The Triumph of a True Christian Described, Commentary on verse · Verse 33, 34
VERSE 33.34.
Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods choſen? It is God that iuſtifieth.
Who ſhall condemne? 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 alſo for vsus.
OVr Apoſtle hauing in the verſe foregoing armed the beleeuing Romans and other true beleeuers, againſt the aſſault and tentation that might ariſe from the want of good things, and made knowne to them they need not feare the want of any good thing needfull for them, God hauing giuen them Chriſt his Sonne, he now begins to arme and ſtrengthen them againſt the aſſaults and tentations that might come from the preſence of euill things, and he oppoſeth to the particular aſſaults that might trouble and diſquiet them touching the preſence of euill things, contrary grounds of comfort: and this he doth from this 33. verſe to the end of the Chapter. I will God willing lay forth the grounds of comfort oppoſed to the particular aſſaults, as we ſhall come to them. In theſe two verſes 33. and 34. the Apoſtle pus downe a ground of comfort that might come from the euill of ſinne, and he ſhewes that the euill of ſinne cannot hurt Gods choſen, either in regard of accuſation, or in reſpect of condemnation. Firſt in regard of accuſation, he affirmes verſe 33. that Gods choſen are not to feare any accuſer, any that can accuſe them for their ſinnes, which he puts downe by way of interrogation, Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods choſen? And then againſt the feare of accuſation for their ſinnes, he oppoſeth a ſtrong reaſon, as a ground of comfort, becauſe God iuſtifieth them, and therefore no accuſation for ſinne need to be feared: Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods choſen? It is God that iuſtifieth, ſaith the Apoſtle. In regard of condemnation he likewiſe affirmes verſe 34. that Gods choſen are not to feare that any ſhall condemne them for their ſinnes. Who ſhall condemne, ſaith the Apoſtle: as if he had ſaid, None ſhall, or none can condemne. And then he alſo oppoſeth to the feare of condemnation this reaſon and particular ground of comfort, becauſe Chriſt is dead: It is Chriſt which is dead. Which he further enlargeth by Chriſt his reſurrection, and his ſitting at the right hand of God, and his interceſſion: 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 alſo for vsus. But to keepe within the compaſſe of verſe 33. two things in generall are layd before vsus in that verſe. Firſt this propoſition: None can lay any thing to the charge of Gods choſen, deliuered by way of interrogation, Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods choſen? Secondly the reaſon of it, becauſe God iuſtifieth them, Who can lay any thing to their charge? It is God that iuſtifieth.
Let vsus now a little ſtand to examine the words of this verſe touching the ſence and meaning of them.Interpretation. Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods choſen? as if he had ſaid, none ſhall, or none can, neither man nor diuell, none either in heauen, in earth, or in hell, is able to do it. Lay any thing to the charge of Gods choſen. Theſe words are metaphoricall, borrowed and taken from ciuill courts, and the verbe foreign, vſed in the originall, properly ſignifieth to call one into law, to enter action or ſuite againſt him in ſome open Court, to endite him, to accuſe him with ſome euill, and to charge him with ſome crime before a Iudge: and ſo the meaning of the Apoſtle is this, None is able to indite Gods choſen, or to accuſe them, or to charge them with any crime before the tribunall and iudgement ſeate of God, ſo as they are not able there to preuaile againſt them by their inditement or accuſation, and to conuince them as guiltie of any crime. Indeed Gods choſen hauehave many accuſers, and many there be that are readie to charge ſinne on them; but the words of the Apoſtle carrie this ſence, None are able in truth to faſten any crime or any guiltineſſe on them. Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods choſen? that is, of ſuch as God hath in his eternall louelove, elected and choſen, and ſet apart before the foundation of the world, as Epheſ. 1.4. to eternall life, they now truly beleeuing in Chriſt; for thoſe the Apoſtle here cals Gods choſen, whom before he ſaid were fore-knowne of God, predeſtinate, and called according to his purpoſe. It is God that iuſtifieth: the words are in the originall foreign, God iuſtifying, or God who iuſtifieth, and ſome reade theſe words by way of interrogation thus: Who ſhall lay anything to the charge of Gods choſen, ſhall God who iuſtifieth? but that reading obſcures the ſence, and the words are better thus read, It is God that iuſtifieth. The word iuſtifie is diuerſly taken in the Scripture, there be two ſpeciall ſignifications of the word, as firſt it ſignifies to acknowledge or to declare one to be iuſt; and in this ſence it is taken, Matth. 12.37. By thy words thou art iuſtified, that is, by thy words thou ſhalt be declared to be iuſt, for words do not make but declare a man to be iuſt or vniuſt. So Luke 7.29. it is ſaid, The people that heard Chriſt, and the publicans iuſtified God, which muſt be vnderſtood thus, they acknowledged God to be iuſt, or they approued the iuſtice of God.
Secondly, the word iustifie, is a iudiciall tearme, borrowed from the Courts of iuſtice, & it ſignifies a iudiciall act, namely, to abſolue, and to acquit in iudgement, or to pronounce innocent in iudgement: in which ſence the word is vſed, Acts 13.39. And from all things from which ye could not be iuſtified by the Law of Moſes, by him is iustified: that is, abſolued or cleared. The words can ſignifie no other thing thē abſolution from ſinne, and in this ſence is the word here vſed by the Apoſtle: and that is cleare, in that he here ſets it againſt accuſing and condemning, which are two acts of iudgement, Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods choſen, and who ſhall condemne? It is God that iuſtifieth: and ſo his meaning is, It is God who doth abſolue and acquit his choſen now beleeuing in Chriſt, from the guilt of all their ſinnes, and doth account or pronounce them innocent and iuſt in his ſight through Chriſt his Sonne. Thus then conceiue we the Apoſtles meaning in the words of this verſe, as if he had ſaid.
Who is able to accuſe them whom God hath choſen, and ſet apart before the foundation of the world to life eternall, now truly beleeuing in Chriſt, or to charge them with any crime before the iudgement ſeate of God, ſo as they are able there to make their accuſation good, and there to preuaile againſt them, by their accuſation to conuince them as guiltie of any crime? Surely none, either in heauen, in earth, or in hell, is able to do it, for it is God who doth abſolue and acquit them from the guilt of all their ſinnes, and doth account or pronounce them innocent and iuſt in his ſight through Chriſt his Sonne.
Now firſt in that the Apoſtle ſaith, Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods choſen? they being iuſtified of God: hereby he implies, that Gods choſen now beleeuing in Chriſt, and iuſtified in the ſight of God, are lyable to be accuſed, and to hauehave ſinne layd to their charge. The Apoſtle doth not here exempt Gods choſen, now beleeuing in Chriſt, and iuſtified by Chriſt, altogether from accuſation, and from all trouble in reſpect of ſinne, but from being hurt by any accuſation for their ſinnes: he ſaith none is able to lay any ſinne to them, ſo as they can preuaile againſt them by their accuſation before Gods tribunall. Hence then we may gather in the firſt place.
Doct. 1 That Gods choſen, now beleeuing in Chriſt, and iuſtified in the ſight of God,Gods choſen now beleeuing in Chriſt are not altogether free from being accuſed for ſinne, & from being troubled in regard of ſinne. are not in ſuch a ſtate and condition as that they are altogether free from being accuſed for ſinne, and from hauing ſinne and the guiltineſſe of ſinne charged on them, and from being troubled in regard of ſinne. The beſt of Gods children, and iuſtified perſons in this world, are lyable to be accuſed as guiltie of ſinne, and to hauehave ſinne and guiltineſſe charged on them, and to be troubled with the guiltineſſe of ſinne. Reuel. 12.10. Satan is called the accuſer of the brethren, and he is ſaid to accuſe them before God day and night. He is buſie in accuſing the beſt of Gods children, and iuſtified perſons, and in charging ſinne on their ſoules, and in troubling their conſciences with the guiltineſſe of ſinne day and night. He accuſed Iob to God, euen contrary to Gods owne teſtimonie, and he charged him to be but an hypocrite, and that he ſerued God onelyonly in regard of Gods gifts and bleſſings beſtowed on him, Iob 1.9.10. Doth Iob ſerue God for nought? Haſt thou not made an hedge about him, and about his houſe, and about all that he hath on eueryevery ſide? Thou haſt bleſſed the workes of his hands, and his ſubſtance is increaſed in the land. It is an ordinarie thing for the world, and the men of the world to traduce Gods children and iuſtified perſons, and to charge on them foule ſinnes, as to accuſe them to be hypocrites, proud perſons, couetous perſons: yea wicked men will ſift Gods children, as a man ſifts his corne, and as narrowly ſearch into their words and deeds as Laban did into Iacobs ſtuffe, Geneſ. 31.33. to ſee if they can ſpie out any thing whereof to accuſe them, and when they can find nothing, they will inuent falſe things, and on ſhadowes of euill be bold to accuſe them; witneſſe Ioſeph, Geneſ. 39.14. Ieremiah, Iere. 37.13. Amos, Amos 7.10. A cloud of witneſſes we hauehave of this kind: Chriſt himſelfe was thus dealt withall, Matth. 26.61. and ſo Stephen, Paul and Sylas, and many others; yea the conſcience of Gods children and iuſtified perſons are ready to charge ſinne on them, and they are ſometimes troubled in their conſciences, not onelyonly for ſinnes lately committed, but for ſinnes they hauehave done many yeares before, and now truly repented of. Pſal. 25.7.Pſal. 25.7. Dauid deſires the Lord not to remember the ſinnes of his youth, nor his rebellions. We ſee then that Gods children and iuſtified perſons are in no ſuch ſtate and condition in this world, as that they are altogether exempt from accuſation for ſinne. No, Reaſon. the Lord will hauehave them (which may be the ground of this truth) in this kind exerciſed to hauehave ſinne and the guiltineſſe of ſinne charged on them by Satan, by the world, and ſometimes by their owne conſciences, for many good ends, as to worke in them more feare, and more warineſſe againſt it, and to make them the more heedfull of Satans ſleights, and to gather more ſtrength againſt him to preuent ſinnes they might otherwiſe fall into, and ſometimes to make them more fit to comfort others being troubled for ſinne, that they may comfort others with the comforts wherewith themſelues hauehave bene comforted. 2. Cor. 1.4. And therefore doubtleſſe the beſt of Gods children, iuſtified perſons, are in this world liable to be accuſed as guiltie of ſinne, and to hauehave ſinne and guiltineſſe of ſinne charged on them, and to be troubled with the guiltineſſe of ſinne.
Vſe 1 Now then for the vſe, firſt this truth giues a checke to the raſh iudgement of the world touching Gods children in regard of the accuſation and trouble of mind for ſinne.The raſh iudgement of the world taxed, in that they cenſure Gods children for trouble of mind for ſin. Men of the world preſently iudge the ſtate of Gods children not good, becauſe they are accuſed as guiltie of ſinne, and becauſe the mouthes of many are open againſt them, and do charge them with pride, with hypocriſie, and like ſinnes they are neuer able to proue: and eſpecially if they ſee or know a child of God troubled in mind and conſcience for ſinne, then they flie on them and conclude; certainly he is but an hypocrite, and God hath found him out: the truth now deliuered diſcouers this to be raſh iudgement, and meets with it. A child of God, a iuſtified perſon, is in no ſuch ſtate and condition in this world, as that he is freed from accuſation, and from trouble of mind for ſinne; though he be freed from the venome, poyſon, and bitterneſſe of it, as afterwards we ſhall ſee, yet he is not freed from the thing it ſelfe. And know, it is no good argument: the ſtate of ſuch an one is not good, becauſe men charge him with hypocriſie; or becauſe he is troubled in this world for ſinne, therefore he is an hypocrite: no, no, one may be troubled in this world, yea much terrified and grieuouſly perplexed, and yet be a deare child of God, a iuſtified perſon, and be acquitted from the guilt of ſinne in Gods ſight. Yea know it for a truth, one may be ſo grieuouſly troubled in this world for ſinne, as it may force him to ſhew forth ſtrange behauiour, as Dauid ſaith, Pſal. 38.8. He roared after the manner of a beaſt, and yet be a deare child of God, and one iuſtified in the ſight of God. And therefore take we heed we iudge not any one to be in a bad ſtate and condition, when we ſee the courſe of his life to be holy and good, onelyonly becauſe he is now troubled in mind and conſcience for ſinne. A child of God may be troubled, yea ſo troubled, as he may be ſtirred vp to impatiencie, and may ſhew forth ſtrange behauiour, yea he may die ſhewing forth ſtrange behauiour, and yet we are not hereupon to iudge him an hypocrite, or forſaken of God, and out of Gods fauour: if we ſo do, we iudge raſhly.
And for a ſecond vſe, on this ground of truth now deliuered, Vſe 2 learne thou whoſoeuer thou art,Iudge not thy ſelfe in a bad ſtate & condition, onelyonly becauſe thy mind is troubled for ſin, thou hauing euidence of the worke of grace in thine owne heart with power. thou hauing good euidence of the worke of grace in thine owne heart with power, learne thou, I ſay, not to iudge thy ſelfe in a bad ſtate and condition onelyonly becauſe thy mind is troubled for thy ſinnes, and thou canſt not come to that quietneſſe of conſcience thou deſireſt: do not thou thus reaſon, If I were a iuſtified perſon, if I were in the fauour of God, ſurely I ſhould hauehave peace with God, Rom. 5.1. and my conſcience would then be at quiet, I ſhould hauehave that peace and that quietneſſe of mind that I ſee others of Gods children hauehave, but alas I cannot find that peace in mine owne ſoule, and therefore I doubt my ſtate is not good. Oh take heed of this kind of reaſoning, and know, though it be ſo that ſuch as are iuſtified by faith in Chriſt hauehave peace towards God, yet a child of God, a iuſtified perſon, hath not that peace at all times alike and without any interruption. No, no, the beſt of Gods children hauehave their turbida interualla, their troubled fits, as it were anguiſh fits, ſometimes ſweete and gracious feelings, much peace and quietneſſe of mind and conſcience, and ſometimes againe trouble of mind and diſquietneſſe, and a iuſt complaining of the want of feeling of Gods fauour. This is the ſtate of the beſt of Gods children in this world, they are ſubiect to trouble of mind and conſcience for ſinne: and therefore do not thou thinke thy ſtate is not good, onelyonly becauſe thy mind is troubled, and thou canſt not come to that quietneſſe of conſcience thou deſireſt. If thou feele grace truly wrought in thee, and there is a true change in thy ſoule, then comfo…t thy ſelfe in this, the Lord will excuſe thee vnderunder that trouble of mind for a time, and in his good time he will fill thine heart with abundance of peace and comfort, and ioy in beleeuing; feare it not but let that be thy comfort.
In the next place, in that the Apoſtle ſaith, Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods choſen? that is, as we ſhewed, none is able to accuſe Gods choſen now beleeuing in Chriſt, and to charge any ſinne on them, ſo as they can preuaile againſt them by any accuſation, ſo as they can conuince them as guiltie of ſinne before the tribunall and iudgement ſeate of God: and then he ſubioynes this reaſon and ground of it, It is God that iuſtifieth: becauſe God doth acquit and abſolue them from all their ſinnes, and accounts them iuſt in his ſight through Chriſt his Sonne. The Apoſtles propoſition here layd downe before vsus, being thus conſidered, together with the reaſon and ground of it, it affoordeth this point.
Doct. 2 That Gods choſen now beleeuing in Chriſt, and iuſtified of God, God iuſtifying them in and through Chriſt his Sonne, they cannot be hurt by any accuſation that can be layd againſt them before the iudgement ſeate of God.Gods choſen now beleeuing in Chriſt cannot be hurt by any accuſation layd againſt them before the iudgemēt ſeate of God. No accuſation for ſinne brought againſt true beleeuers, now iuſtified of God through Chriſt his Sonne, either by the diuell, or by the world, or by their owne conſciences, can hurt them, or preuaile againſt them; they need not feare the accuſation of any enemie whatſoeuer for their ſinnes, that the accuſation ſhall hurt them before the iudgement ſeate of God. We reade Iſai. 50.8. the Prophet brings in Chriſt thus ſpeaking, He is neare that iuſtifieth, who will contend with me? Let vsus ſtand together, who is mine aduerſarie? Let him come neare to me. Thus doth Chriſt challenge all his enemies, that none of them is able to contend with him, or to lay any thing to his charge, as he ſaid of the Iewes, Ioh. 8.46. Which of you can rebuke me of ſinne? And thus may any member of Chriſt, as Chriſt the head might do it, ſo he being iuſtified of God in and through Chriſt, challenge all his enemies and ſay: God is neare to me, who ſhall contend with me? who can lay any thing to my charge, ſo as his accuſation may hurt me, or preuaile againſt me? Iſai. 38.17. Hezechiah ſaith, The Lord had cast all his ſinnes behind his backe. And Pſal. 103.2.3.Pſal. 103.2.3. Dauid ſtirs vp his ſoule to praiſe the Lord, and not to forget his benefits, who forgaue him all his iniquitie, and healed all his infirmities. And thus it is with all true beleeuers and iuſtified perſons, they being iuſtified of God; God iuſtifying them through Chriſt his Sonne, they are freed from the guilt of all their ſinnes, ſo as no accuſation brought againſt them for any ſinne by any enemie whatſoeuer, can poſſibly hurt them or preuaile againſt them before the iudgement ſeate of God: for why,
To God alone are his choſen indebted by their ſinnes, as Reaſon 1 Dauid ſaith, Pſal. 51.4. Againſt thee, against thee onelyonly hauehave I ſinned, and done euill in thy ſight. And Gods choſen, now beleeuing in Chriſt, are taught by Chriſt himſelfe to pray to God onelyonly for the pardon of their ſinnes, Mat. 6.12. Forgiue vsus our debts as we alſo forgiue our debters. God onelyonly hath power to forgiue the debt of ſinne, as he ſaith by his Prophet, Iſai. 43.25. I, euen I am he that putteth away thine iniquities for mine owne ſake, and will not remember thy ſinnes. And therefore God remitting the debt of ſin to his choſen, who can iuſtly charge it on them?
Againe, God is the higheſt Iudge, and his tribunall his Reaſon 2 iudgement ſeate is the ſupreme iudgement ſeate from which no appeale can be made. And as amongſt men ſuch perſons as are accuſed in ſome open court may appeale till they come to the higheſt court, and if there they be acquitted and pronounced innocent, they hold themſelues ſafe enough, none can after that call them into queſtion for the ſame thing: ſo God being the higheſt Iudge, and his tribunall being the ſupreme iudgement ſeate, his choſen being there abſolued and acquitted from the guilt of all their ſinnes by God himſelfe, they need not feare what any accuſer can lay to their charge. And therefore doubtleſſe Gods choſen now beleeuing in Chriſt, and iuſtified of God, God iuſtifying them in and through Chriſt his Sonne, they cannot be hurt by any accuſation for ſinne that can be brought againſt them, and they need not feare any accuſer, or any accuſation for their ſinnes that they ſhall be charged withall before the iudgement ſeate of God. But ſome may ſay, True beleeuers, iuſtified perſons, Obiect. hauehave ſinne ſtill abiding in them, and they ſinne daily, and may be truly charged with ſinne before the iudgement ſeate of God, and God is a iuſt God, and he cannot account ſinners to be iuſt, He makes not the wicked innocent, Exod. 34.7. how then cannot they be hurt by any accuſation layd againſt them for their ſinnes?
I anſwer. Anſw. Though iuſtified perſons hauehave ſinne ſtill abiding in them, and they ſinne daily, and ſinne may be iuſtly charged on them before the iudgement ſeate of God, and God ſees ſinne in them; it is but a conceit that God ſees no ſinne in iuſtified perſons, and God is moſt iuſt, and cannot account them innocent as they are in themſelues, and as he lookes on them in themſelues: yet we muſt know, that God lookes on iuſtified perſons in and through Chriſt, who hath fully ſatiſfied for their ſinnes, and ſo in and through Chriſt they are acquitted from all their ſinnes, and they ceaſſe to be ſinners in regard of guiltineſſe. And thus as the Apoſtle ſaith, Rom. 4.5. God iustifieth the vngodly: that is, God acquitteth ſuch as are vngodly in themſelues, and hauehave vngodlineſſe in themſelues, looking on them in Chriſt his Sonne, who hath fully ſatisfied for their ſinnes.
Obiect. Why then (will ſome ſay) what neede iuſtified perſons craue pardon of their ſinnes? if true beleeuers and iuſtified perſons be acquitted of God from the guilt of all their ſinnes, what need they daily to craue pardon of their ſinnes?
I anſwer Anſw. againe. True beleeuers and iuſtified perſons hauehave need daily to craue pardon of ſinne, though they be acquitted of God from the guilt of all their ſinnes, becauſe they daily commit new ſinnes, and though thoſe new ſinnes be forgiuen of God, and with God they are accounted as if they had not bene done in regard of the guiltineſſe, he ſtill looking on their perſons in Chriſt, yet in reſpect of themſelues, and of the actuall being of thoſe ſinnes, they are day by day actually remitted. And againe, the aſſurance that true beleeuers hauehave of the pardon of their ſinnes, is but weake, and had need to be further ſtrengthened, and they are to pray for the pardon of their ſinnes more and more to ſtrengthen them in the aſſurance of the pardon of thoſe ſinnes they daily commit, and of all their other ſinnes. And therefore this ſtill remaines a truth, that Gods choſen now beleeuing in Chriſt, and iuſtified of God, God iuſtifying them in and through Chriſt his Sonne, they cannot be hurt by any accuſation for ſinne that can be brought againſt them before the iudgement ſeate of God, and they need not feare any accuſer or any accuſation layed againſt them before Gods iudgement ſeate, either by the diuell, or by the world, or by their owne conſciences for their ſinnes. What folly then is it either in the diuell, or in the Ʋſe 1 world, and men of the world, to accuſe Gods children, iuſtified perſons, and to charge foule things on them?It is folly in the diuell, and in the world, and in men of the world, to accuſe Gods children & to charge foule things on them. they do but therein ſhew themſelues malicious againſt Gods children, they cannot hurt them or preuaile againſt them before the iudgement ſeate of God. And know it whoſoeuer thou art, thou charging foule things on Gods children, and on ſuch as giuegive good euidence that they are true beleeuers, in ſo doing thou doſt but play the diuels part, who is ſtiled the accuſer of the brethren. Thou wilt ſay, I know the partie to be guiltie of that ſinne that I charge on him. Yea but it may be the partie hath truly repented of that ſinne, Anſw. and God hath forgiuen his ſinne: and as it was ſaid to Peter, Act. 10.15. That which God hath cleanſed do not thou account vncleane: ſo do not thou charge ſinne on him whom it may be God hath acquitted; ſet not thou a curſe where thou ſeeſt the print of Gods bleſſing, do not thou loade him with an heauie burden, whom God (for any thing thou knoweſt) hath disburdened: if thou ſo do, thou makeſt thy ſelfe odious in the ſight of God. Prou. 17.15. He that iuſtifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the iuſt, eſpecially whom God hath iuſtified, they are abomination to the Lord, they are odious to the Lord.
Now, is it ſo that Gods choſen, now beleeuing in Chriſt, Ʋſe 2 and iuſtified of God,Comfort to as many as are iuſtified in the ſight of God. God iuſtifying them in and through Chriſt his Sonne, they cannot be hurt by any accuſation for ſinne that can be brought againſt them before the iudgement ſeate of God, and they need not feare any accuſer or any accuſation layed againſt them before the iudgement ſeate of God for their ſinnes, that they ſhall be hurt by that accuſation? Here is then ground of ſweete and of heauenly comfort to as many as truly beleeue in Chriſt, and are iuſtified in the ſight of God. This truth tels them they are in a moſt bleſſed ſtate and condition; as Dauid ſaith, Pſal. 32.1.2. Bleſſed he whoſe wickedneſſe is forgiuen, and whoſe ſinne is couered. Bleſſed is the man vntounto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquitie: that is the bleſſed man indeed whom God acquits from the guilt of all his ſinn…s. Yea the conſideration of this truth may cheare vp the hearts of Gods choſen and true beleeuers, and ſtrengthen them againſt the terrour of their conſciences, being frighted with the guilt of ſinne, and againſt the ſentence of the Law and cruelty of Satan. What though theſe enemies trouble and diſquiet them; yet they dare not appeare before God to accuſe them, and to charge ſinne on their ſoules: if they do, it is but loſt labour, they cannot preuaile by any accuſation they bring againſt them. And on this ground a child of God, a true beleeuer, may chalenge the diuell, and all the enemies of his ſaluation, and euen dare them to come with him before Gods tribunall and iudgement ſeate, and he may boldly ſay to Satan, thou art euer troubling me, and ſetting before me my guiltineſſe of ſinne, I dare thee Satan, or any enemie of my ſoule to come with me before the holy Maieſtie of God, and there if thou dareſt to accuſe me, and if thou dareſt ſo do, I feare thee not, I know thou ſhalt not preuaile by any accuſation thou canſt bring againſt me; God himſelfe the higheſt Iudge hath acquitted me from the guilt of all my ſinnes. What an excellent comfort is this to eueryevery child of God, and to eueryevery true beleeuer? And this comfort belongs to thee whoſoeuer thou art, that haſt good euidence of true grace in thine heart, and that thou truly beleeueſt in Chriſt. What though it be ſo that thou art traduced by men, & men charge foule things on thee, that thou art an hypocrite? comfort thy ſelfe in this, they dare not ſtand to their accuſation, and charge thee ſo to be before the iudgement ſeate of God; thou maiſt chalenge them, and dare them, and ſtand at defiance with them. Obiect. Yea but thou wilt ſay, Alas that which the diuell and the world accuſe me of is too true, and mine owne conſcience alſo accuſeth me of the ſame thing, and tels me that in ſome meaſure I am guiltie of that they charge on me. Be it ſo, yet is that ſinne they truly charge on thee, Anſw. and thine owne conſcience tels thee that in ſome meaſure thou art guiltie of, a burthen to thee? doſt thou grone vnderunder it, and labour and ſtriue againſt it, and pray againſt it? Then aſſure thy ſelfe of this, thou art iuſtified of God, God doth acquit thee from the guilt of that and of all thy other ſinnes, and there is no accuſation layed againſt thee for ſinne though it be moſt true, that can poſſibly hurt thee, or preuaile againſt thee before the iudgement ſeate of God: and that is a matter of great comfort.
Laſtly, as the ground of truth now deliuered diſcouers the Ʋſe 3 happie and comfortable ſtate of true beleeuers, and of iuſtified perſons: ſo on the contrarie it makes knowne the miſerable ſtate of all vnbeleeuers, and of all prophane, hard-hearted, and impenitent perſons:The miſerable ſtate of vnbeleeuers, & hard-hearted, and impenitent perſons, diſcouered. no accuſation for ſinne can preuaile againſt true beleeuers before the iudgement ſeate of God, but eueryevery iuſt accuſation for ſinne ſhall there be auaileable and of force againſt vnbeleeuers and impenitent perſons. Art thou then a prophane wretch? haſt thou no good euidence of true grace in thine heart, and that thou art a true beleeuer? ſurely thy ſtate is moſt wretched and miſerable: though now thy conſcience lye aſleepe and be benummed, yet it will one day be awakened and fly in thy face, and fearefully accuſe thee; and though now the diuell lull thee aſleepe, and draw thee on the to practiſe of ſinne vnderunder the colour of pleaſure, profit, or the like, yet he will one day eagerly accuſe thee before the iudge of all the world; yea the very inſenſible creatures will one day riſe vp againſt thee and accuſe thee, the heauens, the earth, the ayre thou breatheſt in, thy foode, thy apparell, euen the drinke that thou drunkard haſt ſwilled in, thy gold and ſiluer that thou curſed vſurer haſt heaped vp, and ſuch like, and eſpecially the meanes of ſaluation vnderunder which thou haſt liued, eueryevery Sermon thou haſt heard or mighteſt hauehave heard, yea the very duſt of the Preachers feete ſhall one day riſe vp in iudgement and witneſſe againſt thee, Luk. 9.5. All theſe ſhal one day accuſe thee before the great Iudge of all the world, and he will admit of eueryevery iuſt accuſation againſt thee, eueryevery accuſation for ſinne iuſtly brought ſhall be of force againſt thee, yea God himſelfe will be a ſwift witneſſe againſt thee, Malac. 3.5.Mal. 3.5. Oh then in what a miſerable ſtate and condition art thou that art a prophane perſon! if thou hadſt eyes to ſee it, and an heart to conſider it, it would make thine heart ake within thee Now therefore in the feare of God be ſtirred vp to thinke on thy miſerable ſtate and condition, and conſider with thy ſelfe, that one day thine owne conſcience, the Law of God, the diuell, yea all things within thee, without thee, and round about thee, will ſtand vp againſt thee, and accuſe thee before the Iudge of the quicke and dead, and vnleſſe now thou humble thy ſelfe and make thy peace with God, aſſuredly thou ſhalt then hauehave none to pleade for thee. And therefore now whileſt thou haſt time labour to come out of that miſerable ſtate and condition: and if hell hauehave not full poſſeſſion of thy ſoule, bethinke thy ſelfe of ſpeedy reformation. Come we now to the 34. verſe.