The Marrow of the Oracles of God, Chapter 6 – Chapter 9
CHAP. VI.
His triall in respect of such heauenly gifts as will not bee abolished by death.
THe gifts that will abide in The triall of his knowledgehim for euer, are these three: Knowledge, the louelove of God, and the lou… of the brethren. These are perfected, and not abolished by death.
And first, in this knowledge, And so he differs from wicked men.he differs from all wicked men, and so in diuers things: as,
First, in the things he knowes: In the things hee knowes.he knowes the nature of God in a right manner: he knowes God in Iesus Christ: hee knowes the vilenesse of his owne sinnes: hee knownes after an effectuall manner the mysteries that concerne the saluation of his soule: hee knowes his owne conuersion, and the forgiuenesse of his sinnes, and the things that are giuen him of God, Math. 13. 13. Iohn 17. 3. Ier. 31. 34. 1 Cor. 2. 12. Hee knowes that Iesus Christ is in him, 2 Cor. 13. 5.
Secondly, In the cause of his 2. In the cause of his knowledge.knowledge. For flesh and blood did not reueale those things vntounto him hee came not by them by the vse of naturall meanes, but they are wrought in him by the word and Spirit of God, Mathew …6. 17. 1 Iohn 2. 27. and 5, 10. 1 Cor. 1. 30.
Thirdly, In the effects of his knowledge: for,3. In the effects of his knowledge
1. It breeds in him an vnspeakeable refreshing and gladnesse of heart in Gods presence, Psalm. 36. 9, 10. Psalme 119.
2 It inflames him to a wonderfull louelove of the Word of God aboue all earthly things, Psalme 119. 97, 98.
3 It workes in him an effectuall sauouring and tasting of the goodnesse of spirituall things, Rom. 8. 5.
4 It inclines him to a constant obedience and practise of Gods will, Prou. 8. 9, 17. Iohn 7. 17. Deut. 46. It redresseth his waies, Psalme 1…9. 10. 1. Iohn 2. 3. and 3, 24.
5 It beares downe pride, and conceitednesse, and frowardnesse and makes him humble and teachable, Prou. 3. 5, 6. and 8, 13, 14. Iames 3. 17.
Fourthly, In the proprieties of 4 In the properties of his knowledgehis knowledge: for,
1 It is infallible: his knowledge hath much assurance in many things, with strong confidence and resolution at some times, especially when hee is before God, 1 Thes. 1. 5.
2. It is indelible, it cannot be vtterly blotted out, it is fast grauen in his heart; cōtrary doctrine or persecution cānot raze it out, Ierem. 3…. 34. Ephes. 4. 13. Pro. 4. 5, 6.
4. It is sincere; for first it inclineth him to giuegive glory to God, and receiue all truth as well as any truth. He receiues the doctrine of God, though it bee aboue reason, & against the common opinion of men, or crosse his profit, or desires, or the like. Secondly, it leades him principally to vnderstand his owne way, and guides him to study the things chiefly that concerne his owne reformation and saluation, Prou. 14. 8. Col. 3. 16.
And thus he differs from wicked men in his knowledge.
Secondly, in his louelove to God, His louelove to God, tried by nine signeshee hath these things which no wicked man can attaine to.
1. Hee hath a deliberate inward inflamed estimation of God aboue all things, accounting his louing kindnesse better then life, and the signes of his fauour his greatest ioy, Psal. 63. 3, 11.
2. He loues and longs for the Lord Iesus Christ with certaine and sincere affection, Ephe. 6. 24. 2 Tim. 4. 8.
3. He delights in Gods presence, and shewes it by his vnfained louelove to his house, Psal. 26. 8. and by his heartie griefe for Gods absence, Cant. 3. 1. and by his carefulnesse to set the Lord daily before him, walking in his sight, Psal. 16. 8.
4. He hates sinne heartily, because God hates it; and he dislikes sinners, because they hate God; accounting Gods enemies as if they were his owne enemies, Psal. 139. 21, 22. and 97. 10.
5. He constantly desires to be like God in holinesse, being carefull to approue his affection to God, by his obedience to his commandements, so as it is not grieuous to him to receiue directions, but serues God with all his heart, being fearefull to displease God in any thing, Ioh. 14. 21. 1 Ioh. 5. 3. Deut. 10. 12. and 11. 22. and is more affected with Gods approbation, then al the praise of men, Rom. 2. 29.
6. Hee is much affected with Gods merciemercy, and the blessings bestowed vponupon him, which hee thankefully remembers to the praise of Gods free grace, Esay 63. 7. Psa. 63. 2, 3, 4, 6, 8. and 107. 22. Iob 36. 24. Deut. 16. 2.
7. Hee loues all the godly, for this reason chiefely, because they are like vntounto God in holinesse, as being begotten by him, 1 Iohn 5. 1.
8. Hee is heartily vexed for any dishonour done to God, as for any disgrace offered to himselfe.
9. Finally, He shewes it in diuers cases that befail him in his course in this life: as,
1. If he bee put to suffer any thing for Gods sake, he endures it with much ioy and patience, 1 Thes. 1. 6. Acts 5. 14. Iohn 22. 15 to 19.
2. If at any time hee offend God by his owne faultinesse, hee is heartily grieued & cast downe, and doth constantly desire to forsake any sinne, though neuer so pleasing and gainefull vntounto him, rather then he would displease God, Math. 26. 75.
3. In all streights and wants, he runnes to God, relying vponupon God, as his defence, rocke, and refuge in all times of troubles, making his moane vntounto him, and powring out his prayers and complaints before him, Psa. 18. 1, 2.
Thus of his louelove to God.His louelove to the godly tried by ten signes.
Thirdly, his louelove to the godly doth also distinguish him from all the wicked men in the world, because here are diuers things to be noted in his affection to them which cannot bee found in wicked men:
1. As first, he loues the godly aboue all other sorts of men in the world; he accounts them as the onelyonly excellent people, Psal. 16. 3. 1 Iohn 3. 14. and affects them as if they were his naturall kindred, Rom. 12. 9, 10.
2. He loues them not for carnall respects, but for the graces of God in them, for the truths sake, and because they are begotten of God, 1 Iohn 5. 1. 2 Iohn 1. 2. 3 Iohn 1.
3. He delights in their fellowship and societie in the Gospell, as accounting them the happy companions of this life, Psal. 16. 3. 3 Iohn 8. Phil. 1. 5.
4. He hath a fellow feeling of their miseries: he is in some measure affectioned to weepe with them that weepe, and reioyce with them that reioyce; especially he is glad when their soules prosper, Rom. 12. 15, 16. 3 Ioh. 3.
5. His desire is to walke inoffensiuely, as being loth any way to be an occasion of stumbling, or scandall to any Christian, 1 Ioh. 2. 10.
6. He can beare their infirmities, take things in the best sense, suffer long, and is not easily prouoked: hee hopeth all things, and boasts not himselfe, nor enuies not them, nor will receiue an euill report against them, 1 Pet. 3. 8. 1. Cor. 13. 4, 5, 6. but rather makes apologie for them.
7. Hee easily praiseth them in all places, for their grace or obedience, Rom. 16. 19. 3 Iohn 6. Psal. 15. 4. 1 Thess. 1. 8.
8. His wel-doing extends it selfe to them to his power; he is bountifull, pitifull, and tender; hee hath bowels of mercy, according to the occasion of mercy, either corporall or spirituall. He gladly receiueth them, and with a ready mind communicates to their necessities, Philemon 7. 1 Pet. 3. 8. & 4. 8. 1 Iohn 3. 17. 3 Iohn 5.
9. He loues all the brethren. He hath not the glorious faith of Christ in respect of persons, Iames 2. 1, 2. Ephes. 1. 15. Col. 1. 4. Hee can make himselfe equall to them of the lower sort, Rom. 12. 16.
10. Lastly, hee loues them at all times, euen when they are in aduersitie, disgrace, sicknesse, or any other miserie.
Hitherto of the godly mans triall by his gifts.
CHAP. VII.
The triall of the godly man by his workes of obedience.
THE fourth way to trie him, is by his workes, or by his obedience in his life and conuersation; and so his workes excell all the workes of vnregenerate men many wayes: as,
1. Because what he doth, riseth out of the louelove he beares to God and goodnesse; and therefore hee doth good heartily, and not by constraint, or with repining or delay: yea he is so stirred vp with the sense of Gods goodnesse to him, that hee is much humbled when he hath done his best, that hee cannot bring more glory to God, Deut. 30. 20. Ios. 22. 5. Math. 4. 19, 20. Rom 6. 17.
2. In doing good he hath respect vntounto all Gods Commandements: there is no part of an holy life, but he desires to practise it; and therefore he will obey Gods will in some cases when it is against his profit, credit, ease, or the liking of carnall friends, preferrings Gods commandements aboue all things, yea life it selfe, Ier. 35. Heb. 11. 8. Gen. 22. 12. Prou. 7. 2. Act. 5. 29. Mat. 16. 25. Exod. 15. 26. 1 King. 9. 4. Ierem. 11. 4. Iohn 15. 14.
3. He will do good at all times, and not for a fit; making conscience of his wayes in all companies as well as any; absent as well as present; before meane Christians as well as before the best; at home as well as abroad, Philip. 2. 12. Gal. 5. 7. 2 Kings 28. 6. Psal. 106. 3.
4. Hee makes conscience of the least commandement as well as the greatest, Mat. 5. 19. Iames 2. 10.
5. He comes to the light, that his deeds might be manifest, that they are wrought in God, Iohn 3. 21. Hee is desirous in all things to bee guided by the warrant of the Word of God.
6. He exerciseth his faith in the very discharge of the duties of his outward conuersation. Hee liues by the faith in the Sonne of God, and commits his way to God, and trusteth vponupon the Name of the Lord, Gal. 2. 20.
7. Hee knoweth that his obedience is right, because God heareth his prayers, and entertaines him gratiously, when he calls vponupon him in secret; whereas God heareth not sinners; and if wickednesse were in his heart, God would not regard his prayers, Iohn 9. 31. Psalme 66. 18.
And thus of his workes.
CHAP. VIII.
His tryall by the entertainment hee hath from God.
THe fifth way by which hee 5. Six fauours God bestowes vponupon him which the wicked neuer feele.may bee tryed, is by the entertainement that God vouchsafeth him in this life, which hee neuer vouchsafeth to wicked men. There are diuers specialties of fauour which God sheweth to him, and not to any vnregenerate man: As,
1. His election in time is a manifest 1. Election in time.token of Gods election of him before time: the Lord shews …hat hee hath chosen him from enerlasting, when by the power of the Gospel hee seizeth vponupon him particularly, and effectually perswades him to leaue the world, and the sinfull society hee liued in, and to deuote himselfe as a liuing sacrifice vntounto God.
2. He is baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire: the baptisme 2. The baptisme by fire.by fire, is onelyonly proper to Gods Elect: the Holy Ghost at some times falls vponupon him, & sets him all on a fire, on a fire I say, both of sudden and violent indignation at sinne, as it is sinne; as also the fire of holy affections, with which from God hee frequently and on a sudden is enslamed, while he stands before the Lord. For besides the affection which a godly man bringeth with him to Gods worship, he doth feele his heart oftentimes on a sudden surprised with strange impressions, sometimes of sorrow, sometimes of feare and awefull dread of God; sometimes of feruent desires after God: sometimes of strong resolutions of holy duties to be done by him, and the like, Matthew 3. 11.
3. He feeles at sometimes in the 3. Much assurance.vse of Gods ordinances a maruellous work of the Holy Ghost, in respect of much assurance and strange establishment of his heart, both in the certaine perswasion of Gods louelove, and the infallible beliefe of the truth; so as at that time no danger of death could amaze him, but hee could willingly witnesse his confidence by vndergoing any thing could befall him, 1. Thessalonians 1. 5.
4. He feeles at some times the 4. Ioy vnspeakeablevnspeakeable and glorious ioyes of the Holy Ghost which are differing from the carnall ioyes or illusions may bee found in wicked men, because they are such ioyes, as hee feeles onelyonly in the vse of some ordinances of God, and such as by effect make him more humble, and vile in his owne eies, and doe inflame him to an high degree of the louelove of God and goodnesse; which illusions can neuer doe.
5. The sanctification of his afflictions 7. The sanctification of his afflictions.is another infallible signe of Gods louelove to him. For God makes his crosses to become blessings vntounto him, and worke his good, so as hee may plainely see, that it was good for him to be afflicted: and besides, God giues him many times the experience of his goodn…sse, both by vnexpected consolation in his distresses, and gratious deliuerance out of them, Rom. 8. 28. Psal. 119.
6. Lastly, To this place I may referre Gods hearing and answering 6 The answer of his prayers.of his prayers; whereas God doth not heare sinners, as was shewed in the end of the former Chapter.
CHAP. IX.
His tryall by the Sacraments.
THe sixt and last way of triall Sixe Rules of his trial about the Sacramentof the estate of a Christian, is by the Sacraments, and in particular by the Sacrament of the Lords Supper. For God hath appointed the two Sacraments to bee his broad Scales to assure his fauour vntounto his people: and because none but worthy receiuers can bee partakers of so great a priuiledge as the Couenant of Gods grace, and the Gospel of Iesus Christ: therefore hereby doth the true Christian distinguish himselfe from all men. For in becomming a worthy receiuer, hee doth diuers things not onelyonly required in communicants, but such as none but godly men can attaine vntounto: As,
1. He doth forgiue his enemies, as heartily as hee desires God to forgiue him his trespasses.
2. Hee examines himselfe, and vponupon examination he both eateth with sowre herbes (that is) comes with some measure of griefe for his offences, and withall finds as vnfained a desire, that he might neuer offend God in anything, as that God should there assure him of the forgiuenesse of his sinnes, and that he will neuer punish him for any of them, 1 Cor. 11.
3. The couenant of his heart is to cleaue to God, and the care of godlinesse all the daies of his life, 1 Cor. 5. 8.
4. He is in some measure perswaded of Gods louelove to him in Christ; and discernes the Lords Body, so as he is secretly in some degree perswaded of the spirituall presence of Iesus Christ, and of the operation of God: so as he beleeueth, that Christ will as certainly nourish his soule, as the outward elements can any way be fit to nourish his body, Marke 16. 16. Col. 2. 12. 1 Cor. 11.
5. He somtimes feeles the Holy Ghost inwardly, setting to Gods Priuie Seale by sudden refreshings, falling like the dew vponupon his heart, and establishing his soule before the Lord, Eph. 1. 13. 2 Cor. 1. 12.
6. His heart is knit vntounto the godly more and more, and increaseth in his resolution to cleaue to them onelyonly, and forsake all other professions of men in the world; louing them vnfainedly, and desiring it for euer to a partaker of their lot, 1 Cor. 10. 16, 17.