The Great Assize, Sermon 2
The great Aſsize. THE SECOND SERMON.
REVEL. 20.12. &c.
12 And I ſaw the dead both ſmall and great ſtand before God: and the Bookes were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were iudged of thoſe things which were written in the books, according to their works.
WEe hauehave heard alreadie the perſon of the Iudge deſcribed vntounto vsus, with what vnſpeakable maieſtie and glorie he ſhall come, to the great comfort of the godly: and alſo with what wonderfull terror he will come, to the great terror of the wicked. Secondly, wee hauehave heere, who ſhall be cited to appeare: Both great and ſmall: 1. Theſ. 1.8al muſt appeare. Now follows in the third place, the moſt ſpeciall and principall matter of all; namely, after what manner all men ſhall be iudged, in theſe words: And the bookes were-opened, &c. We ſee that earthlie Iudges are brought vntounto the Bench with great attendance. They being ſet, the priſoners are brought forth, and are called ouer, one by one; and their matters are heard, and witneſſes produced: and ſo according to their faults they receiue iudgement. Euen ſo, at this great day of the Lord, Chriſt Ieſus ſhall come with a thouſand of Angels; and before him ſhall ſtand all men and women, Both great and ſmall: And then ſhal the Books be brought forth. Indeed we ſee, when an earthly iudge ſits on the Bench, it holds a long time to trie cauſes; ſuch witneſſes, and ſuch euidences muſt be produced. But it ſhall not be ſo at the laſt day: for when all men ſhall ſtand at the barre of Chriſts iudgement, they ſhal then be iudged according to the written Records, euen according to the Bookes: for they ſhall then be opened.
Books, wha… is meant by them.Now if you would know what theſe Bookes bee, it is eaſie to know: for they be euen the particular conſcience of eueryevery man and woman: thy conſcience is the booke that ſhall be opened; and that ſhall be as good as ten thouſand witneſſes, either to excuſe, or accuſe thee before God. For there ſhall neede no other witneſſe, no other euidence againſt vsus at the laſt, but our own conſcience. For as God hath his Booke of infinite Knowledge, whereby he knoweth the ſinnes of all men and women as certainly as if they were written in a booke; and though men forget them, yet the Lord remembreth them: So hee hath giuen vntounto euerie man and woman a booke, their owne conſcience; wherein are written all our thoughts, words, and deedes, ſo as none ſhall eſcape. And the Bookes are two, the Booke of the Law, and the Book of Conſcience: the one ſhewing a man what he ſhould doe, the other what he hath done. Againſt the booke of the Law, none ſhall be able to except. For the commandements of the Lord are pure and righteous altogether. Pſal. 19.9.And as for the booke of Conſcience, who can deny it, or except againſt it? ſeeing the Lord will now iudge a man, not by another mans Conſcience, but by his owne, the which he hath alwayes had in his owne keeping, euen in his owne boſome.
Now, ſeeing heere what is meant by theſe bookes, namely eueryevery mans particular Conſcience: let vsus come to ſearch what bee the things written in this booke; and firſt, what vſe we are to make vntounto our ſelues from this: EueryEvery mans booke ſhall be opened, &c. Firſt, in theſe books are written euerie thought of our heart:In the Bookes of our conſ…ince is written, Our …. none ſo ſecret, or ſo cloſe, but it is here recorded. Secondly, euerie ſpeech and word of our mouth. Thirdly, eueryevery deed that men do. Thou haſt ſealed vp all our ſinnes in a bagge, ſaith Iob; to ſhew the exact kind of keeping of them againſt that day of account. Surely, if there be any thing in a man to be maruailed at, I muſt needs confeſſe that this is a wonderfull worke of God, that hee hath giuen to eueryevery man and woman a Conſcience, which is like vntounto a booke; in which is recorded all our thoughts, words and works. A wicked man, an vnchaſte woman, how many thouſand vile & filthy thoughts hauehave they in their mindes night and day? their hearts burne in luſt and in vncleanneſſe: now they paſſe away to them, they regard them not, they make little or no account of them. But (alas) they are all written in this Booke of thy conſcience: thy conſcience markes them, thy conſcience writes them downe. And if thou repent not of them, and leaue them, O woe to thy ſoule, when theſe Bookes come to bee opened and read ouer. For then thy conſcience will accuſe and lay to thy charge, eueryevery one of them in order. Thou haſt ſet my miſdeeds before me, and my ſecret ſins in the ſight of thy countenance, ſaith Dauid. Againe, in the heart of man, what anger, what enuy, what malice lurke therein? and they paſſe it ouer, and thinke it no matter. Well, know (beloued) that vnleſſe you repent of the very thoughts of the hearts, euen theſe things will be found written in the bookes at the day of Iudgement; and what a lamentable thing will that be?
2. Our thoughts.Secondly, as conſcience is priuie to all our thoughts, and wil accuſe vsus of them at the day of Iudgement: ſo all our ſpeeches are noted therein. What a number of wicked ſpeeches paſſe out of the mouth of wicked and vaine men and women? what horrible and blaſphemous oathes? what curſed ſpeaking, lying, and ſlaundering? Now a wicked perſon, that thus abuſeth his tongue ſo many thouſand times in a day, he cannot for his life remember them. VVell, know that euerie ſinnefull word thou ſpeakeſt, is written in this booke, there it is recorded: and when this Booke of thy conſcience ſhall be opened, it will diſcouer all thy ſinnes, not onelyonly thy filthy thoughts, but eueryevery wicked word. Our Sauiour tels vsus,Mat. 12.36 that we muſt giuegive an account of eueryevery wicked word at the day of …udgement. For though men labour to forget them, yet they are written in their conſciences, & one day ſhall come to iudgement: O how this ſhould awaken vsus all, and cauſe vsus to looke vntounto our liues, to make a couenant with our eyes, as Iob did; and to ſet a watch before our mouths, as Dauid did; and to lay aſide our vaine oathes, and idle mirth, which (as Salomon ſaith) cannot want iniquitie; ſeeing one day they muſt all of them come to iudgement.
3 Our workes.Thirdly, if we come vntounto the liues of men and women, why (alas) they bee nothing almoſt but a continuall practiſe of ſin, as the ſinnes of mens liues they bee innumerable, euen as the Sands on the Sea ſhore. Now though mens liues abound with ſo many thouſand ſinnes, yet we ſee man perceiues not, nor knowes not one quarter of his ſinnes. It may be hee knoweth ſome; but (alas) they forget the greateſt part of them. But yet they be all written in this booke of thy Conſcience: and they ſhall all come to Iudgement. When theſe Bookes ſhall bee read, then all thy ſinnes ſhall be made manifeſt, though neuer ſo ſecret: for thy Conſcience doth marke them all, and pen them downe againſt this day of account.
Now ſeeing what is meant by this booke, our Conſcience: and likevviſe what bee written in them, euen all our thoughts, words and workes: let vsus come to ſee what vſe wee are to make of this Doctrine firſt. Hence firſt of all wee may obſerue the endleſſe louelove and merciemercy of our God towards vsus; foretelling eueryevery Vſe 1 one of vsus novv of the opening of theſe Bookes, that our conſciences ſhall be layd open, theſe Bookes vnclaſped, and all our thoughts, words, and works muſt come to iudgement. Surely, it is to this end and purpoſe, that we might preuent the danger that is to come, and labour to keep a good conſcience, waſhed and purged in the bloud of Chriſt, that it may not lay to our charge any one ſinne, but aſſure vsus that we are in the fauor of God.
Vſe 2 Secondly, we ſee here that it is not enough for a man or a woman, to abſtayne from euill wordes and workes, but euill thoughts likewiſe, the very luſt of the heart. Paul complaines of this:Rom. 7. and Peter bids Simon Magus to repent and pray, Actes 8.if perhaps the thoughts of his heart might be pardoned. I doubt not but the children of God are carefull ouer their very thoughts. For a wicked carnal man may abſtaine from ſome grieuous ſinnes; But it is a note of the true childe of GOD, to repent of his euill thoughts, and to be carefull ouer them.
Thirdly, ſeeing eueryevery mans Vſe 3 conſcience is this booke, and eueryevery mans ſin is penned downe therein: we may ſee the wofull miſery of all thoſe that hauehave defiled conſciences, filthy and vncleane hearts. For looke how their conſciences doe accuſe them, euen ſo will God condemne. And hauing not repented of their ſinnes, they carry a tormentor within them; namely, a guilty and an accuſing conſcience, which is their Iudge to condemne them, and their hell to torment them.
Vſe 4 Fourthly, ſeeing the bookes muſt be opened, and eueryevery mans conſcience muſt come to ſcanning; becauſe ſentence ſhall paſſe, and iudgement ſhall bee awarded accordyng to the things written in eueryevery mans conſcience: How ſhould this cauſe vsus all, both Miniſter and people, to labour to get a good conſcience? If thy conſcience be good, thou ſhalt not faile to bee bleſſed; if thy conſcience be filthy and polluted, thou art accurſed:The mean to get a good conſcience. And therefore it ſhould bee our chiefeſt care, our chiefeſt ſtudy, and our chiefeſt deſire, all our life time, to keepe a good conſcience. Now if you aske, how is it poſſible to get a good conſcience? I anſwere, for the getting and keeping of faith and a good conſcience; we muſt know that it is done by the vſe of the word of God.Ioh. 17. Sanctifie them by thy Trueth, Thy word is the Trueth. All graces of Gods ſpirit, are wrought by his word. But that wee may get a good conſcience, we muſt
Firſt, repent of all our ſinnes: wee muſt know by the Lawe of God, what is ſin, & what is not.
Secondly, we muſt know the heauie curſe of GOD euen for ſinne, that the reward of ſinne is death eternall both of Bodie and Soule. For men doe by nature bleſſe themſelues in their ſinnes; and though we heare of Gods Iudgements againſt ſin, yet whoſe heart is touched and troubled? Thus men runne on ſtill in ſinne, and feare nothing. They meane well they ſay, but yet liue ill, and thinke all is well.
Thirdly, til we ſee what ſinne is, and then ſee the curſe of God due to ſinne, we ſhall neuer ſeriouſly try our conſciences, and ſee how our ſins hauehave wounded them, that ſo we may repent vsus of ſinne.
Fourthly, we muſt be grieued for our ſinnes; wee muſt acknowledge and confeſſe them, begging for pardon of them; and to hunger, and thirſt after Chriſt Ieſus: For there is nothing that can purifie the conſcience, and quiet the heart, but onelyonly the bloud of Ieſus Chriſt applied to our ſoules by Faith, with perſwaſion of the forgiueneſſe of them.
Marke heere then (beloued) when a man is thus humbled for his ſinnes, and beggeth the pardon of them earneſtly, with ſighes and groanes; then will the Lord ſend downe into his ſoule, his bleſſed Spirit; to aſſure vsus of gods mercy, of the pardon of our ſinnes, that our wounds in conſcience are healed, and this is done by the meanes of Faith,Acts 15.9 which purifies the conſcience.
Hereby we may perceiue, Vſe that moſt men and women, are in a woefull caſe. For (alas) the greateſt part are ignorant of the law of God, and know not what is ſinne, and what is not ſinne, and therefore cannot poſſible hauehave a good Conſcience; For, Hebr. 11.whatſoeuer is not of faith, is ſinne. Againe, though men ſee their ſinnes, and oftentimes their conſciēce checks them for ſins, yet how few doe bewaile their ſinnes? for I am perſwaded that there is not ſo wicked a ſinner, but ſometimes his conſcience checkes him. Indeede men ſee not the danger, and feele not the wounds of conſcience, becauſe now their Bookes be claſped, they be ſhut vp, their ſeared Conſciences bee now aſleepe: But the day will come that their Bookes muſt be opened, and their ſecrets declared; and then conſcience will accuſe them, condemne, and torment them.
Againe, when a man or woman hath gotten a good conſcience, ſo as being truely humbled for their ſinnes, and begging pardon, they finde ſome aſſurance of GODS louelove in Chriſt, and that now their conſciences doe not accuſe them; euen then muſt men take no leſſe paines to keepe and preſerue a good conſcience, to do nothing to wound thy Conſcience. A mans Conſcience is a very tender thing.The meanes to keepe our cōſcience pure. It is like the apple of the eye; if it be prickt but with a pin, it will not onelyonly blemiſh the eye, but endanger the ſight: So conſcience, it is a tender thing, if yee pricke it by ſinne, it wil blemiſh thy conſcience, wound it, and euen make hauocke of thy ſoule. And therfore ſaith Salomon, Counter-gard thy heart, & watch ouer thy ſoule, Prouerbs 4.14. that thou do nothing that may wound thy conſcience.
Now, that we may keep theſe books of account, (our conſciences) pure and good, we muſt doo two things. Firſt, auoide all things that may any way hurt a good conſcience. Secondly, vſe all good meanes and helpes to cheriſh a good conſcience. In truth all ſin hinders a good conſcience. Sinne is that vvhichwhich wounds the Soule, and maketh hauocke of a good conſcience: that is the verie cut-throate of mens ſoules. And therefore, if you would keepe a good conſcience, take heede of ſin, which wounds a good conſcience, and makes it vnable to ſtand before God at the laſt day.
But there bee two eſpeciall lets and impediments of a good Conſcience: Firſt, ignorance of the Lawe, and the word of God. For when a man knowes not what is ſinne, and what not; how can he take heed leſt hee wound his Soule? And therefore wee ſee, let a man come into his Houſe at Midnight, hee can ſee nothing amiſſe, and out of order; but let a man come in at Noone, then hee can eſpie the leaſt diſorder: euen ſo poore, blinde, ignorant ſoules, not knowing the Law of God, cannot ſee any wounds in conſcience, nor nothing amiſſe in them. But let them come to the word of God, and looke in this Glaſſe, then they ſhall find themſelues much out of order; to hauehave wounded ſoules, and defiled conſciences.
The other impediment of a good cōſcience is worldly luſt; namely, the louelove and exceeding deſire of riches, honours, pleaſures, &c. And hee that ſuffers theſe deſires to hauehave place in his heart, hee cannot poſſible keepe a good conſcience. Secondly, the meanes to preſerue and to keep a good conſcience be three.
Firſt, to doe all things that may ſaue and cheriſh true ſauing faith, whereby our ſoules be aſſured of the louelove of GOD in Chriſt Ieſu for the pardon of our ſins. For Faith is the root, and the foundation of a good conſcience; and without faith there can be no good conſcience.Rom. 10. Now to preſerue Faith, wee muſt often heare and reade the word of God, repent of our ſins, acknowledge and confeſſe them, and be humbled for them, and walke in the dueties of faith and repentance: And in ſo doing, wee ſhall finde more and more the comfort of a good conſcience. And therefore wee muſt take heede we do nothing to break off the feeling of Gods louelove, or to wound our conſcience.
Secondly, we muſt indeuour in all things to obey Gods will, and beare a conſtant purpoſe, not to ſin in anie thing. For, a purpoſe to liue in ſin, and conſcience, cannot ſtand together: ſo that where there is a purpoſe to liue in ſinne, there is neither faith, nor a good conſcience.
Thirdly, we muſt walke with God, as Henoch did, ſo to order our liues, as alwayes in the preſence of GOD; and this will make vsus keepe a good Conſcience: and the want of this maketh men bold to ſinne, becauſe they conſider not that GOD ſeeth them, and that they hauehave a conſcience within them.
And another Booke was opened, which is the Booke of Life.
THus when Chriſt hath examined the Bookes of mens Conſciences, to view what is therein written, that Iudgement may bee avvarded thereafter. Now hee ſheweth that hee will open a ſecond Booke, euen the Booke of Life, What is meant by the booke of Life.And of this booke of Life, we ſhall ſee often mention in the word of God, both in the olde and new Teſtament; as that of Moſes: Exodus 32.31.32.Oh this people hauehave grieuouſly ſinned! Therefore now if thou pardon their ſinne, thy merciemercy ſhall appeare: But if thou wilt not, I pray thee raſe mee out of the Booke which thou haſt written. Pſal. 69.28Agayne, Let them be put out of the Booke of Life, neither let them be written with the righteous. Reuel. 3.5.Againe, He that ouercommeth ſhall be clothed in white array, and I wil not put out his name out of the Booke of Life. And the Holie-Ghoſt ſpeaking of the glory of the heauenly Ieruſalem ſaith;Reu. 21.27 There ſhall enter into it no vncleane thing, neyther whatſoeuer worketh abomination or lies: Phil. 4.3.But they which are written in the Lambes Booke of Life.
Now if you would know what is heere meant by the Booke of Life, it is the Book in the which all the names of Gods Elect, which in his eternall purpoſe he hath choſen, be written, as it were, with Letters of Gold; and it is nothing elſe but GODS eternall councell, purpoſe, and decree, wherein he hath elected and choſen a certaine company of mankinde, to beſtow eternall life vponupon them: for we muſt not thinke that God hath any need of a Booke; but only for our vnderſtanding hee ſpeaketh thus: Euen as a Captaine records the names of his Souldiers, to call them one by one; and as in Cities the names of the chiefe men be recorded: So God hath as it were, enrolled the names of all his Saints, and engrauen them in the booke of Life, with letters of gold for euer, ſo as not one of them ſhall periſh. Thus ſeeing what is meant by the Booke of Life, let vsus ſee what we may learne hence.
Vſe 1 Firſt, hence wee may ſee the bleſſed and happy eſtate of all the elect and choſen children of God. For all thoſe which be written in the book of life, they be bleſſed and happy for euer.Reuel. 3.5. If thy name bee written in the Booke of Life, thou ſhalt neuer periſh. Chriſt will not blot out thy name out of the Booke of life, but acknowledge thy name to be in his Booke at the latter day, to thine endleſſe ioy and comfort. Whom GOD loues once,Rom. 11. he loueth to the end. But wofull and wretched are thoſe which are not written in this booke: for all theſe ſhal be ſhut out of heauen, whoſe names are not in the Booke of the liuing; but in the blacke Bill,Reu. 21.27 the Booke of death.
But heere we muſt take heed of the carnall reaſoning of wicked men and women. Many there be who reaſon thus: If I be the childe of God, and written in the Booke of Life, let me liue as my luſt, I am ſure to be ſaued. Others ſay, If I bee a reprobate, and not written in the Booke of Life, why I am ſure I ſhal be damned, although I liue neuer ſo wel. Poore ſoules, they know not what they ſay: they ſpeake flat contrary. For if God hauehave elected any man or woman to eternall life, he hath ordained that they ſhould walk in the way to eternall life. And it is impoſſible that they ſhould runne on in ſinne, and liue and dye therein. And therefore if men thus reaſon, they doe euen caſt away their owne ſoules. But let all men know, that as GOD hath ordained ſome men to eternall life,Rom. 8.30. and written their names in heauen; ſo he hath appointed thē the means to walke in, to bring them thereunto.
Vſe 2 Secondly, we are taught here, that the Lord hath a Booke of Life, wherein all the names of th'Elect be written: we ſee hence what muſt be our chiefeſt ioy and comfort, euen this, To know aſſuredly that our names are written in this Booke of Life. This Chriſt himſelfe will teach vsus in that ſpeach of his vntounto his Diſciples, which reioyced ſo; becauſe the Diuels were ſubdued vnderunder them, and caſt out by them: Nay rather (ſaith our Sauior) Reioyce that your names are written in the Booke of Life: But (alas) what doe moſt men and women reioyce in? To be the ſon of a rich man, a gentleman, or nobleman; to hauehave gold and ſiluer, lands and liuings: This makes men to beare themſelues aloft. But who is he that reioyceth in this? That hee is the ſon of God, that his name is written in the Booke of Life? Well, thus hauing obſerued from the word of God, what is meant by this Booke of Life; namely, the eternall decree of Gods election; here-hence commeth two weightie poynts to be conſidered of vsus: Firſt, whether it bee poſſible for the child of God to know whether his name be written in the Booke of Life, or no. Secondly, if it be poſſible, then by what meanes we may attaine to this knowledge, to be aſſured that our names be in Heauen: that wee are in the number of thoſe that ſhall be ſaued. And theſe are two moſt neceſſary & fruitfull points to be knowne of all Chriſtians.
Whether it be poſſible for the childe of God to know whether his name be written in this booke of Life.Concerning the firſt point, whether it bee poſſible for the child of God to know whether his name be written in the book of Life, or not. The Church of Rome holdes, That no man can certainely know whether he be the childe of God, or no. Nay, they condemne this as a foule fault, and bolde preſumption, for any man to be certainly perſwaded of this, That hee is the child of God, elected in Chriſt Ieſu; and that his name is written in the Booke of Life. They ſay, wee are to hope well, &c. But (alas) ſhall we venture the ſaluation of our ſoules vponupon an vncertaine hope? No, we muſt go further, and labour to be aſſured, and certainly perſwaded of this, That our Names are written in the book of Life: and that a true Chriſtian, man or woman, may aſſuredly be perſwaded, & certainely know, that he is the childe of God, it is out of queſtion, if we will beleeue the holy-ghoſt. Elſe why ſhould S. Peter will vsus to giuegive all diligence to make our Election ſure? 2 Pet. 1.10 Iob 19. Rom. 8.16. Luke 10.And why did our Sauiour bid his Diſciples Reioyce that their Names were written in the booke of Life, if they could not know it? Againe, eueryevery Article of our Chriſtian faith doeth confirme the trueth of this Doctrine; where we are taught to beleeue the Catholique Church; and that wee are of the number of Gods people. We beleeue the pardon of our ſinnes, and that wee ſhall hauehave life euerlaſting.
Now then you ſee how little we are beholden to the Church of Rome, who hold, that we may not be certainely perſwaded of our ſaluation; but muſt onelie hope well. Did not Iob know it? Did not Paul know it?Iob 19. Rom. 8.38 Then let no man doubt of this, but the children of God may, and doe know it, that they ſhalbe ſaued. And therfore let vsus beleeue this doctrine, and embrace it: And withall, let vsus abhorre the doctrine of the Church of Rome, which is contrary to the Goſpel of Ieſus Chriſt. For what comfort can any Chriſtian hauehave, till hee know that he is the childe of God? How ſhould wee dare to call vponupon God? How can we be at peace in our Soules? With what comfort can we performe obedience vntounto GOD, except we finde this bleſſed perſwaſion, that our names are in this book; and that wee be the Elect and choſen of God?
Secondly, now the next queſtion is, How any man or woman may come to this certayne knowledge, whether his name be written in this Booke, whether he be the childe of God, or not? And this you ſee is a matter of no ſmall moment, but a moſt weightie matter, and concernes our ſoules very narrowly; and therefore let vsus be carefull to liſten vntounto it, that we be able to prooue our ſelues, whether we be in the faith, or not, whether we be the ſonnes of God, or nor; and ſo whether we ſhall be ſaued, or not. O, it is matter of endleſſe comfort to Gods children, when they know this, that they be the children of God; and that eternall Life belongs vntounto them, it will ſtirre them vp to obey GOD with ioy and cheerefulneſſe, in all his Commandements.
By what means we may come vntounto this knowlege.Now there be two wayes to know it; One is by aſcending into heauen, into the priuy councell of God. But this is a dangerous way, and not to be attempted of any man, becauſe Secret things belong to God: Exod. 29.but things reuealed to vsus, and our children: And his wayes are paſt finding out. And therefore this way no man muſt dare to aſſay.
Beſides this, there is yet an other way to know whether our names be written in the Booke of life; and that is by deſcending into our ſelues; and by certaine markes and teſtimonies in our owne hearts, to prooue that we are in the number of Gods Elect. For as Salomon ſaith,Pro. 27.19 As water ſheweth face to face: Euen ſo the heart ſheweth man to man. Euen as a glaſſe ſheweth what a mans face is: ſo will a mans heart and conſcience ſhew what man is in the ſight of God. Then, if you would now know whether your names be written in the Booke of Life; that is, whether you bee the elect of God, and heires of eternall Life; you muſt now enter into your owne ſoules,2 Cor. 13 proue your ſelues, and you ſhal certainly know whether you ſhall bee ſaued or damned. For if thou finde in thee the true marks and notes of Gods childrē, thou needeſt not feare but that thy name is in this Booke, and thou ſhalt certainely be ſaued. But as for wicked and prophane men and women, that make no conſcience of ſinne, they ſhall in ſpite of their teeth, vponupon this examination, ſing the dolefull tune, I am a damned ſinner, I know not what will become of my poore ſoule at the day of Iudgement: And therefore that we might in ſome meaſure trie our ſelues, and iudge whether we be in this booke, and ſo ſhall be ſaued; let vsus ſearch out of the holie word of God, ſome certaine marks of Gods children. The firſt marke whereby we may know whether we be elect or not, is the inward teſtimony and witneſſe of Gods ſpirit,Rom. 8.15 Yee hauehave not receiued the ſpirit of bondage to feare againe; but ye hauehave, &c. Whereby Saint Paul tells vsus, that wicked and vngodly ſinners, which hauehave not the ſpirit of God to guide them, but liue in ſinne; they hauehave onelie the ſpirit of Bondage, they hauehave no tru peace in their ſouls: but they that be the children of God, hauehave the Spirit of Adoption, who ſeales vntounto our harts the aſſurance of our adoption, and election, and doth make it knowne vntounto vsus, that we are the Sonnes of God: For his Spirit doth witneſſe to our ſpirits, that we are the Sonnes of God, Romans 8.16.
And, that no man might deceiue himſelfe, and thinke hee hath the teſtimonie of GODS Spirit, when hee hath it not: Saint Paul giueth vsus two moſt excellent notes, to know whether wee hauehave the teſtimonie of GODS Spirit, yea, or not. It maketh vsus crie, Abba, Father. Where the Spirit of God doth witneſſe to any mans ſoule that hee is the childe of God; It will make him cry to God, and euen fill heauen and earth, with crying and teares, with ſobbes and ſighes for the pardon of his ſins. And hee which hath not this in him, that hee cannot crie vntounto GOD for pardon of his ſinnes; this man can not truely aſſure himſelfe that hee is the Childe of God. And though men ſay, they hope to be ſaued, yet (alas) they ſeldome or neuer pray vntounto God for the pardon of their ſinnes.
Secondly, if wee finde the teſtimony of GODS Spirit, that wee are the children of God; It will make vsus, not onelyonly, to bee earneſt with God for pardon of our ſinnes, but it will make vsus cry, Abba, Father, that is, it will make vsus beare the tender affection of a duetifull childe, ſo as we ſhall be afraide to offend ſo louing a Father. And therefore all thoſe which delight in ſinne, and are not afrayde to offend GOD: Surely, they can find no aſſurance, that they be the children of God. And therefore, if you deſire to be aſſured that the names be in this Booke; labour to finde this teſtimony of Gods Spirit, to witneſſe vntounto your Soules, that you belong vntounto God, and labour to be earneſt in prayer vntounto God, for that is a ſpeciall worke of Gods Spirit.1. Cor. 2.12 The ſecond means whereby we may know, whether our names be written in the Booke of Life; is by the word of GOD. For, the word of God tells vsus, whoſoeuer beleeueth in Chriſt Ieſu, ſhall be ſaued. But the childe of God hearing this promiſe opened and applied, by the Miniſterie of Gods word, is able to ſay, I beleeue; and am able to apply this promiſe to my ſelfe: For no man hath faith, but hee knoweth that hee hath it, and therefore can ſay, ſeeing I beleeue with all my heart, ſurely I know I ſhall be ſaued.
Thirdly, beſides the bleſſed teſtimony of Gods Spirit, which cannot deceiue, and the witnes of the word of GOD; wee may know our election by the fruits, and effects thereof. As wee ſay a man is aliue, ſo long as we ſee him breathe; and can iudge of the Tree by the fruits: Euen ſo, by the effects of Election, wee may know whether our names be in the Booke of Life, or not. Now the fruites of Election bee ſet downe by the Holie-Ghoſt, that al men might be able to examine and try themſelues, and know whether they bee ordayned to Life, or not: Whom GOD predeſtinated, Rom. 8.30them alſo hee Called, and whom he Called, them alſo he Iuſtified, and whom hee Iuſtified, them alſo he Glorified.
Where we may beholde the markes of our Election. For all that be elected to Life Eternall, and bee written in this Booke; they are firſt called; ſecondly iuſtified; and thirdly, ſanctified. So then, if you would know whether you bee elected to life, looke to theſe three effects of Election. Art thou Called? art thou Iuſtified? art thou ſanctified? Then ſure thou art Elected: But if thou haſt not theſe three, then canſt thou not aſſure thy ſelfe of thy ſaluation.
So then, the firſt fruite of our Election is our effectuall Calling, when as God doth, by the Preaching of the Goſpell, call vsus out of the world; from our olde ſinnes, to be of the number of his people, to liue as his children. Againe, when a man cometh to the preaching of the Word, to ſee his ſinnes, and Gods anger for them; diſlikes them, is grieued for them, bewailes them, and begs the pardon for them, and beginnes to become a new man; to beleeue in Chriſt Ieſu, to ſeeke after Gods Kingdome: Hee which findeth this effectuall calling in him, he may aſſure his Soule, that hee is Predeſtinated to Eternall Life. But wee muſt take heed that wee deceiue not our ſelues with an outward calling, for our Sauiour ſaith;Mat. 22. Many are called, but few are choſen. Many doe heare the word of God with the eare: but wee muſt labour to finde the Spirit of God to preach vntounto our Soules; to applie the Word to our conſcience, to beleeue it, and to obey it. And therefore, they which liue in their old ſinnes, as blind, ignorant, and prophane, as euer before; (alas) how can they thinke to be ſaued? ſeeing God chooſes none, or ſaues not any, but whom he calles effectually by the Goſpel,2 Theſſ. 2.13. and ſeuers from the reſt of the world.
Secondly, the fruit of Election is Iuſtification: For whom he predeſtinated, them hee called: So then heere is an other token and marke, to know whether we be Elected, namely, or Iuſtified. Now, this is an eſpeciall grace of God, to iuſtifie a poore ſinner that muſt be ſaued. And whoſoeuer is not iuſtified, cannot be ſaued. Iuſtification hath two parts. Firſt, the pardon of ſinne: ſecondly, the imputation of Chriſts righteouſneſſe; For that, before a man can be iuſtified, hee muſt repent him of his ſinnes, know them, hate them, and begge the pardon of them; and then Chriſt Ieſus will aſſure vsus of the pardon of them. And therefore, if wee would know whether we be iuſtified, or not, we muſt looke whether we hauehave truely repented, yea and hauehave beene truely humbled for our ſinnes, and got the pardon of them all. Secondly, that wee may bee truely iuſtified, wee muſt hauehave a true faith in Chriſt Ieſus; to lay hold vponupon him, to be perſwaded and aſſured in our ſoules, that Chriſt died for me, ſhed his Bloud for me, obeyed the Law for me, and will couer all my ſinnes in his Righteouſnes. So then, marke the concluſion; where there is repentance, there is Remiſſion of ſinnes; where there is remiſſion of ſins, there is iuſtification; and where there is iuſtification, there is ſaluation. And on the contrarie parts; where there is no repentance, there is no remiſſion of ſinnes; where there is no remiſſion of ſinnes, there is no iuſtification; and where there is no iuſtification, there is no ſaluation. O then what ſhall become of thoſe that liue in ſin, delight in ſin, and neuer (as yet) could ſhed one teare for their manifold and grieuous ſinnes? They can not finde themſelues to bee iuſtified; they can hauehave no pardon of their ſinnes, ſo long as they liue in ſin. And therefore if you would knovv vvhether you ſhall be ſaued, or not: labour firſt of all to repent, and to lay hold on Chriſt by Fayth, that ſo he may couer your ſins in his Bloud.
Thirdly, fruite of Election is ſanctified. And this is a ſpeciall marke of Gods childe,2 The. 2.13 to be regenerate, to be ſanctified. Now Sanctification ſtandeth in two parts: firſt, they muſt dye vntounto ſinne: ſecondly, they muſt riſe to righteouſneſſe. And would you know then aſſuredly, whether your names are written in the Booke of Life? Looke vntounto your ſoules. If you finde that you are ſanctified, if you hate your olde ſinnes, and filthie wayes; if you louelove Vertues, and delight in all holy dueties; then it is a certaine token that ye belong vntounto God.Rom. 8.1. For there is no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt. But if you do ſauour the things of the fleſh; lying in the old ſins, Drunkenneſſe, &c. why then certainely, you hauehave no aſſurance of ſaluation, that you can be ſaued: But you muſt needes ſing this dolefull Song, I know not what ſhall become of my poore Soule, whether I ſhall be ſaued or damned. Nay, if thou liue in ſinne, thou maiſt iuſtly feare that thou art a firebrand of hell: For, Hee that is borne of God, ſinneth not: 1. Ioh. 5.18. And, Let eueryevery one that calles on the name of the Lord, depart from iniquity, 2. Tim. 2. Thus to die to ſin, and to liue to righteouſnes, is a ſure token that wee belong to God. Thus you ſee, how a man may come to know, whether hee be elected, and ordayned to Life, or not. Now let vsus ſee what vſe ariſeth hence.
Seeing God hath his Booke Vſe 1 of Life, in which be written the names of all thoſe that ſhall bee ſaued, and none of them ſhall periſh: hence cometh endleſſe comfort to all Gods children: If thou finde that thou art the childe of God, and thy name is written in Heauen, nothing can hurt thee, though thou bee poore, ſicke, full of ſores, in priſon, hated, contemned; yet nothing can hurt thee. Nay, all the gates of Hell can not preuaile againſt thee: no damnation can come vntounto thee. For if God do iuſtifie, who can condemne? for at the day of Iudgement, Chriſt Ieſus will take his Booke of Life, and call vsus, ſaying; Come yee bleſſed: So as we ſhall not come to a terrible Iudgement, but to a louing Sauiour.
Secondly, ſeeing that it is ſo excellent a thing to hauehave our names written in this Booke; to be the Elect childe of God; we ſhould labour for this aboue all things in the world; for without this, wee can hauehave no ſound comfort, either in life or death. And therefore our Sauior bids vsus in the tenth of Luke, not to boaſt our ſelues of Learning, of Wiſedome, of Riches: whereas theſe are but vaine things; but to reioyce that our names bee written in heauen.
Thirdly, ſeeing God hath a Booke of Life, and hath written downe the very names of eueryevery man and woman, that ſhall be ſaued; and hath withall ſhewed vsus the way that leads vntounto Life; and vnleſſe we walk in this way, we can not come vntounto it: It is our wiſedome to walke in the way that leades to Life, in the practiſe of Godlineſſe. VVee are Veſſelles of Honour, and therefore muſt liue ſoberly, iuſtly, and godly, in this preſent world. Not to ſerue ſinne, and Sathan any longer: But as the redeemed of the Lord, to walke from ſtrength to ſtrength, from vertue to vertue, from one degree of Perfection to an other: till at length wee appeare before the Lord, and there to reape the happie revvard; euen the ful fruition of all happineſſe, and that for euermore.
The end of the ſecond Sermon.