The Promises, Chapter 1 – Chapter 2
CHAP. I.
Containing the Preface.
THE drift of this Treatise is, to shew a godly Christian, (who is already assured of Gods fauor, and knowes he shall hauehave abundant happinesse when he dies, in Heauen) how hee may support his heart with sufficient contentment, against all the miseries can assault him from the time of his conuersion, till his death. For this purpose I shall breake open a Mine of Treasure: for I intend from all parts of the booke of God to select and set before thee those rich promises, which God hath there recorded, to be as Wells of comfort vponupon all occasions.
Two things must of necessity bee granted. The one is, that though wee hauehave gotten the assurance of Gods fauour and freedome from the power and guilt of our sinnes; yet many things will still aile vsus, and oppose our consolation. We shall meete with temptations and afflictions of all sorts, reproches, aduersaries, trouble of spirit, and such like. The other is, that there can bee no such discouragement, difficulty, or affliction, but in the Word of God we may hauehave a sure consolation or direction for it, able eueryevery way abundantly to sustaine vsus.
But before I enter vponupon the vnfolding of this great Roll of promises, I must preface about fiue things, which tend to make vsus more fit to receiue them.
First, it will be profitable for vsus to consider briefly the worth of the promises; The worth of the promises.they are called the vnsearchable riches of Christ, to assure vsus that he is a very Eph. 3. 6. 9.rich man, that hath his heart stored with the promises of God wel applied. The Apostle Peter saith, 2 Pet. 1. 3.that they are great, and precious promises, which God hath giuen to vsus. Promises in our hearts, are better then pearles or precious stones in our chests. They are the inheritance God giues to his people in this life, and therefore they are called the heyres of promise; Rom. 4.a greater portion then any King on earth can giuegive to his childe. The very keeping of the Records of these promises, was a great prerogatiue to the Iewish Rom. 9.nation: and it is accounted a singular happinesse for the Gentiles, that they may now partake of those promises. Little doe wee Eph 3. 6.know what wrong we doe to our soules, when wee keepe them ignorant of the promises; and it is one of the greatest offices vnderunder the Sunne, to dispense these promises to man. 2. Tim. 1. 1. Titus. 1. 1. 2. 3.
Secondly, before I enter 2vponupon the explication of the promises, I must To whom the promises belong.likewise tell you, to whom they belong, and who they are that hauehave interest in them: For all vnregenerate men, that liue in their sins without repentance, are strangers from the couenants Eph. 2. 12.of promise. The children of the bond-woman Gal. 4.hauehave no part in the testament of Grace: onelyonly they that are Christs, hauehave the benefit of the promises in Gal. 3. 22.Christ. The children of God are the heyres of promise. Men must hauehave godlinesse, Heb. 6. 17.that hauehave the promises eyther of this life, or that to come. In short, all those that hauehave repented them 1. Tim. 6. 8.of their sinne, and belieue in Iesus Christ, may come to these promises with large hearts, as knowing that they reade and heare that which they hauehave clear and full interest in.
Thirdly, concerning the 3 The vse of the promises.vse these promises may be put vntounto all our life long: They will driue away griefe, discouragement, or feares, that at any time may seize vponupon vsus: They will sweeten all our afflictions: they will exceedingly nurse vp, and confirme our faith, and further, they will hauehave a singular vse in preseruing vsus against the inticements of the profits, pleasures, and lusts of the world, and against the cares of this life. Our affections are the feete of our soules, and with the promises wee may bee daily shod; so as neyther thorny cares pricke vsus, nor foule pleasures defile vsus, Eph. 6. The Gospel shewes vsus still a better proiect, when the Deuill or the world intice vsus. And a true reason why many times wee are not able to resist inticements, is, because our hearts are not filled with the promises, which else would shew vsus so much sweetnesse, as all other things would seeme but base in comparison of them. When we are tempted with the pleasures of sinne, if wee hauehave not a more delightfull proiect to offer to our hearts, it is easie for vsus to be seduced. And further, these promises soundly studied and laid vp in our hearts, will breed cheerefulnesse of spirit, and that contentation which makes godlines 1. Tim. 6. 7. 8.to be so great gaine. And besides, they will daily excite in vsus all encouragements to well-doing, and they doe also set out maruellously the glory and splendor of Gods louelove, power, presence, prouidence, and grace toward vsus. What shall I say? the promises giuegive vsus euen heauen vponupon earth, and set out the incomparable gaine of true godlinesse; yea, by them we approch so neere vntounto God, that as Peter saith; By them we partake of the Diuine nature.2. Pet. 1. 4.
A fourth thing which I would preface about, is, concerning the infallibilitie of these promises: For The infallibility of the promises proued by 13. wayes.that may much enflame in vsus the desire to store our hearts with them, (hauing heard of their worth,) if we likewise be fully assured concerning the certaine accomplishment of all the good which is contained in them. I suppose, no man doubts, but that if it could be made good, that a poor Christian might hauehave all those excellent things which are contained in all the promises of the Bible, he were in a matchlesse estate. Now there are many things which may put vsus out of all doubt in that point; marke them heedfully, for they may do thee singular good.
First, obserue that the promises are in some scriptures called in the singular number, the Promise: and 1 They are all but as one promise.why so? As for other reasons, so to assure thee, it is as sure and as easie for God to fulfil al that goodnesse contained in al those promises, as if they were but one onelyonly promise.
2 Consider the Nature 2 From the nature of God.of God, hee cannot lye, it is impossible for him to deny his word, he may as easily deny himselfe. If God hauehave said it, it must needes come to passe. This argument is vsed in this point, Titus 1. 1. 2.
3 The antiquity of these 3 From the antiquity of them.promises much adde to our assurance. The Apostle in Titus 1. 2. saith, that these promises were made before the world was: and hitherto in all this time God neuer failed of one word of his goodnes.
4 We hauehave the writing 4 Frō Gods writing.of God to shew for them, they are vponupon Record in the Scripture: and shall we mistrust when we hauehave Gods owne hand to shew for it? His word is true, and righteous altogether, Ps. 19. 8
5 Yea, we hauehave the oath 5 From Gods oath.of GOD too, that by two things, in which it is vnpossible for God to change, the heyres of promise might hauehave abundant consolation, whensoeuer they make recourse vntounto the promises, Hebr. 6. 17. 18.
6 Wee hauehave these promises 6 From the messengers sent about them.preached vntounto vsus by Ambassadors sent of purpose, at the commandement of God, who hath enioyned them to make it manifest, that God will bee as good as his word in all those, Titus 1. 3.
7 Yea Christ Iesus himselfe 7 From the Ministery of Christ himselfe.did imploy his Ministry, to assure and confirme the promises made before to the Fathers, as the Apostle shewes, Rom. 15. 8.
8 Yet more; wee hauehave 8 From the death of the Testator.the bloud of Christ, and the death of the Testator, to cō firme this new Testament, and all the promises contained therein, Hebr. 9. 16. so as in Christ they are now all, yea and Amen: there can bee no nay nor deniall of them; they well may be now pleaded in any Court of the Iustice of God.
9 The Anointing that is vponupon vsus, may assure vsus, & establish vsus. Was there euer any King anointed of God to be a King, that 9 From our Anointing.made doubt of the Kingdome? Why? The annointing of God is vponupon our hearts, the graces of the spirit powred out vponupon vsus, are our assurance, that God will not with-hold from vsus our regall priuiledges, if wee seeke them, 2. Cor. 1. 20. 21.
10 It is some setling to 10 From the extent of the promises.vsus, to consider the extent of the right to those promises: For God hath excepted no sort of men, but in Christ they may get to hauehave their part in those promises, as the Apostle shewes, Galath. 3. 27. 28. 29.
11 The Law was the 11 From the time of giuing the promise.onelyonly thing that might hinder vsus of the enioying of the promises. And the Apostle hath proued, that the Law cannot disanull the Promises, in which the nations of the earth should be blessed, made 400. yeers before the Law was giuen on Mount Sinai, Galat. 3. 17. 21.
12 We hauehave the seale The promise sealed foure wayes.of GOD to this writing: now God hath sealed four waies.
First, in his Counsell: the 1 In his Counsell.booke of his eternall counsell was written within, and without, and it had seuen seales, to signifie that it was perfectly ratified, and though none in heauen and earth could reade it, yet for our comforts wee know, that the Lambe of the tribe of Iuda, the Lord Iesus Christ our Sauiour, hath opened it now, and made it manifest, Reuel. 5. 1. 2. &c.
2 In his Sonne: for him 2 In his Sonhath God the Father sealed, Iohn. 6. 27. God made all sure when hee sent out Christ; he sealed his commission in all things, that concerned the happinesse both of Iewes & Gentiles.
3 In his Spirit; and 3 In his Spirit.thus all the belieuers are said to be sealed by the Spirit of Promise: and this is Gods priuy Seale.
4 God hath sealed to all his promises in the Sacraments, 4 In the Sacraments.which are giuen vsus as Gods broad Seales, and outward tokens and pledges to confirme our Faith.
13 We hauehave the experience also of all the saints, 13 For experience.who in all ages found God as good as his word, and had euer reason to say as Dauid did, In the Lord will we praise his word, Psalm. 56. 10. The Patriarchs embraced the Promises, as the chiefe stay of their liues in their pilgrimage on earth, Heb. 11. 13.
Thus of the fourth point.
5 A fift thing I would preface about, is concerning certaine rules to bee 6 Rules to be obserued if we will profit by the Promises.obserued, if we would euer receiue the sound profit of these promises, and so wee must looke to sixe directions.
First, when wee come to these promises, we must renounce our own merits, & all opinion of our owne worthinesse, and acknowledge from our hearts, that all the grace we find in the promises, is in & through Iesus Christ. All the promises 2. Cor. 1. 20. Rom. 4. 14.are yea and Amen through him, and onelyonly in him.
2 When wee hauehave the promises laid open before vsus, we must beleeue them, Gal. 3. 22. Rom. 4. 16.and apply them to our selues, or else they will doe vsus no good.
3 We must be further carefull to hide them in our hearts, & to commit them to memory, that wee may be often thinking of them, and musing vponupon them. It will not serue the turn that wee hauehave them written in the Bible, or in our notebookes, but wee must get them written in our hearts too: wee must bee at the Psal. 119. 11paines to acquaint our selues distinctly with them, and to fill our heads with store of them.
4 When any thing ayleth vsus, we must flye to him for refuge, and cast the anchor of our hope vponupon them, that God himselfe may see Heb. 6. 18.that our hearts are bent to trust vponupon his Word.
5 We must neuer cast away our confidence in them, but wait with patience, and not limit God to the time, or manner, or meanes of accomplishment, but hold fast to his promises, and …eaue the rest to God, as in many places of Scripture may appeare, especially, Hebr. 10. 36. Rom. 4. 22.
6 In short, wee must …ooke to it, that we be not slothfull and idle, and such as will not be at the paines to study and commit to memory, and rest vponupon these glorious comforts; but wee must follow them which through faith and patience Heb. 6. 22.doe inherit the promises.
Thus of the Preface.
CHAP. II.
The diuision of the Promises.
THE Promises may bee diuided into three parts.
1 The first may containe such places of Scripture, 3 Sorts of Promises. 1 Priuiledgesas shew the Priuiledges of the godly aboue other men; and that is one chiefe way by which the Lord doth refresh the hearts of his people, by assuring them in generall of such & such prerogatiues, which hee will confirme vponupon them, and vponupon none but them.
2 The second may containe 2. Comforts in affliction.comforts; that is, places of Scripture which do foretell what goodnes the Lord will shew to his people in affliction. For hither-vntounto belong all those promises which are giuen of purpose for the comforting and supporting of the godly in all their trialls.
3 The third part may 3. Rewards of certaine graces.containe such Promises, as are made to certaine particular Graces in the godly, as promises made to praier, faith, trusting in God, or such like. It is the second sort of promises, which I intend here more at large to intreat of. I would shew what variety of comforts there are, with which a godly man may inflame his heart, according to the seuerall distresses may fall vponupon him, and these may be thus subdiuided.
All afflictions are eyther outward, or inward: Sorts of afflictions.For outward afflictions, it were too tedious, and to little purpose to gather comforts against eueryevery particular crosse, and therfore one head may suffice for the Generall, viz. the promises or consolations against all outward afflictions. Now, because godly people are oftentimes more troubled with the stormes and reproches of the world, which are cast vponupon them for well-doing, then with the ordinary afflictions of life; therefore I would in the second place gather the comforts against reproches, and withall I would adde in the third place, consolations against aduersaries.
Now for inward afflictions; they are the afflictions of the spirit of man, and arise eyther from the temptations of Sathan, or from the trouble of the conscience vnsatisfied in diuers scruples. I would therfore in the fourth place shew how wee might bee comforted against the temptations of Sathan; and because the trouble of conscience ariseth vsually eyther from the burthen of our daily infirmities, or from the feare of our falling away: I would in the fifth place shew how we may bee comforted against our daily infirmities; and then in the last place I would vnfold those promises, that may assure vsus of perseuerance.
Now suppose a Christian Note.soule clearely informed with the knowledge of those priuiledges wherein he excels all the people of the world; and withall, that he knew how to comfort himselfe against any outward afflictions, and had store of consolations in his heart against the temptations of Sathan, and did know how to support himselfe against the sence of his daily weakenesses, and withal were setled & out of feare for falling away; would you not thinke such a one wonderfull happy? And this may be heere attained vntounto, if wee be not slothfull: and what can in this life bee grieuous vntounto vsus, if wee be soundly fenced in those things? There can be nothing that can seeme a misery vntounto vsus, but wee may find comforts vnderunder some one of these titles.