The Marrow of the Oracles of God, Preface 2
THE PREFACE TO THE CHRISTIAN and carefull Reader.
HOw necessary it is for all sorts of men in the visible Church, to trie their estates whetherthey be true Christians or no, may appeare by the expresse charge giuenin the Scriptures concerning it. The Apostle Paul chargeth men to examine themselues whether they be in the faith, and whether Christ Iesus be in them, vnlesse they be reprobates, 2. Cor. 13. 5. And the Apostle Peter would hauehave all Christians diligently to make their calling and election sure, 2. Pet. 1. 10. And the like commandemēt lay vponupon them in the Church of the Iewes in the old Testament, as may appeare by that exhortation, Lam. 3. 40. Let vsus search and try our wayes, and turne againe vntounto the Lord: and the Prophet Dauid in this case, chargeth men to commune with their owne hearts, Psal. 4. 4. How can men draw neere vntounto God in the full assurance of faith, if they will not be at the paines to examine themselues? Heb. 10. 22. Or how shall we euer know that wee are of God, or attaine vntounto any confidence of faith, as we ought to doe? 1 Ioh. 5. 19. Eph. 3. 12.
How fearefully this point of sound triall is neglected, and how miserably most men are deceiued for want of it, may appeare by this obseruation, which may vsually be made of men in the most places, viz. that many Note.that are carnall men, say, they are godly; and many that are godly men, say, they are but carnall. Besides that, a multitude of men, both good and bad, liue in securitie: the one not caring to get out of so wofull an estate; and the other not regarding the riches of Assurance.
The causes of this miserable securitie, may be obserued and noted both in wicked and in godly men.
In wicked men these things may be easily discerned.
1 A lothnesse to examine Why wicked men neglect the triall of their estates. … Because they are afraid all is no… well.themselues and try their estates exactly, for feare lest they should finde that they are not in a good estate. Their hearts secretly condemne them, and they thinke, if they should take particular notice of their owne condition, it would be found, that they hauehave indeed no true grace in them: and therefore they rather chuse to liue in that doubtfull estate, then to be put out of doubt, and made to know, that they hauehave yet no right to the Kingdome of heauen: neuer considering that the knowledge of our misery, may be one degree to get out of it.
2. In such as see all is not well 2. They are slothfull.with them, the cause is slothfulnesse, mingled with horrible presumption: they had rather weare out their dayes in danger, then be at the paines to vse the means for their owne repentance and reformation: they will wretchlesly put it to the venture.
3. Others will aduenture vponupon 3. They rest vponupon the common hope.their common hope of mercy: they hauehave certaine generall confused apprehensions of mercy in God, vpō which they wilfully engage their hopes, without care of reformation, or the particular warrant of their hopes from the Word of God, and so miserably perish: their hopes prouing but as the house of the Spider: and the imaginarie mercy failing them, they die either as stockes without sense, or as Iudas in horrible despaire.Or 4 vponupon their outward profession of Religion.
4. Others rest themselues vponupon their outward profession of Religion and some general things wrought in them, and the good opinion others hauehave of them: & so being somewhat neare the kingdome of God, they are content to rest there, as the Israelites did neare Canaan, though they neuer possessed it. We see many think, there needsno more to be sure they are in a good cō dition, then to heare Sermons, & abstaine from grosse outward prophannesse, and to be well reputed of among the godly, &c. pleasing themselues with the shew of godlinesse, though as yet they deny the power of it, as hauing attained to other righteousnesse then the righteousnesse of the S…ribs and Pharises.
5. In multitudes of men, there Or 5. they … eu…l opinions … assuranc….are seated euill opinions about assurance: They thinke either it is impossible to bee had, or it is needlesse, or it is presumption to seeke it.
6. All wicked men are hindered 6. They are lett…d by their beloued sins.by their beloued sinnes, which they are not willing to part with; but of purpose forbeare the care of heauen, that they may the more securely liue in sinne.
Thus of wicked men: It is Why so…e that are godly, neglect the triall of their estates.true also, that many godly Christians hauehave beene, and are extreamly faulty in neglecting the triall of their estates, and their assurance: and the causes of this negligence in them are diuerse: as,
1. Some are so much mis-led 1. Euill opinions.by the surmises of their owne hearts, that they think that assurance would breed security, and that it is a better way to keepe their owne hearts humble, to be somewhat doubtfull: not knowing, that vnbeliefe is the chiefe cause of slothfulnesse and securitie: and that the assurance of faith is the chiefe meanes to purge the heart, and quiet the soule, and works effectually in all the duties of louelove.
2. In the most, Ignorance of 2. Ignorance.their owne gifts and Gods promises, is the cause: for if Christians did see distinctly; how far the Lord hath brought them by his grace, and withall did behold the euidences of their faith and hope in Gods promises, they should not faile of comfort, and establishment of heart.
3. Smothering of doubts and temptations, is a great let in many: 3. Smothering of doubts and temptatiōsdiuers Christians are secretly, and daily assaulted with certaine strange doubts; which, if they did propound, & get sound answer vntounto their hearts, would heale within them, and the worke of faith prosper.
4. Some Christians are kept They are wicked o uerm…ch.without assurance, through the ouermuch viewing of their owne daily infirmities in all parts of Gods seruice: They are wicked ouermuch: wheras if they would study those Scriptures that shew how graciously the Lord stands inclined toward his people, notwithstanding their daily wants, their hearts would be much eased, and their minds cleerely resolued to trust vponupon the euerlasting mercies of their God.
5. In some, the cause is found 5. Melancholy.in the disease of their bodies: Melancholy; when it is growne to a disease, is a most stiffe and pertinacious aduersary to Comfort and Assurance: it doth fill the heart with so many sad conceits and fancies, and is an humour so vnteachable, that comfort for the most part is as water spilt vponupon the ground: And the more difficult it is to remoue this let, because vsually the parties possest by this humour, are so far from seeking help, that they will not be perswaded that they are troubled with any such disease.
6. Some Christians are hindred 6. Passions.by their owne Passions; they are so froward and vnquiet in their dispositions, that their hearts are daily lifted off from the benefit of setled assurance, by their own habituall discont…nts. Frowardnes is a mischieuous distemp…r, that weakens both body and minde; and assurance and strength of faith, seldome dwels in an vnquiet minde.
7. Others want assurance, because 7. Neglect of the meanes.they neglect the meanes of assurance: they doe not try all things, and keepe that which is good; or they call not vponupon God daily, feruently, and constantly, to giuegive them the spirit of reuelation, to shew them the hope of their calling, and their glorious inheritance, Eph. 1. 18, 19.
8. A barren life is an vncomfortable 8. A barren life. 1 Cor. 15. 58life: and contrariwise, to abound in good workes, hath stedfastnesse, and a secret rest of heart, as an vnseparable companion of it.
9. The louelove of earthly things 9. Too much louelove of earthly things.is another great impediment. Many professours hauehave their thoughts and cares so eaten vp with worldlinesse, that they cannot seriously seeke Gods Kingdome, nor constantly hold out in any course for the attainement of assurance. This degree of faith requires some degree of the contempt of the world.
10. In some, there lodgeth some 10. Secret sin.secret sin, which they know, and do not purge themselues for, and doth daily preuaile in them; and this either keepes out Faith, or keepes it downe in the cradle, that it can get no strength. When I say, secret sins, I meane, secret from others, not from themselues. For sinnes of meere ignorance God doth not scourge in his seruants so, as to withhold his graces from them.