The Marrow of the Oracles of God, Chapter 1 – Chapter 5
CHAP. I.
Containing the signes of open wicked men.
THe tryall of the estates of all sorts of Christians, may be perform…d by examining themselues by two sorts of signes; some are such as describe the wicked man, & some such as describe the godly man; and of the tryall of the godly man; I hauehave intreated before. Wicked mē in the Church are not all of a sort: for some are manifestly prophane and carelesse of the Kingdome of God; and some are in outward shew, such as professe the seeking of Gods Kingdome, but yet in deed and in heart are without God and without Christ, and such are all Hypocrites. VVicked men of the first sort, are discerned by such markes as these: and so he is a wicked man,
1. That can spend whole daies 1 He is a wicked …an, 1 That liues without God.or weekes without seeking after God, or Christ; that accounts it no part of his care to looke after God, or any secret acquaintance or communion with God in Iesus Christ; that liues, as the Apostle saith, without God, and without Christ, and therefore without hope in the world; that seldome or neuer thinkes seriously of God, Eph. 2. 12.
2. That continually shuns and … That auoids the societie of the godlystriues to auoid the company & society of such as feare God, and in his heart loues not such as bee religious, and makes conscience of their wayes. This man is certainly in darkenesse, that hates Gods children, as the Apostle Iohn often shewes in his first Epistle; especiall when he hates them, because they follow goodnesse.
3. That sauors onelyonly the things 3. That sauours o…ly earthly things.of the slesh, that findes a taste and rellish only in earthlythings, that placeth all his contentment in the things of this life, Rom. 8. 5. 1 Ioh. 2. 15.
4. That is vncapeable and vnteachable 4. That i…, discernes not the things of God.in the things of God and godlinesse, hauing the Gospel and the glory of Religion hid from his heart, so as he sees nothing in the Kingdome of Iesus Christ to be admired and desired of him; and when he enioyes the meanes, cannot discerne the things of God, 1 Cor. 2. 14.
5. That willingly haunts with 5. That sorts with wicked men.wicked and prophane persons, and delights in them, and chooseth them for the companions of his life, Psal. 50. 2 Cor. 5. 11.
6. That of malice persecuteth, 6 Tha… of malice persecuteth the truth.and reproacheth, and despiteth the knowne truth, speaking euill of the good way of God, which he himselfe hath knowne and ackhowledged before, Hebrewes 10.
7. That hath in him thoughts 7. That allowes himselfe in Atheisticall thoughts.of Atheisme reigning, concerning vile things of God, without sorrow or trouble of heart for them, or rather desiring he could proue them to be true, wishing there were no God at all, Psalme 14. 1.
8 That calles not vponupon the 8 That cals not vponupon God.Name of the Lord, who is such a one as wholly neglects this seruice of God in himselfe and his Family, vnlesse it be for fashion sake, without care or vnderstanding, Psal. 14. 4.
9 That was neuer chastened 9 That is not chastened of God.of the Lord: for they are bastards and not sonnes, Heb. 12. 7, 8.
10 That can spend his dayes 10 That neuer examines himselfe …n knowne sinnes.without examining himselfe, whether Iesus Christ be in him or not: that minds it not to be sure, that hee is in the Faith, 2 Cor. 13. 5. Ioh. 17. 3.
11 That flattereth himselfe in 11 That applaudes himselfe in knowne sinne.his own eyes, when he is threatned for sinne, and blesseth himselfe in his heart, when his iniquity is found worthy to be hated, Psal. 36. 1, 2. Deut. 29. 19.
12 That secretly lothes, and 12. That lothes the Word of God constantly.contemnes, and in his heart constantly frets at the Word, when it is conscionably & powerfully preached: that finds in the good Word of God a deadly sauour, 2. Cor. 2. 15, 16.
13 That liues in hypocrisie, 13. That allowes himselfe in hypocrisie.and knowes he dissembles constantly in the seruice of God, and doth not desire to leaue it, nor take any course to resist it, or humble his soule in secret for it.
14 That desires not the knowledge 14. That refuseth knowledgeof Gods wayes, and seriously accounts good courses to be vnprofitable courses, Iob 21. 14, 15, 16.
15 That hauing the hand of 15. That in great distresses humbles not himselfe.God vponupon him, and liues in sorrow and miserie, and yet neuer seekes to God, nor humbles his soule before God, nor acknowledgeth Gods hand; or if he doe, doth not labour to make his peace with God, 2. Cor. 7. 10. Ier. 5. 2, 3.
16. That cannot bee touched 16. That care not for the afflictions of the godly.with compassion, or care for the afflictions of the Church and people of God, Amos 6. 5. and is mercilesse, Math. 25. Iames 2. 13 1 Iohn 3.
17. That hath no desire to be 17. That will not vnderstand to do goodtaught to doe good, but either cares not for Heauen and godlinesse, or thinkes himselfe wise enough to find the way without asking, Psalme 36. 1, 3.
18. That is not affected with 18. That is …esensible of spiritual iudgemēts.feare or sorrow vnderunder spirituall iudgements; such as the famine of the Word, absence of God, hardnesse of heart, or the like.
19. That is a customary swearer, 19. That is an ordinary swearer.and repents not of it: God threatens hee will not iustifie such offenders, but pursue them as his enemies, Commandement 3.
20. That makes not conscience 20. That is carelesse of Gods Sabbath.to keepe Gods Sabbath: for God hath giuen the Sabbath as a signe betweene him and the people in the point of their Sanctification: so, he that cares not to prophane the Sabbath, by that signe is knowne to bee none of Gods people, Exodus 31.
21. That not onelyonly commits 21. That is a worker of iniquitysinnes against his knowledge, but serues sinne, and is a worker of iniquitie, loues it, defends it, and resolues to continue in it, and placeth his felicity in it.
22. That beleeues not in the Son 22. That beleeues not in Christ.of God: as they do not, that either deny his comming in the flesh, or his person, or his offices, or else rest not vponupon him for life and happinesse, Math. 16. Iohn 3 17. 1 Iohn 4. 10.
23. That in any one particular 23. That hates to be reformed.sinne, knowing it to be a sinne, hates to bee reformed, Psalme 50. 17.
24 That hath not the Spirit 24. That hath not the Spirit of Christ.of Christ. For if a man hauehave not the Spirit of Christ, the same is not his, Rom. 8. 9.
25 That cannot forgiue his 25. That cannot forgiue his enemies.enemies, nor pray for them that hate him, and wrong him, Mat. 6. For if men forgiue not vntounto men their trespasses, neither will God forgiue them their sinnes, as is likewise shewed by the parable, Math. 18. 32.
26 That loues not God, and 26. That loues not God.shewes it,
First, by an habituall forgetfulnes of God, of which before.
Secondly, By his vnwillingnes to do Gods worke, his commandements being alwayes grieuous vntounto him, and it seemeth euill vntounto him to serue the Lord, 1 Ioh. 5. 3.
Thirdly, By insensiblenesse of the dishonour of God.
Fourthly, By louing his pleasures, or profits more then God.
27. That feares not God, and 27. That …ares not God.shewes it,
First, By not caring for Gods displeasure, so he might escape Gods punishment.
Secondly, By comming into Gods presence constantly, without any awefull regard of Gods Maiestie.
Thirdly, By sinning in secret with all securitie, being onelyonly careful to auoid the eyes of men.
Fourthly, By contempt of the threatning of God in his Word.
28. That is dead in trespasses …8. That is dead in sin.and sinnes, Eph. 2. 1, 2. that can be guiltie of many and monstrous crimes, and as if he were a dead man, continues vnderunder the burden of them without sorrow, or feare, or remorse, or care of amendment, Eph. 2. 1.
29 The Apostle Paul puts a 29. That is guiltie of any of his sinnes in the Apostles Catalogue.number of offenders in diuers grosse sinnes, into a Catalogue, and pronounceth of them all, that without repentance they cannot inherite the Kingdome of Heauen, 1 Cor. 6. 9. Fornicators, Idolaters, Adulterers, the Effeminate, Sodomites, Theeues Couetous persons, Drunkards, Reuilers, and Extortioners: and so in the Galatians.
30. All those that cannot repent, 30. That cannot repent.that is, such as cannot pray, nor confesse their sinnes to God, nor bewayle them, nor any way set themselues soundly to reforme them.
CHAP. II.
Containing the signes of Hypocrites.
THus of the markes of notorious and wicked men. The signes by which Hypocrites may bee knowne, follow; and these are of two sorts:Two sorts of these signes.
First, Such as describe them so, that themselues may thereby know themselues.
Secondly, Such as giuegive occasion to men to feare their soundnesse, and shew, that they are likely to fall away, though for the present they make shew and profession of religion, and doe escape much of that filthinesse, which is in the outward liues of others.
For the first, these are the signes of an hypocrite.
1. To professe Gods Couenant … Signes of hypocrisie.with his month; and deny it in his workes, Psal. 50. 16.
2. To do his workes of purpose to be seene of men, when he might conceale the knowledge of them, and doth this of purpose, chiefly because he would hauehave the praise and applause of men, not seeking the approbation, or praised of God, Mat. 6. Rom. 2. 29.
3. To make cleane the out-side of the platter, and let the inside bee foule; To bee like a painted sepulcher: To auoide apparant outward faults, and yet to harbour a world of wickednesse in his heart, without any true repentance for it, Math. 23.
4. To censure small matters in others, and be guiltie of great crimes himselfe: To see a moate in another mens eye, and not care to cast out the beame in his owne eyes, Mat. 7.
5. To pretend care of pietie towards God, and yet be vnmercifull to men; or neglect workes of mercy to the poore, that he is able to do, and yet vnconscionably omits it, Iam. 1. 26.
6. To require many things of others in their practice, and yet make no conscience of obseruing them in his owne practice: To binde heauy burthens vponupon other mens shoulders, and not to touch them with his owne finger, Math. 23.
7. To arrogate to himselfe the titles of godlinesse, and yet enuie and hate godlinesse in others, and to endeauour to hinder them, o… opposethem, that would enter into the kingdome of heauen, Mat, 23.
To praise the dead, or the absent seruants of God, and yet despise and persecute such of Gods faithfull seruants, as are set ouer them, and to disobey them, Mat. 23.
9. To speake faire to mens faces, and behinde their backes to reuile and slander them.
10 To draw neere to God with his lips, when his heart is far from him: In the daily seruice of God to allow himselfe in the habit of distractions, making no conscience to worship God in his spirit, Esa. 29. 13.
11. Neuer in secret to make conscience of prayer to God; and not to cry to God, except it bee in sickenesse, or great aduersity; disregarding prayer in health and prosperity, Iob Chap. 27. ver. 9, 10.
12. With prophanenesse to neglect Gods commandements, and to be onelyonly diligent to vrge and obserue mens precepts, or the traditions of men, Mat. 15.
13. To punish, or reproue sin in some, because he hates them; or to forbeare reproofes or punishments of others, because he feares or fauours them.
CHAP. III.
Containing the signes of such as are likely to be vnsound, and will not hold out.
THus of the first sort of signes of hypocrites: Now follow such probable signes of hypocrites, as men may take notice of, and do vsually foreshew their falling away at length, though for the present they make great shewes. Amongst them then that 16 Signes of an vnsound Professor.make profession of religion aboue the common sort of people; these are likely to bee vnsound, and not to hold out.
1. That ioyne not themselues to Gods people, but forbeare constantly, or forsake apparently their fellowship, Hebrewes 10. 24, 25.
2. That are not carefull and desirous to reforme their housholds, and to set vp Gods worship in their Families; that are good abroad, but practise not godlinesse at home.
3. That customarily liue in any sin knowne to be so to themselues, without sorrow or amendment, whether it be in their particular calling, or generall conuersation.
4. That constantly and with delight choose out vngodly men to bee their chiefe companions and friends.
5. That are wilfull in the vse of the vanities of the world, and will not bee reclaimed from their excesses, or offences that way.
6. That are stiffenecked, and will not abide reproofe and admonition, but shew themselues conceited, and selfe-willed.
7. That are full of rash zeale, and shew it by passions, and violent furies about lesser matters, and yet hauehave some notable faults in themselues, which they make no conscience of.
8. That are swift to speake, and full of words, and forward to expresse their masterlike conceits, when they neither hauehave calling, nor fitnesse, nor power of the holy Ghost. The language of an humble Christian, that hath Note.true grace, differs wonderfully from the empty and impertinent language of an hypocrite, who is seldome assisted with efficacy of matter.
9. That liues inordinately being idle, and attends not the labours of a lawfull calling, that is found ordinarily in his neighbours house, and is apparently negligent and slothfull in the duties of his calling.
10. That is more vexed for want of respect from others, then for his owne disabilities in his conuersation.
11. That seemes glad of the company of some that feare God, but cannot abide others, either for the meanenesse of their place, or because the world contemnes them, (though without cause, and though there be no iust exception against their sincerity.) They that hauehave religion in respect of persons, louelove not any for religion sake.
12. That liues customarily in the sinne of swearing, or lying.
13. That is carelesse of the sanctification of Gods Sabbath.
14. That hath had no manner of affliction of spirit for particular sinnes.
15. That is perti…acious in the …fence of gainefull and delightfull sinnes.
16. That confirmes himselfe in the customary neglect of some of Gods ordinances, either publike, or priuate.
CHAP. IIII.
Shewing vntounto the wicked the hope to be saued, if the fault be not in himselfe.
HItherto of the signes of wicked men, who must bee perswaded to abide the tryall without despaire; for the signes doe not shew them, that they cannot be saued; but onelyonly, that for the present they are not in the estate of saluation actually, which though it may, and ought to be grieuous vntounto them, to consider in what fearefull misery and sinne they liue in: yet they hauehave reason to know and beleeue, that they may bee saued as well as others: yea the acknowledgemēt of their misery is one step to saluation.
Now that wicked men may not die, but take a course to bee saued, two things are by them to be attained; first, the arguments Arguments of hope.of hope, that proue they may bee saued, and that there is remedi… for their miserie. Secondly, the rules, that shew them what they must doe, which being done, they may be certaine of their saluation.
For the first, that they may be saued, these things may hopefully assure…
1. That God hath sworne, that 1 Gods oath.he desires not that the wicked should die, but rather that he should turne from his …uill …, …d liue, Ez…k. 18. 31.
2. That God hath with singular 2 Gods Patience.patience borne with him all this while, and hath not laid him beneath for all his sinnes, w…o long since deserued hell; and the Lord hath taught it too, that he is patience, that men might repent and be saued, Rom. 2. 4. 2 Peter 3. 9.
3. That God offers his grace to 3. The offer of grace to alall, and hath made no exception against any particular man, and therefore why shouldest thou except thy selfe from saluation, when Gods grace is tendred to thee as well as others? God sends his Gospell to eueryevery creature, euen to all Nations, Marke Chap. 16. ver. 15.
4. That God hath sent his owne Sonne to bee a sufficient sacrifice 4. Suffi…ient satisfaction made by C…st.and propitiation for the sinnes of men. He is the Lambe of God, that taketh away the sins of the world, Iohn 1. Romanes 3. 25. 1 Iohn 2. 1. and in him God is well pleased, and would hauehave all men know, that hee is content to take satisfaction from Christ, Math. 3. 17.
5. That God hath placed them 5. The meanes continued.in the visible Church, and doth yet continue the mean…s that is able to saue their soules, Acts 20. 32. Iam. 1. 21.
6. That God hath declared 6. One only sin vnpardonablehimselfe concerning sinne, that there is one onelyonly sinne that in it selfe is simply vnpardonable: all the rest may be forgiuen.
7. That God hath saued as 7. As gr…t sinners saued.great sinners as they, such as were Manasses, Mary Magdalen, Dauid, Paul: Many amongst the Corinthians were fornicators, drunkards, raylers, and the like, yet were iustified, sanctified, and saued, 1 Cor. 6. 10, 11. And these hauehave obtained mercy, that in them Iesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a patterne to them which should afterwards bel…eue to euerlasting life, 1 Tim. 1. 13, 16.
CHAP. V.
Shewes how faith may be gotten.
THE rules of directions follow. This then is the question: What should a man doe that he may be sure of his saluation, the man, I say, that for the present doth not finde the grace of Christ in his heart? I answer: That his principall care must be to vse, all meanes to get the graces of the godly Christian formed in his heart: And herein the Lord hath shewed vntounto men singular mercy, that as hee hath shewed wayes in his Word; how his seruants may discerne the graces, that are so many signes and pledges of Gods louelove, and their owne saluation; so hath he in the same word laid downe cleere directions, that shew how eueryevery grace may be attained, and formed, and nourished in the hearts of men.
And first I will begin with Faith; And the question is, What Quest.should a man doe that hee might attaine Faith?
Hee that would beleeue, must Answ.obserue these rules:
1. Hee must in the first place 1. He must consider of Gods promises.betake himselfe to Gods promises: For without the promise of grace, it is impossible Faith should euer bee formed aright in a man, hee must labour to see what the Lord saith distinctly vntounto sinners: I will instance in that one promise, Ioh. 3. 16. God so loued the world, that hee gaue his onelyonly begotten Sonne, that whosoeuer beleeued in him, should not perish, but hauehave life euerlasting. Now his care must bee, seriously to marke, and cleerly to vnderstand Gods meaning, which in this promise is to assure saluation to any in the world that wil beleeue 2. He must take notice of Gods commandement to beleeue.in Christ.
2. He must then consider Gods commandement concerning faith, that God doth require him to beleeue; and is so farre from being displeased with him for beleeuing in Christ, that for this cause hee will damne him in hell if hee beleeue not, Iohn 3. 18. 1. Iohn 3. 23. Hee doth as exactly require vsus to relye vponupon this course of saluation by Iesus Christ, as hee doth require any thing of vsus in the morall Law: and as we ought not to sweare, or commit adultery, or steale; so ought wee not to dare to liue without beleefe in Iesus Christ.
3. Hee must pray heartily to 3. Hee must pray for faith.God, to giuegive him a heart to beleeue, and to forme faith in him; for faith is the gift of God, Eph. 2. 8. Hee should pray ouer the promises, and beseech God to incline his heart to rest vponupon them, as the best treasures in the world: cry vntounto the Lord, Lord, helpe my 3. He must renounce his owne righteousnesse.vnbeleefe.
4. Hee must absolutely lay aside all thought of his owne righteousnesse by the workes of the Law, and looke onelyonly to Iesus Christ, and the righteousnesse in him, else he will faile of the righteousnesse of God, Rom. 10. 3.
5. Hee must waite vponupon the 5. He must waite vponupon the Word preached.powerfull preaching of the Gospell, as the onelyonly outward ordinarie meanes to beget faith, offering his soule daily vntounto God, and attending to the Word of God, ready to obey the motions of the Spirit, knocking at the doore of his heart in the ministerie of the Word, knowing that from this ordinance of God, he is to expect the gift of faith: he should betake himselfe to it, with resolution to waite with daily expectation, till the Lord bee pleased to send the Holy Ghost into his heart. And this is a generall rule for this and all other graces of the Spirit: as men louelove their owne soules, so they must prouide to liue where the Word of God is preached constantly, & in the power of it: for from thence they shall receiue vnspeakeable helpe and furtherance in all the wayes of God, Rom. 10. 14.