The Christian Warfare Part 1, Book 2 · Chapter 31
CHAP. XXXI. Sathans tentations mouing men to reſt in a counterfait repentance, anſwered.
§ Sect. 1 ANd ſomuch for the anſwering of thoſe tentations wherby Sathan laboreth to make vsus delay and deferre our repentance from day to day:That the promiſes of the goſpell are made onelyonly to thoſe who repentſeriouſly. with which, if he cannot preuaile both becauſe we ſee the neceſſitie of repentance vntounto ſaluation, and alſo plainly perceiue by the former reaſons that delayes are moſt dangerous, then hee will laboure in the next place to perſwade vsus to content our ſelues with a ſmale meaſure of repentance, or rather in truth with a coūterfait worke-repentance, which is only in outward ſhew and neuer pearceth the heart; making vsus beleeue that if when wee ſee our ſinns, hauing our conſciences conuinced out of Gods word we doe in ſome generall tearmes confeſſe that we are all ſinners, and deſire God after a formall manner to hauehave merciemercy vppon vsus, if we can ſometime ſtraine from vsus a broken ſighe and be content to leaue ſome of our leaſt pleaſing ſinnes, our repentance wilbe very acceptable to God, and ſufficient for our ſaluation.
And with this tentation Sathan deludeth, and deſtroyeth, innumerable men in theſe our dayes, and therefore it behooueth eueryevery man, to prepare himſelfe for this incounter. And to this ende we are to know that the mercy of God, and merits of Chriſt, dot… not belong vntounto thoſe who thus ſlubber ouer their repentance; neither doth Chriſt Ieſus call vntounto him ſuch as ſlightly ſorrow for their ſinnes, and thinke the burthen of them light, and eaſie to bee borne, but ſuch as labour, and are heauie loaden. as appeareth Matth. 11.28. Come vntounto me all ye who are wearie and heauie loaden, and I will eaſe you. In which wordes our ſauiour Chriſt plainely ſheweth whom hee calleth to the participation of the worke of redemption wrought by him, and what meaſure of repentance hee requireth of them; for the firſt worde foreign ſignifieth ſuch as labour vntill they bee wearie, and the other worde foreign ſignifieth ſuch as are heauie laden with a burthen vnſupportable and therefore, being grieuouſly preſſed therewith, they deſire nothing more, then to bee caſe of it, for foreign from which this worde is deriued properly ſignifieth the burthen of a ſhippe, and is taken metaphorically for any thing which is very troubleſome and grieuous. So that by ioyning theſe two together our ſauiour euidently declareth whom hee calleth, and inuiteth vntounto him. Namely thoſe onelyonly who knowne, acknowledge, and feele, that their ſinnes are an intollerable heauie burthen, and being exceedingly vexed with them, moſt earneſtly deſire to bee eaſed, and releaſed of them, and to this purpoſe flee vntounto Chriſt by a true and liuely faith finding themſelues deſtitute of all meanes whereby they may otherwiſe be eaſed and releeued.
§ Sect. 2 If then wee could hauehave any aſſurance that wee are in the number of thoſe whom Chriſt calleth and inuiteth vntounto him, wee muſt hauehave firſt a ſight, and ſenſe, of our ſinnes,What things are required in thoſe who truly repent. and a true and feeling knowledge of our miſerable, and wretched eſtate, in which we are, by reaſon of them, and the puniſhment due vntounto them. Secondly we muſt be wearie in bearing this heauie burthen, as being moſt irkeſome and grieuous vntounto us. Thirdly wee muſt hauehave an earneſt deſire to be eaſed and freed from it. Laſtly we muſt come vntounto Chriſt by a true and liuely faith, to the ende that hee may eaſe and releaſe vsus.
1. Knowledge and ſight of their ſinnes.For the firſt Wee muſt come to the knowledge of our ſinnes, before wee can truely repent of them, for we cannot ſorrowe for them, vntill wee ſee them; neither is it ſufficient that wee ſee, and know, that wee are greeuous and hanious ſinners, vnleſſe we alſo feele the waight of this intollerable burthen, preſſing vsus downe, and vexing, and grieuing vsus euen to the verie heart; for wicked and prophane men may ſee their ſinnes, (for what can hide them from their eyes being ſo innumerable in multitude, and ſo grieuous and hainous in reſpect of their quantitie, and quallitie, but yet they feele not their waight, neither are troubled with them; nay it is a paſtime to a foole to doe wickedly, as it is Prou. 10.23. and the abhominable filthie ſinner drinketh iniquitie like water, as it is Iob. 15.16. and there are ſome ſo delighted with vngodlineſſe, and all lewd prophaneſſe that they euen drawe vntounto them iniquitie with the cordes of vanitie, and ſinne as with cart-ropes, as the prophet ſpeaketh Eſa. 5.18. and though they bee laden with their ſinnes as it were with an intollerable burthen, yet they feele them not, neither are they any thing vexed with their waight, and though the iniquitie of ſinners bee ſo heauie that the earth cannot beare it but reeleth too and fro like a drunken man, and is remooued like a tent, as it is Eſay 24.20. though it make all the creatures grone and trauaile in paine together, as the Apoſtle ſheweth Rom. 8.22. yea though it euen wearieth God himſelfe in ſuffering and bearing with it, as it is Eſa. 43.24. yet doe they walke bolt vpright, and with ſtretched out neckes, neuer ſo much as ſtooping vnderunder this vnſupportable burthen, till at laſt it growe ſo heauie, that it ouerwhelmeth them, and preſſeth them downe to the bottome of hel.
The reaſon here of is becauſe they are wholy plunged yea drowned and dead in their ſinns, and therefore as thoſe who being diued to the bottome of ſome deepe water, doe not feele the waight of that which is aboue them, whereas if they were pulled out of the waters; they would be ouerwhelmed with the burthen of one tunne, ſo thoſe who are deeply plū ged into the gulph of ſinne and wickedneſſe, doe not feele the waight of this intollerable burthen, but if once they come out of their ſinns by vnfained repentance, the waight of ſome few of them woulde preſſe them downe vntounto the gates of hell, if they bee not ſupported and freed from this burthen by our ſauiour Ieſus Chriſt.
But ſuch as theſe, are not called by our ſauiour, neither will he eaſe them, though their burthen be neuer ſo intollerable; but he inuiteth thoſe onelyonly who are heauie laden, and finding their burthen irkeſome are wearie of it and deſire to be eaſed; he harkeneth only vntounto thoſe who from their harts cry out with Dauid. pſal. 38.4. mine iniquities are gone ouer my head, and as a waighty burthen they are to heauie for me. 6. I am bowed and crooked very ſore, I goe mourning all the day. He reſpecteth only thoſe who are of a broken heart and contrite ſpirit,Pſal. 51.17. Eſay 66.2. for theſe only perfourme the condition of the couenant and conſequently to them alone the promiſes contayned in the couenant doe appertaine.
§ Sect. 3 The condition of the couenant is faith and repentance,That hee who feeleth not his ſinnes hath neither faith nor repētance. neither of which doth hee performe who doth not ſee nor feele the burthen of his ſinnes; for wee will neuer reſt vponupon Chriſt for our ſaluation, vnleſſe wee ſee that wee hauehave no meanes of our owne to eſcape condemnation, wee will neuer ſeeke vntounto Chriſt to be our redeemer vnleſſe wee perceiue that we are the bondſlaues of ſinne and Sathan, wee will neuer labour to obtaine the riches of his righteouſneſſe, vnleſſe we diſcerne our owne nakedneſſe and beggerie, we will neuer come vntounto Chriſt to be waſhed and purged from the pollution of our ſinnes and corruptions with his bloud, vnleſſe we ſee our naturall filthineſſe, wee will neuer deſire to be eaſed of the heauy burthen of our ſinnes, vnleſſe wee feele the waight of them, we will neuer intreat Chriſt to be our Phyſition, vnleſſe wee find that our ſoules are ſicke in ſinne; we will neuer goe vntounto him who is the author of life, vnleſſe we ſee that we are dead in our ſinnes, in a word we will neuer intreat Gods mercy, vntill wee feele our owne miſerie.
If therefore without this ſenſe of ſinne we will neuer come vntounto Chriſt, then conſequently without it we ſhall neuer be eaſed, for he…th thoſe onelyonly from condemnation who relie themſelues wholy vponupon him for their ſaluatiō, he came to be their redeemer alone who feele their miſerable captiuity, and earneſtly deſire to be releaſed, he wil not inrich any but thoſe who perceiue their owne beggery, and craue reliefe, he will not waſh any with his precious bloud; but thoſe who ſee their pollution and filthineſſe, and come vntounto him intreating him to purge and cleanſe them, he will not eaſe any but thoſe who finding their ſinnes to be a heauie burthen, are wearie and come vntounto him to be freed from them; he came into the world to be a phyſition, not to thoſe who feele no infirmitie, but to thoſe who are ſicke and diſeaſed; he came to giuegive life to thoſe alone who are dead in their ſins and treſpaſſes; neither will the Lord ſhew mercy vntounto any, but vntounto thoſe alone who perceiue their eſtate to bee moſt wretched and miſerable.
For who can imagine that the Lord who is moſt infinite in wiſedome, ſhould vnaduiſedly beſtow his benefits vponupon ſuch, as finding no want of them, do not deſire them; when they are without them, nor eſteeme them though they had them, and conſequently will neuer be truely thankefull for that which they neither want, deſire, nor eſteeme; who can in reaſon conceiue that he will offer himſelfe to bee a Sauiour, to ſuch as doe not thinke themſelues loſt and condemned, or to be their redeemer who will not acknowledge that they are in captiuitie, or that he will beſtow the riches of his righteouſneſſe vponupon ſuch proud beggers, as find no need thereof, being righteous inough themſelues in their owne conceipts, that hee will vainely ſpend his precious bloud in waſhing of thoſe who thinke themſelues cleane already, and need no ſuch purging, that he will in compaſſion eaſe thoſe of the burthen of their ſinnes who were neuer troubled with bearing of them; that hee will offer them any phyſicke who will not acknowledge themſelues ſicke; or to giuegive life to thoſe who will not confeſſe that they are dead in ſinne; and who can imagine that the Lord will euer ſhewe to thoſe his mercy, who will neuer ſhew to the Lord their wretched miſerie.
Whoſoeuer therfore hauehave not a true ſenſe and feeling of the heauie burthen of their ſinnes; they wil neuer come vntounto Chriſt, neither can they euer hauehave any aſſurance that he will eaſe thē, & conſequently they are deſtiture of a true faith which is the chiefe condition of the couenant of grace; but as they want faith, ſo alſo they can neuer attaine vntounto true repentance. For ſo long as they hauehave not the ſenſe of their ſinnes they are not grieued with them, neither doe they deſire to leaue and forſake them, and as thoſe who bearing a burthen and are not vexed with the waight, they are not wearie of bearing it, nor deſirous to leaue it; ſo thoſe who being loaded with the vnſupportable burthen of their ſinnes and hauehave no ſenſe of the waight they are not grieued with wearineſſe nor deſirous to be freed from it, and conſequently they are deſtitute of true repentance which is nothing els but an harty griefe and a true ſorrow for our ſinnes paſt and an earneſt deſire and indeuour to leaue and forſake them in the time to come.
§. Sect. 4 So that whoſoeuer hauehave not a true ſenſe and feeling of the vnſupportable waight of ſinne,The former point prooued by particular teſtimonies. they are deſtitute of true faith and repentance, and therefore the promiſes of the goſpell being made, onelyonly to the faithfull & repentant ſinners, doe not appertaine vntounto them. Which may more euidently appeare if wee conſider ſome of the particulars; Eſay 61.1. It is ſaid that our ſauiour Chriſt was ſent to preach glad tidings vntounto the poore, to bind vp the broken harted, to preach libertie to the captiues, and to them that are bound, the opening of the priſon. 2. To comfort all that mourne, and to giuegive vntounto them beautie for aſhes, the oyle of ioy for mourning, and the garment of gladneſſe for the ſpirit of heauineſſe. Math. 9.13. our ſauiour ſaith that he came not to call the righteous, but ſinners to repentance, and the apoſtle witneſſeth of him, that he came into the world to ſaue ſinners. 1. Tim. 1.15. If therfore we be not poore in ſpirit and broken harted, if we be not miſerable captiues, heauie mourners, & wretched ſinners, our ſauiour Chriſt was not ſent to preach the glad tidings of the goſpell vntounto vsus, hee will not giuegive vsus libertie nor affoord vsus any comfort, hee came not to call vsus neither will hee ſaue vsus. So our Sauiour profeſſeth, Math. 18.11. that he came to ſaue that which was loſt, and to fetch home the wandring ſheepe. If therefore wee bee not loſt in our ſelues wee ſhall neuer bee found of Chriſt, if wee doe not confeſſe with the Prophet Eſay, that wee hauehave gone aſtray like wādring ſheepe,Eſay 53.6. he will neuer ſeeke vsus, nor cary vsus on his bleſſed ſhoulders to the ſheepfould of eternall happineſſe. In a word as without the ſenſe of ſinne, we can neuer attaine vntounto faith and repentance, ſo without faith and repentance, we can neuer hauehave any aſſurance of any of the promiſes of the Goſpell.
§. Sect. 5 And therefore it behooueth vsus as we tender our ſaluation, that wee labour after the ſight and ſenſe of our ſinnes,The meanes whereby wee may attaine so a true ſight of our liues. 2. King. 22.19. Act. 2.37. that with good Ioſias our hearts melt within vsus, and euen reſolue themſelues into the teares of vnfained repentance; that we euen rent our heart with true compunction, as the Prophet exhorteth. Ioel. 2.13. and that with the Iewes wee hauehave our hearts prickt within vsus, when we come to the ſight of our ſinnes, and all this not ſo much in regard of the puniſhment we hauehave deſerued, as that by our ſinnes wee hauehave diſpleaſed our good God and gratious father, and hauehave cauſed our ſauiour Chriſt who is the Lord of life, to be put to a ſhamefull and painefull death.Zach. 12.10
And that wee may attaine vntounto this ſenſe and feeling of our ſinnes,1. Meanes prayers. there are diuers meanes to be vſed effectuall for this purpoſe; as firſt we are to hauehave our recourſe vntounto God by earneſt and feruent prayer, deſiring and intreating that he will annoint the blind eyes of our vnderſtandings,Reuel. 3.17.18. with the pretious eye ſalue of his holy ſpirit, that we may ſee our owne wretchedneſſe, miſerie, pouertie, blindneſſe and nakedneſſe, and that hee will ſoften our hard hearts, with the oyle of his grace, and ſo beate theſe ſtonie rockes, that out of thē may flow plentiful ſtreams of vnfained repentance.
Secondly,2. Meditating in the law. we are oftentimes to ſet the law as a glaſſe before vsus that ſo we may ſee our deformities, and to examine our liues thereby as it were by a rule or ſquare, that ſo wee may know both how often we hauehave erred & tranſgreſſed it in the time paſt, and how vnable we are to performe it for the time to come in that exact maner which God requireth. For as the deformities and ſpots in the face though they be great and many, cannot be deſcerned of thoſe who hauehave them, vnleſſe they looke themſelues in a glaſſe, and though eueryevery one els doth plainly ſee thē, yet the party himſelfe doth leaſt of all perceiue them: ſo though our ſpirituall deformities and filthy ſpots of ſinne, appeare moſt vgly and odious in the eies of God & men, ſo that eueryevery one ſeemeth to point at them, yet wee our ſelues will neuer diſcerne them, vnleſſe we ſet the looking glaſſe of the law before vsus.
Thirdly,3. Meditating of the iuſtice and truth of God. Iob 4.18. & 15.15. Eſa. 64.6. we are often and earneſtly to meditate vponupon the iuſtice and truth of God, in whoſe preſence the heauens are not cleane, and the Angels themſelues are vnable to abide the rigour of his iuſtice, and how much more is man abominable and filthy, who drinketh iniquitie like water. In whoſe ſight out beſt righteouſneſſe is like a polluted cloth, and how much more filthy then are our ſinnes and wickedneſſe, moreouer as he is moſt iuſt ſo as he cannot let ſinne goe vnpuniſhed, ſo alſo hee is moſt true, yea truth it ſelfe, neither can any of thoſe threatnings fall to the ground vnexecuted, which he hath denounced againſt thoſe who liue in their ſinnes, and therefore there is no meanes to eſcape his fearfull iudgements, vnleſſe we turne from our ſinnes and meete the Lord by vnfained repentance.
Fourthly, let vsus continually remember that we muſt once appeare before Gods tribunall ſeate of iudgement,4. Meditation of the laſt iudgement. there to render an accompt not onelyonly of our words and workes but euen of our ſecret thoughts, when as the Lord himſelfe who ſearcheth the hearts and reignes ſhalbe our iudge who will not acquit the guilty, nor reſpect the perſon of man, neither will he be ſatiſfied with faire pretences and ſmooth excuſes, nor corrupted with brides and gifts.1. Cor. 11. And therefore let vsus iudge our ſelues that we may not be iudged of the Lord, and in bitterneſſe of ſoule and remorſe of conſcience let vsus condemne our ſelues to be miſerable ſinners, that the Lord may acquite vsus and make vsus taſt of his mercy.
5. Remembrance of thoſe puniſhments due to the wicked.Laſtly, let vsus ſeriouſly meditate on thoſe fearefull puniſhments, which are prepared for thoſe who liue and die in their ſinnes; for they ſhall for euer be ſeperated from the preſence of God, the ioyes of heauen, and the ſweete companie of the Saints and Angels, and be caſt into eternall darknes, where they ſhall for euer and euer be tormented in flames vnquenchable, all which horrible puniſhments are due vntounto all,Gal. 3.10. who continue not in all which is written in the booke of the law to doe them, and therefore how ſhall we eſcape who in ſtead of continuing in obedience to all Gods commandements, hauehave continualy brokē them aland done the clean contrary, if we do not in the ſenſe of the heauy burthen of our ſinnes, humble our ſelues before God by vnfained repentance, and come vntounto Chriſt by a true and liuely faith, that we may bee eaſed of this intollerable waight, and adorned with his righteouſneſſe and obedience.
§. Sect. 6 And ſo much concerning the firſt ſigne, whereby thoſe may be diſcerned whom Chriſt calleth,The 2. thing required is that our ſins be irkſome & greeuous vntounto vsus. namely the ſight and ſenſe of their ſinnes. But it is not ſufficient that we feele our ſinnes like a heauie burthen, preſſing vsus down if we be contētto bear it ſtil, but it muſt ſeeme irkſom and grieuous vntounto vsus, and make vsus exceeding weary of bearing it, we muſt with the Apoſtle Peter thinke it ſufficiēt that we hauehave ſpent the time paſt of our liues, after the luſt of the Gentiles in abominable ſinnes, and for the time to come we are to liue after the will of God, dedicating our ſelues wholy to his worſhip and ſeruice. Otherwiſe, though we hauehave neuer ſo exquiſite a ſight and ſenſe of our ſins, yet if they ſeeme vntounto vsus a ſweet burthen which we are content ſtill to beare without any great wearineſſe, nay with pleaſure and delight, if wee bee like the rich miſer who though his backe ſhould be almoſt broken with the waight of his owne gold, yet would not thinke it any trouble, nay would eſteeme it for his chiefe felicity becauſe his burthen pleaſeth him, ſo if we feeling that our ſinnes are an huge and maſſy burthen, are neuertheleſſe not troubled nor wearie of bearing them, but rather take our chiefe delight in being ſo loded; becauſe the burthen is exceeding ſweet and delightfull to vsus, we may aſſure our ſelues that we are not in the number of thoſe whom Chriſt calleth, for hee inuiteth them onelyonly vntounto him? who being heauy laden with the waight of their ſinnes are wearie of their burthen, and ſorrow and greeue, that they cannot ſhake it of, nor be freed from it. Crying out with the Apoſtle Paule, Rom. 7.24. O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliuer mee from the bodie of this death.
§. Sect. 7 The third ſigne,The 3. thinge is an earneſt deſire to be freed from our ſinnes. whereby wee may know thoſe whome Chriſt calleth, is that being vexed with the heauy burthen of ſinne, they earneſtly deſire to be eaſed and releaſed of it; for as thoſe who are ouerpreſſed with a heauy burthen, deſire aboue all things to be freed from it, ſo thoſe who feele the waight of ſinne preſſing them downe and are weary & tired in bearing of it, they moſt earneſtly deſire to bee eaſed of this intollerable burthen, and will neuer bee at reſt till their deſire bee accompliſhed.
This deſire reſembled to hunger and thirſt.This deſire in the Scriptures is reſembled to hunger and thirſt; in which theſe two things concurre, firſt a ſenſe of our want, and ſecondly an appetite or earneſt deſire to be ſatiſfied, and to hauehave our want ſupplied; and ſo in theſe ſpirituall things, firſt we feele the want of Gods graces and Chriſtes righteouſneſſe, and then wee earneſtly deſire that wee may be filled and ſatiſfied with them. So that to hunger and thirſt after the grace of God, and the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt, and to be wearie and heauie laden are much alike, & both are bleſſed of the Lorde; for as thoſe who hunger, and thirſt after righteouſneſſe, are bleſſed becauſe they ſhall bee ſatiſfied, as it is, Matth. 5.6. So they are bleſſed who are wearie and heauie laden, with the burthen of their ſinnes, for ſuch Chriſt calleth vntounto him, and hath promiſed to eaſe them, that is, to giuegive vntounto them the remiſſion of their ſinnes, and to releaſe them of this burthen, by taking it vponupon his owne ſhoulders. And as our Sauiour calleth and inuiteth vntounto him ſuch as are wearie and heauie laden. Matth. 11.28. So in diuers other places, he inuiteth and calleth thoſe, who hunger and thirſt after his righteouſnes So Eſa. 55.1. To eueryevery one that thirſteth come yee to the waters, and yee that hauehave no ſiluer come buie, and eate, come I ſay buy wine, and milke, without mony. and Iohn 7.37. Ieſus cryed ſaying; If any man thirſt, let him come vntounto mee and drinke. Apoc. 21.6. I will giuegive to him who is a thirſt, Apoc. 21.6. and 22.17.of the well of the water of life freely. and 22.17. Let him that is a thirſt come, and let whoſoeuer will, take of the well of the water of life freely. a notable example of this thirſting wee hauehave in Dauid. Pſal. 63.1. O God thou art my God, early wil I ſeeke thee, my ſoule thirſteth for thee. and 42.1. as the hart brayeth for the riuers of water, ſo panteth my ſoule after thee O God. 2. my ſoule thirſteth for God, euen for the liuing God. and Pſal. 143.6. my ſoule thirſteth after thee, as the thirſtie land. Which thirſt whoſoeuer feeleth, he may boldly aſſure himſelfe, that hee is in the number of thoſe whom Chriſt calleth, and that will ſatiſfie him.
Whoſoeuer therefore hungreth and thirſteth after the grace of God, and righteouſnes of Chriſt, whoſoeuer is wearie and heauie laden, that is, who ſo hath a true ſenſe, and feeling of his ſinnes, and is vexed, and greeued, with the burthen thereof, and withall, his heart deſireth to to be eaſed of his loade, though he thinke himſelfe in a moſt miſerable eſtate, yet if he come vntounto Chriſt, and with blind Bartemaeus crie out O ſonne of Dauid hauehave mercy on mee, I may fitly ſay vntounto him, as it was ſay do vntounto this blind man: Bee of good comfort, for Chriſt calleth thee.
§. Sect. 8 The laſt thing required in thoſe whome Chriſt calleth, is, that they come vntounto him.The laſt thing required is that we come vntounto Chriſt. for to whom ſhould wee come for eaſe, but vntounto Chriſt himſelfe, ſeeing their is neither ſaint nor Angell, that can eaſe vsus, for the waight of one ſinne would preſſe them downe into hell; wheras our Sauiour Chriſt is able to beare the burthen of our ſinnes, nay he hath alreadie borne them, that wee might bee deliuered from them. As it is, 1. Pet. 2.24. neither it is likely, that either ſaint or Angel, would ſo willingly helpe vsus as our Sauiour Chriſt Ieſus, who ſo tenderly loued vsus that hee came into the worlde, to lay downe his own moſt precious life as a price for our redemption; and though they were willing, yet they hauehave not the like abilitie vntounto him, who hath all power in heauen, and earth cōmitted vntounto him,Mat. 11.27. for working the worke of our redemption. And therfore, ſeeing he wanteth neither louelove, nor power, let vsus goe vntounto him, and him onelyonly. Otherwiſe we ſhal commit a double follie, that is, we ſhall leaue Chriſt, who is the foūtaine of liuing water, & dig vntounto our ſelues broken ciſternes, which will hould no water.Iere. 2.13. For there is not ſaluation in any other, neither is their amonge men any other name giuen vnderunder heauen, whereby we muſt be ſaued. as it is, Actes 4.12. Hee is the way which leadeth vntounto euerlaſting happineſſe, he is the truth, to inſtruct vsus in all the counſailes of God, hee is the life to reuiue vsus, who were dead in our ſinnes, yea the life of euerlaſting life, and the perfection of our heauenly happineſſe. Iohn 14.6. Hee hath taken vponupon him our infirmities, and borne our paines, hee was wounded for our offences, and ſmitten for our iniquities, the paine of our puniſhment was layd vponupon him, and with his ſtripes wee are healed. Eſa. 53.4.5.6. To whom therefore ſhould wee goe in our ſickeneſſe, but to this our heauenly phyſition? whoſe helpe ſhould wee ſeeke for the curing of our woundes, but the helpe of this our bleſſed ſurgeon who will eaſily cure them all, with the precious balme of his bloud? whether ſhould wee returne after our long wandring, but vntounto the ſhepheard of our ſoules? to whome ſhould wee ſeeke to bee preſerued from death, and damnation, but to him, who is the Lorde of life, and ſaluation? and therefore leauing all other meanes of our owne diuiſing, let vsus repaire vntounto him, and him alone, for hee calleth and inuiteth vsus, promiſing that hee will eaſe vsus.
But how ſhould we come vntounto Chriſt, and what is meant hereby? ſurely wee are not to vnderſtand a corporall or local comming vntounto him, for hee is in heauen, and wee are vponupon the earth, but our comming is ſpirituall not of the body but of the ſoule.
§. Sect. 9 And this is twofould, the comming of repentance, and the comming of faith,This comming to Chriſt twofold. the comming of repentance, is perfectly to God the father, the comming of faith, is to Chriſt Ieſus, both which are mentioned, Act. 20.21. witneſſing repentance towardes God, and faith towards Ieſus Chriſt. For repentance is nothing, but a turning from our ſinnes, & a returning to God, & faith cauſeth vsus to goe out of our ſelues, vntounto Chriſt, ſeeking ſaluation in him alone.
So that our comming to Chriſt, is to beleeue in him, for thus Chriſt himſelfe expoundeth it, Iohn 6.35. Hee that commeth unto mee ſhall not hunger, and he that beleeueth in me, ſhall neuer thirſt. So chap. 7.37.38. If any man thirſt, let him come vntounto me and drinke. He that beleeueth in mee as ſaith the ſcriptures, out of his bellie ſhall flow riuers of the water of life. This then doth Chriſt only require of all penitent ſinners, who are wearie, and heauie laden, with the burthen of their ſinnes, that they beleeue in him, that is, that by a liuely faith, they doe apply vntounto themſelues Chriſt Ieſus, and all his benefites, and aſſure themſelues that whatſoeuer he hath done in the worke of mediation, and redemption, hee did it for their ſakes; namely, that hee left the booſome of his father, and taking vponupon him our fleſh, became the ſonne of man, that hee might make vsus the ſonnes of God, and heyres of his euerlaſting kingdome, that hee was conceiued by the holy Ghoſt, to ſanctifie our conception, that hee here ſuffered hunger, cold, wearineſſe, and other miſeries of this life, that hee might make vsus partakers of all happineſſe in the life to come, that hee performed perfect obedience to the law, that hee might decke and adorne vsus with the rich robe of his righteouſneſſe, that notwithſtanding, hee was moſt iuſt and innocent, yet hee was condemned to death, before an earthly iudge, that we who were wicked, and vniuſt, might bee acquitted, and abſolued, before the iudgement ſeate of God, that he died vponupon the croſſe, to preſerue vsus from euerlaſting death of hell, that hee indured his fathers anger, that wee might bee reconciled vntounto him, that hee bore the curſſe of the law, that he might canſell the handwriting of ordinances which made, againſt vsus, that hee roſe againe and aſcended into heauen, that hee might bee the firſt fruites of them that ſlept, and by his entrance into heauen, might make way for vsus alſo, that hee ſitteth at the right hand of God, to make interceſſion for vsus, and to protect and defend vsus againſt all our enemies, that hee ſhall come to iudge both the quicke and the dead, to the end he may giuegive vntounto vsus, perfect redemption, and crowne vsus with euerlaſting glorie; And if wee thus beleeue in Chriſt, and applie him with all his benifites vntounto vsus, we may aſſure our ſelues that he will eaſe vsus of the heauie burthen of our ſins, cloth vsus, with the glorious aray of his righteouſneſſe, and giuegive vntounto vsus the eternal poſſeſſion of thoſe euerlaſting ioies, which by his death and bloudſhed he hath dearely purchaſed for vsus.