The Christian Warfare Part 1, Book 2 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. That our ſinnes and vnworthineſſe ſhould not make vsus doubt of Gods louelove.
§. Sect. 1 SEeing therefore that our doubting and diſtruſting of Gods louelove towards vsus, is both iniurious vntounto God and pernicious vntounto our ſelues; let vsus in no caſe admit of Sathans temptations whereby he laboureth to perſwade vsus that the Lord hateth vsus. But foraſmuch as there is no perſwaſiō without knowledge and faith, neither can we know and beleeue that we are in Gods fauour, vnleſſe we hauehave ſome ground and warrant out of Gods word, whereupon we may caſt our wauering mindes, and confirme our fainting faith againſt the boyſterous blaſts of Sathans temptations: therefore let vsus examine Sathans reaſons, whereby he goeth about to perſwade vsus that we are not beloued of God, by the touchſtone of Gods word; and waigh his obiections in the ſcoles of the ſanctuarie, to ſee if they be of any waight or ſubſtance, or els but frauthie, light, and of no ſound conſequence.
Anſwere to Sathans temptations grounded vponupon our vnworthines.Firſt therefore whereas Sathan obiecteth that we are miſerable ſinners, vnworthie altogether of Gods louelove, and moſt worthie of his wrath and heauie diſpleaſure; that God is infinitly iuſt, and therefore cannot nor will not louelove vsus being notoriouſly wicked: we are to anſwere, that indeede we are in our ſelues vnworthie the leaſt dram of Gods louelove, by reaſon of our originall corruption, and actuall tranſgreſſion; and therefore if our aſſurance of Gods fauour, had no other foundation but our owne deſerts, we had great reaſon not onelyonly to doubt, but alſo vtterly to deſpaire of Gods louelove towards vsus. But the louelove of God is not grounded vponupon our worthines which is nothing,Gods louelove not grounded on our worthines. but vponupon his owne good will and pleaſure, which is infinit as himſelfe is infinit; and therefore though in our ſelues we are moſt miſerable and wretched, yet this is no reaſon why we ſhould diſtruſt or in the leaſt degree doubt of Gods louelove, ſeeing it ariſeth not from any thing in vsus, but from himſelfe who is vnchangeable.
The truth hereof manifeſtly appeareth by the ſcriptures, where it is ſaid that the Lord hath loued vsus not for our excellencie and worthineſſe, but of his free grace and louing kindneſſe. So Hoſ. 14.5. I will heale their rebellion; Hoſ. 14.5.I will louelove them freely, &c. And the Apoſtle Iohn telleth vsus that herein Gods louelove appeareth, in that when we loued not him, he ſo deerely loued vsus,1. Ioh. 4.10. that he ſent his ſonne to be a reconciliation for our ſinnes; 1. Ioh. 4.10. And Paul ſaith, that hereby God ſetteth out his louelove towards vsus, ſeeing that whileſt we were yet ſinners,Rom. 5.8.10. Chriſt died for vsus, and when we were enemies God reconciled vsus vntounto himſelfe by the death of his ſonne. Rom. 5.8.10. If therefore the Lord loued vsus when we were enemies vntounto him and dead in our ſinnes; how much more will he louelove vsus now being reconciled in Chriſt, and in ſome meaſure purged from our corruption, and quickned by his ſpirit to newneſſe of life? If when we were moſt vnworthie, he freely ſhewed ſuch exceeding fauour towards vsus: how much more hauing by his ſpirit and the graces thereof made vsus more worthie, will he continue his louelove vntounto vsus? If he hath hetherto loued vsus not for any deſerts of ours, but of his free merciemercy, becauſe he is louelove it ſelfe, as Iohn calleth him,1. Ioh. 4.8. 1. Pet. 5.10. 1. Ioh. 4.8. and the God of grace, as Peter maketh him, 1. Pet. 5.10: why ſhould we doubt of Gods louelove in reſpect of our vnworthineſſe, ſeeing his louelove hath not his ground vponupon our worthineſſe, but vponupon his owne nature which is immutable, and therefore whom he once loueth, he loueth them vntounto the end, though in themſelues they are miſerable and wretched. Ioh. 13.1.Ioh. 13.1.
§. Sect. 2 But as the Scriptures ſhew that God hath loued vsus freely from all eternitie; ſo alſo doe they as plainely declare, that God hath manifeſted this louelove in the worke of our ſaluation freely, and without any reſpect of our worthines: as may appeare in the ſeuerall cauſes thereof.Gods election not grounded on our works and worthines. Rom. 11.5, 6. As firſt he hath elected vsus of his owne free louelove and good will, and not for any of our deſerts; and therefore it is called the election not of vertue and works but of grace. Rom. 11.5. Nay it is flatly oppoſed to workes in the verſe following. And if (ſaith the Apoſtle) it be of grace it is no more of works, or els were grace no more grace: but if it be of works it is no more grace, or els were worke no more worke. So that our election is not grounded vponupon our worthineſſe, but on Gods grace and goodwill: and therefore it cannot be ouerthrowne by our vnworthineſſe, ſo we wholy rely vponupon Gods free merciemercy in Chriſt.
Our worthineſſe is not the condition of Gods couenant.Secondly the couenant betweene God and vsus, wherein he profeſſeth himſelfe our God, and taketh vsus for his people and heires of his promiſes, is not the couenant of workes, but the couenant of grace: in which hee offereth freely in Chriſt, his grace and mercy to all who will receiue it, by the hand of a liuely faith. And this the Lord himſelfe expreſſeth Ierem. 31.31. Beholde the dayes come ſaith the Lord, that I will make a new couenant with the houſe of Iſrael (that is, my Church.Ierem. 31.31.) 32. Not according to the couenant which I made with their fathers (that is, the couenant of workes) the which my couenant they breake, &c. but this ſhall be my couenant that I will make with the houſe of Iſrael, after thoſe daies ſaith the Lord; I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they ſhall be my people. So the Apoſtle Paul ſaith, that the promiſe made to Abraham and his ſeede, was not giuen through the lawe, but through the righteouſneſſe of faith, Rom. 4.13.Rom. 4.13. and that it was therefore by faith that it might come by grace, and the promiſe might be ſure to all the ſeede. For if the couenant were of workes and not of faith, of deſerts and not of grace, we ſhould continually diſanull and make it of no effect.
§. Sect. 3 Thirdly,Our redemption not cauſed by our worthineſſe. Eph. 1.7, 8. as we are elected before all times, ſo were we in time redeemed freely, and without reſpect of our owne worthineſſe, of the meere mercy and louelove of God; although our Sauiour Chriſt payed the full price of our redemption vntounto God his father for vsus: and this appeareth, Epheſ. 1.7. By whom we hauehave redemption through his blood, euen the forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, according to his rich grace. 8. Whereby he hath been abundant towards vsus in all wiſedome and vnderstanding. So that our redemption was not free vntounto our Sauiour Chriſt, for it coſt him the ineſtimable price of his moſt precious bloud; but it was free vntounto vsus, without any reſpect of our workes and worthineſſe. For we were like deſperate debters, deeply ingaged vntounto God, and not able to pay the leaſt farthing; and therefore were caſt into the priſon of euerlaſting death, there to be detained till we had diſcharged the whole debt: which being impoſſible vntounto vsus, it pleaſed our Sauiour Chriſt of his meere pitie and free goodwill to become our ſuretie, and to make full ſatisfaction to his father, euen to the leaſt mite, that ſo we might be releaſed and ſet free. We were all of vsus miſerable captiues, held in the thraldome of ſinne, Sathan and death, vnable to deſerue in any meaſure to be ſet at libertie; for wee were the children of wrath, who were not ſick only, but euen dead in our ſinnes,Eph. 2.1.5. as it is Eph. 2.1.5 But our Sauiour Chriſt of his vndeſerued louelove did pay the price of our redemption, and ſet vsus out of our captiuitie, quickning and raiſing vsus vp from ſinne to newneſſe of life; as the Apoſtle ſetteth it downe Eph. 2.3. And you were by nature the children of wrath as well as others. Eph. 2.3.44. But God which is rich in merciemercy, through his great louelove wherewith he loued vsus, 5. Euen when we were dead by ſinnes, hath quickened vsus together in Chriſt, by whoſe grace ye are ſaued, 6. And hath raiſed vsus vp together in heauenly places in Chriſt Ieſus. 7. That he might ſhew in ages to come the exceeding riches of his grace, through his kindneſſe towards vsus in Chriſt Ieſus. So that there is no worthineſſe in our ſelues which the Lord reſpected, for we were all alike the children of wrath, and dead in our ſinnes; but onelyonly of his free merciemercy and great louelove, he hath redeemed vsus by Chriſt.
§. Sect. 4 Fourthly,Our worthines no cauſe of our calling. as the Lord hath freely redeemed vsus, ſo alſo hee hath freely called vsus to the knowledge of the myſterie of our redemption wrought by Ieſus Chriſt, and choſen vsus amongſt all nations to be his Church and peculiar people, and that of his meere grace and free goodwill, without any reſpect of our worthines, as appeareth 2. Tim. 1.9. Who hath ſaued vsus, 2. Tim. 1.9.and called vsus with an holy calling, not according to our workes, but according to his owne purpoſe of grace which was giuen vsus through Chriſt Ieſus before the world was. So Moſes telleth the children of Iſrael, that the Lord had called and made choiſe of them aboue all other nations to bee his Church and people, not for any reſpect of themſelues, or their owne worthineſſe, but of his free louelove and vndeſerued merciemercy,Deut. 7.7.8. as it is Deut. 7.7.8. Pſal. 44.3.
Our works and worthineſſe no cauſes of our iuſtification.Fiftly, as the Lord hath freely called vsus, ſo being called he hath freely iuſtified vsus: not for any inherent righteouſneſſe in our ſelues, but of his owne grace and goodwill, through the righteouſneſſe and obedience of Ieſus Chriſt which he imputeth vntounto vsus. And this is euident Rom. 3.24. where it is ſaid, that we are iuſtified freely by Gods grace, Rom. 3.24.through the redemption which is in Chriſt Ieſus. And Tit. 3.7. where the Apoſtle ſaith, that we are iuſtified by his grace. Tit. 3.7.And leaſt wee ſhould ioyne with Gods grace our owne workes and worthines, he telleth vsus that Abraham himſelfe, though a moſt righteous and holy man in reſpect of his ſinceritie and integritie of heart, was notwithſtanding not iuſtified by his workes, but Abraham beleeued God, Rom. 4.3.5.and that was imputed vntounto him for righteouſneſſe, Rom. 4.3: & ver. 5. he flatly excludeth works from being any cauſes of our iuſtification; To him (ſaith he) that worketh not, but beleeueth in him that iuſtifieth the vngodly, his faith is counted for righteouſneſſe. So that wee are freely iuſtified of Gods grace and goodwill, without any reſpect of our owne works and worthineſſe, as being any cauſes of our iuſtification, although they are neceſſarie and inſeparable fruites thereof. For the ſame death and bloudſhed of Chriſt, whereby we are freed from the guilt and puniſhment of ſinne and euerlaſting death, doth free vsus alſo from the death of ſin to newneſſe of life, and doth not onelyonly iuſtifie but alſo ſanctifie vsus, as the Apoſtle plainly ſheweth, Tit. 2.14. Who gaue himſelfe for vsus, that he might redeeme vsus from all iniquitie, Tit. 2.14.(that is, free vsus from the guilt and puniſhment of ſinne to which we were ſubiect) and purge vsus to be a peculiar people vntounto himſelfe, zealous of good workes.
Sixtly, our ſanctification and inherent righteouſneſſe it ſelfe, what is it els but the free gift of God, begun, increaſed, and finiſhed by his gracious ſpirit?That our ſanctification is the free gift of God. what are the graces in vsus but Gods free and vndeſerued gifts? what are our beſt works but the fruites of his ſpirit working in vsus? for by nature wee are dead in our ſinnes, and the children of wrath as well as the vnbeleeuing heathen or moſt prophane worldling,Eph. 2.1.3. Eph. 2.1.3. By nature we are not able ſo much as to thinke a good thought, or to will that which is good, no more than thoſe who remaine in the ſtate of condemnation, as appeareth 2. Cor. 3.5. Phil. 2.13. but it is our Sauiour Chriſt,2. Cor. 3.5. Phil. 2.13. Eph. 3.25.26. who ſo loued his Church, that he gaue himſelfe for it, that he might ſanctifie it and cleanſe it, by the waſhing of water through the word, &c. as it is Eph. 5.25.26. So that when we hauehave attained to the higheſt meaſure of ſanctification that wee can poſſibly attaine vntounto, we muſt in all humilitie confeſſe with Paul, 1. Cor. 15.10.that by the grace of God we are that we are, as it is 1. Cor. 15.10. Neither muſt wee attribute any thing in the worke of our ſaluation, vntounto our ſanctification and good workes, but aſcribe all to the free grace and vndeſerued louelove of God in Chriſt, whereby we are ſanctified and ſtirred vp to new obedience, who were altogether polluted, yea dead in our ſinnes; ſo that our ſanctification and worthineſſe is not the cauſe of Gods louelove and merciemercy towards vsus, but his louelove and free goodwill is the cauſe of our ſanctification, and maketh vsus, who were vnworthie in our ſelues, worthie in Chriſt of his louelove and fauour. And therefore we muſt not meaſure Gods louelove by our worthines and abundance of grace as being a cauſe thereof; nor deſpaire of his fauour and merciemercy, when wee ſee our vnworthines and weaknes in ſanctifying graces; for theſe are no cauſes of his louelove but effects, and conſequently when wee want them altogether, though there be no cauſe of hope whileſt we remaine in this ſtate, yet wee are not vtterly to deſpaire for the time to come, ſeeing the Lord in his good time may begin his good worke in vsus; and when it is begun, and we hauehave receiued the leaſt meaſure of ſanctification, euen a deſire and holie endeuour to liue in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, wee may be aſſured that it is Gods worke, which he hauing begun will finiſh and accompliſh,Phil. 1.6. according to that Phil. 1.6. In the meane time let vsus poſſeſſe our ſoules with patience, and with a quiet and peaceable minde labour after the increaſe of grace, vſing all good meanes ordained of God for this purpoſe, ſubmitting our ſelues, in regard of the meaſure of grace which wee doe deſire, to his good will and pleaſure, who will diſpoſe of all ſo, as ſhall be moſt for his glory and our good. And in any caſe let vsus beware that wee doe not ſo impatiently and violently deſire encreaſe of more grace, as that in the meane time we forget to be thankfull to God for that wee hauehave, turning our ſongs of praiſe for Gods great benefits, into murmuring and repining. Let vsus not be like vntounto rich miſers, who hauehave their mindes ſo intent vponupon the getting of that riches they hauehave not, as that they forget to enioy and take comfort of that they hauehave; let vsus not reſemble thoſe vnthankful men, who when they hauehave receiued many benefits, doe ſtill deſire more, and when their deſires are not preſently ſatisfied, vngratefully murmure againſt their benefactors, as though they had receiued nothing: but let vsus make vſe of thoſe graces which we hauehave receiued, to Gods glory & our comfort; let vsus deſire more, yt we may more glorifie him with his own gifts; and though our deſires be not preſently ſatisfied, let vsus not fall into impatiencie, but ſubmit our ſelues vntounto his goodwill and pleaſure, and be truly thankfull for that portion of grace, which it hath pleaſed him of his abundant merciemercy to beſtow vponupon vsus.
§ Sect. 6 Laſtly,Our owne worthineſſe no cauſe of our ſaluation. Rom. 6.23. Eph 2.8. Tit. 2.11. our ſaluation it ſelfe dependeth not vponupon our owne worthineſſe, but vponupon Gods free mercy and vndeſerued louelove; for ſaluation is the free gift of God, and not the wages of our owne worthineſſe, as death is the wages of ſinne, as appeareth Rom. 6.23. And wee are ſaued by grace through faith, and that not of our ſelues; it is the gift of God, as it is Eph. 2.8. And the Apoſtle telleth vsus, Tit. 2.11. that the grace of God bringeth ſaluation, and teacheth vsus to denie vngodlineſſe and worldly luſts, and that wee ſhould liue ſoberly and righteouſly and godly in this preſent world: ſo that our forſaking ſinne and imbracing holineſſe and righteouſneſſe is not the cauſe of our ſaluation, but the grace of God, by which all theſe effects are alſo wrought in vsus. But moſt plaine is that of the Apoſtle 2. Tim. 1.9. where he excludeth our owne workes and worthineſſe,2. Tim. 1.9. to the end he might aſcribe the whole worke of our ſaluation to Gods grace and goodwill. Who hath ſaued vsus (ſaith he) not according to our workes, but according to his own purpoſe and grace. So Tit. 3.5. Not by the works of righteouſneſſe which we had done, Tit. 3.5.but according to his merciemercy he ſaued vsus, by the waſhing of the new birth, and renuing of the holy Ghoſt.
Seeing therefore Gods louelove is not grounded vponupon our owne worthineſſe, ſeeing he electeth, redeemeth, calleth, iuſtifieth, ſanctifieth, and finally ſaueth vsus of his meere merciemercy and free goodwill, without any reſpect of our owne merits or good workes, let vsus not reſtraine the infinite louelove of God to our deſerts, nor meaſure his vnmeaſurable goodwill by the ſhort ell of our owne merits; but as the Lord hath freely loued vsus, ſo let vsus acknowledge his free and vndeſerued louelove, and relie wholy thereupon, notwithſtanding our vnworthineſſe, ſeeing our worthineſſe is no cauſe of his louelove, but it is his louelove which maketh vsus, and will ſurely make vsus worthie to be beloued, if we reſt wholy vponupon him in Chriſt by a true and liuely faith. For, ſo much as we deſpaire in reſpect of our own vnworthineſſe, ſo much would wee aſcribe to our owne worthineſſe; and looke how much we attribute vntounto our ſelues in the worke of our ſaluation, ſo much wee detract from Gods free merciemercy and Chriſts merit: and therefore let vsus humbly acknowledge our owne vnworthineſſe, and become nothing in our own eyes, that we may wholy rely vponupon God, that hee may bee all in all. For well worthie are we to thirſt if wee leaue the fountaine of liuing waters, and dig vntounto our ſelues broken ceſternes which will hold no water;Iere. 2.13. well worthie are we to fall into the gulfe of deſpaire, if we forſake the firme pillar of our ſaluation Gods merciemercy and Chriſts merit, relying and reſting vponupon the broken ſtaffe of our owne righteouſneſſe; well worthie are we to be damned, if wee enuie the Lord the praiſe and glorie of our ſaluation, deſiring rather to aſcribe it vntounto our ſelues.
§ Sect. 7 But here the tempter wil obiect that God is iuſt,and therfore in his iuſtice cannot louelove, elect, iuſtifie and ſaue vsus who are vnworthie his louelove, polluted with ſinne, and deſtitute of righteouſneſſe. I anſwere, that God doth not louelove, elect, iuſtifie and ſaue vsus in our ſelues,That being vnworthie in our ſelues, we are loued, elected, and ſaued in Chriſt. but in our ſauiour Chriſt, in whom being vnworthie of our ſelues wee are made worthie; being vniuſt in our ſelues, wee are made iuſt, after wee are adorned with the rich robe of his righteouſneſſe; being in our ſelues the children of wrath and firebrands of hell, wee are made children of God and heires of heuaen. For he is made vntounto vsus of God, 1. Cor. 1.30.31wiſedome, righteouſneſſe, ſanctification and redemption, that he who reioyceth might reioyce in the Lord, as it is 1. Cor. 1.30.31. And therefore the Apoſtle teacheth vsus, that God hath giuen his grace, not ſimply vntounto vsus, who were altogether vnworthie thereof, but in Ieſus Chriſt, 1. Cor. 1.1.4. and that in all things we are made rich in him, 1. Cor. 1.4. verſ. 5. Rom. 5.21.as it is verſ. 5. So he telleth vsus, that grace doth raigne by righteouſneſſe vntounto eternall life, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord, Rom. 5.21. And that he hath ſhewed the exceeding riches of his grace, through his kindneſſe towards vsus in Chriſt Ieſus, Eph. 2.7.Eph. 2.7. And as God is gracious to vsus in Chriſt, ſo hath he declared this his louelove towards vsus in Chriſt onelyonly, as may appeare in the ſeuerall cauſes and meanes of our ſaluation. For in him God hath elected vsus to ſaluation,Eph. 1.5. as appeareth Eph. 1.5. In him is made the couenant of grace, as being that ſeede of Abraham in whom all the nations of the earth are bleſſed,Galat. 3.16. Eph. 1.9.10. 2. Tim. 1.9. Rom. 5.18.19. Eſa. 53▪ 5. 1. Cor. 1.30. Col. 1.20.21. Eph. 1 6. and 2.12.13. &c. Gal. 4.4.5. &c. Eph. 1.5. 1. Cor. 1.30. 1. Ioh. 5.11. and to whom all the promiſes were made, as it is Gal. 3.16. In him are wee called and gathered together into one bodie, whereof he is the head, as it is Eph. 1.9.10. 2. Tim. 1.9. In him are wee iuſtified, as appeareth Rom. 5.18.19. Eſa. 53.5. 1. Cor. 1.30. In him we are reconciled vntounto God, Col. 1.20.21. Eph. 1.6. and 2.12.13.14. &c. In him we are adopted to be the ſonnes of God, Gal. 4.4.5.6.7. Eph. 1.5. In him we are ſanctified, 1. Cor. 1.30. In a word, in him wee are ſaued, as appeareth 1. Ioh. 5.11. God hath giuen vsus eternall life, and this life is in his ſonne. Though therefore the Lord could not in his iuſtice beſtow vponupon vsus theſe his benefits, becauſe wee were vnworthie of the leaſt of them, and moſt worthie of al his iudgments and puniſhments: yet in Chriſt wee hauehave fully ſatisfied his iuſtice, & performed perfect obedience, and therfore euen in his iuſtice he could not but beſtow theſe his mercies and graces vponupon vsus, becauſe in him wee deſerued his louelove, though in our ſelues we hauehave deſerued eternall ſhame and confuſion.
And therefore not truſting in our owne worthineſſe, nor yet diſtruſting in Gods merciemercy and free louelove in regard of our vnworthineſſe, let vsus caſt off all ſelfe-conceit and opinion of our owne righteouſneſſe, ſo that wee may put on the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt; and acknowledging our owne weakneſſe, yea our nothing, let vsus neuertheleſſe be ſtrong in the grace which is in Chriſt Ieſus,2. Tim. 2.1. as the Apoſtle exhorteth 2. Tim. 2.1. In his name let vsus goe boldly vntounto the throne of grace,Heb. 4.16. that we may receiue merciemercy, and finde helpe in time of neede: for though in our ſelues we are the childre of wrath, yet are we reconciled and accepted of God, as his beloued in his beſt beloued, Eph. 1.6.as it is Eph. 1.6.