The Christians Daily Sacrifice, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
THE soule being thus humbled,Of the raising vp of a sinner by a true and liuely faith must be raysed vp againe by a true and liuely faith: and this is the second duety daily to be performed: and that
1 Because our former humiliation without this raising vp, wil either driue vsus to despaire, or else make our life most vncomfortable vntounto vsus. Gal. 2. 20. Phil. 3.
2 Because nothing will prosper in the day without this comfort, neither our desires for what wee want, nor our vse of that we hauehave.
3 By this we truely liue the life of grace, and so hauehave our conuersation here in heauen.
4 Hereby also we die daily, and so are fitted vntounto glory. Col. 1. 11.
5 That so whatsoeuer be…ide vsus, this may be sufficient for vsus. 2. Cor. 12.
Now wee are raised vp by faith to the certaine assurance of the forgiuenes of our sinnes,Sect. 1 How faith is reuiued in vsus. after this manner:
First, by reuiuing and encreasing of our knowledge, that Iesus Christ is the alone propitiatiō for our sins.
This is performed,
1 By a serious meditation on the promise of the Messiah. Iohn 3. 16.
2 By exercising our selues more conscionably in the reading, and hearing of the word taught. Iohn 5. 39.
Secondly, Faith is quickned by reuiuing our apprehension of the promise; and this is done,
1 By earnest prayer vntounto God for the renuing of his Spirit in vsus. Psal. 51. 12.
2 By an hearty acknowledgement, that wee hauehave iustly grieued the Spirit of God, and so are deseruedly depriued of the feeling therof. Psalme 51▪ 4. Lamentation 3. 22, 37.
3 Meditating of our former comfort and assurance heerein. Psalme 77.
And this reuiuing hath many degrees.
First,Sect. 2. The degrees of this work. A liuely sense what need I hauehave of Christ, and that without him I must certainely perish. Rom. 7. 24, 25.
Secondly, Hope of pardon, wherby though wee yet feele not our sinnes certainely pardoned, yet wee beleeue that they are pardonable; not in respect of themselues, as if they were lesse heynous, but in respect of God, whose mercies are aboue them. Esay 1. 18.
Thirdly, An hungring and thirsting after grace offered in Iesus Christ. Ioh. 6. 35, 7, 37. Reu 21. 6.
And this is discerned,
1 By our prizing and preferring it aboue all other comforts. Philip. 3.
2 By our fainting and languishing after it Psal. 42.
3 By our strong cries and endeuours for the same. Psalme 51. 12, 13. &c.
Fourthly, Wee approch to the th…one of grace, and flying from the terrour of the law, we take hold on Christ, and find fauor in God. Heb. 4. 16. Heb. 10. 19.
And this is performed:
1 By an humble confession of thy sinne in particular, whereupon followeth a full remission of them. Psalme 32. 5.
2 Crauing pardon of some speciall sins, with vnspeakeable sighs & perseuerance. Lu. 15. 21. Act. 8. 21.
Fiftly, Hereupon followeth a particular perswasion imprinted in the heart by the holy Ghost, wherby eueryevery faithfull man doth particularly applie vntounto himselfe those promises which are made in the Gospell. Mat. 9. 2. Mat. 15. 28. Psal. 143. 12.
This perswasion is discerned by these markes:Sect. 3. The markes of particular assurance.
1 It goes before experience, Mat. 15. 23. & so our faith is supernatural & contrary to all reason. Heb. 11. 1.
2 It holds beyond experience. Iob 13. 15. Heb. 11. 1. and is aboue all feeling.
3 And neuer leaues vsus till wee hauehave obtained the end thereof, which is the saluation of our soules. … Pet. 1. 9.
This perswasion hath these degrees:Sect. 4. The degrees therof.
First it takes hold weakely,Weakenes of Faith. not without doubting, and yet soundly and truely, so that it is accepted of God. Luke 17. 5. Mat. 8.
And it is discerned,
1 By an earnest desire and endeauour to obtaine Gods fauour.How knowne. Math. 5. 6.
2 By a continuall complaining of our vnbeleefe, and mourning for it. Marc. 9. 24.
3 By an earnest striuing against it, in vsing all good helps, as prayer, the word, conference, &c. Math. 8. 25. Luke 17. 5.
This weakenes proceedes,
1 From want of knowledge in the mystery of saluation.How caused. Rom. 14. 2. Math. 16. 16. Ioh. 6 6….
2 For want of application to our selues of the particular promise. 2. Tim. 1. 12.
3 For want of obseruation and entertainment of such comforts as hauehave beene offered vntounto vsus. Math. 16. 8. 9. 2. Tim. 4. 17.
And it is caused by,
1 Withdrawing the light of Gods countenance. Psal 30. 6.
2 Some grosse sinne committed. Psal. 51.
3 Meanes neglected, as the word, prayer, &c. Iohn. 20. 24.
4 Some spirituall pride in the heart. 2▪ Cor. 12.
5 Want of constancie and setlednes in religion. Galat. 1. 6. 2. Thes…. 2. 2.
Secondly,Sect. 5. Strength of faith. Faith takes hold strongly and fully perswades the heart, that God loueth me, that Christ is mine, and all things with him. Rom. 4. 22. Rom. 8. 38.
And it is discerned.
1 By cheerefulnes in troubles:How knowne. and so in all occasions. Rom. 5. 3.
2 Boldnes in the cause of God. Act. 5.
3 Wisedome in our Christian callings. Ephes 3.
4 Crucifying our selues to the world, and the world to vsus. Gallath. 5.
5 Preparation to suffer. Act. 21.
6 Desire & longing after death. 1. Phil. 22.
And it is obtained,
1 By constancy in our callings.How obtained.
2 Combatting with many troubles, especially those of our owne vnbeleeuing hearts. Luc. 22. 32.
3 Comforting others and raising vp afflicted consciences. 1. Phil. 2 Cor. 1. 4.
4 By long experience of Gods fauor and louelove in many deliuerances. Psal. 23. 5.
5 By ripenes & dexterity in the meanes: as power in prayer, the word, &c. Ephes. 6. 18.
6 Daily examining and trying our selues. Psal. 4. 34.
7 Renouncing the especiall sinne which hangeth so fast vponupon vsus He. 12. 1.
8 Renuing daily our couenant with God, & charging it afresh vponupon our harts to constancie.