Sermons Upon Romans 11:2-8, Sermon 4

Sermons Upon Romans 11:2-8 · Sermon 4

The fourth Sermon.

Verse 4.

But what saith the answere of the Lord, I hauehave reserued to my selfe seuen thousand men, which hauehave not bowed the Knee to Baal.

THese words, as I shewed you before, do containe the reply of the Lord, vntounto the former cry and complaint of the Prophet: the summe of the whole being to this effect, as if the Lord should thus say vntounto him; Thou verily supposest that there is not a faithfull man left but thy selfe alone, but in this thy supposition thou art greatly deceiued; for there are euen many thousands in Israell of good and godly men, whom I (sayth the Lord) hauehave so safely kept and preserued from the generall Apostacy of the rest, as that they neuer shewed so much as an outward countenance of well liking their Idolatry. This is the sence of this reply, so as by seauen thousand in this place, according to the phrase of the Scripture, is to bee vnderstood, not a certain & set number, but an vncertain and a very great multitude.

Now for the Doctrines. First from Doctr. 4 hence ariseth this general point, that forasmuch as the Lorde God hath an absolute dominion ouer al creatures both visible and inuisible, ruleth and directeth all things both in heauen & in earth, according to the good pleasure of his will, against which will of his, no man nor any other creature is able to resist, nor to accomplish any thing, either more or lesse: Forasmuch as he is higher (as the Prophet Dauid saith, Psal. 113.Psa. 113, 4, 5Ps 113:4Ps 113:5) then all Nations, and hath his glory aboue the Heauens, and there is none like to the Lorde our God, who shal go foorth also as a Gyant (as the Prophet Esay speaketh, chap. 42.) ard shall stirre vp his courage like a man of Warre, and shal shout & cry and preuaile against his enemies: Thereupon it clearely followeth, that all they are in a most blessed estate and condition, who are shadowed vnderunder the winges of his mercifull protection: insomuch, that although al sorts of enemies, do set themselues against them, and do deuise and put in practise all the wayes and means they can to bring them to confusion, yet they do but lose their labour, and practise Reason 1 altogether in vaine: For why? there is no wisedom, there is no power nor counsel against God; though people fret and fume, though princes rage, though al consult and lay their heads together, how they may oppresse and tyranize ouer such as feare the Lord, yet Hee that sitteth in heauen will laugh them to scorn, the Lord wil hauehave them in derision, confounde all their deuises; yea and oftentimes so mightily triumpheth ouer his enemies, & so tendereth and prouideth for the good of his seruants, that notwithstanding al their malice and peruersenesse, their very enemies are constrained to doo them good, & to be a notable means for the encrease of their happynesse before the Lord. This is manifest in this history. Iezebel that cruell persecutor, made full account that she had vtterly destroyed all the Prophets & Seruants of God, Elias onelyonly excepted, whose blood (as you hearde before in his complaint) shee in like maner greedily thirsted and sought after: but notwithstanding all her rage and fury, the Lorde preserued Elias, and many thousandes more, who neuer suffered them-selues to bee defiled with the abhominations of that time. Pharao King of Egypt, made full account to hauehave destroyed vtterly the Church of God from the face of the earth, when he made that cruel Edict against the Israelites, that all the male children should be drowned, but the Lorde encreased them so much the more mightily, and caused euen the Daughter of that cruell tyrant, to be a norisher of Moses, the deliuerer of Gods people, when by reason of that wicked commandement he was cast forth, as Ex. 2. Balaac K. of Moab had resolued himselfe vponupon a wonderful diuellish and subtle deuise against the children of Israel, & was come to the very practise of it, Balaam also that false prophet (for the louelove of his hire) was as ready as he, to hauehave pronounced a fearefull curse against the same people, yea although most wickedly and desperately against his own conscience: but what effect had it? Surely no other at all, but to the greater good of that people, and to the encrease of their happinesse before the Lord. Numb. 22, and 23. Wonderful diuellish was the Counsell of Ahitophell against Dauid. 2 Sam. 17. but the Lord ouerturned it to his owne confusion, and to the preseruation of his seruant. Wicked was the practise of the sonnes of Iacob against their Brother Ioseph, as Gen. 37. but the Lorde most myraculously turned it (cleane contrary to their expectation) to the great honor of Ioseph, & to the comfort, reioycing, and good of Iacob, & of his whole family, whereof at that time consisted the visible Church of God. Haman that enuious Infidell, thoght to hauehave rooted out the whol Nation of GOD, but the mischiefe which he prepared, through the iust iudgement of God, fell vppon himselfe, and to his perpetuall shame and confusion. Hester 7. Herod that cruell bloud-sucker, by killing all the male children that were two years old and vnderunder, thought to hauehave destroyed the Lord Iesus, the Sauior of the world, but the Lorde dispatched him with a fearefull destruction, preserued his Sonne, and caused his worde to prosper mightily. Math. 2. Many other examples might be produced, but by these we may see, how the Lorde (as Eliphaz speaketh, Iob. 5.) doth oftentimes take the wise in their craftinesse, and turneth the counsell of the wicked into foolishnesse. And as it is in Psal. 33. Doth breake the Counsels of the Heathen, and bringeth to naught the deuises of the people. According as besides these examples, what experience we hauehave had of the Lordes woonderfull and vnspeakeable goodnesse and merciemercy in this behalfe; wonderfull wicked and intollerable were our vnkindenesse and vnthankefulnesse, if wee should becom forgetfull of the same. What horrible and subtle treacheries and conspiracies, hauehave beene deuised and concluded vppon, and what furious assaultes hauehave beene put in practise, aswell against the sacred persons of our Princes, as against the whole flourishing estate of this Church and Common-weale, by our secret Traytourly Papistes at home, and by the furious force of forraigne foes. What terrible curses and execrations, that Romish Balaam (I meane the Pope) hath thundered out against both Prince and Subiectes. And how mightily, and euen myraculously it hath euermore pleased the Lorde, to discouer and confound all, howe closely and cunningly soeuer, the same hath beene contriued, bringing the Popes Cursses vppon his owne head,Example. the Spanish Fleete, in 1588. and vppon the heades of such as were drunke with the cuppe of his Fornications; yea, blessing where the Pope hath curssed, and cursing where the Pope hath blessed. What experience wee hauehave hadde (I say) of the Lordes most mightie power, and mercifull prouidence in this behalfe: his vnthankfulnesse is intollerably wicked, that hath forgotten, or will not acknowledge, Moses, Aaron, and Mirian, and the whole hoast of Israel, had no greater cause to sing praises to the Lord, for the ouer-throwe of Pharao and his army in the red Sea, nor Deborah, nor Baruk, for the victorie against Sisera, then wee hauehave had, and hauehave from day to day, for the rare & tender mercy of God towardes vsus. The wicked (as Dauid speaketh. Ps. 37) had drawne their sworde, Verse 14,and bent their Bow to cast downe the poore and needy, & to slay such as be of vpright conuersation, but their sworde is gone thorough their owne heart, and their Bowe is broken. Wherfore praise ye the lord (as he exhorteth in another place) al yee that feare him, magnifie him al ye of the seede of Iacob, and praise him al ye of the seed of Israel. Now for, and in regard of these notable effectes, may the Church of God be likened to the bush, whereof wee read,Verse 2. Exod. 3. which although it burned continually, yet it consumed not. As also to Noah his Arke, which although it might seeme to be vtterly ouerwhelmed with the waues, yet it did but safely swim vponupon them. All which examples and comparisons, tend to this ende, that whomsoeuer God dooth fauour and accept as his childe, all his creatures will smile vponupon such a one, yea their very enemies shall be farre from hurting such with their malice, as that they shalbe constrained (as I sayd before) to do them good. According as wee read of the Egyptians, who although they hated the Isralites with a deadly hatred, yet (as Exod. 12.) did they enrich them at their departure with Gold and Siluer, and gaue them Iewelles with whatsoeuer else they could desire. So good and gracious is the Lord, vntounto all those that fear him, that maintain his cause, and put their trust in his mercy, no enemy shalbe able to hurt or bring them to confusion. The experience whereof, caused the prophet Dauid to burst forth into these words of assurance, Though I walke (saith he) through the valley of the shadow of death, I will feare no euil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staffe they comfort me. Ps. 23.Verse 4. Verse 1. Also Psal. 27. The Lord is my light and my saluation, whom shal I feare? the Lord is the strength of my life, of whome shal I be afraid, Verse 7.&c. And Psal. 34. The Angel of the Lord pitcheth round about them that feare him, & deliuereth them. Also Ps. 125.Verse 1. They that trust in the lord shalbe as mount Zion, which cannot be remoued, but remaineth for euer. Al these places, do most notably describe the happy condition of all such as doo remaine vnderunder the fauour and protection of the highest. Whereas on the contrary, vntounto whomsoeuer God is not mercifull, whosoeuer is not couered vnderunder his winges, such are subiect to all kinde of miseries, They shall feare day and night (as it is Deut. 28.) and shal hauehave no assuraunce of their life. Verse 66.Nothing shall prosper with them, or do thē any good. The due consideration of which point, as it bewrayeth the miserable estate of all such, who either in word or deed oppose themselues against the Saints & seruantes of God, or in any measure at al, endeuor themselues to grieue, reproch, or any other way to hurt or troble thē; as namely, that in shewing themselus to be their enemies, they shew themselues to be the enemies of God, & in contriuing to hurt and molest them, they fight & striue euen against him. And therefore saide our Lord Iesus Christ to Paul (then cald Saul) whiles hee continued inraged against the church of God, as Act. 9. Saule, Saule, why persecutest thou me? Verse 4:& in this sence saith Moses of the Israelites, Deut. 32. That the Lord kept them as the Apple of his eie. And Zac. 2. He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eie. So nearely hath the Lord taken the faithful vntounto himselfe, and so doth hee couer them with the winges of his protection, that the least iniurie that is offered vntounto them, tendeth euen directly to his dishonour, and to the iust prouoking of him to displeasure: & therfore howsoeuer their malicious enemies may any way insult or triumph ouer them for a time, yet fighting in this sort (as they do) against God himself, they must of necessity at length bee confounded. Heereof had the Children of Israel sufficient experiences when Pharao and his army was ouerthrowne in the red Sea. Hezekiah also in his deliuerance from the mighty army of Senaherib. 2 Kings 19. and did not this also most notably appear when this cruell persecuting Iezebell was after all this, cast out of a Window, trod vnderunder foot, torn in pieces, deuoured vp of dogges, and so, as nothing of her remayned, but the scull, and the feete, and the palmes of her hands.Verse 35. 2. Kings 9. Yea surely, besides all these, hauehave we our selues had such notable experiences, as that we may truely say, not onelyonly with the Apostle Paule, that the Lord hath been on our side, but also with the Prophet. Psal. 124.Psal. 124, 1, 2, 6, 7.Ps 124:1Ps 124:2Ps 124:6Ps 124:7 That if the Lord had not beene on our side, when our enemies conspired and attempted against vsus, they had then euen swallowed vsus vppe quicke, so great and so exceeding was their rage and fury, But praised be the Lorde (I say againe and againe) which hath not giuen vsus as a prey to their teeth. Our soule is escaped, euen as a Bird out of the snare of the Fowlers, the snare is broken, and we are deliuered. Thus much as touching the generall point. But what sayeth the answere of God to him, I hauehave reserued, &c. A second Doctrine somewhat generally also arising out of these words is this: That the church Doctr. 5 of Christi, which consisteth of the number of the elect and faithfull, although it bee but a little, and a verie small remnant, in respect and comparison of the multitude of prophane and vngodly men, who doo not belong to eternal life; yet notwithstanding being considered in it selfe, it is very large & ample, comprehending infinite multitudes of Gods elect and faithfull children, who are sealed and sanctifyed to eternall life. In the daies of Elias, when in outward apearance there was nothing to be seen but abhominable wickednesse and idolatry, all generally from the highest to the lowest, hauing corrupted their waies rebelling against God, & licentiously walowing in the lusts of their own hearts: yet notwithstanding, at that very time (as this text sheweth plainly) the Lord God had a notable company of faithfull Worshippers, and although a small handfull, in respect of the vngodly, yet surely not a few, but a very great number, being considered by themselues. And nowe if so bee that in so fearefull a falling away; yea, and when the Lord had yet no other peculiar people vppon the earth, but the Iewes alone: If there were then (I say) so many faithfull members of the Church of God, and sincere Worshippers of his name: What then is to bee thought of the church of Christ, vntounto whom (as it is Psal. 2.Verse. 8) The Nations … giuen for his inheritance, and the endes of the earth for his possession. When as the Couenant of Gods peculiar grace and fauour, comprehendeth not the Iewes alone (as in times past) but extendeth it self both farre and neare throughout the world, to all those generally, & without exception, that by a true & liuely faith, take sure hold vponupon the same. There is no doubt (I say) but the church of Christ (in this time of the gospel) is much more large & ample, and the number of Gods elect a farre greater number, by great oddes. For this cause is the church called Carholick, that is to say vniuersal, not Iewish, not Roman, not English, not consisting of any one nation or people, but cōpacted (as it were) into one body, out of al nations, ages, callings, & degrees For the first Church, gathered Children of God vntounto her selfe, by the preaching of Gods word, out of any people. After whē the grace of God did shine chiefe… among the Iewes, she did ioyn conuerts vntounto Israel out of the rest. But much more the newe Church, called and begotten since Christs time, hath enlarged her Tabernacle (as Esay speaketh) vntounto all Nations, beginning at Ierusalem, Iudea, and Samaria, and spreading from thence to the vttermost coastes and ends of the earth. So as the Iewes are not now the onelyonly peculiar people of God, as heeretofore, but the partition wall is nowe broken downe, and God hath sent his Sonne (as himselfe speaketh,Iohn 3, 17.John 3:17 Iohn 3.) that the world by him might be saued. And as the Apostle Peter speaketh) Acts 10. In eueryevery nation, Verse 35.he that feareth him, & worketh righteousnesse, is accepted of him. Our Lord Iesus Christ is now becom the chiefe stone of the Corner, vponupon whome a double wall ariseth, so y^t (as the Prophet Dauid prophesied, Ps. 87. the Egiptian, the Babylonian, the Tirian, the Ethiopian, the Philistin, are born in Sion, that is to say, are more begotten thorough the preaching of the gospel) to be the true mēbers of the Church of Christ. And as the elders (in whome is represented the whole Church of God) do sing vntounto Christ. Reu. 5.Reu 5, 9, 10Rev 5:9Rev 5:10 Thou hast redeemed vsus vntounto God by thy blood, out of eueryevery Kinred and tongue, and people and Nation, and hast made vsus Kinges and Priests to our God, &c. And whereas the Prophet Esay, Chap. 53. complaineth of the small number of them that should beleeue the Gospell, and our Sauiour also him-selfe, Luke 12.Luke 12, 32Luke 12:32 calleth his Church a little flocke, and Math. 7.Math, 7, 14. That strait is the gate, & narrow is the way that leadeth vntounto life, and few there be that finde it. These and such like sentences of the Scripture, are alwayes to be vnderstood, not of the fewnesse of the faithful in respect of themselues, but of the smalnesse of their number, in comparison of the vnbeleeuers, of the vngodly and prophane. But oh (will some peraduenture bee ready to aske) is the number of Gods elect still the lesser number? Surely will they say, howsoeuer it hath bin in times past, and howsoeuer among the Papists, the heathen and vnbeleeuers, who liue in Blindnesse and ignoraunce, the number of the wicked may be the greatest: yet wher the Gospell is preached it cannot bee so; in such places the children of God are without all question the greatest number. For do not all (saith they) at this day, come to the church, heare Gods word, receiue the Sacraments, &c. and wil you exclude any of those from being the true mēbers of Christ and of his church? To this I answer, that the church of Christ in this time of …he gospel, is vndoubtedly a glorious Church, yea surely much more glorious for number & multitude of sincere professors, then heeretofore, the Lorde hauing some faithfull Seruants, & true harted christians eueryevery where, who first seek his kingdom & the righteousnes thereof, who labor nothing so much for the meate that perisheth, as for that which endureth to eternall life, who are Religiously careful to make the word of God the Lanthorn for their feet, and the light for their paths, & prefer the aduancement of Gods glory, and the accomplishment of his good will and pleasure, before al respect of themselues; the number of whom, I most hartily beseech the Lord to multiply and increase more and more. But yet, that still remaineth true which I sayde before, that in comparison of prophane and wicked men, their number is but small, and a little handfull. All such as come to the church, hear the preaching of Gods word, receiue the Sacraments, professe themselues protestants, & no papists, &c. Al these, do I acknowledge members of the visible Church. But euen as in a fielde there is not onelyonly good Corne, but also weeds; and as in a threshing Floore, there is not onelyonly pure wheat, but also chaffe; and as in a Net that is cast into the Sea, there commeth vp not onelyonly good things, but also bad: euen so, in the visible Church, there is a mixt and confused multitude of both, good and bad: not onelyonly such, who with vpright hearts and good conscience, doo serue and obey the Lorde Christ, but such also as are euen Reprobate to eueryevery good worke, and whose end is, to be cast out from the presence of God, and to be burned as chaffe, in the fearefull furnace of his indignation and wrath. For a man therefore to hauehave a comfortable assurance, that he is a member of Christ, and an heyre of Gods kingdome, hee must not content himselfe, nor think it enough for him, to be a member of the visible Church. But if he feele the spirit of GOD preuailing in him against the corrupt lustes and motions of the flesh, and so as notwithstanding the manifolde temptations of the world, the flesh, and the diuel, he first seeke Gods kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof, labour more for the meate that endureth to eternall life, then for that which perisheth, if hee bee Religiously carefull to make the worde of God the Lanthorne for his feete, and the light for his paths, and so as withall he grow and encrease in Knowledge, Faith, Repentance, and in Obedience according thereunto, as in yeares and dayes, if his latter workes be better then his former, & he bring forth fruite in his age, according to that in Psal. 92. If hee then account himselfe to bee most happy, when hee is made an Instrument to aduance Gods glorie, and doe highly regard it, aboue himselfe. If his Religion and godlinesse bee not onelyonly in outward shew and profession, but in all goodnesse, righteousnesse, & trueth. These and such as these are, are most vndoubted Testimonies of a blessed estate, and that such a one is out of all question, a true member of Christ and of his Church, a man sealed and sanctified to eternall life. Wheras on the contrary, whose life and conuersation is repugnant and contrary heereunto, either destitute of sounde knowledge and Faith, or contenting himself, with a bare shew and profession of it, being zealous in the mean season, to glorify God, neither in the duties of the first, nor of the second Table: All such are vtterly vnworthy of the name and Title of true Christians, the Doctrine of the Gospell cannot be said to hauehave taken roote in their hearts, the fruites that proceed from them cannot be called the fruites thereof, planted in their hearts by the Holy-Ghost, but the fruites and effects of their owne corrupt and vnregenerate hearts, engrafted in them by the spirit of Sathan, as a sure seale of their iust condemnation. According as of this difference, speaketh the Scripture in diuers places, as Math. 7.Verse 21. Not eueryevery one that saith to me, Lorde, Lorde, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heauen, but he that doth my Fathers will which is in Heauen. Also Rom. 2. The hearers of the Law, Verse 13, 28 29.are not Righteous before God, but the dooers of the Law, shall be iustified. And againe, Hee is not a Iewe that is one outwarde, neyther is that Circumcision which is outward in the flesh, but he is a Iew that is one within, and the Circumcision is of the heart, in the Spirite, not in the Letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Heereunto appertaine also, the words of our Lord Iesus Christ, Luke 6.Luke 6, 46.Luke 6:46 Why call ye mee Maister, Maister, and do not the things that I speak? Manifestly there teaching, that as nothing in all the Worlde should moue men to professe themselus to be the seruants duplicate page duplicate page of Christ, vnlesse they hauehave a care and conscience to do that which he requireth, so doth he vtterly disallowe all shew and profession of his name and Gospell, that is voide of a sincere and vpright obedience, as meere Hypocrisie, and the words of lies. Much might bee spoken to amplifye this point, but by this you may see it, as clearely as the Sun, that howsoeuer the church of Christ, in this time of the Gospell, be a glorious church for number and multitude of true members and faithfull professors; yet for all that, but a little company, and a small handfull, in respect and comparison of the rest. There being at this day (God knoweth) many hipocrites and counterfet Christians, many euil and vnreasonable men, yea many Epicures and carnall Gospellers, who are beastly minded, making the world and their belly their God, professing God & godlines with their mouths, but vtterly denying the power of it in their deeds, easily allured to euerie thing that is vaine and prophane, but backe-warde and vntoward to euerie thing that is good & godly, nothing mooued with the sweete promises of Gods merciemercy, nothing terrified with the threatninges of his iudgements, but as they are filthy, so will they bee more filthy, cry out vppon them as long as you wil. So then we see heer, Vse 1 what litle substance and found foundation there is in the Papists boasting of the vniuersality of their church, & of hauing the greatest number and multitude on their side, the which commonly (aswell in their publique writinges as otherwise) they obiect and cast in our Teeth, as though because the number of such as professe the true Doctrine and religion of Iesus Christ, is not so great as the multitude of their Idolaters and false worshippers; therefore they are the true Church of God, and not wee. Whereas it is most certaine (as you duplicate page duplicate page hauehave beene taught before) that the greater the number or multitude is, the lesse argument is there, to proue the same to bee the true Church of Christ. The same being not tyed to any number or multitude, but consisting of those who truely beleeue in Christ, and yeelde a sound obedience vntounto his Gospell, how small or great soeuer their number be. Great was the number of them in the time of Elias, who professed them-selues to be the true Church of God, & which in eueryevery respect were as dilligent and deuout, in the obseruation of their outward ceremonies, as the papistes are, or can bee at this day, in their blind superstition, traditions or deuises, but yet howe far they were from being in truth and indeede, what they outwardly pretended: this complaint of the same Prophet, beeing himselfe persecuted by them, dooth plainly proue. The like is also to be seene, by cōparing the great multitude of the aduersaries of Christ, in the time that he liued (which were then accounted the Church of God) with the small number of those, who truly beleeued in his name, and yet not the greatest number (for all their bosting and glorious shewes) were indeede the true church, but euen that little and small remnant: wherby it is euident (whatsoeuer the papists brag to the contrary) that to hauehave the greatest number on their side, is no argumēt to proue their synagog to bee the true church of christ, but rather the contrary, that being true (as it is most true) which you hauehave heard before. Secondly seeing Vse 2 it is manifest by that which you hauehave heard, that the flock of Christ is but little, & that the least number go in at the strait gate that ledeth to life, that therfore we take diligent heed, as we tender the glory of God, and our own saluation, that we frame neither our religion nor conuersation according to the disposition of the greatest part, that we think not our Religion to be therefore good, and our conuersation warrantable, because the most part do as we do. As many such there are at this day, who if they be eyther exhorted to any duty of obedience, or reprooued for any thing that is amisse, they will be ready presently to answere, that they are not alone, but that the greatest company of men & women doe so in like manner behaue themselues, &c. We must take heed (I say) that we folow not a multitude vntounto euill, but harken what the word of God doth teach and prescribe, diligently marke and obserue who they are that frame themselues according to that rule of holinesse and righteousnesse: and then consequently settle and endeuour our selues to immitate them, without beeing ashamed, and without staggering at the matter, although their number be neuer so smal, yea and although they be neuer so base and contemptible in the eyes of the world. Thirdly, seeing all Vse 3 such as come to the Church, & heare Gods word, are not vndoubtedly the true mēbers of Christ & his church; but that there are many Hypocrites and dissemblers, that therefore wee do not content our selues with outward circumstances in religion, that we thinke it not enough to do those things, no nor yet to say, Lord, Lord we are christians, we are Protestants and professors of the Gospel, but hauing a Reuerend feare of the Lordes Maiesty imprinted in our hearts, inwardly in our soules respecting his blessed will, and faithfully remembering his vnmeasurable louelove and tender kindnesse toward vsus in Christ Iesus, wee must performe all these outward workes, as fruits of our true and inward zeale towardes Gods glorie, and as testimonies of our obedience and thankfulnesse to him, in regard of his manifold mercies towards vsus, and then shall we be accepted in them, & in eueryevery of them. Whereas on the contrary, if the heart and mind be not sound and sincere, and do not directly ayme at Gods glory, and at the obedience of his will; although we be neuer so forwarde and diligent in all these outward respects, yet shall wee be in no measure accepted but vtterly reiected of him; hee will say vntounto vsus, Who required these thinges at your handes? For as the Apostle sayeth of Circumcision, so is it true of Christian Religion, that it consisteth not in outward shewes, but in the heart and inwarde man, expressing it selfe in a holy practise, and dooing, and in a constant abyding in the word of trueth. I hauehave reserued to my selfe, &c. When he saith that he hath reserued Doctr. 6 them to himselfe, we are more particularly to obserue from hence, that whereas there are a certaine number seperated from the wicked & vngodly, and so as they run not head-long with the prophane multitude after the lusts and affections of their owne hearts to Idolatry, to the contempt of Gods worde, to the despising or persecuting of the saints and seruants of God, but are sanctifyed in all the powers and parts of both soule and bodye, to serue and obey God with true zeale and feruency of spirit, according to the rule of his will. This commeth not to passe, thorough their owne Wisedome, Power, or Free will, but onelyonly and altogether thorough the meere goodnesse and merciemercy of GOD, in vouchsafing vntounto them the gracious assistance and direction of his holy Spirite. This consideration, is heere manifestlye offered to our comfort and instruction, in that the Lorde saith so expressely, that hee hath reserued them: I (sayeth the Lorde) hauehave reserued vntounto my selfe, &c. If the Lorde of his infinite goodnesse and speciall fauour, through the mighty woorking of his blessed Spirite, duplicate page duplicate page had not safely kept and preserued this little remnant in the dayes of Elias, from the generall Apostacy and falling away of the rest; they woulde hauehave been as forward to hauehave dishonoured and blasphemed him, and to hauehave run a whoring after their owne inuentions, as any of the other; and therefore rightly sayth the Lord, that it was hee that kept and preserued them; This is the reason wherefore they were not defiled with the abhominations of that time, and did not bow their knees to Baal. So that as I saide, it is a most cleare and euident trueth, that the pr…seruation of the church and children of God, in the feare of God, and in the wayes of his will, in that they are not ouer-come by the assalts and temptations of the world, the flesh, or the diuel, neither are vtterly destroyed and consumed by the malicious attempts and diuellish practises of their enemies: al this (I say) is onelyonly of the Lord of hostes against whom there is no resistance, nor any power to preuaile, vntounto whom the very Deuils are subiect, & constrained to doo his will without swaruing at any time, or in any measure from the same, and vnderunder the wings of whose mercifull prouidence and direction, all his faithful seruants do remaine so safe, that (as our Lord Iesus Christ most comfortably speaketh, Math. 10) not so much as an hair shall perish from any of their heads,Verse 30: without his good will and pleasure: and therefore also most notably. Rom. 8. If God be on our side, Verse 31.who can be against vsus? What our generall estate & condition is by nature, how we are thereby weake and fraile, euen as dust and slime of the earth, vtterly destitute of all goodnesse, prone & ready to that which is euill, but backward and vntowarde to eueryevery good thing, the scripture proueth in plentiful places, as Iohn 5. Ephe. 2. and Colos. 2.Iohn 5, 21 Ephes. 2, 1. Col. 2.13.John 5:21Eph 2:1Col 2:13 in all which we are compared to dead men and expressely said to be dead in trespasses and sinnes. This might be further confirmed by plentifull other Testimonies and authorities, all of them directly tending to proue, that as our father Adam was himselfe corrupt & sinnefull, so hath hee begotten vsus his children corrupt, depraued, and full of sinne; and not onelyonly so, but that so long also as we remaine in our naturall estate and condition, whatsoeuer we do but muse and thinke vponupon, it is corrupt, and whatsoeuer we doo in the whole course of our life, it is abhominable and guilty of death, before the face of God.

Now this being so, is it not a matter Religiously to be admired & maruelled at, that any of vsus all should bee preserued or reserued to eternal life? Surely, wee must needes acknowledge, that it is onelyonly and altogether of the Lordes meere goodnesse and merciemercy, that we bee not all vtterly confounded from the presence of his Maiesty, and from the glorie of his power. Now next, as touching the meanes, howe such are preserued, who are thus reserued vntounto God himselfe. As before the foundation of the Worlde, hee hath elected them for his Saintes, so in time, hauing redeemed them by the blood of his Sonne, from the guiltinesse of sinne and death, hee then calleth and separateth them from the pollutions and defilements of the Worlde, iustifyeth them by the free imputation of Christes Righteousnesse, and then vouchsafeth them, the continuall residence of his Spirite, by whose gracious Regeneration and Sanctification, their carnall and corrupt affections, are mortifyed and subdued, and from whom alone they receyue power to represse their lustes, to fight against the temptations of the Worlde, the Flesh, and the Deuil, and not only to duplicate page duplicate page hunger and thirst after holinesse and righteousnesse, but also to glorifye God, and to seal the assurance of their owne saluation in an holye and Religious practise and obedience accordingly, the which grace and benefite of sanctification, extendeth not only to their wils, to their memory and affections, but euen to all the powers and faculties of both soule and body. And surely (if it be well marked) this is a wonderfull effect and woorke of Gods grace, and heerein dooth it appeare to be mighty indeede, when as after this manner, it casteth downe holds, the immaginations also, and eueryevery high thing which is exalted against the knowledge of GOD, and bringeth into captiuity eueryevery thoght to the obedience of Christ, as the Apostle thus speaketh. 2 Cor. 10. Yea, I adde further, when it thus maketh a man, being by Nature the Childe of wrath, to be the childe of God, being naturally prophane, dissolute, & vnapt to eueryevery good thing, to be cleane contrary to this naturall disposition, zealous of gods glory, holy & blamelesse, in life and conuersation. When as, although the substaunce of the body remaineth still the same that it was before, yet the heart, the minde, the will and affections, are altred and transformed, to will, to desire, & do, that which is good and holye in the sight of God. Thus you see by what meanes they are perserued, whome God hath reserued vntounto himselfe.

Now for the Vses: First, heere is Vse 1 offred vntounto vsus very notable occasion to examine our selues in what estate wee stand before God, and whether we be of the number of them that are reserued to eternal life. If we be separated from the wicked and vngodlye of the world, and so as we runne not with them in the wayes of sinne and prophanesse, if we perceiue our selus to be sanctifyed in all the partes and powers of our soules and bodyes to serue and obey God, with true zeale and feruency of Spirit, according to the rule of his word. If wee hauehave receiued power in any good measure to subdue our lustes, and so forth, according to those particulers which you heard before: these and such like, are notable Testimonies that the Lorde hath preserued vsus, and reserued vsus, euen for himselfe. And then neede wee not to feare nor bee dismayde at any time, either by the rage and fury of wicked men, howe mighty or malicious soeuer they be, nor by any other temptations or troubles whatsoeuer, may come vponupon vsus. For God is not like vntounto mortall men, who in their louelove are wandering and vnconstant, louing to day, and hating to morrowe, but in GOD as (Saint Iames speaketh) There is no variablenesse nor shaddowing by turning. Iames 1, 17Jas 1:17The strength of Israell (sayeth Samuell) 1. Sam. 15.1 Sa. 15, 20.1 Sam 15:20 Will not lye, nor repent, for hee is not a man, that he should repent: And in this Chapter, the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

To whomsoeuer he hath once giuen a true iustifying Fayth, hee will neuer take it from that man againe, vntill hee enioy the end of his Fayth, which is the euerlasting peace and saluation of his soule. Whomsoeuer hee hath once chosen, he wil neuer refuse, whomsoeuer he hath once effectually called, hee will neuer put that man backe, but daily go forward in those graces, and according to these particular degrees, vntill hee hath finally and fully glorifyed them in his Heauenly and euerlasting kingdome, as Rom. 8. Whom he predestinat, Verse 30.them hee called, and whom hee called them also hee iustified, and whome hee iustified, them he also glorifyed. Whosoeuer is made partaker of any one of these Graces, or of any one of these particular degrees, he shall bee sure, to be made partaker of them all, the Lord neuer ceasing to do his children good, euen for his mercies sake; but now on the contrary, if we doo not feele these effects of the grace of God, and of the Spirite of sanctification, then can wee not possibly hauehave this comfortable assuraunce that I hauehave spoken of, that God hath preserued, or reserued vsus to eternall life. Vse 2 A second Vse is this, that being assured through the Testimony of Gods Spirit, of such a gracious reseruation as hath bin remembred before, wee praise God for his mercy, as Rom. 5. And let the Gentiles praise God for his mercy as it is written, for this cause I wil confesse thee among the Gentiles, & sing vntounto thy name: It beeing most sure and certaine, that although we hauehave great cause to praise God for our creation, in that also by God, wee liue, moone, and hauehave our beeing; enioy health, peace and all other outward good things, to our comfort & consolation, yet are all these thinges of small value to our good and blessed estate, in regard of this grace of preseruation, in that the Lorde (I say) hath and doth safely keep vsus from the abhominations of Antichrist, from the errors and heresies of the papists, from worshipping of Idolles, from trust and confidence in our owne merites, &c. according to that which they teach and professe. And so consequently, in that hee hath brought vsus to the right way and maner of worshipping him, in spirit and truth, teaching vsus what to know, to beleeue & professe, both concerning Religion, and concerning Conuersation, in the whole course of this life, and hath vouchsafed vsus grace, in some acceptable measure to glorifye him, and to seale the assuraunce of our saluation accordingly. Few among the greatest multitude, do vprightly consider, and as they ought, the highnesse and excellency of this special mercy. Rightly may we say heerof, that it reacheth vntounto the heauens, as Psal. 36. And now to conclude, how highly it standeth vsus vponupon, to pray and beseech the lord to vouchsafe vsus the comfortable assurance of this mercy, through the gracious testimony of his blessed Spirit, and to confirme and encrease it in vsus more and more, for the vnspeakeable peace and ioy of our soules, and for the sure sealing of our saluation: I neede not vrge it further, euerie one that hath any grace from God, may easily perceiue; and the Lord giuegive vsus al grace to make good vse of it for Iesus Christs sake, Amen.