A Treatise of Faith, Part 2

A Treatise of Faith · Part 2

p. 139THE SECOND part of this Treatiſe, containing A direction how to apply Gods promiſes to our particular occaſions.

FOr the better vnderſtanding and practiſe of this dutie, of particular application of Gods promiſes to our ſeuerall neceſsities, that ſo we may thereby liue by faith, p. 140(which is the chiefe thing by me intended in this Treatiſe) we are aduiſedly to conſider the nature and kindes of theſe promiſes (which be the foundation of our faith,) that ſo wee may more ſoundly applie them to our ſeuerall occaſions and vſes.

…y Gods promiſes I vnderſtand generally all thoſe declarations of Gods will▪ wherin he offers to vsus in his word any good thing to enioy:Gods promiſes what. As on the other ſide, by threats are meant thoſe declarations of his will▪ wherein he denounceth any euill againſt vsus for ſin. Both which be plentifully ſet downe in the holy Scriptures, to theſe ends, that by his promiſes hee might allure and draw vsus to beleeue and obey his will; and by his threatnings, hee might feare vsus from ſinne.Gods will reuealed two waies, firſt abſolutely. In all which God doth declare his will after a double manner, either abſolutely, or conditionally. Abſoſolutely what hee will moſt certainely doe, any thing to the contrary p. 141notwithſtanding. As for example, That there ſhall be no more waters of a …ood to deſtroy all fleſh▪ And in this ſame time I wil come, Gen. 9. 15.Gen 9:15& Sarah ſhal… hauehave a ſon, Rom. 9. 9.Rom 9:9which the Apoſtle ſaith is a word of promiſe: of this ſort be a… Gods promiſes concerning ſaluation made vntounto the elect, which cannot be made voide by any means whatſoeuer.

The other manner wherby God doth reueale his will, is not abſolute, but (as it is comonly ſaid to be) conditionall,Conditionally. which is, when God declareth his will what hee wil doe if we do our part, els not: this conditional promiſe wel vnderſtood may be borne; otherwiſe miſunderſtood, it deſtroies the nature of the free and gracious promiſe of the Goſpell, & in this reſpect confounds the Law: and the Goſpell, taking away a chiefe difference betweene the Couenant of workes (wherein God promiſed life vponupon condition, of doing all that was written in the law, without which condition performed on our p. 142parts, God did not couenant to giuegive life:) and the couenant of grace, wherein God freely promiſed, not only life, but to giuegive grace to receiue this life, as Jer. 31. from verſ. 31. to 35. reade the place. The like Ezek. 36. 24, &c. A new heart alſo will I giuegive you, &c. In which and the like many, is no condition required on our parts, but God himſelfe makes capable of this grace whom he pleaſeth. How theſe are by vsus to bee applied afterwards I will ſhew. But now ſeeing very many, yea the moſt of the free gracious promiſes of the Goſpell, be propounded with ſome condition▪ either expreſſed or neceſſarily vnderſtod, … wiſely to conſider of them; as firſt in this, and the like many▪ the condition or dutie required, is expreſſed, Iohn 3. 15. Whoſoeuer beleeueth in Chriſt, ſhall not periſh, but hauehave euerlaſting life:

Secondly, in others the dutie p. 143required for the attaining the thing promiſed, is neceſſarily vnderſtood,Mat. 18. 11.Matt 18:11 The Sonne of Man is come to ſaue that which is loſt. Iohn 1. 29.John 1:29Behold the L…be of God which taketh away the ſinnes of the world. And the like many. In all which Faith is neceſſarily vnderſtood, for the obtaining of the benefite promiſed. But yet in all theſe, Faith is no condition, properly ſo called, mouing God to promiſe life, although in ſome ſort it may bee called a condition, becauſe the promiſe of life is made to perſons qualified with Faith▪ for firſt, faith it ſelfe is part of the thing promiſed, and no man can beleeue except it bee giuen him▪ and therefore an impoſsible condition to bee performed of our ſelues. And to ſay as it is, Faith do…h apply the fruite and benefite of the promiſe to the beleeuer, (who alone ſhall enioy the thing promiſed,) and doth not reſtraine the offer of grace, p. 144which is generall to all to whom the Goſpell comes; who as they hauehave no faith before they heare the promiſe made to them, ſo after hearing this promiſe made to them, if they beleeue not, they ſhall bee condemned for not beleeuing, as John 3. 1…. Thus then I conceiue all conditionall promiſes of the Goſpell are to bee taken, that God doth freely offer merciemercy in what kinde ſoeuer, and for the enioying thereof requires ſome dutie of obedience at our hands. Now we muſt firſt beleeue and ſo obey, and then enioy the thing promiſed, ſo that there … beleeuing, but all … promiſe; and our obedience only is an effect of our faith, and ſo a proofe of Faith, no cauſe to moue vsus to beleeue. As for example, If you forgiue you ſhall be forgiuen: Mat. 6. 14.Matt 6:14God freely offers pardon to vsus, and requires that wee beleeuing ſhew mercy to others, As we reade in p. 145the parable, Math, 18. 32. I forgaue thee all the debt, becauſe thou deſiredſt me, ſhouldeſt not thou alſo hauehave compaſſion on thy fellow ſeruant, euen as I had pittie on thee? So then he that beleeues to finde mercy, is thereby moued to ſhew mercy, and certainely hee that ſhewes no merciemercy in deed receiued none.

Beſides this,An other conſideration. there is an other conſideration of Gods promiſes, which ſtandes in the diuers qualitie of the things promiſed, whereof ſome be wholly neceſſarie for our ſaluation, and offered without any reſtraint,Simply neceſſarie. and are ſo to be beleeued, as Faith and Repentance. Other things though good in themſelues; yet are not alwaies good for vsus, but we may be ſaued without them, and in ſome caſe, better want them then hauehave them: as health, wealth, peace, and all earthlie bleſsings: yea, many common gifts of the Spirit, at leaſt the p. 146meaſure of them; as excellent wit, memorie, knowledge of heauenlie things, courage, liberalitie, gentleneſſe, &c. all of theſe be promiſed with limitation,With limitation. ſo farre as they be good for vsus, and no further; and ſo farre onelyonly are to bee deſired and beleeued.

Another needfull conſideration of Gods promiſes, that wee may better make our vſe of them, is this, that God doth proclame in the Goſpell his Sonne Chriſt and all his benefites generally to all,Generall promiſes offered to all. and eueryevery ſoule, to whom the Goſpell comes: ſo that eueryevery one who heareth the Goſpell, ought to beleeue; which if he doe not, (which none can without ſpeciall grace) yet this is his ſin, and ſhall be his condemnation for wilfull refuſing merciemercy offered. And therefore euerie one that will not periſh muſt beleeue, that there is ſuch merciemercy in God as he offereth, and that p. 147God is able, willing, and faithfull to performe his promiſe: that ſo beleeuing hee may enioy the benefite, of which otherwiſe hee depriueth himſelfe. This therefore I doe before hand make knowne, that (ſeeing many worthie promiſes be thus generally propounded and ſet out, that wee might by beleeuing bee made partakers of Chriſt) therefore none doe ſhut out themſelues, and ſo bring vponupon themſelues more iuſt damnation: as Iohn 3. 18. is plainlie expreſſed, Hee that beleeues not is condemned alreadie. ver. 19. This is the condemnation that light is come into the world, &c.

There bee alſo many ſpeciall promiſes made to ſpeciall perſons performing ſuch duties, as to Faith and truſt in God, to confeſsion of ſinne, to prayer, and ſo to all obedience: for God requires no dutie, but there is a Reward belonging thereto, p. 148(though not alwaies expreſſed) which reward though it may moue the heart to deſire it, yet it cannot beget Faith; but the truth of the promiſer muſt draw vsus to beleeue, and our beliefe of hauing the reward which we deſire, will moue to obedience: And therefore euerie one who heares ſuch rewards promiſed, muſt bee thereby moued to beleeue. Secondly, to obey as was before ſaid. Theſe well conſidered, will better guide the weaker ſort, to applie and make the right vſe of all the promiſes in the Scripture, which may any way concerne them.

Now then becauſe theſe promiſes be exceeding many, wee muſt needs bring them to ſome order, and that as plaine and ſhort as may be, leſt the weaker memories be ouer-loaden, and ſo their vnderſtanding confounded, by many diuiſions, as is too oft ſeene. I cannot thinke of any p. 149more eaſie way, to teach the full vſe of our faith in eueryevery part of our liues, then to laie open the moſt principall matters, in which we are moſt ſubiect to doubt and feare; that ſeeing our diſeaſes, we may more fitly applie the remedie.

Ouerlooking the whole courſe of life,Order. I obſerue theſe ſixe ſpeciall occaſions of doubting, wherein we hauehave moſt need to be releeued by Faith.

1. Firſt and aboue all,6. Choiſe heads. we are moſt ſubiect to doubt, whether we be in the ſtate of grace, and ſo of the number of thoſe that ſhall be ſaued by Chriſt.

2. Secondly, how wee ſhall be able to ouercome our ſtrong corruptions and temptations.

3. Thirdly, how to get grace to praie, heare the word, and to performe all duties to God and man in faith, ſo as God will accept them.

4. Fourthly, how to endure p. 150and profite by all afflictions and perſecutions.

5. Fiftly, how to be prouided for, of all things needfull for this naturall life.

6. Sixtly, how wee ſhall hold out to the end.

All which may bee drawne to two heads, firſt for our ſpirituall life, ſecondly for this bodilie life: In both which, were wee ſo ſtrengthened in Faith, as to reſt vponupon God for all ſufficient releefe, I well ſee not what might be much wanting to make vsus reioyce alwaies in the Lord; and ſure I am, no other ſtate in this life, herewith were to be compared▪ Let vsus therefore come to particulars, and ſee how in all of theſe wee may gather out of Gods word ſtrength of Faith, and ſo comfort to our ſoules, for the better finiſhing of our warfare in this life, and more full aſſurance of our finall victorie and glorie hereafter, in and p. 151through our Lord Ieſus.

And now to begin with that,Firſt point wherein we liue by Faith, is for aſſurance of our ſaluation. which as it is firſt in order, ſo is it in degree aboue all to be moſt ſought for (ſeeing vponupon it all the reſt doe depend,) and yet we are vſually in nothing more wanting, namely to be ſure of our ſaluation by Chriſt; vnderunder which I doe containe eſpeciallie our Iuſtification, by which we be made Gods children. All which, as wee hauehave alreadie heard, is to be had alone in Chriſt, and to be made ours, only by Faith,Titus 3. 5▪Titus 3:5 not by any workes of righteouſneſſe which wee hauehave done. Whereof, although there hath beene in the former part of this Treatiſe, ſo much ſaid as might ſuffiſe for this point, to ſhew how this Faith is attained: yet ſeeing the Lord hath left vsus ſo many promiſes in the holie Scriptures, (ſpeciallie in the new Teſtament, wherein Chriſt who was before ſhadowed in Types, is more cleerelie reuealed, for p. 152which cauſe I doe chiefly cite theſe.) And ſeeing this is my maine ſcope, to teach the weake beleeuer, how hee may by theſe promiſes dailie nouriſh his faith, (ſpecially in time of tentation) I hope it will be found no loſt labour to gather ſome ſtore of theſe promiſes, and to ſhew the right vſe of them.

To come then to the practiſe of this firſt point, how wee may dailie come to more certaintie, that wee bee reconciled to God, and ſo his adopted children and heires of ſaluation: we are to remember,Double …ertentie. that there is a twofold certaintie, or aſſurance of Gods fauour,1. Of faith. one the certaintie which comes by Faith alone,2. Senſe. the only ſtaie wherof is Gods word: The other is the certaintie of ſenſe, when as we hauehave ſome ſpirituall feeling of Gods fauour, manifeſted to vsus by his manifold graces beſtowed on vsus, which be ſo many tokens and teſtimonies, p. 153of his Fatherlie louelove. A cleare reſemblance whereof, may bee that which Ioab ſaid to Dauid: 2 Sam. 14. 22.2 Sam 14:22To day thy ſeruant knoweth that I hauehave found grace in thy ſight, my Lord O King, in that the King hath fulfilled the requeſt of his ſeruant. Wherein wee ſee Ioab was more aſſured of the Kings fauour, by granting his requeſt. Both theſe aſſurances be expreſly coupled in that one ſentence of the Apoſtle Iohn, 1 Iohn 2. 3.1 John 2:3And hereby wee doe know that wee know him, if wee keepe his Commandements. Meaning that the conſcionable indeuour to keepe Gods Commandements, makes vsus to know certainely, that wee truely beleeue, and hauehave the true certaintie of Faith for our ſaluation by Chriſt. For our ſtrengthening in both of theſe aſſurances, the Lord maketh diuers promiſes.

p. 154In all of which wee ſhall finde vſually theſe two things.Matter what.

Firſt, what bee the excellent benefites, and vnſearchable riches which be brought to vsus in Chriſt: which bee ſet forth vntounto vsus ſometimes generallie, all in a lumpe, that hee will ſaue vsus; and ſometimes more particularlie, that hee will forgiue and cleanſe vsus: all to this end, to draw vp our earthly mindes and affections, ſo to hunger and thirſt after them, as neuer to be at reſt till wee doe in ſome meaſure enioy them.

Secondly,Perſons to whom. the perſons to whom theſe bee in the Goſpell proclamed, that ſo eueryevery one may applie them to himſelfe by Faith, and be aſſured they be his. Both which ſhall now better app…are in the particular promiſes.

And firſt concerning Chriſt and the benefites brought by him,Chriſt promiſed. wee may well begin with that, which was the firſt promiſe p. 155made to man, and the foundation of all others, where the Lord denouncing his vengeance againſt the Serpent (the deuils inſtrument in ſeducing mankinde) ſaid,Gen. 3. 15.Gen 3:15 And I will put enmitie betweene thee and the woman, and betweene thy ſeed and her ſeed: It ſhall bruiſe thy head, and thou ſhalt bruiſe his heele. In which, beſides ſundrie other things there intended, this is chiefe for our purpoſe; that Chriſt the promiſed ſeed of the woman ſhould fullie conquer Sathan, and his whole kingdome, howſoeuer Sathan would continually moleſt the ſeede of the woman, till hee were quite vanquiſhed.

The ſelfeſame matter is more plainelie taught, Heb. 2. 14. that Chriſt tooke our nature, That through death hee might deſtroy him that had the power of death, that is, the Deuill. And deliuer them, who for feare of death, were p. 156all their life ſubiect to bondage. Which (if God had made no other promiſe) might bee a ſufficient word, to perſwade eueryevery ſoule that heareth it, not onelyonly to deſire, and ſeeke this deliuerance by Chriſt, but to beleeue that hee ſhall enioy it, ſeeing God hath ſo faithfully ſaid it. For the further confirmation of the faith of gods people in this point, in all ages the Lord renewed this promiſe of ſending Chriſt the promiſed ſeede. As immediatly after the flood, Noah by Propheſie bleſſing his two ſonnes ſaid, God ſhall enlarge Iaphet and hee ſhall dwell in the tents of She…. Gen. 9. 27.Gen 9:27Which intendeth that wee Gentils,Gal. 3. 16.Gal 3:16 ſhould be called to bee one body with the Iewes in Chriſt. The ſame was afterwards oft renewed to Abraham, 22. 18.In thy ſeede ſhall all the nations of the earth be bleſſed, 26. 4. 28. 14Act. 3. 25. The like to Iſaacke, and to Iacob alſo; p. 157In all which Chriſt was promiſed, the true ſeede, in whom alone all families be bleſſed. And ſo forward in all ſucceeding ages, Moſes and all the Prophets in their times, foretold of Chriſt, as we reade, Act. 3. 24. 10. 43. So that it is needeleſſe to write all the ſcriptures tending to this point.

All this ſerues thus to ſtrengthen the faith of all that will giuegive credit to God,Vſe. that ſeeing the Lord nouriſhed the faith of his Church from Adam to Chriſt, with thoſe promiſes of ſaluation by Chriſt, the promiſed ſeede; we therfore may boldly reſt hereupon, & much the rather, ſeeing we vnderunder the Goſpel, hauehave all things fulfilled, which they vnderunder the former Teſtament ſawe a farre off,Heb. 11. 13Heb 11:13 and were perſwaded of them, and embraced them. To paſſe ouer then all the promiſes of the olde Teſtament concerning Chriſt & his benefits, & to come p. 158to the new,Multitude of promiſes concerning Chriſt wherein all things which were foretolde, are fully accompliſhed, and wee may with open face beholde as in a glaſſe, 2. Cor. 3. 172 Cor 3:17the glory of the Lord. Here be ſo many promiſes, wherein Chriſt and his benefites bee ſet foorth vntounto vsus, that the bare rehearſing of them, without any further opening of them, would make a ſufficient book, and longer I feare, then any of our idle profeſſours would once reade ouer. I intend therefore to range theſe into ſome order, and to make choice of ſome principall of eueryevery ſort, and by them to ſhew how wee may make vſe of the reſt, that are of the ſame kind.

Now all theſe promiſes concerning this firſt point, for the ſtrengthening of our faith in the aſſurance of our ſaluation by Chriſt, be propounded either generally or more ſpecially, as was before ſaid.Generall, Matter.

Generally,Perſons. in reſpect of the matter p. 159promiſed, as that Chriſt ſhall ſaue vsus and the like; as alſo of the perſons, to whom theſe promiſes be performed: that is, generally to all mankinde. Both which be for the moſt part ioyned together, what is promiſed, and to whom; therefore we will handle them together for breuity ſake, leaſt otherwiſe wee ſhould be faine to alleage the ſame ſcriptures againe, to ſundry purpoſes; which would bee tedious, which I deſire to auoide. To begin then with the very names, which throughout the new Teſtament bee giuen to our redeemer Ieſus Chriſt: they are both of great force to confirme our faith. When the angell Gabriel was ſent from God to the Virgin Mary, with that heauenly ſalutation, he told her, That ſhe ſhould conceiue in her wombe, and bring foorth a Sonne, and ſhe ſhall call his name Ieſus: Ieſus.Whereof the Euangeliſt Mat. giues this reaſon,Luk. 1. 26. 31Luke 1:26Luke 1:31 p. 160for hee ſhall ſaue his people from their ſinne; Mat. 1. 21.Matt 1:21and to like effect oft, All fleſh ſhall ſee the ſaluation of God. Luk. 3. 6. 1Luke 3:6Luke 3:1When Chriſt came to Zacheus, he ſaide, This day is ſaluation come to this houſe, 19. 9, 10.for as much as he alſo is the ſonne of Abraham; for the Sonne of man is come to ſeek, and to ſaue that which is loſt. Chriſt himſelfe ſaide,Ioh. 3. 17.John 3:17 God ſent not his Sonne into the world to condemne the world, but that the world through him ſhould be ſaued. And againe, I came not to iudge the world, 12. 47.but to ſaue the world, And to heape vp no more of this ſort, to this end is Chriſt to oft called our Sauiour.

In all which we ought to reaſon thus,Vſe. Seeing the eternall Son of God did take mans nature, and ſo was Immanuel God with vsus,Mat. 1. 23.Matt 1:23 as the Euangeliſt Matthew, Eſa. 7. 14.Isa 7:14ſheweth out of the Prophet, and that to this end, to ſaue vsus being loſt, and not to condemne the world, but to ſaue the world: therefore p. 161vnleſſe we will thinke all this is but a fable, we are vndoubtedly to beleeue, that there is in this Ieſus, and in him alone ſaluation for vsus ſinners:Act. 4. 12.Acts 4:12 For there is no other name vnderunder heauen giuen among men, whereby wee muſt bee ſaued. And further, if wee will not deſpiſe this wonderfull mercy of God in ſending his Sonne, and of Chriſt himſelfe, in comming into the world, not to condemne vsus, but to ſaue vsus being loſt: then muſt we with a true faith accept this mercy. The ſame may bee ſaide of the name Chriſt, Chriſt.(vntounto both which all his other names may be referred) which ſignifieth Annointed, whereto anſwereth the word Meſſiah in Hebrew. By both which (beeing referred to Chriſt) is meant, that the Son of God taking our nature, was in the ſame filled with the Holy Ghoſt, (as is oft ſaide of him) and that farre aboue all other holy men, as was propheſied of p. 162him, Pſal. 45. 7. Thou loueſt righteouſnes, & hateſt wickednes; therfore God thy God hath annointed thee with the oyle of gladneſſe aboue thy fellowes. Of which the Euangeliſt Iohn more plainely ſaith,Ioh. 3. 34.John 3:34 For God giueth not the ſpirit by meaſure vntounto him; which was manifeſtly ſhewed at Chriſts baptizing, where the Holy Ghoſt deſcended in a bodily ſhape like a doue vponupon him, Luk. 3. 22.Luke 3:22and a voyce came frō heauen, which ſaid, Thou art my beloued Son, in thee I am well pleaſed. Which was to this end, that as vnderunder the Law, the Prophets, Prieſts, and Kings were conſecrated to their offices by the annointing with the holy oyle: ſo Chriſt was conſecrated to the offices of his mediation, 1. to be our Prophet, to reueale the whole will of God for our ſaluation. 2. to bee our high Prieſt, both to offer vp himſelfe to God his Father, a full and ſufficient ſacrifice for the redemption of vsus ſinners, and to p. 163make intercesſion for vsus. 3. to be our King to rule and gouerne his people, and to ſubdue all his enemies. All which bee notably ſet out in that worthy epiſtle to the Hebrewes, which beeing too long to recite, I deſire the Chriſtian reader to reade with obſeruation that epiſtle to this end.

From whence another effectuall motiue to beleeue,Ʋſe. may bee thus taken: Seeing God the Father hath thus annointed his Son in our nature, and therefore called him Chriſt, and filled him with the Holy Ghoſt without meaſure, that he might performe all things needfull for our ſaluation; all which he hath fully accompliſhed: wee may therefore boldly come to him, and ſo ſtedfaſtly reſt vponupon him for our ſaluation. And on the other ſide, they who hearing theſe, bee not drawne heereby to beleeue in Chriſt for their ſaluation, doe either deny the truth of theſe, p. 164(which is to make God a lyar) or deſpiſe their owne ſaluation, ſo prepared and offered to them; which ſhall bring vponupon them moſt iuſt condemnation. And theſe briefly for thoſe two names Ieſus Chriſt, properly belonging to our Sauiour, which doe ſummarily containe all, and ſo to a wiſe regarder hereof might ſuffiſe to perſwade him, to reſt vponupon Chriſt for ſaluation.

But ſeeing the Lord (who knowes how hardly wee bee brought to this aſſurance by faith of our ſaluation by Chriſt) hath in that ſmall volume of the new Teſtament, ſpoken ſo much of Chriſt and the benefites which hee hath brought vntounto vsus, to this end that wee might bee more ſtirred vp to ſeeke to him, and to embrace him for our Sauiour: I hope it ſhall bee worth our labour further to conſider what the Lord ſaith. p. 165And before I come to particulars, let vsus heare, and wonder at theſe heapes of heauenly treaſures, Generall benefits by Chriſt.which bee brought to ſinners in Chriſt.

Wherein this is the firſt,Saueth vsus. that Chriſt is ſent to ſaue ſinners, Luk. 2. 32.Luke 2:32wherof enough was ſpoken before in the name Ieſus, therefore now no more thereof.

The next is, that Chriſt is ſaid to bee a light to the Gentiles, Light to Gent.which was long before prophecyed often times by the Prophet Eſay, Eſa. 9. 2. 42. 6. 49. 6. 60. 3.Isa 9:2Isa 9:42Isa 9:6Isa 9:49Isa 9:60Isa 9:3ſaying: The people that walke in darkneſſe, Mat. 4. 16.Matt 4:16hauehave ſeene a great light, they that dwell in the land of the ſhadow of death, vponupon them is the light ſhined: which the Euangeliſt Matthew applyeth to Chriſt, bringing the light of the Goſpell, to a blind and ignorant people: And the Apoſtle Paul alleadgeth for his warrant in preaching the Goſpel to the Gentiles.

p. 166To like effect, Chriſt is often ſaid to be the light of the world, Act. 13. 48.Acts 13:48as he profeſſeth of himſelfe,Ioh. 8. 12. 9. 5.John 8:12John 8:9John 8:5 I am the light of the world. And of this I vnderſtand that which is ſpoken by the Euangeliſt Iohn, 1. 9. That Chriſt was that true light which lighteth eueryevery man that commeth into the world, (that is:) who caſteth out the light of the Goſpell to all nations, as the ſunne in the firmament ſhines to al the world, though many blind neuer ſee the light thereof. VnderUnder this compariſon of light, all the benefites which Chriſt brings vsus be contained, light of knowledge, light of grace, and holy life, and light of eternall life and glory. All which be contained either generally or ſpecially in the former alleadged ſcriptures, and in ſundry others. To this head alſo belongs ſuch ſcriptures as ſhew Chriſt to bee our life, Ioh. 6. 33. 51. 10. 10. 14. 6. 2. Tim. 1. 10.

Of all which this is the vſe weVſe. p. 167are to make, that ſeeing God hath ſet vp his Sonne Ieſus Chriſt in the miniſtery of the Goſpell, to all nations, where euer it comes, to lighten, and to giuegive life to eueryevery man who heareth it, if he refuſe it not, and ſhut not his eyes againſt it, as the Phariſes did: Therefore eueryevery one who heareth this,Ioh. 9. 41.John 9:41 not only may, but is bound to embrace this light,Ioh. 12. 36.John 12:36 by a true faith, that ſo they may be the children of the light, and that vponupon paine of condemnation, euen as our Sauiour himſelfe denounceth againſt all vnbeleeuers, ſaying: This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, Ioh. 3. 19.John 3:19and men louelove darkeneſſe rather then light.

Another worthy ground for our faith is this, that God the Father, when at the baptizing of Chriſt, hee ſent downe his Holy Spirit in the likeneſſe of a doue,3. God is well pleaſed in Chriſt. lighting vponupon him, ſent a voyce from heauen, ſaying: This is my p. 168beloued Sonne, in whom I am well pleaſed; Wherein is meant not onelyonly that God did louelove and like well his Sonne, (with whom for himſelfe hee could neuer bee diſpleaſed, there beeing no cauſe why) but this rather, that wheras God was extreamely offended with all mankinde, now hee was fully appeaſed by Chriſt, and for his ſake ready to receiue into fauour, all that by Faith ſhould receiue him; and ſo to accept him for vsus, and vsus in him: which is the ſame with that, where it is ſaide, God hath made vsus accepted in his beloued. Eph. 1. 6. 5. 2.Eph 1:6Eph 1:5Eph 1:2And againe, That Chriſt hath giuen himſelfe for vsus, an offering and a ſacrifice to God for a ſweete ſmelling ſauour: meaning that whereas whole mankinde ſince the fall, is become odious to God for ſin, ſo that neither their perſons, nor their workes could be acceptable to God; now by this all ſufficient ſacrifice of Chriſt, all that p. 169lay hold on Chriſt by faith, and ſo apply his ſacrifice to themſelues, they ſhall bee accepted of God, and their obedience pleaſing to God, in his perfect obedience.

Which alone is a ſufficient meanes by the operation of the Holy Ghoſt, to drawe any that heare and conceiue this, to caſt themſelues wholy vponupon Chriſt, and to ſeeke for Gods fauour, and all the fruits thereof onelyonly in this ſacrifice of Chriſt.

Beſides theſe, there bee many other Scriptures, which in generall ſet out Chriſt, and his benefits to vsus; but if they be well marked, it will appeare, they be contained vnderunder theſe. As for example, where Chriſt compares himſelfe to a Vine▪ Ioh. 15. 1.John 15:1to teach, that as the branch hath his whole life from the ſtocke, ſo wee hauehave all our life from him: ſo doth hee call himſelfe the bread of life, and is ſaid to bee the head of the body,Ioh. 6. 35.John 6:35 p. 170That he is full of grace and truth. Ioh. 1. 14.John 1:14Againe, Hee that spared not his owne Sonne, Rom. 8. 32.Rom 8:32but deliuered him vp for vsus all, how ſhall hee not with him alſo, Eſa. 55. 3.Isa 55:3freely giuegive vsus all things? Againe, I will giuegive you the ſure mercies of Dauid: Act. 13. 34.Acts 13:34that is, all thoſe good things which were promiſed in Chriſt, who was the ſeede of Dauid.

In all theſe and many moe,Vſe. we ſee the intent of the Holy Ghoſt was, to giuegive vsus in one view, a ſight of all that good, which Chriſt hath brought vsus, that heereby eueryevery one, who hears hereof, may both wonder at Gods vnſpeakeable mercy, in prouiding ſo many, and ſo great blesſings in Chriſt for vsus his enemies: and hereby alſo bee drawne to labour by all meanes to be made partakers of them.

And this ſhall ſuffiſe to hauehave ſet out ſome of the generall promiſes, and the vſe of them, how wee are to ſtrengthen our faith p. 171by them.

OnelyOnly this I will adde concerning theſe,When ſpeciall want, make vſe of generall. that if at any time in our doubts and feares for any particular diſtreſſe, wee cannot readily remember ſome particular promiſe, whereby wee might bee comforted; then wee may ſafely runne to one of theſe generall promiſes, (which doe containe all particulars) and ſo apply it to our preſent neede. As for example, if any poore ſoule ſhould fall into great doubtings of Gods fauour, by reaſon of ſome great affliction that lay heauy vponupon him, or ſome corruption which he could not maſter; and in this perplexity could not thinke of any ſpeciall promiſe, whereout hee might gather ſome comfort: then may he boldly lay hold vponupon any one of theſe generall promiſes, and reſt thereupon for comfort, in this maner: O Lord thou haſt ſaid in thy holy word (which is the word p. 172of truth) that the Sonne of man is come to ſaue that which is loſt; Luk. 19. 10.Luke 19:10Lord I am loſt, and ſee nothing in my ſelfe to helpe mee: therefore I do wholly reſt vponupon Chriſt and looke for helpe only by him. The ſame may bee ſaid of all the generall promiſes, the leaſt of which contain matter enough to ſupport vsus in all our feares, if we could fitly apply them.

Wherein I doe againe forewarne eueryevery one who deſires to beleeue in God,Looke for nothing in thy ſelfe, to cauſe thee to beleeue. and ſo to liue by his faith, aboue all to deny himſelfe, and not to looke for any thing in himſelfe, why he ſhould beleeue (which I hauehave obſerued to bee a maine hinderance from true beleeuing:) but to caſt all our thoughts vponupon God: Firſt, how mercifull hee is to prouide ſuch helpe, for poore ſinners in Chriſt, and freely to offer it vntounto them in his word: and ſecondly, how faithfull hee is to performe all that he hath ſaid, that by this p. 173meanes the poore ſinner may bee mooued to beleeue in God, that he will ſurely ſuccour, and comfort him in due ſeaſon and meaſure.

Thus would I now paſſe from theſe generall promiſes,For the perſons, to whom, firſt to all. and come to the ſpeciall, but that I feare I hauehave not ſufficiently cleared one point concerning theſe generals: namely, for the perſons, to whom God preacheth and proclaimeth theſe mercies, that they may beleeue (I ſpeake not here, who ſhall enioy theſe, who be only beleeuers and their ſeed, but to whom theſe bee offered.) From whence be raiſed the greateſt doubts in many for their ſaluation, that they know not themſelues to bee of that number, to whom God doth truely offer theſe mercies: and no maruell. For as it is not posſible, for a rebell againſt his Soueraigne, to beleeue he ſhall be pardoned, vnleſſe he be ſure that hee is contained p. 174vnderunder the Princes pardon: ſo no ſinner can beleeue to hauehave pardon, till he know that he is in the number of thoſe, to whom the pardon is proclaimed by God in the Goſpell, for the knowledge wherof either there muſt be ſome ſpecial marke of difference wherby it may be knowne, to whom the pardon is proclaimed, and to whom not, or els it muſt bee generall to all. But there is no ſuch ſpeciall certaine difference between ſinners before faith, wherby one may know the pardon is granted to him, and ſuch as he is, and not to any other: for then might ſome know themſelues to bee vnderunder Gods ſpeciall fauour, that is, elected before he beleeue, which is imposſible by any ordinary meanes: therfore of necesſity the onelyonly way whereby anie may know himſelfe to be contained vnderunder the pardon, is this, that he heares that God in his Goſpel doth proclaime forgiueneſſe of p. 175ſinne in Chriſt, without exception, to all ſinners, that whoſoeuer heareth and beleeueth ſhall bee ſaued; the reſt ſhall bee condemned for not beleeuing, and not accepting this mercy offered to them. Hauing in the former part of this Treatiſe ſufficiently prooued by many Scriptures, this point, that Chriſt and all his benefites be freely offred without exception to all mankinde, as that one place, Mark 16. 15. expreſly ſheweth: I only now aduiſe eueryevery one, who is kept from beleeuing by this, that he knowes not whether he bee contained vnderunder the pardon or no, not to looke to Gods ſecret will, but to attend to Gods reuealed will in his word, wherein it is expreſly ſaid, That God would hauehave no man to periſh, 2. Pet. 3 9.2 Pet 3:9but would hauehave all men to come to repentance, Ezek. 18. 23. 32.Ezek 18:23Ezek 18:32and ſo oft, That he deſires not tht death of a ſinner, that hereby hee may bee mooued to ſeeke, and hope for that merciemercy, p. 176which God is ſo willing to beſtow vponupon vponupon him, if the fault be not in his owne ſelfe, as it was in the vnbeleeulng Iewes in Ieruſalem, Mat. 23. 37Matt 23:37of whom our Sauiour complained, ſaying: How often would I hauehave gathered thy children, as the henne gathereth her chickens vnderunder her wings? and yee would not. A further manifeſtation of this willingneſſe in God to ſaue ſinners,Mat. 22. 9, 10▪Matt 22:9Matt 22:10 may be ſeene in his gracious inuitation of the vnworthieſt to come to the wedding of his Son; yea more by his beſeeching ſinners to be reconciled to him:2 Cor. 5. 202 Cor 5:20 and by the many and weighty arguments he vſeth to perſwade men to beleeue, by the great rewards, earthly, and ſpirituall, temporall, and eternall, which all beleeuers ſhall enioy; and by the fearefull woes which ſhall fall on all vnbeleeuers, both in this life, and that to come,Ioh. 7. 38. 3. 18.John 7:38John 7:3John 7:18 as plentifully is to bee ſeene throughout the Scriptures.

p. 177Out of all this, mee thinkes, a poore diſtreſſed ſinner, might thus ſtirre vp himſelfe to beleeue. If this bee certaine,Note. that God would not hauehave me periſh, but is very willing to ſaue me, and therfore hath not onelyonly prouided all ſufficient meanes to bring mee thereto, and made ſuch a generall pardon, as may aſſure mee I am contained vnderunder it: yea ſeeing I now know, that I am inuited and called to come to Chriſt, and intreated to bee friends with God, then may I be bold to come and aſſure my ſelf, I ſhal be welcome. Yea further, if I will not forgoe all theſe rich rewards tendered vntounto me, and pull vponupon my ſelfe moſt iuſtly all thoſe woes which God hath threatned againſt all deſpiſers of his mercies, then muſt I gladly accept Gods mercy offered to mee; and if I finde my vnbeleeuing heart to draw back, then muſt I ply the Lord with feruent and conſtant prayers, p. 178that hee would draw mee by his Spirit to come to Chriſt, and ſo to reſt vponupon him for my ſaluation. And thus much for the generall promiſes, both in regard of the matters promiſed, and of the perſons to whom they bee proclaimed, that eueryevery one who heares them, may claime his part in them.Speciall benefits.

Now to come to thoſe ſpeciall benefites which we receiue in Chriſt, which belong to this firſt point, how our faith is to bee ſtrengthened in the aſſurance of our ſaluation by Chriſt: I intend to referre all that I hauehave to ſay herein, to theſe two, 1. our Juſtification, and 2. the fruites immediately growing from thence, which I gather out of the Apoſtle Rom. 5. 1. to bee theſe three, 1. Reconciliation, 2. Adoption, 3. Hope of Glory.

Concerning Iustification, Iuſtification.it is euident by the Scripture, that all our ſaluation depends vponupon it, p. 179that whoſoeuer ſhall bee ſaued, muſt be iuſtified: and therefore of necesſity, he that is not iuſtified, muſt needs bee condemned; it behooueth then eueryevery one who lookes for ſaluation, well to conceiue, what it is to be iuſtified in Gods ſight; and then to make ſure worke, that hee may attaine it: yea and know it alſo, that hee is iuſtified: without which, is no comfort or hope of happineſſe. To be iuſtified before God, is to be made righteous: that is, not onelyonly without all ſinne, but hauing all that righteouſnes which God in his holy law requireth, as Rom. 2. 13. So was Adam and Eue by creation:Eccl. 7. 31.Eccl 7:31 God made man righteous. Heb. 7. 26.Heb 7:26So was Chriſt, Such an high Prieſt it became vsus to hauehave, who is holy, harmeleſſe, vndefiled, ſeparate from ſinners, and made higher then the heauens.

Beſides theſe, not one of the whole ſtocke of mankinde, was thus righteous, but eueryevery ſoule, p. 180young and old, was, is, and euer ſhall be in this world, voyde of this righteouſneſſe, and full of all vnrighteouſneſſe: As Rom. 3. 20. Therefore by the workes of the law ſhall no fleſh be iustified in his ſight. It followeth then, that all that ſhall be ſaued, muſt bee iuſtified another way, and that is this, by hauing that perfect righteouſnes which was in Chriſt alone, to bee accounted theirs, as if it had been in themſelues.

Not intending to enter into any further diſcours hereof, which may bee ſeene in ſundry Treatiſes, written of this argument; all our care muſt bee, to get this grace in Chriſt, whereby we ſhal aſſuredly be ſaued. The Scripture is cleare that this is obtained by faith, and no way elſe, as beſides ſundry other ſcriptures, the Apoſtle both ſoundly and plentifully prooueth, Rom. 3. & Gal. 3. reade the places, in which wee ſhall ſee not onelyonly the truth of the doctrine, p. 181but many motiues to beleeue, and imbrace this grace wrought by Chriſt for vsus, and by him freely offered vntounto vsus, that we might receaue it to our comfort.

To this purpoſe is that which is ſaid, Rom. 3. verſ. 21. 22. But now is the righteouſneſſe of God, made manifeſt without the Law, hauing witneſſe of the Law and the Prophets, to wit, the righteouſneſſe of God, by the faith of Ieſus Chriſt, vntounto all, and vponupon all that beleeue. And ſo forward to the end of the chapter; wherein for our purpoſe, this is chiefly to be conſidered, That as none are partakers of this benefite of Iuſtification in Chriſt, but beleeuers: ſo ſeeing none can beleeue to enioy this, but ſuch as know that God freely and faithfully offers it to them, therefore it is here, and elſewhere oft reuealed, that as all hauehave ſinned and are depriued of the glory of God, ſo are p. 182they iuſtified feeely by his grace, through the Redemption that is in Christ Jeſus. Which (as I ſaid) cannot bee vnderſtood, that all doe receiue this merciemercy of Iuſtification, purchaſed by Chriſt; but that as Chriſt hath wrought it, ſo God doth indifferently offer it in the Goſpell to all: which is more manifeſted by the words following, verſe 25. Whom God hath ſet forth to bee a reconciliation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteouſneſſe by the forgiueneſſe of ſinnes that are paſſed, &c.

The vſe to bee made of theſe,Ʋſe. and the like, for the ſtrengthening of our Faith, in the aſſurance of our ſaluation by Chriſt, is this; that eueryevery one who would beleeue, doe ſet before him, on the one ſide his owne ſinfulneſſe and curſedneſſe, to be ſuch, that he is no way able to make any ſatisfaction whereby he might be deliuered: on the other ſide, that p. 183Chriſt hath made a full ſatisfaction vntounto his Father for him a miſerable ſinner, and freely offers it to him; which if hee beleeue, it ſhall be accepted for him, and he thereby ſaued: that this may draw him, to renounce all hope in himſelfe, and ſo to relie vponupon Chriſt for his Iuſtification and ſaluation.

This ſhall be more manifeſt in the parts of Iuſtification,Parts of iuſtification. which are forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, Forgiuenes of ſinne.and imputation of righteouſneſſe: and more eſpecially in the former, forgiueneſſe of ſinne, which ſo vnſeparably bringing in the latter imputation of righteouſneſſe, the Scripture doth moſt labour to aſſure vsus of. And for this cauſe all bleſſedneſſe is worthily placed herein, both by the Prophet Dauid and the Apoſtle Paul, ſaying, Bleſſed are they whoſe iniquities are forgiuen, Pſal. 32. 1, 2.Ps 32:1Ps 32:2and whoſe ſinnes are couered. Rom. 4. 7, 8▪Rom 4:7Rom 4:8Bleſſed is the man, to whom the Lord imputeth not ſinne. p. 184That it may driue eueryevery man out of himſelfe for happineſſe, ſeeing God iuſtifieth the vngodly, verſe 5: and to draw all that ſhall bee ſaued, to looke for ſaluation, onelyonly in Gods free mercy, forgiueing their iniquitie, and couering their ſinne, and not imputing to them their ſinne. VnderUnder which ſpeeches is contained the way and meanes, how the righteous God (who will not let one ſinne and breach of his Law to eſcape vnpuniſhed, without deſerued condemnation) doth yet ſet free poore ſinners, from their ſinne and puniſhment: which is onelyonly by the ſatisfaction, which Chriſt hath made for them, in bearing their puniſhment; wherwith God being ſatisfied, doth fully and freely forgiue all thoſe who by Faith accept this merciemercy offered vntounto them.

To this end throughout the Scripture, is this great benefite of forgiuenes of ſinne by Chriſt, p. 185ſo plentifully proclamed vntounto vsus miſerable ſinners; I wil cite a few for many. When Iohn the Baptiſt was ſent to prepare way for Chriſt, firſt ſeeing Chriſt cōming vntounto him,Ioh. 1. 29.John 1:29 hee cried out, Behold the Lambe of God, which taketh away the ſinnes of the world. Our Sauiour himſelfe after his reſurrection, appearing to two of his Diſciples going to Emaus, Luk 24. 45.Luke 24:45hauing opened their vnderſtanding that they might vnderſtand the Scriptures,46. ſaid vntounto them, Thus it is written, 47.and thus it behoued Chriſt to ſuffer, and to riſe againe from the dead the third day; and that Repentance and Remiſſion of ſinnes, ſhould bee preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Ieruſalem. Likewiſe the Apoſtle Paul preaching at Antioch to the Iewes in their Synagogues ſaid vntounto them, Be it knowne vntounto you therefore men and brethren, that through this man (meaning Chriſt) is preached vuto you forgiueneſſe p. 186of ſinnes: Act. 3. 38, 39.Acts 3:38Acts 3:39And from all things from which yee could not be iuſtified by the Law of Moſes, Rom. 4. 25.Rom 4:25by him eueryevery one that beleeues is Iuſtified. Gal. 1. 4.Gal 1:4And ſo all the reſt of the Scriptures,Tit. 2. 14.Titus 2:14 in which it is ſaid,Heb. 1. 3.Heb 1:3 that Chriſt was Deliuered to death for our ſinnes: 1. Pet. 2. 24.1 Pet 2:24And gaue himſelfe to redeeme vsus from all iniquitie. And hath by himſelfe purged our ſinne. Reu. 1. 5.Rev 1:5That he bare our ſinnes on the tree. That hee loued vsus, and waſhed vsus from our ſinnes. And to ſhut vp all with that worthie ſaying of Saint John, If any man ſinne, 1 Ioh. 2. 1, 2.1 John 2:11 John 2:2wee hauehave an Aduocate with the Father, Chriſt the righteous, And he is the propitiation for our ſinnes, and not for ours onelyonly; but for the ſinnes of the whole world. In all of which, what can any man thinke to be Gods meaning,Vſe. but to prouide a meanes to ſaue vsus ſinners? And therefore whoſoeuer feeles his ſinne, and feares Gods wrath, may boldly come to Chriſt, and ſtedfaſtly p. 187beleeue that God for Chriſts ſake will forgiue him, and remember his ſinnes no more. And ſo much the more, may and ought eueryevery one, to whom this good newes of pardon is brought by the preaching of the Goſpell, lay claime to this pardon, and ſo ſhall hee pleaſe God and ſaue his owne ſoule; otherwiſe as his ſin ſhall bee exceeding great, ſo ſhall his damnation bee more grieuous.

I doe therefore againe exhort eueryevery poore ſoule who faine would beleeue, not to make his ſinne greater then Gods mercy: but ſeeing Chriſt hath borne the puniſhment of his ſinne, and fully appeaſed Gods wrath for him, and doth expreſly call him, and proclaime this pardon vntounto him; therefore that hee commit himſelfe to Chriſt, and ſo giuegive glorie to God in beleeuing, that through Chriſt his debt is diſcharged, and he freed from condemnation; p. 188ſo that neither God will, nor the deuill, nor his owne conſcience, ſhall be able to lay any thing to his charge: then which what can bee more comfortable to a diſtreſſed ſinner, I know not.

This might content vsus, if wee were not ſo full of vnbeleefe: but the Lord both knowing, and pittying our diſtruſtfull hearts, hath ſaid much more to perſwade vsus of our ſaluation in and by our Lord Chriſt Ieſus. And whereas wee hauehave learned that to the iuſtifying of a ſinner, there is required not onelyonly that his ſinne and puniſhment bee quite taken away, but that hee hauehave perfect righteouſneſſe,2. part of Iuſtification. without which there can be no life: for although theſe two bee neuer parted (no more then ſoule and body in a liuing man) yet they be not both one,Imputation of righteouſneſſe. but neceſſarily diſtinguiſhed, and both required in him that is iuſtified in Gods ſight. The Lord p. 189therefore hath graciouſly prouided a meanes, whereby we (who ſince the fall of our firſt parents, hauehave vtterly loſt our originall righteouſneſſe, and bee no way able, to attaine ſuch righteouſneſſe as God in iuſtice requires at our hands) may recouer our loſſe & be made perfectly righteous, ſuch as God will allow, and for which hee will in his iuſtice grant eternall life. As Paul in his glorious triumph before his departure, did boldly profeſſe:2 Tim. 4. 6.2 Tim 4:6 For I am now readie to be offered, 7.and the time of my departure is at hand; 8.I hauehave fought a good fight, I hauehave finiſhed my courſe, I hauehave kept the Faith; Henceforth is laid vp for mee the crowne of righteouſn…ſſe, which the Lord the righteous Iudge ſhall giuegive me at that day, and not to me onelyonly, but to all that louelove his appearing. Which one Scripture might ſuffiſe to perſwade vsus, to looke for this righteouſneſſe and eternall life, which p. 192by due debt (through Gods merciemercy and the merit of Chriſt) is made ours. But becauſe this is not ſo eaſily ſeene, much leſſe beleeued, that ſuch as we ſhall euer attaine to this high dignitie, the Lord hath reuealed his good will towards vsus ſinners in this behalfe, that he hath prepared ſuch a perfect righteouſneſſe for vsus, and made a faithfull & free grant therof vntounto vsus, that ſo wee may make it our owne by Faith. This is moſt manifeſt, in that heauenly compariſon, betweene the firſt Adam, and the ſecond Adam Chriſt Ieſus, ſet forth at large and in many degrees, Rom. 5. 12, to the end. The ſumme of all is this, that the benefite we hauehave in Chriſt, doth eueryevery way exceede all the hurt we had in Adam, as the Apoſtle himſelfe ſaith, verſe 20. Where ſinne abounded, grace did much more abound, v. 21. That as ſinne had reigned vntounto death, ſo might grace alſo reigne by righteouſneſſe p. 193vntounto eternall life through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Where wee ſee that as ſinne through Gods iuſtice brought death: ſo by Gods mercy, the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt brought to vsus eternall life. As is expreſly ſaid verſe 19. For as by one mans diſobedience many were made ſinners: ſo by the obedience of one ſhall many be made righteous. Wherin it is cleere, that as Chriſt by his obedience was perfectly righteous, ſo by it many (that is, all) that by Faith receiue Chriſt, are made righteous in Gods ſight. To the ſame purpoſe it is ſaid that wee are made the righteouſneſſe of God in him.2 Cor. 5. 212 Cor 5:21 And that of the Prophet Eſa. Eſa. 53. 11.Isa 53:11By his knowledge ſhall my righteous ſeruant iuſtifie many: for hee ſhall beare their iniquities. And for this cauſe is Chriſt called The Lord our righteouſneſſe: Ier. 23. 6. 33. 16.Jer 23:6Jer 23:33Jer 23:16and that he is the end of the Law, Rom. 10. 4.Rom 10:4for righteouſneſſe to eueryevery one that beleeueth. And for this cauſe are p. 192the Sacraments ſaid to be ſeales of the righteouſnes of Faith, 4. 11.& to the ſame intent much: wherein wee ſee how plainely and plentifully the Lord ſets out this perfect righteouſneſſe, and life thereby in Chriſt, to be made ours. Which if any ſhall but neglect, and paſſe by, and not accept, how ſhall hee eſcape moſt iuſt condemnation? As wee reade Heb. 2. 3. ſpeaking of the ſame matter.

How then can this but perſwade eueryevery one,Vſe. who deſires ſaluation, with both hands (as wee ſay) to receiue this great gift of Chriſts righteouſneſſe to bee his: wherevpon depends ſo certainly his eternall happineſſe. And how iuſtly ſhalt thou periſh, who heareſt of this great goodneſſe of God, prepared in Chriſt, and offered in the Goſpell to thee, and yet wilt not receiue it? but either ſecurely neglect it, or at leaſt by thy vnbeleefe, depriue thy ſelfe p. 193of ſo incomparable a benefite. I can ſay no more to perſwade thee: but I beſeech the Lord to perſwade thee, and doe thou giuegive the Lord no reſt, till by his Spirit he draw thee, to embrace this benefite, to thy euerlaſting comfort.

Now to come to the fruites of Iuſtification,Fruites of Iuſtification. which bee ſo many effects of Gods grace accompanying and following our Iuſtification, 1. Reconciliation, 2. Adoption, and 3. Hope of Glorie: I am not ignorant that theſe bee ſet in another order diuerſly, by diuers Diuines, which is not much materiall; for all conſent, that they bee ſpeciall benefites, which Chriſt hath purchaſed for vsus by his death and obedience, and ſerue much for the aſſurance of our ſaluation. Whereas on the contrarie the ignorance or doubting of them, muſt needes breed much diſcomfort, eſpecially in time of temptation, and p. 194at the houre of death. Yet ſeeing theſe doe ſo depend vponupon the former of our Iuſtification, that hee who is iuſtified cannot want theſe; and without a man be iuſtified, he can neuer enioy any of them, either to bee at peace with God, much leſſe to come into ſo high fauour, as to bee adopted and made Gods childe and heire of all his bleſsings; and leſt of all, attaine ſuch hope of euerlaſting glorie with God in his kingdome, as might make him here in this vale of miſerie, not onelyonly to cheere vp his heart in the expectation thereof, but outwardly to reioyce, and holilie to boaſt thereof: ſeeing, I ſay, the iuſtified man, and none elſe hath theſe moſt certainly, the beſt way to get aſſurance of theſe, is to make ſure our Iuſtification, in ſuch ſort as hath beene already ſhewed.

But ſeeing the Scriptures doe oft make mention of theſe, that p. 195God hath prepared and offered theſe to vsus in Chriſt: it ſhall bee to our comfort to take knowledge of them, and ſo labour for the right vſe of them. Remembring that I hauehave in the former part of this Treatiſe, ſpoken of theſe effects of our faith, out of Rom. 5. 1, &c. to ſet out the great and pretious fruites which are gotten by Faith, thereby to prouoke all, more to labour for Faith: I may now be the more briefe, eſpecially ſeeing the Scripture including them in the former, is not ſo plentifull as in the former. For the firſt of theſe,Reconciliation. Reconciliation, I vnderſtand, that whereas before wee were in Chriſt; we were enemies to God by reaſon of ſinne. Now by Chriſt wee are reconciled and made friends, as Rom. 5. 10. For if when wee were enemies we were reconciled by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled wee ſhall be ſaued by his life. So likewiſe p. 196notably is this ſet forth, 2 Cor. 5. 18, 19, 20. All things are of God, who hath reconciled the world vntounto himſelfe by Ieſus Chriſt, and hath giuen vsus the miniſterie of Reconciliation. For God was in Chriſt, and reconciled the world vntounto himſelfe, not imputing their ſinnes vntounto them; and hath committed to vsus the word of Reconciliation. Now then are wee ambaſſadours of Chriſt: As though God did beſeech you through vsus, we pray you in Chriſt ſtead, that yee bee reconciled to God. In both which Scriptures theſe two things I obſerue for our purpoſe, firſt, that we being rancke enemies to God, Chriſt by his full ſatisfaction (whereof his death was a principall part) hath reconciled God his Father vntounto mankinde; yet not ſo, that any hauehave the benefite thereof, but they who gladly doe accept it. The ſecond is, that ſeeing none could ſo much as know this, p. 197much leſſe hauehave warrant to beleeue, to hauehave any part in it: Therefore the Apoſtle as a faithfull diſpoſer of the ſecrets of God, plainely affirmes, and for more certaintie repeats, that this reconciliation was wrought for the world, that is, all mankinde, (though againe I ſay, none but beleeuers enioy it.) And the more to draw vsus to beleeue, that God hath granted out a commiſſion to the Miniſters of the Goſpell, to preach and publiſh this good newes of reconciliation wrought by Chriſt betweene God and man: and that they ſhould by all meanes labour to perſwade men; yea (which is wonderfull) he ſaith that God by his Ambaſſadours, doth intreate them to bee reconciled to God, that is, to accept this vnheard of mercy offered to them.

Theſe things when I conſider, I cannot but admire Gods vnſpeakable merciemercy, in ſo ſeeking p. 198to ſaue vsus his enemies, and our brutiſh ingratitude in ſo light eſteeming thereof: yea our ſenſles neglect of our chiefeſt good, and our deadly vnbeliefe; by which we depriue out ſelues of ſo vnualuable treaſure, freely offered vntounto vsus. What may be ſaid more to moue our ſtonie hearts either to deſire, or to accept ſo great grace I well ſee not: but this I ſee, and am ſure of, that it ſhall be more tollerable for Turkes and Pagans in the day of iudgement, then for thee whoſoeuer thou art, who liuing in the Church, doeſt either deſpiſe or ſo diſtruſt this bountie of the Lord, that thou doeſt not receaue it.

As for ſuch who preferre any worldly thing before this vnmatchable mercy, and ſo if not groſſely reiect it, yet ſecurely neglect it, and as ſwine trample ſuch pretious pearles vnderunder their feet:Reu. 22. 11Rev 22:11 I ſay no more, but hee that p. 199is filthy let him be filthie ſtill. But for ſuch poore ſoules, as doe highly priſe this exceeding fauour, to be reconciled vntounto God, and onelyonly bee kept from it by diſtruſtfull feares, that it is not for them (they being ſo vnworthie.) I beſeech them in the Lord, deeply to weigh what hath beene ſaid to draw them to beleeue, and for an example, to ſet before them Gods dealing with the Epheſians, of whom the Apoſtle ſaith,Eph. 2. 3.Eph 2:3 That when they were dead in treſpaſſes and ſinnes, (which is as bad as may bee, yet hee heapes more of their wofull condition, verſe 2. 11. 12.) yet theſe were quickned in Chriſt: ſo likewiſe the Coloſſians, Col. 1. 21.Col 1:21being before their conuerſion ſtrangers, and enemies, becauſe their mindes were ſet on euill workes, were reconciled to God, &c. And to ſay the truth, ſo is it with all that bee conuerted, as Paul teſtifieth of himſelfe, and all other beleeuers before their effectuall p. 200calling, that they had their conuerſation in times past in the luſts of their fleſh, in fulfilling the will of the fleſh, & of the minde, and were by nature the children of wrath as well as others. All which if a poore ſinner ſhall conſider, that others in as bad a ſtate as he, and many farre worſe, were receiued to mercy: and that God doth in mercy as freely offer it to him as them, and is as faithfull as euer to performe what he ſaith: this doubtleſſe will in time moue him to expect like mercy at Gods hands, if hee ſhall with patience waite the Lords leiſure, and neuer giuegive ouer earneſt ſupplication to God, to draw him, and daily meditation on Gods mercy. Thus will I leaue this point (hauing ſaid more then I purpoſed:)Peace. only I deſire to be conſidered, that vnderunder this reconciliation, I containe that peace which Chriſt makes betweene God and vsus, whereof p. 201Rom. 5. 1. Eph. 2. 17. and elſewhere oft; that it may bee referred to this head.

Now we come to the ſecond fruite of our Iuſtification, which is Adoption, Adoption.whereby I vnderſtand that high fauour of God, whereby hee maketh thoſe who be iuſtified by Chriſt, and ſo reconciled, his owne children and heires of all his bleſsings. If Dauid thought it no ſmall preferment to bee ſonne in Law to King Saul: 1 Sam. 18. 23.1 Sam 18:23what may bee thought of this? And therefore the Apoſtle Iohn calleth all to an admiration of that vnſpeakeable louelove of God in calling vsus to be the ſonnes of God.1 Ioh. 3. 1.1 John 3:1

Wherein we hauehave to conſider, not only the excellencie of this eſtate, but the certainetie of it, without which we could hauehave no comfort by it. This certaintie appeares as in this, that God hath called all true beleeuers to be his ſonnes: ſo further in the p. 202next verſe where he ſaith, Dearely beloued, now are we the ſonnes of God, though (as he ſaith) is appeares not what wee ſhall bee. To this purpoſe well ſerueth that gracious promiſe which the Apoſtle citeth out of the Prophet Hoſea, And it ſhall be in the place where it was ſaid vntounto them: Rom. 9. 26.Rom 9:26yee are not my people, that there they ſhall bee called the children of the liuing God: So likewiſe when the Lord promiſeth to ſuch as ſhall ſeparate themſelues from the wicked: And I will bee a Father vntounto you, 2 Cor. 6. 18.2 Cor 6:18and yee ſhall be my ſonnes and daughters, ſaith the Lord Almightie. Reu. 21. 7.Rev 21:7Againe, Hee that ouercommeth ſhall inherit all things, And I will be his God, and hee ſhall be my ſonne: theſe promiſes muſt be the cauſe of our faith, and our faith the cauſe of our obedience, as hath beene ſaid. And therefore it is ſaid, Yee are all the ſonnes of God by faith in Chriſt Ieſus. Gal. 3. 26.Gal 3:26And yet much more to our preſent p. 203purpoſe, is that excellent Scripture, Gal. 4. 4, 5, 6, 7. which containes much for the ſtrengthening of our faith in this whole point of the aſſurance of our ſaluation, therfore I rehearſe it all: But when the fulneſſe of time was come, God ſent forth his Sonne made of a woman, and made vnderunder the Law, that hee might redeeme them which were vnderunder the Law: that we might receiue the adoption of ſonnes, And becauſe ye are ſonnes, God hath ſent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts, which cryeth Abba Father. Wherein (to paſſe ouer all the reſt) this is euident, that a maine end why God ſent his Sonne to redeeme vsus miſerable ſinners, (who are by nature vnderunder the curſe of the Law) was this, that wee might by this redemption by Chriſt bee made Gods children, and, as the Apoſtle ſaith,Rom. 8. 17.Rom 8:17 If children, then alſo heires, euen the heires of God and coheires with Chriſt, as it followeth p. 204in the former Scripture, Gal. 4. 7. Wherefore thou art no more a ſeruant, but a ſonne; now if thou bee a ſon, thou art alſo an heire of God through Chriſt.

If this be ſo (as the deuill himſelfe cannot denie) who can ſufficiently admire and magnifie the bountifulneſſe and louelove of God to man, Vſe.by ſo great a price to purchaſe ſo high a dignitie,Tit. 3. 4.Titus 3:4 (as the Apoſtle John calls it) that wee ſhould be the ſonnes of God,Ioh. 1. 12.John 1:12 and partakers with Chriſt of all his glory in his Fathers kingdome?

But me thinkes I heare ſome one ſay, It is true, this is a moſt bleſſed eſtate, if a man might bee aſſured it were his owne: but ſeeing the Scripture oft witneſſeth, that they be but few who attaine this fauour,Obiection. how may I who am ſo vnworthy, ſo full of ſinne, and voide of grace, euer hope to bee a partaker hereof?

This beeing ſo great an obiection, and ſo common, whereby many be kept from beleeuing, it p. 205is meete to be well anſwered. It hath two partes: firſt, that ſo fewe come to bee Gods children, to which I anſwer, firſt the fault hereof is not in God, who (as oft hath beene ſaid) hath ſo largly proclaimed life in the Goſpel to eueryevery ſinner. Again, if there were an almes of great value caſt among many, which a few onelyonly could enioy, what ſcrambling is there who could get it? A memorable ſtory of late yeares, I will relate to be a witnes againſt all ſuch wicked ſeruants, Mat. 25. 26Matt 25:26and ſlothfull, (as our Sauiour calls them) who hearing that a few ſhall bee ſaued, will let others ſtriue for it, and be content to goe without it themſelues; which is indeede, and ſo the Lord will count it, a flatte deſpiſing of his mercy offered vntounto them. A rich woman gaue at her death a dole of ſixe pence to the poore that came to Leaden Hall in London, for which there was ſuch ſtriuing that many were troden to death; how p. 206ſhall theſe riſe in iudgement, againſt our dainty, idle, ambitious, couetous, and voluptuous worldlings, who eueryevery one in their kinde, ſtriue extreamely for their deſires, but take no paines to be ſaued? But to leaue theſe, and to come to the ſecond part of the obiection, which concerns a better ſort, and farre neerer ſaluation, who be kepr backe by their vnworthineſſe; whom as I much pitty for their vncomfortableneſſe ſo can I no leſſe blame for their ignorance, that after ſo long preaching of the Goſpell, wherein all the mercies of God be proclaimed vntounto, yea beſtowed vponupon ſinners, yea great, and all vnworthy (as in the laſt point before this was ſhewed:) yet theeſe poore ſoules doe ſticke ſo faſt in the mudde of their naturall pride of Popery, as to ſeeke for ſome worthineſſe in themſelues, for which God ſhould make them his ſonnes. To conclude p. 207then this point, ſeeing God is a free giuer of this high fauour of Adoption; and no ſeller of it; and ſeeing he ſo freelie offers it to thee in Chriſt; beware, that neither by idleneſſe, nor proud ignorance, thou depriue thy ſelfe of it, but thankfullie accept it; ſo ſhalt thou bee ſaued.

The laſt ſpeciall benefit which we receiue from Chriſt,Hope of glory. as a fruit of our iuſtification, ſeruing for ſtrengthening of our faith in the aſſurance of our ſaluation, is the Hope of Glory: whereby I vnderſtand that God hath prepared for vsus ſinners, this ſingular comfort, that wee may enioy in this life, ſuch a hope and expectation of euerlaſting glorie, as may both inwardlie cheere our hearts, and cauſe vsus outwardlie to profeſſe the ſame, to the glorie of God, encouragement of other faithfull people of God, amazing of the wicked, and ſtrengthening of p. 208our ſelues, to hold out to the end, againſt al diſcouragements whatſouer. That God hath prouided ſuch a ſtay, to ſupport vsus in all the changes of this life, may ſufficiently appeare by that which we reade, Hebr. 6. 17. 18, 19. a Scripture containing great force for the ſtrengthening of our faith, in the certaintie of our ſaluation, as we ſhall ſee.

Wherein God willing more abundantly to ſhew vntounto the heires of promiſe, the immutability of his coū ſell, confirmed it by an oath. That by two immutable things, in which it was not poſſible that God ſhould lye, wee might hauehave a ſtrong conſolation, who hauehave fled for refuge, to lay holde vponupon the hope ſet before vsus; which hope we hauehave as an anker of the ſoule, both ſure and ſtedfaſt, and which entreth into that which is within the vaile, whither the forerunner is for vsus entered, euen Ieſus made an high Prieſt after the order of Melchiſedech. Wherein bee p. 209theſe heauenly matters contained, which I wil only laie open, & ſo gather out that which makes moſt for our preſentintention, to make vsus more ſure of this grace, the hope of glorie.

1. Gods decree and euerlaſting counſell concerning our ſaluation, is vnchangeable.

2. It was Gods good pleaſure to make this exceedinglie manifeſt.

3. The perſons, to whom God would thus manifeſt his counſell, were the heires of promiſe.

4. The meanes whereby God would thus manifeſt his counſell, was this, That what he promiſed, he bound with an oath.

5. Theſe two euidences of Gods counſell, bee ſure and vnchangeable.

6. It is impoſſible that God ſhould lye in theſe

7. By theſe wee may hauehave ſtrong conſolation.

8. They who ſhall hauehave ſtrong p. 210conſolation muſt make hope their refuge: that is, holde faſt on ir.

9. That hope is ſet before them to hold faſt by.

10. This hope is to our ſoules in tentations, as an Anker to a ſhip in ſtormes.

11. This Anker which will holde, it is ſure and ſtedfaſt.

12. It is entred vpward into heauen, as our earthlie ank… …e caſt downewards.

13. Chriſt our forerunner is gone to heauen for vsus.

14. Chriſt is our euerlaſting high Prieſt.

Behold what ſtore of heauenlie matters be here contained; which when I did conſider ſo cloſelie folded vp, and ſo well furthering the point in hand, I was drawne thus to vnfold them. Among all, this is ſpeciall for our purpoſe, that Almighty God as a louing Father hauing prouided for his children a good eſtate, p. 211was very carefull to make it ſure vntounto them, and therefore hath giuen two ſuch euidences as cannot deceiue, his promiſe and oath; that wee being perſwaded heereby, might in all our feares, for out refuge, caſt our hope vponupon his fidelitie: ſo ſhall we bee ſafe, and hauehave ſtrong conſolation. Wherein we ſee the ſingular vſe of this hope of eternall life, that it is hope which makes vsus not aſhamed, Rom. 5. 5.Rom 5:5as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, and the Prophet Dauid exceeding oft the ſame:Pſal. 25. 3.Ps 25:3 Yea, that we are ſaued by hope: that is,Rom. 8. 23.Rom 8:23 we are ſo aſſured of our ſaluation, as if wee poſſeſſed it already; and therefore doe with patience waite for it. There is much in this Scripture to this end, that as the whole Creation as it were groaneth and trauelleth in paine, with earneſt expectation, waiting for the manifeſtation of the ſonnes of God, what time they ſhall bee deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the p. 212glorious liberty of the children of God: So all true beleeuers (who hauehave the firſt fruites of the ſpirit) groane in themſelues, waiting for the Adoption: to wit, the redemption of their bodies: that is, for a full glorification of ſoule and body. This is to bee ſeene in the liues and deaths of Gods faithfull ſeruants,Heb. 12. 2.Heb 12:2 who for this hope, endured the croſſe, and deſpiſed ſhame, as is teſtified of our Sauiour himſelfe; and of Moſes that hee did chooſe rather to ſuffer affliction with the people of God, Heb. 11. 26.Heb 11:26then to enioy the pleaſures of ſinne for a ſeaſon: esteeming the reproch of Chriſt greater riches then the treaſures in Egypt, for hee had respect to the recompence of reward. The ſame is to be ſeene in all that honourable company mentioned, Hebr. 11. And ſo in all the holy Martyrs in all ages, what was it, but this hope of glory, after a ſhort ſuffering, which made them willingly to endure ſo great and ſore p. 213perſecutions? I might bee long in this, for the Scripture ſpeakes much hereof, exhorting vsus to reioice in hope, making it th'end of our vocation, and regeneration: God hath called vsus to his kingdome and glory, 1 Theſ. 2. 12.1 Thess 2:12God according to his mercy hath begotten vsus againe to a liuely hope, 1 Petr. 1. 3.by the reſurrection of Ieſus Chriſt from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, vndefiled, that fadeth not away, reſerued in the heauens for vsus, &c. And more to like effect as doth follow, well worth our reading, and carefull conſideration, ſeruing much for the comfort of Gods children.

Out of all which this is that I gather,Vſe. ſeeing this hope of glory is ſo ſure an Anker in all ſtorms, ſo ſtrong a helmet in all our battailes, that we therefore carefully prouide our ſelues of this grace: yea rather ſeeing God hath ſo plentifully prouided it for vsus, and giuen vsus ſo many promiſes p. 214hereof, and hath called vsus hereunto, and ſo oft exhorteth vsus to reioyce in this hope of glory; all this ſhould mooue vsus to hold faſt the profesſion of our hope without wauering, For hee is faithfull that promiſed, Heb. 10. 23Heb 10:23as the Apoſtle exhorteth: otherwiſe we ſhal call Gods truth and faithfulneſſe into queſtion, which is a high degree of tempting God, and no leſſe prouocation of his high diſpleaſure: whereas on the other ſide by caſting this anker in any ſtorme, wee ſhall bee ſure to eſcape ſhipwracke, and ſo in the end arriue at our deſired port of euerlaſting ſaluation.

Thus hauehave I now ſhewed as briefly and plainely as I could, how eueryevery one who is troubled with vnbeleefe, about the cercainety of his ſaluation, namely, whether ſuch as he (ſo void of all grace, and ſo full of all ſinne) may be bold to beleeue, and thereby p. 215be aſſured to be ſaued by Chriſt; and to this end, that his ſinne is quite forgiuen, and hee accepted as righteous in Gods ſight, ſo reconciled to God, and adopted to be Gods child, that hee may reioyce in hope of the glory of God; how ſuch an one (I ſay) may get and dayly increaſe this aſſurance of faith, that there is no condemnation to him belonging, but that he hath euerlasting life, and is paſſed from death to life; then which what can be more welcome and comfortable to a troubled conſcience, I well ſee not. And therefore (as oft before) I exhort all that feele this weaknes of faith concerning their ſaluation, aboue all to obſerue theſe and ſuch other Scriptures (whereof there bee many) wherein Chriſt and ſaluation be offered to poore ſinners,Obſerue Scriptures concerning Chriſt. that they (who hauehave as good right to them as any,) may not for any thing they ſee in themſelues, put theſe promiſes p. 216from them, as not made to them. But rather in admiration of Gods wonderfull goodneſſe, mercy, and compasſion vponupon ſuch vnworthy wretches, to giuegive glory to God, in beleeuing and accepting this mercy ſo freely offered: which they muſt doe, before they ſhall ſee ſuch a true change of heart & life in them, as they earneſtly deſire, & for want wherof, they thinke they ought not to beleeue; which is to ſuch (if not the onelyonly yet) the chiefeſt lette and hinderance from faith: whereas on the other ſide, when it ſhal pleaſe Gods ſpirit, by theſe his free promiſes to drawe them to beleeue, and though weakely, yet truely to ſtay themſelues vponupon Gods great mercy ſo reuealed to them; then aſſuredly ſhall they ſee and feele this change in their hearts, that they know not what to ſay or thinke of Gods mercy, in pardoning ſuch as they feele themſelues to be. This cannot p. 217but breede an vnfained louelove in them to God, with an earneſt deſire and true purpoſe to glorifie him; which be the chiefe parts of a holy life, and ſureſt proofes of ſauing faith: which can no more want theſe, then a true fire can be without heate (though too many carnal Goſpellers think otherwiſe, and ſo miſerably periſh.

Hauing thus ſeene how wee are by Gods promiſes to get and increaſe our aſſurance by faith, that we be Gods children: Now it followes, that wee conſider what be the markes of God children,Aſſurance by the fruits of faith. whereby we may be further aſſured thereof. Among which markes, ſeeing faith it ſelfe is the firſt and ſureſt proofe that we be Gods children, and to this end, many pretious promiſes bee made to ſuch as doe already beleeue; as the former promiſes were made to beget and increaſe faith. It is meete that wee take p. 218ſome view of theſe, not for the ſtrengthening of our faith, but that by our faith (bee it ſmall or great) we may hauehave a ſenſible aſſurance of our ſaluation. To which purpoſe may this ſerue, that we who beleeue in Chriſt, are ſo oft ſaid to bee bleſſed, as our Sauiour ſaid to Thomas, Bleſſed are they who hauehave not ſeene, Ioh. 20. 29.John 20:29and yet hauehave beleeued: Mat. 13. 16. 16, 17.Matt 13:16Matt 13:17and againe to his Diſciples, Bleſſed are your eyes, for they ſee, &c: and likewiſe to Peter, Bleſſed art thou Simon Bar Iona, for fleſh and blood hath not reuealed it vntounto thee, but my father which is in heauen; and the like many: to the ſame end alſo it is ſaid, That he who beleeueth ſhall be ſaued: Mr. k. 16. 16That the Goſpell is the power of God vntounto ſaluation, to eueryevery one that beleeueth. Rom. 1. 16. 10. 9.Rom 1:16Rom 1:10Rom 1:9Againe, If thou confeſſe with thy mouth the Lord Ieſus, and ſhalt beleeue in thy heart, that God raiſed him from the dead, thou ſhalt beſaued: and againe, Whoſoeuer beleeueth in Chriſt, Ioh. 3. 15. 16John 3:15John 3:16ſhall p. 219not periſh, but hauehave euerlaſting life, yea hath euerlaſting life, 5. 24.Ioh. …. 47. and is paſſed from death to life. Againe,12. 46. 11. 26. I am come a light into the world, that whoſoeuer beleeueth in me, ſhall not abide in darkenes: and though he were dead, yet ſhall hee liue, and ſhall neuer dye. The ſame alſo is intended in theſe Scriptures, in which forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, righteouſneſſe, and iuſtification are promiſed to beleeuers, Act. 10. 45. Rom. 10. 4. Act. 13. 30. Rom. 4. 5. 5. 1.Gal. 3. 26.Gal 3:26 So likewiſe it is ſaide,Ioh. 1. 12.John 1:12 Wee are made the children of God by faith; and as many as receiued him, to them hee gaue power to be the ſonnes of God▪ euen to them that beleeue in his name. Laſtly, (to heape vp no more of this kinde) to this end is that; Chriſt ſhall come to bee glorified in his Saints, 1. Theſ. … 10.and be made maruellous in all them that beleeue, &c. In all theſe and many the like promiiſes, made to ſuch as doe truely beleeue in Chriſt, may euidently p. 220appeare, that if any doe know, and can prooue themſelues to bee in the faith, 2 Cor. 13. 5.2 Cor 13:5as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, by this he may be infallibly aſſured of his ſaluation. Wherein ſeeing the greateſt part of profeſſours of Chriſtian Religion bee deceiued, ſaying they hauehave faith, when in truth they hauehave none, it highly behooues ſuch as looke for better comfort, aboue all to beware their hearts doe not beguile them herein,2. Pet. 1. 10.2 Pet 1:10 and to beſtowe all ſtudy to make their calling and election ſure, that they may know that Chriſt dwels in them: otherwiſe they cannot bee approued neither by themſelues, nor any others, to bee in the ſtate of grace.

Thus much for faith it ſelfe, whereby we may certenly know that we be Gods children, heires of ſaluation, and cannot periſh. We are now further to ſee ſome ſpeciall fruits of our faith, which be the effects of Gods Spirit in al p. 221true beleeuers, & be ſo many marks whereby they doe know themſelues, and be knowne to others, that they be Gods ſheep, & ſo be further euidences and aſſurances, that they be Gods children, and ſhall be ſaued.

In which reſpect,Aſſurance by the fruites of faith. this gift of Gods Spirit to beleeuers is called a ſeale, Epheſians, 1. 13. Where the Apoſtle ſetting out the conuerſation of the Epheſians, 1. by the gift of the ſpirit.layes downe both theſe euidences: firſt of their faith, ſecondly, of this gift of the ſpirit: ſaying, In whō ye alſo (hauehave obtained inheritance) after that ye heard the word of truth, the Goſpell of your ſaluation; wherein alſo after yee beleeued, yee were ſealed with the Spirit of promiſe, which is the earneſt of our inheritance, vntill the redemption of the purchaſed poſſeſſion, vntounto the praiſe of his glory. In which wee ſee the Lord deales with vsus according vntounto the manner of men; who in their conueyances p. 222of land doe not onelyonly giuegive writings to make known their grants, but to make them ſure, doe ſet ſeales to their writings, and beſides do giuegive a turfe of the land to aſſure the poſſesſion: ſo the Lord hauing giuen vsus his word and writing for ſaluation in Chriſt, thereby to make vsus beleeue, doth alſo giuegive his Spirit ſo manifeſtly to worke in them, that they bee thereby more aſſured, that Chriſt is theirs, and that by him they ſhall inherite eternall glory. For which cauſe, it is ſaid, they were ſealed with the Spirit of promiſe (that is, which was promiſed to all beleeuers.) And this gift of the Spirit, is ſaid to be as an earneſt penny, to aſſure vsus we ſhall enioy the full bargaine, or rather the whole gift of perfect happines in Gods Kingdome. Of this I vnderſtand that of the Apoſtle, where hee ſaith, that though ſome who had made a faire profesſion, were now fallen p. 223away from the faith,2 Tim. 2. 19.2 Tim 2:19 Neuertheleſſe the foundation of God ſtandeth ſure, hauing this ſeale, the Lord knoweth them that are his; and let eueryevery one that nameth the name of Chriſt, depart from iniquity. Where hee makes the foundation of our ſaluation to bee Gods election; and a ſeale or ſtampe whereby we be knowne to be Gods children, to bee an holy life, a part whereof is departing from iniquity. Thus then wee may ſee in generall, that the gift of the ſanctifying Spirit, which is the firſt and chiefeſt fruit of faith, and roote of other graces neceſſary to ſaluation, is a moſt ſure euidence, that we bee the children of God, and heires of ſaluation by Chriſt; which might ſuffiſe to aſſure any man of his ſtate to bee very good, if he be not deceiued, but be ſure he hath receiued this ſanctifying Spirit: for ſo the Apoſtle, 1. Ioh. 4. 13. reaſoneth, Hereby we know that wee dwell in p. 224him, and he in vsus, becauſe hee hath giuen vsus of his ſpirit: as was further ſpoken in the former part of this Treatiſe, and is now for our better aſſurance that we bee in Gods fauour, more largely to be laid open, if not in all, yet in the moſt principall effects of this Spirit dwelling it vsus.

Among which,Aſſurance of ſaluation by keeping Gods commandements. good order requireth to begin with that which is moſt generall, and containes the reſt: namely, the keeping of Gods commandements, which in ſundry places is made a ſure mark of ſauing grace. This is manifeſt in that diuine Epiſtle of Iohn, which was written principally to this end, to ſet downe ſundry marks wherby it may be known, who be the true children of God, and who not. Among which this is one, the keeping of Gods commandemencs, as 1. epiſt. chap. 2. verſ. 3. And hereby we know that we know him, if wee keepe his commandements: the meaning whereof, p. 225is, that the conſcionable endeauour to frame our liues, according to Gods will reuealed in his word, is a moſt certen mark, that we be true beleeuers, and ſo the true children of God & heires of glory. To this end is that ch. 3. 22. where he makes this keeping of Gods commaundements an euident note that wee are in Gods fauour: ſo that, Whatſoeuer wee aske, we receiue of him. And again, verſ. 24 He that keepeth his commandements dwelleth in him, and he in him. It would be too long, and I thinke needeleſſe to heape vp more of this argument: for the Scriptures are full of theſe promiſes made to the righteous, to obedience, to ſuch as walke in Gods way, hearken to his voyce, beare much fruites, bee new creatures, and many of like ſort. All meaning the ſame thing, to leade a godly life, which whoſoeuer doth in truth, though with p. 226much weakeneſſe, hee may certainely thereby aſſure himſelfe of his ſaluation.

Which if many a poore ſoule (who hauehave a good care to pleaſe God, and that of very louelove vntounto him for his mercy) would conſider, it might comfort them againſt all their feares and doubtings riſing from the ſenſe of their infirmities, which for iuſt cauſes God doth leaue in his deare children. And therefore (theſe being the perſons for whoſe ſake ſpecially I write theſe,) I earneſtly beſeech them to deale righteouſly with God, and their owne ſoules, and not to robbe God of his honour, and themſelues of their comfort in doubting of his fauour, but rather acknowledge the gracious worke of God, in ſo renewing them by his Spirit, that whereas by nature they had no care to pleaſe God, nor conſcience of obedience: Now God and their owne conſciences doe p. 227witneſſe, and Gods people doe ſee, it is their chiefeſt endeauour to pleaſe God in all things, and their greateſt griefe to offend him: whereupon they may certainely conclude, That they are in the ſtate of grace, notwithſtanding the burthen of their infirmities, vnderunder which they grone and oft deſire to be diſſolued, and to be with Chriſt.

Me thinkes, this might abundantly ſuffiſe, to confirme anie truely conuerted ſoules, that their caſe is good, and their end ſhall be ſafe, notwithſtanding the many ſore battailes and blowes they meete with all by their corruptions, yet dwelling nor reigning in them.

But ſeeing the Lord (who of old ſaw how hard it would bee for vsus,Particular duties. to hold faſt this aſſurance of our ſafety, eſpecially when our enemies ſeeme to hauehave the vpper hand,) hath made ſo many promiſes of ſaluation, not onelyonly p. 228to generall obedience, but almoſt to all particulars, that though we many times, cānot fetch comfort from ſome duties & fruits of our faith, yet we may from others, & neuer want ſome true euidences of our faith and happines. It ſhall be expedient to ſet downe ſome chiefe, referring the diligent reader of the Scriptures, to take a patterne by theſe to obſerue and make vſe of the reſt as he can.

Among all,1. LoueLove a marke of happineſſe. the firſt and chiefe fruite of Faith is louelove to God, and all them which belong to him, to Chriſt and to all his members; all which be vnſeparably ioyned, and doe all proceed from the louelove of God to vsus, as 1 Ioh. 4. 19. Wee louelove him, becauſe he loued vsus firſt. From whence we may ſoundly gather, that as Gods louelove is the cauſe of our louelove of him; ſo our louelove of God is a certaine proofe that wee are loued of God, and ſhall be euerlaſtingly bleſſed and ſaued by p. 229him; which the Apoſtle Iames expreſſeth,Iam. 1. 12. 25.Jas 1:12Jas 1:25 That God hath promiſed the crowne of Life, (and in another place) The kingdome to them that louelove him. The ſame alſo is intended in that heauenly ſaying of the Apoſtle,Rom. 8. 28.Rom 8:28 And wee know that all things worke together for good to them that louelove God, to them that are the called according to his purpoſe. And the ſame may be gathered out of that excellent ſentence,1 Cor. 2. 9. & 8. 3.1 Cor 2:91 Cor 8:3 Eye hath not ſeene nor eare heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that louelove him; And to like effect, But if any man louelove God, the ſame is knowne of him. In all which and the like many, our louelove of God is made a certaine proofe that we be in Gods fauour, and heires of his kingdome:Our louelove to Chriſt. ſo likewiſe is our louelove to Chriſt,Ioh. 14. 21. 23.John 14:21John 14:23 as he himſelfe profeſſeth, And he that loueth me ſhall bee loued of my Father (where our p. 230louelove of Chriſt is not the cauſe, but the effect of Gods louelove to vsus, as followeth a little after: If any man louelove me hee will keepe my words, and my Father will louelove him, and we will come vntounto him, and make our abode with him.

In like ſort our louelove we beare one to another as brethren and members of the body of Chriſt,LoueLove of our brethren. is made an infallible marke, that we belong to Chriſt, as he ſaid to his Diſciples,Iohn 13. 35.John 13:35 By this ſhall all men know that yee are my Diſciples if you louelove one another. And for further proofe hereof we need goe no further, then to the firſt Epiſtle of John, in which this brotherly louelove is oft ſet downe, as a ſure euidence, that we are in a bleſſed eſtate;1. Iohn 2. 10.1 John 2:10 Hee that loueth his brother abideth in the light, chap. 3. 14.and there is no occaſion of ſtumbling in him. Againe, we know that wee are paſſed from death to life, becauſe we louelove the Brethren. And in another place,4. Verſ. 12. If wee louelove one another, p. 231God dwelleth in vsus, and his louelove is perfected in vsus. And a little before in the ſame chapter,Verſ. 7. Beloued let vsus louelove one another; for louelove is of God, and eueryevery one that loueth is borne of God. And againe verſe 17. Herein is our louelove made perfect, that we hauehave boldneſſe in the day of Iudgement. Yea more, our Sauiour teacheth,LoueLove of our enemies. that the louelove of our enemies is a good proofe that we are the children of God, as both the Euangeliſt Mathew and Luke report.Matth. 5. 44, 45.Matt 5:44Matt 5:45 The places be knowne.Luk. 6. 35.Luke 6:35

From all which wee ſee how any (who calleth in queſtion,Vſe. whether hee hath true faith, and be in the ſtate of grace) may by this grace of louelove aſſure himſelfe that he hath true faith, and ſo ſhall bee ſaued. OnelyOnly we muſt take heed wee deceaue not our ſelues with a vaine carnall louelove,Take heed of deceit. (as many doe) which ſhall appeare by theſe two eſpecially, whether our louelove come from p. 232Faith, and ſecondly breed true obedience; which if it doe, it is ſound, and a ſure warrant of ſauing grace: otherwiſe if either of theſe bee wanting, then our louelove at beſt is but naturall, which can be no proofe of true happineſſe. For further manifeſtation hereof that our louelove is ſound, and ſo our faith, and ſafety, we need no other arguments then to ſee what bee the fruites that grow from hence. For the Scriptures in ſundrie places make louelove the root of all fruites of a godly life,Rome. 13. 10 calling it the fulfilling of the Law, Col. 3. 14.Col 3:14and the bond of perfectneſſe, So that if our louelove be fruitfull in holineſſe to God, and in righteouſneſſe to men, it will manifeſtly declare that wee bee the true children of God.

Herein may well come in the firſt place,2. Feare of God. the feare of God, which if it come not from louelove, and be not tempered therewith, is but a ſeruile feare, and not that holy p. 233feare which is made ſuch a marke of Gods children, that it is vſually made a ſurname to them all, to be ſuch as feare God: As,Pſal. 112. 1. 115. 13.Ps 112:1Ps 112:115Ps 112:13 Bleſſed is the man that feareth the Lord, and greatly delighteth in his Commandements; Hee will bleſſe them that feare the Lord both ſmall and great. And the like many. That which wee are here chiefly to regard, is, what high commendations are giuen to this fruite of Faith, the feare of God, whereby he that feeles this grace, may know he is truly conuerted, and ſhall bee ſaued. This is to bee ſeene in all thoſe Scriptures, where they that feare the Lord be pronounced bleſſed, as in the laſt forenamed places, and ſo Pſal. 128. 1. 4. meaning, hee that feares the Lord, is and ſhall be eueryevery way bleſſed. To the ſame purpoſe be thoſe Scriptures, which ſet out the greatneſſe, and perpetuity of Gods mercy to thoſe that feare him, p. 234Pſal. 103. 11. 17. and Luk. 1. 50. the places bee knowne. Such is that,Pſal. 31. 19Ps 31:19 O how great is thy goodneſſe which thou haſt laid vp for them that feare thee! The like, Eccl. 8. 12 It would bee long to cite all of this kinde. Theſe bee ſome, that ſuch as feare God are accepted of him,Act. 13. 26Acts 13:26 That God will teach the man that feareth him in the way that he ſhall chooſe, Pſal. 25. 12 & 347, 10Ps 25:12and more in the ſame Pſalme to the like effect. The Angell of the Lord encampeth about them, they ſhall not want any good thing. Pſal. 145. 19. 147. 12.Ps 145:19Ps 145:147Ps 145:12The Lord will fulfill their deſire; bee taketh pleaſure in them. Mal. 4. 2.Mal 4:2And to end this, The Sunne of righteouſneſſe ſhall riſe vp to theſe, and the reward of eternall life ſhall be giuen them, Reu. 11. 18. If this bee not ſufficient, I know not what may be, to perſwade any man who findeth this true feare of God in his heart, that he is and ſhall be bleſſed for euer.

It behoueth therefore all that p. 235would hauehave this comfort, to make ſure to themſelues, that God hath put this holy feare into their hearts, and ſo may they reſt aſſured of Gods louelove.

Thus would I leaue this point, but I feare ſome tender conſciences will aske, how may I know that I hauehave this holy feare in me; whom I might ſend to that briefe note of difference that I gaue a little before, which in my opinion, is the beſt difference between the good feare and the bad; namely the holy and childe-like feare, comes from the louelove of God, the other at the beſt from ſelfe-louelove; which may goe farre, yet can it neuer come neere the holy feare, as not in the roote of Faith and LoueLove, ſo neither in the fruit of ſyncere obedience, which the Holy Ghoſt makes the fruite of the feare of God,Eccleſ. 12. 13.Eccl 12:13 Feare God and keepe his Commandements. He then that feeles Gods rich merciemercy vntounto him, in calling him p. 236out of his miſerable eſtate, to ſome hope of ſaluation by Chriſt) to breed in him a louelove to God for the ſame, and that louelove to make him afraid to diſpleaſe and offend ſo gracious a Father; and ſhall finde this feare mouing him to ſhun what God diſlikes, though neuer ſo pleaſing to his corrupt nature, and to make him willing to doe Gods will, though againſt his corrupt will: this man need not doubt, but that he hath the true feare of God, which is ſo certaine a marke of Gods fauour, and of euerlaſting happineſſe.

And this is the vſe Gods children are to make hereof.Vſe. Thus we ſee how the faithfull may by theſe two particular fruites of their faith, louelove and feare, bee confirmed in the aſſurance of their ſaluation by Chriſt.

The ſame may be ſhewed in all the reſt, which the Scripture p. 237makes to be ſo many teſtimonies of ſauing grace and happineſſe to thoſe that hauehave them: As Bleſſed are the poore in ſpirit; Mat. 5. 3. 10.Matt 5:3Matt 5:10they that mourne, the humble, meeke, ſuch as hunger after righteouſneſſe, mercifull, pure in heart, peace-makers, perſecuted for righteouſneſſe ſake. All which are in this place gathered together by our Sauiour Chriſt, to croſſe the corrupt opinion of the world, and to ſhew that they whom the world account aboue all men moſt miſerable, are indeed truly and onelyonly happy.

The like hee doth in other places,Mat. 16 28 19. 29.Matt 16:28 where hee maketh the denying of our ſelues, Mar. 10. 30.Mark 10:30taking vp the Croſſe and following him, forſaking all for him, and for the Goſpell, to bee ſure tokens to bee his, who ſhall hauehave an hundred-fold in this world, Luk. 9.Luke 9and in the world to come life euerlaſting. To end this whole matter of aſſurance of ſaluation, p. 238and to paſſe ouer many other fruites of Faith which doe proue the ſame, as the confeſsion of ſinne, mortification thereof, ouercomming, and Perſeuerance: All which bee oft made certaine proofes of happineſſe. This is the maine vſe which is to bee made of all theſe,Vſe. (as hath oft been ſaid) that when (as it oft falleth out with Gods children, eſpecially ſuch as hauehave weake faith and tender conſciences) that they beholding their proneneſſe to ſinne, and deadneſſe of ſpirit to all holy duties, doe fall into great feares and doubts of their ſaluation, this may be ſome ſtaie vntounto them, that they may ſee ſome of theſe fruites of their faith in them, euen when they be at the loweſt ebbe of grace, by which they may comfort themſelues; that though they bee very ſicke and weake, yet they be not ſtarke dead. For whoſe ſakes I will adde this obſeruation by p. 239mine owne experience, wherewith I hauehave quieted the mindes of many much perplexed in this caſe,Markes of faith which is not ſeene for that they could not ſee they had any faith, that there is a true liuing faith in many, who hauehave no feeling thereof.

I hauehave obſerued theſe foure vnfallible proofes.1. Vnquiet for want of faith. Firſt where Faith is, and not felt, the partie in whom it is, & cannot ſee that he hath any Faith, is grieued for want of Faith, and cannot bee quiet for want of it, but mourneth, as if hee had none; which for the moſt part is the ſtate of thoſe that bee truely afflicted in conſcience, who faine would beleeue, but yet in their owne ſenſe doe not: And yet in my experience I neuer knew any ſuch (who had any knowledge of the doctrine of Faith) but indeed they had ſome Faith, though they ſaw it not.2. Spare no meanes to get foitfi.

This will more appeare by the next effect of this inſenſible faith, p. 240which is this; that they who hauehave Faith and yet feele it not, be very painefull in vſe of all good meanes, both publike and priuate, by themſelues and with oothers, wherby they might hope to get this pretious gift of Faith; which hardly would any doe if hee had not ſome taſte of the ſweetneſſe of Faith though hee feele it not, which ſo ſtirres vp his heart to ſeeke after it: and therefore I hold this conſtant ſeeking of Faith, to be a token of ſome to be in him alreadie.

A third and more principall effect of Faith in theſe,3. Carrie a good heart to God. is this, that though they ſee not Gods Fatherly louelove to them, yet they cannot thinke hardly of God, but lay all the fault on themſelues, why they hauehave no more grace; yea, they will commend Gods merciemercy to others, and cannot endure any diſhonour to God: which great louelove of theirs to God, doth ſhew they are loued p. 241of him, yea that they hauehave by Faith apprehended it, though they ſee it not, and feare they hauehave it not.

The fourth proofe of Faith,4. A good conſcience. where it is not ſeene, may be this that ſuch hauehave a tender conſcience, ſhunning ſmall ſinnes, which others dare boldly doe; and bee carefull to pleaſe God in eueryevery thing, which many who be not ſo diſquieted be more careleſſe of. So then if there bee any poore ſoules who cannot ſee their faith, yet if they can ſee any of theſe effects of Faith in themſelues: let them know for a truth, and to their comfort, that they hauehave true Faith & ſhall be ſaued.

And thus hauehave I ſaid what I thinke meet for this firſt point, how we may daily get more aſſurance, that we be now in Gods fauour, and ſhall want no good thing in this life, and ſhall certainly in the end come to life euerlaſting. Which I againe doe p. 242exhort eueryevery one (who lookes for any bleſsing from God either in this life, or that to come) aboue all to labour for, ſeeing without this aſſurance that wee be in Gods fauour, how can wee looke for any bleſsing from God earthly or ſpirituall, temporall or eternall? whereas being aſſured hereof, we may boldly looke for all other bleſsings needfull for our preſent comfort and eternall happineſſe.

Concerning all which, ſeeing the Lord (who did well know the frailtie of his owne children,All other bleſſings depend on this. how readie they are vponupon eueryevery occaſion to doubt of his helpe) hath ſo plentifully recorded in the Scriptures both generally, what a fatherly care hee hath of their welfare, and alſo more ſpecially what helpe they may look for from him, in their particular neceſsities: I doe not doubt but it will bee worth our labour, to conſider of them both; and all p. 243little enough to comfort vsus in our greateſt need. And firſt of the generall, which containe vnderunder them all good things▪ which God hath prepared and promiſed to all his children. Of this ſort may that come firſt, which is the ground of all the reſt, namely that God will bee our God and of our ſeed after vsus, as hee ſaid to Abraham the Father of the faithfull,Gen. 17. 7.Gen 17:7 and ſo belongeth to all beleeuers, as the Apoſtle ſhewes, Rom. 4. 11. 16. which ſelfe ſame promiſe, was after repeated to Abrahams poſterity in al ages, to be a ſtaffe of comfort to them at all times; therefore is it oft ſaid, That God is the God of Abraham, the God of Iſaac, the God of Iacob. Likewiſe God ſaid to the people of Iſrael, And I will take you to me to bee a people, and I will be to you a God. And moſt notable is that when the Lord gaue his Law to his people of Iſraell, that he bound his people to p. 244obedience by theſe two bonds of his great Maieſtie, and his ſpeciall fauour ſaying,Exod. 3. 6. and 6. 7. and 20. 2.Exod 3:6Exod 6:7Exod 20:2 I am the Lord thy God. It would be tedious and needleſſe to heape more of this ſort; for this was promiſed to the faithful, by the Prophets and Apoſtles in all ages, that God would be their God, and they ſhould be his people: Whereby was meant that they ſhould certainly receaue from him whatſoeuer might bee good for them; and ſhould yeeld to him all that obedience which he required. In which one promiſe if wee could ſtedfaſtly beleeue, and reſt vponupon, we ſhould finde more true comfort, then in all the world beſide. And therefore I deſire all that want comfort, to thinke much vponupon this. Of this kinde likewiſe be all thoſe gracious promiſes, that God is our portion, that is, all wee hauehave to maintaine vsus in this world; and wee his portion, that is, the chiefeſt thing hee p. 245makes reckoning of,Pſal. 16. 5. 19. 5. 1. 7. 142. 5.Ps 16:5Ps 16:19Ps 16:1Ps 16:7Ps 16:142 his treaſure, his peculiar people, the lot of his inheritance, Deut. 32. 9.Deut 32:9his choſen, his delight, and many the like are plentifull in the Scriptures,Pſal. 33. 26.Ps 33:26 all ſhewing how deare vntounto God his people are,Pſal. 135. 4.Ps 135:4 that they may aſſure themſelues they ſhall not want,Exod. 19. 5.Exod 19:5 as the Prophet Dauid concluded vponupon that meditation that the Lord was his ſheepheard. Pſal. 23. 1. and 146. 9.Ps 23:1Ps 146:9To this end is God ſaid to bee Father to the fatherleſſe, a helper to the widow, to ſuccour them, & to ſupplie thē with all needfull bleſsings, ſpirituall and bodily. To this purpoſe very comfortable is that, Pſal. 84, 11. For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield, the Lord will giuegive grace and glory, and no good thing will hee with-hold from them that walke vprightly: Meaning that the Sunne is not more beneficiall to the earth then God to his.

Oh that we had hearts to conſider and beleeue theſe! Then might we ſay and ſing for ioy of p. 246heart with Dauid, Pſal. 27. 1.Ps 27:1The Lord is my light and my ſaluation, whom ſhall I feare? The Lord is the ſtrength of my life, of whom ſhall I bee afraid? And to like effect, Pſal. 28. 7. 8. Seeing the Lord hath thought it needfull ſo oft to teſtifie his goodneſſe vntounto vsus, there is no reaſon wee ſhould thinke much to remember the ſame for our good. The Prophet Dauid was neuer wearie of thinking hereof, which was (as I conceaue) that which made him ſo large-hearted towards God, and ſo excelling others in all holy conuerſation, as himſelfe profeſſeth vntounto God ſaying, Pſal. 26. 3, Examine me O Lord and proue me, trie my reines and my heart; for thy louing kindeneſſe is before mine eies, therefore I hauehave walked in thy truth. And againe, How excellent is thy louing kindeneſſe O God! Pſal. 36. 7.Ps 36:7therefore the children of men put their truſt vnderunder the ſhadow of thy winges. And the like, Pſal p. 24731. 19. and elſe-where oft hee profeſſeth,Pſal. 62. 2. 6, 7. 71. 5.Ps 62:2Ps 62:6Ps 62:7Ps 62:71Ps 62:5 God is his hope, his helpe, his health, his rocke, his refuge, Ier. 17. 7.Jer 17:7and many the like:I…el 3. 16. All which ſhould make vsus boldly to reſt on God for all things neceſſarie. And yet behold more, for exceeding oft doth the Lord promiſe that he will dwell among them, Exod. 29. 46.Exod 29:46and not forſake them, but bee with them, both to prouide for them,Pſal. 37. 4. 145. 19.Ps 37:4Ps 37:145Ps 37:19 and protect them; that he will bleſſe them, Pro. 10. 24.Prov 10:24that all ſhall goe well with them, God will giuegive them their hearts deſire, that hee will bee their reward. All which with ſundrie the like effects of Gods fauour, and prouident care ouer his, to miniſter vntounto them abundant releefe in all their needs, are throughout the Scriptures ſo oft repeated, that in what condition ſoeuer wee bee, wee might hauehave ſtore of helpe at hand, to ſtrengthen our faith, that God will neuer faile vsus, but in that ſeaſon and meaſure which he ſeeth fitteſt, p. 248wee ſhall aſſuredly finde all needfull helpe for ſoule and body,Vſe. for this life and that to come. I doe therefore commend vntounto all thoſe who hauehave ſo profited by the former promiſes pertaining to the aſſurance of ſaluation, that they hauehave ſome comfort therein, this care, to obſerue well theſe large legacies which the Lord both in the olde and new Teſtament hath bequeathed to all his children, as ſo many priuiledges belonging to them, whereof no other perſon in the world (though neuer ſo high in mans account) ſhall euer bee partaker: That they be not diſmaid with any diſcouragements, they ſhall meet with, but rather reioyce and glory in their happie condition, and ſo bee carefull to walke worthy of the ſame, that they may thereby honour God their Father, and that high dignity whereto hee hath aduanced them; yea, alſo mooue many to p. 249ſeeke to be partakers with them, of ſo bleſſed a condition. I could heere willingly take vp a bitter complaint againſt many of good hope, that ſpend moſt of their daies either ſecurely, or vncomfortably,Neh. 8. 10.Neh 8:10 not finding this ioy of the Lord to be their ſtrength, and not walking in the light of Gods fauour, ſo cheerefully as they might, if they would better weigh theſe gracious promiſes made vntounto them: and ſo lay hold vponupon them as their owne, whereby they might be refreſhed in their greateſt diſcouragements. But this being beſides my intentiō, I wil thus end this point

The ſecond generall Head.

Now wee come to the ſecond generall matter wherein we are to liue by faith, namely, how we may be able to mortifie our corrupt nature, and ouercome our ſpeciall ſinnes, which moſt preuaile ouer vsus. That this cannot be without faith, hath beene ſufficiently p. 250prooued, in the former part of this Treatiſe; and how this power is obtained by faith from Chriſt.

Heere onelyonly wee are to conſider, what promiſes God hath made vntounto vsus in the Scriptures, to ſtrengthen our faith in this, that whereas we are full of doubting, how we (who are ſo full of ſinne, yea naturally ſold vnderunder ſinne, and oft held captiue vnderunder ſome ſtrong corruptions) ſhould poſſibly ouercome theſe: yet wee may heare ſuch comfortable promiſes from God, as may aſſure vsus, no ſinne ſhall hauehave dominion ouer vsus: but we ſhall daily maſter it, and in the end obtaine a full victory ouer it. For which purpoſe I cannot begin with any Scripture more effectuall then this ſelfe ſame,Rom. 6. 1. &c.Rom 6:1 where the Apoſtle doth not onelyonly ſhew the abſolute neceſsitie of forſaking ſinne, by all thoſe who bee members of Chriſt: but thereupon he exhorts p. 251them all, ſaying: Let not ſinne reigne in your mortall body, Verſe 12.that yee ſhould obey it in the luſt thereof; and ſhewes the way how this may be attained, by not yeelding vntounto ſinne their mindes and hearts (which be principall members of the old man, and weapons of vnrighteouſneſſe) but rather yeelding themſelues vntounto God, as thoſe that are aliue from the dead, and their members as inſtruments of righteouſneſſe vntounto God. And wheras this might iuſtly bee obiected, Alaſſe: how ſhall wee (who by nature are ſo vnable to reſiſt ſo mighty a Tyrant as ſin is, who hath ouercome all mankinde, Chriſt onelyonly excepted) euer be able ſo to withſtand ſin? For anſwer whereto, the Apoſtle brings a moſt comfortable promiſe vntounto all that be not vnderunder the Law, Verſe 14.but vnderunder grace (that is, who be not ſtill vnderunder the condemnation and tyranny of the Lawe, whereby it reignes ouer all vnregenerat: p. 252but by true receiuing of Chriſt by faith are now deliuered from that bondage, & ſo brought into the liberty of Gods children: which he ſaith, is to be vnderunder grace (whereof the Apoſtle ſpeaks more fully, Rom. 6. 1.) Of theſe he ſaith, That ſinne ſhall not hauehave dominion ouer them, meaning that although theſe doe ſtill carry ſinne, (that is, corruption of nature) which continually fights againſt the grace of God in thē, yet the corruption and ſinnefull nature, ſhall neuer any more reigne as in times paſt it did, and ſo hauehave the full victory ouer them. But they by the grace of Gods Spirit reigning in them, ſhall daily more and more ouercome this their ſinnefull nature, and in the end get a glorious conqueſt ouer it, and all other their ſpirituall enemies.

This one Scripture, if there were no more, is ſufficient, if it be truelie weighed and beleeued, to comfort eueryevery childe of God p. 253ouer all his ſinnes; that though they bee neuer ſo many, or neuer ſo great, and of long continuance, yet being here aſſured the roote of ſinne ſhall be killed,ver. 18. 22. hee may then quietly reſt his ſoule in peace, that all the fruits and branches ſhall in time quite wither; for certainety whereof this is twiſe repeated.

But the Lord knowing how hardly we be brought to be perſwaded hereof, (eſpecially when we be vnderunder captiuity of any ſin, as of vnbeliefe, pride, anger worldlineſſe, and the like) hath much laboured in his word to comfort vsus herein: that though the battell be ſore, and our ſtrength ſmall, yet his grace ſhall bee ſufficient for vsus, and his power ſhall bee made perfect in weakeneſſe, 2. Cor. 12. 7 8, 9.2 Cor 12:7as was ſaid to Paul in his wreſtling againſt ſome priuie corruption, which he felt a pricke in his fleſh, to be ſent as a meſſenger of Sathan to buffet him, leaſt he ſhould be exalted aboue meaſure, p. 254by the aboundance of reuelations; which though ſpoken to him, yet indeede belongs to all in his caſe, and therefore eueryevery poore ſoule, who feeles his ſinne too hard for him, that when he would doe well, euill is preſent with him; hee is to lay holde on this promiſe, that Gods grace ſhall bee ſufficient for him, and Gods ſtrength ſhall bee made perfect in his weakeneſſe: That ſo complaining with the Apoſtle, O wretched man that I am, Rom. 7. 24.Rom 7:24who ſhall deliuer mee from the body of this death? hee may comfortably cheere vp his heart with him, ſaying:verſe 25. I thanke God through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord, that through the power of the Spirit of Chriſt, he ſhall ſubdue that body of ſin, which otherwiſe would carry him headlong to death and deſtruction, both of body and ſoule for euer.

This the Prophet Micah notably expreſſeth,Mich. 7. 18Mic 7:18 hauing highly p. 255magnified the mercy of God in pardoning iniquity, and paſſing by the tranſgreſſion of his people, hee addeth this, He wil turne again, he will hauehave compaſſion vponupon vsus, he wil ſubdue our iniquities, &c. The Apoſtle alſo layeth out this matter at large, how the Chriſtian ſouldiour being armed with the whole armour of God, Eph. 6.Eph 6may bee able to ſtand in the euill day, and hauing done all, to ſtand: that is, being furniſhed with thoſe excellent graces of the Spirit, which he afterwards names, he may manfully fight the Lords battell againſt ſinne and Sathan, and ſo hold out to the end of the battell, that he ſhall ſtand vp as conquerour, when ſinne and Sathan ſhall fall as vanquiſhed.

Beholde what encouragements the Lord giues againſt all our fearefulneſſe in our ſpiritual battell: which if wee could remember, would put more ſpirit into vsus to fight againſt our ſinnes like p. 256men, and not to faint or flye like cowards. And yet theſe bee not the tenth of theſe gracious promiſes, which the Lord hath made to this end, that wee faint not when we ſee the force of the enemy.

Of this ſort be all thoſe Scriptures, which ſetting out the rich benefites wee receiue in Chriſt, among the reſt mention our ſanctification by him; whereby is meant that Chriſt hauing taken our humane nature, and ſanctified it by his holy Spirit: we being made one with him, doe receiue the ſelfe ſame ſpirit (though in meaſure) to ſanctifie vsus,Ioh. 17. 29.John 17:29 that is, to make vsus holy: Whereunto theſe two be neceſſary; firſt, the killing of all ſinne in vsus, and ſecondly, the quickning of vsus to newneſſe of life.1. Cor. 1. 301 Cor 1:30 Of the latter, more in the next point, of the former heere: concerning which this is oft repeated, that Chriſt ſhall ſaue his people from their ſin,Mat. 1. 21.Matt 1:21 p. 257which as it is true in the matter of our iuſtification for the forgiueneſſe of our ſinne: ſo it is alſo true in this point of our ſanctification, for deliuering vsus from the power of ſinne. And ſo are all thoſe generall ſpeeches to be vnderſtood, that Chriſt is the lambe of God,Ioh. 1. 29. 39.John 1:29John 1:39 which taketh away the ſinne of the world: That hee hath loued vsus, Reu. 1. 5.Rev 1:5and waſhed vsus from our ſinnes in his owne blood: 1 Ioh. 1. 7.1 John 1:7That the blood of Ieſus Chriſt cleanſeth vsus from all our ſinne: Act. 3. 26.Acts 3:26That God hath ſent his Sonne Ieſus to bleſſe vsus, in turning eueryevery one of vsus from our iniquities. And the like many, in all which this muſt needes bee contained, that one great benefite wee enioy by Chriſt is, that we who bee members of him are cleanſed, as from the guiltineſſe of ſinne, that it ſhall not bee imputed: ſo from the filthineſſe of ſinne, that it ſhall not preuaile ouer vsus. For more manifeſt proofe whereof, this grace of p. 258mortification is expreſly promiſed in ſundry places;Gal. 5. 16.Gal 5:16 as Walke in the Spirit, and yee ſhall not fulfill the luſt of the fleſh. Likewiſe the Apoſtle Iohn ioyning together both our iustification and ſanctification, 1 Ioh. 1. 91 John 1:9ſayeth: If wee confeſſe our ſinnes he is faithfull and iuſt to forgiue vsus our ſinnes, and to cleanſe vsus from all vnrighteouſneſſe: ſo doth the Apoſtle Paul to Titus, Tit. 2. 11.Titus 2:11hauing ſhewed, that the grace of God which bringeth ſaluation, doth alſo teach men to deny vngodlines and worldly luſts: he addeth this, that Chriſt gaue himſelfe for vsus, 14.that hee might redeeme vsus from all iniquitie, and purifie to himſelfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes.

This is the ſame whereof the Prophets foretold in their time, that God would purge & cleanſe his Church. Eſa. 1. 25.Isa 1:25Eſai oft, that God will purely purge their droſſe, and take away all their tinne, that is, their ſinnes: as in another place more p. 259plainely hee ſaith, And it ſhall come to paſſe,Eſa. 4 3.Isa 4:3 that hee that is left in Sion, and hee that remaineth in Ieruſalem, ſhall be called holy, eueryevery one that is written among the liuing in Ieruſalem,ver. 4. when the Lord ſhall hauehave waſhed away the filth of the daughters of Sion, and ſhall hauehave purged the blood of Ieruſalem from the middeſt thereof, by the Spirit of iudgement, and by the Spirit of burning.27. 9 Againe, By this therefore ſhall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit to take away his ſinne. Notable is that place of Ezekel, Then will I ſprinckle cleane water vponupon you,Eze. 36. 25Ezek 36:25 and you ſhall bee cleane from all your filthineſſe, and from all your idols will cleanſe you. Of this ſort I might gather many moe out of theſe, and the other Prophets, who ſpake of this grace which ſhould be giuen by Chriſt to all the members of his Church, the cleanſing of them from all their filthineſſe, which Dauid expreſſeth, Pſ. 103. 3.Ps 103:3By healing all p. 260our diſeaſes. The matter beeing ſo cleare, and the teſtimonies ſo many, I iudge it will bee too tedious to heape vp more.

It ſhall bee more to our profite, well to weigh theſe and the like promiſes, when wee reade them: that when wee feele our hearts diſcouraged, by the little ſtrength wee finde to maiſter our ſpeciall corruptions, then we may apply to our ſelues any one of theſe promiſes, wherein the Lord himſelfe doth vndertake this worke which is too hard for vsus; That hee will ſubdue our iniquities, he will cleanſe vsus from all vnrighteouſneſſe, his grace ſhall be ſufficient for vsus, and his power ſhall bee mad: perfect in our weakneſſe: which if we doe beleeue, how can we feare or bee faint-hearted to enter into this ſpirituall battle againſt our ſinnes? Yea this will make vsus bold to reſiſt, and able to ouercome our ſtrongeſt ſinnes, which formerly hauehave moſt preuailed p. 261ouer vsus.

For our further encouragement herein, wee hauehave the examples of all the faithfull, who before were ſeruants, yea bondſlaues to their vilde luſts,Examples as Zacheus, to oppreſſion; Mary Magdalen to whooredome, Paul to perſecution: and generally the famous Churches, to whom the Apoſtles writ, who before their calling, were idolaters, and liued in all abhominable ſinnes (as other Gentiles:) beeing conuerted, they turned from their idols, and ſo from all their former vaine and vilde conuerſation, to ſerue the liuing God, as is to be ſeene in all the holy Epiſtles written to them, and in the hiſtory of the Acts: which was long before propheſied by the Prophets,Eſa. 11. 6.Isa 11:6 that the wolfe ſhall dwell with the Lambe, &c. meaning by all theſe cruell and deuouring beaſts, all kinde of beaſtly and wicked men, who by the Goſpell p. 262ſhould be ſo changed, that al their cruell and beaſtly qualities ſhould be ſo abated, that they ſhould become like to Gods children, and ſo hauehave a holy Communion with them.

Let not any therfore who feeleth any meaſure of mortification in himſelfe,Vſe. though hee cannot yet ouercome all his ſinnes, and keepe vnderunder his vnruely affections, ſay in his heart, I ſhall neuer ouercome ſuch and ſuch ſinnes, but ſhall one day periſh by theſe: for this were not onelyonly to miſtruſt his owne ſtrength, (which well he may) but to call Gods power, goodnes, and truth into queſtion: which were a great iniury to God and to his owne ſoule: but rather let vsus all doe as Jehoſaphat, when hee ſawe a great army gathered together againſt him,2. Chro. 20 12.2 Chr 20:12 ſo as hee ſawe no power in himſelfe to withſtand them, hee did wholly caſt himſelfe vponupon the Lord, ſaying, O our God, wilt thou p. 263not iudge them? for wee hauehave no might againſt this great company that commeth againſt vsus, neither know wee what to doe, but our eyes are vponupon thee. So let vsus be ſtrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, and ſo taking to vsus, and vſing the holy armour of his ſpirit, fighting valiantly, we may be ſure of the victory.

Theſe thus being, that Gods children may be ſo certaine, that no ſinne ſhall hauehave dominion ouer them, but that they ſhall in the end ouercome them all, and ſo hauehave that glorious conqueſt ouer them, and ouer all their ſpirituall enemies (who can no way hurt them but by ſinne:) how can it ſufficiently be bewailed, that ſo few do enioy this benefit, and the ſweet comfort thereof?

This may well bee ſeeee in the many and foule ſpots in the faces of ſundry profeſſours; I meane their open pride, their impatiency, their worldlineſſe, and deadneſſe p. 264of ſpirit in all ſpirituall duties: all which, though they might (in ſome of lōger ſtanding in Chriſt) hauehave been long before well mortified, yet they ſtill remaine, liue, and grow in them, to their reproch before others, and ſmall peace and comfort to their owne hearts. A principall cauſe hereof muſt needs be this, that theſe pleaſing themſelues in their eſtate, for that they be forward in publike exerciſes of Religion (though many bee ſlacke enough in priuate, eſpecially ſecret by themſelues alone,) and for that they bee free from the groſſe ſinnes of the wicked, doe either not ſee or not bewaile theſe their ſinnes, and therefore doe not ſo much as ſeeke after, much leſſe enioy theſe pretious promiſes: and the fruit of them. An other ſort (who are more to be pitied for their want of this comfort which God hath prepared for them, and ſo plentifully p. 265promiſed to them in eſpeciall) bee they who groane vnderunder the burden of their infirmities, and take much pains to be eaſed; yet in long time finding ſmall amendment, be much diſcouraged with feare, that they ſhall neuer be able to ouercome theſe corruptions which doe moſt annoy them. I cannot thinke of any thing to bee a greater cauſe of this diſcouragement in theſe, then either the ignorance, forgetfulneſſe, or not beleeuing theſe promiſes,Phil. 1. 6.Phil 1:6 that Hee who hath begun the good worke in them, will perfect it vntill the day of Chriſt: and as God promiſed oft, to his people going to conquer the land of Canaan, Deut. 7. 2… 11. 25Deut 7:2that no enemie ſhould bee able to ſtand againſt them:Ioſu…. 1. 5. 10. 8. ſo hath hee as certainely promiſed to theſe, that no ſinne ſhall hauehave dominion ouer them.

It remaineth therefore, that theſe and all other, who deſire to conquer their corrupt nature, p. 266and vnruely luſts thereof, th… they do oft ſet before themſelues theſe promiſes, and ſo conſidering that he is faithfull who hath promiſed, confidently looke for the victory, and ſo conſtantly fight till they obtaine the ſame.

This I hope may ſuffiſe in this point, to quiet the minds of all that be troubled with the doubt, how they ſhall be able to get the maſtery ouer their greateſt corruptions.

If any ſhould further require, to hauehave particular promiſes for particular ſinnes, hee is to know that howſoeuer the Lord doth ſometimes deſcend to particulars,Ezek. 36. 25, 26.Ezek 36:25Ezek 36:26 as that the wil cleanſe them frō their Idols, and that he will take away the ſtony heart out of them, and ſuch like:

Yet this is not done in eueryevery ſin, neither is it needfull; for when God ſpeaketh ſo generally, that he will clenſe vsus from all vnrighteouſnes, and that he will heale al p. 267our diſeaſes, and the like many (as we hauehave ſeene in the forenamed places) who would require more? Let vsus then learne to apply theſe generall promiſes to our particular occaſions, & I nothing doubt but it will as ſufficiently comfort vsus, as if the Lord had ſaide in particular, hee will kill our pride, our vnbeleefe, our hypocriſie, and the reſt.

OnelyOnly let vsus be familiarly acquainted with theſe (as need ſhal require) and be oft in meditation vponupon theſe (whereof wee ſhall hauehave daily vſe:) and hereunto ioyne feruent prayer, that the Lord would perſwade vsus by his Spirit thus to reſt vponupon his promiſe for his helpe in our greateſt need; and then ſhal we more couragiouſly ſet our ſelues againſt our greateſt ſinnes, and dayly more and more get the victory ouer them all, to the honour of God, and of our holy profeſsion; to the good enſample and incouragement p. 268of our brethren, and to the preſent comfort and ſaluation of our owne ſoules, &c.