Heaven on Earth, Discourse · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. Shewing that beleevers may in this life attain unto a Well-grounded Aſſurance of their everlaſting happineſs, and bleſſedneſs.
FIrſt, The ground on which the Apoſtle Paul builds his Aſſurance, is not any ſpecial Revelation, but ſuch a foundation as is common to all Beleevers, as cleerly appears in that Rom. 8. 32, 33, 34. Hee that ſpared not his owne Sonne, but delivered Rom. 8. 32, 33, 34.him up for us all; how ſhall he not with him alſo freely give us all things? Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? it is God that juſtifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Chriſt that dyed, yea rather that is riſen againe, who is even at the right hand of God, who alſo maketh interceſsion for us. It is cleer from theſe words, that this bleſſed ApoſtleImmediate Revelations are fleeting & inconſtant, and therefore men had need be carefull how they build upon them. had not that glorious Aſſurance that he ſpeaks of in the two laſt verſes of this Chapter, by immediate Revelation, for he concludes it from ſuch arguments as are generall, or common to all the godly; and therefore it roundly follows, that beleevers may in this life attain unto a Well-grounded Aſſurance of their everlaſting happineſſe, and bleſſedneſſe. So Hezekiahs aſſurance did ſpring from a principle that is common to all beleevers, 2 King. 20. 3. Ergo.
Secondly, It is the very ſcope and end of the Scripture, to help beleevers to a well-grounded Aſſurance of their everlaſting happineſſe, and bleſſedneſſe. Theſe things (ſaith John) have I written unto you that beleeve on the name 1 Joh 5. 13.of the Sonne of God, that yee may know that yee have eternal life. Theſe preciousTit 1. 2. ſoules did beleeve, and they had eternal life, in reſpect of the promiſe of eternal life, and in reſpectEph. 2. 6. of Chriſt their head (who had taken up their roomes aforehand in heaven, and who as a publick perſonSurely glory is nothing elſe but a bright conſtellation of grace; happineſſe, is nothing but the quinteſſence of holineſſ…. doth repreſent all his people) and they had eternal life in reſpect of the beginnings of it; for what is grace but glory begun? and what is glory, but grace perfected? Grace is Glory in the bud, and Glory is Grace at the full. Now though they had eternal life in all theſe reſpects, yet they did not know it; though they did beleeve, yet they did not beleeve, that they did beleeve; therefore the Apoſtle in thoſe precious Epiſtles of his, doth make it his buſineſſe by variety and plenty of arguments to helpe all, but eſpecially ſuch as are weak in the faith, to a Well-grounded Aſſurance of their eternal welfare.
It is the very drift and deſign of theGregory calls the Scripture (Cor & animam Dei) the heart and ſoule of God. whole Scripture to bring ſouls firſt to an acquaintance with Chriſt, and then to an acceptance of Chriſt, and then to build them up in a ſweet aſſurance of their actual intereſt in Chriſt; which made Luther to ſay, That hee would not live in Paradiſe if he might, without the word, but with the word, he could live in hell it ſelfe.Adoro plenitudinem Scripturarum, I adore the fulneſſe of the Scripture. Tertul. No Hiſtories are comparable to the Hiſtories of the Scripture; Firſt, For Antiquity; Secondly, For Rarity; Thirdly, For Variety; Fourthly, For Brevity; Fifthly, For Perſpicuity; Sixtly, For Harmony. And ſeventhly, For Verity. The Word evidences truth, it evinces falſhood; it fights againſt folly; it opens the bowels of mercy, and it aſſures beleeving ſoules of eternal felicity. That is a precious wordHeb. 6. 18. Aſſurance produces ſuch ſtrong conſolations, as ſwallows up all worldly griefs, As Moſes Serpent did the Sorcerers Serpents, or as the fire doth the fuel. in that Heb. 6. 18. God hath given us his word, his oath, his ſeale, that our conſolation may be ſtrong, and that our ſalvation may bee ſure. Now what comfort can a beleever have without Aſſurance. It is the aſſurance of my intereſt in the land of Canaan, in Goſpel cordials, in precious promiſes, and in a precious Chriſt that comforts and delights my ſoul. It is not enough to raiſe ſtrong conſolation in my ſoul, barely to know that there are Mines of gold, mountaines of pearle, heaps of treaſures, a land flowing with milke and honey; but it is the knowledge of my intereſt in theſe that raiſes joy in my ſoule. To know that there are ſuch things, and that I have no intereſt in them, is rather a vexation,Non in honorum cognitione, ſed fruitione. then a conſolation to me. To know that there is a feaſt of choiſeſt Delicates, but not a taſte for me, that there are pleaſant fountaines and ſtreames, but I muſt periſh for thirſt in a wilderneſſe; to know that there are royall Robes for ſuch and ſuch, but I muſt dye in my rags; to know that there is a pardon for ſuch and ſuch, but I muſt be turned off the ladder of life; to know that there is preferment for ſuch and ſuch, but I muſt ſtill lie with Lazarus at Dives doore; ſuch knowledge as this may well adde to my vexation, but it will not adde to my conſolation. It was rather matter of ſorrow, then joy to the menSpira cryed our, Chriſt is to me a grief, a torment, becauſe I deſpiſed him, I rejected him, and I have no part in him. of the old world, to know that there was an Arke, when they were ſhut out, and to the Iſraelites to know that there was a Brazen-ſerpent ſet up whereby others were cured, when they died with the ſtinging of the Fiery ſerpents. So how can it comfort mee to know that there is peace in Chriſt, and pardon in Chriſt, and righteouſneſſe in Chriſt, and riches in Chriſt, and happineſſe in Chriſt, &c. for others, but not for me. Ah, this knowledgePſal. 15. Pſ. 24. Pſ 119. Pſ. 1, 2, 3 will rather be a hell to torment me, then a ground of joy and comfort to me. But now God hath in the Scripture diſcovered, who they are that ſhal be eternally happy, and how they may reach to an aſſurance of their felicity and glory; which made One to ſay, That he would not take all the worldLuther. for one leafe of the Bible. The Bible is a Chriſtians Magna Charta, his chiefe evidence for heaven. Men highly prize, and carefully keep their Charters, Priviledges, Conveyances, and Aſſurances of their Lands: And ſhall not the Saints much more highly prize, and carefully keep in the cloſet of their hearts, the precious word of God, which is to them inſtead of all aſſurances for their maintenance,Pſal. 119, 11. & 12. verſes compared. deliverance, protection, confirmation, conſolation, and eternall ſalvation.
Thirdly, Other beleevers have in an ordinary way attained to a ſweet aſſurance of their everlaſting happineſſe, and bleſſedneſſe. Wee know (ſaith the Apoſtle in the name of the2 Cor. 5. 1, 2. Saints) that if our earthly houſe of this tabernacle were diſſolved, wee have a building of God, …n houſe not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; for in this we groan earneſtly, deſiring to be cloathed upon with our houſe, which is from Nec Chriſtus, nee C…lum, patitur hyperbolem Neither Chriſt nor heaven, hyperbolized.heaven. Their aſſurance ſets them in triumph upon the Throne. We have a houſe, a houſe above, a houſe in heaven, a houſe not made with hands, eternal in the heavens: Wee have a houſe, a heavenly houſe, a houſe made by the greateſt wiſdom, and the higheſt Love, a houſe that for honour, pleaſures, riches, ſafety, ſtability, glory, and perpetuity, tranſcends all the royal Pallaces in the world. It is a houſe not made with hands, but eternal in the heavens. So the ChurchCan. 2. 16. in that Solomons Song, 2. 16. My beloved is mine, and I am his. I know ſayes the Spouſe, that Jeſus Chriſt is mine; I can with the greateſt confidence,Eph. 1. 22, 23. 1 Cor. 1. 30. c. 6. 26. Pſ. 110. 3. Joh. 10. 29. Joh. 5. 16. Ezek. 16, 8. Hoſ. 2. 19, 20, and boldneſſe affirme it, hee is my head, my husband, my Lord, my Redeemer, my Juſtifier, my Saviour; And I am his. I am as ſure that I am his, as I am ſure that I live. I am his by purchaſe, and I am his by conqueſt, I am his by donation, and I am his by election, I am his by covenant, and I am his by marriage; I am wholly his, I am peculiarly his, I am univerſally his, I am eternally his: This I well know, and the knowledge thereof is my joy in life, and my ſtrength and crown in death. So the Church in that Iſa. Jſa. 63. 16 vide Calvin. Pſal. 73. 25, 26. Pſal. 19. 94. Job 19. 25. Ioh. 20. 28.63. 16. Doubtleſſe thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Iſrael acknowledge us not: Thou, O Lord, art our Father, and our Redeemer, thy name is from everlaſting. David could ſay, The Lord is my portion for ever; And at another time he could ſweetly ſing it out, I am thine, ſave me. Job could looke through the darkeſt cloud, and ſee that his Redeemer lives. Thomas cryes out, My Lord, and my God; And Paul trumpets it out, That nothing Rom. 8. 38. 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8.ſhould ſeparate him from the love of Chriſt; and that he had fought a good fight, and finiſhed his courſe, and that there was Quicquid fie…i potuit, poteſt, that which hath been done, may be done.laid up for him a crowne of Righteouſneſſe. By what hath been ſaid, it clearly appears that other beleevers have obtained aſſurance in an ordinary way, and therefore beleevers now may attain to a ſweet aſſurance of their everlaſting happineſſe and bleſſedneſſe. Certainly, God is as loving, and his bowels of compaſſion are as ſtrong towardsHeb. 13. 8. Rev. 1. 8. 11. Plato, a heathen ſaith, that God is one and the ſame, and always like himſelf. Beleevers now, as ever they were to Beleevers of old; and it makes as much for the honour of God, the lifting up of Chriſt, the ſtopping of the mouthes of the wicked, and the rejoycing of the hearts of the righteous, for God to give aſſurance now, as it did for God to give it then.
Fourthly, God hath by promiſe engaged himſelfe to aſſure his people of their happineſſe, and bleſſedneſſe, The Pſal. 84. 11. Antiochus promiſed often, but ſeldome gave; but God gives as much, and as often as he promiſeth, he hath a kings heart, as wel as a kings purſe.Lord will give grace and glory, and no good thing will he with-hold from them that walke uprightly. If hee will with-hold no good thing, then certainly he will not alwayes withhold aſſurance, which is the great good thing, the only thing, the chiefeſt thing, the peculiar thing that beleevers ſeek after. So in that thirty fourth of Ezek. 30, 31. Thus ſhall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the houſe of Iſrael are my people, ſaith the Lord God. And yee my flock, the flock of my paſture, are men, and I am your God, ſaith the Lord God. So in that, John 14. 21. 23. He that hath my Commandements, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me ſhall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifeſt my Nil Deo diffi…ilo there is nothing hard for God. Tully an heathen frequently called God (optimum maximum) the beſt and greateſt. 2 Cor. 1. 20. Plato called God the Horn of plenty, and the Ocean of beauty, withou… the leaſt ſpot of injuſtice. Iſa. 64 4. 1 Cor. 2. 9. Pſal. 21. 3. Iſa. 65. 24.ſelfe to him. If any man love me (ſaith Chriſt) he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. Now hath the Lord ſpoken it, and ſhall it not come to paſſe? Men ſay, and unſay, they eate their words as ſoon as they have ſpoken them: but will God do ſo? Surely no, Hee is faithful that hath promiſed. All the Promiſes of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, that is, they are ſtable and firme, and ſhall really be made good. The Promiſes are a precious Book, every leaf drops Myrrhe and MercieMercy: Therefore, ſet down and ſuck at theſe breſts, warme thy ſelf at this fire: God hath been always as good as his word; yea, hee hath ſometimes been better then his word; he hath ever performed, and he hath over performed; hee promiſed the children of Iſrael only the Land of Canaan, but he gave them, beſides the whole Land of Canaan, two other Kingdoms which hee never promiſed. Ah! how often hath God prevented us with his bleſſings? and hath givenVi…es reports of a Jew, that having gone over a deep river on a narrow planck, in a dark night, & comming the next day to ſee what danger he had eſcaped, fell down dead with aſtoniſhment. Ah the aſtoniſhing mercies that we have had in theſe late yeers. us in ſuch mercies, as have been as far beyond our hopes as our deſerts? How hath God in theſe dayes of darkneſſe and blood, gone beyond the prayers, deſires, hopes, and confidences of his people in this Land? and beyond what we could read in the Book of the Promiſes. Satan promiſes the beſt, but payes with the worſt: hee promiſes honour, and pays with diſgrace; hee promiſes pleaſure, and pays with pain; he promiſes profit, and pays with loſſe; he promiſes life, and pays with death: But God pays as he promiſes, all his payments are made in pure gold; therefore take theſe promiſes wherein God hath engaged himſelf to aſſure thee of his love, and ſpread them before the Lord, and tell him, that it makes as well for his honour as thy comfort, for his glory as for thy peace, that he ſhould aſſure thee of thy everlaſting happineſſe and bleſſedneſſe.
Fifthly, There is in all the Saints the ſprings of aſſurance; and therefore they may attain to aſſurance: precious Faith is one ſpring of aſſurance, and this is in all the Saints, though in different degrees,foreign. Obtained by lo…. I may ſay of Faith, as Luther ſays of Prayer, it hath a kind of Omnipotency in it, it is able to do all things Eſt quaedam omnipotentia pre…um. Tantum poſſumus, quantum credimus, Cyp. 2 Pet. 1. 1. Simon Peter, a Servant and an Apoſtle of Jeſus Chriſt, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us, through the righteouſneſſe of God, and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. Faith in time will of its own accord raiſe and advance it ſelf to aſſurance. Faith is an appropriating grace, it looks upon God, and ſaith with David, this God is my God for ever and ever, and hee ſhall be my guide unto the death. It lookes upon Chriſt, and ſaith with the Spouſe, I am my Beloveds, and his deſire is towards me. It looks upon an immortall crowne and ſaith with Paul, Henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteouſneſſe. It looks upon the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt, and ſaith, this righteouſneſſe is mine to cover me: It looks upon the Mercy of Chriſt, and ſaith, this mercy is mine to pardon me: It looks upon the Power of Chriſt, and ſaith, this power is mine to ſupport me: It looks upon the Wiſdome of Chriſt, and ſaith, this wiſdome is mine to direct me: It looks upon the blood of Chriſt, and ſayes, this blood is mine to ſave me, &c.
As Faith, ſo Hope is another ſpring of Aſſurance, Col. 1. 27. Chriſt in you (ſaith Paul) the hope of glory. So Heb. 6. 19. which hope wee have as an anchor of the ſoule, both ſure and ſtedfaſt, and which entreth into that within the vaile. Hope taketh faſt hold upon heaven it ſelfe, upon the ſanctum ſanctorum. A Chriſtians hope is not like that of Pandora, which may flye outA Saints motio is, Spero meliora, the hypocrites hope is like the morning dew, Job 8. 13, 14. Iob 20. 11. Prov. 7. of the box, and bid the ſoule farewell, as the hope of the hypocrites do; no, it is like the morning light, the leaſt beame of it ſhall commence into a compleat Sun-ſhine, it ſhall ſhine forth brighter and brighter till perfect day. When Alexander went upon a hopefull expedition, hee gave away his gold, and when he was asked what he kept for himſelfe, he anſwered (Spem majorum & meliorum) the hope of greater and better things. So a Chriſtian will part with any thing rather then with his hope; hee knows that hope will keep the heart both from aking, and breaking, from fainting, and ſinking; he knowes that hope is a beame of God, a ſparke of glory, and that nothing ſhall extinguiſh it, till the ſoul bee filled with glory. Soules that are big in hope, will not be long without ſweet aſſurance. God loves not to ſee the hopeing ſoule go alwayes up and downe ſighing, and mourning for want of a good word from heaven, for want of poſſeſſing what it hopes in time to enjoy: hold out hope and patience, a little, little longer, and he that hath promiſed toHeb. 10. 37. foreign. come, will come, and will not tarry.
Againe, a good conſcience is another ſpring of aſſurance, 2 Cor. 1. 12.Tolle conſcientiam, Tolle omnia. For our rejoycing is this, the teſtimony of our conſcience, that in ſimplicity, and godly ſincerity, not with fleſhly wiſdome, but by the grace of God, we have had our converſation in the world, and more abundantly Conſcientia pura ſemper ſecura.to you wards. So in that 1 Joh. 3. 21. Beloved, if our heart condemne us not, then have we confidence towards God. A good conſcience hath ſure confidence; he that hath it, ſits, Noah-like, in the midſt of all combuſtions and diſtractions, ſincerity, and ſerenity, uprightneſſe and boldneſſe; a good conſcience, and a good confidence go together. What the probationer Diſciple ſaid to our Saviour in that Mat. 8. 19. Maſter, I will follow thee whitherſoever It is a notable ſpeech of Salvī. Such as are truly bleſſed in their owne conſciences, cannot be miſerable by the falſe judgements of others.thou goeſt; that a good conſcience ſayes to the beleeving ſoule, I will follow thee from duty to duty, from ordinance to ordinance; I will ſtand by thee, I will ſtrengthen thee, I wil uphold thee, I wil be a comfort to thee in life, and a friend to thee in death; though all ſhould leave thee, yet I will never forſake thee: A good conſcience will look through the blackeſt clouds, and ſee a ſmiling God. Looke as an evill conſcience is attended with the greateſt fears and doubts; ſo a good conſcience is attended with theInnocency is bulwark enough if you be not guilty, ſaith Seneca. greateſt clearneſſe and ſweetneſſe; And as there is no hell in this world to an evill conſcience, ſo there is no heaven in this world to a good conſcience; He that hath a good conſcience, hath one of the choyſeſt ſprings of Aſſurance. And it will not be long before God will whiſper ſuch a man in the eare, and ſay unto him, Son be of good Matth. 9. 2.chear, thy ſinnes be forgiven thee.
Again, real Love to the Saints is another ſpring of Aſſurance, and this ſpring is a never failing ſpring; this ſpring is in the weakeſt, as wel as in the ſtrongeſt Saints. Joh. 3. 14. Wee know foreign, to know certainly we are as certain of it, as we are certain that we live.that we have paſſed from death unto life, becauſe we love the brethren; hee that loveth not his brother, abideth in death. The Apoſtle doth not ſay, we thinke, we hope, &c. that we are tranſlated from death to life; but we know that we are tranſlated from death to life, becauſe we love the brethren: Love to the brethren, is not the cauſe of our paſſing from death to life, that is, from a natural ſtate, to a ſpiritual ſtate; from hell to heaven, but an evidence thereof. I confeſſe it is very ſad to conſider how this precious ſtream of love is even dried up in many. It was wont to be a Proverb, (Homo homini Deus) One man is a God to another: But now it may bee truly ſaid, (Homo homini Daemon) One man is aOr Homo homini Leo, one man is a Lion to another. Devil to another. Hee that wants love to his brethren, wants one of the ſweeteſt ſprings from whence Aſſurance flowes. A greater hell I would not wiſh any man, then to live, and not to love the beloved of God.
Now is it not as eaſie a thing as it is pleaſant, for a man that hath ſeverall ſweet Springs in his Garden, to ſitJoh. 4. 14. down, draw water, and drinke. O beleeving ſouls there are Springs, there are Wels of living water not only nearGen. 21. 15. to the 19. ver. you, but in you; why then doe you with Hagar ſit down ſorrowing, and weeping, when you ſhould be a taſting, or a drinking, not only of the ſprings above you, but alſo of the ſprings within you. A man that hathGal. 5. 22, 23 fruit in his Garden may both delight his eye, and refreſh his ſpirit with taſting of it; certainly we may both eye and taſte the fruits of the Spirit in us, they being the firſt fruits of eternall life; I thinke none but mad ſouls will ſay, that grace is that forbidden fruit that God would have us neitherCol. 1 27 Solomons Song, 1. 5. Solomons Song, 4. 7. Pſal. 45. 13. ſee, nor taſte; we ought not ſo to minde a Chriſt in heaven, as not to minde Chriſt in us the hope of glory: Chriſt would not have his Spouſe ſo to minde her owne blackneſſe, as to forget that ſhe is all faire and glorious within.
Sixthly, The Holy Ghoſt exhorts us to give all diligence to make our calling and election ſure, and preſſes us to looke to the obtaining of a full aſſurance, therefore Beleevers may attaine unto an aſſurance of their everlaſting happineſſe and bleſſedneſſe. Wherefore 2 Pet. 1. 10.the rather Brethren (ſaith the Apoſtle) give diligence to make your calling and election ſure, for if you doe theſe things you ſhall never fall. The Greeke wordforeign Vide Beza and Janſen. Luther ſaith, he had rather obey, then work Miracles. tranſlated, give diligence, ſignifieth two things; 1. All poſſible haſte and ſpeed; 2. All manner of ſeriouſneſs and intention in doing; make it your maine buſineſſe, your chiefeſt ſtudy, your greateſt care, to make your calling and election ſure, ſaith the Apoſtle; when this is done, your all is done, till this be done, there is nothing done: and to ſhew the neceſſity, utility, excellency, and poſſibility of it, the Apoſtle puts a rather upon it, wherefore the rather give allforeign firme or ſtable; God loves curriſtas, not quaeriſtas, the runner, not the queſtioner; he is taken moſt with them that are more for motion then notion, for doing then talking. diligence to make your calling and election ſure; or as it is in the Originall, firme, or ſtable; it is the one thing neceſſary, it is of an internal and eternal concernment, to make firme and ſure work for your ſouls. Aſſurance is a jewel of that worth, a pearle of that price, that he that wil have it, muſt work and ſweat, and weep and wait to obtaine it; he muſt not only uſe diligence, but he muſt uſe all diligence; not only digge, but he muſt dig deep, before he can come to this golden Mine. Aſſurance is that white ſtone, that new name, that hidden Manna, that none can obtaine, but ſuch as labour for it as for life; Aſſurance is ſuch precious gold, that a man muſt win it before he can wear it: win gold and wear gold is the language both of heaven & earth.
The Riches, Honours, Languages,Pſal. 127. 1, 2. Luk. 5. 5. Prov. 14. 23 and favours of this world cannot bee obtained without much trouble and travell, without riſing early, and going to bed late, &c. and do you think that aſſurance, which is more worth then heaven and earth, can be obtained by cold, lazie, heart-leſſe ſervices, if you doe, you doe but deceive your own ſoules. There are five things that GodQui fecit te ſine te, non ſalvabit t… ſine te. Aug. wil never ſell at a cheap rate, Chriſt, Truth, his Honour, Heaven, and Aſſurance; he that wil have theſe muſt …ay a good price for them, or goe for ever without them.
And as Peter exhorts you to give all …iligence to make your calling and election ſure. So Paul preſſeth you to looke to the obtaining of full aſſurance, which does clearly evidence, that there is a poſſibility of attaining unto a full aſſurance of our happineſſe and bleſſedneſſe in this life. And we deſire (ſaithHeb. 6. 11. 12 Vide Calvin and Piſcator on the text. Praecepta decent, exempla movent. Precepts may inſtruct, but examples doe perſwade, See from the 13. verſ. to the 19 ver. of this chapter. the Apoſtle) that every one of you doe ſhew the ſame diligence, to the full aſſurance of hope unto the end, that yee be not ſlothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherite the Promiſes. We muſt not only ſtrive after aſſurance, but we muſt ſtrive and ſhew all diligence to the attaining of that rich and full aſſurance which wil ſcatter all feares and doubts, which wil make a ſoule patient in waiting, couragious in doing, and cheerful in ſuffering, and which wil make a heaven in a mans heart on this ſide heaven, and make him goe ſinging into Paradiſe in deſpight of all calamities and miſeries. And certainly it can never ſtand with the holineſſe, righteouſneſſe, faithfulneſſe, and goodneſſe of God, to put his people upon making their callingIt was a good ſaying, …a quod ju…es & jube quod vis. and election ſure, and upon obtaining full aſſurance, if there were not a poſſibility of obtaining a full and wellgrounded aſſurance of their happineſſe and bleſſedneſs in this life, and therefore it doth undeniably follow that they may attaine unto a bleſſed aſſurance of their felicity and glory, whilſt they are in this vale of miſery. The contrary opinion we make a mans life a hell here, though he ſhould eſcape a hel hereafter.
Seventhly, The Lord hath (in much mercy and love) propounded in his Word the wayes and meanes whereby Beleevers may obtain a welgrounded aſſurance of their everlaſting happineſs and bleſſedneſs, and therefore it may be obtained; take three Scriptures to evidence this: The firſt is in that, 2 Pet. 1. chap. 5-13. if you2 Pet. 1. ch. 5. 13. turne to the words, you ſhal finde that the Lord does not only preſſe them to give all diligence to make their calling and election ſure, but he ſhewes them plainly the way, and meanes whereby this may be done, namely, by adding to your faith, vertue, and to vertue knowledge, &c. The ſecond Scripture is1 Cor. 11. 28 that, in the 1 Cor. 11. 28. But let a man examine himſelfe, and ſo let him eate of that bread, and drinke of that cup. By examination, the Soule comes to ſee what right it hath to Chriſt, and all the precious things of his Houſe, and beleevingly to eate ſo of that Bread of Life, of that heavenly Manna, as that it may live for ever. The third Scripture is that, 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine 2 Cor. 13. 5. foreign, as the Goldſmith does the gold in the fire. foreign, i. e. unapproved, or counterfeit, not reprobates, as it is tranſlated. vide Gr…tius.your ſelves whether yee be in the faith, prove your ſelves, know yee not your owne ſelves how that Chriſt is in you except yee be reprobates? or unapproved, or rejected; by a ſerious examination of a mans owne eſtate, he may know whether he hath faith or not, whether he be Chriſts Spouſe, or the Devils ſtrumpet, whether there bee a worke of grace upon his heart or not; and certainly it cannot ſtand with the glorious wiſdome, unſpotted righteouſneſs, and tranſcendent holineſs of God, to put men upon the uſe of ſuchE…od. 15. 11. and ſuch meanes, in order to the obtaining of ſuch an end, if that end could not be obtained by the uſe of the meanes preſcribed. Man, that hath but a ſparke of that wiſdome, righteouſneſſe,Job 38. 5. 5. 18. 21. 33. verſes compared. and holineſſe that is in God, wil not put any upon the uſe of ſuch o… ſuch meanes for the obtaining of health, wealth, or the like, unleſſe there be a proper tendency in the uſe of thoſe means preſcribed to reach ſuchAbſtracts do better expreſſe God, then concretes, and adjectives. ends; and will God, who is wiſdome, righteouſneſſe, and holineſs in the abſtract? Surely no: God is one infinite perfection in himſelfe, which is eminently, and virtually all perfections of the creatures; and therefore it is impoſſible that God ſhould act below the creature; which he ſhould do if he ſhould put the creature upon the uſe of thoſe meanes that would not reach the ends, for which the means were uſed. Thus you cleerly ſee by this ſeventh Argument, that beleevers may in this life attain to a Well-grounded Aſſurance of their everlaſting happineſs, and bleſſedneſs.
Eightly, It was the principal end of Chriſts inſtitution of the Sacrament of the Supper, that he might aſſure them of his love, and that hee might ſeale up to them the forgiveneſſeMatth. 26, 27, 28. of their ſinnes, the acceptation of their perſons, and the ſalvation of their ſoules. The nature of a Seale is to make things ſure and firme amongDan. 6 8. Mat. 27. 66. men; So the Supper of the Lord is Chriſts Broad-ſeal; it is Chriſts Privyſeale, whereby he ſeals and aſſures his people, that they are happy here, that they ſhall be more happy hereafter, that they are everlaſtingly beloved of God, that his heart is ſet upon them, that their names are written in the2 Tim. 4. 8. Book of life, That there is laid up for them a crowne of righteouſneſſe, and that nothing ſhall be able to ſeparate them from him▪ who is their light, their life, theirCol 3. 11. crowne, their all in all. In this Sacrament Chriſt comes forth, and ſhews his love, his heart, his bowels, his blood, that his children may no longer ſay, Doth the Lord Jeſus love us? doth he delight in us, &c? but that they may ſay with the Spouſe, I am my beloveds, Ca…. 7. 10. foreignand his deſire is towards me. Many precious Chriſtians there are, that have laine long under fearesHis deſirous affection is towards me, as the wive… is towards her deareſt husband. So the Hebrew word ſignifies. and doubts, ſighing and mourning, and that have run from Miniſter to Miniſter, and from one duty to another, &c. and yet could never be perſwaded of the love of Chriſt to their poor ſoules, but ſtill their fears and doubts have followed them, till they have waited upon the Lord in this glorious Ordinance, by which the Lord hath aſſured them of the remiſſion of their ſins, and the ſalvation of their ſoules. In this Ordinance God hath givenRev 2. 17. them mannah to eat, and a white ſtone, and new name, which no man knoweth, but he that receiveth it. Tell me, you precious beleeving ſouls, whether you have not found God in this Ordinance, often whiſpering of you in the ear, ſaying, Sons and daughters be of Mat. 9. 2.good cheer, your ſinnes are forgiven you? I know you have.
Thoſe Scriptures that do expreſly require Saints to be abundant, and conſtant in rejoycing, and in praiſing of God, to have alwayes harps in theirNulla verior miſeria qu…m falſa laetitia, there is no …uer miſery then falſe joy…. hands, and Hallelujahs in their mouths, doe clearly evidence that beleevers may attaine to a well-grounded Aſſurance in this life. How can they rejoyce and glory in God, that doe not know whether hee will bee an everlaſting friend, or an everlaſting enemy to them, whether hee will alwayes breath out love, or wrath upon them; how can theyPſal. 13 7. 2. but hang their harps on the Willows that do not know, but that they may live in a ſtrange land, yea in a land of darkneſſe) all their dayes? How can they be cheerful, or thankful, that doe not know but that they may at laſt heare that heart-breaking, that conſcience-wounding, that ſoul-ſlaying word, Depart from me ye curſed into everlaſting Matth. 25. 4. It would even be an endleſſe buſineſſe to cite every Scripture wherein this duty is injoyned. It is a duty that is much preſſed in both Teſtaments, & as little practiſed by all whimpering Chriſtians.fire, prepared for the devil and his Angels. Now there is no duty in the whole Book of God, that is more frequently and abundantly preſt upon beleevers then this of joy and rejoycing, of praiſe and thankſgiving, as all know that know any thing of the Scripture, 1 Theſſ. 5. 16. Rejoyce evermore. God would not have his children alwayes a putting finger in the eye. Ah Chriſtians, remember what Chriſt hath done for you, and what he is ſtill a doing for you in heaven, and what hee will doe for you to all eternity, and ſpend your dayes in whining and mourning ifPſal. 32. 1. Pſal. 33 11. The word noteth a faire and comely grace, for which a thing is to bee liked and deſired, Ainſw. you can, Pſ. 32. 11. Be glad in the Lord and rejoyce ye righteous, & ſhout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart, Pſal. 33. 1. Rejoyce in the Lord, O ye Righteous; for praiſe is comely for the upright. Chriſtians, are not your mercies greater then your miſeries? yes; is your greateſt ſufferings comparable to the leaſt ſpark of grace, or beam of glory revealed in you, or to you? No: wil not oneAeterna erit exultatio qu… bono l…tatur aeter…o. Their joy laſts for ever, whoſe object remaines for ever. houres being in the boſome of Chriſt recompence you for all your trouble and travell? Yes; Why then doe you ſpend more time in ſighing then in rejoycing, and why doe you by your not rejoycing, ſad thoſe precious hearts that God would not have ſadded, and glad thoſe graceleſs hearts that God would not have gladded.
A beautifull face is at all times pleaſing to the eye, but then eſpecially when there is joy manifeſted in the countenance: joy in the face puts a new beauty, and makes that which before was beautifull to be exceeding beautifull, it puts a luſter and glory upon beauty; ſo does joy in the face, heart, and life of a Chriſtian, caſt a generall ſplendor and glory upon him, and the wayes of God wherein hee walkes. The joy of the Lord is notNehem. 8. 10. only the ſtrength, but alſo the beauty and glory of Chriſtians.
Joy and rejoycing is a conſequent and effect of aſſurance, as many beleevers by experience finde, and thereforeMrs. Kath. Brettergh under the power of aſſurance cryes out, O the joyes, the joyes, the unconceiveable joyes my heart is filled with. without all peradventure beleevers may attaine unto a well-grounded aſſurance of their everlaſting happineſs, elſe it is impoſſible that they ſhould rejoyce evermore; ſo that by this argument, as by the former, it clearly appeares, that beleevers may in this life be aſſured of their eternal wel being.
The tenth and laſt Argument to prove, that beleevers may in this life attaine to a well-grounded aſſurance, is this, That God would never have made ſuch a broad difference in the Scripture between the ſeed of theGen. 3. 15. Ezeck. 18. Mat. 25. Mat. 3. 12. 2 Cor. 6. 14. Woman, and the ſeed of the Serpent, between the righteous and the wicked, between Saints and ſinners, between Sons and Slaves, Sheepe and Goats, between Lions and Lambs, between Wheat and Chaffe, Light and Darkneſs, &c. if it were impoſſible for men to know which of theſe two eſtates they are in: therefore they may know whether they are in a ſtate of life, or in a ſtate of death, in a ſtate of miſery, or in a ſtate of felicity; inMat. 13. a ſtate of wrath, or in a ſtate of love. O it is much below the grace of God! it is repugnant to the wiſdome of God, to make ſuch a wide differenceJoh. 8. 44. between his owne Children and Satans; if it were not poſſible for every Childe to know his owne Father, and his intereſt in him, Jer. 3. 19. And Jer. 3. 19. The Saints Motto is, Tam pius nemo, tam pater nemo; no Father is like our Father, Rom. 8. 15.I ſaid, thou ſhalt call me, my Father, and ſhalt not turne away from me. Here God ingages himſelfe that his people ſhall know him, account him, and acknowledge him for their Father. Thou ſhalt call me, my Father, Iſa. 63. 16. Doubtleſſe thou art my Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Iſrael acknowledge us not; thou O Lord art our Father, and Redeemer, thy name is from everlaſting. The weakeſt Saint can ſay,Ioh. 14. 18. foreign, God hath no childe ſo young but can more or leſſe call him Father. Abba, Father; the Lord will not leave his Children comfortleſs, or as Orphans, and fatherleſs children, as it is in the Greek; though the ſalvation of beleevers doe not depend upon their knowledge of God to be their Father, yet their conſolation does:Ier. 3. 4. We ſay he is a wiſe childe that knows his Father, ſuch wiſe ones beleevers are. therefore the Lord wil not be only a Father to Iſrael, but he wil make Iſrael know that he is his Father, Jer. 3. 4. Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, my Father, thou art the guide of my youth? By theſe ten Arguments, it doth evidently appear, that beleevers may in this life attain unto a well-grounded Aſſurance of their everlaſting happineſſe, and bleſſedneſſe. I ſhall apply this a little, and then cloſe up this Chapter.
Uſe. This precious truth thus proved, looks ſourely and wiſhly upon all thoſe that affirme that beleevers cannot in this life attaine unto a certaine well-grounded Aſſurance of their everlaſting happineſſe and bleſſedneſſe: As Papiſts, and Arminians; all know that know their writings, and teachings, that they are in Armes againſt this Chriſt-exalting, and ſoule-cheering Doctrine of Aſſurance. I know no ſuch thing, as Aſſurance of Heaven in this life, ſaith Greevinchovius, the Arminian. Aſſurance is a Pearle thatSenſum electionis ad gloriam in hac vita nullam agnoſco, Greevinchov. they trample under feet; it is a beame of Heaven that hath ſo much light, brightneſſe, & ſhining glory in it, that their bleer eyes cannot behold it. Aſſurance is glory in the bud, it is the Suburbs of Paradiſe; it is a cluſter of the land of Promiſe; it is a ſparke of God; it is the joy and crowne of a Chriſtian, the greater is their impiety and folly that deny aſſurance, that cry downe aſſurance under any names or notions whatſoever. They are rather tormenters then comforters, that ſay, poore ſouls may know, that there is a crowne of Righteouſneſſe, but they muſt not preſume to know, that they ſhall have the honour to weare that Crowne: *Is the ſurety of the New Covenant growne ſo poor▪ Heb. 7. 22. 2. Is the promiſe now come to be yea and nay? 2 Cor. 1. 20. 3 Is the power of God growne ſo weak? 1 Pet. 1. 5. 4 Is the decreeing will of God become mutable, 2 Tim. 2. 19. 5 Is the free eternal, and everlaſting love of God become changeable, Jer. 31. 3. Joh. 13. 1. that theſe things can be? Ezek. 13. 22.and that makes God like King Xerxes, who crowned his Steerſman in the morning, and beheaded him in the evening of the ſame day. Arminians are not aſhamed to ſay that God may crowne a man one hour, and uncrowne him the next; they bluſh not to ſay that a man may bee happy and miſerable under love, and under wrath, an heire of heaven, and a firebrand of hell, a childe of light, and a childe of darkneſſe, and all in an houre. O what miſerable comforters are theſe? what is this, but to torment the weary ſoule? to diſſpirit the wounded ſpirit, and to make them moſt ſad, whom God would have moſt glad. Ah, how ſad is it for men to affirme, that wounded ſouls may know, That the Son of righteouſneſſe Mal. 4. 2.hath healing in his wings, but they cannot be aſſured that they ſhall bee healed. The hungry ſoule mayLuke 15. 17. know that there is bread enough in his Fathers houſe, but cannot know that he ſhall taſte of that bread: The naked ſoule may know that Chriſt hathRev. 3. 18. Robes of righteouſnes to cover al the ſpots, ſores, defects, and deformities of it, but may not preſume to know that Chriſt will put thoſe royal Robes upon it: The impoveriſhed ſoule may know that there bee unſearchableEph. 3. 8. foreign, not to b… traced out. riches in Chriſt, but cannot be aſſured that ever it ſhall partake of thoſe riches; all that theſe men allow poore foules, is gueſſes, and conjectures that it may be well with them; they will not allow ſoules to ſay with Thomas, My Lord, and my God; nor with Job, to ſay, My Redeemer lives; nor withJoh. 20 28. Job 19. 25. Can. 7. 10. the Church, I am my beloveds, and his deſire is towards mee: And ſo they leave ſoules in a cloudy, queſtioning, doubting, hovering condition, hanging like Mahomets Tomb at Mecha, between two Load▪ ſtones; or like Eraſmus, as the Papiſts paint him, hanging betwixt heaven and hell. They make the poor ſoul (a magor miſſabib) a terrour to it ſelfe.
What more uncomfortable Doctrine then this? what more ſoule-diſquieting, and ſoul-unſetling doctrine then this? Thou art this moment in a ſtate of life, thou mayeſt the next moment bee in a ſtate of death; thou art now gracious, thou mayeſt the next houre be graceleſſe: Thou art now in the promiſed Land, yet thou mayeſt dye in the wilderneſſe: Thou art to day a habitation for God, thou mayeſtThe heathens uſed to abſolve men by giving them white ſtones, and condemn them by giving them black ones. tomorrow be a Synagogue of Satan: Thou haſt to day received the Whiteſtone of abſolution, thou mayeſt tomorrow receive the Black-ſtone of condemnation. Thou art now in thy Saviours Arms, thou mayeſt tomorrow bee in Satans Paws: Thou art now Chriſts free man, thou mayeſt tomorrow bee Satans bond-man: Thou art now a veſſel of honour, thou mayeſt ſuddenly become a veſſel of wrath: Thou art now greatly beloved, thou mayeſt ſoon be as greatly loathed▪ This day thy name is fairly written in the Book of life, tomorrow the Book may be croſt, and thy name blotted out for ever. This is the Arminians doctrine; and if this bee not to keep ſoules in a doubting and trembling, and ſhivering condition, what is it? Well, Chriſtians, Remember this is your happineſſe and bleſſedneſſe, That none can plucke you out of your Fathers hand; That you are kept (as in a Garriſon, or as with a Guard) by the power of God through faith unto ſalvation: That the Mountains ſhall depart, Ioh. 10. 29. 1 Pet. 1. 5. foreign kept ſafe, and faſt as in a ſtrong Garriſon. Iſa. 54. 10. Heb. 7. 25.and the hils be removed, but the kindneſſe of the Lord ſhall not depart from you, neither ſhall the Covenant of peace be removed, ſaith the Lord, that hath mercy on you: That Chriſt ever lives to make interceſsion for you: And that men and devils are as able, and ſhall as ſoon make a world, dethrone God, pluck the Sun out of the Firmament, and Chriſt out of the boſom of the Father as they ſhall pluck a beleever out of the everlaſting Arms of Chriſt, or rob him of one of his precious Jewels. I ſhall cloſe up this Chapter, with anDeut. 33. 26, 27 Mal 3. 17. excellent ſaying of Luther. The whole Scripture, ſaith he, doth principally aime at this thing, that we ſhould not doubt, but that we ſhould hope, that we ſhould truſt, that we ſhould beleeve, that God is a merciful, a bountiful, a gracious, and a patient God to his people.