The Unbelief of Tomas the Apostle, Text (2 of 2)

The Unbelief of Tomas the Apostle · Text (2 of 2)

p. 102And truly as the Deuill did by Gods permiſſion thus farre preuaile with the Apoſtle S. Thomas that he was brought to this ſtraight, that without ſight and feeling he would not beleeue: So with this one temptation of his he hath ſo mightily preuailed againſt many of the beſt p. 103ſeruants of god, that he hath brought them to a very low ebbe, euen almoſt to their wits ende. For beſides that he hath driuen them to this extremitie, which is very great, that they wil beleeue no more of Gods fauour towards them, then they can ſee and feele in themſelues: he hath gained this alſo at their hāds, which is much more: that becauſe they hauehave no feeling, therefore they ſay they hauehave no faith: as though theſe two were both one, feeling and faith; or as though they were alwaies neceſſarily ioyned together.

And hereupon hauehave come the great complaints and outcries, which ſome of them hauehave made againſt thē ſelues, in the time of their trouble: and not onelyonly of thoſe, who hauehave groſly & apparantly fallen into ſome ſinne, and therefore there was ſome manifeſt cauſe of it: but of thoſe alſo which hauehave liued blameleſly, neither p. 104hauehave beene tainted with any great ſinne: And yet both of them in the time of their temptation hauehave vttered many bitter words againſt thē ſelues; as that they are altogether out of the fauour of God; that they are not in the number of them that ſhall be ſaued; they hauehave no part in Chriſt; they are none of Gods children, and ſuch like. And why ſo? for ſay they, they hauehave no ſight and feeling of the fauour of God in themſelues, and therefore they hauehave no faith, neither can hauehave: for except they hauehave ſome feeling in their hearts, they cannot beleeue.

And this temptation hath lien vponupon the conſcience of ſome more heauily, and of others leſſe: vponupon ſome longer, vponupon others ſhorter time: euen as it hath pleaſed the Lord either in wiſdome to trie the one, or in merciemercy to ſuccour the other. This was that that did ſo oppreſſe Dauid, p. 105as appeareth in many Pſalmes, that he was almoſt in deſpaire of himſelfe: when he ſaid,Pſal. 13.1.Ps 13:1 How long wilt thou forget me for euer? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? and will the Lord abſent himſelfe for euer?and 7….7. and will he ſhew no more fauour? is his merciemercy cleane gone for euer? and doth his promiſe faile for euermore? hath God forgotten to be mercifull? and hath he ſhut vp his tender mercy in diſpleaſure: and, My God, my God,and 22.1 why haſt thou forſaken me? and art ſo farre from my health, and from the voice of my roaring? I crie by day, but thou heareſt not: and by night, but hauehave no audience. And thus he continued, till it pleaſed God for our inſtruction and comfort to giuegive him victorie; partly by conſidering the former mercifull dealing of God towards himſelfe and others; partly by meditating vponupon the conſtant truth of his promiſes, which made him at p. 106the laſt truſt vntounto him, and depend vponupon him without any preſent helpe or feeling. And thus he endeth the 38. Pſalme, which he made to put himſelfe in remembrance of ſome great affliction of God, that was vponupon him, and therefore intitles it a Pſalme of remembrance: …al. 38.in which are many grieuous complaints both of his ſinnes, and of the puniſhment of them, without any feeling of preſent helpe and comfort; onelyonly he ſaith, that he would waite vponupon God,…ſ. 15. hoping that he would ſhew himſelfe fauourable in time, though he had no preſent feeling of it. And ſo muſt we doe in the like caſe. But in the meane ſeaſon we ſee, that this meaſure of vnbeleefe, that was in the Apoſtle S. Thomas, that he would beleeue no more, then he could ſee and feele, is and hath beene in others alſo, and that all of vsus are ſubiect vntounto it more or leſſe.

p. 107But that we may arme our ſelues ſufficiently againſt this grieuous temptation, and comfortably ſupport our ſelues, when we ſhall fall into it; we muſt conſider that faith and feeling are not onelyonly not all one, nor alwaies ioyned together: but alſo that they are many times ſeuered in the childrē of God: ſo that there is faith, where there is not, nor cā be any preſēt feeling: yea, that the greateſt faith ſometimes is, where there is no feeling at all. And to this ende we muſt remember, what the Apoſtle ſaith of the nature of faith, It is the ground of things which are hoped for, and the euidence of things, which are not ſeene. Where he ſaith, that faith is of ſuch things, as we ſee not, and of thoſe things which are but hoped for, and we as yet hauehave not the preſent poſſeſſion and feeling of them, and yet we beleeue them. And this he prooueth by moſt excellent examples, p. 108when as firſt of all he addeth, Through faith we vnderſtand,…erſ. 3. that the world was ordained by the word of God: ſo that the things which we ſee are not made of things which did appeare: that is, we know by faith, that the whole world was made of nothing, and this verely we beleeue: but who did, or euer could ſee this? Therefore we doe, and muſt beleeue that which we hauehave not, neither can ſee: & ſo we hauehave the knowledge of it by faith, and not by ſight.

…rſ. 7.Secondarily, he thus ſpeaketh there of the faith of Noah: that he beeing warned of God of the things, which were as yet not ſeene, mooued with reuerence prepared the Arke to the ſauing of his houſhold. Where two things are noted, that he beleued that which he could not ſee: 1. that all the world ſhould be drowned for their ſinnes: 2. that by repentance and faith himſelfe had foūd fauour with god, & ſhould be ſaued in the waters: & therfore p. 109he made the Arke according to Gods cōmandement long before he ſaw the flood, or any tokē of it, that he might be ſaued in it. And ſo he beleeued the iudgement of God to come vponupon the wicked, and ſaluation promiſed himſelfe, though he could not ſee, nor hauehave any preſent feeling of either of thē. And this is that operation of faith which it muſt hauehave in vsus; euen to cauſe vsus to beleeue both the threatnings of gods iudgmēts againſt impenitēt ſinners, & the promiſes of ſaluation to thē that walk before him in truth, though we hauehave no preſent ſight or feeling either of the one, or of the other. For we muſt conſider the conſtant truth of Gods word, both in his iuſtice and merciemercy, which in time ſhall be verified, though for the preſent there be no viſible ſignes and tokens thereof to be ſeene or felt of our ſelues, or any other.

The third example is of Sarah the mother of vsus all: of whome it is ſaid, p. 110that through faith ſhee receiued ſtrength to conceiue ſeede,verſ. 11. and was deliuered of a child, when ſhee was paſt age, becauſe ſhee iudged him faithfull which had promiſed. When a man child was firſt promiſed vntounto her, beeing both old and barren; as long as ſhe meaſured things by ſight and feeling, ſhee beleeued not this, neither could:…en. 18.11. For ſhee ſaw, that it ceaſed to be with her after the manner of women, therefore ſhee laughed at it within her ſelfe, as at a thing impoſſible: for which ſhee was reprooued with theſe words, Shall any thing be hard to the Lord? But when ſhee gaue ouer conſulting with reaſon, ſhee beleeued not onelyonly without, but cleane contrarie to all ſenſe and feeling: for ſhee looked onelyonly to this, that he was iuſt and true, who had promiſed it vntounto her: and by this faith was made fruitfull. So in matters of faith we muſt not looke p. 111what we ſee and feele in our ſelues, or in any meanes to effect them; but what God hath promiſed, and how faithfull he is to performe.

And ſo did Abraham, of whome it is written,Gen. 15.5.Gen 15:5 that the Lord brought him forth, and ſaide, Looke vp now to heauen, and tell the ſtarres, if thou be able to number them: and he ſaid vntounto him, So ſhall thy ſeede be: and Abraham beleeued the Lord. And the Apoſtle commendeth this faith in him ſo much the more, becauſe he conſidered not his own body,Rom. 4.1Rom 4:1 which was now dead; (that is, voide of ſtrength and vigour to get children) beeing almoſt an hundred yeare old: neither the deadnes of Saras wombe, who was both aged, and barren. Both which if he had looked vntounto, he could hauehave had no ſight or feeling of that, that was promiſed: for they were directly againſt it. But he gaue this glorie to God,verſ. 2…. that he was fully aſſured, p. 112that he that had promiſed it, was able to doe it: and ſo aboue hope, he beleeued vnderunder hope, that he ſhould be the father of many nations, according to that which was ſpoken vntounto him, So ſhall thy ſeede be. And ſo he beleeued that, which he neither had, nor could hauehave any preſent ſight, or feeling of.

Thus both Abraham and Sarah beleeued that, which they could hauehave no feeling of in themſelues: and ſo muſt all the ſonnes of Abraham, and daughters of Sarah. And thus to doe is not onelyonly faith, but the greateſt faith. For if they could hauehave ſeen how this might hauehave beene done: and hauehave felt ſuch ſtrēgth in their bodies, that they might perceiue it very likely by the courſe of nature; then it had beene no great matter to beleeue it: nay it had beene great infidelitie not to beleeue it. So for vsus to beleeue the promiſes of God, when we may ſee p. 113and feele, how they may be performed, that is a matter of no moment: but when all things go againſt them, & we hauehave no ſight or feeling at all in our ſelues, of that that is ſaid vntounto vsus: then to beleeue God, and to giuegive this glory vntounto him, that he is able to performe it, is a matter of great faith. And therefore here it is ſaid of Abraham, not onelyonly that he beleeued, but that he was not weake in faith:verſ. 1…. that is, very ſtrong and conſtant in faith. So that the Spirit of God commendeth this in him, as an high degree of faith, that he beleeued without ſight or feeling: to ſhew vsus that faith is ſo many times ſeuered from feeling, that it is thē the ſtrongeſt, when we conſtantly beleeue that, which we neither ſee, nor feele, but waite vponupon God for them both.

And this is that, which was in our Sauiour Chriſt alſo: who though he did alwaies put his truſt in his father, p. 114and was ſure that he loued him: and his faith this way was as pretious and pure as gold: yet it did moſt of all ſhew it ſelfe in his full ſtrength, when he came to ſuffer vponupon the croſſe: when it was ſo many waies aſſaulted, that contrary to all ſenſe and feeling he remained conſtant, and ſo ouercame: to ſuccour all thoſe, that ſhall be oppreſſed with the temptations of vnbeleefe, becauſe they hauehave no feeling. For when things did lie ſo heauie vponupon him, he beeing then to beare all our ſinnes and corruptions, and in them to appeare before God his father, and to anſwer for them; yea, to ſatisfie his wrath by induring the full puniſhment of them: firſt of all it is written of him, that he began to waxe ſorowfull,…ath. 26.37. and grieuouſly troubled in his minde: and this griefe was ſo deadly, that he was not able to containe it in himſelfe, but did bewray it with moſt lamentable words p. 115vntounto his Diſciples, that he might hauehave comfort from them; ſaying,verſ. 38. My ſoule is very heauie vntounto the death, tarie ye here, and watch with me: and then becauſe his grief was not aſſwaged;39. he fell vponupon his face downe to the ground, and praied, ſaying, O my father, if it be poſſible, let this cuppe paſſe from me. And thus he praied the ſecond and third time. And that it might appeare, what vncomfortable ſtriuing he had in himſelfe all this while, not onelyonly with death; but with the fearefull iudgement of his angrie father; it is further added, that he fell into a great agonie,Luk. 22.…Luke 22 and diſtraction of minde, whereby all his bodie was diſtempered, ſo that for anguiſh his ſweate was like drops of blood trickling downe to the cold ground.

And at the laſt when he was vponupon the croſſe, he was further aſſaulted with temptations from the ſpeeches of men, euen his enemies, which reuiled p. 116him,…ath. 27.39. wagging their heads, and caſting out many opprobrious ſpeeches againſt him,40. ſaying, If thou be the ſonne of God, come downe from the croſſe: he truſted in God, let him deliuer him, if he will hauehave him: for he ſaide, I am the ſonne of God. Whereby his diſcomforts and diſcouragements for our ſakes, were ſo increaſed, that at the laſt he braſt forth into theſe moſt lamentable words,46. and as the Euangeliſt ſaith, ſtraining as it were all the parts of his bodie, and powers of his ſpirit, hee cried with a loud voice; My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? All this while what preſent ſight and feeling could he hauehave of Gods fauour? when as not onelyonly all things outwardly did ſhew, but his words alſo did abundantly declare, that inwardly he felt the contrarie.

Therefore his faith was now the greateſt, as it was meete it ſhould be, p. 117to incounter and ouercome ſo many and great temptations: when as contrarie to all theſe things, which he ſaw and felt, he not only praied moſt earneſtly vntounto his father, and continued therein, praying three times the ſame words, with ſuch feruencie of ſpirit, that beeing vponupon the cold ground, he ſweat water and blood: and he praied in faith;Heb. 5.7.Heb 5:7 For when he did offer vp thoſe praiers and ſupplications with ſtrong crying and teares vntounto him,Luk. 22.4Luke 22:4 that was able to ſaue him frō death, he was heard in the thing which he feared; and God ſent an Angel vntounto him from heauen to comfort him. Whereby he came to this reſolution of minde, that he quietly ſubmitted himſelfe in theſe his ſufferings vntounto the will of his father; ſaying, Abba, father,Mark. 14.Mark 14 all things are poſſible vntounto thee: take away this cup from me: neuertheleſſe, not that I will, but that thou wilt be done. And p. 118beeing now at the point of death, & in the middeſt of all his ſufferings, and in the height of his temptations, that it might appeare that he had ouercome all,…k. 23.46. he cried out with a loud voice, ſtraining himſelfe to the vttermoſt, when life was almoſt out of his weake and painfull bodie, Father, into thine hands I commend my ſpirit; and when he thus had ſaide, he gaue vp the ghoſt, & quietly died. Which wordes of his beeing vttered with great zeale, did ſhew the excellencie and perfection of his faith; eſpecially if we conſider in what caſe he was then: and ſo his faith was the greateſt, when he had the leaſt feeling.

And thus no doubt the ſeruants of God in their ſeuerall afflictions of body and mind, and otherwiſe are in meaſure made like vntounto Chriſt: whē as hauing nothing, that by any ſight or feeling, inward or outward, might miniſter vntounto thē any cōfort, p. 119and therefore in ſuch caſes they are greatly diſcouraged and caſt downe in themſelues; yet they holde out conſtantly in them to the end: then the more like they are vntounto Chriſt in his ſufferings, the more like ſhall they be vntounto him in his glory. For then is their faith the greateſt, when in this forlone eſtate of theirs (as it may ſeeme) they can pray vntounto God as Chriſt did, and ſeeke for all helpe and comfort from him: and neuer leaue praying till God heare them, as Chriſt continued in his prayer, till an Angel was ſent vntounto him. And in the meane time whatſoeuer becomes of them, they with a quiet and meeke ſpirit reſigne vp themſelues wholly to his bleſſed will, being contented whatſoeuer they deſire, that not their owne, but Gods will may take place: as Chriſt did, when he ſaid, Father not mine, but thy will be done.

And if they doe ſo, that that affliction p. 120preſent, of what nature and kind ſoeuer, ſhall make an end of thē, they can quietly and peaceably commend their ſoules and bodies, euen themſelues wholly liuing and dying into his bleſſed hands; as Chriſt did alſo vponupon the croſſe, when he was readie to giuegive vp the ghoſt: beeing perſwaded, that nothing euer periſhed that was commited vntounto his cuſtodie: according as he ſaith himſelfe, Thoſe that thou gaueſt me,…oh. 17.12. hauehave I kept, and none of them is loſt, but the child of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled. If we can thus doe, though all this while we hauehave no feeling of any preſent comfort, yet it may be truly ſaid vntounto vsus as it was to the woman of Canaan, who with many diſcouragements, and without all ſight or feeling of any fauour frō him, purſued our Sauiour Chriſt with her prayers, and would not giuegive ouer, or take any repulſe, O woman, p. 121great is thy faith: and, O man,Math. 15.2…Matt 15:2 great is thy faith, that doeſt thus, whoſoeuer thou art.

And we hauehave a worthy example of the truth of this in one of the Martyrs, of our owne country, and in the memory of mā, as it is largely ſet out by M. Foxe in his laborious worke of the Acts and Monuments of the Church. The effect of which ſtorie ſhortly is this: M. Robert Glouer of Couentry gentl. and Maſter of Artes in Cambridge, was in the raigne of Q. Mary, with many the ſeruants of God by the malicious practiſes of the Papiſts apprehended, & brought before the Biſhop of the Dioceſſe for his faith and religion, and after examination he was ſent to priſon: where he receiued great comfort from the Lord from time to time; & as his afflictions did increaſe, ſo did the comforts of the Lord abound; till at the laſt by the permiſſion of God, p. 122for his further triall and comfort, the Deuill did greatly aſſault him in priſon by the conſideration of his vnworthines to be counted in the number of thoſe, that ſhould ſuffer for Chriſts ſake: which temptation of the enemie, though he did conſtantly reſiſt at the firſt; yet after that he was condemned to death by the Biſhop, and was at the point to be deliuered out of this world, it ſo happened, that two or three daies before the time of his burning, his heart being lumpiſh, and deſtitute of all ſpirituall conſolation, and feeling of gods fauour, he felt in himſelfe no aptnes or willingnes, but rather an heauines and dulnes of ſpirit, full of much diſcomfort to beare that bitter croſſe of Martyrdome, readie now to be laid vponupon him.

Whereupon he fearing himſelfe, leaſt the Lord had vtterly withdrawn his woonted fauour from him, made p. 123his moane to one M. Auſten Bernher a miniſter, & a familiar friend of his: ſignifying vntounto him, how earneſtly he had praied day and night vntounto the Lord, and yet could receiue no motion, nor ſenſe of any comfort from him. VntoUnto whome the ſaid Auſten anſwering againe, willed and deſired him patiently to wait the Lords pleaſure, and howſoeuer his preſent feeling was, yet ſeeing his cauſe was iuſt and true, he exhorted him conſtantly to ſticke to the ſame, and play the man: nothing miſdoubting, but the Lord in time would viſit him, and ſatisfie his deſire with plentie of conſolation. Whereof (he ſaide) he was right certen and ſure, and therefore deſired him, whenſoeuer any ſuch feeling of Gods heauenly mercies ſhould begin to touch his heart, that then he would ſhew ſome ſignification thereof, whereby he might witneſſe with him the ſame: and ſo p. 124departed from him.

The next day, when the time came of his martyrdome, as he was going to the place, and was now come to the ſight of the ſtake: although all the night before praying earneſtly to God for ſtrength and courage, hee could finde none, neither had any ſight or taſte of the fauour of God in himſelfe, ſodenly he was ſo mightily repleniſhed with Gods holy comfort, & heauenly ioyes, that he could not ſmother it in himſelfe, but cried out clapping his hands to Auſten, and ſaying on this wiſe, Auſten, he is come, he is come, &c. and that with ſuch ioy and alacritie, as one ſeeming rather to be riſen from ſome deadly daunger, to libertie of life, then one paſſing out of this world by any pains of death. Here we ſee that great was his faith, when he was willing to giuegive his bodie to be burnt for the teſtimonie of Chriſt, and was now going to p. 125the ſtake to that ende, though he had no feeling of Gods fauour then by any ioyes that he felt in himſelfe. He could neuer hauehave ſuffered thus for the truth, if he had no faith: if then he had died in this caſe without the ſenſe of any ſpeciall comfort, he muſt needs hauehave died in the faith of Chriſt for which he did ſuffer: and ſo hee ſhould hauehave had faith, yea very great faith, not onelyonly liuing, but dying without any ſenſe or feeling.

But I will come vntounto an other example, which though it be far more ancient in time, yet is better knowne vntounto vsus, as being recorded in the holy Scripture. The patience of Iob as it is ſet downe as a patterne, and cō mended to all men to follow, ſo none can doubt of his faith alſo, but that it was very great: When he is thus nū bred among the faithfulleſt men that hauehave liued vponupon the face of the earth. Whē the land ſinneth againſt me by p. 126committing a treſpaſe,Ezec. 14.13.Ezek 14:13 then will I ſtrech out mine hand vponupon it, and though theſe three men, Noah, Daniel, and Iob were among them, they ſhould deliuer but their owne ſoules by their righteouſneſſe; ſaith the Lord God. When all that miſery came vpō him, that we read of in the Scripture: as that in one day he loſt ſeauen thouſand ſheepe,Iob 1.3.Job 1:3 three thouſand camels, fiue hundred yoake of oxen, fiue hundred ſhee aſſes: and all his ſonnes and daughters died a violent death after a ſtrange manner; and in his owne bodie he was ſmitten with ſore boiles frō the ſole of his foote, vntounto the crowne of his head. And he beeing in this pitifull caſe, all friends did forſake him; yea they tha… were younger then he did mocke him,ch. 30 1. and they whoſe fathers he refuſed to ſet with the dogs of his flockes And his men ſeruants & maids tooke him as a ſtraunger,ch. 10. 16. and though h… p. 127called them, they would not anſwer him; though he prayed them with his mouth: & his breath was ſtrange vntounto his wife, though he prayed her for the childrens ſake of her owne body. And three of his pricipall friends did ſet themſelues againſt him, & by their reaſoning did greatly diſcourage him, as though he had beene an hypocrite all the daies of his life, and that his holines of life was but in ſhew, and not in truth. And he had no reſt neither night nor day, for when he laid himſelfe down, he ſaide, When ſhall I ariſe:ch. 7.4. and ſo meaſuring the euening, he was weary with toſſing too & fro, vntounto the dawning of the day. Neither was he quiet waking nor ſleeping: for when he ſaid, my couch ſhall releeue me,13. and my bed ſhall bring comfort in my meditation, the lord feared him with dreames, and aſtonied him with viſions.

p. 128Now when all theſe things came vponupon him at once, whereby his eſtate was more miſerable, then I hauehave expreſſed, or you are able to conceiue, what ſenſe and feeling could he poſſibly hauehave of Gods fauour, either inward or outward, when all things thus went againſt him? yet now his faith was at the higheſt, and did ſhew it ſelfe in the greateſt meaſure, when he vttered this moſt excellent ſaying, Loe,…. 13.15. though he kill me, yet will I truſt in him. So that he would not giuegive ouer his truſt and confidence in Gods goodnes, though he ſhould proceed further againſt him vntounto death. And moſt of all when he further addeth, I am ſure,…k 19.25. that my Redeemer liueth, and he ſhal ſtand the laſt on the earth; and though after my skinne wormes deſtroy this bodie, yet I ſhall ſee God in my fleſh: whome I my ſelfe ſhall ſee, and mine eyes ſhall behold, and none other for me, though my raines p. 129are conſumed within me. So that though he died in that caſe without all outward comfort, or inward feeling, yet hee would put his truſt in God: hauing the teſtimony of a good conſcience, and relying vponupon the promiſe of God made concerning the reſurrection of his bodie, and life euerlaſting in the world to come.

Thus then we ought to be ſo farre from beeing diſcouraged in our ſelues for want of the ſight and feeling of inward comforts, as though therefore wee had no faith; as that when they ſhall be altogether taken from vsus for a while, though very long, and many yeares: yet if we can then hold out in a godly life, and not giuegive ouer a good conſcience, as Iob did; and if we ſtill call vponupon the name of God, and ſtay vponupon his promiſes …n life and death, though we doe not …et inioy them: all the world ſhall …hen witneſſe for vsus, that our faith is p. 130exceeding great, though wee our ſelues be not able to ſee it, neither can be perſwaded of it. For as when the ſunne ſhineth moſt clearely, and men doe ſee the brightnes of it, and doe feele the ſcortching heate of it, then it is an eaſie matter to beleeue, and to ſay confidently, there is a ſunne in the firmament: euen children and thoſe that are of meane capacitie, are able to ſay ſo, and doe beleeue as much, and hauehave ſuch a full perſwaſion of it, that if all the world ſhould tell them the contrary, they would not beleeue them, neither could they poſſibly doubt of it, their ſight & feeling did ſufficiently inſtruct them. But when the cloudes ſhall couer it, or in the night both the light and heat thereo… ſhall be taken away; then to be full… perſwaded, that the ſunne is ſtill i… the heauens, and that it hath loſt nothing of the light and heate of it; tha… is a matter of a deeper conceit, an… p. 131more experience.

Euen ſo when the teſtimonies of Gods fauour and louelove are ſo many & great, and ſo plentifully vponupon vsus, both outwardly and inwardly, that they may eaſily be ſeene and felt; then to beleeue, that God is gratious vntounto vsus, and to be perſwaded of his fauour towards vsus, is that which the weakeſt in faith may attaine vntounto without any difficultie: But when all theſe ſhall be taken away, not onelyonly in our owne iudgement, but in the opinion alſo of others, and the light of Gods coū tenance ſhall be, as it were, darkned with the cloudes of aduerſitie, and all things outwardly ſhall be as vncomfortable vntounto vsus, as the darkeſt night of winter; yet then to beleeue, that God is one and the ſame towards vsus, and that his louelove ſuffereth no eclypſe at all, but is the ſame ſtill to vsus, and to all thoſe that are his, becauſe whome be once loueth, he loueth vntounto the p. 132ende,…m. 11.29. and that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance: & that all the paths of the Lord are merciemercy and truth,…l. 25.50. vntounto thoſe that keepe his couenant, and his teſtimonies; that is, that he is not onelyonly mercifull vntounto them in the beginning, but alſo true and conſtant in his mercies towards all his euen vntounto the ending, to finiſh and make perfect in them that good worke of his, that he hath begunne in them.…am. 15.29. For he is not like vntounto man that hee ſhould repent him of any thing, that he hath done: and as S. Iames ſaith,…m. 1.19. with him there is no variablenes, or ſhadow of turning. To be, I ſay, thus perſwaded, when theſe things ſhall be vponupon vsus, and ſo to reſt in the truth of Gods promiſes, and to waite patiently for a comfortable feeling of the performance of them in our ſelues, is a matter of greater faith, and of longer experience.

Againe, as if a man doth come into p. 133a fruitfull garden or orchyard, well ſet with many trees in the ſpring time, when all things are greene and bloſſome, or in ſommer, when the trees are full of fruit; it is the eaſieſt thing in the world then euen at the firſt ſight to be perſwaded, that the trees are liuing and growing: and he that hath the weakeſt ſenſes, & meaneſt wit, and leaſt experience, is able to ſay ſo: But to come thether in the depth of winter, when all the fruit ſhall be gathered, and the leaues fallen, and ſee all the bowes, white with the whore froſt, and rine hanging vponupon eueryevery twigge, ſo that outwardly they ſeeme to be dead and rotten; yet then to be perſwaded, that they are liuing, and that the ſappe is at the roote, which in time will come into all the branches againe, and ſhew it ſelf, as before, in putting forth leaues, bloſſomes, and fruit: this requireth better iudgement, & more experiēce.

p. 134So is it in the matter of faith: when all the teſtimonies of Gods louelove doe aboundantly ſhew themſelues, as it were in ſomer, it is an eaſie matter to beleeue: but when all theſe ſhall be fallen away from vsus, as they were frō Iob; and there is a very hard & long winter ful of many ſtormes come vponupon vsus; yet then not to be too much diſcouraged & caſt downe, as though all were cleane loſt and gone: but to be perſwaded, that the fauour of God is not cleane dried vp, but is at the roote, that is, is the ſame in Chriſt towards vsus, that euer it was; and that, as the Apoſtle ſaith,…eb. 13.6. Ieſus Chriſt is yeſterday, and to day, and will be the ſame for euer: and that the light of Gods countenance is not cleane put out, but darkned, and couered with a vaile for a time: and ſo with a quiet and meeke ſpirit to waite vponupon God in all well doing, till there be a new ſpring, and till the ſunne breake out p. 135of the clouds againe. Thus to doe, is that great faith, that ſhal vphold vsus in all extremities. And as in theſe caſes we would condemne others of want of wiſdome, which would beleeue no more then they ſaw or felt: ſo muſt we condemne our ſelues and others of want of ſpirituall and heauenly wiſdome of the word of God, that in ſuch caſes as theſe of our ſaluation, we will beleeue no more, then we can ſee and feele: and we muſt commend the other to be of better iudgement, and greater faith, who doe beleeue more then they could either ſee or feele.

For the releeuing of our ſelues therefore in ſuch caſes as theſe, what muſt wee doe? Wee muſt doe that, which Thomas the Apoſtle ſhould hauehave done: namely, he ſhould hauehave beleeued thoſe that tolde him, that Chriſt was riſen, and that they had ſeene him: and he ſhould hauehave beleeued p. 136the wordes of Chriſt himſelfe, who had foretold him, that he ſhould be put to death, and that within three daies he ſhould riſe againe: which wordes of Chriſt muſt needes hauehave beene verified in their time, though none had euer ſeene him. So muſt we doe, euen beleeue the word and promiſes of God, in the mouthes of his faithfull ſeruants, who are able both to ſee further into them, and alſo to diſcerne more teſtimonies of faith, and of the fauour of God in vsus, then we our ſelues can doe. And though we, whome they doe moſt of all concerne, doe not ſee them at all, or as we deſire: it is ſufficient, that others, whom we ought to credit, doe ſee them in vsus, and do conſtantly and vponupon their credit auouch the ſame vntounto vsus.

For it is moſt certaine and true, though eury man ſhould beſt knowe himſelfe: yet it ſo often falleth out, p. 137that wee are not fit iudges of our ſelues, and of our own eſtate, neither of body, nor of ſoule: and therefore if we will be rightly perſwaded of our ſelues, we muſt not ſo much rely vponupon our owne iudgement, as giuegive credit vntounto others; which may and doe ſee that in vsus, which wee our ſelues doe not, neither can. As when a man is daungerouſly ſicke of ſome diſeaſe, though he hauehave ſome generall knowledge of the eſtate of his body, yet he may take himſelfe to be ſtronger or weaker, nearer or further off frō death, then indeed he is: and therfore in ſuch caſe we ask the aduiſe of ſome skilfull Phyſitians, and truſt their iudgement better then our owne; in ſo much that though a man be a very skilfull Phyſitian, he will hardly or not at all practiſe vponupon him ſelfe in great extremities, but vſeth the helpe of other Phyſitians, and is contented to be ordered at their diſcretion: p. 138Euen ſo when a man is dangerouſly ſicke in his ſoule, either of vnbeleefe, or otherwiſe, he is not to iudge of himſelf at that time, though he be a very good chriſtian, but he muſt for his recouerie out of that eſtate, vſe the helpe of other godly miniſters, and hearken vntounto their iudgement concerning himſelfe.

And that we might ſee the truth of this moſt clearly in an other caſe, we muſt conſider, that as when the Deuill preuaileth againſt vsus by preſumption, we ſo fauour our ſelues, & are ſo partiall that way, that we imagine, both that we hauehave thoſe vertues and graces of God in vsus, and that in great meaſure, which we hauehave not, neither can any man ſee them in vsus; and alſo that we are free from thoſe corruptions and ſinnes, which yet do apparantly breake out in vsus, and all the world may eaſily ſee them: So on the otherſide, when he hath gottē p. 139the aduantage of vsus by diffidence & deſpaire, he maketh vsus to rigorous & hard againſt our ſelues; and perſwadeth vsus that we want thoſe graces, which doe apparantly ſhew thēſelues to others; and to hauehave thoſe ſinnes & corruptions, and that meaſure of thē which in truth we hauehave not, neither is any able to diſcerne them in vsus, though we crie out againſt our ſelues for them.

So that in both theſe eſtates, wherein we deceiue our ſelues of our ſelues, if we wilbe holpen, we muſt deny our ſelues, and not meaſure our ſelues by our ſelues, but giuegive credit to thoſe, who as they are wiſe to diſcerne, and faithfull to iudge; ſo are they alſo true to report what they thinke of vsus, and of our eſtate. Which if we will not doe, we muſt needes continue in our vnbeleefe, and other ſinnes ſo much the longer: and it ſhall be a very hard thing to recouer vsus out of the p. 140ſame. Let vsus therefore as we louelove our owne good, in ſuch extreame caſes as theſe, when by the temptation of Satan we are brought to a narrowe poynt, hearken vntounto thoſe faithfull miniſters and godly brethren of ours, who are able, (becauſe they are out of temptation, and the caſe is not their owne) better to iudge of vsus, then we our ſelues: and then hauehave we made a good entrance vntounto the turning of our ſoules, though we be not preſently reſtored to perfect health: and though we hauehave not preſent comfort, yet the extremities of our feares ſhall be greatly ſtaied: and this ſtaying of vsus wil miniſter further hope of full recouerie: and it is none of the leaſt mercies of God to ſee, that we hauehave beene deceiued in our ſelues, and are not able rightly to iudge of our ſelues. Thus we ſee, how faith, and great faith, is without feeling: and when we be oppreſſed with p. 141this temptation, how we muſt helpe our ſelues by beleeuing others more then our ſelues, yea euen of our owne ſelues.

Moreouer, to this effect muſt we be admoniſhed, that as in the natural life there are three ages, the infancie, the childhood or youth, and the riper and perfect age: ſo in the ſpirituall life the Scripture maketh mention of three ages; for of thoſe that are in Chriſt, and truly belong vntounto him, ſome are new borne babes,1. Pet. 2.2.1 Pet 2:2 as S. Peter calleth them, but newly begotten of the immortall ſeede of the word of God: others are little children,Gal. 4.19Gal 4:19 that hauehave more profited in knowledge, and in the myſterie of their ſaluation; and ſome are in compariſon of them, perfect men,Eph. 4.…Eph 4 and are comming vntounto the meaſure of their full age in Chriſt. Theſe latter are able to iudge of themſelues, and of others: for by …ong cuſtome they hauehave their witsHeb. 5.14.Heb 5:14 p. 142exerciſed to diſcerne both good and euill: the ſecond ſort, is leſſe able to iudge of themſelues, the third not at all. A babe though it be heire apparant vntounto the crowne of the greateſt Monarch in the world, it hath no ſenſe or feeling of it: nay, though it liueth, it is not able to iudge of it ſelfe, whether it hath life or no: but others doe ſee by the operations of life, that it is a liuing creature, and hath an immortal ſoule: and dying in that eſtate, yea as ſoone as it is borne, it ſhall herafter liue for euer and euer.

So a great many, that are borne againe of water,Ioh. 3 5.John 3:5 and of the Spirit, and thereby are made heires of the kingdome of God, as Chriſt ſaith to Nicodemus; they are neuer but babes, beyond that age they neuer goe, and ſome of them fal aſleepe in the Lord, as ſoone as they are made partakers of this ſpirituall birth; as the theefe vponupon the croſſe died preſently after p. 143his conuerſion: and Chriſt ſheweth vsus in the Goſpel, that ſome are called at the eleuenth houre to work in the vineyard, that is,Math. 20.6.Matt 20:6 in their later part of their life they are called to …tate of ſaluation and grace, and to receiue the reward of their calling, which is eternall life. In which eſtate of theirs they can hauehave little or no feeling at all of their ſpirituall life. But as other children die before they know, that they were aliue; ſo theſe die before they did feele any great power of the ſpirituall life in themſelues. But as others did ſee that it was aliue, becauſe they ſaw how it deſired the milke of their mothers, & how they did thriue by it: ſo others may ſee in ſuch ſpirituall infants, that the life of God is in them by the appetite that they hauehave vntounto the word of God, that they eſteeme it, as their appointed food, as Iob ſaith of himſelfe,Iob 23.1…Job 23:1 and that thereby they grow in many graces of the p. 144Spirit of God, as in a feare to offend him, and in a deſire vntounto their owne ſaluation, though they hauehave little aſſurance, ſenſe, or feeling of it in thē ſelue and ſo are heires of the kingdo… …f God, though they die before euer they had any great feeling of it in themſelues.

And for thoſe that are of riper age in Chriſt, and hauehave had ſome feeling of their ſaluation, and hauehave loſt it; they are not to be addicted to their owne iudgement, to thinke they neuer had it, becauſe it is now loſt, or that they ſhall neuer hauehave it againe, becauſe it is taken from them for a while; for the life of God may ſtill be in them, though the preſent feeling of it be taken away: and therfore at this time, concerning their owne preſent ſtate, they muſt beleeue others, that can ſee more into them, then themſelues. For as in ſome diſeaſes of the bodie a man may hauehave all p. 145his ſenſes taken away from him for a while; or he may be ſo ſore wounded in the head, and his braine ſo diſtempered, that he can not tell, whether himſelfe be aliue or dead: but o…rs by their breathing, and ſome … operations of life doe ſee euidently, that life remaineth in them, and ſo hope that they may be recouered. So a man may be ſo ſpiritually ſicke of vnbeleefe, or ſo ſore wounded in his ſoule with temptations, that he cannot ſee any token of Gods fauour in himſelfe; but yet by the praiers that …e maketh vntounto God to be holpen …ut of theſe diſtreſſes, by the louelove …hat he beareth vntounto God, and to Gods people, and other operations …f the ſpirit of God in him, they that …re wiſe ſhall be able to diſcerne that …e life of Gods ſpirit breatheth in …em, to whome they muſt giuegive cre…it aboue themſelues: and ſo thinke, …at they are in a better eſtate of ſaluation, p. 146then they can ſee themſelues to be.

And it muſt not ſeeme ſtraunge vntounto vsus, that other ſhould ſee better into our eſtate, then we our ſelues can. For oftentimes it falleth out, that ſome great affection of the minde ſo blindeth vsus, that we imagine that we hauehave not that, which indeed we hauehave. He that is blinded with couetouſnes of theſe worldly goods, by the vnſatiable deſire that is in him, neuer ſatisfied, though he hath more to liu… on then many hundreds, yet ſtill h… is complaining of his want, and pouerty; and ſaith, that he hath nothing and tel him of this, and of that whic… God hath beſtowed vponupon him, ye… becauſe he hath not all that he deſ… reth, he maketh no account of the… and all is vntounto him, as though he ha… nothing. So he that is ſicke of a ſpir… tuall couetouſneſſe, and deſireth th… feeling of Gods fauour in a gre… p. 147me… ſure, and ſuch an aſſurance of his ſaluation, as might be without al doubt: which becauſe he can not come vntounto, becauſe the fleſh luſteth againſt the Spirit, and in it there is nothing but doubting, he imagineth that becauſe there is ſome want of aſſurance and feeling, that therefore there is no feeling at all: as the couetous man by reaſon of ſome want, ſaith that he hath nothing: the want of that, which he hath not, ſo blindeth his eyes, that he can not ſee that, that he hath: ſo the want of ſome aſſurance ſo troubleth them, and they hauehave ſo great a deſire vntounto more, that they can not ſee that they hauehave, but for want of ſome, denie all.

A remedie againſt which temptation is, not to deceiue our ſelues any longer with an imagination of ſuch a meaſure of aſſurance of ſaluation ordinarily in the children of God, which ſhould be without all wauering p. 148or doubting: or ſuch a meaſure of feeling of the louelove of God, and ioy therein, as ſhould abandon all diſtruſtfulnes and ſorow: this is not to be looked for in this world:Pſal. 16.11.Ps 16:11 the fulneſſe of ioy is in the preſence of God, and at his right hand onelyonly are pleaſures for euermore: here we hauehave them but in meaſure: there indeede is ioy vnſpeakable, and moſt glorious without all interruption; when we ſhall ſee God face to face:1. Cor. 13.12.1 Cor 13:12 and know him as we are knowne, whome now we behold as through a glaſſe, and ſo may ſometimes doubt, whether we ſee him or no. This meaſure we muſt be contented with, and ſo pray as the Pſalmiſt doth,Pſal. 106.4, 5.Ps 106:4Ps 106:5 Remember me, O Lord, with the fauour of thy people, that I may ſee the felicity of thy choſen: where he deſireth not ſuch ioy & feeling of the fauour of god, which he did imagine himſelfe, but which God doth vſually beſtow vponupon his p. 149people, which is that that is ioyned with much doubting, & many feares, euen then ſometimes when it is at the beſt: and ſo not imagine, that vnleſſe wee hauehave it according to our owne deſire, we hauehave it not at all, or as Gods people vſe to hauehave it. For vndoubtedly it is thus with the beſt, at one time or other.

And concerning this deſire of feeling and aſſurance, wee muſt vnderſtand thus much, that none can hauehave this, but thoſe that beleeue: ſo that though we ſhould want them both altogether, yet the deſire that wee hauehave vntounto them, doth manifeſtly argue that we hauehave faith. For who can deſire to feele the heate and light of the ſunne, but he that hath life in him? a dead carkaſe cannot doe it. So …f there were not the life of the Spi…it in vsus by faith, we could not hauehave a…y deſire to feele the fauour of God …n vsus in truth at all. He that is neuer p. 150ſo weake, yet if he ſtill deſire ſtrēgth, it appeareth that there is life in him: ſo when we moſt earneſtly deſire to be ſtrengthened in the aſſurance of our ſaluation, it is a manifeſt token, that the life of God is ſtill in vsus: therefore let vsus comfort our ſelues with ſuch deſires, and know aſſuredly, that as they be of God, ſo he will ſatisfie them in his good time: for the Lord heareth the deſire of the poore,Pſal. 10.17.Ps 10:17 he prepareth their heart, and bendeth his eare vntounto them: that is, as he giueth them ſo earneſtly to deſire theſe things, which others neglect, ſo he will ſhew by giuing alſo that which they doe deſire, that he hath not giuen them ſuch holy deſires in vaine. For the ſaying of our Sauiou… Chriſt muſt be verified vponupon all men without reſpect of perſons,Matth. 5.6.Matt 5:6 Bleſſed are all they that hunger and thirſt, no… onelyonly after righteouſnes, but after any other graces of his Spirit, for the… p. 151ſhall be ſatisfied and filled. And the ſaying of the virgine Marie ſhall be verified in them,Luk. 1.53.Luke 1:53 He hath filled the hungrie with good things, and ſent away the rich emptie: that is, as they that hauehave no ſuch deſires, can looke for no ſuch feeling, ſo they that are vnſatiable in their deſires that way, ſhall be ſatisfied in time with abundance of feeling: and if they waite vponupon God with patience, beleeuing theſe promiſes, it ſhall be vntounto them according to their faith.

That I might not ſay here that, which is yet moſt true, that while they ſo vnmeaſurably deſire it, they hauehave it in a good meaſure. For herein is the ſaying of S. Auguſtine moſt true, that the deſire of any grace of God, is in ſome ſort the grace it ſelfe. He that vnfainedly deſireth the forgiuenes of his ſinnes, doth with this deſire obtaine the remiſſion of them. He that deſireth a greater p. 152meaſure of repentance, doth from day to day profit in repentance: he that deſireth not to ſinne, is no ſinner before God: he that deſireth the fauour of God, hath obtained it alreadie: he that deſireth the aſſurance of his ſaluation, and the feeling of Gods fauour, he hath both of them in ſome ſort already. When Abraham was willing to offer vp his ſonne Izack at Gods commandemēt,Heb. 11.17.Heb 11:17 he is ſaid to hauehave don it by faith: his deſire before god, was as though he had done it: ſo when we offer vp theſe deſires vntounto God, it is as well with vsus in his account, as though we had the things themſelues.

For as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh o… almes,…. Cor. 8.12. if there be firſt a willing min… it is accepted according to that a mā hath, and not according to that tha… a man hath not: that is, God looketh not ſo much to his deede, as to his deſire: as the poore widow that offered p. 153but two mites, was more accepted of God, and commended by Chriſt, then they that offered much, becauſe of her great deſire. So when in the ſacrifice of prayer we offer vp our hearts vntounto god with holy deſires either for aſſurance of his fauour, or feeling of our ſaluation, we are accepted of him, as though we had them: and when he giueth vsus this deſire, he beginneth to worke the grace it ſelfe: and that deſire is the earneſt peny & pledge of the thing it ſelfe.

Chriſt ſaith in the Goſpel, that whoſoeuer looketh on a woman to luſt after her,Math. 5.2Matt 5:2 hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. So that the deſire vntounto any ſin, is the ſin it ſelfe before God: then the deſire vntounto any vertue, is the vertue and grace it ſelfe before God. And therefore he that looketh vp vntounto God with an earneſt deſire of his ſaluatiō, he hath obtained it alreadie before p. 154God, who ſeeth & aloweth the deſire of his heart. He that looketh on his own vnbeleefe and corruptions with a deſire to be rid of them, he is thereby diſcharged of them before God. Thus we ſee, that to deſire feeling is an argument of faith, as to deſire meate is an argument of life: yea to deſire feeling, is the very beginning of it in our ſelues: and therefore we muſt be comforted ouer them.

Concerning which feelings, we muſt alſo conſider, that in them that hauehave them in the greateſt meaſure, they are not alwaies alike: but they are going and comming, as the day and the night. And as in the courſe of nature there is not one tenour of things, but Gods works are ſubiect to many changes: ſo is it in the courſe of Gods grace: that which we hauehave receiued, doth not alwaies continue alike, neither hauehave we the ſame feeling of it to day, that we had yeſterday: p. 155whether we looke to the feruencie of prayer, or zeale to Gods word, or louelove to his Saints, or aſſurance of our ſaluation. Here we muſt comfort our ſelues with the remembrance of that that we hauehave found in our ſelues in times paſt, and hope that we may finde the like againe: and ſay as it is in the Pſalme,Pſal. 77.1 & 119.5…Ps 77:1Ps 119:5 I hauehave remembred the times paſt, and hauehave beene comforted. For as the woman that is quickned with child, and feeleth it ſtirre in her bodie, though ſhee doe not alwaies feele it ſtirre alike; and ſometimes not at all, and ſometimes more weakely then before: yet ſhee aſſures her ſelfe, that the child is liuing, becauſe ſhee hath felt it ſtirre before, & ſo hopeth that ſhee ſhall doe againe. So when Chriſt is formed in vsus firſt of all, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh,Gal. 4.1Gal 4:1 we hauehave the feeling of him ſtirring and moouing in our hearts by his holy Spirit, dwelling in vsus: which liuely p. 156motions though wee feele not ſo ſtrongly moouing in vsus afterwards, or not at all; yet we doubt not, but that Chriſt dwelleth in our hearts by faith ſtill,Eph. 3.17.Eph 3:17 and hope to feele it as ſenſibly againe in time, as we hauehave done: & ſo much the more, becauſe Chriſt beeing formed in vsus, neuer dieth: and therefore the remembrance of our former Feelings muſt comfort vsus ouer the want of them for the time preſent: for they are not alwaies alike in any that hauehave them: it is ſufficient that we hauehave had them, therefore if we labour after them, they will returne vntounto vsus againe, when it ſhall pleaſe God. And thus much for this, that S. Thomas in this matter of faith addicts himſelfe to his owne feeling.

THe fourth and laſt degree of his vnbeleefe appeareth in this, Except I ſee in his hands the print of the nayles, and in his ſide the print of the ſpeare, I will not beleeue it. For p. 157why ſhould he deſire this? not onelyonly to ſee him, and to feele him; but to ſee in his hands the print of the nailes, and to put his finger into them; and to ſee in his ſide the print of the ſpeare, and to put his hand into it. Did he not know that theſe wounds and skarres were proper vntounto his bodie onelyonly while it was ſubiect vntounto infirmitie and weaknes: and that after his reſurrection his bodie was glorified? And ſo he might hauehave thought, that though it ſhould be graunted vntounto him to ſee him, yet he could not by any reaſon or groūd frō the Scripture, hauehave hope to ſee him thus: & yet he ſaith, Except I ſee the print of the nailes, &c. I will not beleeue it: he doth not ſay, except I ſee him: but, except I ſee him with the print of the nayles, and of the ſpeare, I will not beleeue it.

This is then the nature of vnbeleefe, that when it will not profit by p. 158the ordinarie meanes, that God hath appointed for the confirming of faith; it deſireth ſuch things, whereof there is no warrant, either from reaſon, or from Scripture. As here S. Thomas neglecting what Chriſt had ſaide vntounto him, that when he ſhould be put to death, within three daies he would riſe again: and that alſo which was tolde him by the Apoſtles, and diuers others, namely, that he was riſen againe, and had appeared vntounto ſuch and ſuch: he ſaith, Except I ſee him my ſelfe, with the print of the nayles in his feete, and of the ſpeare in his ſide, I will not beleeue it. Concerning which poynt; though Chriſt did riſe indeede out of the ſepulchre with theſe markes in his glorified body, and did retaine them whiles he taried on the earth, that thereby it might more certainely be knowne, that the ſame body of his that was crucified, was raiſed vp againe; p. 159yet Thomas had no generall rule to leade him to thinke that it ſhould be ſo, but rather according to the common condition of the bodies of all the faithfull in the day of reſurrection, ſo to conceiue of the body of Chriſt raiſed vp. For that which is ſaid of the reſurrection of all the faithful, the members of Chriſts myſticall body, muſt needes be much more true of him the head: for it belongeth to them onelyonly by vertue of his reſurrection. Now of them the Apoſtle writeth thus to the Corinthians;1. Cor. 15.42.1 Cor 15:42 The body is ſowne in corruption, and raiſed in incorruption: that is, with nothing tending thereunto as wounds doe: it is ſowne in diſhonor, hauing no glory nor beauty on it, as Chriſts body was moſt of all, when beſides that the life was gone out of it, and ſo it looked pale and wanne; it had alſo many deformites by the ſtripes of his whippings, and the crowne of thornes, & p. 160the print of the nailes in his hands & feete, and of the ſpeare in ſide: it is raiſed in glory; that is, with all perfection & excellencie of beauty without any blemiſh at all: it is ſowne in weakenes, it is raiſed in power: and therefore without marks and tokens of weakenes & infirmitie: for a body ſore wounded, euen vntounto death, as Chriſts was, hath leſſe power in it, then it had before. Therefore ſeeing he deſired to ſee Chriſts body raiſed vp, he ſhould not hauehave deſired to ſee it thus, and with theſe markes.

And for the further confirmation of this, we may remember what the Apoſtle ſaith touching the glorious ſtate of our bodies to be raiſed vp: Our conuerſation is in heauen,…al. 3.20. from whence alſo we looke for the Sauiour, euen the Lord Ieſus Chriſt: who ſhall chaunge our vile bodie, that it may be faſhioned like vntounto his glorious bodie, according to the working, p. 161whereby he is able euen to ſubdue all things vntounto himſel…e: therefore as we ſhall be raiſed vp without skarres and marks of infirmity, which many hauehave in theſe daies of their pilgrimage: ſo he had no reaſon to thinke, but that Chriſts bodie ſhould be. Therefore though he would not beleeue, till he ſawe him, he could not looke to ſee him after this manner, that he preſcribeth.

And though he did at the laſt appeare with theſe markes in his body both to the eleuen firſt, and afterwards vntounto Thomas: yet it was not becauſe his bodie was properly, and of it owne nature then ſubiect vntounto them, no more then it was to hunger, when he did eate with them:Luk. 24.43.Luke 24:43 but it was by a ſpeciall extraordinarie di…penſation; as when Angels that hauehave …o bodies, did appeare in the ſhape of men. Therefore this could not be …ooked for: and it was in reſpect of p. 162the ordinarie courſe of Gods dealing ſomewhat vnreaſonable, to tie the Lord vntounto that for the ſtrengthening of his faith, and to ſay, Except I ſee the print of the nayles, and of the ſpeare, I wil not beleeue it: for others had ſeene him, and not ſeene him with theſe;Ioh. 20.15.John 20:15 as Marie Magdalen at the ſepulchre, where ſhee miſtooke him to be the gardener, or the keeper of that place, where Chriſt was buried in a garden:Mark. 16.12.Mark 16:12 and the two Diſciples in their iourney, as they were going to Emmaus. Therefore we muſt take heede, how we yeild to our vnbeleef… for it will make vsus looke for and deſire ſuch things at the hand of God for the confirming of our faith, a… hauehave no ground either from Scripture, or from reaſon: though it pleaſeth God of his infinite goodnes to beare with men ſometimes this way and to yeild to them, either to th… ſtrengthening of their faith, or to th… p. 163leauing of them without excuſe in their vnbeleefe. So that as the Apoſtle ſaith of couetouſnes,1. Tim. ….…. They that will be rich fall into tentation and ſnares, and into many fooliſh and noiſome luſts, which drowne men in perdition and deſtruction; So we may ſay of vnbeleefe, that it cauſeth men to deſire many fooliſh and vnreaſonable things, and ſuch as often tende to their owne hurt.

Thus in the Goſpel our Sauiour Chriſt in the parable of the rich glutton, and in his perſon noteth out the thoughts and deſires of vnbeleeuers here in this world: where he is broght in ſpeaking vntounto Abraham after this manner; I pray thee father,Luk. 16.27.Luke 16:27 that thou wouldeſt ſend Lazarus vntounto my fathers houſe (for I hauehave many brethrē) that he may teſtifie vntounto them, leaſt they alſo come into this place of torment. Thus vnbeleeuers would hauehave dead men come from heauen, & tell p. 164them what is done there, and what in hell: but Chriſt ſheweth what anſwer Abraham gaue him for our inſtruction;29. They hauehave Moſes, and the Prophets, let them heare them: as if he had ſaid, they doe ſufficiently declare the truth of theſe things, of thē they may learne them, and ſo it is needeleſſe to hauehave any come from heauen to tell them, there are enough vponupon the earth, that doe declare it daily: & ſo doe the Apoſtles, and the Euangeliſts now much more. But the rich man ſaide againe,30. Father Abraham, but if one come from the dead, they will amend their liues: which is as if he had ſaid, Though they doe heare daily out of the Scripture, what puniſhment is in hell for the wicked, yet they doe not beleeue it, except ſome come from the dead, and tell them of it, and then they would.

Thus fooliſh is vnbeleefe, to neglect the certen teſtimonie of the Prophets p. 165and Apoſtles, which is the ordinarie meanes to reueale his will vntounto vsus, and to deſire that Angels or dead men might come from heauen, or from hell to ſpeake vntounto them, and then they would beleeue thē: which in theſe daies is ſo extraordinary, that it is not to be looked for. But this is a ſhort and plaine anſwer for ſuch men ſet downe there from Abraham, who ſaid thus vntounto him,31. If they heare not Moſes and the Prophets, neither will they be perſwaded, though one riſe from the dead againe. Where Chriſt ſheweth not only what are the means of knowing theſe things, euen the bookes of the Prophets and Apoſtles in which the will of God is perfectly ſet downe concerning all things, that are needefull for vsus to know, and that the other is not to be deſired, nor hoped for. So if they had them, they would not profit by them, when as they neglect the other: but yet we ſee p. 166by this, that vnbeleefe is full of theſe fooliſh deſires.

And truly if we could ſo well ſee into the hearts of men, as Chriſt did when he vttered this parable, wee ſhould ſee, that the greateſt part of the world is ſtill of this mind, to neglect all the ordinarie meanes, that God hath appointed either to worke faith in them at the firſt, or to confirme it in them afterwards; and to deſire ſuch meanes, as are impoſſible and not to be looked for, becauſe they are contrarie to the word of God. For the Apoſtle ſaith,…ob. 1.1. At ſundrie times, and in diuers manners God ſpake in the olde time to our fathers by the Prophets: but in theſe laſt daies he hath ſpoken vntounto vsus by his Sonne: that is, in the old time. God did ſundrie waies declare his will vntounto men, as ſometimes by viſions when they were waking, and by dreames when they were ſleeping, by Vrim & Thū mim p. 167in the Prieſts breaſt, by Angels from heauen, by the Prophets, &c. but now he hath fully declared his will by his ſonne Chriſt, and hath appointed that we ſhould come to the knowledge of it by that order which Chriſt hath eſtabliſhed: who when he aſcended vp into heauen, gaue vntounto his Church, Paſtors and teachers,Eph. 4.12.Eph 4:12 for the repairing of the Saints, for the worke of the miniſterie, and for the edification of the bodie of Chriſt, till we all meete together (in the vnitie of faith, and the acknowledging of the ſon of God) vntounto a perfect man, and vntounto the meaſure of the age of the fulneſſe of Chriſt: therefore as long as we liue, we are to looke for no other meanes then theſe of Paſtors and teachers, the other hauehave ceaſed long agoe, as beeing appointed for the old world.

But yet vnbeleeuing men refuſe theſe, and with itching eares they p. 168linger after the other: and ſome are ready to ſay, Oh if I might hauehave an Angel come and tell me of the deſtruction that ſhall come vponupon the wicked for their ſinne,Gen. 19.13.Gen 19:13 as Lot had in Sodom, I would beleeue it: and ſome are ready to ſay, if Lazarus might come from the dead, that is, if ſome of thoſe my freinds and aquaintance that are dead, might riſe out of their graues, and come and tell me, what they hauehave ſeene and felt in heauen & hell, if I might hauehave but a litle conference with them, I would beleeue them. Or if I could ſee into the heauens, and there behold Chriſt ſtanding at the right hand of God, as Stephen the Martyr did:Act 7.56.Acts 7:56 or if I could heare him ſpeake vntounto me from heauen, and call me from my ſinnes, as Saul did,…k 9.4. when he was a perſecuter, then I would hearken vntounto him, and become a new man. And others thinke, Oh if they might be rapt into p. 169the third heauens,2. Cor. 12 …2 Cor 12 and be taken vp into paradiſe, as Paul was, and there heare God ſpeake vntounto them, then they would performe great matters, and lead an Angels life: or if beeing here on earth they might ſee God come downe from heauen vntounto thē, & they might hauehave ſome ſure token, that it was he that ſpake vntounto them, as the Iſraelites had in the wildernes,Exod. 19Exod 19 when God ſpake there vntounto them vponupon Mount Sinai, then they would yeeld great obedience, and nothing ſhould draw thē frō that, which they had heard. Theſe and many ſuch fooliſh and impoſſible things doe men deſire, & then they ſay they would beleeue all things, and vntill thē they neede not, neither will they.

But what ſaith the Apoſtle to the Romanes?Rom. 10.…Rom 10 The righteouſnes which is of faith, ſpeaketh on this wiſe, Say not in thine heart, who ſhall aſcend into heauen? (that is, to bring Chriſt p. 170from aboue) or who ſhall deſcend into the deepe? (that is, to bring Chriſt from the dead.) But what ſaith it? The word is neere thee euen in thy mouth, and in thine heart; this is the word of faith which wee preach. Where he ſheweth what are the doubtfull and wauering thoughts of vnbeleeuers concerning that ſaluation, that is purchaſed for vsus by Chriſt, and offered vntounto vsus in the Goſpel: & how thoſe thoughts & imaginations by faith are to be repr…ſſed. For they which ſeek righteouſnes in thēſelues, that by the workes of the law they might be iuſtified and ſaued, beeing alwaies vnquiet and doubtfull of their ſaluation, becauſe they cannot finde perfect righteouſnes in themſelues, are ready to ſay, if I might ſee any Saint or Angel come from heauen to cary me thither, or to aſſure me that I ſhall come thither; or any come from the depth of hell to tell p. 171me, that I am deliuered from thence, I could beleeue it.

But the righteouſnes of faith, that is, true faith whereby we are made righteous in Chriſt, ſuppreſſeth theſe thoughts of vnbeleefe; and telleth vsus according to that, that is preached in the Goſpel, that Chriſt hath fulfilled all things needefull for our ſaluation; euen that he hath ſuffered the curſe of the law to deliuer vsus from hel, and that he hath fulfilled the righteouſnes of the law to bring vsus to heauen, and he hath aſcended vp thither for vsus in our nature, to prepare a place for vsus: and he hath praied vntounto God for vsus, that where he is we may be to behold his glorie. Thus true faith for the certentie of our ſaluation, bids vsus rely vponupon that, that Chriſt hath don for vsus, and vponupon that, which this way is ſet downe in the Goſpel: and ſo our conſciences ſhall be quieted, and no man neede to aske theſe queſtions, p. 172who can aſcend vp into heauen, or bring vsus from hell? ſeeing that the Goſpel teacheth that both theſe are done by Chriſt for all thoſe that imbrace their calling by a true faith.

But vnbeleefe neglecting this, deſireth that, that is vnreaſonable, and ſaith, Oh, but I ſee none that hath aſcended vp to heauen, & come downe againe to tell me, what is there done for me. Who ſhall aſcend? who is he that hath, or will doe ſo much? then I could beleeue it. And I ſee none, that hath deſcended into hell, and returned, to tell me that I am deliuered from thence. Who ſhall deſcend into the deepe? where is he that hath, or will doe this for me? then I could beleeue it. And ſo not onelyonly the vnbeleeuers are wholly poſſeſſed and ouercō with theſe doubtfull thoughts; but all men, ſo farre as vnbeleefe preuaileth in them, are ready to ſay thus, at leaſt in their hearts, Oh, if any p. 173might come from heauen, to aſſure me, that I ſhall come thither, and be ſaued, then I could beleeue it: or if any might come from hell, to aſſure me that I am deliuered from thence, then I ſhould be quiet in my minde, and deliuered from theſe feares, that I am incombred with.

But what ſaith faith? ſay not thus in thine heart, &c. that is, hauehave thou no ſuch doubts in thy mind, but conſider what Chriſt hath done for thee, to bring thee to heauen, and to deliuer thee from hell: and what the goſpel doth this way offer vntounto thee, and what thou haſt heard preached out of it to this ende, and reſt in thē: For if thou ſhalt confeſſe with thy mouth the Lord Ieſus,Rom. 10…Rom 10 and ſhalt beleeue in thine heart that God raiſed him from the dead, thou ſhalt be ſaued: that is, if thou profeſſe plainely, and ſincerely, and openly, that thou takeſt Ieſus onelyonly to be thy Lord and p. 174Sauiour; and that it was the very counſell and purpoſe of God, in the reſurrection of his ſonne to redeeme vsus from death, and hell, as it is preached vntounto vsus in the Goſpel, thou ſhalt be ſaued. So faith leadeth vsus frō theſe vain ſpeculations vntounto that, that is reuealed vntounto vsus in the word.

And whereas the beſt beleeuers are ſubiect vntounto theſe temptations at one time or other, by reaſon of the rēnants of vnbeleefe abiding in thē: yet the Apoſtle giueth vsus to vnderſtand, that they come frō vnbeleefe, and not frō faith: but that it is the nature of ſaith to ſtriue againſt them, & to ſuppreſſe them in meaſure, ſo farre forth as faith preuaileth, and getteth the victory in them. So that when they begin to hauehave theſe doubts in their minds, and to thinke with thē ſelues, how ſhal I aſcend into heauē? how ſhall I eſcape hell, I cannot tell what ſhall become of me? then faith p. 175is as a voice ſpeaking behind them, to admoniſh them of their duty, and as it were pulling them by the elbow bids them hold their peace, Oh ſay not in thine heart, who ſhall aſcend into heauen, &c. Oh hauehave no ſuch thoughts in thy mind: this were to deny what Chriſt hath done for thee concerning thy redemption from hell, and thy aſcention into heauen: therefore ſay not ſo in any caſe, no not in thine heart: giuegive ouer reaſoning with vnbeleefe, and reſt in the word of God.

Thus we ſee how vnbeleefe bindeth God to vnreaſonable courſes, & deſireth of him for the ſtrengthening of faith things not to be deſired: therefore as we ſee frō whence ſuch do ariſe, ſo we muſt ſtriue againſt vnbeleefe, that we might ouercome ſuch fooliſh conceits. And thus the vnbeleuing Iewes did reaſon againſt our Sauiour Chriſt, when he was vponupon p. 176the croſſe, and thereby did ſhew what wicked and abſurd thoughts their infidelitie did driue them vntounto. If thou be the ſonne of God,Matth. 27.…0.Matt 27 come downe from the croſſe: he ſaued others, but he cannot ſaue himſelfe: if he be the king of Iſrael,42. let him now come downe from the croſſe, and we will beleeue in him:43. he truſted in God, let him deliuer him now, if he will hauehave him: for he ſaide, I am the ſonne of God. Behold what vnreaſonable things they doe, as it were, binde Chriſt vntounto, that they might beleeue in him, or els they will not: for they ſay, let him now come down from the croſſe, and now ſaue himſelfe, or els neuer.

They did not conſider how all the propheſies of the Meſſiah ſet downe in Scripture were verified in him, euen from his firſt conception, vntounto this very houre: how he was conceiued by the holy Ghoſt, and borne of p. 177a virgin, and of the houſe of Dauid, and in Bethleem: how the wiſe men came from the Eaſt vntounto Ieruſalem, and told them that the King of the Iewes was borne, and that they had ſeene his ſtarre: neither what old father Simeon, and Anna the prophe…eſſe ſaid of him in the temple, when he was circumciſed. They regarded not his doctrine ful of authoritie and …ower, themſelues beeing driuen to confeſſe, that neuer man before ſpake …ike vntounto him: they were not moo…ed with his miracles, when they …aw how by his owne power he hea…ed them of incurable diſeaſes, made …he blind to ſee, the lame to goe, the …eafe to heare: caſt out the deuills by …he power of his word; raiſed vp thē …hat were dead: and did many more …ings els, which were ſufficient to …onuince them, that he was the true …eſſiah and Sauiour, to whome all …e Prophets gaue witneſſe: neither p. 178did they giuegive any credit vntounto the voice of God himſelfe, which they heard from heauen, when he was baptized,Matth. 3.17.Matt 3:17 This is my beloued ſonne, in whome I am well pleaſed: at what time alſo the heauens were opened, and the Spirit of God deſcended like a doue, and lighted vponupon him. Much leſſe did they giuegive credit vntounto the teſtimonie of Iohn, who ſaide of him, Behold the lambe of God,Ioh. 1.36.John 1:36 that taketh away the ſinnes of the world.

None of all theſe they regarded they were not ſufficient to cauſe th… to beleeue in him, they deſpiſed the… all, as though they had been nothin… worth; but ſuch a fooliſh thing … this they deſire, and that ſhould ſatisfie them: if he would come down… from the croſſe, and that euen ve… now at their appointment, and tar… no longer, then they could beleeue… him indeede: but if he would not d… that at all, or not now preſently wi… p. 179out any delay they will not beleeue in him. Which if he had done, he had forſaken his office of redemption, for he came to ſuffer and die for vsus, that he might by his owne ſufferings deliuer vsus from death, and to die vponupon the croſſe,Gal. 3.13.Gal 3:13 that he might redeeme vsus from the curſe of the law, beeing made a curſe for vsus, as it is written, Curſed is eueryevery one that hangeth on tree. And when he had ſuffered all things needefull for our ſaluation, ſaying vponupon the croſſe, It is finiſhed,Ioh. 19.30.John 19:30 and ſo gaue vp the ghoſt, and afterwards was buried: God raiſed him vp at the time appointed, euen the third day, and looſed the ſorowes of death,Act. 2.2…Acts 2:2 becauſe it was impoſſible, that hee ſhould be held of it any longer, as S. Peter ſaith. But ſee the fooliſhnes of vnbeleefe, the Iewes would hauehave god then to deliuer him before it was time, euen ſo ſoone as he was vponupon the croſſe, and before he had ſuffered, p. 180or els they would not beleeue that he was the ſonne of God, or that he had any power to ſaue himſelfe or others.

And after this manner the Deuill teacheth other men alſo by vnbeleefe to reaſon againſt good men, and againſt themſelues: as if ſuch a man were an vpright man, ſuch an one as he maketh ſhew of, God would not ſuffer him to be ſo and ſo afflicted, but he would deliuer him frō this croſſe, that is vponupon him: and ſo did the three friends of Iob reaſon againſt him to the great weakning of his faith: as this was alſo none of the leaſt temptations vntounto Dauid, when the wicked ſaide of him in his miſerie,Pſal. 42.10.Ps 42:10 Where is now thy God? as if they had ſaide, Surely, if God were his God, he would hauehave deliuered him long before this. And of themſelues they are ready to ſay, if God would now deliuer me out of this affliction; if hee p. 181would now helpe me out of this trouble, I would thinke that he had ſome care of me indeede: and vnleſſe they hauehave ſome preſent eaſe, or releefe, they can not be perſwaded of the truth of his promiſes. But what ſaith the Scripture?Pſal. 50.15.Ps 50:15 Call vponupon me in the day of thy trouble: ſo will I deliuer thee. So that we muſt ſeek vntounto God for the performance of his promiſes: But how? euen as it is ſaide in an other Pſalme,& 5.3. Heare my voice in the morning, O Lord: for in the morning will I direct me vntounto thee, and I will waite: that is, after that he had praied vntounto God, he would patiently waite vponupon him with truſt, till God did ſhew, that he had heard him. Euen as ſuiters doe at the court, when they hauehave put vp their petitions vntounto the King, or the Counſell, though they hauehave not a preſent anſwer, they …re not diſcouraged, and therefore giuegive ſtill attendance, and tarie their p. 182leiſure, with hope of ſpeeding at the laſt.

And how long muſt we thus wait vponupon God for his deliuerance? euen vntill it pleaſeth him to diſcharge vsus: not preſcribing vntounto him any time. Euen as it is ſaid in one of the Pſalms of degres,…c. 130.6. My ſoule waiteth on the Lord, more then the morning watch watcheth for the morning: that is, euen as they that are ſet to watch all night, doe not giuegive ouer their ſtation till the morning come, though the night be neuer ſo long: ſo we in affliction muſt not ceaſe waiting vponupon God vntill the time appointed. And when is that? euen when he giueth vsus our hearts deſire, & not before. Euen as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh in the name & perſon of the whole church, ſhewing after what manner, and how long he would ſeeke vntounto God.& 123.2. Behold, as the eies of ſeruants looke vntounto the hand of their maſters, and as the eies p. 183of a maide vntounto the hand of her miſtris; ſo our eies wait vponupon the Lord our God, vntill he hauehave merciemercy vponupon vsus. So that he would continually and earneſtly wait vponupon God for his defence, not doubting of it, vntill ſuch time as he found it by experience: and therefore if he deferre a while, we muſt tarie the longer, with good hope waiting. As the Prophet Habacuk ſaith, that after long prayer hee receiued this anſwer from the Lord concerning the deliuerance of the Church: that it was deferred a long time, therefore he would hauehave him to waite, for vndoubtedly in time it ſhould come, and not faile, ſaying,Habak. 2.3.Hab 2:3 The viſion is yet for an appointed time, but at the laſt it ſhall ſpeake, and not lie: though it tary, yet wait thou, for it ſhall ſurely come, and ſhall not ſtay.

But vnbeleefe ſaith, I could be…eeue theſe promiſes, if I might now p. 184inioy them, and vnles I be preſently deliuered, I cannot thinke, that God regardeth me: and ſo it tieth Gods fauour to preſent deliuerance. And though the Scripture hath ſaid, that affliction is like vntounto fire, and that our faith and patience is like vntounto gold; and therefore as the gold muſt tarie in the fire vntill all the droſſe be conſumed, and the gold refined: ſo God wil hauehave vsus to indure the croſſe, vntill our corruption be thoroughly purged, and our faith and patience b… prooued to be pure and good; yet we are readie to ſay, that vnleſſe he deliuer me now, I cannot beleeue, tha… he hath any reſpect vntounto me. An… vntounto all that, which faith ſaith vnt… vsus, concerning the tarying of God leiſure; vnbeleefe is readie to mak… anſwer, that vnleſſe God giuegive it now I will thinke that I ſhall neuer hauehave i… And as faith or vnbeleefe preuailet… in vsus at any time; ſo are theſe thogh… p. 185more or leſſe in vsus, in the time of any affliction: for the one is of the fleſh, and the other of the Spirit, and both theſe beeing in the regenerate,Gal. 5.17Gal 5:17 The fleſh luſteth againſt the Spirit, & the Spirit againſt the fleſh; and theſe are contrarie one to an other: ſo that ye can not doe the ſame things that ye would, as Paul ſheweth to the Galatians.

And this is that, which eueryevery one of vsus hath experiēce of in our ſelues: for how often when we hauehave beene in trouble, hauehave we thought, and ſaid in our owne hearts; vnles God giuegive me ſuch and ſuch meanes, there are none that will doe me good: and vnleſſe theſe helpe me, I can not looke for helpe from any: and ſo we are readie to tie Gods helpe to times, and to meanes. Whereas faith ſaith otherwiſe out of the word of God, namely, that he hath other times, and meanes in his hands to doe vsus good p. 186by, and that he is able to helpe vsus whē all meanes faile vsus. And beſides, what if he will not deliuer vsus at all? but wil hauehave vsus drinke of that cuppe, that he hath giuen vsus, euen vntounto death: as Chriſt himſelfe did: his louelove is neuer a whit the leſſe vntounto vsus, no more then it was vntounto him. Thus we ſee, how this vnbeleefe raigneth in this world, and yet how Chriſt of his infinite goodneſſe and merciemercy, beareth with thoſe that are his in it for a while, and cureth them of it at the laſt, as he did with the Apoſtle Thomas, and as he hath done with vsus very often, and in many things.

And this is that, which the Prophet noteth to hauehave beene very often in the people of Iſrael, whiles they were in the wildernes, of whome he ſaith,…al. 78.41 They returned, and tempted God, and limited the holy one of Iſrael: that is, according to the ſtraitnes of their owne heart in their vnbeleefe, p. 187ſo did they imagine of Gods preſence and power: and therefore they are ſaid, to limit the holy one of Iſrael, and as it were to compaſſe him in certaine bounds, and to indent with him after this manner: if hee would doe ſo and ſo for them, they would thinke that he cared for them, and were among thē for their good: & if he would not doe ſo, they would not beleeue it. And thus they did often, and therefore it is ſaide, they returned and tempted God: for when they had tēpted God thus one way, then they did it an other way. For ſometimes they deſired water, ſometimes meate, ſometimes daintie fleſh, as quailes; and that ſo importunately, that they ſaid, vnles they had theſe things according to their owne deſire, they thought either that God could not doe it, or that he cared not for them: and thus they ſpake againſt God, ſaying,verſ. 19. Can God prepare a table p. 188in the wildernes? behold, he ſmote the rocke that the waters guſhed out, and the ſtreames ouerflowed: can he giuegive bread alſo, and prepare fleſh for his people? And thus did they not onelyonly once, but many times, and for many things: in ſo much that the Prophet ſpeaketh with admiration, How oft did they prouoke him in the wilderneſſe, and grieue him in the deſert! And thus for their aſſurāce that God was with them, and that he was willing and able to helpe them, they deſired theſe outward things, & ſo by the fooliſhnes of their deſires did apparantly ſhew the vnbeleefe that was in them.

So doe many vnbeleeuers of our time: looke what they earneſtly deſire, if they hauehave it not, they will not beleeue that God careth for them: & hereupon ſome of them ſay, if I might hauehave ſuch a thing, I would think that God loued me: and others p. 189ſay, if God would beſtowe this or that vponupon me, I would hope that I were in his fauour. And what things are they then which they deſire? onelyonly outward, and appertaining to this life: and ſo according to their preſent wants through vnbeleefe they limite the louelove of God, ſome to one thing, ſome to an other, and will not be perſwaded of it, but by the inioying of ſuch things as themſelues deſire.

And it is thus not onelyonly in the vnbeleeuers: but all Gods children, ſo farre as the remnants of vnbeleefe do preuaile in them, are ſubiect vntounto theſe temptatiōs, and to theſe deſires: and are ready to ſay, if I were rid of this affliction, which hath lien heauily vponupon me a long time, I could be perſwaded of his fauour towards me. By which we are thus to profit, thereby to ſee, what infidelity is lurking in vsus, that ſo we might be ſory for it, & ſeeke to be holpen of it. And then we p. 190ſhall ſee the remedie againſt it to be this: that as the Apoſtle S. Thomas ſhould not hauehave tied the certenty of Chriſts reſurrection, to his apparition and ſhewing of himſelfe vntounto him, ſaying, Vnles I ſee him my ſelfe, I will not beleeue it: for it was true, & to be beleeued of him and others, that Chriſt was riſen againe, though they had neuer ſeene him: much leſſe ſhould he hauehave tied it vntounto this, that he would ſee him in that forme, that he was in vponupon the croſſe, with the wounds and marks in his bodie, ſaying, Vnles I ſee in his hands the print of the nayles, and put my finger into the print of the nayles, and put my hand into his ſide, I will not beleeue it: for he might hauehave appeared vntounto him in ſome other forme, as he did vntounto others, at diuers times.

Euen ſo we are not to tie the certentie of Gods fauour to any one thing, and to ſay, vnles I hauehave this o… p. 191that, I can not be perſwaded of Gods fauour: much leſſe vntounto any of theſe outward things, which appertaine vntounto our bodies, and to this life: for God our heauenly father hath many waies and meanes to aſſure his children of his louelove and fauour towards them; and doth it as our earthly fathers doe, not onelyonly to ſome one way, and to others an other way, but euen vntounto the ſame not alike at all times, and by the ſame things. But eſpecially there are more ſure pledges and tokens of his louelove, which he beſtoweth vponupon his children, then all the outward benefits in the world; which onelyonly for the moſt part the vnbeleeuers deſire, and meaſure gods fauour by them. For there are the graces & gifts of his holy Spirit proper vntounto the elect, as a louelove of God and of goodnes, an hatred of euill, a deſire to pleaſe God, a delight in the companie of the godly, and ſuch like: p. 192in beſtowing of which vponupon man, he doth moſt of all manifeſt his louelove vntounto them. There are alſo his holy word and Sacraments, whereby he worketh the beginning and increaſe of theſe and other graces in thoſe that are his: rare and ineſtimable teſtimonies of his fauour: of which it is ſaid in the Pſalme,…al. 147.19. He ſheweth his word vntounto Iaakob, his ſtatutes & his iudgements vntounto Iſrael: he hath not dealt ſo with eueryevery nation, neither hauehave they known his iudgements. Where he maketh this a note of the louelove of God to the people of the Iewes, aboue all other nations, that they had among them the doctrine of euerlaſting life, which others wanted. And ſo this is none of the leaſt teſtimonies of Gods fauour towardes vsus, that we liue in theſe happie daies and bleſſed times, in which the Goſpel is purely and ſincerely preached, and that we inioy the miniſterie of it.

p. 193But the greateſt token of all, wherby God hath manifeſted his louelove vn…o vsus, is the death of his ſonne: of which Chriſt ſpeaketh in the goſpel, God ſo loued the world,Ioh. 1.16.John 1:16 that he gaue …is onelyonly begotten ſonne, that who…oeuer beleeueth in him, ſhould not …eriſh, but hauehave euerlaſting life: wher …e noteth the excellency of the louelove …f God, by the excellency of the gift. He ſo loued the world with an extra…rdinarie and wonderfull great louelove, …hat he gaue his onelyonly begottē ſonne …o ſaue vsus: and this is the fountaine …nd cauſe of all other benefits of his …eſtowed, and to be beſtowed vpō vsus: …s the Apoſtle ſaith;Rom. 8.32.Rom 8:32 God that ſpared …ot his owne ſonne, but gaue him …r vsus all to death, how ſhall he not …ith him giuegive vsus all things alſo? and … him there are purchaſed and pre…red for vsus euerlaſting ioyes in the …ngdome of heauen: and though we …ant many things in this world, yet p. 194God giueth vsus patience, and mindes well contented with our eſtate, as a token that he loueth vsus. So that by all theſe things, or by any one of them, and by many more is Gods louelove knowen and to be beleeued. Therefore we muſt not be ſo fooliſh to ſtin… God by vnbeleefe, and ſay, if I ma… hauehave this or that, I will be perſwade of his fauour: for there are othe… things beſides thoſe which we im… gine, whereby he may manifeſt h… fauour vntounto vsus moſt clearly: and th… alſo not onelyonly in this world, but … the world to come: not onelyonly whi… we hauehave in preſent poſſeſſion, b… which we inioy through hope.

And therefore this is ſingula… commended in the faith of Iob, th… whē he had loſt al his worldly goo… and in reſpect of his outward eſta… he was brought vntounto nothing; ye… did put his truſt in God: beleeu… that his fauour was not tied to the… p. 195nor to any one of them: but that it was the ſame then, that it was before: and ſo vttered this cōfortable ſpeach proceeding frō faith in Gods goodnes;Iob 1.21.Job 1:21 Naked came I out of my mothers wombe, and naked ſhall I returne thither: the Lord hath giuen, and the Lord hath taken it, bleſſed be the name of the Lord. He doth not ſay, if God would reſtore all vntounto me againe (as he did in time, yea he doub…ed them) then I would beleeue that …e cared for me: but euen whiles he remained in the want of all, he bleſ…ed and praiſed the name of God; which could not be without great …aith. Yea he ſaid further, that if he …hould die in that eſtate, yet he would …at his truſt in God, and beleeue …at he cared for him:& 13 15 Loe though he …ay me, yet will I truſt in him, and …e ſhall be my ſaluation: in which …ords he confeſſeth, that he was ſo …re, euen in this great extremitie, p. 194duplicate page p. 195duplicate page p. 196from deſpairing of life or ſaluation, as that in the very power and inſtant of death he would truſt in him; for he had other teſtimonies of Gods fauour, then all his outward proſperity: euen the teſtimony of a good conſcience, that he had walked before him in ſincerity and truth, and that he had been no hypocrite; as he declareth at large in the Chap. 31.

And he had further, for the vpholding of his faith, the conſtant truth of Gods promiſes; and thoſe not onelyonly for this life, but for the life to come: and therefore he doubted not, but that it ſhould goe well with him, though he died in that eſtate: for he hoped at the laſt day to riſe againe, & to behold Chriſt his Sauiour to his euerlaſting comfort: when he ſaith, Oh that my words were now writtē,and 19.23. oh that they were written euen in a booke: and grauen with an iron pen, in lead or in ſtone for euer; for I am p. 197ſure that my redemer liueth, and he ſhall ſtand the laſt on the earth: and though after my skinne wormes deſtroy this body, yet ſhall I ſee God in my fleſh, whom I ſhall ſee my ſelfe, and my eies ſhall behold, and none other for me, though my reines are conſumed within me. Where we ſee how he ſaith, that in the midſt of all his afflictions he did reioyce and glory in this, euen in the teſtimony of a good conſcience, whereby he did ſo reſt in the promiſes of God concerning his reſurrection, and life eternal, which was to come, that this did cō firme him in the fauour of God againſt all temptations.

Thus true faith bindeth not Gods fauor to any of theſe outward things, whereby men doe commonly deſire to be aſſured of it: but it looketh vntounto better things, whereby his louelove is moſt apparant; and that not onelyonly in this life, but in the life to come moſt p. 198of all: as they be promiſed and ſet downe in the word of God. And that is the remedie againſt the fooliſh & vaine deſires of vnbeleefe. Let vsus not therefore tie the aſſurance of Gods fauour vntounto any one thing, but ſeeing that he hath many waies to declare it, let vsus beleeue the promiſes of his word, and pray him to ſeale thē vp in our hearts by what meanes it ſhall pleaſe him beſt: and let vsus not be ſo froward and peruerſe, as to thinke it is not conſtant vntounto vsus, vnles it be ſealed vp that way, which we our ſelues doe moſt of all deſire.

Therefore to conclude the ſumme of all in few words. We ſee by the weakenes of S. Thomas, not onelyonly what we are ſubiect vntounto, but alſo how we may helpe our ſelues and others againſt the ſame. He did not beleeue that Chriſt was riſen againe, though it was told him at ſundrie times by diuers, that were very credible: p. 199we muſt therefore in the matter of faith giuegive credit vntounto the word of God brought vntounto vsus, in the mouthes of his faithfull ſeruants, if they be but two or three. Secōdly, he …in this caſe would beleeue none but himſelfe: we muſt beleeue in the myſterie of our ſaluation others rather then our ſelues, and thinke eſpecially that in the time of temptation others are able better to iudge of our eſtate, then we our ſelues can, and ſo be not …oo much addicted to our owne o…erweening.

Thirdly, he would beleeue nothing …f this matter any further then himſelfe was able to ſee and feele: now …ecauſe theſe may deceiue vsus, we …uſt beleeue without any ſight or …eeling: eſpecially ſeeing that faith is …f things that are not ſeene, & the fa…our of God is not alwaies ſenſible … his benefits, we muſt beleeue his …ord without: yea contrary to any p. 200thing, that we can ſee or feele. Laſtly, he would not beleeue except he ſaw Chriſt with his wounds, and ſo in that forme, which ordinarily was not to be looked for: we therefore muſt not by vnbeleefe tie the teſtimonies of Gods fauour for the aſſurance of our faith vntounto ſuch things as are vnreaſonable, and commonly not to be looked for: neither vntounto any one particular thing, becauſe he hath many waies to confirme the ſame vntounto vsus▪ and pray him to giuegive vsus grace, tha… we may profit in faith by any, that h… ſhall beſtowe vponupon vsus.

And ſeeing it is ſo hard a thing to beleeue, & there is ſo much infidelitie hidden in the hearts of the bo… ſeruāts of God; let vsus labour to ſearch into the depth of our owne, that fi… ding the ſame in our ſelues, we ma… whiles we hauehave time vſe in feare a… thoſe good meanes, that God hat… appointed for the beginning and increaſe p. 201of faith in vsus, that ſo by his bleſſing we daily going on forward from faith to faith, we may at the laſt come to that meaſure of it, againſt which the very gates of hell be not able to preuaile: that ſo we may both in temptation, and vnderunder all croſſes, and in the howre of death, ſo carrie our ſelues, as God may be glorified, we our ſelues may be comforted, and others may be furthered by our Chriſtian calling, and good example: which Chriſt the author and finiſher of our faith grant vntounto vsus, for his owne name ſake: to whome with the father and the holy Spirit, one true, immortall, inuiſible, and onelyonly wiſe God, be aſcribed as moſt due all honour, praiſe, and glory for euer and euer, Amen.

FINIS.

End of the text · Nicholas Bownd, The Unbelief of Tomas the Apostle (1628)