The Triumph of a True Christian Described, Commentary on verse · Verse 16

The Triumph of a True Christian Described · Commentary on verse · Verse 16

p. 384VERSE 16.

The ſame Spirit beareth witneſſe with our ſpirit, that we are the children of God.

COme we now to Verſe 16. The ſame Spirit beareth witneſſe with our ſpirit, that we are the children of God. Our Apoſtle in the verſe foregoing (as I hauehave told you) proues that which he put downe verſe 14. that ſuch as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the ſonnes of God: from the propertie of that Spirit that is working in them, with particular inſtance, firſt in the beleeuing Romans, that the beleeuing Romans had receiued the Spirit of adoption, the Spirit of God working in them as a Spirit of adoption, and therefore they were the children of God. And he further ſets out the Spirit of adoption by the effect of it, as that it cauſe in himſelfe and in them, inuocation, prayer, and calling on the name of the Lord, that is, a crying, Abba, Father. And that which in order of nature goes before it, as namely, the witneſſe and teſtimonie of the Spirit of God p. 385with our ſpirit that we are the children of God. For vnleſſe the holy Spirit of God witneſſe Gods louelove to vsus in Chriſt, and that we are reconciled to God in and through him, and that God is indeed our gracious Father in Chriſt, and hath made vsus his children, we dare not draw neare to his holy Maieſtie, nor craue any good thing at his hands. And this witneſſe of the Spirit of God, is the ground of confidence and holy boldneſſe in prayer.

In this verſe conſidered by it ſelfe, we hauehave two generall things laid downe before vsus. Firſt certaine witneſſes. Secondly the thing witneſſed. The witneſſes are two, the Spirit of God, and our ſpirit, both witneſſing one and the ſame thing, witneſſing together: The ſame Spirit beareth witneſſe with our ſpirit, ſaith the Apoſtle. The thing witneſſed is in the words following, That we are the children of God. That is briefly the generall matter of the verſe.

Let vsus now examine the words of it touching the ſence and meaning of them. The ſame Spirit, that is,Interpretation. that very Spirit we ſpake of before, the holy Spirit of God, who is to vsus that truely beleeue in Chriſt, a Spirit of adoption. Beareth witneſſe with our ſpirit, or witneſſeth together with our Spirit, or, is as it were a fellow witneſſe with our Spirit. Now touching this witneſſe and teſtimonie of the Spirit, that we may rightly conceiue it, firſt know, that it is internall, it is inward and not outward, it is not by any outward ſpeech or voyce, it is not as God gaue teſtimonie to Chriſt to be his Sonne, Mat. 3.17.Mat. 3.17.Matt 3:17 by an audible voyce from heauen: This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleaſed: the witneſſe of the Spirit here ſpoken of, is not by any ſuch voyce, but it is inward, euen an inward witneſſe and teſtimonie. And againe, this witneſſe and teſtimonie of the Spirit, is not any extraordinarie and ſpeciall reuelation, appropriated and belonging to ſome excellent & ſpeciall men, ſuch as Paul was, & the like, as the Papiſts do dreame, but it is that teſtimonie of the Spirit of God which is common to all true beleeuers in their meaſure. Now ſome would hauehave this witnes & teſtimony of the Spirit, to be that crie that is ſtird vp in the hearts of true beleeuers p. 386by the Spirit of God, whereby they call God their Father with a childlike boldneſſe and confidence ſpoken of in the verſe before, but indeed that crie is rather an effect and a fruite of the teſtimonie of the Spirit, then the teſtimonie of the Spirit it ſelfe: for the Spirit firſt inwardly perſwades true beleeuers that they are the children of God, and then it makes them in theit hearts to crie Abba, Father. I take it therefore that the witneſſe and teſtimonie of the Spirit here ſpoken of, is an inward, ſecret, and vnſpeakable inſpiration of the Spirit, the holy Spirit of God inwardly, ſecretly, and after an vnſpeakable manner informing our hearts, and inwardly perſwading vsus that God is our Father, and powring into our heart a ſecret, wonderfull, and vnſpeakable ſweet ſenſe and feeling of Gods louelove to vsus, not of Gods ordinarie or common louelove, but of his ſpeciall and fatherly louelove; that God loues vsus with ſuch louelove as he beares to his onelyonly begotten ſonne Chriſt Ieſus, in whom we are adopted to be his children, as the Lord Ieſus himſelfe ſpeakes in that excellent prayer of his, Ioh. 17.23.Ioh. 17.23.John 17:23 that God loues vsus, we beleeuing in Chriſt, as he hath loued him. And to this purpoſe the Apoſtle ſpeaks plainely Rom. 5.5.Rom. 5.5.Rom 5:5 The louelove of God is ſhed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghoſt which is giuen vntounto vsus. The holy Spirit of God giuen to vsus doth infuſe and powre into our hearts a ſenſe and feeling of Gods louelove to vsus in Chriſt. With our ſpirit, or together with our ſpirit. The holy Spirit of God and our ſpirit being two diſtinct witneſſes: by our ſpirit, we are not hereby to vnderſtand our ſoule, as it is a naturall part of man, but our regenerate part, which the Apoſtle calls our ſpirit,1. Theſſ. 5.25.1 Thess 5:25 1. Theſſ. 5.23. our heart and conſcience, regenerate, renewed, and ſanctified by the Spirit of God, we being ſuch as are regenerate, our hearts and conſciences ſanctified by the ſprinkling of the bloud of Chriſt, and ſo quieted and cleared: for our hearts and conſciences ſanctified & renewed by the Spirit of God and ſprinkled with the bloud of Chriſt, are acquainted with the good will of God towards vsus, as 1. Cor. 2.11.1. Cor. 2.11.1 Cor 2:11 The Spirit of man knowes the things of a man, and they beare a ſound and infallible teſtimonie p. 387of Gods louelove to vsus, euen by peace of conſcience, and other graces of the Spirit in vsus, as the Apoſtle ſaith, 2. Cor. 1.12. This is the teſtimonie of our conſcience, that in ſimplicitie and godly pureneſſe, and not in fleſhly wiſedome, but by the grace of God, we hauehave had our conuerſation in the world, and moſt of all to you wards. And of this teſtimonie Saint Iohn ſpeakes, 1. Ioh. 3.21. If our heart condemne vsus not, then hauehave we boldneſſe towards God. That we are the children of God: that is, that we are now actually and indeed the children of God, not by nature, but by grace and fauour, and by adoption, that now we are actually accounted the adopted ſonnes and daughters of God in and through Chriſt. Now then thus briefly conceiue we the meaning of the words of this verſe, as if the Apoſtle had ſaid.

That very ſame holy Spirit of God, who is to vsus that truly beleeue in Chriſt a Spirit of adoption, doth by his inward, ſecret, and vnspeakable inſpiration, informe our hearts, and inwardly perſwade vsus that God is our Father, and euen powre into our hearts a ſecret, wonderfull, and vnſpeakable ſenſe and feeling of Gods ſpeciall and fatherly louelove to vsus: euen of ſuch louelove as he beares to his onelyonly begotten Sonne Chriſt Ieſus, in whom we are the adopted children of God; and ſo doth witneſſe to vsus, together with our owne hearts and conſciences, renewed and ſanctified by the ſprinkling of the bloud of Chriſt, and ſo quieted and cleared, they alſo ſoundly a… infallibly witneſſing the ſame to vsus by the peace of them, and by other graces of the Spirit in vsus; that we are now by grace and fauour actually accounted Gods children, euen the adopted ſonnes and daughters of God in and through Chriſt.

Come we now to ſuch things as are hence offered for our Doct. 1 inſtruction: firſt from this verſe in generall,God doth in time of this life make knowne his eternall louelove to his elect, and aſſure them of it. being thus conceiued as one propoſition, namely thus: That the Spirit of God witneſſing with them that are regenerate, that they are the children of God, we are giuen to vnderſtand, that the Lord is pleaſed in the time of this life to make knowne his eternall louelove to his elect, and to informe them of it, and to aſſure them of it by the witneſſe of his good Spirit, and by euidence of grace in themſelues. The Lord doth not onelyonly louelove p. 388his elect from all eternitie, but he doth alſo in time, yea in the time of this life, make knowne that louelove of his to them, and witneſſe to them by his good Spirit that he loues them, and that they are right deare to him. It is ſaid, Rom. 5 5.Rom. 5.5.Rom 5:5 The louelove of God is ſhed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghoſt which is giuen vntounto vsus. The Lord doth in time as it were powre into the hearts of his elect a liuely ſenſe and feeling of his louelove to them: and the eternall louelove of God to his choſen, is as a ſweet ointment powred out in time of this life, that doth exceedingly refreſh their hearts with a ſenſe and feeling of it. 1. Cor. 2.10.1. Cor. 2.10.1 Cor 2:10 the Apoſtle ſpeaking of himſelfe and other true beleeuers, ſaith, God hath reuealed to vsus by his Spirit, the deepe and hidden things of God, Verſe 9.euen the things that eye hath not ſeene, neither eare hath heard, nor euer came into mans heart, that God hath prepared for them that louelove him. 12And verſe 12. he ſaith, We hauehave receiued not the ſpirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are giuen vsus of God. 16And verſe 16. We hauehave the mind of Chriſt: we are acquainted with the heart, and mind, and good will of Chriſt towards vsus: and thus it is with all Gods elect. The Lord doth not keepe his louelove that he beares to them ſecret and cloſe, and as it were in his owne boſome, in his eternall purpoſe and decree, but in time, yea in the time of this life, he acquaints them with it, and he makes knowne his eternall louelove to them, and doth witneſſe to them by his Spirit that he loues them, and that they are right deare to him: for why,

Reaſon. The Lord knowes that his elect are in this world as in a valley of death and of teares, and that here they meete with continuall troubles and afflictions, trials and temptations, and therefore to keepe them from being ſwallowed vp of heauineſſe, and ſorrow, and griefe, and from fainting and ſinking vnderunder their troubles, afflictions, and trials, he is pleaſed out of his infinite wiſedome, and out of his fatherly care ouer them, out of his wonderfull louelove to them, to vouchſafe to them euen in this life, ſome taſte and feeling of his louelove to them, and to make knowne his eternall louelove to them, and to informe them of it, and to aſſure them of it by the witneſſe of p. 389his good Spirit, that he loues them, and that they are right deare and precious to his holy Maieſtie.

Now for the vſe of this; on this ground we may take notice Ʋſe 1 of the excellent and comfortable ſtate of Gods choſen,The comfortable ſtate of Gods choſen in this life, in that they are made acquainted with Gods louelove to them, diſcouered. that their ſtate euen in this life is moſt excellent, and full of ſweet and vnſpeakable comfort; they are not onelyonly beloued of God from all eternitie, whoſe louelove is better then life it ſelfe but they are in time, yea in the time of this life made acquainted with Gods louelove towards them, and they come to know Gods mind, and heart, and good will towards them, and to hauehave it witneſſed to them by his owne good Spirit, and therein doubtleſſe is the depth of all true comfort. Men commonly cheare vp themſelues, and ſolace themſelues exceedingly, in that they are loued and fauoured of ſome great and mightie Prince, and he making his louelove knowne to them, they thinke themſelues the happieſt men aliue: Oh then what is it to be acquainted with Gods louelove, the King and Lord of heauen and earth, and for a man to hauehave it made knowne to him, that God hath loued him before the world was, and that he louing him, he loues him for euer? out of queſtion that muſt needs fill his heart with ioy vnſpeakable and glorious, that is the hidden Manna, & that is the new name that none knowes but he that hath it, ſpoken of Reuel. 2.17. In that Gods choſen are acquainted with Gods ſpeciall louelove vntounto them, it makes them reioyce in their greateſt afflictions, yea in the flames of fire to ſing and reioyce. And therefore let the world deeme what it will of the ſtate of Gods choſen; in this world without queſtion it is a ſtate and condition moſt excellent, and full of ſweet and heauenly comfort.

And for a ſecond vſe: Is it ſo that the Lord in time, yea in Ʋſe 2 the time of this life,Comfort for poore ſanctified ſoules that are deiected becauſe they feele not heauenly ſweetneſſe & comfort. makes knowne his eternall louelove to his choſen, and is he pleaſed to informe them of it, and to aſſure them of it by his owne good Spirit? Then here is matter of comfort for poore ſanctified ſoules, that are deiected and caſt downe, in that they feele not heauenly ſweetneſſe and comfort, for ſo the caſe may be, and is many times, a man or woman may feele the holy Spirit of God working in them in ſpeciall p. 390manner, and yet hauehave not a ſenſe and feeling of Gods louelove to them: Well is the caſe ſo with thee whoſoeuer thou art? Doſt thou feele the holy Spirit of God working in ſpeciall manner; and yet thou haſt not a ſenſe and feeling of Gods louelove to thee? Comfort thy ſelfe, the Lord will at one time or other, euen in the time of this life, acquaint thee with his owne heart and good will towards thee, and aſſure thee of it by his owne good Spirit, that he hath loued thee from all eternitie: and know this for a truth, that the Lord reſerueth his chiefeſt comfort for the fitteſt time. When Daniel was in the Lyons den, then was he comforted; when the three companions of Daniel were in the hote fierie fornace, then did the Lord ſend comfort to them; when Paul and Silas were in priſon and made faſt in the ſtocks, then found they moſt comfort, Act. 16.25. And ſo doubtleſſe when thou art plunged into the deepeſt diſtreſſe, and when thou art in the greateſt triall, and thinkeſt thou ſhalt ſinke and not be able to hold out, as when ſickneſſe comes, and death drawes neare, and haſt moſt need of comfort, euen of this comfort of aſſurance of Gods louelove to thee, then aſſuredly thou ſhalt hauehave it, then will the Lord euen ſhed abroad his louelove into thine heart by his owne good Spirit: thinke on that to thy comfort.

In the next place, in that the Apoſtle ſaith, the holy Spirit of God witneſſeth with our Spirit that we are the children of God, that is, as I ſhewed, the holy Spirit of God doth by an inward ſecret inſpiration informe vsus, and inwardly perſwade vsus that God is our Father, and ſo witneſſe together with our owne hearts, ſanctified and renewed by grace, and ſprinkled with the bloud of Chriſt, that we are by grace and fauour the children of God: we may raiſe this concluſion, this point of truth.

Doct. 2 That Gods children may in the time of this life be infallibly aſſured of Gods ſpeciall and fatherly louelove towards them,Gods children may in time of this life be infall…bly aſſured of Gods fatherly louelove to them. they may euen whileſt they liue here in this world know it, and be certainly aſſured of it, that God loues them in particular, and hath loued them from all eternitie, and be aſſured that they in particular are in the ſtate of grace and ſaluation, and in the p. 391number of Gods choſen: for why,

The holy Spirit of God is the Spirit of truth, Ioh. 14.17. Reaſon. and he cannot lie nor deceiue, his teſtimonie muſt needs be moſt certaine, ſure and infallible, he cannot be deceiued, neither doth he deceiue any. And Gods choſen hauehave in themſelues in the time of this life, the witneſſe and perſwaſion of the Spirit of God, that they are the children of God, as the Apoſtle here ſaith. And to this purpoſe alſo ſpeakes the Apoſtle in that place before cited, 1. Cor. 2.12. We hauehave not receiued the ſpirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know (that is) that we might certainly know the things that are giuen vsus of God, euen the things that concerne our eternall happineſſe and ſaluation, both grace here, and glory hereafter. And 1. Ioh. 4.13. We know ſaith Saint Iohn, that we dwell in God and God in vsus, and ſo are in the ſpeciall fauour of God, becauſe he hath giuen vsus of his Spirit. And hence it is that the holy Spirit of God is ſaid to be to Gods choſen as a ſeale, and as an earneſt of their inheritance, as 2. Cor. 1.22. God hath ſealed vsus (ſaith the Apoſtle) and hath giuen the earneſt of his Spirit in our hearts. And Epheſ. 1.13.14. ſaith the Apoſtle, Ye were ſealed with the holy Spirit of promiſe, which is the earneſt of our inheritance. And Epheſ. 4.30. Grieue not the holy Spirit of God, by whom we are ſealed vntounto the day of redemption.

And againe, true ſanctifying grace in the heart, and the Reaſon. 2 power, of grace in the heart and life, is an infallible euidence and teſtimony of Gods ſpeciall louelove to thoſe that hauehave it. As 1. Ioh. 3.14. We know we are tranſlated from death to life, becauſe we louelove the brethren. Any meaſure of true louelove to God, to his children, to his word and holy ordinances, powred into the heart by the holy Ghoſt, is a certaine demonſtration of it, that a man or woman is tranſlated by the mightie hand of the moſt High, from death to life, and ſet into the ſtate of grace and of ſaluation: and eſpecially the grace of true iuſtifying faith, is a ſure euidence of Gods ſpeciall grace and fauour to thoſe that hauehave it. For as true iuſtifying faith is a neceſſary fruite of Gods eternall election, and of his preordination to eternall life, Acts 13.48. As many as were ordained to p. 392eternall life beleeued; ſo is it an argument of confirmation to the ſoule of him in whom it is, that he is elected and ſhall be ſaued, Iohn 3.16. God ſo loued the world, that he hath giuen his onelyonly begotten Sonne, that whoſoeuer beleeueth in him ſhould not periſh but hauehave euerlaſting life. Hence one that finds tue faith in his owne heart, may reaſon thus; Truth it ſelfe hath ſaid, whoſoeuer beleeueth in the Sonne of God, ſhall not periſh but hauehave life euerlaſting; mine owne heart tels me, that I beleeue in the Sonne of God, therefore I am ſure I ſhall be ſaued.A Popiſh ſhift met withall. It is but a ſhift of the Papiſts, to ſay, that a man cannot know whether he hauehave faith in himſelfe or no: for if a man hauehave true faith in his heart, he may diſcerne it, at leaſt the power of it, and the fruites of it.

Obiect. Yea but (ſay they) certaine knowledge of faith, doth not inferre certaine knowledge of grace and of ſaluation. That is weaker then the former. Anſw. For by faith (ſaith the Apoſtle) we hauehave acceſſe to this grace wherein we ſtand and reioyce, vnderunder the hope of glory of the ſonnes of God, which hope ſhall neuer deceiue vsus nor make vsus aſhamed, Rom. 5.25. Againe, by iuſtifying faith a man may know that Chriſt is in him, and how then ſhould he not know that he is in the fauour of God? Chriſt is not in the reprobate that are out of Gods fauour, but in Gods elect, in whom after they be called he dwels by faith, Epheſ. 3.17. And therefore doubtleſſe on theſe grounds we may reſolue on this as a certaine truth, that Gods choſen may in the time of this life be infallibly aſſured of Gods ſpeciall and fatherly louelove towards them, and may be certainly aſſured by the witneſſe and perſwaſion of Gods Spirit, and by the euidence of grace, eſpecially by iuſtifying faith in their hearts, that they Ʋſe 1 in particular are in the ſtate of grace and of ſaluation, and in the number of Gods choſen,The Papiſts confuted in that they hold that a man cannot come to infallible aſſurance of his owne ſaluation in this life. and that they are ſuch as ſhall be ſaued.

Now then for vſe, firſt this truth is directly contrarie to that which is held and taught by the Papiſts, it doth directly croſſe their tenent, and their doctrine they hold & teach, that a man cannot in the time of this life come to be infallibly aſſured that he in particular is in the ſtate of grace & of ſaluation, p. 393and that he in particular ſhall be ſaued. They ſay a man may hauehave a good hope that he ſhall be ſaued, but he cannot be infallibly aſſured of it, that they denie, and they call ſuch ſpeciall perſwaſion faithleſſe, and a damnable falſe illuſion, and a meere preſumption: and on this text they giuegive this annotation: Say they, the teſtimonie of the Spirit here ſpoken of, is nothing elſe but the inward good motions, comfort, and contentment which the children of God do daily feele more and more in their hearts by ſeruing him, by which they hauehave as it were an atteſtation of his fauour towards them, whereby the hope of their iuſtification and ſaluation is much corroborated and ſtrengthened. See the falſe dealing of theſe ſubtill ſophiſters: the Apoſtle ſaith directly, the Spirit witneſſeth with our ſpirit, that we are the children of God; they mince the matter, and ſay, Gods children hauehave as it were an atteſtation of Gods ſauour towards them. And againe, they make the witneſſe of the holy Spirit of God to be good motions, comfort, and contentment in the hearts of Gods children, ariſing from their ſeruing of God, and from their owne good workes, which is a meere corruption of the text: there is no ſuch thing either in the text, neither can any ſuch thing be gathered from it by any good conſequent. And indeed the good motions, comfort, and contentment in the hearts of Gods children, are rather fruits and effects of the teſtimonie of the Spirit of God, then the witneſſe of the Spirit it ſelfe; for the holy Spirit of God doth firſt witneſſe Gods louelove to his choſen, and then he ſtirres vp good motions in them, and then works comfort and contentment in their hearts. Obiect. Oh but ſay the Papiſts, touching the euidence of faith, a man cannot beleeue that he in particular ſhall be ſaued, becauſe he is not named in particular in the Bible. They ſpeake idlely, Anſw. the generall includes the particular, yea the holy Ghoſt ſpeakes particularly, Rom 10.9. If thou confeſſe with thy mouth the Lord Ieſus, and beleeue in thine heart that God raiſed him vp from the dead, thou ſhalt be ſaued: and euerie one that truly beleeues is to take it to himſelfe as if he were named. Obiect. Yea but (ſay they) where doth the Scripture ſay, that they do beleeue? p. 394that is alſo moſt ridiculous. Anſw. The Scripture doth not indeed ſay, that I Iohn, or I Paul do beleeue, it onelyonly ſets downe faith, that I beleeue, the particular act of faith whereby I beleeue is in my heart, and is not beleeued but knowne by feeling: a child of God doth not beleeue that he beleeues, but he feeles it. And therefore notwithſtanding theſe cauils of the Papiſts, it is ſtill a truth, that Gods choſen may in the time of this life be infallibly aſſured of Gods ſpeciall louelove towards them, and may certainly be aſſured by the witneſſe and teſtimonie of Gods Spirit, and the euidence of grace, and eſpecially of iuſtifying faith, that they in particular are in the ſtate of grace, and of ſaluation.

Ʋſe 2 And for a ſecond vſe, this may be a ground of ſtrong comfort to euerie child of God:Strong comfort to euerie child of God. a child of God finding in himſelfe the witneſſe of Gods Spirit, and the euidence of faith, and the fruits of grace, may be aſſured of it, and that infallibly, that he is in the ſtate of grace and of ſaluation, and that God loues him, and hath loued him from all eternitie: yea he may be as ſure of it as Chriſt is in heauen, that he ſhall be ſaued.

Queſt. Yea but will ſome ſay, How ſhall I know that it is the Spirit of God perſwading my heart that I am the child of God, and that I am not deceiued by ſome illuſion of Satan, or ſome carnall preſumption?

Anſw. I anſwer. The difference of a true teſtimonie of Gods Spirit,Difference betweene the teſtimonie of Gods Spirit and a Satanicall illuſion or carnall preſumption, is in three things. and a Satanicall illuſion working in men a vaine preſumption, is in three things.

Firſt, the perſwaſion of Gods Spirit is grounded on the truth, power, and meere merciemercy of God, and on the merits of Chriſt: but a Satanicall illuſion is grounded on outward bleſſings or common graces, and either in whole or part on a mans owne workes and merits.

1Secondly, the witneſſe of Gods Spirit is powerfull and effectuall, 2working a thorow perſwaſion of Gods louelove and confidence in his merciemercy, and ſo lowd a crying Abba, Father, in the heart of a child of God, as in compariſon of that ſaith Luther, Luther.the great and horrible roarings of the Law, of ſinne, of death, and of the diuell and hell, are nothing, neither p. 395can be heard: but the illuſion of Satan is hollow and deceitfull, and doth onelyonly ſtammer out a bare aſſertion, that a man is the child of God, without any inward teſtimonie of the ſweetneſſe of Gods louelove, or any affiance in his merciemercy.

Thirdly, the teſtimonie of the Spirit of God is much aſſaulted 3with doubts and feares, more or leſſe, at one time or other; but the illuſion of Satan is neuer troubled with any ſuch doubtings or feares, that is euer bold and preſumptuous ſo long as it continues: indeed in the time of aduerſitie it vaniſheth and comes to nothing; and they that hauehave onelyonly a vaine preſumption, they commonly ſay, they hauehave alwayes had a ſtrong beliefe, and they neuer doubted. If then thou hauehave in thee a perſwaſion of Gods ſpeciall and fatherly louelove towards thee, grounded on the truth and power of God, and on the meere merciemercy of God, and on the merits of Chriſt, and ſuch a perſwaſion as is powerfull and effectuall, working in thee a thorow perſwaſion of Gods louelove, and confidence in his merciemercy, and boldneſſe to appeare before the throne of grace, and thou doſt feele thy perſwaſion aſſaulted with doubts and feares, more or leſſe, at one time or other, though not ouercome; doubtleſſe it is the Spirit of God perſwading thine heart that thou art a child of God, and that thou art in the ſtate of grace and of ſaluation; and thereupon thou maiſt hauehave ſtrong conſolation, and reioyce with ioy vnspeakable and glorious: and thereupon thou maiſt conclude to the comfort of thine owne ſoule, that thou art ſure to be ſaued, and the gates of hell ſhall neuer be able to preuaile againſt thee: and that is a ground of ſweet and excellent comfort.

Now before I leaue this point,Another cauill of the Papiſts. I hold it needfull to anſwer another cauill of the Papiſts: they do further cauill againſt the truth now ſtood on after this manner. Say they, though a man may be aſſured that for the preſent he is in the ſtate of grace; admit that he be ſo, yet he cannot be ſure of his ſaluation: for ſay they, he cannot be ſure that he ſhall continue and perſeuere in that ſtate to the end, the witneſſe & teſtimonie of Gods Spirit may be extinct and put out, iuſtifying faith may be loſt, and the gifts of grace, the fruits of grace may p. 396wither, and may come to nothing: how then can any man build on theſe grounds infallible aſſurance, and neuer failing aſſurance of his owne ſaluation, and that he ſhall certainly be ſaued?

Anſw. To this I anſwer. This is but a cauill of mans carnall reaſon, and this is a monſtrous boldneſſe in them; for by this meanes they call into queſtion the truth and promiſe of God, the power of God, the deeds of our bleſſed Sauiour, the prayer of Chriſt, the eternall louelove of God, and his vnchangeable decree of ſauing ſome. For why, Gods choſen come to know and to be aſſured that they are in the ſtate of grace and of ſaluation, by the witneſſe and teſtimonie of the Spirit of God, and by the euidence of grace, and eſpecially of iuſtifying faith in their hearts, and by the fruits of grace; and that aſſurance of theirs is ſetled and grounded on the truth of God which cannot lye, on the truth of his promiſe made knowne to them in his word, as namely, that Ioh. 3.36. He that beleeueth on the Sonne hath euerlaſting life: On the power of God by which they are kept through faith to ſaluation, 1. Pet. 1.5. On the deeds of Chriſt, together with whom they are quickened, and raiſed, and made to ſit in certaine hope of an heauenly poſſeſſion, Epheſ. 2.5.6. On the prayer of Chriſt that could not be in vaine, but was certainly heard of his heauenly Father. Ioh. 17.20. I pray not for theſe alone, but for them alſo which ſhall beleeue in me through their word: On the eternall louelove of God from which nothing can ſeparate them, verſe 39. of this Chapter: On the immutable decree of God which ſtands faſt for euermore, The foundation of God remaineth ſure, and hath this ſeale, the Lord knoweth who are his. 2. Tim. 2.19. Let then neither the Papiſts or any enemie of Gods grace thinke that he is able to race this foundation of comfort, the aſſurance of Gods choſen, that they are in the ſtate of grace, and of ſaluation, they ſhall neuer be able to do it, it ſtands on firme grounds, euen on ſuch grounds as can neuer be ſhaken. Indeed the comfortable perſwaſion of ſome of Gods choſen, that they are in the ſtate of grace and of ſaluation, may for a time be weakened through the neglect of the p. 397meanes, or by falling into ſome grieuous ſinne, or by a ſecret withdrawing of grace and comfort of it, may be loſt for a time, and the faith of Gods choſen may be wounded, and the actions of it troubled, but it can neuer be wholly and finally loſt. The Lord hath made a faithfull promiſe, Ierem. 32.40. I will put my feare in their hearts, that they ſhall not depart from me: and Chriſt hath made it knowne, that his will is, that they whom his Father hath giuen him be where he is, that they may behold his glorie which his Father had giuen him, Ioh. 17.24. He is the author and finiſher of their faith. Heb. 12.2.

Now further obſerue we, the Apoſtle here ioynes together the witneſſe of the Spirit of God and of our ſpirit, as we ſhewed, of our regenerate part of the heart and conſcience ſanctified, and renewed, and ſprinkled with the bloud of Chriſt, and quieted and cleared. Hence then we are giuen to vnderſtand thus much.

That the holy Spirit of God and the heart and conſcience Doct. 3 renewed and ſanctified do euer concurre & meete together in witneſſing Gods ſpeciall and fatherly louelove.Gods holy Spirit doth perſwade thē, and them only, of Gods eternall louelove towards thē whoſe hearts are ſanctified and renewed by grace. The holy Spirit of God doth perſwade them, and them alone, and none but them whoſe hearts are ſanctified and renewed by grace, and hauehave the power of grace in their hearts and liues, that God loues them, and hath loued them from all eternitie, and that they are in the ſtate of grace and of ſaluation. We reade Act. 15.8.9.Act. 15.8.9.Acts 15:8Acts 15:9 the Gentiles hauing heard the Goſpell beleeued, and God gaue them his Spirit, yea he did by his good Spirit witneſſe his fatherly louelove to them: their hearts being purified by faith, that is, their hearts being ſprinkled with the bloud of Chriſt apprehended by faith, and thereby freed from the guiltineſſe of ſinne, and alſo purged from the filthineſſe of ſinne, and they being ſanctified, God which knoweth the hearts bare them witneſſe in giuing to them the holy Ghost euen as he did vntounto vsus, and he put no difference betweene vsus and them, after that by faith he had purified their hearts, ſaith the text. Galat. 3.14. the Apoſtle ſaith, By faith we receiue the Spirit of promiſe. His meaning is, we beleeuing in Chriſt, and being ſanctified, we receiue the Spirit of God more fully and manifeſtly dwelling p. 398in vsus to our ſanctification, and to our aſſurance touching our redemption. 1. Ioh. 3.21. ſaith Saint Iohn, If our heart condemne vsus not, if our conſcience be ſanctified, and cleared, and quieted, we hauehave boldneſſe towards God, we hauehave then God who knowes all things, to witneſſe with vsus by his good Spirit, euen to witneſſe to vsus his grace, and fauour, and mercy, and we may appeare before him with boldneſſe. 1. Pet. 1.2. the Apoſtle puts theſe two together, obedience and the ſprinkling of the bloud of Ieſus Chriſt, and ſanctification of the Spirit: Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, vntounto ſanctification of the Spirit, through the obedience and ſprinkling of the bloud of Ieſus Chriſt. And theſe teſtimonies may ſufficiently cleare this to be a truth, that the holy Spirit of God doth perſwade them, and them alone, and none but them, whoſe hearts are ſanctified by grace, and hauehave the power of grace in their hearts and liues, that God loues them, and hath loued them from all eternitie, and that they alone are in the ſtate of grace and ſaluation: and

The grounds of it are theſe.

Reaſon 1 1. The Spirit of Adoption is alſo a Spirit of ſanctification, and he makes Gods choſen the workmanſhip of God, created in Chriſt Ieſus to good workes, Epheſ. 2.10. And then he witneſſeth to them that they are the children of God.

2. Againe ſecondly, the holy Spirit of God is the Spirit of truth, he cannot poſſibly witneſſe an vntruth, he cannot witneſſe that a child of the diuell (as eueryevery one is that commits ſinne, 1. Ioh. 3.8.) is a child of God; he cannot, neither will he teſtifie any one to be a child of God whom he neuer ſanctified. And therefore on theſe grounds we may ſet downe this for a certaine truth, that the holy Spirit of God doth perſwade them, and them alone, and none but them, whoſe hearts are ſanctified, and hauehave the power of grace in their hearts and liues, that God loues them, and hath loued them from all eternitie, and that they, and none but they, are in the ſtate of grace and of ſaluation.

Ʋſe. 1 Now then to apply this: firſt, this truth ſerues to diſcouer p. 399that the perſwaſion of eueryevery one that perſwades himſelfe that his ſpirituall ſtate is good, and that he ſhall be ſaued,EueryEvery ones perſwaſion that his ſpirituall ſtate is good, is not the perſwaſion of the holy Spirit of God. is not the perſwaſion of the holy Spirit of God. Who is it that hath not a good conceit of himſelfe, & that will not ſay, he hopes to be ſaued? Euen the drunkard, the filthy perſon, the common blaſphemer, and the like, will not ſticke to ſay, they hope to be ſaued, and to go to heauen: and ciuill honeſt perſons, they are ſtrongly perſwaded that they are highly in the fauour of God, and that they are in the ſtate of grace, yea that it is God himſelfe that perſwades them ſo to thinke. Poore ſoules, they deceiue themſelues, the truth now deliuered ſhewes, that their perſwaſion is but a meere groundleſſe preſumption; a man cannot comfortably perſwade himſelfe that he is in the ſtate of grace and of ſaluation, if he hauehave not Gods hand and ſeale to ſhew for it, euen the ſeale of his good Spirit: and he hath not that, vnleſſe he find the ſtampe and image of that ſeale on his owne heart and ſoule. The holy Spirit of God perſwades no man that he is a child of God, vnleſſe his owne heart can witneſſe that he is borne of God, and begotten againe of the immortall ſeed of the word of God, and borne anew of the Spirit of God. If thou beeſt a drunkard, a Sabbath breaker, a common ſweater, or the like, and ſayeſt the Spirit perſwades thee that thy caſe is good, and thou ſhalt be ſaued; thou art a lyer againſt the holy Ghoſt, it is not Gods Spirit, but a lying ſpirit, that ſo perſwades thee, thou beareſt not the image of the Spirit of God, but the image of the diuell: Gods Spirit witneſſeth indeed, but his witneſſe to thee is heauie and fearefull, that thou and ſuch Ʋſe. 2 as thou art ſhalt be damned,Comfort to poore ſanctified ſoules who in regard of their owne weakneſſe are many times driuen to doubt whether God loues them or no. thou liuing and dying in that ſtate: and therefore take heed of ſo deceiuing thy ſelfe.

And for a ſecond vſe: Is it ſo that the holy Spirit of God doth perſwade them, and them alone, and none but them whoſe hearts are ſanctified and renewed by grace, and hauehave the power of grace in their hearts, and do expreſſe it in their liues, that they are the children of God, that God loues them, & hath loued them from all eternitie, and that they are in the ſtate of grace & of ſaluation? Here is thē a ground of comfort p. 400for poore ſanctified ſoules, who though they be truly ſanctified, yet in regard of the weakneſſe and imperfection of their owne inherent holineſſe and ſanctification, are many times driuen to doubt whether God louelove them or no, and whether they be in the ſtate of grace and ſaluation or no. Such perſons are to conſider, they hauehave not onelyonly their owne hearts to witneſſe Gods louelove to them, which becauſe of the imperfect ſanctification of them, might make them rather doubt of it then be aſſured of it, but they hauehave alſo the holy Spirit of God to witneſſe with their hearts and conſciences, truly ſanctified and renewed by grace, that they are the children of God, and his witneſſe is infallible and vndeniable: the Lord cannot refuſe the witneſſe of his owne good Spirit, and this is a great merciemercy of God vouchſafed to his children. A witneſſe we know amongſt men is called in doubtful caſes, that by his teſtimonie he may cleare the truth; ſo when the conſcience of a poore ſanctified ſinner, is wauering and doubting of Gods louelove, in regard of the imperfection of holineſſe in it ſelfe, then the Lord vouchſafes his owne good Spirit to witneſſe it to him, and his witneſſe puts the matter out of all doubt and queſtion. If then thou feele thine owne heart and ſoule truly ſanctified and renewed by grace, (and thou maiſt know that thine heart is truly ſanctified by the inclinations, motions, and affections of it,) if thou feele thine heart rightly affected with the mercies of God, the comforts in Chriſt, and the comforts of the word of God, that thou doſt eſteeme them and prize them aboue all things in the world, and thou haſt a true louelove to God, to his word, and to his ordinances, to his children, becauſe they are his children, and thou haſt a true and ſound hatred of ſinne in thy ſelfe, and in all others, yea in thy neareſt and deareſt friends; though thy ſanctification be imperfect, and in regard of the imperfection of it, giues thee but a weake teſtimonie of Gods louelove, yet then the Lord will vouchſafe to thee the witneſſe of his owne good Spirit, and his witneſſe will be taken, it is infallible, and ſtrong, and the Lord cannot refuſe it, his witneſſe will beare thee out before the iudgement ſeate of the Lord Ieſus.

p. 401Come we now to ſpeake of the generall thing layd before vsus in this verſe: namely, the thing witneſſed in theſe words, That we are the children of God. The ſame Spirit beareth witneſſe with our ſpirit, (ſaith the Apoſtle) that we are the children of God, that is, (as we ſhewed) that we are now by grace and fauour actually accounted Gods children, euen the adopted ſonnes and daughters of God, in and through Chriſt. Now here haply ſome may deſire to hauehave the point of adoption a little further opened and cleared, they not ſo well vnderſtanding it. To giuegive them therefore ſatisfaction, I will labour to lay it forth a little further; and to this purpoſe know, that a child of God, is either by nature or by grace; the child of God by nature is Chriſt, as he is the eternall Sonne of God, begotten of his Father from euerlaſting, and therefore called the onelyonly begotten Sonne of God, Ioh. 3.16. God ſo loued the world, that he gaue his onelyonly begotten Sonne. A man is the child of God by grace three wayes.A child of God by grace is three wayes: 1. Either by creation, as Adam was before his fall, and as the good Angels now are. 2. Or by perſonall vnion, and thus Chriſt as he is man is the child of God, his manhood being receiued into vnitie of perſon with his Godhead. 3. Or by the grace of adoption, and thus all true beleeuers are the children of God. By nature they are the children of wrath as well as others, but by the grace of adoption they are actually accounted Gods children, in and through Chriſt. And the ground of their adoption is their vnion with Chriſt,The ground of adoption of Gods children. they being vnited and knit to Chriſt by the bond of faith, and by the bond of his Spirit: and hauing fellowſhip with him who is the naturall Sonne of God, they come to be actually accompted Gods children by grace, in and through Chriſt, and ſo their adoption followes their iuſtification, and is annexed to it. There is a Diuine whom I will not name, who in a Treatiſe of his, makes adoption to be in order of nature before iuſtification, but I ſee no ſufficient ground for it: it is the receiued opinion of the beſt Diuines, that it followes iuſtification, and is annexed to it, and there is good ground for it in the Scripture. Galat. 3.26.27. the Apoſtle ſaith: Ye are ſonnes of God by faith; for all ye that are baptized hauehave put on p. 402Chriſt: as if he had ſaid, ye are by Baptiſme ingrafted into Chriſt, and made one with him by faith, and hauehave fellowſhip with him who is the naturall Sonne of God, & therfore ye are the ſonnes of God. Ioh. 1.12.Ioh. 1.12.John 1:12 it is ſaid, As many as receiued Chriſt, to thē he gaue power, or gaue this priuiledge, or this dignitie to be the ſons of God, euen to them that beleeue in his Name. Where we ſee, that beleeuing in Chriſt, and receiuing of Chriſt to iuſtification, is made the ground of adoption. Now in the grace of adoption we muſt further know,2. Acts of God in the grace of adoption. there be two acts of God, one is acceptation, whereby the Lord is pleaſed to accept men for his children by grace and fauour; and the other is regeneration, whereby they are borne of God, and whereby the Lord makes them new creatures, and doth reſtore in them his owne image, in righteouſneſſe and true holineſſe, which the Apoſtle Peter, 2. Pet. 1.4.2. Pet. 1.4.2 Pet 1:4 cals a participating of the diuine nature. And herein lies a maine difference betweene Gods adoption and mans adoption,Difference betweene Gods adoption & mans. man in adopting a child of another, may accept of him for his ſonne, and may giuegive him the priuiledges of a ſonne, but he cannot communicate his qualities and nature to him: But God adopting vsus for his children, he doth not onelyonly accept of vsus for his ſonnes, but he alſo imprints his owne nature and his owne image on vsus by the grace of regeneration. Thus then we are to conceiue the point of adoption.

How the point of adoption is to be conceiued.That Gods children being by nature the children of wrath as well as others, are by the grace of adoption, they being vnited and knit to Chriſt by the bond of faith and by his Spirit, and hauing fellowſhip with Chriſt, who is the naturall Sonne of God, they are actually accounted Gods children, & the Lord is pleaſed to accept them for his children by grace and fauour in and through Chriſt, and doth alſo ſtampe his owne nature and his owne image on them by the grace of regeneration.

Come we now to the thing the Apoſtle ſpeakes of here, witneſſed by the holy Spirit of God, and by the ſanctified heart, namely this, that himſelfe and the beleeuing Romans were the children of God, that is, were by grace and fauour p. 403actually accounted Gods children, euen his adopted ſonnes and daughters in and through Chriſt. Hence ſeuerall things are offered.

As firſt this, that God loues his choſen, beleeuing in Doct. 4 Chriſt, and being iuſtified by Chriſt,God loues his choſen now beleeuing in Chriſt, with a fatherly louelove. and hauing fellowſhip with Chriſt, with a fatherly louelove, and with a tender affection, and they are moſt deare and precious to his holy Maieſty, and he accepts their perſons, and accounts them as his owne deare children. We finde that the Lord in many places of Scripture takes to himſelfe the name and title of a father, in relation to his choſen and faithfull ones, and makes knowne that he beares a fatherly louelove and affection to them. Malac. 3.17. I will ſpare them ſaith the Lord, as a man ſpareth his ſonne that ſerueth him. Pſal. 103.13. As a father hath compaſſion on his children, ſo hath the Lord compaſſion on them that feare him. Iſai. 66.13. the Lord compares himſelfe to a mother, and his tender affection to his choſen and faithfull ones, to the affection of a mother: ſaith he, As one whom his mother comforteth, ſo will I comfort you, and you ſhall be comforted in Ieruſalem. Zach. 2.8. the Prophet makes knowne, that Gods choſen and faithfull ones are as deare and precious to him as the apple of his eye, and that he ten…ers them as the apple of his eye: He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye. And that the Lord beares this louelove and tender affection to his choſen, beleeuing in Chriſt, and being iuſtified by Chriſt, the Apoſtle makes it plaine, Epheſ. 1.5.6. when he ſaith, Who hath predeſtinate vsus to be adopted through Ieſus Chriſt vntounto himſelfe, according to the good pleaſure of his will: to the praiſe and glorie of his grace wherewith he hath made vsus accepted in his beloued, that is, in Chriſt.

For why, (to giuegive you the reaſon Reaſon. and ground of this) the Lord lookes on his choſen, beleeuing in Chriſt, and by him iuſtified and ſanctified, not as they are in themſelues, but as they are in his beloued Sonne, * The Sonne of his louelove: Coloſſ. 1.13.Coloſſ. 1.13.Col 1:13 and as they are in his Sonne in whom he is well pleaſed: foreign.as himſelfe ſpeakes, Mat. 3.17. and ſo he beares the ſame louelove to them that he doth to his owne Sonne. And therefore p. 404doubtleſſe God loues his choſen, beleeuing in Chriſt, and being by Chriſt iuſtified, with a fatherly louelove and with a tender affection, they are moſt deare and precious to his holy Maieſtie.

Obiect. Haply here it will be ſaid, God loues his choſen from euerlaſting, and he loues them euen before their calling and conuerſion, and before their iuſtification and adoption, yea he loues them with great or much louelove, as Epheſ. 2.4.Epheſ. 2.4.Eph 2:4 God which is rich in merciemercy, foreign.through his great louelove wherewith he loued vsus. Anſw. I anſwer. It is true, the Lord loues his choſen before their calling, and before their iuſtification and adoption, and that with great or much louelove; yet with that degree of his louelove that is proper to his elect vncalled, and as his elect onelyonly knowne to himſelfe ſo to be, and in time to be called, iuſtified, and adopted: but when they are called, iuſtified, and adopted, he then loues them with a further degree of his louelove, euen to the actuall acceptation of their perſons, and of their good works, as pleaſing to him in Chriſt.Note. Indeed Gods louelove in it ſelfe admits neither more nor leſſe, but as it is reached out to his choſen, there be different degrees of it.

Ʋſe 1 Now then for vſe of the point: firſt this truth that God loues his choſen,Sweet cōfort for all ſuch as truly beleeue in Chriſt the God of Chriſt is their God, and the father of Chriſt their father. beleeuing in Chriſt, and being iuſtified by Chriſt, and hauing fellowſhip with him, may yeeld matter of ſweete and of excellent comfort to all that truly beleeue in Chriſt, and are by him iuſtified, and finde that they hauehave fellowſhip with Chriſt. Art thou one truly beleeuing in Chriſt, and by him iuſtified? doſt thou find that thou haſt fellowſhip with Chriſt? Surely then the God of Chriſt is thy God, the Father of Chriſt is thy Father, Ioh. 20.17.Ioh. 20.17.John 20:17 Tell my brethren, I aſcend vntounto my Father and to your Father, vntounto my God and your God. And he loues thee with a fatherly louelove, yea with the ſame louelove he beares to his owne deare Sonne, to the Sonne of his louelove; and aſſure thy ſelfe he will deale with thee as a moſt louing, gracious, and tender hearted father. There is no earthly father, be he neuer ſo great, that can deale ſo well with his child whom he loues moſt dearely, as the Lord thy heauenly Father is able to deale with thee; and his louelove exceeds p. 405the louelove of the tendereſt father in the world, as farre as God himſelfe exceeds duſt and earth, ſinne and corruption; and out of his tender louelove to thee, he will ſuffer thee to want no manner of thing that he knowes to be good for thee, either in reſpect of ſoule or bodie, and he will beare with thy infirmities and frailties in doing good things, thine heart being ſet right to pleaſe him, yea he will tender thee as a louing father, when thy bodie lyes vnderunder ſickneſſe, vnderunder paines or griefes, Pſal. 41.3.Pſal. 41.3.Ps 41:3 The Lord may and doth ſuffer his children to lye vnderunder affliction for a time, for good cauſes beſt known to himſelfe. As an earthly father perceiuing cauſe of further good, doth ſometimes ſuffer his child to bite on the bridle, to lye in priſon, to be in want, and as the ſaying is, he may ſee his child need, but he cannot endure to ſee him bleed: ſo doubtleſſe thy heauenly Father for much good knowne to his holy Maieſtie, may ſuffer thee to lye vnderunder affliction, that thou maiſt be humbled, and ſchooled, and wained from the louelove of the world; but to ſinke vnderunder thy affliction, and vtterly to periſh vnderunder it, he cannot endure it, he will not ſuffer it, he will not ſee it, he will certainly put vnderunder his hand; yea he louing thee with a fatherly louelove, he will not ſuffer anie thing to hurt thee, the harmes, wrongs, and iniuries that are done to thee, they pierce as it were his gracious bowels, and he will not endure them.

And ſo for a ſecond vſe, take notice of this whoſoeuer Ʋſe 2 thou art, that doſt hate, or harme,God will not ſuffer his children whom he loues moſt dearely to be wronged and abaſed, & not auenge it. or wrong anie one that truly beleeues in Chriſt: will an earthly father ſuffer his child whom he loues dearly, to be buffeted and beaten, wronged and abuſed, if he be able to helpe it? ſurely he will not: and will the Lord then who is infinite in power, able to do whatſoeuer he will, ſuffer any of his children whom he loues moſt dearely, being bought with the precious bloud of his owne deare Sonne, to be wronged, and abuſed, and not auenge it? No, no, certainly he will not: as he ſaid to Abraham, Geneſ. 12.3. he will bleſſe them that bleſſe his children, and he will curſe thoſe that curſe them: his reuenging hand will be againſt all that harme or wrong the pooreſt of his children. p. 406Thinke on this, thou that art a perſecutor of Gods children, and thou that doſt harme or wrong any one that truly beleeues in Chriſt, be it but a poore ſilly man in the world; remember this that he hath a Father that is able to right his cauſe, yea a Father that loues him dearely: and if he make his moane to his Father, and out of the bitterneſſe of his ſoule complaine to him, he will heare him: and if he riſe vp for his defence, and his hand take hold on iudgement, then woe to thee. Thou maiſt be as a whip or ſcourge on the backe of a child of God for a time, but when the Lord hath done his owne will and worke by thee on his child for his good, then will he caſt thee as a rod into the fire of his euerlaſting vengeance.

Ʋſe 3 Now before I leaue this point, one other ſhort vſe is to be made of it:We are to eſteeme of Gods choſen now beleeuing in Chriſt as of thoſe that are deare and precious to the Lord. is it ſo that God loues his choſen, now beleeuing in Chriſt, and being by him iuſtified, with a fatherly louelove, and with a tender affection? are they right deare to his holy Maieſtie? Surely then we muſt learne to eſteeme of them; we are to eſteeme of them as of Gods redeemed ones, and as of his deare ones, and as of thoſe that are of great price with the Lord, and of high account with his holy Maieſtie. And to this purpoſe conſider we, that Gods choſen, now beleeuing in Chriſt, and iuſtified by him, are of ſuch price with the Lord, and ſo eſteemed of him, as that for their ſakes he doth manie times extend his bountie to the wicked, and the wicked fare the better for their ſakes, and for their ſakes the Lord beſtowes many temporarie benefits on the wicked: yea the Lords louelove to his choſen now beleeuing in Chriſt, is ſo great, as that he makes more account of one of them, then of ten thouſand worldlings, yea ten of them ſhall ſtand before him to turne him from anger to merciemercy, when he will not vouchſafe to reſpect ten thouſand ſuch as the world honoureth for men or women of great account. If ten of them had bene found in Sodome, the whole Citie had bene ſpared for their ſakes, and had eſcaped the fearefull plague of fire and brimſtone, Geneſ. 18.32.Geneſ. 18.32.Gen 18:32 And for Noahs ſake was Cham preſerued from the deluge: and Paul had the liues of all giuen him that p. 407were in the ſame ſhip with him, Act. 27.24. Are theſe then ſuch as we cannot abide, and ſuch as we hate and contemne? and are theſe eye ſores vntounto vsus, and ſuch as harme the place where they are, and they muſt be remoued or elſe we ſhall not be well? Oh learne we to ſee their price with God, and the good that comes to the place where they dwell, euen for their ſakes; and learne we to eſteeme of Gods choſen beleeuing in Chriſt, as we ought, euen as of Gods deare ones, and as of ſuch as are of great price with the Lord; and let them be deare to vsus, and let vsus make precious account of them. In louing them we ſhall teſtifie our louelove to God himſelfe: for it is a ſure rule, louelove me and louelove my child, and if thou louelove not my child, thou loueſt not me: and ſo indeed if thou louelove not the children of God, thou loueſt not God. Euerie one that loueth God which begat, loueth him alſo which is begotten of him, 1. Ioh. 5.1. If thou louelove not the children of God, aſſuredly thou loueſt not God himſelfe, ſay or pretend what thou wilt. As the world and men of the world are readie to ſay, they louelove God with all their hearts, they would be ſorrie elſe, and yet ſuch as are the adopted ſonnes and daughters of God they cannot abide, thoſe they hate and contemne. Do they louelove God? No, no, they lye, and deale not truly with their owne ſoules: thou loueſt not God whoſoeuer thou art, if thou louelove not thoſe that are beloued of God. Now in the next place, in that the Apoſtle here ſaith, the thing witneſſed by the holy Spirit of God and by the ſanctified heart, was this, that himſelfe and the beleeuing Romans were the children of God, were by grace in Chriſt actually accounted Gods children, euen the adopted ſons and daughters of God in and through Chriſt; we are further to take notice of the excellencie, and of the honour, and dignitie of Doct. 5 Gods choſen, beleeuing in Chriſt, and being by him iuſtified,Gods choſen now beleeuing in Chriſt are aduanced to great excellencie and dignitie. and hauing fellowſhip with Chriſt. And the point is this.

That Gods choſen, beleeuing in Chriſt, and being by him iuſtified, and hauing fellowſhip with Chriſt, they are aduanced to great excellencie, they are highly honoured and dignified, they are accounted the ſonnes and daughters of the p. 408moſt High, euen of the Lord of heauen and earth, and that is a great honour to them. We reade 1. Sam. 18.18. when Dauid heard of matching with Sauls daughter, Alas (ſaith he) what am I, and what is my life, or the familie of my father in Iſrael, that I ſhould be ſonne in law to the king? And againe, when Sauls ſeruants dealt with him to the ſame purpoſe, ſaith he, verſe 23. Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a kings ſonne in law? And ſo it may be truly ſaid in this caſe, is it a light or ſmall thing to be the adopted ſonne or daughter of God, the great Lord and King of heauen and earth? Without queſtion it is a matter of wonderfull excellencie, and to hauehave ſuch a ſonneſhip is more a thouſand times then to be the ſonne of the moſt mightie Prince in the world. Iſai. 43.4. the Lord ſaith of his people, Becauſe thou wast precious in my ſight, and thou wast honourable and I loued thee: as if he had ſaid, ſince I hauehave taken thee for mine owne, and thou haſt bene my peculiar people, thou haſt bene excellent and honourable aboue all the people in the world. And hence it is that Gods choſen now beleeuing in Chriſt, and by him iuſtified, are ſaid to be kings and Prieſts to God, that Chriſt hath made them kings and Prieſts to God his Father, Reuel. 1.6. And 1. Pet. 4.14. the Apoſtle ſaith, The Spirit of glorie and of God reſteth on them: and therefore doubtleſſe they are honourable and glorious. Eccleſ. 10.7. the Preacher cals them Princes: ſpeaking of the confuſion and diſorder that he ſaw in the world, he ſaith, I hauehave ſeene ſeruants on horſes, and Princes walking as ſeruants on the ground. He meanes by Princes, the choſen of God and his faithfull ones. And indeed if we conſider the bottome of the baſe eſtate from which Gods choſen now beleeuing in Chriſt are brought, and the top of glorie to which they are aduanced, it will plainly appeare to vsus that they are exceedingly aduanced to great excellencie, and to high honour and dignitie they are by nature children of wrath, bondſlaues of ſinne and Satan, enemies to God, and rebels againſt his holy Maieſtie, liable to all plagues and iudgements, and in a miſerable ſtate and condition: and by the grace of adoption they are aduanced to be ſonnes and daughters of the moſt p. 409high Lord and King of heauen and earth, yea to be heires, as verſe the next, Euen fellow heires with Chriſt, Rom. 8.17.Rom 8:17and to hauehave right and title to all good things in this world, and to the crowne of glorie in heauen. And ſo it muſt needs be acknowledged, that they now beleeuing in Chriſt, they are aduanced to great excellencie, and they are highly honoured and dignified.

And for the vſe of this, firſt this truth ſerues much for the Ʋſe. 1 comfort and for the cheating vp of the hearts of poore deſpiſed ones in the world, truly beleeuing in Chriſt,Comfort to poore deſpiſed ones in the world, they truly beleeuing in Chriſt. and being by him iuſtified. Though they be poore and deſpiſed in the world, and vilified, and abaſed, and held as the refuſe and ofſcouring of the world, yet beleeuing in Chriſt, they are not onelyonly dearely beloued of the Lord, but they are alſo highly honoured and dignified, they hauehave this honour vouchſafed to them, they are accounted the ſonnes and daughters of the great Lord and King of heauen and earth: and in that reſpect they are equall to the greateſt that beleeues in Chriſt. The beleeuing ſhepheard, or the beleeuing kitchin boy may call God his Father as well as the beleeuing king; ſuch honour hauehave all the Saints of God, which may comfort them and cheare vp their hearts. Indeed the honour and glorie of Gods choſen beleeuing in Chriſt, doth not appeare to the eye of the world, it lyes hid from the world, either vnderunder affliction, or vnderunder that excellent grace of humilitie, which the world accounts baſeneſſe, and as Saint Iohn (1. Ioh, 3.2.) ſaith, we are now the ſonnes of God: but yet it doth not appeare what we ſhall be, but the time ſhal come when the world ſhall be eye-witneſſes of their honour and glorie. When the Lord Ieſus ſhall ſhew himſelfe from heauen in endleſſe glorie in his owne perſon at the day of iudgement, he ſhall then come to be glorified in his Saints, and to be made maruellous in all them that beleeue, 2. Theſſ. 1.10.2. Theſſ. 1.10.2 Thess 1:10 At his appearance he ſhall not onelyonly be infinitely glorious in his owne perſon, but he ſhall alſo be glorious in his Saints, he glorifying them, and they appearing with him in glorie, and that to the admiration of all that ſhall looke on them, euen to the amazement of men and p. 410Angels: and that is a matter of ſweet comfort to poore deſpiſed ones in the world that truly beleeue in Chriſt.

Ʋſe. 2 Againe for a ſecond vſe, is it ſo that Gods choſen, beleeuing in Chriſt,Gods choſen beleeuing in Chriſt muſt carrie themſelues anſwerable to their honour and dignitie. and being by him iuſtified, and hauing fellowſhip with him, are aduanced to ſo great excellencie, and ſo highly honoured and dignified, as that they are accounted the ſonnes and daughters of the moſt high Lord of heauen and earth? Surely then it concernes them, and it is their dutie, to carrie themſelues anſwerable to ſo great honour and dignitie, as the Lord ſaith by his Prophet, Malac. 1.6. If I be a Father where is mine honour? And as the Apoſtle ſaith, 1. Pet. 1.17. If ye call him Father, which without respect of perſons iudgeth according to eueryevery mans worke, paſſe the time of your dwelling here in feare. When Dauid kept his fathers ſheepe, he behaued himſelfe like a ſhepheard, but when he was called from the ſheepefold and aduanced to be a King, he carried himſelfe accordingly; and ſo ought Gods children to do, being called from being the children of the diuell to be the children of God the great Lord and King of heauen and earth, they are to carrie themſelues as the ſonnes and daughters of ſo great a King, and anſwerable to the honour vouchſafed to them. What a ſhame were it for a Kings ſonne to carrie himſelfe as a baſe peaſant, and to behaue himſelfe like a drudge? And is it for a child of God to carrie himſelfe as a vaſſall and ſlaue to ſinne and Satan, and to ſuffer himſelfe to be a drudge to the luſts of his owne heart? Thinke on this, thou that doſt perſwade thy ſelfe that thou art a child of God, and know that the Lord lookes for more honour, and feare, and reuerence, and dutie, and ſeruice, and holy obedience from thee, then he doth from thoſe that are not his children: If thou be proud, if thou be vaine and gariſh in thy attire, if thou be couetous and an earthworme, if thou ſuffer thy ſelfe to be carried after the lewd cuſtomes and faſhions of the world, thy ſinnes do more diſhonour God then the ſinnes of thoſe that are not Gods children, yea thy ſinnes are more offenſiue to God, and more diſpleaſing to his holy Maieſtie, then the ſinnes of the prophane and reprobate, becauſe thy ſinnes are not bare p. 411tranſgreſſions of his Law, but they are committed againſt his merciemercy, againſt his bountie and goodneſſe, and againſt his louing fauour vouchſafed to thee, and thy ſinnes hauehave vnthankfulneſſe ioyned with them, and aſſuredly the Lord will not ſuffer thy ſinnes to eſcape his hand, as he ſaith by his Prophet Amos 3.1, 2. Heare this word that the Lord pronounceth againſt you O children of Iſrael, euen againſt the whole familie which I brought vp from the land of Egypt, ſaying: You onelyonly hauehave I knowne of all the families of the earth, therefore I will viſite you for all your iniquities: I will not ſuffer you to eſcape my hand for your ſinnes. Thinke on this, thou that doſt perſwade thy ſelfe thou art a child of God; though the Lord ſuffer others to runne on in their ſinnes, and reſerues them till the day of vengeance, yet he will whip thee for thy ſinnes, becauſe he loues thee. And the greater honour the Lord hath vouchſafed to thee, the more excellent condition he hath aduanced thee vntounto, the more doth he challenge from thee all ſuch care and dutie, as may declare thee not vnworthie of ſo great fauour.