Davids Evidence, Sermon 2
THE SECOND SERMON OF THE ASSVRAVNCE OF GODS LOVE Nouember. 21. Sabboth day.
By this I know that thou fauorest me. &c.
THe Prophet Dauid careth not what enemies he hath nor how many he hath, so that God be not his enemy, he regardeth not what the Lord doth vntounto him, neither how he doth handle him, so that he may be sure he doth it in his louelove & fauour towardes him, and not in his wrath, and displeasure: therefore he prayeth,Psal. 6.1. Lord rebuke me not in thy wrath, neither chasten me in thy displeasure, as if he should say, I care not, O Lord, what yu doest with me in this life, so that I may be sure of thy fauour and louing kindnesse.
This serueth to teach vsus, that when any trouble, or affliction shall come vponupon vsus, we must not so much looke vponupon that, and séeke to be eased thereof, as to looke whether we be in fauour with God or no. And being sure of his fauour in his sonne Iesus Christ, to arme our selues patiētly to beare the crosse whatsoeuer it be, because whatsoeuer it is, outward or inward, it is layed vponupon vsus in louelove, not to hurt vsus, but to helpe vsus forward in the wayes of godlynesse. We will take any thing well at his handes, of whom we are perswaded that he loueth vsus, for the assuraūce of his louelove swalloweth vp, and swéetly sendeth downe all the rest: if he teach vsus, we take it, if he admonish vsus, we are contented, if he reproueth vsus, we put it vp, if he iest with vsus, we are not gréeued, yea, if he smite vsus, we are not offended, all is taken in good part, because they come frō louelove, who neuer did hurt his beloued. So God dealeth with vsus, his children, he teacheth vsus when we are ignoraunt, he correcteth vsus when we goe astray, he admonisheth vsus when we are vnruly, he reproueth vsus when we transgresse, he threatneth vsus when we are stubburne, and he smiteth vsus when there is no remedy, but is his fauor and mercy he teacheth, correcteth, reproueth, threatneth, and smiteth his children, that they might not be damned with the wicked world. If he woundeth vsus, his fauour is oyle to cure the wounde, if he sendeth floudes, and seas of troubles, the assuraunce of his fauour is like Noahs Arke to beare vsus vp from drowning. If his wrath shall burne like fire, his fauour is water to coole the heate: whereof Diues in hell could not get a drop: if he send sicknesse either of body or minde, the assuraunce of his fauour is a present remedy, like the brasen Serpēt: if he sendeth sorrow ouernight, his louing fauour shall bring ioy in the morning, and a ioyfull tidings like, Sonne be of good cheare thy sinnes are forgeuen thee. If he chide vsus, his fauour that he beareth vntounto vsus, will not suffer him to chide for euer: if his wrath be kindled against his children▪ his fauour puts out all againe, if he sets vsus vp as markes to be shot at, he sets his fauour before vsus, with the assuraunce whereof, we are defended as with a shield.Psal. 5.12.
When he punisheth his childrē he pitieth them, for he doth not punish them as an enemy, but as a father, therefore Dauid saith, As a father hath compassion on his childrē, Psal. 103.13.so hath the Lord compassion on all those that feare him. A fathers anger is rather louelove then anger, and his correction is to be compted rather a louelove token, then a punishment: So is Gods anger towardes his children which feare him, and keepe his couenaunts: and therefore his correction is a louelove token and no punishment.
Aske Salomon: and he will tell you so, nay the Lord himselfe will tell you so, if he sinne (saith the Lord) meaning by Salomon) I will chasten him with the rod of men, 2. Sam. 7.19.15.and with the plagues of the children of men, but my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I tooke it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. Aske Adam and Eue and they will tell you so, for in punishing their first sinne, he wrapped vp a blessing within the curse, saying to the Serpent,Gen. 3.15. that the seede of the womā should breake his head, meaning that Christ should weaken the power of sinne & of death, such was his louelove that he could scarce punish for louelove. Aske Dauid and he will tell you so. The Lord hath chastened me sore (saith he) (belike then he was very angry) but he hath not deliuered me vntounto death. Psal. 118.18.Therefore he made his choise to fall into Gods hands, rather then into mens handes,2. Sam. 24.14. because (saith he) the Lord is mercifull in correcting. Who would not be contēt now to beare whatsoeuer in this life such a a God should lay vponupon him? When Iesus wept ouer Lazarus, the Iewes said, behold, how he loued him, Ioh. 11.35yea though he suffred death to cast him into his graue the common bed of all flesh, yet behold how he loued him. So may Gods children say, when the Lord correcteth, or reproueth, or afflicteth thē, yet marke how he séeketh vsus, entreateth vsus, and wooeth vsus, that when we sée this, we must néedes say, behold how he loueth vsus. Sechem deferred not to doe all that was required of him,Gen. 34.19. for the obtaining of Dinah, because he loued her. So when we stand in néede of the Lordes helpe, he deferreth not to helpe vsus, because he loueth vsus.Iudg. 66.15. Dallila said to Sampson, how canst thou say, that thou louest me, seeing that thy hart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times. But who can say that the Lord doth not louelove his children, séeing both his hart and his hand is with thē, and he neuer mockt them? When the Lord doth crosse his people, he dealeth with them as Ioseph dealt with his brethren, which because it is so liuely a resemblaunce of the Lordes procéeding with vsus, we will a litle compare the one with the other: both for our comfort and also for our instruction. When Iosephs brethrē came to Egipt to buy corne, Ioseph knew them, and spake roughly vntounto them, Gen. 42.7.and bare them in hand that they came as spies: so the Lord dealeth with his children many times, whē they come to him for such things as they want, He knoweth them wel inough: but maketh himselfe straunge vntounto them, and speaketh roughly vntounto them, by séeming to deny their request, yea somtimes by encreasing their sorrow and affliction, as Iacob striuing with the Angell for a blessing,Gen. 32.24. to 30. receiued a blow on his thigh more then he looked for.
Well, Ioseph turned from his brethren and wept, for he loued them, but he kept it secret to him selfe a while: so the Lord loueth his children, when he handleth them very roughly, but he kéepeth it sometime secret for a while. Further, it is sayd of Ioseph, that he tooke Simeon from them, and bound him before their eyes: now all this while Ioseph knew his brethren,Vers. 8. but they knew not him: for if they had knowen it had bene their brother Ioseph which loued them, no doubt they would hauehave borne any thing at his hands. So if we knew our troubles to come frō our Father which loueth vsus, would we not willingly beare any thing at his hands to?36. Afterward Beniamin must go, thē Iacob thought he had bene robbed of all his children, but he found Ioseph, Simeon and Beniamin, & all againe at the last. So Gods children in the end find all, when they thinke they hauehave lost all. Well, Beniamin goeth, and when he is come, Ioseph reasoneth the matter with them thus,Chap. 43.29.30. Is this your brother or whom you told me? &c. He knew it well inough, but before he could go any further, his affection was so inflamed towards his brother, that he made hast, & sought where to weepe: all this while he loued them dearly, but kept it to him selfe.Chap. 44. After all this sée a secōd triall no whit inferior to the former: As they went home, hu and crie came after them for Iosephs cup, which was in pollicie conueyed into their brother Beniamins sack, search was made, they thought them selues cleare, so do we many times iustifie our selues: they did afterward cōdemne thēselues, and whē it was found in Beniamins sacke, they were worse apayed then they were before. Wel Beniamin must stay by the reckening, and answer the matter, this passed all the rest: so doth the Lord many times finde out sinne by vsus, when we thinke all is wel: and then things go worse and worse with vsus (as we thinke): & yet still the feare is greater then the hurt. Well, hereupon Iudah draweth neare to Ioseph, Vers, 18.and said, Let me speake but a word in the eares of my Lord, and tels him a long storie of the whole matter, from the beginning to the ending, as though Ioseph all this while had known nothing of the matter. So we oftentimes in the griefe of our hearts powre foorth manie things, & complaints which the Lord knoweth well enough.Chap. 45.1.2. Now after many trialls, it is said that Ioseph could no longer refrain before all that stood by, but cried, HaueHave forth euerie man from me, which being done▪ he wept, and cryed, so that all heard him, both of the Egyptians & of Pharaohs house. And at the last his louelove breakes foorth like the morning light, and ouerfloweth after long restraint, as a streame (whose course is stopped) ouerfloweth the banks. Now mark how he vttereth him selfe,3. I am Ioseph (sayth he) is my father aliue? but his brethren could not answer him, for they were astonished at his presence: full litle did they thinke that Ioseph had bene so neare them, they did not once dreame of any such matter, or of anie such man. Euen so the hand of God is many times in the tempring of afflictions to the godly for their good, when they thinke full litle vponupon it.4. But againe (saith Ioseph) I am Ioseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt: (wel fare all good tokēs) come neare I pray you vntounto me, 5.be not sad nor grieued with your selues that you sold me, for it was Gods doing for your preseruatiō. Afterward they and their father, and all his house came vp and had Egypt to inhabite: after the like maner deale…h God with his children as Ioseph dealt with his brethren, but after many trials he vttereth him selfe vntounto them, he puts them in good remembrance of their iniuries done to his Maiestie: he fréely forgiueth them, and giueth them the inheritance at …he last, which is more then they deserued, and more then …hey desired, and more then they looked for, by which they are assured of Gods fauor vntounto them. Therefore who will not be content with patience to beare what triall soeuer this our louing God, and mercifull Father shall thinke good to lay vponupon him?
Although Israell were hardly intreated of Egypt, yet God sayd,Exo. 3.21. I will get this people fauour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that when ye go ye shal not go emptie. Now if the Israelites went not away emptie, whē they were in fauour with the Egyptians, much lesse shall we go away emptie frō the Lord if we be in fauour with him: for séeing he hath of his frée merciemercy, without any desert of ours, giuen vsus his onelyonly Sonne, how shall he not with him (saith S. Paule) giuegive vsus all things else? Rom. 8.32Hereupon it came that the Martyrs were alwayes so …ocund and merrie, for they were neuer sent away empty from the barre, from the prison, from the stake, nor frō the fire, but still the Lord filled their hearts with ioy and gladnesse, and euer sustained their soules with the comfortable assurance of his fauour: and so fast as their persecutors condemned them, God iustified them, so fast as they stript them, their God clothed them: so fast as they tormented them their God did comfort them: whē …hey impo…erished, God enriched: when they frowned, God smiled: when they spoiled the outward man, God renewed the inward man: when they wounded, God healed: when they killed, God quickened: and finally when they reiected them, their God receiued them, wherby they were not onelyonly assured that he loued them, but also were encouraged to beare whatsoeuer came for the assurance of Gods fauour, so deare and precious was it vntounto them.Prou. 22.1 Therefore Salomon saith that louing fauour is aboue gold and siluer: if the louing fauor of men be aboue gold & siluer, how shall we value the louing fauor of God? which being lost, the whole world and ten thousand worlds cannot redéeme, which being obtained, is better thē the whole world. And ten thousand worlds, with all the deuils in hel can neuer take it from Gods children, when they hauehave once the assurance therof in their hearts, sealed vp vntounto them by the spirit of adoption. I say once againe, whereat, or at what price shall we value this fauour of our God?
When Iob was assured of this louing fauour of God in the heate of his affliction, he was so far from shrinking, or sinking down vnderunder his burthen, that he said like a valiant souldier,Iob. 13.15. though he kill me, yet will I trust in him. As if he should say, I louelove my life well, but I louelove Gods fauour better, to teach vsus yt if we be assured of his louing fauour once, we care not what we suffer in this life for it, no more then Iob did, for he knew that Gods killing would proue a quickning. So that all our care and cunning (my beloued in the Lord) must be to sée the louing fauour of God in all our temptations, troubles, and afflictions.2. King. 9.20.22. And then: as Iehoram said to Ie…u, when he marched in his furie, comest thou peaceably? as if he should say, if thou comest peaceably, march as furiously as thou wilt. So let vsus say to our God, O Lord comest thou fauorably? and in louelove against vsus? thē come as terribly as thou wilt. Shoot thy arrowes, and spend them all vponupon me, beate me to powder, take all away, and in this life do with me what thou wilt, so thou doest assure me of thy fauour. So we pray in that prayer, which is called the Lordes prayer. Thy will be done, but Lord forgiue vsus our sinnes, and then doe what thou wilt, deliuer vsus from euil, & from the deuill, and then tempt vsus, or bring vsus into what battailes it pleaseth thée. So reasoneth the Prophet Dauid likewise, Happy are they whose oxen are strong to labour, happy are they which are frée from forraine inuasion, and ciuil dissention, which a bound with many outward, worldly, and generall benefits▪ &c. but how if we misse of these outward things?Psal. 144. last. why then, happy is the people whose God is the Lord. So again, in another place he makes the very same reckening, Many (saith he) wil say, Psal. 4.6.7.who wil shew vsus any good, that is, wordly goods, but Lord lift thou vp the light of thy countenaunce vponupon vsus. &c. to teach vsus, that we must not care what we want so that we may be sure of Gods louing countenaunce in the Gospell of his sonne Iesus Christ.Mat. 15.22 The woman of Chanaan was content to take many repulses at the hands of our Sauiour, so that she might be sure of one graunt: so let vsus be content to take many repulses, so that we may be sure of Gods fauour in our repulses. The birth of ye child into the world, swalloweth vp all ye paines, and panges of the mother in forgetfulnesse, which went before the birth: so saith our Sauiour Christ. So we if after our manifold afflictiōs and sorrowes for Christes his sake, we bring forth the assuraunce of Gods fauour here, and of eternall life hereafter being dead, let forgetfulnesse deuoure and cō sume all the rest. And séeing as the Lord in his louing fauour doth thus and thus crosse his children, let patience beare it, let forgetfulnesse weare it, and by this let vsus learne to trust in our God another time without fainting, or shrinking when troubles come againe. The wicked blind world takes another course, they cast their eye altogether vponupon the crosse, and studie how to be eased of that, with odd shiftings, and many vnlawfull deuises and vngodly practises, but because they sée not the louing fauour of God towards them in Christ Iesus, they are ready to sinke downe in dispaire of mercy, and horrour of conscience, like a lumpe of lead in the sea. The Lord in one hand hath fire to burne, & in his other hand water to quench, but he holdeth it behind his backe many times, that at the first it is not perceiued, no not of his deare children, but at the last they both sée it, and féele the comfort of it, and acknowledge the same, saying with Dauid, By this I know that thou fauorest me. &c. Therfore as the child is glad when his father smileth vponupon him, and speakes comfortably vntounto him, although he beates him, so let vsus be glad, & reioyce whē our heauēly father doth smile vponupon vsus, in giuing vsus the assuraunce of his louelove, although he doth afflict vsus.
By this I know that thou louest me, because mine enemies do not. &c.
Here further we are to cōsider of the prouidēce, and wisedome of God, in that he turneth the rage and malice of our enemies t… our great good, for by this he assureth vsus o… his fauour which is the greatest good that is Thus you sée that the enemies of Gods childrē do them good against their will, the Lord by his euer watching prouidence so disposing their enterprises, and working in th… harts of his children: for Gods prouidence doth first worke & bring to passe good things, secōdly it permitteth euill things to be done▪ but then thirdly, it directeth, and ordereth a… things both good and bad to his owne glory▪ and to the saluation of his children. So God turned Adams fall to the manifesting of hi… owne glory, and to Adams good, for by thi… meanes, had Adam experiēce of Gods grea… and infinite mercy, and might say, By this … know that thou fauorest me, because tho… forgauest me, and didst not suffer the deuil to triumph against me, so all the slippes, and falles of Gods children are turned to their good, in as much as by them they are made more fearefull of sinne, and more watchfull ouer their wayes, as the child is fearefull of the candle when he hath once burnt his finger in ye flame. And S. Paule telleth vsus from God,Rom. 8.28 that all things shall fall out for the good, yea for the best, to them that louelove God. Now of this point we may make a very holy vse. It serueth first to confirme and vphold our faith in the prouidence of God, and not to feare the endeuours of the wicked, because we sée that God doth still dispose of thē to our good if we be his children. Againe this may stand vsus in good stead, when our affe…tions begin to boyle, in a burning desire of reuenge against our enemies, would we be reuenged of thē? The best way to be reuenged of our enemies is to pitie their case, and to make that profite of them, which Dauid did of his, that is, still to looke to God in thē, thē shall we be sure to be no loosers, but gayners by them, whither they will or no.
But here some may demaund and say, Doth God vse to handle his beloued so? or may a man be sure of Gods fauour being beset with so many enemies? and ouerwhelmed with such heapes of troubles? especially sinne being the cause, wherewith God is prouoked to anger? To which we may answere, that sinne indéede is the cause of all our troubles, but yet whatsoeuer the Lord layeth vponupon his children here, it is not a punishmēt of their sinne, for that was discharged by the hellish suffrings of the Lord Iesus Christ, but it is a fatherly correction, frō which we are no more fréed by the death of Christ, then we are fréed from our naturall death. And it is layed vponupon vsus by our heauē ly father for two principall causes, first to preuent sinne, which we might fall into, as presumption, contempt, vnthankefulnesse, forgetfulnesse of God, and many moe. Secondly, they are layed vponupon vsus as Phisicke to cure and heale sinnes, which we are already fallen into, and this is that which Dauid confesseth,Psal. 119.67.71. when he saith, before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keepe thy word, and therefore he saith, It was good for him to be afflicted, that he might learne the statutes of the Lord. And in both these endes of our afflictions,1. Cor. 11.32. the Lordes purpose is to stay vsus that we runne not with the wicked world headlong to damnatiō, whom he hath geuen ouer to them selues.Esay. 1.5. So that troubles and enemies are sent to vsus the children of God as Phisicke: and therewith all he sends a priuate messenger to tell vsus that he loueth vsus for all that, & it is because he loueth vsus, & to that end yt we may be assured yt he loueth vsus:Rom. 8.15 16. & that messenger is his spirite of adoptiō, which certifieth our spirites that we are the children of God. And this being once made sure, then all is sure.A needful question▪ But now the question is by what ordinarie meanes the spirite of adoption doth conuay this certificate of Gods fauour vntounto the harts of Gods children in their afflictions? for as God doth assure his children of his louing fauour in Christ Iesus, so he doth it by ordinarie meanes, which meanes being not vsed, or neglected, this assurance faileth, and falleth from vsus, and nothing remaineth but either a bare fācie flotting in the aire, in stead of a sure faith builded on a firme foundation,The meanes whereby the assuraunce of Gods fauour is wrought. and when trouble comes, an impatient spirite to beare vp the burdē, and when death comes, a heape of sorrow, and a heauie waight of despaire to presse downe to ye lowest hells. The meanes then by which the spirite of God doth worke this assuraunce in the harts of the godly is the preaching of the Gospell, which is called glad tidings, because it makes the harts of the faithfull to become ioyfull, and glad. And S Paule (to put vsus out of doubt that the spirite worketh not without the word of God) calleth the word the sword of the spirite, Ephe. 6.17to teach vsus that howsoeuer the spirite of God must beate downe Sathan, and cut downe infidelitie, impatiencie, despaire, presumption, and all our vnrulie affectiōs, and howsoeuer it worketh faith,Esay. 11.2. patience, ioy, strēgth, courage &c. yet all this it effecteth …and bringeth to passe by the meanes of the word of God preached, read, heard, marked, and meditated vpō, for as the word without the spirite is but dead to the hearer, so the spirite of God without the opening of Gods wil in hi… word, doth not ordinarily giuegive this comfortable assurance of Gods louelove. Aske the Prophet Dauid himselfe, who had this comfortable assuraunce of Gods fauour in affliction▪ aske him (I say) how he came be it, or how i… came to him, and he will tell vsus, that by th… word of God he came vntounto it, for so he saith▪ Except thy law had bene my delight, Psal. 119.92.I had perished in my affliction: for therein he foū … many gracious promises of his God, both for the punishing of his enemies, for the defending and rewarding of himselfe, and all Gods seruaunts, & for the forgiuenesse of his sinnes, which were the cause of all his troubles, and therefore the promise of God he chalengeth at Gods hand.Vers 49.50. Remēber thy promise made to thy seruant, wherein thou hast caused me to trust, vponupon this promise of God he resteth and stayeth himself. It is my comfort in my trouble, for thy promise hath quickned me. And when he looked into this booke of God, the storehouse of his promises, there he found also how necessarie affliction was for him he found the causes thereof, and what vse to make of all his enemies, & so through the inward working of the spirite of sanctification, he behaued himselfe at all times accordingly, and therefore when he saith it was good for him that he was afflicted, he addeth,Vers. 71. that he might learne the statutes of the Lord, to shew that the godly doe not know how good their afflictions be, vntil they hauehave learned the statutes of the Lord. And therefore at another time he said, that he was much moued at the prosperitie of the wicked,Psal. 73. and had much a do to kéepe himselfe in an innocent,13. and vpright life, hearing, & seeing the wicked so farre out of square,14. vntill he went into the house of God,16. and when he came into that schoole once,17. he was taught by the word,18. and the spirite of God, what vse to make of all: and then he saw how wisely, and iustly the Lord ordereth all things in the world, to teach vsus, that it is impossible for vsus, to make right vse of troubles, and to beare our selues in prosperitie and aduersitie as we ought, vntill we become schollers to the word of God, and submit our selues vntounto the same.
Nowe as the word of God is the meanes of this comfortable assurance, so is it not alwayes effectual to worke this assurance vntounto vsus, except we vse it as it should be vsed of vsus, some think it sufficient to hauehave it in their house, like the talēt hid in the napkin. Some thinke it enough to heare it read at church, or to reade it thē selues at home: some thinke it necessary to be preached, and expounded, but not materiall whether they come at the preaching or no,Iudg. 17.13. like Micah who thought himself safe whē he had a leuite in his house: some thinke it sufficient if they heare it, but they wilbe at their choise whether to beléeue it or no: some giuegive credit vntounto it, thinking it to be true, & hold that to be sufficient: when they come neither reuerently, nor hū bly prepared vntounto it, but will be at libertie to descant vponupon it, and to censure both preaching and preacher at their pleasure, like the proud cauilling auditors of Ezechiell, Eze. 33.32which talked & iested against him when they were amongst them selues, and made as much accompt of his preaching, as of a fidlers song. Some think it sufficient if they heare it once a yeare, once a monethmonth, or once a quarter: some thinke it sufficient if the word sound in a Church, it is no matter out of whose mouth it come, whether the speaker hauehave a calling or no calling, but the parish Clarke and the parish Priest is all one to them. But if they hauehave a Preacher, then all is cocke sure on their side, then they must néedes be sure of Gods louelove. Some againe thinke the plaine and bare word of God not sufficient to work this cōfortable assurance, without a mixture of Rhetorick, Philosophy, Schoole-trickes, Poetrie, profane writers, Gréeke & Latin, and merrie iests, &c. as they that crie, Prophecie of new wine, and strong drinke, and if they hauehave these things clattering about their eares, then they go away from ye church as full as a bladder filled with wind. And some againe hold opiniō, that if the preacher stand neuer so litle aboue his hower at any time, it is inough to marre all that went before. And some thinke, that if there be any mention made of Gods iudgements against their sinnes, it is inough to driue them to despaire, and so quite from the exercises. And many post off all hearing of the word, or vsing any holy exercises of religion, vntil they be stricken with age or sickenesse, like the foolish Uirgins, which put off all to the last cast. Now all these would be assured of Gods fauour when affliction doth assaile thē, yea & thinke themselues sure of it, howsoeuer the world shall go with them, but they all deceiue them selues.The first sort. First, they which thinke the bare reading of it to be sufficient, but the expounding & applying thereof to be a néedlesse thing, they deceiue them selues: for as reading is a good and holy meanes for the confirmation of faith, and the consolation of the inward man: so without the opening of the word, & applying of the same, this comfortable assurance of Gods louing fauour is not ordinarily wrought, whereby the soule is brought to rest in the bed of peace.Psal. 4.7. For proofe whereof we are to listen to the voyce of God himself which is the best iudge in this behalfe. Iob both handleth the case, and determineth the case very plainly,Iob 33.19. A man is stricken with sorow vponupon his bed, and the grife of his bones is sore, So that his life causeth him to abhorre bread, and his soule daintie meate. 20.His flesh fayleth that it cannot be seene, and his bones clatter, So that he draweth to the graue, 21.22.and his life to the buriers, meanig that his afflictiō both of body & soule is so extreme, that by meanes thereof he is brought to deaths doore. Now sée what must comfort this man.23. If there be a messenger, or an interpreter, one of a thousand to declare vntounto man his righteousnesse. 24.Then wil God hauehave merciemercy vponupon him, and will say, deliuer him, that he go not downe to the pit, for I hauehave receiued a reconciliation. 25.Then shall his flesh be as fresh as a childs, and shall returne as in the dayes of his youth. 26.He shall pray vntounto God, and he will be fauourable vntounto him, and he shall see his face with ioy. &c. These are great things, and therefore Iob saith, that he that should do them must be a messenger, he must be sent of God, he must be an interpreter of the will of God, & a rare man, one of a thousand: therefore a blind reader is not sufficiēt for these things. The Eunuch was reading the prophet Esay Act. 8.28.by him selfe,31.33. but he knew not what he read vntill Philip expounded it vntounto him:38.39. & after that he beléeued, he was baptized, & he went on his way reioycing. The Iaylour was in his desperate dumps, and but in a mad mood, when for feare he went about to kil himself, but after Paule Act. 16.27had preached vntounto him the word of the Lord,30. he beléeued in Christ, and reioyced that he and his beléeued in God:32. for then had he the assurance of Gods fauour in Christ Iesus,34. which he had not before: to shew vsus how necessarie the preaching of the word is, for the working of this assurance. To this agréeth also the Apostle S. Paule, Rom. 5.1.for (saith he)Rom. 10. We being iustified by fayth in Christ, 14.hauehave peace with God, but this faith is wrought by hearing,19. & hearing by the preaching of the word of God. All which do teach vsus, that if we would hauehave the assurance of Gods louing fauour in our troubles, and on our death bed, we must frequent the preaching of the word of God, not because God cannot worke faith without the meanes of preaching, but because in his singular wisedome & mercy, he hath appointed this means, and promised a blessing to his own appointment, and to none else.
This meanes being neglected,The neglect of the meanes what it doth. Second sort. the comfort is abated, and the assurance is hazarded, our faith is weakened, and the deuil aduantaged against vsus. And this may appeare to be true by the parable of the worldlings, which preferred their oxen, farmes, their ploughs, and their families, before ye feast of the word,Mat. 22. not denying it to be good, but they had businesse to do, and they could not intend it, and therefore in the end were shut quite out from the feast of Gods louing fauour. This may further be séene in the confession of the Church and Spouse of Christ, which Salomon hath recorded in his booke of Songs the fift Chapter.Cant. 5.2. My beloued (saith the Church) knocked and called, saying, Open vntounto me, my sister, my louelove, my doue, my vndefiled, for my head is full of dew, and my lockes with the drops of the night, meaning yt he had daunced long attendance vpō her, as one that standeth knocking without the doores all night, but sée what cold entertainement she gaue him, I hauehave put off my coate, how shall I put it on? I hauehave washed my feete, Vers. 3.how shall I defile them? her meaning is, she was in bed at her ease, and was loth to rise to let him in, a litle thing stayed her frō rising, but what gat she by her sluggish delayes? &c. Afterward she arose, and opened the doore, but her welbeloued was gone and past, Vers. 6.she sought him, but could not finde him, she called, but he answered not. All this is to teach vsus that if we would be assured of Christ his louelove, and saluation by him, we must séeke it betimes without delay while it is offred vntounto vsus, for although he knocke now, yet we know not whether he will call againe or no. And besides that, the more delayes we make, the further are we of from him, and the more vnfit are we to receiue the word hereafter: for when Sathan hath so farre preuailed with men that he can bring them to a custome in sinne, in negligence, in slouth…ulnesse, or any thing els, what followeth, but hardnesse of hart? and what followeth, hardnesse of hart but impenitēcie?Rom 2.4.5. as the Apostle teacheth the Romanes: this would be considered of all, but especially of those men, which hauehave so many lets and hinderances, that they can not find any time for the hearing of the word of God. Thus you sée that they, which prolong the time thus of hearing the word preached, and yet thinke to hauehave the assuraunce of Gods louelove, they do but deceiue them selues.
But (I) misse neuer a Sermon saith one,A third sort. I go eueryevery day to the lecture. But deceiue not thy selfe, thou mayest for all that be as farre from hauing that swéete assuraunce of Gods louelove in Christ Iesus, as he that heareth it neuer a day, except thou come both with reuerence and humblenesse of spirite, like a young child, tractable, teachable, and willing to be reformed, for the Lord resisteth the proud,1. Pet. 5.5. Luke. 1.53 and giueth grace to the humble, and as he filleth the hungry with good things, so it is as certaine that he sendeth the rich emptie away, although they come neuer so often. This you sée that proud and prophane hearers do likewise deceiue them selues.
Let the preacher say what he will (say some) we will neuer beléeue him,A fourth sort. but doe as we thinke good, well be it so, and know this withall, that as a sicke body which saith to the Phisition, prescribe me what you will I will take what I list, he shall perish for all his Phisitiō: so you which say, say what you will, we will do as we list. &c. You shal surely perish, and goe to the deuill, for all your hearing, without spéedy repentaunce. For whosoeuer beleeueth, Iohn. 3.18 and 5.24.passeth from death to life, but whosoeuer beleeueth not is condemned already, and the wrath of God abideth vpō him (saith S. Iohn) and thus you sée how vnbeléeuers deceiue themselues of this assuraunce and euidence.
A fift sort.I would heare the Sermon (saith another) but he speakes no Latin, nor Gréeke, nor authours. &c. Alas poore soule, if thou wert condēned to dye thou wouldest be glad to sée and heare thy pardon in plaine English, and after the plainest maner, that can be,Note. without any tales of Robinhood, or Philosophie, or Poetrie, or any other authours, but thy Princes hand to it, but God must send thée thy pardon, and must set it forth after thy fashion forsooth, & not after his owne manner, that is too base for thée, or els thou wilt none of it, as though God were bounde not onelyonly to saue thée, which wert a cōdemned & a wretched creature, but to féede thy eares too (forsooth) with fine spéeches.
Aske these wise mē how their déedes, and euidences, and obligatiōs are made, or how they would hauehave them made, and they will say make them after the plainest manner, yt can be, they care not in how plaine termes and wordes they be, so that they may be thereby assured of their money,Note. houses, and landes. Now the word of God containeth in it the euidence of the faithfull, which they hauehave to shew for heauen, and this euidence …s Gods promise, and Gods childrē care not …ow plainely Gods promises be set downe vntounto them, so that they may be assured of Gods louing fauour towardes them in the Lord Iesus.
I would heare the Sermon (saith another) but I would heare comfortable things,A sixt sort … louelove not to heare of my sinnes, & of Gods …udgements, that is a terrible thing: sée how …unning mē are now a dayes to cousin their …oules. As though forsooth God would graūt …hée the assuraunce of his fauour, thou dwel…ing still in thy sinnes, or as though thou …ouldest know how to be discharged by the Gospell, vntill thou didst know wherewith …he law hath charged thee. No no: there can …e no healing in this case, without a déepe …aunching, no, nor any going to heauen, but the high way is to go by hell, and to passe a… long by the fearefull sight of thy sinnes, an… Gods vengeaunce due for them, and the… shalt thou sée how much beholding to ye Lor… thou art for his louing kindnesse, and fauo… towardes thée in Christ Iesus, by whos… stripes he hath healed thée.
A seuenth sort.We hauehave a good Churchman (saith ano…ther) and a faire reader and he can tell a goo… smooth tale in the Pulpit too for a néede.
All this may be true, and yet both thou he still farre inough from the assuraunce … Gods fauour through a liuely faith: for th… deuils can speake Scripture, & may speak… a great while of Scripture too before tho… by their speaking shalt be assured of God fauor. And so is it with them whom God n…uer sent with message of comfort vntounto thé… for they runne and runne saith the Lord: Ier. 23.32.bu… I neuer sent them, and therefore bring the… no good vntounto my people, if no good, thē wh… assuraunce can you hauehave by their Minister… who are not sent of God, but intrude the… selues for filthie gaine, or vaine glory?
Thus you sée how many men deceiue th… selues, in abusing the ordinary meanes … the word, and yet thinke to be made as su… of Gods fauour as any man in the world. To his word, ye Lord hath annexed and ioyned the administration of his Sacramentes in his Church,Sacraments. as an outward meanes likewise, whereby we are more confirmed and strengthned in the assuraunce of his fauour, …o these two outward meanes he putteth the …nward worke of his Spirite,Spirite. without the which the other are to no effect: then on our parts is required a liuely faith in Christ Iesus, the purchaser of this fauour and louelove of his father for vsus, and this faith although …t hath his beginning and encreasing, his weakening, and strengthning in this life, and her perfection in the world to come, yet …s it not idle, but working, nor naked, …ut clothed with good workes the fruites of faith,2. Pet. 1.5. Gal. 5.6. Act. 15.9. so soone as it is begotten: to this iustifying faith is alwayes ioyned the sanctifying spirite, which worketh by louelove, and is continually occupied in purifying the hart …or Christ Iesus, and in applying of Iesus Christ vntounto the hart of the owner. And thus …aue you heard both by what meanes the Lord doth conuay the assuraunce of his lo…ing fauour vntounto his children in affliction, … also how we are to vse the same meanes.
Let vsus then diligently and carefully vsus… these meanes, and then shall we be effectually assured of Gods louelove and fauour in Christ Iesus, and being once assured o… that, we may baldly cast downe the gant… let, & bid defiance to hell and all the deuil… in hell, and make that chalenge which th… Apostle Paule doth make in the behalfe o… all Gods children, Who shall separate v… from the louelove of Christ? shall tribulation▪ or anguish, or persecution, or famine, o… nakednesse, Rom. 8.35 36.or perill, or sword? As it i… written, for thy sake are we killed all th… day long, we are compted as sheepe for th… slaughter. 37.Neuerthelesse in all these thing… we are more then conquerours through hi… that loued vsus. 38.For I am perswaded, that nei…ther death, nor life, nor Angels, nor pri…cipalities, nor powers, nor things presen… nor things to come, 39.nor height, nor depth▪ nor any other creature shalbe able to sepa…rate vsus from the louelove of God, which is … Christ Iesus our Lord. To this Iesus Chri… which hath so dearely purchased this fauo… for vsus, to the Father of our Lord Ies… Christ, which hath so fréely bestowed su… fauour vponupon vsus, and to this holy spiri… which doth so comfortably assure vsus of this fauour, thrée persons, and one eternall God, be all prayse & glory for euer. Amen.