The Christian Warfare Part 1, Book 2 · Chapter 35
CHAP. XXXV. Of other arguments drawne from the perſons in the Trinity.
§. Sect. 1 ANd theſe are the arguments which are drawne from the nature of God,Reaſons drawne from the firſt perſon, God the father. whereby we may be aſſured of the remiſſion of our ſinnes; there may alſo other arguments bee drawne from eueryevery perſon of the Trinitie. Firſt God the father hath created vsus of nothing, euen according to his own image, and when wee had defaced this his image in vsus, and made our ſelues ſlaues to Sathan, he ſo tenderly loued vsus his poore miſerable creatures, that he ſpared not his dearely beloued & onelyonly begotten Sonne, but ſent him into the world to take our nature vponupon him, that therein he might ſuffer all miſery and affliction, and laſtly the curſed and bitter death of the croſſe, that ſo he might ſatisfie his iuſtice for our ſinnes & perfect the worke of our redemption. And this the Euangeliſt witneſſeth, Iohn 3.16. Al which louelove the Lord ſhewed vntounto vsus euen for his owne names ſake, when we neither deſerued it nor yet deſired it, for we were bondſlaues vntounto Sathan, and well contented to liue in his bondage, wee were children of wrath and dead in our ſinnes, yea wee were enemies vntounto God and all goodneſſe. And therefore if our mercifull God ſo loued vsus whileſt we were in louelove with our ſinnes, at league with his enemie Sathan, & at enmitie with him, that hee ſent his dearely beloued and onelyonly begotten Sonne to dye for vsus, that by his death and bloudſhed hee might redeeme and ſaue vsus out of this miſerable eſtate, how much more will he now receiue vsus to mercy and pardon, and forgiue our ſinnes if we ſeeke and ſue for grace? if hee loued vsus ſo dearely when we hated him, and ſought al means of reconciliation when wee were profeſſed enemies againſt him, how much more will hee receaue vsus into his fauour, when as we earneſtly deſire to be reconciled? If he ſo loued vsus that he ſent his Sonne to die for our ſinnes, how much more will he remit thoſe ſinnes for which hee hath ſatisfied, when as with harty ſorrow we doe bewaile them, and earneſtly deſire to be freed from them? if he hath giuen his Sonne to mankind to this end, that hee ſhould ſaue and redeeme repentant ſinners, why ſhould any doubt of their redemption and ſaluation if they turne vntounto him by vnfained repentance, and lay hould on Chriſt by a liuely faith? and if he hauehave giuen vsus his chiefe Iewell, hiw onelyonly begotten and beſt beloued Sonne and that when wee were his enemies, what will he denie vsus when in Chriſt we are reconciled vntounto him and become his friends? And thus the Apoſtle reaſoneth, Rom. 5.8. God (ſaith he) ſetteth out his louelove towards vsus ſeeing that whileſt we were yet ſinners Chriſt died for vsus. 9. much more then being now iuſtified by his bloud we ſhalbe ſaued from wrath through him. 10. For if we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne, much more being reconciled we ſhalbe ſaued by his life.
§. Sect. 2 Secondly wee may drawe moſt firme argumentes to ſtrengthen our aſſurance of the remiſſion of our ſinnes from the ſecond perſon in trinitie our Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt;Reaſons drawne from the 2. perſon God the ſonne for firſt hee is our Sauiour and redeemer,1. Becauſe he came into the world to ſaue ſinners. who therefore came into the world that hee might ſaue and redeeme vsus out of the captiuitie of our ſpirituall enemies, ſinne, death, and the diuell, and that hee might ſatiſfie his fathers iuſtice, obtaine the remiſſion of our ſinnes, and reconcile vsus vntounto him. Though then our ſinnes be many and grieuous, this ſhould not hinder vsus from comming to Chriſt by a true faith, and firme aſſurance, that in him wee ſhall hauehave the remiſſion of our ſinnes, and be receaued into Gods louelove and fauoure, nay rather this ſhould bee a forceible argument to mooue vsus, to ſeeke his helpe, when wee find our ſelues in a deſperate caſe, deſtitute of all meanes whereby wee may attaine vntounto ſaluation, ſeeing our Sauiour Chriſt came into the world to ſaue ſuch as were loſt in themſelues, and inthralled in the miſerable bondage of ſinne and Sathan. And this is euident by the ſcriptures, Matth. 9.13. our Sauiour profeſſeth that he came not to call the righteous but ſinners to repentance. and Luke 19.10. The ſonne of man is come to ſeeke and to ſaue that which was loſt. 1. Tim. 1.15. This is a true ſaying and by all meanes worthie to bee receiued, that Ieſus Chriſt came into the worlde to ſaue ſinners. the apoſtle alſo affirmeth that our Sauiour Chriſt hath quickned vsus who were dead in our ſins & treſpaſſes. Eph. 2.1.5. And our ſauiour Chriſt Matth. 11.28. doth not only call vntounto him ſmal ſinners, but thoſe who are heauy ladē with an intollerable waight or ſin, promiſing that he will eaſe them.
Seeing therefore hee came into the world to ſaue and redeeme grieuous and hainous ſinners, and to giuegive life vntounto thoſe who were euen ſtarke dead in their ſinnes, ſeeing alſo hee calleth and inuiteth ſuch vntounto him as are heauily laden with an intollerable waight of wickedneſſe, and promiſeth to eaſe them; let vsus not excuſe our ſelues from comming becauſe our ſinnes are hainous and grieuous, but therefore let vsus the rather goe vntounto Chriſt becauſe wee had need of his helpe. If a man being loded with a waightie burthen, ſhould refuſe the helpe of a friend, both able and willing to eaſe him becauſe his burthen is very heauie, who would not laugh at ſuch ridiculous follie, for therefore he ſhould more earneſtly deſire, and more thankfully accept of his friendes offred courteſie, becauſe himſelfe is tyred, preſſed downe, and altogether vnable to beare this intollerable waight: but ſuch and greater follie doe they commit, who being pinched and oppreſſed with the heauie burthen of their ſinnes, doe through their infidelitie refuſe the healpe of Chriſt, offering himſelfe to releaſe and eaſe them vnderunder this pretēce, becauſe their burthen is ouer heauie; for becauſe to them it is intollerable, therefore they ſhould rather goe vntounto Chriſt and erneſtly deſire to be eaſed and releaſed, ſeeing hee is not onelyonly able, for his power is omnipotent, but alſo moſt willing, for he hath moſt gratiouſly promiſed and freely offred his helpe.
That the price which Chriſt hath paid for our redemption farre exceedeth all our ſinnes.Moreouer we need not to doubt of the ſufficiencie of the price which our Sauiour hath paid for our redemption, for it is of infinite value and of more vertue and power to iuſtifie and ſaue, then all the ſinnes of the world to condemne and deſtroye; ſo that though wee were the greateſt ſinners that euer liued, yea though the waight of all ſinne which euer in the world hath beene cōmitted did lie vpō vsus, yet the meritts of Chriſt and the price which hee paid for our redemption doe farre exceede them, and if we come vntounto him by a liuely faith reſting vponupon him alone for our ſaluation, hee will ſurely eaſe vsus of this intollerable burthen. And therefore though the grieuouſneſſe of our ſinnes ſhoulde increaſe our repentance, yet they ſhould not diminiſh our faith and aſſurance of pardon and forgiueneſſe, for though our debt were neuer ſo great, our ſuerty Chriſt Ieſus hath paid it to the vttermoſt farthing, though our ſinnes are neuer ſo many and grieuous our Sauiour hath borne them all vponupon the croſſe in his owne bodie and fully ſatisfying Gods iuſtice for thē,1. Pet. 2.24. hath freed and deliuered vsus from this heauie burthen. Though wee were neuer ſo deepely inthraled in the bondage of our ſpiritual enemies, yet our almightie redeemer hath freed vsus out of captiuitie & hath paid a ſufficient price for our raunſome; and though we had no right or intereſt in the kingdome of heauen, yet our ſauiour hath dearely purchaſed it for vsus by his precious death and bloudſhed, and therefore ſeeing in Chriſt we hauehave fully ſatiſfied Gods iuſtice, and fully merited the pardon of our ſinnes, ſeeing in him wee hauehave not onelyonly paied our debt, but alſo giuen a ſufficient price for the purchaſing of eternall happineſſe, wee neede not to make any doubt of the pardō of our ſins, and of poſſeſſing of our heauēly inheritance, for the Lord cannot in iuſtice hold that from vsus which of right appertaineth vntounto vsus; nay we may aſſure our ſelues that though he could yet he would not; for who can imagine that the Lord who of his bountious liberallitie giueth vntounto vsus more then wee can deſerue or deſire, will keepe from vsus that which of right appertayneth to vsus? that he for his own names ſake without any reſpect of our works or worthineſſe freely multiplieth his benefites vponupon vsus, ſhould with hould our rightfull inheritance in his heauenly kingdome from vsus, which our ſauiour Chriſt hath purchaſed for vsus by his pretious death & bloudſhed? and therefore ſeeing wee hauehave vndoubted right to the pardon of our ſins becauſe Chriſt Ieſus hath ſatisfied for them, & iuſt title to our heauenly inheritāce which our Sauiour hath purchaſed for vsus with ſo deare and all-ſufficient a price, let vsus in the name of Chriſt goe bouldly vntounto the throne of grace, deſiring a generall acquittance of that debt which is alreadie paid, nay let vsus not feare to approach the throne of Gods ſeuere iuſtice, and to claime our heauenly inheritance which Chriſt hath ſo dearly purchaſed.
§. Sect. 4 Furthermore we are to conſider that our ſauiour and redeemer is ſo gratious and bountifull, ſo rich in mercy,That Chriſts power, mercy, and merites is more manifeſted by forgining greeuous ſinners. and ſo full of all power vertue and perfection, that our ſinnes ſhould not diſcourage vsus from comming vntounto him, for the more miſerable wretched & ſinful we are, the more fitt ſubiects we are, whereupon he may exerciſe and ſhew the infinite riches of bounty, mercy, vertue and all ſufficiencie. If we were but a little ſoyled with ſinne, it were not ſo great a matter to make vsus cleane but when wee are moſt filthily defiled, and our polution is ingrayned in vsus as it were with a ſcarlet die; when our vncleane corruptiō ſticks as faſt to our ſoules, as the Ethiopian blackneſſe to their ſkins, then is the vertue of the excellent lauer of Chriſts bloud ſufficiently manifeſted, when as he purgeth vsus and maketh vsus cleane, waſhing away all our filthy corruptions, and making our ſcarlet ſinnes as white as ſnow. Our ſauiour Chriſt is our ſpiritual phyſitiō who can as eaſily cure deſperate diſeaſes euē the remediles conſumptiō, the dead apoplexie & the filthy leproſie of the ſoule, as ſome ſmall maladie, or little faintnes? neither is he only able but alſo as willing to vndertake ſuch deſperate cures as the leaſt infirmities, becauſe his ſkill will be the more manifeſt and his praiſe the more extolled, for the more deſperate the diſeaſe is, the more it argueth his cūning who helpeth it, and the more cōmendations he ſhal receaue who effecteth ſuch a cure. And therefore though our diſeaſes are moſt daungerous & deſperate, yet let vsus reſort to this our heauenly phyſitiō, for the more deſperate the cure is, the more fitt occaſion ſhall he hauehave of ſhewing his neuer failing ſkill, and of aduancing his immortall praiſe. He is our heauenly ſurgeon, euen the good Samaritane which powreth the ſoueraigne oyle of his grace, and the pretious baulme of his bloud into our woūded ſoules, & therfore the more greiſly our wounds are, the more praiſe and glory he getteth in curing them, the more is the vertue of the ſoueraigne ſalue of his bloud manifeſted to all the world by healing of them.
Though therefore our ſoules are moſt filthy & polluted, yet if we come to Chriſt he will ſurely waſh & purge vsus, for to this purpoſe he ſuffered his precious water and bloud to iſſue out of his ſide, that thereby as with a liuing and cleare ſtreame iſſuing from a moſt pure fountaine, he might cleanſe vsus from al our ſins, and waſh away all our filthy corruptions, though we are moſt deſperatly ſicke, let vsus come vntounto our ſpirituall phyſition, for he can cure the moſt remedileſſe diſeaſes as perfectly and as ſpeedily, as the moſt ſmall infirmitie and faint weakneſſe: though our ſoules are wounded euen to the death, with the deepe pearcing and deadly impoyſoning ſting of ſinne, yet let vsus ſeeke helpe of this our heauenly ſurgeon, who with the precious baulme of his bloud, can as eaſily heale the moſt dangerous woūds, as ſmall ſcratches or little cutts. Neither is he more able then willing, for hereby his vertue and power, his louelove and bountie, is the more manifeſted to his endleſſe and immortall prayſe.
That thoſe who doubt of the remiſſion of their ſinnes derogate from the vert… of Chriſts merites.But if we thinke our ſoules ſo filthy that he cannot purge them, what doe wee els but derogate from the vertue of his bloud, if we will not goe to this heauenly Phiſition to craue his helpe, becauſe our ſickneſſe is grieuous and dangerous, what doe we els but call his skill into queſtion? If wee will not ſhew our wounds becauſe they are grieſly, what doe we els but notably detract from the cunning of this our ſpirituall ſurgeon, and doubt of the vertue and efficacie of the pretious baulme of his bloud: Whereas on the other ſide if we ſee our polluted filthineſſe, and yet goe vntounto Chriſt that we may be waſhed and cleanſed, we acknowledge the vertue and excellencie of the ſpirituall lauer of his bloud? if wee plainely diſcerne that our ſickneſſe is deſperate and yet goe to our ſoules Phyſition not doubting of recouery, we thereby extoll our Phyſitions skill, if our woundes be in themſelues grieſly and incurable, & yet we reſort to our heauenly Surgeon to be healed of them, wee cannot more commend his all ſufficient cunning. And therefore ſeing it is in theſe our extremities to our Sauiour Chriſt moſt honorable and acceptable, and to our ſelues moſt profitable and full of comfort, if we come vntounto Chriſt not doubting of his helpe, let vsus not pretend excuſes eyther becauſe we are vnfit, vnworthy, or in a deſperate ſtate, for by thus aggrauating our owne remedileſſe miſery we extenuate and call into queſtion Gods mercy and Chriſts al-ſufficiency, wee ſpoyle him of his honour, glorie, & our owne ſoules of all ioy & conſolation.
§. Sect. 5 Secondly, we may gather firme aſſurance of the pardon of our ſinnes from the offices of Chriſt,That the offices of Chriſt giuegive vsus aſſurance of the remiſſion of our ſinnes. And firſt in that he is our Prophet. for firſt he is our prophet who hath reuealed vntounto vsus all the will and counſayle of his father, he hath declared vntounto vsus the myſterie of our redemption and the meanes of our ſaluation, how we may attaine vntounto the remiſſion of our ſinnes, and how wee may come out of that miſerable and wretched eſtate, in which we are by nature, and attaine vntounto eternall happineſſe, he it is who by the bright beames of his word doth illuminate our vnderſtandings, and by the operation of his holy ſpirit doth cauſe the ſeales of ignorance to fall from our eyes, Giuing knowledge of ſaluation to his people by remiſſion of ſinnes. He is that glorious and bright ſhining day ſtarre, which from an highe hath viſited vsus, to giuegive light vntounto them who ſit in darkeneſſe and in the ſhadow of death, and to guide our feete into the way of peace. If therefore we will walke in the way which he ſheweth vsus, and vſe thoſe meanes which hee reuealeth vntounto vsus in his Goſpell, namely turne vntounto God by vnfained repentance, and beleeue in him by a liuely faith, wee ſhall not need to feare our ſinnes though neuer ſo grieuous and manifold, for this our heauenly Prophet hath truely reuealed vntounto vsus a plaine way how wee may come out of our ſinnes and be reconciled vntounto God, how we may be adorned with the glorious robe of his righteouſneſſe and bee made partakers of all his merites; how we may become of the children of wrath and firebrands of hell, the children of God, and heires of heauen. And therefore let vsus walke in this way and aſſure our ſelues that wee ſhall come to the iourney end of our deſires, for truth it ſelfe is our guide ſo that we need not to doubt of the way.
§. Sect. 6 Secondly our ſauiour Chriſt is our high prieſt,Reaſōs drawn from Chriſtes prieſthood. who hath offered vp vntounto his father an all-ſufficient ſacrifice and full ſatisfaction for our ſinnes, whereby Gods iuſtice is fully ſatiſfied and his wrath appeaſed, who alſo ſitting at the right hand of his father, continually maketh interceſſion for vsus. The ſacrifice which this our high prieſt offered was himſelfe, as the apoſtle teſtifieth Heb. 9.26. euen his body to be crucified, and his bloud to be ſhed for the putting away of our ſinnes? the which oblation was offred on the altar of his diety which ſanctified the ſacrifice, & gaue vntounto it ſuch ſufficiē cy and valew, that it was a perfect price & ful ſatisfaction for the ſins of al the faithful, as the apoſtle witneſſeth. 1. Ioh. 2.2. Hee is the propitiation for our ſinnes, and not for ours only, but for the ſinnes of the whole world. Seeing therefore this our high prieſt hath giuen himſelfe for vsus, euen his body to be crucified, and his bloud to be ſhed to this end, that it might bee a propitiatorie ſacrifice and full ſatiſfaction for our ſinnes, and ſeeing he was once offered to take away the ſinnes of many, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh Heb. 9 28. wee need not doubt of the remiſſion of our ſinnes if wee come vntounto him by a liuely faith, for to this end hee hath ſhed his bloud, that he therby might offer vntounto God a full ſatiſfaction for our ſinnes and purge away all our wickedneſſe, and therefore if hee ſhould not attaine vntounto his end, that is if hee ſhould not ſatiſfie Gods iuſtice and appeaſe his wrath, by purging and takeing away all our ſinnes, his precious bloud ſhould be ſhed in vaine.
§. Sect. 7 Moreouer he is our mediatour and interceſſour,Reaſōs drawn from Chriſter interceſſion. who continually ſitteth at the right hand of his father making interceſſion for vsus, by ſhewing and pleading his owne meritts righteouſneſſe and obedience whereby hee pacifieth his fathers diſpleaſure, and worketh vsus into his louelove and fauour. And this the apoſtle witneſſeth. Rom. 8.34. It is Chriſt which is dead yea or rather which is riſen againe, who is alſo at the right hand of God, and maketh requeſt for vsus. So alſo Heb. 9.24. it is ſaid that our high prieſt Ieſus Chriſt is entred into heauen, to appeare in the ſight of God for vsus. and the Apoſtle Iohn ſayth. 1. Ioh. 2.1. If any man ſinne wee hauehave an aduocate with the father Ieſus Chriſt the iuſt, and hee is the propitiation for our ſinnes. neither need wee to doubt of his effectuall dealing for vsus, for if hee loued vsus ſo dearely that hee ſpared not to giuegive his precious life for vsus, there is no queſtion but he wilbe exceeding earneſt in making requeſt for vsus, neither will hee be ſparing in wordes who hath not ſpared his deareſt bloud. And therfore ſeing our high prieſt doth continually make interceſſion for vsus, wee need not to doubt but that hee will obtaine his ſuite, and procure the pardon of our ſinnes, and his fathers louelove and fauour. Eſpecially conſidering that hee intreateth nothing which hee hath not deſerued and by his death purchaſed for vsus, and conſequently when like an aduocate hee pleadeth his full payment of our debt, and alleadgeth his all ſufficient meritts and ſufferings, God cannot in his iuſtice but graunt his moſt lawfull requeſt; conſidering alſo that he maketh his ſuite not to a ſtranger or ſome common friend who will either preuent his ſuite with a ſtrange and ſterne countenance, or denie it with ſome vaine excuſe, but vntounto his moſt gratious & dearely louing father who willingly harkeneth vntounto, and redily graunteth all his requeſts. And this our Sauiour himſelfe teſtifieth Ioh. 11.41. father (ſaith he I thanke thee becauſe thou haſt heard me. 42. But I knowe thou heareſt mee alwaies &c. And therefore conſidering Chriſts merit in deſeruing, and Gods merciemercy in graunting, Chriſts importunitie in aſking, and his fathers facilitie in yeelding; ſeeing hee that intreateth for vsus loued vsus ſo intirely that hee dyed for vsus, and will vndoubtedly bee moſt earneſt in ſoliciting our ſuite, and hee who is intreated ſo hartily affecteth vsus that he ſpared not to giuegive vntounto vsus his onelyonly begotten and dearely beloued ſonne, that by his death he might purchaſe for vsus euerlaſting life, let vsus ſhake of all doubting and goe bouldly vntounto the throne of grace, that wee may receiue merciemercy and finde grace to helpe in time of need. as the Apoſtle exhorteth vsus Heb. 4.16. For our good high prieſt is able perfectly to ſaue them who come vntounto God by him, Reaſōs drawn from Chriſtes kingly office. Mat. 11.25.ſeeing hee euer liueth to make interceſſion for them. as it is Heb. 7.25.
§. Sect. 8 Thirdly as our Sauiour Chriſt is our prophet and prieſt ſo likewiſe he is our king, and this alſo may aſſure vsus of the pardon and remiſſion of our ſins if we will come vntounto him, for hee who is our aduocate is alſo our ſoueraigne, hee that is our mediatour is our iudge, hee that intreateth for vsus, hath power in his handes both to obtaine and graunt his owne ſuite, hee that gaue his life a ranſome for our ſinnes hath all power in heauen and earth committed vntounto him, ſo as he is able to remit all our ſinnes and to blot out all our iniquities, for (now) the father iudgeth no man, but hath committed all iudgment vntounto the ſonne. as himſelfe teſtifieth Ioh. 5.22. and euen when he was vponupon the earth he excerciſed this authoritie, as appeareth Matth. 9.2. whereas hee ſaith to the ſick of the palſie. Sonne bee of good comfort thy ſinnes are forgiuen thee. For which being chalenged hee defendeth his regall priuiledges, affirming ver. 6. that the ſonne of man hath authoritie euen on earth to forgiue ſinnes. Now what can bee more comfortable vntounto any ſoule wounded with ſinne then the conſideration of this vndoubted truth. For ſeeing our Sauiour who ſo tenderly loued vsus, that hee ſpared not to giuegive his owne moſt precious bloud for the price of our redemption hath all-ſufficient power in his owne handes to ſaue and deliuer vsus out of the handes of all our enemies, who can imagine that hee will ſuffer vsus to bee loſt whom he hath ſo dearely bought? ſeeing he gaue his life to purchaſe for vsus the remiſſion of our ſinnes, who can doubt that hauing thus dearely purchaſed it hee will not beſtowe it and ſo ſuffer his bloud to be ſpilt in vaine, ſeeing he was content for our ſakes to indure all miſerie, mockings, reuilings, whipping, crucifying death it ſelfe, & the anger of his father more bitter then death, to this end that by all theſe his ſufferings, he might procure the remiſſion of our ſinnes & euerlaſting life, and that when we were rebellious traitours who did flee away from him; who can make any queſtion, but that now hee will beſtow theſe ineſtimable benefits which he hath of purpoſe bought for vsus, they being in his owne power and cuſtodie, if like humble ſeruants and penitent children we turne vntounto him and implore his grace? if a malefactour had a deare friend who loued him ſo intirely, that he would not ſpare to giuegive his whole ſubſtance to procure his pardon, would this miſerable offendour feare death or condemnation, if he were aſſured that now his pardon were in his friends hand, and that the matter were by his Prince referred to him, as vntounto a ſupreame iudge abſolutely to determine what hee will? But our Sauiour hath not giuen goods or gold, or any corruptible thing, but euen his owne moſt pretious body to be crucified, & his bloud to be ſhed, that by this ineſtimable price he might purchaſe our pardon of God our ſoueraigne king, now he hath the law in his own hands, and is appointed of God for our ſupreame Iudge to acquit vsus at his owne pleaſure, who therefore can make any doubt of grace and pardon, ſeeing his iudge is his Sauiour who hath loued him ſo dearely, that to this end he hath ſhed his precious bloud, that he might procure for him the remiſſion of his ſinnes and euerlaſting happineſſe, and therefore if he would not ſticke to buy it at ſo high a rate, how much more hauing bought it onelyonly for this purpoſe will he now beſtow it if we ſeeke vntounto him, and earneſtly deſire to bee partakers of his grace and mercy.
§. Sect. 9 Reaſons drawne from Chriſts promiſes, confirmed by experience.Moreouer as this our moſt gratious king and louing Sauiour hath ſufficient power to pardon all our ſinnes, and in reſpect of his ineſtimable louelove, is moſt certainely willing to blot out all our wickedneſſe, if wee repent and come vntounto him, ſo alſo he hath bound himſelfe hereunto by moſt free and faithfull promiſes. Matth. 11.78. Come vntounto me all ye that labour and are heany laden, and I will eaſe you. Iohn 3.36. Hee that beleeueth in the Sonne hath euerlaſting life. And Ioh 6.37. He hath aſſuredly promiſed, that whoſoeuer commeth vntounto him he will not caſt away. Theſe and many ſuch like gratious promiſes he hath made, of the performance wherof we need not to doubt, eſpecially conſidering that he gaue continuall experience in his practiſe here on earth, of his louelove, goodneſſe, mercy and trueth, for who euer came vntounto him with any lawful ſuite and receaued a repulſe? who euer intreated his help, & was abādoned? who euer asked any thing of him which was profitable for him to receiue and did not obtaine his ſuite? whatſoeuer ſicke came vntounto him receaued their health, whatſoeuer lame deſired his helpe receaued their lims, whatſoeuer blind reſorted vntounto him receaued their ſight, whatſoeuer ſinner implored the forgiueneſſe of his ſinnes receaued full remiſſion and pardon. Yea ſo gratious mercifull and louing was this our king and redeemer, that he preuented his poore miſerable ſubiectes with his grace, and ſought all occaſions of extending his louelove and merciemercy towards them, giuing vntounto them more then they deſired; the ſicke of the paulſie comming vntounto him not onelyonly was cured of his diſeaſe, but alſo receaued the remiſſion of his ſinnes. Matth. 9. Zacheus deſired but to ſee his face, and he offereth vntounto him his company and therewith eternall ſaluation. Luke 19. The woman of Samaria requeſted but elementall water, and hee offereth vntounto her the water of life. Ioh. 4. The people followed him to be ſed by miracle with corporall foode, and Chriſt offereth vntounto them the bread of life. Ioh. 6.Iohn 9. The poore blinde man deſired that he might be by Chriſt reſtored to his bodily ſight, and Chriſt alſo illuminates the eyes of his ſoule, ſo that as with his bodily eyes hee diſcerned him to be a man ſo by the eie of faith he knew him to be his redeemer and Sauiour. By all which it clearly appeareth that there was neuer any more ready to aske then Chriſt to giuegive, nay ſuch was his goodneſſe and louelove, that he was alwaies more ready to graunt then they to intreat, and to graunt more then they euer deſired. Now wee muſt not thinke that our Sauiour is altered in nature, or that (as it is vſuall amongſt men) honours hauehave changed manners, for he is God immutable in goodneſſe, and without change or ſhadowe of change, as it is Iam. 1.17. and therefore wee may aſſure our ſelues if wee turne from our ſinnes by true repentance, and come vntounto him by a liuely faith, we ſhalbe receaued to grace and mercy, and receaue the pardon of our ſins be they neuer ſo hainous and innumerable.
§. Sect. 10 Reaſons drawne from our Communion with Chriſt.Laſtly, the vnion and communion which is betweene Chriſt and all the faithful, may giuegive vntounto them full aſſurance of the pardon and remiſſion of all their ſinnes; for firſt they are coupled vntounto him in ſpirituall matrimonie, and hee becommeth the Bridegroome, they the ſpouſe, he the husband, they the wife, now we know that in law there will no action of debt lie againſt the wife whileſt the husband liueth, becauſe ſhe is vnderunder couert barne, and therefore her husband who hath taken vponupon him to maintaine and defend her, muſt anſwere and follow all her ſuites, and his goods are liable for the paying of her debts. And thus it is alſo betweene Chriſt the husband and the Church his ſpouſe being married vntounto her, he hath taken her vnderunder his charge and protection, and hath vndertaken to anſwere all ſuites and to ſatiſfie all her debts, nay he hath diſcharged them already, and therefore wee need not to feare any action which Sathan, the Law or Gods iuſtice may lay againſt vsus, for our husband Ieſus Chriſt hath taken vponupon him to follow all our ſuites, and to ſatisfie all our debts, ſo that if eyther the Law, Gods iuſtice, or our enemy Sathan doe cōmence any ſuits againſt vsus, we are not now to take vponupon vsus the anſwering of them in our owne perſons, but wee are to ſend them to our huſband Ieſus Chriſt, who hath taken our cauſes in hand and will giuegive vntounto them a ſufficient anſwere.
The faithfull Chriſts members.Secondly the faithfull are vnited vntounto Chriſt in a more neere vnion, for he is there head and they his members, as appeareth Ephe. 5 23.30. hee is the true vine and wee the branches, as himſelfe ſpeaketh Iohn 15 1. he is the fruitfull Oliue tree, we the ſciences which are grafted into him. as it is Rom. 11. he is the foundation, wee the building, as the apoſtle affirmeth Ephe. 2.20.21. by reaſon of which neere vnion, it commeth to paſſe that thoſe things which appertaine vntounto Chriſt belong vntounto vsus, and ours vntounto him, for as the head deriueth ſence and motion vntounto the members; and as the Oliue tree and vine doe communicate their vertue, farneſſe, and ſap vntounto their branches and ſciences, by which they liue and bring forth fruite, and as the foundation doth ſuſtaine and vphold all the building; ſo doth our Sauiour Chriſt our head, roote, and foundation communicate vntounto vsus his members and branches, the vertue of his merits and the iuce and ſap of his precious bloud, whereby we are quickned and reuiued who were dead in treſpaſſes, our ſins waſhed away and purged and wee made fruitfull in all righteouſneſſe and holineſſe, as in that his imputed righteouſneſſe whereby we are iuſtified before God, and that inhaerent righteouſneſſe begunne in vsus by his holy ſpirit, whereby we are iuſtified before men. And as he hath beſtowed and communicated vntounto vsus his righteouſneſſe, death and obedience, ſo hath he taken vponupon him from vsus al our ſins originall and actuall, of commiſſion and omiſſion, and in his owne perſon hath ſuffered all that puniſhment, which we by them had deſerued, ſo as now he hauing taken vponupon him our ſinnes, and indued vsus with his righteouſneſſe, merit, and obedience, wee need not to feare the exact rigour of Gods iuſtice, for by him and in him we are without ſinne, pure and vndefiled, and perfectly righteous in Gods ſight. Neither ſhall we need to feare the violence of all our ſpirituall enemies, for our head Ieſus Chriſt is God almighty, and therefore none ſhalbe able to plucke vsus out of his hands againſt his will, and we are as deare vntounto him as the members of his body, and therfore looke how loath any careful head would be to hauehave any of the members pulled from it by force and violence, ſo loath and vnwilling will our Sauiour and head be, to hauehave any of his members plucked from him. And therefore ſeing he wanteth neither will nor power to defend vsus, wee need not feare the raging malice and cunning violence of any of our ſpirituall enemies, ſinne, the Diuell, the world and the fleſhe, for our head is all-ſufficient, and alſo moſt willing to ſaue and defend vsus, from all their force and malice.
§. Sect. 11 Reaſons drawne from the 3. perſon the holy ſpirit.And ſomuch concerning the reaſons drawne from the ſecond perſon, wherby eueryevery repenting and beleeuing ſinner may be aſſured of the pardon and remiſſion of all his ſinnes. Now we are to ſpeake of thoſe which may be drawne from the third perſon the holy ſpirit. Firſt therefore wee are to know that though our ſinnes be manifold, and our corruptions exceeding filthy, yet this holy ſpirit will ſanctifie and purge vsus from all our pollution; ſo that though in times paſt wee were moſt hainous ſinners, idolaters, adulterers, theeues, drunkards, raylers, extortioners, yet now wee are waſhed, now wee are ſanctified now wee are inſtified in the name of the Lord Ieſus, and by the ſpirit of our God. As the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, 1. Cor. 6.11. he is that heauenly fire which conſumeth and purgeth vsus from all the droſſe of our corruptions, hee is that diuine water which waſheth away all our filthy pollution, it is hee who doth regenerate and beget vsus a new who were dead in our ſinnes, and whoſoeuer are thus regenerated ſhalbe heires of the kingdome of heauen.
Secondly, we may hereby be aſſured of the remiſſion of our ſinnes, in that the ſpirit of God ioyneth with vsus in our ſuite and together with vsus, maketh requeſt vntounto God in our behalfe, and whereas wee are ignorant and know not how to pray as we ought, the ſpirit it ſelfe helpeth our infirmities and maketh requeſt for vsus with ſighes which cannot be expreſſed. But God who ſcarcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the meaning of the ſpirit: for he maketh requeſt for the Saints according to the will of God. As the Apoſtle ſpeaketh. Rom. 8.26.27. who therefore can doubt of obtaining his ſuite, euen the remiſſion of his ſinnes and reconciliation with God, ſeeing his ſuite is framed and indited by Gods ſpirit, and conſequently is moſt wiſe, iuſt, and as the Apoſtle ſaith according to the will of God? yea it is ſollicited and followed with great earneſtneſſe by the ſame ſpirit; and therefore our ſuite being wiſe, iuſt, and framed by the ſpirit according to the will of God, and by the ſame ſpirite in moſt earneſt manner, ſollicited and furthered, there is no queſtion but wee ſhall obtaine it.