The Christians Daily Sacrifice, Chapter 12 – Chapter 14
CHAP. XII.
NAmely to labour constancy and perseuerance vntounto the end.Of constancy and perseuerance.
And that because:
First, Hereby wee approue the soundnes of our calling and gifts,Sect. 1. It is most necessary. which otherwise if wee faile were but temporarie, giuen rather for others then for our owne good.
2 We obtaine the promise and the crowne that is set before vsus. He. 11. which otherwise by falling away we shall lose. Reuel. 3. 6.
3 Wee approue the truth of God, and giuegive him the glorie of his faithfulnes. 1. Thes. 5. 24.
4 Wee ouercome satan and all our enemies. Ephes. 6. 13.
Helpes hereunto are:
First, The establishing of our faith, that the children of God shall continue to the end: and that because,
1 Our God is faithfull and almightie, and his gifts are without repentance who hath promised it. Rom. 11.
2 Iesus Christ makes continuall intercession for vsus. Luke 22… 33.
3 The holy Ghost shall abide with vsus to the end of the world. Iohn 16. to preserue vsus. Iohn 14.
4 We are the beloued of God: and therefore.
1 Whom hee loues once hee will louelove to the end. Iohn. 13.
2 Whatsoeuer wee aske in his name, the father will giuegive vsus, if it bee agreeable to his will. 1. Iohn 5. 14.
3 All things shall turne vntounto our good. Rom. 8. 29.
4 Wee are maried to him for euer in holines and righteousnes: Ose. 2.
5 Gods couenaunt with vsus, is euerlasting. Ieremie 30. Ezechiel 11. Psalme. 89. & Ose. 2.
6 Wee are vnited vntounto Christ our head, Collossians, 2. and giuen to him of the Father, and therefore none shall take vsus out of his hands Iohn 10. Iohn 17. 17.
7 Wee hauehave the word and sacraments, which shall continue with vsus to the worlds end, to vphold vsus in our righteousnes. Mat. 28.
8 Wee hauehave strengthning grace to continue vsus in wel-doing. Ephe. 3. 16.
9 Our slips, and fallings, are meanes to perseuerance.
Here Consider.
1 That the child of God being regenerated, may, and doth fall: and that because:
1 God leaues him often to himselfe.Sect. 3. Remouing the hinderances, here of the falls of Gods children, Ose. 5. Psal. 30. and that,
1 To let him see his own strength to be humbled thereby. Hose. 14. 4.
2 To driue from that hold, to rely onelyonly vponupon God. Cantic. 3. 4. Luc. 22. 32.
3 To make him more compassionate and helpfull to others in their infirmities.
2 Satan is continually sifting of him. Luk. 22.
3 He caries about him a traytor readie to betray him hourely. 1. Pet. 2. 11.
4 His falles may well stand with his estate in grace, yea doe much make for the triall and encrease thereof. 1. Pet. 1. 7.
As in his fall,
1 He discernes his imperfection, and so is prouoked to take stronger hold. Canti. 3. 4.
2 In his recouerie he feeles the vndoubted grace of God. Psal. 32.
3 In both he hath experience of the combats betweene the flesh and the spirit, al which are vndoubted signes of regeneration. Luk. 11. 21.
4 He is made more acquainted with the deceitfulnes of sinne, and so more skilfull to preuent the same. Heb. 3. 13.
5 He is shamed by his fall, and driuen from the hold of the world, and such like baits of sinne. Hose. 14. 4.
6 he is prouoked more egerly to follow after the mark, by how much he hath beene cast behind. 2. Cor. 11.
7 He becomes more fearfull of himselfe, and will not be so venturous vponupon the occasions of sinne. Mat. 26. 75.
Consider therefore,
2 How farre a regenerate man may fall:
First, In his faith, by doubting of Gods fauour and the assurance of his saluation. Psal. 22. Psal. 51. Psal. 77.
Hence proceedes
1 Proud and foolish reasonings against God. Ier. 12. 1.
2 Vaine and vncharitable speeches and wishes against our selues, Iob. 3.
3 Distasting of the meanes and furtherances to saluation.
4 The graces of God may bee lessened in them. Psal. 51.
5 They may be couered.
6 Losse of some graces of God all his life long.
2 Erring through ignorance in some maine point of saluation, so the Apostles, Acts 1. 6.
3 He may dwel in his ignorance for a time, and maintaine the same, Gal. 2. Peter.
Secondly, in his life. and that,
1 By falling into some grosse sinnes. 2. Sam. 11. 2. Sam. 24.
2 To lie a sleepe in them till he be roused vp.
3 To fall into them againe after repentance, and so may sinne presumptuously. Mat. 26.
Hence will follow:
1 That the light of Gods countenance shal be taken away. Ps…. 51.
2 The horrors of hel shal assault and buffet him, and so hee may despaire. Psal. 77. 11.
3 Some grieuous outward afflictions shall follow him to the graue. Dauid.
4 His life shall be a burthen and irksome to him. Iacob. and he shall be impatient vnderunder the crosse. Iob 3. 7.
5 Hee shall cause the name of God to be blasphemed by the wicked. 2. Sam. 12.
6 His first louelove shall be cooled, and zeale in godlines abated. Apo. 2. 4.
7 The weake shall be offended at him.
8 Gods Spirit shall be grieued. Ephes 4.
9 He shall feele a weakenesse in him in regard of such sinnes as hauehave got strong hold often ouer him. Psal. 6. Ier. 13. 23.
Thus farre may a regenerate man …all,And the difference betweene them and the wicked. and yet rema…ne in the state of grace, and differ from a reprobate, or hypocrite, As thus:
1 The reprobates tēporary faith is the chiefe cause of his falling and prophanes in life; but the elects errour in life is the occasion of the decay of his faith.
2 The hypocrite is vsually senseles in his fall, and so continues 1… Tim 4. 2 but the regenerate at lēgth hath the true sightofit. 2. Sam. 24. 10…
3 The hypocrite if he fret an… greeue, it is for feare of punishment or losse of the temporall blessing not for the losse of Gods fauour &c. Psal. 51. Gen. 27. But
4 They both fall into the sam… sinnes againe, but yet the hypocr… after sinnes committed with mor… strength and securitie, the regenerate with more resistance, feare griefe, and in great weakenes. Ps. 19…
5 They both are impatient, an… speake foolishly against God, bu… the hypocrite speake as he thinketh and wisheth in the aduisednes and purpose of his heart: the regenerate speakes in folly, rashnes, not as he thinketh or wisheth, but as his corruption ouerruling him doth mislead and comming to himselfe, condemne himselfe for it & cleares the Lord. Ps. 73. Iob 42
6 They both decay and los… their first louelove, but yet the hypocrite counts this to bee his wisedome, and the true measure of holines, esteeming his former zeale to be rashnes, &c. whereas the regenerate acknowledgeth it was better before then now, and mourning vnderunder his estate labours the recouery and in some measure obtaines it. 2. Sam. 12. Mat. 26.
7 They both may refuse the meanes also, but yet the hypocrite in pride and obstinacie, falles at length, from loose meanes to none, and so to a despising and persecuting the same: the elect though hee leaue in his heart, yet hee returnes with shame, and cleaues more conscionable to the meanes and is profited thereby.
8 They both may be losers by their fall, and not recouer all their life long: but with these differences.
1 The reprobate loses all graces and becomes a very beast. Psal. 49. without knowledge, ciuility, &c. The regenerate recouers necessarie graces, as faith in some measure of vse and feeling: but that full perswasion ioy in the spirit, &c. he happily recouers not againe all his life long.
2 The reprobates losse is without feeling, causing him to set vp his rest more securely in this life, and so prepares him to sudden destruction: that of the elect humbles him in all things, causes him to worke out his saluation with feare and trembling, to goe downe with sorrow to his graue, and to be wearie of the world, and to desire to be with Christ. Phil. 2. 12.
This may we discorne betweene the fall… of Gods children and the wicked. And this serueth.
1 To trie vsus in our decaies, and to comfort vsus in the same. Pro. 24. 16.
2 To iustifie Gods faithfulnes who neuer forsakes his children. 1. Cor. 10. 13.
3 To stop the mouthes of the wicked, who reioyce at our falles▪ Mich. 7. 8.
4 To assure vsus of constancie & perseuerance to the end. 2. Tim. 4▪ 18.
CHAP. XIII.
A second helpe hereunto is,
FIrst, watchfulnes ouer our hear…s and waies that they may continually,Of wathfulnes. be acceptable vntounto God. And that because. 2. Tim. 4. 18.
1 Hereby we are prepared to tentations Luc. 21. 34. Mat. 13. 25.1 The vse of it.
2 Enabled to vndergoe them. Ephes. 6.
3 And to hauehave a good issue out of them. Luc. 21. 36.
4 Without this our whole life, and best actions, are either rashnes or securitie. Pro. 28. 14.
5 By it we attaine, certainty and resolution in wel-doing. Ephe. 6. 13.
6 We preuent some euill which may make all other comforts vnsauory, which we are sure to looke for in well doing. Mat. 26. 41.
7 Hereby the other graces of God in vsus are much beautified and encreased.
8 And our infirmities much auoyded or couered Psalm. 119. 9.
9 The best without it hauehave bin deceiued. Genes. 3. Dauid, 2. Samuel 12.
10 Hypocrisie in weldoing and spirituall pride is preuented or mastered.
11 Dulnes and wearisomenesse also in good things is much holpen.
12 And so we prepared happily to perfection.
Now this watchfulnes is performed
1 And especially by obseruing the heart and yoaking it.2 How performed
2 In keeping vnderunder the outward man.
3 And this not for a spurt but all our life long, because so long endures the combate.
4 And that obseruing and suspecting our greatest strength. 1. Cor. 10. 12.
5 Ayming and heeding principally the sinnes that we hauehave most delighted in. Psal. 19. Psal. 25.
6 Examining the best graces of God in vsus, lest some dead flie be in them. Pro. 28. 9. Mat. 6.
Helpes hereunto are:3 Helpes hereto.
1 The glasse of the Word. Psal.3 To hauehave the feare of God continually before our eyes. 119. Hebr. 11. 6.
2 Continual feare of our selues. Pro. 28. Phil. 2. 12.
3 To hauehave the feare of God continually before our eyes. 1. Cor. 7. 1
4 Sobriety in our knowledge, and vse of outward things. 1. Pet. 5. Rom. 12. 3.
CHAP. XIIII.Of praier.
FOurthly, Earnest and constant prayer vntounto God to vphold vsus by his mightie power, in cheerefulnes prouoking one another to holy duties. Psal. 40. 4.1 And it cōditions.
1 Publiquely in the Congregations.
2 In priuate as well with our families, as in our closets, or such like secret recourse. Mat. 6. Psal. 4.
Conditions of prayer are:
1 That our prayer must be in faith without doubting. Iam. 1. 6.
2 In louelove, forgiuing one another. Luc. 6. & praying one for another.
3 In wisedome, praying first for the fauour of God when we would hauehave any blessing, and when wee would hauehave an euil remoued, praying for the forgiunes of sinne, which is the cause of it, and diuiding the times for prayer and our callings. Dan. 6. 10.
4 In zeale and feruency from the heart and affection. 1. Cor. 14… Iam. 5. 16.
5 In constancy and patience waiting the Lords good leisure. Psal. 40. 1. Psa. 135. Psa. 147.
6 In humilitie, abasing & vilifying our selues before the Lord. Ge. 32.
7 With thankesgiuing vntounto God for all his mercies. Psalme 103. 1.
8 Renuing our vowes and promises vntounto God. Psal. 116.
9 With strong cries & groanes begging the pardon of our own sin, and the sin of the Church & land wherein we liue. Dan. 9.
10 Crauing such necessaries for our selues and others, with a holy submitting of our selues for the matter, manner, time, and measure to the will of God. Mat. 26. 42.
Thus must our prayers be made vntounto the Lord▪ and by them we shall be,
First, Much strengthened in the grace of perseuerance. Luke 22. 32. as also.
2 Kept in the vigor and power of our Christian life. Ephes. 6.2 The benefit of prayer.
3 Experienced in our sweet fellowshippe with God. Romanes 8. 15.
4 Our spirituall armour alwaies fitted and exercised. Ephes. 6.
5 Our daily wants supplied or recompensed. Iames 1. 5. 2. Corint. 12.
6 Tentations conquered; and happily diminished Mat. 4.
7 All our occasions well seasoned & turned to our good 1. Timo. 4.
8 Our whole life sanctified, and we prepared comfortably to a better. Phil. 1. 19.