The Churches Security Together with the Antidote, Part 6 – Part 7
NOw because this doctrine is of so great moment, and importance, and of so excellent, and necessary vse; I for the edification, and comfort of all good Christians will annexe and set downe six special, and principal, or characteristicall notes, markes and demonstrations, whereby a man may in conscience bee perswaded that he standeth in the estate of grace, and is reconciled vntounto God, whether for the present temptation hee hauehave feeling or not. And by these notes and demonstrations it shall euidently appeare who is in the state of grace and s…luation; for as the life is knowne by the motion, the fire by the light and heate, the tree by the fruite, and the sheepe by the markes and brands, so may the godly heareby iudge and determine of their faith.
The notes are these six following, which I will (God assisting) handle breifly and in order.Six speciall notes or marks of faith and grace. The first is sound iudgement in matters of faith and religion. The second sincere affection towards, and constant delight in Christ, and his Gospell. The third a constant course in all the excersises of godlines. The fourth an inward and godly sorrow for our sinnes, and for the offence of GOD.
The fift is thanfulnes in acknowledgement and high esteeme of C H R I S T, and all his graces and benefits. Lastly to suffer no sinne to raigne, and hauehave command and dominion in vsus, but to dislike, resist and breake it off. Hee that hath these, and the like foreign congnisances, markes and properties wee may say iustly of him, hee that hath or that doth these t…inges, shall neuer fall, that is, hee is perpetually blessed, and can neuer by any violence, tyranny, or iniuries of Satan, and the world, bee ouerthrowne or remoued from his state, but is secure and safe against all euills.
Touching soundnes of faith and iudgement,1 note soundn…s of iudgement. it is when no heresie is maintained, or errour held against the principles and groundes of Orthodoxe religion; but in iudgement and conscience is directed, and rectified in all thinges by the holy Scriptures, this is a light to our wayes, and a Lanth…rne to our steppes, the eye of our soule a lampe, and torch to guide and lead vsus, in the darkenesse of this world, it is a gate and doore to let vsus vntounto Christ his chamber of presence, and to intromit vsus into heauen; it is a key to vnlocke the treasures of the scriptures; it is the foundation of our spirituall house, and the directer, & touchstone of al good workes, and obedience. That, this soundnesse of faith and iudgement is of absolute necessity, to prooue vntounto vsus the truth of grace and Gods fauour, it shall thus by scripture most manifestly bee declared.
The Church in the Acts of the Apostles is said to continue in the Apostles doctrine, Ephes. 2. 20.the Church is builded vponupon the foundation, the doctrine, and scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles. Tit. 2. 2.Elder men must be sound in the faith, nay the church must bee rooted & grounded in it.Col. 2. 6. If they had beene of vsus (saith Saint Iohn)1. Ioh. 2, 19. they had continued with vsus, viz▪ in soundnesse of doctrine, and in frequenting the holy assemblies. No other foundation can any man laie then that which is laid which is Iesus Christ. 1. Cor. 3, 11.That is the doctrine of the Gospel, touching Christ his person, and office, is (as it were) the foundation of Christian Religion, therefore both pastors and people must by all meanes endeuour to keepe this doctrine pure, and vncorrupted: And all doctrines and opinions, quirkes, and curriosities that are not agreeable herevnto, are but woode, hay, stubble which the fire of heauenly truth will in time to their reproach and shame reueale, and consume. The ministerie of the word is giuen, and ordained of GOD that wee might grow vp to perfect on of faith, and that wee should bee no more c…ildren, Eph. 4. 13. 14.wauering and carried about with eueryevery winde of doctrine. Iesus Christ yesterday,Heb. 13. 8. and to daie and the same for euer. Bee not caried about with diuers and st…ange doctrine▪ for it is a good thing that the heart bee established with grace and not with meates &c. Faith is the eye of the bodie, if the eye be single the whole …ody shalbe light.
The necessity, and most absolute vse of this doctrine will appeare by the Caueates and warnings that are giuen vsus in scripture to beware of seducers, & false teachers, and by the opposition and zeale that we are to shew against al Atheisme, Idolatry, Libertinisme &c. Hence it is that in matters of conscience, and in troubles of minde wee are put ouer to the lawe and to …he testimonies, and they that speake not according to this word hauehave no light in them. Isa. 8. 20▪They that will not beleeue Moses and the Prophets will not beleeue though one arose from the dead. Luk. 1….Hence it is that Dauid by reason of his vnderstanding in,Psal▪ 119. 104 and louelove to Gods word, hateth all false waies. Hence it is that the Church is exhorted to beware of false Prophets, to beware of the leuine that is, the infections and false doctrine of the Scribes and Pharasies, to saue themselues from that forward generation, foreign Iud. 1. 3.to play the Champions and to contend for the common faith,Apoc. 18. v. 4. to come out of …abylon least they bee partakers of her si…nes, and so of her plagues; not to goe after false Christs and false Prophets,Ioh. 10. v. 5. for they must not so much as heare a stranger, that is, one that bringeth strange, and false doctrine, much lesse bid him God speede,2. Ioh. 10. that is any way shew any countenance, and allowance to his corrupt doctrine. And no maruaile for Heresie and false doctrine is the poyson and pestilence to the soule,Apo. 9 v 5. it stingeth, and vexeth the conscience like a scorpion. 2. Tim. 2. 17.It doth eat and consume the soule like a Gangraene, it maketh men spiritually mad,2. Pet. 2. 2. yea and bringeth with it (if men die in it) certaine and iust damnation.
Vse. 1. Wherefore we learne hence, first not to measure the truth of Religion by multitudes, vniuersalities, antiquities (as the Papists and ignorants, of the world doe;) for h…rein we may soone bee deceiued,…uk. 13. v. 24. the broad way leadeth to destruction, Christs flocke is but a little one: and the number of the elect is (in comparison of them that perish) exceeding few, therefore we must try and examine all by the standard, and certaine rule of Gods holy word▪ and if it be consonant therevnto, wee must admit it, otherwise reiect it.
Vse. 2. It meeteth with and checketh the errour, and sottishnesse of the simple ignorant multitude, of whome for the most part we may truely say they know not the law of God and accursed,Ioh. 7. v. 49. who terme and call an Atheist a Papist a Libertine, (if …e be onelyonly outwarly and ciuilly righteous,) iust, liberall curteous, sociable, a right honest man; as though there could possibly be any true honesty without fath and true religion, the cause and foundation of it; For Paul doth make Godlinesse a cause of honesty that is,1. Tim. 2. 2. of Christian life, and behauiour.
Vse. 3. We must beware of and shunne all doctrine that tendeth to Atheisme and Libertinisme, and all popish opinions, and especially such as hauehave beene by some of late yeares vented, furbished and refined, and therefore the more dangerous,Resined Errors. and deceitfull. And indeed no better then the whore of Babilons golden cup, glorious without, but within full of abhominations and deadly poyson. Of this kinde of opinions, and errours (to omit others) are these following. First that the now Romish church (albeit idolatrous, and apostatical) is a true visible church.
2. Error. That the holy religion of Christ now professed, and by publicke authority maintained in England, and the doctrine and worship of Papists differ onelyonly in accidents and circumstances and not in substance, and that a reconciliation betwixt both parties might well be admitted. Whereas first the Romish religion is (for the most part) Idolatrous and hereticall, but so is not ours at all. Secondly the Papists will in no wise yeeld to any reconciliation to vsus, though in truth, and why should wee yeeld and bee reconciled to them in error, and Idolatrie?
3. Error. That we must not enquire how Christ is present in the Eucharist (viz: whether spiritually or bodilie) intending heereby to keepe men in suspence, and to make away for that absurd and blasphemous doctrine of Transubstantiation. Whereas otherwise it is most plaine by scripture that Christs presence is altogither spirituall.
4. Error. That the sabboth is but a ceremony, and that it is in the churches power and libertie to alter it, determine the time, and the continuance of it, and to remit and abate of the strictnesse of it as it shall thinke good. Whereas it is one of the tenne commandements, and therefore must needes for substance bee morall and perpetuall, and it is in the power of no person to dispense withall, and the maintayning of this error openeth a dore to al prophanesse and licentiousnesse.
5. Error. The false opinion of vniuersall grace, and the denying of the doctrine of …ternall reprobation in Gods secret decree.Math. 1…. 27. Whereas sauing grace is proper onelyonly to the elect,Rom. v. …. and that God hath eternally decreed, and doth in time actually passe by many and most, it is by scripture most apparent.
6. Error. That the sufferings of Christ were only bodily and not in soule (properly and immediately) but by Sympathy onelyonly. Whereas his soules heauines, bloudy sweate, praier against it, and the consent of most worthy, and Orthodoxe Diuines, euince the contrary.
Lastly it is malum omen, and prognosticateth much decay of sincere zeale and pure affection, when of late times amongst too too many students in Diuinitie, the sound, iudicious, pithy and fruitfull writings, comments, disputes, and Euangelicall authors, such as are Caluin, Beza, Martyr, Bucer, Zanchius, Pola…us. Iunins, Iuell, Whittakers, Fulke, and Perkins, &c. are neglected, contemned, and out of request, and the false rubbish, and muddy bookes and writings of Popish schoolemen, and interpreters are iniudiciously & rashly receiued. Herevnto may be referred, (as a great rebater to faith, and a mighty infection, and corruption to good life, and manners,) the publishing, toleration, reading, and affecting of scurrile play bookes, vnsauery, and amorous ballads, foolish ieasts, and fained and vnprofitable histories and fables. These are to to much in request; these effiminate mens manners, and make them apt to entertaine any religion but the truth: and if perhaps they retaine the truth, it is to bee feared that it is more in shew then in substance, for custome rather then▪ for conscience.
And thus much of the foundation of faith and iudgement.
Now it followeth that wee speake of sincere affection,2. Note, si… cere affection. and sound delight in Christ, and in his Gospell: Vbi am…r ibi oculus, where our louelove is, there will bee our eye, and where our treasure is, there will bee our heart. Our louelove to Christ must be hartie like Peters, it must be great like Mary Magdalins, Iohn. 21. 7.it must be setled and vnmoueable that no water can quench it, Luk. 7. 38▪no… the stoods drowne it, yea wee must for no substance part with it. Cant. 8. 7Christ is the tree of life, and vnderunder his shadow we must sit down… and rest. Cant, 2. v. 3.We must count all things, whatsoeuer may otherwise bee auantageable vntounto vsus, but losse and dung to winne him. Philip. 3. 8…And as for the world, because it is the spring and fountaine of all knowledge,Psal. 87. v. 7. the immortall seede, and the instrument of faith and saluation; wee must receiue it, and louelove it, if we would profit by it, yea, and preferre it aboue spoiles, treasures, gold, siluer, and pretious stones. If we leese it, we leese all things, yea the very broad scale and patent of eternall life, and if we hauehave and reteine it (in sound iudgement, sincere delight, and hearty affection) wee shall liue for euer. Wee must also cleaue vntounto the Lord with full purpose of heart, Acts 11. 23.and entreate him to knit our▪ hearts vntounto him, least our hearts distracted with diuers desires, Psal. 86 11.should remaine in doubt, and take such courses as are not pleasing vntounto God; but that they being consecrated vntounto him may obey him,Rom. 8. 23. onelyonly rest in him, and depend vponupon him.2. Cor. 5. 2. Lastly wee must waite for our full redemption, and entertaine an earnest desire to enioy e…ernall life.
This doctrine meeteth with the Stoikes,Vse. and those that are Stoikally minded who deny affections, and would hauehave men herein to be no better then stockes and stones; wheras in truth without these affections set vponupon their right obiect, and that in due proportion, there can be no true seruing of God, no zeale for his glory, no feare of his name, no hatred, and detestation of …nne, no spirituall ioy and delight, no true louelove of God, his saints, and word, and no true faith and hope in God, &c. These are wings whereby wee flye, and are carryed vntounto God, chariots to bring vsus vntounto Christ, and they are the very heart and life of all our spirituall actions.
The churches securitie. And thus much in briefe touching the sinceritie of our affections.