues made … of death▪ outwardly againe▪ … he worketh ſo that they hauehave … rience of God… … againſt … in the … of … pody and thinge… … T… fore, heereof there i… … for that both I …y ſ…l… … both▪ know and … … that … when his Saints do ſin, … angry with their ſinnes, and doth hate ſinne in them, and puniſh them moſt extreamely, and yet not …s enemy to the Saints. For hee alwaies doth correct them as a father, but as an enemie of wickednes and vice euen in his children; and therefore in a ſort, as before I hauehave explaned it may be ſaid that the children are fallen from their fathers fauour, although he yet neither ceaſeth to be a father vntounto them, neither do they ceaſe to be his children, and therefore neuer vtte…ly can it bee truely ſaid that they are fallen from their fathers grace▪ which might very truely be ſaid▪ if either hee ſhould ceaſe to be a father vntounto them, and …aſt off hi… fatherly affection towards th…m, … alter his decree of making them▪ heires of life eternall; and that they ſhould ceaſe to be his children, and looſe all title to eternall life▪ which without blaſphemy cannot be ſpoken.
Neither yet is the doubt whether the Saints, by thoſe their ſinnes, as much as in them lieth, … … the ſentence of God touching euerlaſting death, and whethe… they … made guiltie of death aeternall … there is none but knoweth the ſ… tence of the iuſt Iudge, Curſed … … uery one that doth not continue i… … things that are written … this … doe them; therefore all whoſoeu… they be, who doe violate the … of the Lord in their owne … ▪ and as much as lieth in them, … accurſed and liable to death …. But the caſe is altered, wheth… theſe ſinnes are imputed▪ by God vntounto the Saints vntounto condemnd … on, Paul, Rom. 8. doth giuegive his v… dict in this manner; There is … … demnation to them which … is Chriſt Ieſus, which w…lks not …fter th… … but aft…r the Spirit▪ for ſuch … the Saints▪ whereof I ſpeake in▪ this Queſtion.
Wherefore it alſo▪ is not in Queſtion, whether▪ the Saints by theſ… their ſinnes doe ſo diſpleaſe God their father, and ſo prouokè his … ger againſt them, and ſo incurre the ſentence of eternall death, as that they hauehave need of repentance, and a new act of faith, for their reconciliation to God, and for a new pardon of ſinne to be obtained, and thereupon euen a new remiſsion to be obtained of the puniſhment due to ſinne. For it is by all men yeelded vntounto, who are truely godly & truely learned, that the Saints hauehave neede of a new Act of faith, and repentance, to attaine new forgiuenes of a new ſinne, according to that ſaying▪ moſt vulgar in Scripture; Men are iuſtified by faith, and ſinnes remitted: which ſpeeches, when we make mention of men of yeares, are alwaies vnderſtood of actuall faith, that is, of the Act of faith▪ whereby we doe not onelyonly in mind conceiue, that by Chriſt our ſinnes are remitted, but alſo we apprehend and rereceiue in will, this forgiuenes to be ſignified and offered in the Goſpell▪ For this is moſt infallible and moſt true, that God doth neuer to the Elect impute their ſinnes to aeternall damnation, and that for… three cauſes: The firſt, is h… eternall and immutable louelove, wherewith from aeternitie hee hath embraced his Elect in Chriſt, and doth continen… ly proſequte without intermiſſio… for there is not louelove when ſinne… are imputed vntounto condemnation. The next, is the perpetual merit of Chriſt whereby all the debts of the Elect are plenarily paid, and the handwriting of the debts cancelled, inſomuch that they cannot againe by imputed vntounto condemnation to the Elect. The third, is the perpetuall … ſi…nce of the Holy Spirit in the h…ts of the Elect, and conſeruation of … ſeed of faith, and regeneration. For although that this be moſt certaine, that God doth neuer impute their ſinne… to the Elect, both in regard of his euerlaſting louelove towards the… and for the perpetual merit of Chriſt imparted vntounto them, and for the continuall inhabitation of the Holy Spirit in their hearts; yet this withall is moſt true and certaine, That the Saints being fallen, though but by infirmitie, into any ſinne, the new remiſsion of that new ſinne, without a new Act of faith, and true repentance, that is, without a new knowledge & apprehenſion of faith, cannot againe vnderſtand and perceiue that new ſinne to be remitted vntounto them▪ the Father to be reconciled vntounto them, and the puniſhment due to ſinne to bee remitted. For this is an A…iome moſt infallible in Chriſtian Religion. New ſin to ſtand in neede of new remiſsion, and new remiſsion to bee attained by new faith, that is, a new Act of faith apprehending that remiſſion.
Neither yet is the Queſtion, whether the Saints by theſe their ſinnes doe diſturbe, that is, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh Epheſ. …. doe make ſad, both the Holy Spirit dwelling within them, as alſo their owne Spirit, that is, the inward man. For this is a thing confeſſed, and all the Saints doe feele it when they ſinne and after they ſinne, that their ſpirit, mind… and conſcience is troubled & wounded: for (as it were) a certaine violence is offered to the ſpirit and conſcience when wee ſinne by co… ſent. From thence ariſeth perturb… tion of minde. Now becauſe the Holy Spirit inhabiting in the hea… of the godly, and guiding and … porting the inward man, frō … it commeth to paſſe, that our ſpirit being diſturbed, that is, the … regenerate and inward, the Holy Spirit inhabiting, is alſo by Paul ſaid to bee grieued, by a forme … ſpeech borrowed from men. For thi… diſturbance Dauid likewiſe complaineth Pſal. 29. Thou didſt … thy face from mee O God▪ and I was troubled: by which words hee doth manifeſt, as Auguſtine alſo obſerueth, That the Saints both doe f…ll into ſinne, when God doth but a little turne away his face, and doth leaue them to their owne will, and ſo they are troubled; as alſo which God againe turneth his countenance and aſpect vponupon them, then … they againe finally repurged and ſtrengthened. So likewiſe it fell out i… Peter.
And from hence likewiſe it is euident, that the Queſtion is not, Whether the Saints by thoſe ſinne… doe ſuffoc… that …rdencie of Spirit in them▪ and doe repreſſe the good motions thereof, and (as it were) extinguiſh the good motions, Actions, and flames thereof, and therefore doe …ue… weaken faith it ſelfe, and oppreſſe prayer, fiducie, ioy, and peace of conſcience, and other effects of Faith. For theſe effects of ſinne are thoſe perturbations of minde, whereof the Apoſtle ſpeaketh. Eph…ſ. 4. Make not ſad the ſpirit; and of whom Dauid, Thou didſt turne thy face from me, and I was troubled. Of this weakning and diminution, and extinguiſhing of faith, the ſpirit, and louelove▪ is that Apoc. …. to be vnderſtood, I hauehave a few things againſt thee, for that thou haſt left thy first louelove: but not totally▪ for he had commended him … for his conſtancie; ſaying, Th… … ſuffered for my name, and … n… …: preſently he addeth, but I … ſomewhat againſt thee, that then … left thy firſt laue; hee ſaith not … lutely (louelove) but (firſt) that is, th… ardent (louelove) therefore it was ab… ted and languiſhing, and not vtterly extinguiſhed.
Finally, the Queſtion is not, whether alſo, ſo much as in them is, the Saints doe vtterly extinguiſh all the fire of faith, louelove, and the Spirit▪ For this is apparant, that the Saints, while they ſinne by any conſent, d…e commit ſuch ſinnes for which they doe worthily deſerue to be diſpoil… vtterly of al faith & aſſiſtance of the ſpirit. Neither if faith and the ſpirit be preſerued in them, it is ſo preſerued by their merits o… ſtrength▪ but they are continued for the merit… and interceſsion of Christ, and promiſe of Gods merciemercy, by the operation of the Holy Spirit.
Neither did I euer either teach or thinke otherwiſe in your Schooles touching theſe things, as I hauehave now formerly ſecluded from this Queſtion, then is here manifeſted by me; which my Praelections in writing doe plainely teſtifie.
Therefore let ſuch conſider with what conſcience they did ſo, who now firſt, viz. after eight yeres ſpace wherein I hauehave both taught & diſputed in your Schoole, as though I had taught in many points euen flat contrarie …o the things before remembred, eueryevery where hauehave falſly …ccuſed, traduced, and calumniated me beeing innocent, and now for many yeeres a Profeſſour of ſound and Orthodoxall doctrine; and that confidently, for that they ſaw mee a ſtranger, ignorant of the Germai…e tongue, deſtitute of the popular fauour, and letted likewiſe, leſt by any meanes, as I could, I ſhould at leaſtw…ſe maintaine the truth and my reputation in the Schoole: I ſay (ſuch let them look into their conſcience) who beeing a Chriſtian man, a profeſſour of the Scriptures, and a member of the Church of Chriſt, with grieuous calumniations aboue on… yeere and an halfe, hauehave traduced me with all men, and would not at any time vouchſafe me conference: ſuch as be elected, and either of ignorance or infirmirie hauehave ſinned, I doe pray for repentance for them to the Lord: the reſt, which are not the Lords (for the Lord knoweth … bee his) I doe ſummon before the Tribunall of the moſt High God▪ for God is a iuſt Iudge, and it … fearefull thing to fall into the …an… of the liuing God.