A Staff of Comfort to Stay the Weak, Part 6
Of one (as it were) wholly cast downe with the sight of sin, & refusing comforts.
Ob. I Am none of Christs: offer me no comfort.
Answ. Thou art baptised, and as many as hauehave beene baptised into Christ, hauehave put on Christ, Galat. 3.27.
Obiect. I am in sin, and brought forth in iniquity.
Answ. So was zealous Dauid, Psal. 51. Yet a man after the Lords owne heart, 1. Sam. 13.14. So as his naturall corruption, did not hinder the worke of grace.
Obiect. I am wrapped in Adams transgression, which I may mourne for, but not wipe away by repentance.
Answ. As by the offence of one, iudgement came vponupon all to condemnation; euen so by the righteousnesse of one, the free gift came vponupon all men, vntounto iustification of life, Rom. 5.18. For as by one mans disobedience,As by the first Adam we are condemned: so by the second Adam we are saued many were made sinners: so by the obedience of one, many shall bee made righteous, Vers. 19. As in Adam all dye, euen so in Christ shall all be made aliue, 1. Cor. 15.22. Therefore as thou doest looke vponupon the first Adam, a liuing soule, the man by whō came death: so behold (with comfort) the second Adam, the quickning spirit, the man by whom commeth the resurrection of the dead, Vers. 20.45.
Obiect. I hauehave giuen my selfe to the diuell.
Answ. But yee are not your owne (saith the Apostle) yee are bought with a price. 1. Corinth. 6.19.20. Therefore canst thou not giuegive thy selfe vntounto him, being none of thine owne to giuegive.
Obiect. I neede not giuegive my selfe to him, for I am his already by nature.
Answ. But by faith in Christ wee are all the children of God, Gal. 3.26. For as many as doe receiue him, to them he giueth power to become the sonnes of God, euen to them that beleeue on his name, Ioh. 1.12.
Obiect. Though I should beleeue in Christ, and doe his will, I cannot thinke either my estate, or any other mans, to be any whit better, or our selues to be in any more happy case, then men are (or may be perhaps) by wit, education, learning, or otherwise.
Answ. Verily,Without new birth, no saluation. except a man be borne from aboue, of water and of the spirit, he cannot see the kingdome of God, nor enter thereinto. Ioh. 3.3.5. But Christ Iesus hath made vsus Saints by calling, 1. Cor. 2. Kings and Priests vntounto God his father, Reuel. 1.6. Yea, if we doe what hee commandeth vsus, hee will call vsus his friends, and we shall bee accounted as his brethren and sisters, Mark. 3.34.35. And shall be fellow-heires with him in the life to come, Rom. 8.17. Gal. 4.7.
Obiect. I cannot get out of the hands of Satan, hee is the strong man, able to keepe possession, who ruleth in all that are his, (as a Prince) and are taken captiue by him at his will.Ephes. 2.1. 2. Tim. 2.26.
Satā can not hold such, as be the Lord Christs.Answ. Christ Iesus is able to cast him out, he is the stronger, Luke 11.22. Who came to destroy his works, Heb. 2.14. And to assure vsus hereof, God hath couenanted and sworne by an oath, to deliuer his out of the hands of their enemies, to serue him without feare, in holinesse and righteousnes, all the dayes of their life, Luk. 1.73.74.75.
Obiect. I finde in my selfe no power to doe, nay, not to will any thing that is good.
Answ. It is God that worketh both to will, and to doe, Phil. 2.13.
Obiect. But I am not worthy, that GOD should worke any good desire, or any grace of godly practise in me: I cannot therefore see, vponupon what ground I may expect it, or looke to become one of his.
Answ. God doth vsus good of his owne good pleasure. Deut. 7.7.8. & 9.5. Psal. 44.3. Ezech. 36.32God worketh in vsus the will and deed, of his owne good pleasure, Phil. 2.13. It hath pleased him to make vsus his people, 1. Sam. 12.22. In Christ hath hee chosen vsus, before the foundation of the world, hauing predestinated vsus vntounto the adoption of children, by Christ Iesus vntounto himselfe, according to the good pleasure of his will, Ephes. 1.4.5.9.
Obiect. Oh, I am a sinner.
Answ. Christ Iesus hath power to forgiue sins,Christ Iesus is he that saueth sinners. Luk. 5.24. Hee came to call sinners, Vers. 32. and to saue sinners, 1. Tim. 1.15. And shall saue his people from their sinnes, Matth. 1.21.
Obiect. But God is angry with vsus for our sinnes.
God is well pleased in Christ. Psal. 103.9.Answ. But yet in Christ is he well pleased, Matth. 3.17. And who is like our God, who pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of his people? Hee retaineth not his anger for euer; because he delighteth in mercy, hee will hauehave compassion, Mich. 7.18.19.
Obiect. God is of an euerlasting remembrance; & therefore hee cannot forget my sins, neither will hee blot them out.
Answ. God blotteth out of his remembrance the sinnes of his people.I hauehave (saith the Lord) blotted out, as a thicke cloud, thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sinnes, for I hauehave redeemed thee, Esa. 44.22. Hee will put them out of his remembrance, Ezech. 33.16. Cast them into the depths of the sea, Mich. 7.19. And remember them no more, Hebrewes, 8.12. & 10.17. Yea, though thy iniquities should bee many, and thy sinne sought for, they shall not bee found, because hee hath pardoned them, Ierem. 50.20.
Obiect. God is a iust and terrible God.
Answ. But hee is also full of compassion,God as he is iust, so mercifull. and gracious, the Lord is good and ready to forgiue, Psal. 86.5.15.
Obiect. But hee is not so to eueryevery one.
God as he is iust, so mercifull.Answ. He is plenteous in mercy, and good to all that call vponupon him, Psal. 86.5. & 145.9.18.
Obiect. I hauehave liued, and so long continued a lewd and bad course, that it is in vaine to looke for mercy.
When wee doe repent, God will forgiue. Esa. 57.15.16.Answ. Let the wicked (saith the Prophet) forsake his way, and the vnrighteous man his thoughts, and let him returne to the Lord, and he will hauehave mercy vponupon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon, Esa. 55.7. And spare them as a man spareth his owne sonne, Mal. 3.17. As I liue (saith the Lord), I hauehave no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that he turne from his way and liue; and if hee turne, he shall not fall by his wickednesse, in the day that he turneth, he shall surely liue, and not die, Ezech. 33.11.12.15. & 18.21. For hee doth not afflict willingly, nor grieue the children of men. Lam. 3.33.
Obiect. Though God be mercifull, yet must also his iustice bee satisfied; which neither I, nor any other man can doe: there is none therefore to worke my peace with him.It is Christ Iesus, that maketh peace betweene God and vsus.
Answ. If any man sin, we hauehave an aduocate with the father, Iesus Christ the righteous,It is Christ Iesus that makes peace betweene God and vsus. and hee is the propitiation for our sinnes, 1. Ioh. 2.1. Through whom wee hauehave peace with God by faith, Rom. 5.1. By whose death we are reconciled vntounto God, and hauehave receiued the attonement, Vers. 10.11. Yea I, euen I am he (saith the Lord) that blotteth out thy transgressions for my owne sake, and wil not remember thy sins, Esa. 43.25.
Obiect. I am vnderunder the Law.
Christ redeemeth vsus from vnderunder the Law.Answ. God hath sent forth his Sonne, made of a woman; made vnderunder the Law: to redeeme them that were vnderunder the Law, that we might receiue the adoption of sonnes, Gal. 4.4.5.
Obiect. But the Law is of force to condemne, and accurseth all that obey it not, and doe not obserue and keep all things therein contained, which I can not do, and therfore my sinne and iudgement remaineth, and I am accursed.
Answ. Christ deliuereth vsus from the curse of the Law.Christ hath redeemed vsus from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for vsus, Gal. 3.13. an offering for sinne, Esa. 53.10. VponUpon whom the Lord layed the iniquity of vsus all, Vers. 6. Hee was wounded for our transgressions, hee was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was vponupon him, and with his stripes were wee healed, Vers. 5. Therefore to such as are in Christ Iesus,Rom. 8.1. there is no condemnation: for hee doth iustifie, who then can condemne? Verse. 33.34.
Obiect. Oh, but all sinners are not alike, nor all sinnes: mine are as scarlet, and red as crimson.
Answ. Though your sinnes bee as scarlet (saith the Lord), they shall bee as white as snow: though they be red (like crimson), they shall be as wooll, Esa. 1.18.
Obiect. Ah, but I hauehave sinned horribly, in damnable idolatry, in filthy fornication, beastly adultery, in effeminatenesse, Sodomitry, theft, couetousnes, and drunkennes; I hauehave beene a railer, and an extortioner, yea what not?
Answ. Such were some of the Corinthians,No sin damnable to the truly repentant person. yet being truly penitent and called, they were washed, sanctified, and iustified, in the name of the Lord Iesus, & by the spirit of our God. 1. Cor. 6.11. Yea, the bloud of Christ clenseth vsus of all our sinnes, 1. Ioh. 1.7.8.
Obiect. Yea, it might thus fall out well to them, being onelyonly offenders, (as ignorant heathen) against the morall Law, and Law of nature: but I was trained vp in the Church of God; yet most wickedly, hauehave I voluntarily beene a diuellish informer against the godly, getting authority to imprison them, and to put them to death, and so hauehave I indeed done, and therefore am I a bloudy and damned persecutor.
Bloudy persecutors, are not without hope of mercy, if they repent and beleeue,Answ. Manasses was religiously brought vp, yet he fell to wickednesse, and did much euill in the sight of the Lord, and shed much innocent bloud in Ierusalem, 2. King. 21.16. Yet when hee besought the Lord, and humbled himself greatly before him, and prayed vntounto him, hee was intreated of him, and hee heard his supplication, 2. Chron. 33.12.13. Saint Paul was also a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an oppressour of the Saints, 1. Tim. 1.13. Breathing out (as a mad man) threatnings and slaughter, Act. 9.1. Voluntarily seeking & getting authority of the high Priest, Vers. 2. To binde all that called vponupon the name of Christ, Verse 14. Hee cast many of them into prison; and when they were put to death, he gaue his sentence, yea hee compelled them to blaspheme, Chap. 26.10.11. Yet was he receiued to mercy, and Christ Iesus counted him faithfull afterwards, and put him in seruice, 1. Tim. 2.12.13.
Obiect. Though Saint Paul was pardoned, yet I can not be pardoned; for hee sinned in zeale, of ignorance, through vnbeliefe, and was otherwise strict of life in his profession: but I professed Christ, and yet hauehave done as much as euer Saint Paul did, and liued most filthily, which hee neuer did; therefore my sinne is impardonable, which I hauehave done against Christ, & he wil neuer forgiue it me.
Answ. Whosoeuer speaketh a word against the Sonne of man,Christ excludeth none from hope of mercy, that doe repent & beleeue, but such as sinne against the holy Ghost. it shall bee forgiuen him, Matt. 12.32. Yea all sinnes shall bee forgiuen to the sonnes of men, and blasphemies wherewith soeuer they shal blaspheme, Mark. 3.28. For no sinne is impardonable to the truely penitent, Ezech. 18.21.22. And the Lord excludeth none from mercy, but such as sinne against the holy Ghost, Matth. 12.31.
Obiect. Alas, alas, woe is me, I am then damned: for I feare that I hauehave sinned against the holy Ghost.
Answ. They that feare and are sorry for sinne, hauehave not sinned against the holy Ghost.That thou doest feare and grieue, through feare that thou hast committed it, is an infallible argument, that thou hast not committed it: for such as once sinne this sin, hauehave no feare nor contrition of heart for sinning, for they cannot possibly repent. Againe, it is not enough to make thee guilty of this; because thou hast been, and art yet one professing Christ, and hast persecuted others also professing him: But there must bee the illumination of the spirit, and thou must hauehave tasted of the good gift of God,Heb. 6.5.6. & 10.29. Matth. 12.31 which many professing him, (only by a formall education) neuer come to, and fall to persecute maliciously that knowne truth, despiting the spirit of grace, making a mocke of Christ. Now thou holdest a profession of Christ, and desirest to be reconciled vntounto God; art sorry also that thou hast beene so wicked, and lamentest they case, fearing to bee guilty of this sin: all which (most certainely) may assure thee, that thou hast not sinned this sinne, against the holy Ghost.
Obiect. Mine is a legall repentance, like that in Iudas, Matth. 27. Not that godly sorrow which the Apostle speaketh of, 2. Cor. 7.10. Which I hauehave not, nor can not yet attaine vntounto.
Answ. Behold,Repentance is Gods gift, and is promised to all that be his. GOD hath exalted Iesus Christ with his right hand, both to giuegive repentance to Israel, and also forgiuenesse of sinnes, Acts 5.31. Yea the Lord hath promised to worke repentance, and the grace of conuersion in all his, Ezech, 36.25.26.27. Therfore pray with Dauid, Create in me a cleane heart, O God, and renue a right spirit within mee, Psalme 51.10.
Obiect. But I want the Spirit of God, to helpe mee to pray.
Answ. God will giuegive his holy spirit vntounto his people.The Father will giuegive the holy Ghost to them that desire him, Luke 11.13. And Christ hath promised also to send him from the Father, Iohn 15.26. And it is a part of the couenant made with his people, to put his spirit into them, Ezech. 36.27.
Obiect. It is too great a request to aske this (of my selfe) at Gods hands; if Christ would doe it for mee, then should I hauehave hope, otherwise I thinke my prayer but vaine.
Answ. Heare then for thy comfort: I will (saith our Sauiour) pray the Father, and hee will giuegive you the Comforter, that hee may abide with you for euer, Ioh. 14.16.
Obiect. Ah, for all this, I am afraide to goe to God, because of my sinnes, for hee saith: the foolish shall not stand in his sight, hee hateth all them that worke iniquity, and telleth them that hee will not heare them, that their sinnes hauehave made a separation betweene him and them.
Answ. Not the presumptuous sinners, but the truely penitent, are inuited to come vntounto Christ.The Lord speaketh to such as are not repentant, but liue in their sinnes, and yet presumptuously come vntounto him, and thinke to be heard. But to other that be sorry for their sinnes, and feele the heauie burthen of them, hee most louingly inuiteth to come vntounto him, saying; Come vn-mee all yee, that are wearie and heauie laden, and I will ease you, Matth. 11.28. Beleeue in Christ, and thou hast peace with God, Rom. 5.1. And hast receiued by him the attonement, Rom. 5.11. Who is our high Priest making intercession, Rom. 8.34. Feeling our infirmities; and therfore maiest thou, and euen all of vsus, goe boldly to the throne of grace, that wee may receiue mercy, and finde grace to helpe in time of neede, Heb. 4.15.16.
Obiect. Christ is man, and so may inuite vsus; but God doth not will me, or any such sinfull wretches to come vntounto him.
Answ. Yea God doth beseech vsus, that wee would bee reconciled vntounto him, 2. Cor. 5.20.
Obiect. But God is a most righteous God, hating wickednesse: I a lewde and sinfull caitiffe, voide of all righteousnesse: there can verily then bee no reconciliation, except there were a mediatour betweene vsus.
Answ. Christ Iesus is mediatour betweene God and vsus.There is one God, and one mediatour betweene God and man, which is the man Iesus Christ, 1. Tim. 2.5. Who is made sinne for vsus, which knew no sinne, that wee might bee made the righteousnesse of God in him. 2. Cor. 5.21. He is our righteousnesse, Ier. 23.6. Our wisedome, holinesse, and redemption, 1. Cor. 1.30. And hee hath by his bloud clensed vsus of all our sinnes, 1. Ioh. 1.7.
Obiect. This were no smal comfort and incouragement to goe to God, if Christ be indeede a sufficient Sauiour, and able to saue vsus.
Christ Iesus is perfectly able to saue vsus.Answ. For this, heare what the Apostle saith, hee is able to saue them (to the vttermost), that come vntounto God by him, seeing hee euer liueth to make intercession for them: For he is the high Priest for vsus; holy, harmelesse, vndefiled, sepated from sinners, and made higher than the heauens, He. 7.25.26. And is set on the right hand of the throne, of the maiesty of God, Heb. 8.1. Rom. 8.34. Hauing obtained eternall redemption for vsus, Heb. 9.12.
Obiect. The Apostle was a Iew, and writeth here thus vntounto the Hebrewes (a separated nation from all the world), I being no Hebrew, may hauehave no benefit by Christs death.
Answ. Iesus was to die,Christ Iesus was to dye for Gentiles, as well as Iewes. not for that nation onelyonly, but also that he should gather together in one, the children of God that were scattered abroade, Iohn 11.52.
Obiect. Alas, that I knew not this before now, it is too late: death is seazing vponupon mee: and I feare the time too short to call to God for mercy, and to repent.
Answ. No time too late to repent heere: if it be (indeed) vnfained repentance.The good theefe vponupon the Crosse, had but a little time: yet when hee confessed his sinnes, condemned himselfe for the same, acknowledged his inflicted punishment iustly deserued, reprouing his fellow-cōpanion in euill, professing his faith in Christ, and crauing merciemercy at his hands, had presently a blessed promise of life, that hee should (euen that day) bee with the Lord Iesus Christ in Paradise, Luk. 23.42.43.
Obiect. Yet one thing troubles mee very much, I see many that say, Christ is their Sauiour, and that God is mercifull, and hath forgiuen them their sinnes, and yet hauehave had the heauie rodde of God vponupon them for all that: therefore in such a case it is but a conceit to thinke we are pardoned.
Answ. Though the Lord doe afflict them,The godly may be pardoned, and yet chastised. yet it is not a conceit to bee perswaded of the pardon of their sinnes: for the Psalmist saith, Thou wast a God that forgauest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inuentions, Psal. 99.8. And Nathan plainely tells Dauid, that his sinne was pardoned, and yet because by his deede, hee had caused the enemies of God to blaspheme, his childe did die, and afterwards in a diuers manner was he himselfe afflicted, 2. Samuel 12.11.13.14.
Obiect. But God perhaps, when he hath forgiuen, may call backe his mercy, and not shew constantly his mercy according to his Word.
The saluation of the elect, is an euerlasting saluation.Answ. With the father of lights there is no variablenesse, nor shadow of turning, Iam. 1.17. The Lord is good, his mercy is euerlasting, and his truth endureth to all generations, Psa. 100.5. & 118.1.29. Israel shall bee saued in the Lord, with an euerlasting saluation: Yee shall not (saith the Prophet) bee ashamed nor confounded, world without end, Esa. 45.17. The heauens shall vanish away like smoake (saith the Lord), and the earth shall waxe old, like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my saluation shall bee for euer, and my righteousnesse shal not be abolished, Esa. 51.6.8. Matth. 24.35.