SPIRITVALL INCREASE: OR, Conclusions for pacifying the perplexed Conscience of the weak Christian. To him that hath shall be given. LONDON, Printed by NICHOLAS OKES, for William Lee, and are to be sold at his shop in Fleet street, at the sign of the golden Buck, near Sergeant's Inn. 1621. ❧ TO THE GODLY, AND ever-honored Lady, Anna, Lady Caluart, wife to the right Hon: Sir George Caluart, Knight, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries, and of the most honourable privy Council. MADAM: AS Piety and Righteousness are two noble virtues of the Regenerate part of the soul, so Humility and Love are the never-perishing fruit of such ever-blessed trees. The eminency of these in your Honour, hath encouraged me (but alas what am I?) to entreat your Honour to shelter this unpolished Treatise, under the shadow of your Honour's Patrociny. In it your Honour may find selected medicines out of Scripture, and the godly and learned of our time, Mr. Hooker. for the restoring of the Christian his weak conscience: Mr. Deering. not embellished with deceitful cavillations of humane wisdom, but arrayed with the Euidency, Nakedness and Simplicity of truth. In it your Honour may find (I say) the wavering faith confirmed, not with cordials of foolish empiriacks, but with the al-curing Balm of Gilead, from Gods Zion; which dignifieth all men's actions here, & crowneth them in Christ hereafter. Thus (Madam) wishing eternal continuance of your Honours good and happy beginnings, ever seconded with the favour of God in Christ, I commit your Honour to him, who is able to do above all we ask or think. Your Honour's remembrancer at the Throne of Grace, B. R. The Contents of this Book. A ASsurance of the perpetuity of faith. fol. 13. Con. 9 & fol. 21. Con. 13. & fol. 33. Con. 18. & fol. 38. Con. 20. & fol. 66. Con. 32. The true use of afflictions. fol. 72. Con. 35. C Christ dwelleth in us by faith. fo. 30. Con. 17, & fo. 75. Con. 36. Christ's obedience is ours. fol 99 Con. 46. To know the sufferings of Christ is our greatest consolation. fol. 184. Con. 75. Confession of sin a ready way to salvation. fol. 179. Con. 73. The benefits of God's chastisements. fol. 196. D Doubtfulness accompanies our salvation. fol. 4. Con. 3. & fol. 55. Con. 27. The benefit of desertion. fol. 7. Con. 5. Degrees of faith. fol. 23. Con. 14. Man must not depend on himself. fol. 89. Con. 41. Doubting accompanies faith. fol. 147. Con. 62. E Great difference of errors. fol. 83. Con. 39 Experience of God is goodness, strength and faith. fol. 163. Con. 68 F The Christian is faithful in weakness. fol. 2. Con. 2. & fol. 58. Con. 28. How faith and fear be in a Christian. fol. 51. Con. 26. The foundation of faith is Christ. fol. 59 Con. 29. Difference of faith, fol. 62. Con. 30. Faith sufficient to apprehend righteousness in Christ. fol. 115. Con. 51. Death not to be feared. fol. 198. G God not changeable. fol. 70. Con. 34. God will not forsake us. fol. 79. Con 38. God offereth assurance of his favour, in the first entrance to his service. fol. 91. con. 42. The Elect are Gods free gift to Christ. fol. 182. con. 74. H Hunger for Christ is a possession of him. fol. 1. con. 1. A heart to hear, the gift of God. fol 11. Con. 8. Hope and patience beareth the cross. fol. 97. Con. 45. L Faith the fountain of our love to God. fol. 16. Con. 11. They live to God▪ who appear in themselves to be dead. fol. 76 con. 37. By the Law of faith God pardoneth sin fol. 105. con. 48. God will have them that walk in light, to feel what it is to sit in darkness. fol. 151. Con. 64. Excellent love appeared in Christ's sufferings. fol. 192. Con. 77. M God's mercy. fol. 47. Con. 24. Marks of our election. fol. 64. con. 31. & fol. 68 con. 33. Christ's merits most seen in our unworthiness. fol. 102. con. 47. Ordinary means must be used for the strengthening of faith. fol. 167. con. 70. O There is a remainder of original corruption, while we are here. fol. 112. con. 50. Our faith hath privy operations secret to us. fol. 154. con. 65. Preaching increaseth faith. fol. 9 con. 7. Particular apprehension. fol. 15. con. 10. Faith assures prayer. fol. 26. con. 15 & fol. 49 con. 25. Particular application requisite to salvation. fol. 95. con. ●4. R One righteousness here, & another in the world to come. fol. 43. con. 22. Remission of sin is justification before God. fol. 108. con. 49. S Salvation hangeth not upon any sufficiency in us. fol. 17. con. 12. & fol. 28. con. 16. & con. 23. The holy Spirit is given to the Elect. fol. 36. con. 19 & fo. 60. con. 29. No man void of sin. fol. 41. con. 21. Sanctification and justification ever go together. fol. 1●8. con. 52. The Serpent laboureth to pervert the simplicity of faith. fol. 156. con. ●6. We need not fear sin, for Christ hath abolished it. fol. 169. con. 71. T Trouble shall be rather matter of joy, then of displeasure. fol. 174. con. 72. V Weak assurance argueth weakness of faith. fol. 8. co. 6. Unbelief is natural to us. fol. 6. con. 4. Salvation not of our works. fol. 86. con. 40. & fol. 92. con. 43. By our union with Christ we are faultless before God. fol. 188. con. 76. Conclusions for pacifying the perplexed Conscience of the weak Christian. CONCLUSION 1. Hunger and thirst after righteousness and faith, is a sure possession of some measure of them. EXPLANATION. IF man be grieved for his unbelief, and wish, & strive that it may be otherwise; he hath the root of faith in him, from whence cometh this? but from a secret love and liking which he had of those things that are believed: no man can love things which in his own opinion are not▪ and if they think those things to be, which they show that they love, when they desire to believe them: then must it needs be, that by desiring to believe, they prove themselves true believers; for without faith no man thinketh that things believed are: This Argument all the subtlety of infemall powers will never be able to dissolve. CONCLUSION 2. Man may remain faithful in weakness, though weak in faith. EXPLANATION Such is our weak and weaning nature, that we have no sooner received grace, but we are ready to fall from it, for many and grievous downfalls have believers, yet still continue invincible though we find in ourselves a most willing heart to cleave inseparably to God, even so far, as to think unfeignedly with Peter, Lord I am ready to go with thee into prison and death: yet how soon and how easily, upon how small occasions, are we changed, if we be but a while let alone, and left unto ourselves, for the higher we flow, the nereer we are to an ebb, if men be respected as mere men, according to the wont course of their alterable inclination, without the heavenly support of the Spirit. CON. 3. The assurance of our salvation is many times accompanied with fears & doubts, which do perplex the soul of the most righteous. EXPLA. The true work of Faith, is, to assure us of God's love, and to enjoy that comfort, without let to cherish the same, and resist the contrary, but the weakness of our faith, and strength of corruption is such, that we do not always attain these, but as in the practice of good actions we sometime rejoice, and finding great infirmity in sinning, we mourn for them, (such change by turns are in the most regenerate) so in faith, wherein we receive a Testimony of God's love, there is a change, because we apprehend not this assurance immediately, as a principle, but by collection or conclusion: so the alteration is in apprehending of the premises whereupon the conclusion arose: for God's promises and effects of grace appear not always the same: yea, sometimes contrary. CON. 4. The seeds of unbelief are naturally sown in us, which ever casteth up objections. EXPLA. Our heart by nature is full of mire & dirt, which trouble the springs of the water of life, joh. 4.14. and therefore the days of faith are like the days of the year, some fair, some foul, some times in hell as it were, sometimes mounted to heaven, some times triumphing, sometimes striving, ever counting what it hath felt, striving to the same again, ever in fears running unto God, expecting better seeing a glimpse of light in darkness, of hope in despair, of comfort in distress, of life in death, of heaven in hell, and if they lose the sight hereof, yet recovered it soon again. CON. 5. Often God leaves us to ourselves, that we may take the faster hold when we return again. EXPLA. The taste of love is the sweeter, and the joy the larger, when we come to it out of the floods of tentations, For afflictions brings forth patience, Rom. 3.5. and patience experience, and experience hope; while by this means the love of God is spread abroad in our hearts, by the holy Spirit which is given us: the more trees on the tops of hills are blasted, the deeper root they take. CON. 6. True faith ever giveth assurance, which is the greater, by how much our faith is the greater, and weakness of our assurance argueth the weakness of faith. EXPLA. Even in the true faith, there Rom. 12.6. is degrees (for there is variety of gifts) which how little soever it be, Math. 17.20. yet is able to save us: that thou mayst learn what it is whereunto thou art to strive, Mar. 12.13 rejoicing in that thou hast atttained to already, and to pray for that which is behind, that God would increase thy faith: feeling of imperfections is the common frailty of all God's children: and faith, that it may be strong, must have time to grow, Col. 1.9. 2. Pet. 3.18 and haply seemeth weak to thee, when it is strong to God: Can. 4.12. For the joy of the faithful is as a garden enclosed. CON. 7. As faith is by hearing, so it is ordinarily increased Rom. 10. by preaching, whereunto the weak believer must attend. EXPLA. Act. 13.26 Eph 3.29. 2. Cor. 5.20. Preachers are Proclamators, which teach every believer their interest in the matters of salvation, which apprehend the promises upon conscience of their own repentance, Rom. 9.33 and faith: for where the seed shall grow, there it shall bring forth the fruit of faith, and it shall bring forth eternal life, for this assurance is given by the mouth of the Minister, by the word of Christ, which the faith of the hearer apprehendeth: the man warmeth the bed, & the bed warmeth him: every man hath not access to the privy seal, but by the imprint there of in wax, he knoweth it to be the privy Seal. CON. 8. It is the Lord that giveth a heart to hear the voice of Christ delivered by the minister out of the Gospel. EXPLA. My own heart could never minister comfort unto me, which is deceitful above all things, and is rather cast down with acknowledgement of misery, and therefore we must dicerne betwixt the true assurance of the heart, from carnal presumption, & floating fancies swimming in the head: for true assurance is accompanied with the Spirit of grace and prayer, Psal. 27.8. by which the heart is conformed to the voice of God, with joyful acceptance and affectionate desire of that which is uttered thereby, which is the fruit of the spirit of adoption, Zach. 13 9 Mat. 9.23. Ps. 40.7.8. which beareth witness unto our spirit, that we are the sons of God, and beareth record that God hath given us eternal life, for he is God that doth neitherly nor change whose foundation is sure, Rom. 8.16 john 5.6. for he knoweth them that are his. CON. 9 Thou mayst be assured of the perpetuity of thy faith; for God will not forsake the work which he hath begun. Phil. 1.6 EXPLA. The reason is: because that he who believes in Christ, Rom. 9.33 joh. 10.28 jer. 32.40 shall never be confounded, and his sheep shall never perish, but he will give them eternal life: and although the godly oft times fall, yet God is faithful in his promise to them, Phil. 3 12 I will put my fear in their hearts, and they shall not depart from me: resting in this, that they not only apprehend Christ, but much more, that they are apprehended of Christ, Rom. 11.29, & 14, 8, & 8, 23. and not that they know God only, but that they are known of him, for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance, Ps. 23, 6 so that whether they live or die, they are the Lords, for nothing can separate them from the love of God which is in Christ jesus, and therefore do they boldly say, thy loving kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of God for ever. CON. 10 Faith taketh hold of the particular apprehension, as to believe, that God is my God, my life, peace, strength, deliverance, and my salvation. EXPLA. We must not believe only, that he is these things in himself, but that he is indeed, the same to us: for because God is ours, whatsoever is his, is ours, for us, and for our use, his mercy, his power, his providence to watch over us, both in life and death, for by covenant he bound himself to the heirs of promise, I will be their God, jer. 31, 33 Esa. 25, 9 and they shall be my people, and again, Lo, this is our God, and we have waited for him, and he will hear us, we will rejoice and be joyful in his salvation: for that Christ hath already done for thee, is a greater matter than that he promised: so thou believe not only that thy sin may forgiven thee, by his mercy, (which is a beginning or foundation of Christ) but also that thy sins are forgiven thee. CON. 11. Faith is the fountain of our love towards God: for while we believe he is so merciful unto us, it swalloweth up our affections, and draweth our love to him. EXPLA. The love arising of faith so much felt in us, assureth us that we are beloved of God, who loved us first, and therefore place we the confidence of our salvation in him only, to whom we are united and made one with him, in whom we are incorporated, as members of his body: we dwell in him, joh. 6.54.55 and he in us, and as a faithful Mediator, will perform the will of his heavenly Father: joh. 6.35 For of all that he hath given him, he will lose nothing, but shall raise it up at the last Day. CON. 12. Our salvation hangeth not upon the sufficiency of our faith, repentance, or righteousness: for they are never such as they ought to be. EXPLA. It is not the value or worth of any thing in us, that can merit pardon, but in faith there is a sincerity and truth required: For we are justified freely by the grace of God, Rom. 3, 34 Rome 4, 16 through the redemption which is in Christ jesus, whom God hath set forth for an atonement for us by faith in his blood, only by faith I say tha● it may be of grace that the promise may be sure to the seed, Gal. 3, 10 that through the name of Christ every one that believed in him, shall have forgiveness of sins: for as many as are under the works of the Law, are under the curse, for it is written, Gal. 5, 4 cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the Law, to do them: now the Law is not of faith, but (he saith) he that doth these things shall live in them. Rom. 4, 14 Ye are voided of Christ: ye are fallen from grace, that will be justified by the Law, for if they which be of the Law be heirs, than faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect: Gal. 3, 18 if the inheritance be by the Law, it is no longer by promise: but God hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. So eternal life is the gift of God through jesus Christ our Lord. Neither yet shall we ever have that fullness of grace here, to keep perfectly the commandments: yet as grace increaseth, so we increase in keeping of them in this life, and in the end, sin being wholly abolished for ever, we shall be fully conformed to the Image of righteousness, that God desired in the Law. Now Christ was circumcised for us: and he that is circumcised, Gal. 5.3 is made debtor to the whole Law, in the which circumcision he entered bond for us, and shed few drops of blood, as a pledge he would shed all the rest for us thereafter. CON. 13. By the grace of God begun in us, though mixed with many imperfections, our faith received further confirmation, that he which wrought this beginning of life, will go forward therewith to the end. EXPLA. God, who made us partakers of one part of his promises, will also make us partakers of the other, while we take these first fruits of sanctification, Mat. 5.6 as a pledge from him of the performance of the whole: for if we hunger and thirst for righteousness, hate sin, groan under the burden of it, Heb. 12, 1 hanging so fast on, this light of salvation shining in us, though not fully clear, may be overcast with clouds, yet never shall have any night, for God doth accept our endeavour, and pardon our defects, and not only by Christ's death, as by the death of our sacrifice, by the blood of his Cross, Exo. 12, 15 as by the blood of the Paschall Lamb, the destroyer passeth our us, and we shall not perish, but also by his death, as by the death of our high Priest (for he is Priest and sacrifice both) we are restored from our exile, Numb. 15, 28 even to the former forfeited estate, to the land of promise. CON. 14. Our faith itself, is as infallible as the word of God that assured us of it, but not always so in our apprehension and feeling, for though the principal be true which we believe, yet are we jealous lest we have misapplyed it to ourselves. Act 16, 31 EXPLA. There are diverse degrees of faith, little faith, great faith, Mat. 8, 26 Mat. 15, 20 Rom. 4, 21 & full assurance of faith, even as a weak eye & a strong eye, he weak eye seeth weakly, and unperfectly, and the strong eye seeth strongly, and more fully discerneth the thing seen: a little faith believeth faintly, though truly greater faith believeth more steadfastly: full assurance of faith believeth under hope against hope: they were as well saved from the biting sting of the venomous serpents, which were young and could not well perceive, and the old which were blear and sore-eyed, when they looked upon the brazen Serpent, as they that were vigorous strong, and of most quick sight. This we see in the Apostles, We believe (say they) and know that thou art Christ, john, 6, 99 the Son of the living God: which 〈◊〉 was soon shaken, and therefore our Saviour telleth them, that he did forewarn them of his death, and resurrection, joh. 14, 29 that when it was come to pass they might believe, not with a new faith, but repaired and increased. Peter upon Christ's word believed that he should be saved in the water, Mat. 14, 28, 31 but the faintness of his faith made him begin to sink, and said, Master save me: to whom he answered, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? and so another time to the Disciples, which said, Master, save us, we perish: Mat. 8, 25, Christ answered, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? So this little faith is not void of doubt or fear, which is yet true faith, and maketh us run to Christ; for sometimes the godly by hasty cogitations, questioned their faith, and are overtaken, as David in that case said, I am cast out of the sight of thy eyes: Psal. 31, 22 and therefore we ought to pray, Luke 17, 5 Rom. 5, 1. 1. joh. 5, 13 Lord increase our faith, that we may rejoice under the hope of the glory of God, which is the proper effect of faith, and to know by faith that we have eternal life, howbeit by occasions we bewray great infirmity in the apprehension thereof. CON. 15. Always pray, and by faith rest assured, 1. Thes. 5, 17. that undoubtedly we have that for which we pray according to his will. EXPLA. We pray for forgiveness of sins, not for that we have not assurance thereof, but for that we desire greater assurance, that our hearts may be enlarged, that the testimony of the Spirit may more freely sound into us, Thy sins are forgiven thee; for our faith hath sometimes a full, sometimes a wane: as Peter confesseth Christ to be immortal; another while he is afraid Christ should die. 2. Cor. 5.7. Now here we walk by faith, and not by sight, and do pray for the sight of that which we have but by the comfort of faith & hope: so do we believe that we are redeemed both in body and soul, and still yet we sigh in ourselves, Rom. 8, 23 2. Sam. 12, 13. waiting for the redemption of our bodies. So the Lord hath taken away David's sin, and yet he prayed, Have mercy upon me, O Lord, Psal. 51, 1. according to thy great goodness, according to the multitude of thy mercies do away my offences: then do we pray we may enjoy by reality & possession, that which we believe, we already have in God's affection. CON. 16. We must withdraw our eyes from ourselves, and assuredly believe, that we shall receive in him that promised. EXPLA. If we consider our meri●● we must despair; but we must depend upon his promise, and his oath, Heb. 6, 18, that by two immutable things, wherein it is impossible that God should lie, we might have strong consolation, which have our refuge to lay hold upon that hope that is set before us: and this is a commendable presumption when we challenge God upon his own bond, and not upon any sufficiency of our works. Wherein, notwithstanding faith receiveth comfort and strength, by the good fruits and effects of grace, in the fear and love of God, in faithful care and conscience & duty towards God and men, tokens of Gods secret election, foretokens of future happiness: so that a man called to God by fear, and framed to righteousness by love, presumes that he is of the number of them that shall be blessed. CON. 17. To prove whether we be in the faith, is to prove whether Christ be in us, for truly, faith is that whereby Christ dwelleth in our hearts. EXPLA. We 1. Cor. 2, 12 have received not the spirit of this world, but the spirit which is of God, that we may know the things that are given us of God. The origin●●● of all other gifts, is the giving of Christ unto us, For unto us a child is borne, and unto us a Son is given, Isa. 9, 6 in whom all the promises of God are, yea, and amen: and for his sake first made, and in him performed, 2 Cor. 1, 20 whom the Father giving to us, and for us, had a Rom. ●, 32, altogether with him given us all things b 1 john 4, 13. , the gift of the Spirit, the c Act. 5, 31 gift of repentance, the gift d Eph. 2.8. of faith, the gift of e Rom. 5, 17. righteousness, the gift of f 2 Tim. 1, 7 love, the gift of suffering g Phil. 1: 29 for Christ, the gift of h 2 Pet. 1, 3 all things pertaining to life and godliness, the i Rom. 6, 23. gift of eternal life; yea, all manner k Eph. 1, 3, & 3, 5. spiritual blessings in heavenly thing, these be the unsearchable riches of Christ, preached ●●to the Gentiles, a mystery which from the beginning of the world was hid in God, and not opened to the sons of men; nay, not to the very Angels was it known, so that when it was done, they did even desire and delight to look unto it; 1. Pet. 1, 12 the accomplishment of which riches, is in the joy of heaven. And so now we are the sons of God, but yet we know not what we shall be: for sins deprived us of Paradise, a place on earth; but by the purchase of his blood, we are entitled to a far higher, even the Kingdom of heaven: and his blood is not only the blood of remission, to acquit us of our sins, but the blood of the Testament to bequeath us, Mat. 26, 28 and give us estate in that heavenly inheritance: and all these things we have by faith in him, by which he purified our hearts, and dwelleth therein by his Spirit, whose Temples we are. CON. 18. As we have a measure of true righteousness against sin, wherein we doubt not but God accepted us, so have we also a measure of true assurance against all fear and doubt, whereby our hearts rests persuaded, that God will for ever preserve us. EXPLA. God our wise father, both giveth comfort to his children, and also provideth to keep them within their bounds, that tasting of the joy of salvation, and finding it thenceforth bitter and grievous unto themselves, to be distracted by perplexities and fears from the quiet enjoying thereof, they may the more carefully endeavour to cleave fast unto him, & beware of any thing that should interrupt their joyful peace. We are ready by corruption to abuse comforts, and therefore God so ordereth the same, that they are ever out of our own nature or afflictions, nipping and snipping us, that we grow not proud, and rely on ourselves to the destruction of ourselves. God maketh sin the whetstone of righteousness; and affliction & trouble of mind, by distress and fearful doubts, whetteth and sharpeneth our faith and assurance, which by fight increased, and the longer it wrestled, the stronger it waxed: as a man in danger of drowning, catcheth for hold to save himself, so God sendeth variety of disturbances, that the mind should not gnaw and waste itself away; whereof the one is drawn away with the other, that we should not be steeped and dissolved with sorrow, job 2, 8. jer. 1, 1. 2. Cor. 6, 4 for if God correct with the rod of men, his mercy he doth never take away. CON. 19 By this we may know, we are in God, and God in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit; which promised to men fellowship with himself, immortality to us mortal, justification to sinner's glorification to us being abjects. EXPLA. The original of all this consisted in God's election, wherein he hath made us his children and heirs touching the hope of everlasting life, Tit. 3, 7. which we expect by title of inheritance, not by purchase of merit, having received for earnest and pledge thereof the spirit of Christ, sanctifying and preparing us thereto: Eph. 1.11. for not of the works of righteousness which we have done, but of his mercy hath he saved us. john the Baptist said, he was not worthy to lose the lachet of his shoe, who can then be thought worthy of that heavenly Kingdom? The Centurion of whom Christ gave testimony, that he found not so great faith, no, Mar. 1, 7. not in Israel, confessed of himself, Mat. 8, 10. I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof, who then is worthy to enter under the roof of heaven? but every faithful man may say with Daniel, To thee, O Lord, Dan. 9, 7 belongeth righteousness, but unto us belongeth confusion of face: and with David, Enter not into judgement with thy servant, Psal. 143, 2 O Lord for in thy sight no man living shall be justified: and again, If thou straight mark what is done amiss, Psa. 130, 3 who shall be able to stand? CON. 20. By what our faith assures us of present standing, Rom. 8, 28 by the same, and as far it secures us against future falling. EXPLA. Faith looketh upon God as a Father, who himself teacheth all his children, that they may be sure to learn: Isa. 54, 13 jer. 31, 33 jer. 23, 54 as a good shepherd, that so gathered the sheep, that none of them shall be lacking: as a good husbandman, that so sensed his vine, Isa. 27, 3 & keepeth it night and day, that none assault to hurt it: as a Rock, strong & sure, Mat. 16, 18 that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church of the faithful, that are founded and builded upon it. It looks upon God's promise, I will put my fear into their hearts, jer. 32, 40 that they shall not depart from me: It looketh into the Mediation of Christ, who had not prayed for Peter only, That his faith might not fail, Luk. 22, 32 but for all that believe in him, joh. 17, 11, 20. Holy father, keep them in thy name; wherefore we are kept by the power of God, 1. Pet. 1, 5, through faith unto salvation. He that keepeth us by faith, must be understood to keep our faith, not by any power of ours, but by his only power; for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance; whom he called and justified, them he glorified: because he called and justified none, but whom he had predestinated to glory, and therefore giveth them perseverance for the attainment of the same glory: Yea and they also account all things but loss, for the excellent knowledge of Christ jesus our Lord, and do judge them but dung, Phil. 3, 8 that they may win Christ, and be found in him, not having their own righteousness which is by the Law. CON. 21. There was never any mere natural man (for Christ was God also) void of all sin. EXPLA. Surely, if any at any time was, it must be she, who by special prerogative nine months together, entertained Christ within the closet of her flesh, the hope of all the ends of the earth, the honour of the world, the common joy of men, but he of whom all things had their beginnings had his beginning from her, of whose body he took the blood which was to be shed for the world, yet of her he took that, which for her he paid. The world cannot show a righteous man, much less perfectly righteous; but Christ is made to us wisdom, 1 Cor. 1, 30 revealing his Father's will; justice in offering himself a sacrifice for sin: Sanctification because he hath given us his spirit: Redemption, because he had appointed a day to vindicat his children out of the hands of corruption, Rom. 8, 21 into a glorious liberty. CON. 22. There is a glorifying righteousness in the world to come, as there is a justifying & sanctifying righteousness here. EXPLA. The righteousness wherewith we shall be clothed in the world to come, is both perfect and inherent: that whereby here we are justified (such as is the faith of Abraham) is perfect but not inherent; Rome 4, 5 that whereby we are sanctified (the works of Abraham) is inherent, 1. joh. 3, 7 but not perfect: for the righteousness wherein we must be found (if we will be justified) is not our own; for in Christ God findeth us; and the man altogether unrighteous, being found in Christ, through faith God putteth away his sin, by not imputing the same, takes quite away the punishment due thereunto by pardoning it, and accepted him in Christ jesus as perfectly righteous, as if he had fulfilled all that was commanded him in the law, for God made him sin for us, 2. Cor. ● 21, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him; that is, such we are in the sight of God the Father, as is the very Son of God himself; this is, all men had sinned, God had suffered, God had made himself the son of man, and men are made the righteousness of God; Rom. 11, 6 and the grace which elected us is no grace at all, if it elect us for our works sake. CON. 23 There is no man's case so dangerous as his, whom Satan had persuaded, that his own righteousness shall present him pure & blameless in the sight of God. EXPLA. The more we have our fruit in holiness, the more we abound therein, the more need we have to crave that we may be supported and strengthened: our very virtues are snares unto us, it is harder for Satan to overthrow an humble sinner, than a proud Saint: if we could say (as we cannot do) we are guilty of nothing, God sees farther into our hearts, than we ourselves can do: with hands we never offered violence, yet a bloody thought doth prove us murderers before him, our secret cogitations are laid in the eyes of God, and our best things intermingled with many defects. God respects the intention of the doer, which is seldom upright: our best actions are prayers, but how in them are we distracted? little reverence to the great Majesty of God, little remorse of our own miseries, little influence of his mercies, do we feel, unwilling to begin, and glad to make an end: wherefore we must ever say, Lord bear with our infirmities, and pardon our offences. Mat. 6. CON. 24. Only man can escape the judgement of God, by appealing to the seat of his saving mercy. EXPLA. God had fixed the limits of his saving mercy within the compass of these terms: God sent not his Son to condemn the world, joh. 3, 17. but that the world thorough him might be saved, and thereafter mercy is restrained to believers, for he that believes, shall not be condemned, he that believes not is condemned already, because he believes not in the Son of God: and in another place mercy is restrained to the penitent: Of jesabel and her sectaries, thus he spoke, I gave her space to repent, Reu. 2, 22. and she repented not, behold I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit fornication with her, into a great affliction, except they repent them of their work●s, and I will kill her children with death. If thou be therefore not altogether faithless and impenitent, there is mercy in store for thee abundantly. CON. 25. Faith is the fountain of prayer, and God in keeping of our faith, continueth our prayer, because the stream cannot fail so long as the fountain faileth not. EXPLA. Prayer is the breath of faith, which never ceaseth to breathe so long as it is alive. Prayers are the beams of faith, if the light of faith be not quenched, it certainly sendeth forth these beams of prayer: wherefore they never give over to pray, that it may be fulfilled in them which is promised, Every one that calleth upon the name of God shall be saved. Rom. 10.13 God useth instruction of the word and Sacraments, and correction of crosses and tentation, to preserve both faith & prayer: by afflictions he fretteth off the rust, and blotteth away the ashes of carnal security. Wherefore it is said, Lord in affliction they visited thee, Isa. 26.16. they have poured out a prayer when thy chastisement was upon them. Thus God keepeth the fire of his Spirit continually burning in our hearts, opening our ears by his corrections, job 33.16.17. to cause us to cease from our evil erterprises, and to heal our pride, and to keep back our soul from the pit. 1. Cor. 11. Wherefore when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world, CON. 26. Doubting or distracting fear, cannot stand with assurance of faith, but awful and regarding fear is an undivided companion of true faith. EXPLA. As fear is opposed to faith, we hear God appointing his Ministers to call his people from it: Isa. 35.4. Say unto the fearful, be thou strong, fear not, behold our God cometh with vengeance, and he will come and save you: and again, Fear not, for I am with thee, be not afraid, Isa. 43.1. for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee and help● thee, and sustain thee with the hand of my justice: And again, Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by name, thou art mine: And again, Isa. 54, 14 Fear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed nor confounded: in righteousness shalt thou be established, and be far from fear; for it shall not come near thee: this is the heritage of the Lords servants, whose righteousness is of me: (for Christ's merit is our righteousness.) And all this is, because we should rest in full assurance of safety without fear or doubt, because he promised to prevent all occasions whence any fear should arise: And so he delivered them out of the hands of their enemies without fear: Luk. 11, 74. and Christ died that he might deliver them, Heb. 2.15. who for fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage: and now we have not received the spirit of bondage to fear any more, Rom. 8, 15. but the spirit of adoption to cry abba Father; for God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, 2. Tim. 1.7. and of love, and of a sound mind: for there is no greater bondage than that fear, when we are uncertain what shall become of us: but he said, Fear not little flock, for it is your Father's pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Now that other commendable fear doth not shake assurance of salvation, but the faithful finding that in him, doth gather the greater assurance to himself. For the punishment of God is fearful unto him that dreads God's judgements, job 31.23. abhorreth wicked courses, laboureth in righteousness, is strong in the Lord, Eph. 6.10 and in the power of his might, and do work their salvation with fear and trembling, with humility, and acknowledgement of their own frailty, and never to commit themselves to themselves, but to him who hath Isa. 26.12. wrought all our works for us; 1. Sam. 2.9 for by his own might shall no man be strong. Now there is difference betwixt absolute doubting, weak assenting, and interruption in assent with some fear; for the seeds of all impiety land in the corruption of the heart, whereby we are assaulted with doubt of the principal points of our belief; the wisdom, power, justice, mercy of God; & yet do not wholly relinquish the assent thereof▪ CON. 27. In application of our general faith to particular occasions, we many times go halting and lame, and stagger somewhat at that, whereof our faith should give us full assurance by the will of God. EXPLA. Thus did Sarah cast doubt of Gods promise touching the having of a child, Gen. 18.12 who yet is said through faith to have received strength to conceive when she was past age, Heb. 11.11 because she judged him faithful that had promised. Thus did Moses call in question the power of God, as touching providing flesh for the people of Israel, Num. 11.24 when God promised so to do. So David and Habacuck staggered as touching the providence of God, Psa. 73, 2, ● Hab. 1.2.13 and his care of the just and righteous men. So did the Disciples murmur concerning the Godhead of Christ, and the hope of redemption by him, which before they had embraced: surely when we look unto ourselves in our greatest perfections, we are subject to that amazed distraction, as to say, Rom. 10, 6. Who shall ascend into heaven? as if Christ were not ascended to make way for us: and Who shall descend into the deep? as if Christ had not died to deliver us from thence: we can never satisfy ourselves, how either to escape the one, or to attain the other. CON. 28. They are not faithless which are weak in assenting to the truth. EXPLA. As many as hold the foundation, which is precious, though they hold it but weakly, and as it were with a slender thread; although they frame many base and unsuitable things upon it, things that cannot abide the trial of fire, 1. Cor. 3.15 yet shall they pass the fiery trial, and be saved, which indeed, have builded themselves upon the Rock, which is the foundation of the Church. Eph. 2.20. CON. 29. The foundation of faith is not only the general ground whereupon we rest, when we believe the writings of the Prophets and Apostles, but also it is the principal thing which is believed, that is Christ. EXPLA. There is a foundation of our faith, God manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit; 1. Tim. 3.16 and this, Thou art the Son of the living God, joh. 1.49. thou art the King of Israel: and that of the inhabitants of Samaria: This is Christ the Saviour of the joh. 4.24. world. Which, who directly doth deny, doth utterly raze the very foundation of faith: for Christ in the work of man's salvation, is all, without our works: for he is that seed in whom all the Nations of the world shall be blessed; and among men there is given no other name under heaven, Act. 4, 12. 1. Cor. 3. whereby we must be saved; other foundation can no man lay. CON. 29. The holy Spirit in the very moment when first he is given of God, bringeth with him infused virtues, proper and peculiar to the Saints of God. EXPLA. There be two kinds of christian righteousness, the one without us, which we have by imputation; the other in us, which consisteth of Faith, Hope, and Charity; as Abraham had not only the one, Rom. 4, 23. because the things believed was imputed to him for righteousness, but also the other, because he offered up his son. They are both God's gifts, and the first by accepting us for righteous in Christ; and the second by working christian righteousness in us, by the spirit of adoption, which we have received into our hearts; which maketh two kinds of sanctifying righteousness, habitual and actual. CON. 30. The wicked have not such faith as that wherewith a Christian man is justified. EXPLA. It is the Spirit of God which worketh faith in the Elect; the things which they believe, are not apprehended only as true, but also as good, and that to us: as good they are not apprehended by the wicked, as true they are. The Christian the more he increaseth in faith, the more his joy and comfort aboundeth: but they, Is. 2.19. the more sure they are of the truth, Host 10.8. Luk. 23.30 the more they quake and tremble at it; for the wicked do rather wish that they might then think that they shall cease, when they cease to live, because they hold it better that death should consume them into nothing, Reve. 6.16 Ps. 51, 12. than God revive them unto punishment. On the contrary, to the Elect there is no grief nor torment greater, then to feel their persuasion weak in things, whereof when they are persuaded, they reap such comfort and joy of the Spirit. CON. 31. Faith giveth us the comfort of salvation, because it believeth that, which the word of God hath delivered, concerning them, in whom the signs & marks of our Election are found. EXPLA. Faith giveth assurance of salvation by the Word of God, not only by apprehending the promise of life and salvation, but also observing such marks and tokens as the Word of God setteth down, to discern them, unto whom this salvation doth appertain: and therefore it doth not only look to that which Christ saith, that whosoever believeth shall have everlasting life; joh. 3.16. but because Christ also saith, he that is of God heareth God's word: joh. 8, 47. therefore the faithful man delighteth in the word of God, believeth concerning himself that he is of God, because the Apostle saith, Rom. 10, 13 Every one that calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saved: and this also doth the faithful man unfeignedly, calling on the name of God, believe of himself, that he shall be saved. And also the Apostle saith, that we know that we are translated from death to life, because we love the Brethren: & all those things we know, because our faith believeth all that which the word of God hath taught us in this behalf. CON. 32. The effect of faith is, to give assurance of the present state, and of perseverance also to future glory. EXPLA. As many as received Christ, to them he gave power to be sons, even to them that believe in his name. joh. 1.12. Now to receive, is to take in particular to a man's self, to apply to himself, to apprehend or lay hold of him with all his benefits, to make particular use of Christ; so that true faith (according to the measure of it) assures infallibly, not in general only, by principal, but in particular also, by conclusion, and application to itself: and as of his own good will he hath begotten us by the word of truth, jam. 1.18. that we should be as the first fruits of his creatures, so by the same true grace of God, that comfort is ministered unto the faithful, to say, 1. Pet. 5.12 Behold what love the Father hath given unto us, 1. joh. 3.1. that we are called, and are even now the Sons of God and we know, that when he shall appear, we shall be like unto him: For thorough faith we receive the promise of the Spirit. That is, Faith is the very hand, into which, being holden forth unto God, he giveth the Spirit which he had promised. CON. 33. When God giveth us this light and feeling, that he is our Father, there followeth necessarily a certificate, that we are his children; this testimony cannot be counterfeited. EXPLA. Neither the spirit of man himself, nor any other spirit can give man that spiritual eye of the inner man, whereby to look upon God as a Father, that sincere and pure affection and invocation, wherewith the faithful soul tendereth itself unto God; but only the Sp●rit of God himself, Rom. 8, 15.16. which beareth witness unto our spirit that we are the Sons of God: and because we are the Sons of God, he hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba Father. Now this Spirit that beareth witness is truth, being the Spirit of Truth, and therefore being sent for a comforter, joh. 14, 17. surely in comforting he telleth and testifieth nothing but the truth: if then the Spirit of God bear witness unto us, that we are the Sons of God, we know that it is true, and we are sure we are the Sons of God. And this witnessing properly standeth in the true spiritual invocation, and calling on the name of God; whereby, upon all occasion, as children to a Father, make our recourse unto him: for it is not incident unto us, to have in our hearts & conscience that familiar and lovely access unto the Throne of Grace, but upon conscience of the spirit dwelling in us: for this spirit of prayer doth witness unto the elect, Zech. 12.10 that they are the Sons of God. CON. 34. If God hath once given thee assured signs of his favour, he will never change. EXPLA. The Testament of Christ is still new; yea, though it were from the beginning, yet it is still the same, and the day passes not in which it was given, but it endureth still with the age of man. And thus it is not possible that our works should justify, which wax old, and are forgotten, So that the righteous man of an hundred years old, Eze. 18.24. if he leave his righteousness, it hath no account: the salvation of the world is not thus, but always new. If once I be in the covenant, it is an everlasting covenant, I was not taken under condition of time, nor no time shall prevail against me; the salvation itself is not changeable (as Adam was in Paradise) but it is made sure in the body of Christ, united with the person of his Godhead. So the ways also in which we are led unto it, they are immutable; our faith is not quenched, our love not extinguished, our hope faileth not, nor the holy Spirit can never be taken from us, but still they are new even to eternal life. CON. 35. We are joint-heires with Christ, and must attain to our inheritance that same way which he did, being first partakers with him in suffering, as we shall be afterwards in glory. EXPLA. Faith expecteth all these things from God, because it is given unto us for Christ's sake not only to believe in him, Phil. 1, 29 but also to suffer for his sake, being strengthened with all might thorough his glorious power, to all patience, and long suffering, with joyfulness. Col. 1, 11, To this end, as the sufferings of Christ abound in them, so he causeth their consolations to abound through Christ, & their hope is steadfast in this behalf, because they know, 2. Cor. 1, 5, Heb. 13, 5, that as they are partakers of the sufferings, so they shall be of the consolation, for faith resteth upon that which is written, he hath said, I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee: therefore we may boldly say, The Lord is on my side, I will not fear what man can do unto me; he hath predestinated us to be made like to the Image of his Son: and therefore having received the spirit to reveal unto us this secret of predestination, we stand assured, that accordingly he will accomplish in us the Image of his Son, that together with him we may bear the cross, and together with him also wear the crown; and therefore shall so order all things, that there shall be nothing to come that shall separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ jesus our Lord. CON. 36. The cause of life spiritual in us, is Christ, not carnally nor corporally inhabiting, but dwelling in the soul of man, as a thing which (when the mind apprehendeth it) is said to inhabit or possess the mind. EXPLA. The mind containeth Christ by hearing and believing the Doctrine of christianity, with particular apprehension, as the light of nature doth cause the mind to apprehend those truths which are merely rational, so that saving truth which is far above the reach of humane reason, cannot otherwise then by the Spirit of the Almighty be conceived, as in these sentences, Rom. 8, 10, Phi. 2, 15, Col. 3, 4, The Spirit is our life, or the Word is our life, or Christ our life, the meaning is, that our life is Christ, by the hearing of the Gospel apprehended ●s a Saviour, and assented unto by the power of the holy Ghost. CON. 37. The motions and operations of life are sometime so indiscernible and so secret, that they seem stone dead, who notwithstanding are still alive unto God in Christ. EXPLA. The first intellectual conceit and comprehension of Christ, Eph. 2, 5, is the seed whereof we be borne new; our first embracing of Christ, is our first reviving from the state of death and condemnation: He that hath the Son hath life, 1. joh. 5, 12 and he that hath not the Son hath no life: therefore if he which once had the Son, may cease to have the Son, though it be for a moment, he ceaseth for that moment to have life; 1. joh. 5, 13 but the life of them which have the Son of God, is everlasting in the world to come: Rom. 6 10 Eph. 3.6. and because as Christ being raised from the dead, dieth no more, death hath no more power over him: So the justified man being allied to God in Christ jesus our Lord, doth as necessarily from that time forward, always live, as Christ, by whom he hath life, liveth always: for as long as that abideth in us, joh. 14.19. which animates, quickeneth and giveth life, so long we live, & we know, that the cause of our faith abideth in us for ever. If Christ the fountain of life, may flit and leave his inhabitation, where once he dwelled, what shall become of his promise, I am with you to the world's end? Mat. 28.20. If the seed of God which containeth Christ, may be first conceived & then cast out, how doth he term it immortal? How doth he affirm it abideth, 1. Pet. 1.23 1. joh. 3, 9 if the spirit which is given to cherish and preserve the seed of life, may be given and taken away, Eph. 1, 14 How is he the earnest of our inheritance until redemption? How doth he continue with us for ever? joh. 4, 14 CON. 38. We are apt, prone, and ready to forsake God, but God is not as ready to forsake us. EXPLA. Our minds are changeable, so is not Gods, For whom God hath justified, Num. 23, 19 Christ hath assured, it is his father's will to give them a Kingdom. Notwithstanding, it shall not be other wise given them, then if they continue grounded and established in the faith, Col. 1, 23 and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, 1 Tim. 2.15 & if they abide in love and holiness. Our Saviour therefore when he spoke of the sheep effectually called, and truly gathered into his fold, joh. 10. I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hands; in promising to save them, he promiseth no doubt to preserve them, in that, without which there can be no salvation; as also from that, whereby it is irrevokeably lost. Every error indeed in things appertaining to God, is repugnant to faith; every fearful cogitation, unto hope: unto love, every straggling & inordinate desire: unto holiness, every blemish whereby either the inward thoughts of our minds, or outward actions of our lives are stained; which by earnest repentance mercy doth restore to life again in them, whom sin had made the children of death. But infidelity, extreme despair, hatred of God, and all goodness, obduration in sin, etc. doth not stand where there is the least spark of faith, hope, love, and sanctity: even as cold in the coldest degree cannot be where heat in the highest degree is found. 1 joh. 3, 9 It is true, no man liveth that sins not: Yet the man that is borne of God, hath a promise that the seed in him shall abide, which seed is a sure preservative against obstinate heresy, & and pining discouragement of the heart: for greater and clearer assurance we cannot have of any thing then this, that from such sins foresaid, God shall preserve the righteous as the apple of his eye for ever: for if the justified err (as he may) and never come to understand his error, God doth save him through general repentance; but if he fall into heresy, he calleth him at one time or other by actual repentance: but from infidelity, which is an inward direct denial of the foundation, he preserveth him by special providence for ever. CON. 39 We must put a difference betwixt them that err of ignorance, retaining nevertheless a mind desirous to be instructed in truth: and them which after the truth is laid open, persist in the stubborn defence of their blindness. EXPLA. Heretical defenders, froward and stiste-necked teachers of circumcision, the Apostle calleth dogs: silly men, who were seduced to think they thought the truth, he pitied, he took up in his arms, he lovingly embraceth, he kisseth, and with more than Fatherly tenderness, doth so temper and qualify his speech he useth toward them, that a man cannot easily discern, whether did most abound, the love which he bore to their godly affection, or the grief which the danger of their opinion bred him. Their opinion was dangerous, Was not theirs also, who thought the Kingdom of Christ was earthly? Was not theirs, who thought the Gospel only should be preached unto the jews? What more opposite to prophetical doctrine, concerning the coming of Christ then the one: Act. 15.5. concerning the catholic church then the other? Yet being admonished, found the mercy of God effectual in converting them from their error. So was there difference betwixt pharisees: And the pharisees which believed. Of the Galathians which were yet weak (he saith) You know God, Gal. 4, 25, 28, 31. or rather are known of God, how turn you again to impotent rudiments? The Law engendereth servants; they which are gotten by the Gospel are free: we are not children of the servant, but of the free woman; and will ye be under the Law? Yet (he saith) if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing; as many as are justified by the Law are fallen from grace: and why? Because they know, that in grace and in Christ their salvation doth ly, and so their hearts shall tremble and quake within them: he knoweth man's imbecility, he hath a feeling of our blindness and weakness, how great it is. CON. 40 Our salvation is not upon uncertainty, if we do thus or thus, but God framed us to be, and to do, whatsoever belongeth to the attainment thereof. EXPLA. The Spirit, as he is the revealer of the mystery of our election unto us, so is he the earnest of the effect of God's predestination, by the gift whereof, God giveth unto us, the certain assurance of all the rest that remaineth to be given; for he is the pledge of the inheritance promised, & as a hand-writing or bond of assurance of everlasting salvation, making us the temple and house of God; being the worker of holiness in us, that he may bring our bodies to eternity, and so the immortality of the Resurrection, whilst in himself he accustomes them to be tempered with heavenly virtue, & to be accompanied with the divine eternity of the holy Ghost. And this earnest God never taketh back again, because it is so the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the possession; Eph. 1.13. 2 Cor. 1.21 22. & Cham 5, 5. as that it is an earnest also, that in the mean time God stablishes us in Christ, and that he hath created us for this, namely, to cloth us with immortality and eternal life; for God giving earnest for the assurance of the end, doth thereby undertake against all lets and impediments, that should hinder the achieving of that, that is earnested thereby: and therefore the things present, which thou hast attained already, do assure unto thee those things that are yet to come. CON. 41. If man depend upon himself, he hath just cause to fear and doubt his own perseverance. EXPLA. The faithful do say with the Apostle, I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day: even myself, my faith, my hope, my prayer, my soul, my life; knowing myself to be a very unsure keeper of myself. Thus faith yieldeth a man to say, Behold O Lord, for I am thy servant, Ps. 116, 16 Ps. 119, 125 Ps. 143, 2 I am thy servant, O give me understanding that I may keep thy commandments; enter not into judgement with thy servant. And because the faithful is willing to believe that he shall have that that he prayeth for, he prayeth for perseverance, because Christ saith, Believe that ye shall have it, and it shall be done unto you. For God giveth to them that believe, so that he that receives, believeth himself to receive; For this is the assurance that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us; and if we know that he heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have desired of him. 1 Io. 3, 4, 15 CON. 42. God even in the very first entrance to his service, offereth us assurance of his favour, and our salvation. EXPLA. At the first entrance he saith to thee, as to the jailor, Believe in the Lord jesus Christ, and thou shall be saved: Act. 16, 31 Rom. 1, 27 And from the beginning as our faith is greater or less: so either strongly or weakly apprehendeth and embraceth this assurance: and in this assurance we labour and endeavour to grow, and to go on from faith to faith, from strength to strength, till we learn to set the world at defiance, Ps. 84, 7, saying, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? Rom. 8.33 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? CON. 43. Our faithful service or good behaviour, can never make us assured of our salvation. EXPLA. God made that promise by former covenant, He that doth these things shall live in them: and it availed not, for they continued not in my covenant: Gal. 3, 13, Heb. 8.9. And I regarded them not, saith the Lord. Therefore the Lord made another covenant or promise, not like the former, or conditional upon faithful service or good behaviour, but absolute and without condition, the performance whereof should depend wholly, and only upon mercy: So that he would not expect as of us, but doth undertake to give us, and to work in us, whatsoever faithful service, and good behaviour should be necessary thereunto. Therefore he saith, I will put my Law in their minds, and in their hearts will I write them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people; they shall all know me, for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more. And so if we entirely consider the whole work of our salvation, it issueth absolutely out of the purpose and promise of God,: who intending the end, disposeth and worketh himself whatsoever belongeth to the accomplishment and attainment of the end. CON. 44. By believing the Gospel, I believe that Christ is given a Saviour unto me, to save me, being one of his people, from my sins, Mat. 1, 21 1 Thes. 1, 10 & from the wrath to come. EXPLA. The Gospel is the glad tidings of great joy, Luk. 2, 10.11. that unto us a Saviour is borne, unto us a child is borne, Is. 9, 6 unto us a Son is given; that is, unto us that believe: and how believe I unto us, if I believe not unto me? The Gospel is, that through the name of Christ, every one that believeth in him, shall have remission of sins; every one that believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. If I believe the Gospel, Act. 10.43. 1. joh. 5.10 I believe this. For he that believes not God, makes him a liar, because he believes not the record, that God witnessed of his Son; and this is the record, that he hath given unto us, eternal life: and this life is in his Son. If then I believe in the name of the Son of God, and do not believe that God hath given me eternal life, I make God a liar in not believing the report that God hath witnessed of his Son. Therefore he addeth, These things have I written unto you that believe in the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have life eternal. CON. 45. Faith believeth the promises of God concerning our happiness; and hope waiteth and looketh for the Lord, to reveal his righteousness, and to make the truth of his word and promises fully to appear: and in this expectation is content with patience to bear the cross which is incident to the profession of the name of Christ. EXPLA. Confidence and rejoicing of hope, groweth from the full assurance of faith, Hebr. 3, 6, & 10, 22. whereby seeting aside the respect of our own impeachments, of ourself we believe with Abraham under hope, Rom. 4, 18 against hope, resting upon his promise, who had taken upon him to be the shepherd and Bishop of our souls, and is able to do exceeding abundantly, 1. Pet. 2, 25 above all that we ask or think, Eph. 3.20. Eph. 1, 20 according to the power that worketh in us. Whereby as he hath already wrought in us, the like great work as he hath wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, Eph. 2, 5. in that he hath raised us up, being dead in sins and trespasses, unto the life of God: So we rest persuaded, that having begun this good work in us, he will perform it until the day of jesus Christ, not for our sakes, but for my own sake will I do it, Eze. 36,22 saith the Lord. CON. 46. Christ immediately and wholly is our salvation and righteousness, in whom, and not in ourselves, we are made the righteousness of God; 1. Cor. 5, 21 his obedience was wrought in our name, and for our behalf is imputed unto us, by faith in his blood. Rom. 3.25 EXPLA. For Christ's sake and in him, Eph. 1, 3, 1. Cor. 1, 30 God blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things, for he is made unto v● of God wisdom, righteousness sanctification, and redemption, that is, all in all; that he that rejoiced may rejoice only in the Lord. And this salvation unto which he entitled us by faith in Christ, consisteth not only in the remission of sins; Rom. 3, 25 Rom. 6, 6 Eph. 4, 24 but also in destroying the body of sin, and restoring in us the Image of God, in righteousness and holiness of truth; he having given himself, to purge us to be a peculiar people unto himself; and to make unto himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. And all this is begun and in doing, but is not yet finished, and done in us, it shall be fully perfected in us, at the Resurrection of the dead. In the mean time, he giveth not unto us a full immunity from sin, that he may take away from us all rejoicing in ourselves; Tim. 1, 2, 4 that we may know at that day, that not for the works of righteousness which we have done, Eph. 5.25 but of his own mercy he hath saved us. 2 Ti. 1, 3, 5 And yet no man is justified by the righteousness of Christ, who is not also sanctified by the Spirit of Christ. Yea, and the elects sins do even work for their good, which are made a treacle or preservative against sin: for they never so fall, 1. joh. 3, 9 but that his seed remaineth in them, and his hand is under to lift them up again. Psal. 37, 24 jer. 33, 16. Thus the Lord is our righteousness, Christ is to us a jesus, a Saviour, by saving us immediately himself, not by giving us power to save ourselves, or to be our Saviour's. CON. 47. The worth of Christ's merits is most clearly seen in the true acknowledgement of our unworthiness. EXPLA. God's light is most clearly seen in our darkness, his power in our weakness, 2. Cor, 12, 9 his goodness in showing us mercy, that are evil; Dan. 9, 7, his righteousness in the confession of of our shame, Eph. 1.6 God hath appointed us to be for the glory of his grace, and therefore he disposeth that no flesh shall rejoice in his presence, 1 Cor. 1, 29 and that he only may be exalted in that day, and rejoice that we have found mercy with the Lord, Is. 2.11. who covereth our sins with the mantle of his righteousness; who seeth no iniquity in jacob, nor beholds transgression in Israel. God seeth sin with the eye of his knowledge, but by reason of that coverture, 2 Tim. 1.18 will not see it with the eye of his judgement: he seeth it with a discerning, but seeth it not with a revenging eye: for the justified man delighteth in the Law of God as touching the inner man, Rom. 7.23 Heb. 12, 1 Gal. 5, 17 yet he hath still in his members the law of sin hanging f●●st on, and lusting and rebelling against the Law of the spirit of life. For though he hath within him an army of vicious desires, yet hath he a will and desire of righteousness; he hungreth and thirsteth, waiting to be satisfied, because according to his promise, 2. Pet. 3, 13 Mat. 5, 6 we look for a new heaven, and a new earth, wherein righteousness dwelleth: the purpose of his life tendeth wholly to it, it is grievance to him that he failed to perform it, and maketh him to cry out, Rom. 7, 24, Wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of death? And therefore though he sin, he sinneth not maliciously, purposely, and with desire and delight in sin; but of ignorance and infirmity, by occasion, and by the creeping and stealing of sin upon him. CON. 48. By the Law of faith God pardoneth sin. EXPLA. God is a just judge, as well when he judgeth by laws of mercy, as when he judgeth by the laws of extremity; as well in the law of faith, as in the law of works: by the law of faith God forgiveth and considereth with favour, Rom. 3.27 and if there be a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, 2 Cor. 8.12. not according to that that he hath not. And all this he doth as a just judge, because by law he doth whatsoever he doth; but in the rigour of the Law, which is the law of works, he remitteth nothing, but requireth all, Mat. 5.26. to the uttermost farthing; nothing pleafeth but what is exact and perfect, and fully answerable to the rule. Ps. 103.4 2. Tim. 4 So Paul expected, that God as a just judge, would yield unto him the Crown, not by the Law of works, but by the Law of faith, wherein God crowneth in mercy & loving kindness, because his crown is a crown of justice, not of Paul's own justice, but of the justice of God; for it is just with God to pay that he oweth, and he oweth that which he hath promised, which is mercy to the believing penitent, for Christ's sake: Is. 53.6. For all we like sheep have gone astray, and the Lord hath laid upon him the iniquities of us all for he bore our sins in his body upon the tree. 1 Pet. 2.24 Thy righteousness covereth in me a multitude of sins; but in thee O Lord, what but the treasures of piety, the riches of Goodness? CON. 49. We are reputed just by the forgiveness of our sins, and this is justification in the sight of God. EXPLA. What are we but just in the sight of God, when there is taken from us the imputation of all sin? To be just, is the same, as not to be a sinner: and in the way of faith, they to whom their sins are not imputed, are accounted not sinners, and therefore are accounted just: for all the commandments of God are reputed to be done, when that which is not done is pardoned; and he who is reputed to have done all the commandments of God, is reputed just. He therefore to whom God pardoneth that which he hath done, is reputed just, and that which God determineth not to impute, Rom. 3, 24 Eph. 1, 7, Col. 1, 14, Ro. 4, 6, 7, 8 Tim. 1, 2, 14. is all one, is if it had never been: for we are justified through the redemption which is in Christ; and redemption is by forgiveness of sins; and the not imputing of sin, is the imputing of righteousness without works: now forgiveness of our sins is yielded unto us by virtue of the merit and righteousness which Christ hath wrought for us, who was given for us, and gave himself for us, Gal. 4, 5, Luk. 22, 10 who was made under the Law to redeem us, and therefore is just and righteous for us; and whatsoever he hath done, he hath done for us, he hath shed his blood for us, 1. Thes. 5.10. died for us, rose again for us, and hath fulfilled all righteousness and obedience to his Father for us, Act. 3.26. and so very justly is accounted ours. Mat. 3, 1● Whatsoever he hath done for us, is no less than if we ourselves had performed the same for ourselves. And thus by the imputation of Christ's righteousness, our sins are covered, pardoned, and forgiven, and we are reputed just by the righteousness of Christ; because in the righteousness of Christ is the forgiveness of our sins, and thereby no accusation is liable against us, either as having done that which we ought not to have done, or done that which we ought not to do: for who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect? Rom. 8.33 And as Adam did bear the person of all mankind, and we all were that one man; and therefore what he did, was as done by all and every one: So did Christ bear the person of all the Elect and faithful, and was accounted as them all in one: not one that made the forfeiture, and another the satisfaction, because one Christ is both the head and the body: and therefore what he did, is likewise as done by all and every one of us. CON. 50. In the Elect with sanctification, there is still a remainder of original corruption. EXPLA. justification in the sight of God, by the imputation of Christ's merits, is always accompanied with the sanctification of the holy Ghost, whereby the inward quality of the man, though not wholly, yet in part is altered and changed; and is thenceforth further to be renewed from day to day. In part, I say, because together with their sanctification, there is still remnants of original corruption, by the touch & stain whereof, the holiness & newness that is wrought in us is defiled: for although original corruption hath received a deadly wound, yet it is not wholly dead; it is dead indeed touching the guilt, but it is not yet dead as touching corruption and infection, and therefore doth infect the works of the most regenerate, for none is perfect as long as he continueth in this life. Indeed, God hath quickened us together with Christ, and hath raised us up together, and hath made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ jesus: but that is not yet really, but in hope: yea, in our prayers there is much weakness and imperfections, and distractions; yet God respects the truth, and not the measure of our faith, pardoneth the same for Christ's sake, who is our high Priest, Exo. 28.38 to bear the iniquity of our offerings to make them acceptable before the Lord: therefore the godly say, Ps. 143.2 Enter not into judgement with thy servant, O Lord, for in thy sight no man living shall be justified: The righteous fall seven times a day, Pro. 24.16. and daily prayeth for forgiveness: and when by frailty he doth fall, God doth in mercy look upon him, as he did upon Peter, Luk. 22.61 and cause him to rise again. CON. 51. Faith created in our hearts, is the only sufficient supernatural instrument to apprehend the free covenant of grace in Christ that is, Christ's righteousness for our justification. EXPLA. Faith is the instrument to receive, because it is the hand which we stretch to heaven, to take hold of Christ, and to hold him sitting there: it is the mouth whereby we eat and drink Christ, because to believe is to eat: it is the stomach whereby we digest him, for he is to be digested by faith: it is the foot whereby we enter in possession of the benefits of Christ, and possess so far as we stretch the same: it is the vessel whereinto God putteth the oil of his mercy: it is by faith we touch him, and look how much faith we bring to receive, so much we draw out of the abundant grace of God. Now that whereby we are justified, is the obedience of Christ, for by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous; and his obedience is his righteousness, and we are made the righteousness of God in him, by apprehending and receiving the righteousness which is in him. Rom. 5, 15 2 Cor. 5, 21 jer. 23, 6. He is called the Lord our righteousness, not who maketh us righteous only, but who also himself is our righteousness: and how should he be our righteousness but by his righteousness? therefore in apprehending & receiving Christ by faith, we apprehend and receive the righteousness of Christ, to be our justification before God; which is that merit and obedience of Christ imputed unto us. The efficient and final cause of justification than is, God in Christ jesus, for our salvation, & the glory of his name: the Material is the merit & obedience of Christ: the Formal cause is God's imputation apprehended and received by us; the instrument of this apprehension is faith alone. CON. 52. justifying faith is ever accompanied with godliness, and care of godly life. EXPLA. As natural birth draweth not only guilt, but also corruption, so faith wherein is our new birth, giveth not only forgiveness of sin, to justification; but also sanctification to holiness and newness of life. In the justified man faith only is the seat and fountain of spiritual life; because as the quickening faculty and power of the living soul, dwelleth in the heart, so Christ who is our life, dwelleth in our faith, or in our hearts by faith. But yet we consist not spiritually of faith only, but many other virtues and graces are required, to make up the perfection of a Christian man; to which as to the other members from the heart, so from faith life is imparted and communicated, that in them we may be alive to God: which are signs and tokens of a justified man, not any causes of justification, but a declaration and testimony of his being formerly justified by the faith of jesus Christ. So good works follow a man being justified, but are not precedent to justification: and nothing that man can do, either by nature or grace, concurreth to the act of justification as any cause, but faith alone; for our hearts are purified by faith; Act. 15, 9 by faith we reeive the promise of the spirit; and the Law of the Spirit of Christ, Gal. 3, 14. which is in Christ jesus, Rom. 8.2. delivered us from the law of sin and of death. Neither is the very act of faith any part of our righteousness, but only the merit and obedience of Christ, apprehended and received by faith, but as the heart giveth life to the body, not by the substance of itself, which is but flesh, as the rest of the body is but by the vital and quickening power of the soul, that is seated therein: and as the hand feedeth the body, not as being itself the food of the body, but by receiving and ministering unto it meat, whereby it is sustained: even so faith justifieth and giveth life by receiving Christ, to be our righteousness and life, in him receiving forgiveness of sins, & inheritance among them that are sanctified unto eternal life. CON. 53. When God promised, & tied the effect of his promise to the believing of it: not to believe that, in believing whereof, we are partakers of that which we believe: is to make God a liar, and to frustrate that which he hath promised. EXPLA. By faith only we accept of a promise, in all the benefits of God: we are a Gal. 4, 28 the children of promise, b Cham 3.29 heirs by promise, c Heb. 6.17 heirs of promise, expecting all things by the gracious promise of God, d 2 Pet. 14. by promise to be partakers of the divine nature, e Gal. 3.14.26. the blessing by promise, f Eph. 1.13. the spirit by promise, g Gal. 3.18 the inheritance by promise, h 1. Ti. 1.2. life eternal by promise, i 2 Pet. 3.13 by promise a new heaven and a new earth, wherein righteousness dwelleth: all which be promises in Christ, and are yea, k 2 Cor. 1.20. and in him amen, that is, for his sake first made, and for his sake to be performed also. Now seeing God hath taught us that by faith l Heb. 11.13 we obtain the promises, that we receive m Gal. 3.14 the promise of the spirit by faith, n Ibid. 22. that the promise of blessing is given by the faith of jesus Christ, to them that believe, that as o Mat. 8.13 we believe, so it shall be unto us, p Mat. 21. that whatsoever we desire when we pray, if we believe we shall have it, it shall be accordingly unto us. Why should we then not believe such? God hath promised Christ to be our righteousness, and that by the faith of jesus Christ, that is, by believing in him, to be that unto us which God hath promised: surely in believing him to be our righteousness, he is our righteousness; and we are made the righteousness of God in him. CON. 54. The righteousness and merit of Christ is spiritually and really ours, within and without, in spirit and body, and soul, to sanctify and cleanse us unto God. EXPLA. And this is indeed, not by receiving Christ's righteousness really into us, but by having righteousness imputed unto us, for his sake: for we receive the righteousness of God, even as we receive himself, who so becometh ours, as that we abide in him, and he in us; we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones: joh. 6, 56. Eph. 5, 30. we are really and truly by the power of his Spirit, one with him, and he with us; & yet he is not personally and bodily brought unto us: faith seeketh Christ and findeth him, and holdeth him, in the Virgin's womb, in the manger, in the garden, upon the cross, in the grave, in his Resurrection, and ascension to heaven, and in his now sitting at the right hand of God, making intercession for us. Every where faith embraceth him, and in every of these, seeth him to be ours, as having undertaken and achieved all these things for our sakes. CON. 55. For a special aptness in faith, hath God appointed it, to be the instrument for applying unto us the whole benefit of Christ. EXPLA. The will and ordinance of God, doth not without cause appoint one condition, when as well it might appoint another; neither appointed any thing to be done, which is not more fitly to be done that way that he appointed, than any other way. But beside this, our justification is by faith, that it may be by grace; for faith is the fittest means to set forth the grace of God. Secondly, that the promise might be sure to all the seed: for no otherwise can we rest assured of the promise of God, but as it is of Grace, who in our works can find nothing to assure ourselves. Thirdly, faith is specially appointed to exclude boasting, Rom. 3, 27 that no man should glory in his own doings, but that God should have the glory of man's salvation. CON. 56. That man cannot have fellowship with Christ by justification, who by sanctification also hath no fellowship with him. EXPLA. Do not think, that he that hath such a faith, as whereby being justified, he hath to rejoice with God, can together therewith have unrighteousness: for if he that believeth that jesus is Christ, is borne of God, and he that is borne of God sinneth not; and if he do sin (that is, give himself to sin) it is certain that he believeth not; certain it is, that he that truly believeth, doth work the work of faith and righteousness, and all goodness. The root of all is faith, by which alone we are justified, and so the bar of sin is taken away, that before divided betwixt God & us: that so the sanctifying Spirit of God may have access unto us, to work in us the good work of God so to prepare us to that inheritance, to the hope whereof he hath called us. The thief in his short time being upon the cross, had with his faith many good works; the fear of God, hope, repentance, confession of sins, love towards God and his neighbour, in reprehending his fellow's blasphemies, and defending of Christ's innocency. The good works of the godly are glorious and acceptable in God's sight, for Christ's sake, being done in his name and offered upon the Altar of faith in him; the imperfection thereof is accidental, & taketh not away the nature of a good work, but maketh it an unperfect good work, which imperfection notwithstanding were sufficient to make the work to be rejected, if in rigour and extremity God should weigh the same, which he doth not, but mercifully pardoneth it for Christ's sake. CON. 57 The righteousness whereby we are to be justified before God, admitteth no increase as sanctification doth. EXPLA. It admitteth no increase, because it must be perfect, and the righteousness of Christ is always uniform and alike: if any thing be taken from it, it is not perfect, and if it be not perfect, it cannot justify before God: but to the first grace of sanctification, and all the succeeding increase thereof, is of grace: for God to the thankful receiving and using of his gifts, doth add greater measure thereof; Mat. 2, 29 for to him that hath shall be given, yet that which is added is grace for grace, and the rendering of one gift for another gift. God giving occasion himself by one gift of the bestowing of another, as he giveth faith: and to faith that which we believe, as he giveth us to pray, and so prayer giveth that for which we pray: so in all the rest he giveth grace, and giveth to use well the grace he hath given, and to the well using thereof, he giveth also further measure & increase of grace, that both in the gift & in the increase, all praise & glory may redound to him. The means in us whereby this increase is wrought, is faith, which, as it first receiveth the spirit, so receiveth also the increase of it, whilst by the growth thereof, we grow more into Christ, and thereby more & more partakers of his life. By imputation of the merits and obedience of Christ, a man is a righteous the first day of his conversion, as he is in the end of his life, howsoever as touching sanctification and inherent righteousness, he grow much, and therein be renewed from day to day, in putting off the old man, and putting on the new, and still cleansing from all defilement of the flesh and of the spirit, & finish his sanctification in the fear of God; for every one that beareth fruit in me, my Father purgeth, that he may bring forth more fruit. We must then grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour jesus Christ, not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect; but one thing I do, I forget that which is behind, and endeavour myself to that which is before, and follow hard toward the mark: the price of redemption in the shedding of the blood of Christ, one, and alike to all and every faithful man, but yet it is not alike apprehended by every one. There is perfect righteousness required of us, and the same is yielded unto us in Christ: there may be a difference in us, but Christ cannot be divided, neither is there in him any difference from himself, where he goeth he goeth whole; and therefore what he is to the strong, the same he is to the faint and feeble soul: there is greater and less assurance, but the matter whereof each doth take assurance, is the whole mercy of God in Christ. CON. 58. When we teach Christ alone, we exclude not our faith unto justification, or Christ excluding our own works unto sanctification; for charity is inseparably with faith in the man that is justified. EXPLA. Faith is the only hand which putteth on Christ unto justification, and Christ the only garment, which being so put on, covereth the shame of our defiled natures, hideth the imperfections of our works, preserveth us blameless in the sight of God, before whom otherwise the weakness of our faith were cause sufficient to make us culpable; yea, to shut us out from the Kingdom of heaven, whither nothing that is not absolute can enter; so Christ without any associate, finished all the parts of redemption, & purchased salvation himself alone: yet for conveyance of this eminent blessing into us, these things are required as most necessary. CON. 59 Our salvation is given to us by Christ alone, yet to our justification faith, to our sanctification the fruits of the Spirit, etc. are necessary. EXPLA. For our salvation it is requisite to be chosen and known of God, before the foundation of the world; in the world to be called, justified, sanctified; after we have left the world, to be received into glory. Now Christ in every of these, hath somewhat which he worketh alone, through him according to the eternal purpose of God before the foundation of the world, borne, crucified, buried, raised, etc. we were in a glorious acceptation known unto God long before we were seen of men. God (I say) knew us, loved us, was kind to us in Christ jesus, in him we were elected to be heirs of life. Thus God in Christ hath wrought in such sort alone, that ourselves are mere patients, working no more than dead & senseless matter, wood, or stone, or iron, doth in the artificers hands; no more than the clay when the potter appointeth it to be framed for an honourable use: nay, not so much for the matter whereupon the tradesman worketh, he chooseth for the fitness which is in it, to serve his turn: in us no such thing. Now touching the rest, which is laid for the foundation of our faith, importeth further, that by him we are called, that we have redemption and remission of sins by his blood, Gal. 5.8. health by his stripes, justice by him: that he doth sanctify his Church, and make it glorious to himself, that entrance into joy shall be given by him alone; yea, all things by him alone, howbeit not so by him alone, as if in us, to our vocation the hearing of the Gospel; to our justification faith; to our sanctification good works; to entrance into rest, perseverance in hope, in faith, in holiness, were not necessary; which works have no power of satisfying God for sin, or of virtue to merit both grace here, or glory in heaven; for works are a thing subordinate, without which our sanctification cannot be accomplished: yet God doth justify the believing man, not for the worthiness of his belief, but for the worthiness of the person which is believed, that is, Christ; and God also rewardeth every one that worketh, not for any meritorious dignity, that is or can be in the work, but through his mercy, by whose commandment he worketh. CON. 60. That which we know either by sense, or by infallible demonstration, is not so certain as the Principles, Articles, and Conclusions of Christian faith. EXPLA. If the things which we believe be considered in themselves, it may truly be said, Faith is more certain than any science; & that mere natural men do neither know nor acknowledge the things of God, is no marvel, for they are spiritually to be discerned, and they in whose hearts the light of grace doth shine, and are taught of God, are so yet weak in faith, and their assenting to the law scrupulous, mingled with fear and wavering: for the foggy damp of original corruption is so great, that no heart can be so inclined in the knowledge, or established in the love of that in which his salvation standeth, as that he doth not doubt; and if any were such, what doth let, why that man should not be justified by his own inherent righteousness? For righteousness inherent being perfect, will justify, and perfect faith is a part of perfect righteousness inherent: yea a principal part, the mother and root of all the rest: and if it were thus, what need we the righteousness of Christ? wherefore we must learn to challenge a strength which we have not; lest we lose the comfortable support of that weakness which indeed we have. CON. 61. All men have not equal certainty of faith, but some believers are more scrupulous and doubtful then others EXPLA. The reason is, there is ● double certainty: a certainty of evidence, as when the mind doth assent to this or that, not because it is true in itself, but because the truth is clear and manifest to us: for things most certain in themselves, except they be also most evident, our persuasion is not fully assured, as it is of things more evident, although in themselves they be less certain: it is as certain that there be spirits, as that there be men, but we be more assured of these then of them: Now if there were equal evidence and truth there should be equality of faith: Yea, that we see by the light of grace, though it be indeed most certain, yet it is not so evidently certain, as that which sense or the height of nature will not suffer a man to doubt of; as that the fire is hot, etc. Therefore God laboureth to confirm us in the things were believe, by things whereof we have sensible knowledge, for proofs must be more certain, then is the thing proved. The other is a certainty of adherence, as when the heart doth cleave and stick to that which it doth believe, and this certainty is greater in us then the other, because the faith of a Christian doth apprehend the words of the covenant, and promises of God, not only as true, but as good: and therefore when the evidence which he hath of the truth is so small, that it grieveth him to feel his weakness in assenting thereto; yet is there in him such a sure adherence unto that, which he doth but faintly and fearfully believe, that his spirit having once truly tasted the heavenly sweetness thereof, all the world is not able quite and clean to remove him from it, but he striveth with himself against all hope of believing, job 13. For though he would kill him, yet will he trust in him. For why? This is his lesson, It is good for me to clean unto God. Psal. 73. CON. 62 Doubting doth always accompany faith, yea in the most faithful that ever did believe. EXPLA. If God did work in us like a natural agent: as the fire doth inflame, and as the Sun enlightens, according to the uttermost ability which they have, to bring forth their effects, there should be nothing in the believer but the incomprehensible wisdom of God, doth limit the effects of his power to such a measure, as seemeth best to himself. Wherefore he worketh that certainty in all, which sufficeth abundantly to their salvation in the life to come: but to none so great as attains in this life unto perfection; which is fittest for us, that feeling still our own infirmities, we may always pray, Lord help our incredulity: Lord increase our faith. Indeed it is said, Abraham believed and doubted not; which Negation doth not exclude all fear, all doubting, but only that which cannot stand with true faith; it freeth Abraham from doubting through infidelity, not from doubting through infirmity: from the doubting of unbelievers, not of weak believers, as is evident, Genes. 17.17. CON. 63. The faith whereby we are justified cannot fail. EXPLA. The seed of God, that is, the first grace which God poureth into the hearts of them that are incorporated into Christ, because it is an adversary unto sin: we do therefore think we sin not, but otherwise, by a distrustful and doubtful apprehension of that which steadfastly we ought to believe, we are amazed: yet they that are borne of God do never so sin, as it doth extinguish quite grace. Our faith when it is strongest is but weak, yet even then when it is at the weakest, is so strong, that utterly it never faileth, it never perisheth altogether, no not in them who think it extinguished in themselves: howbeit through extremity of grief, many times in judgement the Elect are so confounded, that they find not themselves in themselues; for that which dwelleth in their hearts they seek: it abideth, worketh in them, yet still they ask where; still they lament, as for a thing that is past finding; they mourn as Ra●hel and refuse to be comforted; as if that were not which indeed is, and as if that which is not, were; as if they did not believe when they do; and as if they did despair quite when they do not: For truly, where faith maketh any doubt, there the sense is never satisfied. CON. 64. God will have them that still walk in light, to feel now and then what it is to sit in the shadow of death. EXPLA. A grieved spirit is no argument of a faithless mind: men judging by comparison either with other men, or themselves: at some other time, being more strong, they think imperfection to be a plain deprivation; weakness to be utter want of faith; and therefore in heaviness of spirit suppose they lack faith, because they find not the joy & delight, which indeed doth accompany faith. The Apostle Paul prayed, The God of hope fill you with all joy in believing, which is not an unseparable companion therewith: for the light would never be so acceptable, were it not for usual intercourse of darkness: too much honey doth turn to gall, and too much joy even spiritually would make us turn wantoness. Happier a great deal is that man's case whose soul by inward desolation is humbled, than he whose heart through abundance of spiritual delight, is lifted up, 2 Cor. 12. and exalted above measure: better it is sometimes to cry, my God, my God, why haste hast thou forsaken me? then to say with the Pharisey, I thank God it is not with me as it is with other men. God will have them that should walk in light, to feel sometimes what it is to sit in darkness: yea, God sendeth variety of disturbances, that the mind should not gnaw nor waste itself away, that we should too much with job and jeremy, job 2.8. jer. 11. grieve and lament. Thus he driveth away grief often with joy, that we should not be steeped and dissolved in sorrow. CON, 65. Our faith here may have & hath her privy operations secret to us, yet known to him by whom they are. EXPLA. Men do fasten their minds upon the distrustful suggestions of the flesh, whereof finding great abundance in themselues, they gather thereby, unbelief hath full dominion and plenary possession of them; not marking the things of the spirit and of the flesh; because they be buried and overwhelmed with the contrary: when notwithstanding the Apostle doth acknowledge the spirit groans, and that God heareth when we do not. A man deceived by a too hard opinion of his faith, will scarce be comforted; yea, it doth augment his grief, and will say, I have sifted all the corners of my heart, and I see what there is in me, never seek to persuade me against my knowledge: reason not with flesh & blood, dispute never with Satan, never do yield, much less give over: believe the word, and give place to prayer and exhortation, and thou shalt find light in thy greatest darkness. The comfort of the spirit may for a season be intermitted, but never the spirit of comfort shall leave thee. CON. 66. Besides our corrupt nature, the serpent laboureth continually to pervert the simplicity of faith, which is in Christ. EXPLA. I am jealous over you (saith the Apostle) with a godly jealousy, for I have prepared you to a husband, a pure virgin, unto Christ; but I fear lest as the serpent beguiled Euah through his subtlety, 2 Cor. 11. so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ. This simplicity of faith taketh the naked promise of God, his bare word, and on that it resteth: which simplicity the Devil ceaseth not to overthrow, corrupting the mind with many imaginations of repugnancy, & contrariety between the word of God and his promises therein, and those things which sense or experience, or some other fore-conceived opinion and persuasion had imprinted. The word of promise unto his people is, I will not leave thee, Hebr. 13. nor forsake thee: upon this the simplicity of faith resteth, and it is not afraid of famine. But mark how the subtlety of Satan doth corrupt the minds of that rebellious generation, whose spirits were not faithful unto God: they beheld the desolate state of the desert in which they were, and by the wisdom of their sense concluded the wisdom of God to be but folly; Psalm. 78. Can God prepare a table in the desert? Again, the word of the promise unto Sarah, was, Thou shalt bear a son: faith is simple, and doubted not of it; but Satan to corrupt this simplicity of faith, enticed the mind of the woman with an argument drawn from common experience to the contrary, An old woman, Sarah, will she be acquainted with forgotten passions of youth? So the word of the promise of God by Moses, and the Prophets, made the Saviour of the world so apparent unto Philip, that this simplicity could conceive no other Messiah than jesus of Nazareth, the Son of joseph: but to stay Nathaniel to come and see, and should also believe, and so be saved; the subtlety of Satan casted a mist before his eyes, put in his head against this the common conceived opinion of all men against Nazareth, Is it possible that a good thing should come from thence? Thus he bereaveth men for the time of all perceivance of that which should relieve them, and be their comfort: yea, it taketh all remembrance from them, even of things wherewith they are most familiarly acquainted The Israelites might know, that he that led them thorough the Red Sea, was able to feed them in the wilderness. Sarah was not to learn, that with God all things were possible. Therefore diligently mark the conceit of repugnancy; believe not those things which are object to the eyes, but that which faith upon promise of God doth look for. CON. 67. The promises of Grace, protection & favour, which God in his law makes unto his people, do not grant any such immunity, as can free & exempt them from all chastisements. EXPLA. God hath said, I will continue my mercy for ever towards them: Psalm. 89. so hath he likewise said, Their transgressions will I also punish with a rod: it cannot stand with any reason that we should set the measure of our punishments, and prescribe to God how great or how long our sufferings should be; we are blind and altogether ignorant, what is best for us: we sue for many things very unadvisedly, and unwisely against ourselves, thinking we ask fish, when indeed we crave a serpent; when we think we ask that is good, and yet God seemeth slow to grant it, he denies not, but defers our petitions, to the end we may learn to desire great things greatly. CON. 68 We must learn to strengthen our faith by experience which heretofore we have had of God's great goodness towards us. EXPLA. By those things you have known performed, learn to hope for those things that are promised: if thou knowest that thou hast received much, thou mayst be sure to receive more; for to him that hath shall be more given. When thou meditatest what thou wouldst have, then search what thou hast had at God's hands; make this reckoning, that the benefits thou hast had, and he bestoweth upon thee, are bills obligatory and sufficient sureties, that he will bestow further: his present mercy is still a warrant of his future love, because whom he loveth he loveth to the end. joh. 13. CON. 69. The frailty of our nature, the subtlety of Satan, the force of our deceivable imaginations are such, as do threaten every moment the subversion of our faith, yet it is not hazarded by them. EXPLA. If we could reckon up, as many evident clear undoubted signs of Gods reconciled love towards us, as there are years, yea days, yea hours past over our heads; all these set together, have not such force to confirm our faith, as the loss, and sometimes the only fear of losing a little transitory goods, credit, honour, or favour of men: a small calamity or a matter of nothing, can bre●d a conceit, and such a conceit, as cannot easily be removed; as that we are clean cast out of God's Book, Psalm. 31. that he regardeth us not; that he looketh upon others, but passeth by us, like a stranger, to whom we are not known. When we think, looking upon others, and comparing them with ourselves, Their tables are furnished day by day, earth & ashes is our bread▪ they sing to the Lute, their children dance before them; our hearts are heavy in our bodies as lead, our sighs are many, our tears do wash our beds wherein we lie: the Sun shineth fair upon their foreheads, we are hanging like bottles i● the smoke, cast into corners, like shards of a broken pot, &c: This is our great weakness, and policy of Satan, which maketh us measure God and good things according to our corruptions, when there is no such thing. CON. 70. The faithful must use ordinary means, for the strengthening and kindling of his faith. EXPLA. Simon, Simon, sathan hath desired to winnow thee as wheat; Luk. 22. here is our painful tentation; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: this is our safety, no man's condition so sure as ours. The prayer of Christ is more than sufficient both to strengthen us, be we never so weak, and to overthrow all adversary power, be it never so strong and potent: Yet his praye● must not exclude our labor● their thoughts are vain who think that their watching can preserve the City, which God himself is not willing to keep; and are not theirs as vain, who think that God will keep the City, for which they themselves are not careful to watch? The husband man must not burn his plough, nor the Merchant forsake his trade, because God hath promised, I will not forsake thee: Hebr: 13. and the faithful Christian must attend hearing, reading, praying, that he fall not into temptation. The meaning of Christ in these words, Father, keep them in thy name, is not, that we should be careless to keep ourselves; and so happy is he whose faith hath made him the child of God: nothing shall change his heart, overthrow his faith, alter his affection towards God, or the affection of God to him. Who can make a separation between him and God? Rom. 8. He knoweth in whom he hath believed, and who hath shed his blood for him. Labour then to keep the assurance of thy faith unto the end, and by labour through the gracious mediation of Christ keep it. CON. 71. We need not fear sin, for Christ hath abolished it for ever. EXPLA. This is true, and everlasting verity hath folded it up; for howsoever we fear and tremble, yet before the Lord, Col. 3.4. with whom our life is hid, there is not peril, but peace; not fear, but righteousness without end: let our sins be never so great, neither we nor our sins can change the new Testament, that God is merciful to our sins, jer. 31. and will remember our iniquities no more. Therefore this care is past, that our sins be many; the more they are, the greater is his mercy who hath forgiven them. And this is the token which God hath given us, that we are his, because we are grieved with our sins; for Christ overcame sin with sufferings which belong unto it: Hebr. 2. and this is the badge of our redemption, to be made like him in afflictions: Rom. 8. we have sin and abhor it, we have sense and feeling of God's anger against it, and hell gapeth upon our souls because of it; all is well, this is a blessed state, this was the Image of Christ when he overcame sin; a mark of my redemption in my own flesh, that I should not faint: for as the Sun maketh day, and the night darkness, so this affliction for sin, is the badge, and cognisance of our certain forgiveness. And now see the good of God, which turneth all things to the best to those that love him: Rom. 8. through fear of sin the Devil fighteth against us; without fear of sin we could never have boldness: through anguish of heart the Devil would overwhelm us with sorrow; without anguish of heart we could never have joy. In feeling God's anger, the Devil would make us to despair: without feeling his threatening, and trembling before him, we could never have strength of faith, that his mercies are for ever. In all sufferings I am like to Christ: they are marks of my adoption, that I am his child; for if we be without chastisements, Heb. 12. then are we bastards and not sons: and what chastisements be these? He saith, Rom. 6. If we be planted with him in the similitude of his death, then shall we be also partakers of his Resurrection. Then as thou needest not care for sin, for it is abolished; so needst thou not care for hell, for the nearer we feel it, the further we are from it. Let them fear sin that feel it not, and let them be afraid of condemnation that know not what it is: our eyes have been kept waking, and we have feene our sins; our hearts have fainted before the anger of the Lord, and we have not despised our heavenly calling: therefore in the day of trouble we shall have rest, when destruction shall come upon the secure like an armed man; & God most glorious Lord of lords although he make sickness his messenger, and death his minister, till he shall destroy them both: yet his mercies are unspeakable that forgiveth us all our sins, Psal. 103. his goodness is great who hath regard to the children of men. Psal. 8. CON. 72. All trouble should be rather matter of joy, than displeasure. EXPLA. This is our prayer, thy will be done, Mat. 6. we must be contented with all he hath done, that our hearts may bear us witness, that of all things the Lord is most dear unto us: for if we give our heart to love the Lord, our troubles shall seem neither great nor strong unto us; for what can be great if our heart be prepared to say, We rejoice in afflictions, Rom. 5. because they shall breed in us a hope which shall never make us ashamed? o● what can be great, if God hath taught us, that the momentany afflictions of this world, Rom. 8. they are not worthy of the glory that shall be revealed unto us: or what can be great if we can rejoice in afflictions, jam. 1. rejoice exceedingly when we fall into many and great tribulations? All is but vanity, what should dismay us? Nay, how should we not be glad if death were even at our bed sides, that we might even once see the utmost malice of the Devil, and after for ever be delivered from him? O! how God is delighted with us, when we be faithful to abide these light chastisements! Heb. 12. How many things have all the ●odly suffered? are we not ashamed to refuse the cross which they have borne? yea, weight well thy case what it is, and thou shalt fee little cause of sorrow in it; or if thou compare it with others, none at all: and it all things were as evil as thou couldst imagine, what then? Where is our love to jesus Christ, that gave his precious blood to the death upon the Cross for our sakes, if we will not leave all for him? One hair cannot fall from our head but at his commandment; He is head of his Church, and all things happen they not unto us as he will? Only when we sin, let us be sorrowful to offend such a Saviour, let it grieve us more than death itself; but to remember again so assured hope, we cannot but rejoice in the Lord, Ph●l. 4. and always rejoice: so let Gods will persuade you, that whether you live, or whether you die, you may be wholly his. The world hath taken up enmity against us, and striveth daily to separate us from the Lord: but there is no joy to this, that we know ourselves to be the children of God, to be joined to jesus Christ, and made a chief member of a glorious body, with whom we shall be joined for ever. And what is this world to immortality? What are fullness of delights to the grace of God, the fellowship of Saints, the forgiveness of our sins, the love of God's countenance, the assurance of our life, the brightness of his glory, and these unutterable eternal blessings? Let us count then all things dung, that we may win Christ, desire to be dissolved and be with Christ, that we may say, O death where is thy sting? All things of the world are but servants of death, and serve to make his power more fearful unto us: vanquish death, and thou hast vanquished all: height and depth, life and death, all is ours, and we are Christ's. CON. 73. To confess sin and not to hide it, is a ready way to salvation, & advancement of God's glory. EXPLA. Satan is enemy to us, and his sleights are many: tread Satan under foot, and triumph with Christ, so shalt thou shame the Devil: For he that hideth his sins shall never prosper, Prou. 28. but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. To Achan joshua said, I beseech thee give glory to God, and show me what thou hast done. This is to give glory to God, to confess. So did David acknowledge his iniquity: the Israelites before their absolution and forgiveness, confessed to the Priest, and thereafter their sins were laid on the beasts. Adam did cloak his sin, but we must be borne anew: So did Cain, but we are of a better kindred than he. God will once reveal the secrets of hearts, and then we shall rejoice, that there is nothing of ours hid: better to receive the reproach of flesh, and after receive the glory of God. john his preaching began at confession: the prodigal Son called heaven and earth to witness his impiety: Paul did ever tell us he was a persecutor: the Thief entered not into Paradise, till he first in the hearing of Israel, said, We are rightly punished, and receive things worthy of that we have done. This than touched the glory of God, and therefore we must forsake the love of ourself; we must not dissemble with him that cannot be mocked, in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee, I will declare thy Name unto my brethren, saith Christ. God's graces must neither be locked up in our hearts, but will burn within like fire: I have believed, therefore I spoke. A fire (I say) shut up in our bones, we shall be weary with forbearing; I will speak thy name before Kings, and will not be ashamed. CON. 74. God hath given his Elect, as a free gift to Christ. EXPLA. The Apostle telleth us, Behold the children which thou hast given me: Heb. 2. This teacheth us to acknowledge his gift and grace, and not any wisdom in us, why he would choose us; or any constancy in us by which we would cleave unto him; but God in his grace drew us, that we might come unto him, and with his power he strengtheneth us that we should abide with him: All that my Father giveth unto me, cometh unto me; and the reason is, because my Father hath given them to me, and he is greater than all: and he prayeth oftentimes in that long prayer, for them that believe, because his Father hath given them unto him: that we may be taught humility, that in us, that is, in our flesh, there dwelleth no goodness, but that he chose us, he did it of his free grace and mercy, which he would show unto us: and as we know, that once God hath freely given us unto Christ, so we know our election standeth sure, because it is according to his promise who hath loved us for ever. CON. 75. To know the sufserings of Christ aright, is our greatest consolation. EXPLA. Christ suffered the death, over which the Devil had power; the same death which is the reward of sin, by bearing it, he overcame it, and he conquered no more than he submitted himself unto; for by death he overcame death: Heb. 2. and he hath broken the force of it, no further than he had felt the sting of it in himself; for body and soul he was made a sacrifice sor our sins, My soul is heavy unto death: Mat. 26.56 yea he was astonished at his grief, at the very entry at it, for his sweat was drops of blood falling from h●m, Mar. 14.33 and God sent an Angel from heaven to comfort him. Luk. 22.44. Was this for the death of his body? His servants that receive of his fullness, do they not easily despise this death? that either they desire to be with Christ, or rejoice in the midst of it before the persecutor. The Apostles did sing in prison; Paul gloried in his tribulations, which were many. And did he cry out, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Here is no comparison, that which made him tremble would have crushed them; that which made him sweat blood, would have made them sink into the bottom of hell; and that which made him cry, would have held both Angels and men under everlasting woe. But Christ was as water poured out, Psalm. 22. and all his bones out of joint; his heart like wax molted in the midst of his bowels; his strength was dried up like a potsherd, and his tongue cleaved unto his jaws; he was brought with his sorrows to the dust of death, 1. Pe 1.2.24 for he bore our sins in his body; he submitted himself to the death of them, and by the wounds of his stripes we be healed. For our sins deserved not only a bodily, but also a second death in hell fire: he suffered the torments of body, and the anguish of the soul: the wrath of his Father, which wounded his flesh & spirit unto death, would have holden him in that condemnation for ever, if he had not been stronger than we, that had deserved it: but being the Son of God, in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwelled bodily, the eternal Spirit that was within him, did lose the chains of death and hell, of which it was impossible that he should be holden; and hath left his enemies the Devil, death, and hell, in ignominy and darkness, and hath abolished them for ever. CON. 76. We are presented faultless before the presence of God's glory, by being made one with Christ. EXPLA. Of Christ only is it true, This is my well-beloved Son in whom I am well pleased: this is the Salvation we have by him, to be grafted in him, and made partakers of his life. All the faithful before Christ, were righteous in him; for we must leave all our works in the earth where they were done, and they must dye with the corruptible hands and feet, with which they are wrought: we must go naked and bare, and offer nothing but that which is Christ's; yea, ourselves we must present in his body, for in our own persons we cannot possibly be accepted. Even as the Vine branch can have no life except it abide in the body of the Vine; no more we either life or righteousness, except we be, and abide in Christ. He is our substance, and being in the inheritance of glory; his righteousness is ours, his love ours, his life our life, his Spirit our spirit, of his fullness we receive all. This is a great mystery which the eye seeth not, nor heart can understand: yet it is a real joining with him, faith comprehendeth it; and when we shall see that wisdom which is called unity in one person, God and man, we shall see the wisdom which hath made us all, the body of that head and members, one of another; In him he is well pleased (I say) with us. If that covenant wherein it was once promised to Abraham, to give a land unto the jews; and all their rebellion could not falsify his promise; in him we have a covenant greater and better, therefore let us trust unto his promise, which cannot change his grace, nor repent him of his mercy for ever; for this is a holy covenant which shall not be broken: but God will make all our enemies our footstools, 1. Cor. 15. and will surely take us up into his glory: and briefly, the presence of God to which Christ leadeth us, is a throne of Grace; Heb. 4. for by his merits we be brought unto God as before a judge, who from his tribunal Seat doth acquit us for ever, of his own grace and free mercy: For whosoever looketh to be justified by any other thing, the Lord can no more show mercy unto him, than he can change the property of his judgement seat, to make it no more the Throne of Grace. CON. 77. A perfect beauty of all excellent love, appeareth in the great work of Christ's mediation; for he became man. Secondly, He was ordained to accomplish whatsoever was between God and man. Thirdly, This was given to Christ by God, both by word and by oath, and all was to have compassion on us. EXPLA. Neither Angel, nor Archangel, nor Principalities, nor Powers, can do this work, to present flesh and blood unto the Majesty of God, when themselves are but spirits. He took not the Angel's nature, Hebr: 2. but the seed of Abraham. But in his sufferings his love is most evident, in that it was so fervent, and so deeply rooted, that neither fear nor trembling, nor any anguish of spirit, could make him shake: nor the force of death, nor any bloody sweats, could pull it out of his bowels: & this is the depth of the Gospel, which the Angels do desire to behold: it skilleth not how many our sins are, and how great in our eyes; the Lord will scatter them as the clouds from the heavens, and they shall not turn away his loving countenance from us: if our sins be as scarlet, and not ours only, but the sins of the whole world, they rested all upon Christ; he prayeth for deliverance, and hath obtained: and therefore we may say with boldness, forgive us our trespasses. We than which are laden but with our own sins, should lift up our hearts in the great assurance of hope, and hear with joyfulness the word of promise, I Heb. 8.12. will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and I will remember their sins and iniquities no more. There is nothing comparable to his passions, by whose stripes we are healed, and therefore may be fully persuaded, Rom. 8. that nothing shall separate us from the love of God in Christ: for the Lord hath appointed to give to all that mourn in Zion, beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, Esay 61.3. the garment of gladness, for the spirit of heaviness: for he was wounded for our transgressions, Esay 53.5. and broken for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him: his prayers are ours, his supplications for us, available for more sins than we are able to commit. This is the victory that shall overcome the world, even our faith. For his Father hath broken him with one breaking upon another, so he kindled his wrath against him, and accounted him as one of his enemies; he cried out aloud in silence, he could find no ease, his face was wrinkled with weeping, and the shadow of death was upon his eyes: when he was the brightness of glory, and the Sun of Righteousness, that shined in the world; yet to see his days as it were at an end, and his erterprises broken, his careful thoughts to be so deep graven in his breast, that they changed even the day into night unto him, and all light that approached into darkness. When his excellency was such above all creatures, that the world was not worthy to give him breath, yet he to be made a worm and not a man, a shame of men, Psalm. 22. and contempt of the people, all that saw him to have him in derision, and to shut up his life in shame and reproaches, so unworthy a reward of so precious a servant. He was righteous above measure, yet was he accounted among the wicked: and briefly, he was called a glutton, but had his appetites bridled with all holy moderation; his behaviour without all reproof, yet slandered as a friend of Publicans: he loved the Law of his Father, that he would not suffer one jot or title unaccomplished, yet accused as enemy to Moses: he loved his Father with all his heart, and was obedient unto him to the death, even the death of the Cross, yet they said he blasphemed: He was an enemy to Satan even to death, and by death overcame him that brought death into the world: Heb. 2. he hated him with so perfect hatred, and held steadfast the enmity that was between them, until he had spoilt his principalities and powers, and trampled over them in an everlasting victory; yet they said he had a devil: such a loathsome sink was covered in the heart of man, and now the thoughts of many hearts made open. Luk 2. And if Moses, jeremiah, Isaiah, and Paul, had sorrow for the jews of their time, how did Christ's great love boil in sorrows of heart, to see their destructions over whom before he had wept, but prayed still, Father forgive them, for they know not what they do? Behold therefore his person here, and know his love: it was grief to see all virtue trodden under feet by them; and yet it was more infinite to behold Satan to prevail against man to his everlasting condemnation: and which is more, the sin that he hateth be must take it upon his own body, and bear the wrath of his Father that was poured out against it: the anger of his Father burned in him, even unto the bottom of hell: O! who can stand before his wrath, Nah. 1.6. or who can abide the fierceness of his wrath? his wrath is poured out like fire, and the Rocks are broken before him! Yea, maketh the forlorn wilderness to tremble! For thus the Sun is darkened, the Moon doth not show her light, the Stars of heaven doth fall away, and the powers of heaven are shaken. here than is the picture of perfect love; being full of goodness, is rewarded of evil; full of obedience, is punished as wicked; full of faith, yet had the reward of a sinner; Lord of all, yet nothing to do him duty; the God of glory, yet compassed with shame; the Author of life, yet wrapped in the chains of death; the only begotten and best beloved of the Father, yet cast off as a stranger; the beauty of the highest heavens, yet thrown down into hell; well might he say, The snares of death compassed me, and the pains of hell took hold upon me, I have found trouble and sorrow: he did say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? CON. 78. We know then best, how we love the Lord, when we feel by experience, what we will suffer for hts sake. EXPLA. It is an easy thing to be valiant before the combat; to dream of a good courage before the heart be tried: but indeed, to be vnshaken in the midst of the tempest, & to stand upright when the ground trembleth under thee: this is to know assuredly thou art strong indeed. The heaven, earth, elements, were Christ's enemies; his Father in whom he trusted, showed him an angry countenance: yet said he still, Thy will be done, O Father. We must account it for an exceeding joy when we sal● into sundry troubles: for what can be more joyful to the heart oppressed, then to give this in experience, that neither height nor depth, shall remove him from the Lord? This was Abraham's glory, that he would forsake his Country, and kindred, Genes. 12. and father's house, at the commandment of God, to go whither he would show him. job his patience was not thoroughly known, till all his goods were spoilt: and we must have witness that our election is sure, when we may speak by experience, that neither life nor death can remove us from the love of God. Thus the good ground is known what it is, when the heat cannot scorch it, nor briers and thorns turn the good corn into weeds, but through all storms it will give nourishment unto the seed, till it give greater increase to God's honour and glory. This is a profitable experience, for before it come unto us, we know not how great the rebellion of the flesh will be. The Apostles bragged, they would never forsake their Master, he alone had the words of eternal life, and they would not change him for another: they believed him, that they knew him to be the Christ, the Son of the living God, and there was no other Saviour: but when they saw the Cross at hand, their courage fell down, they forsook him all. Peter said, he would dye for him, drew his sword, that he had almost slain one, but this boldness was but a blast of words, he swore he knew him not. So experience is the greatest warrant to know what ourselves can bear. The Lord and our duty requireth, that we should approve ourselves the witnesses of the Gospel, in patience, in afflictions, in honour, in dishonour, in shame, in life, in death; but how violently the flesh will fight against us, we cannot well declare till we have made the trial. And therefore in grief of body learn to say with patience, I have held my peace, O Lord, because thou hast done it: If thy mind be full of sorrow, say, I will wait patiently upon the Lord's leisure, he will hear my prayer. CON. 79. We should not be discouraged under the Cross, since Christ is the pattern whose similitude we bear. EXPLA. Those whom God hath foreknown, he hath also predestinated to be made like unto the image of his Son. Death once reigned through sin, and he hath found a way to rise from it again, into greater glory. This victory because it was too great for Saint or Angel to obtain, he had appointed it to be the work of his only begotten Son: he took upon him our nature, to make, and in his own person he filled it with the fullness of miseries, with all sorrows of flesh, with all anguish of mind, with persecution, with death, with sin, with hell, with condemnation: and from all these, by the mighty power of his Godhead, he is risen again in our flesh, ascended up into glory, and sitteth on the right hand of Majesty, being a mighty Saviour unto every one that shall follow him. So that this is our glory in afflictions, we are fashioned by them into the similitude of Christ, and we are made like unto him. So it pleased God when he would bring many children unto glory, to consecrate the Prince of their salvation through afflictions, Heb. 2. and to make both him that sanctifieth, and them that are sanctified all one, that they that suffer with him, should also live with him. So we when we feel many troubles to rest upon us, we may say, now we are like unto Christ; especially when we feel the greatest trouble, the mind oppressed, it maketh us like unto him: and to say, Now we supply in our flesh the remnant of the afflictions of Christ, in nothing in this world, as wealth, honour, etc. can I behold the lively Image of Christ. Affliction and trouble, a mind broken with the remembrance of sin, a troubled spirit, horrors of death, and a conscience burdened with the wrath of God: here light shines out of darkness, and hope out of despair. When I think myself furthest off from the Lord, them am I nearest unto him: and when I think myself fullest of confusion, than the Image of Christ is most lively within me. The Lord may hide his face for a while for a moment in his anger, a● he did from Christ, but he will return unto me with everlasting mercies, for the Image of his Son is clear within me. 2. Cor. 4. We are afflicted one every side, but not so as that we are shut from hope; we are in poverty, but not overcome with poverty: we are persecuted, but not forsaken; we are cast down, but we perish not; we are troubled in all things, fightings without, and terrors without, but God that comforteth the abjects, he will comfort us. Unto this he hath predestinated us, that we should be like unto his Son in afflictions, and so be glorified with him in the day of honour. CON. 80. God sendeth us sundry chastisements, especially the anguish of heart, and affliction of the soul, that we should be warned, how to be free from the plague, when it cometh. EXPLA. The judgements of God daily preached unto us, pierce deep into the hearts of the true believers, and the word that they hear, it worketh mightily in them, Heb. 4. more sharp in their ears then a two edged sword, and it entereth through them even to the dividing asunder of the soul, and of the spirit, and of the joints, and of the marrow, and examines all the thoughts and the intents of the heart: so that it is impossible that any part of them should be hid, but they are all open unto judgement, and hear the voice of the Lord. Then their sin is revived in the midst of their bowels, their conscience hath no rest, they feel death working in their hearts, and hell is before them: they see sin on their right hand, and Satan on the left; shame under their feet, and an angry judge above them; the world full of destruction without, and a worm gnawing the heart within: the poor sinner knoweth not what to do, to hide himself it is impossible, and to appear it is intolerable: then he breaketh out into loud crying, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Rom. 7. He giveth no rest unto his eyes, nor sleep unto his eyelids, until he find that, which is able to save him from this wrath. In his bed by night he seeketh him whom his soul loveth: Can. 3. in the streets and open places he enquireth after him, and after many days in which he cannot find him, Christ showeth himself at the last, a perpetual deliverer, a victorious Lion of the Tribe of juda, in whom he hath strong salvation: when he hath mourned because of the plague that was before him, Christ will approach near, and wipe away all the tears from his eyes. So said he: When I heard the word of God, my belly trembled, Hab. 3.16 my lips shaken at the voice, rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself that I might find rest in the day of trouble. So is it with us all, the plagues of God because they are pronounced against iniquity maketh the child of God to fear, that foreseeing the harm he might prepare himself. For though Christ hi● himself at the first, the wounded spirit and troubled spirit must needs find him out. We are full of grief, but we are chastised of the Lord, because we should not be condemned with the world: we die with Christ, 1. Cor. 11. because we should live with him; we lament and weep, but because Christ might wipe away all tears from our eyes: we are delivered unto death for jesus sake, but because the life of jesus should be manifest in our flesh. We bear about us the mortification of our Lord jesus, but because also the life of jesus might be manifest in our bodies. We have anguish of spirit and vexation of mind, for this cause, that when destruction shall come upon the careless world, we might lift up our heads, and behold our redemption at hand: let us then in patience poffesse our souls, for, for these causes we are now afflicted, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need: and for this cause we tremble and are afraid, that after many prayers we might be delivered from the things which we have feared. CON. 81. That our life is in the hand of God, that we should not be pleased with it, but as it pleaseth him, ready to lay it down when it pleaseth him. EXPLA. This is the great commandment, to love God above all, and this is the greatest obedience required of man, to be ready to dye at the will of God. Against this commandment the nature of man striveth, the delights of this life rise against it, we are loath to make our beds in the dark: we would see the Sun, our ears would hear worldly elements; our flesh indeed is grass, yet grass hath a flower, and our frail bodies have vanishing fantasies, agreeable unto them, from which we cannot be pulled away. So patriarchs and Prophets were afraid: yea, Peter and Paul loved that life which they saw in hope, but they did feel the death, which did fight in their members; they were men as we are, yet obtained at last, to be dissolved and be with Christ. If we be weaker than they, the graces of God shall be more exalted in us, and we shall also say at the last, Let thy servant, O Lord, depart in peace. And ●●ough we fear for a little ●●ile, yet fear shall be cast out, and we shall say with a free spirit, O death, where is thy sting? Our greatest enemy & last, is trodden under our feet; what else can hurt us? The Lord of life hath crushed him in pieces under us. It is a blessed day that bringeth us into this battle, a blessed sickness that maketh us endure this fight; and most blessed end, in which we get victory. This doth he who said, O death I will be thy death; for while we live, we live in him, and no man can take our joy from us: and when we die, we die in him and then death shall be no more death; for then the burden of sin, the malice of the Devil, and terror of hell shall cease. All things that fill with joy shall be full within us; as the fellowship of Saints and Angels, the forgiveness of sins, the Resurrection of the body, and life everlasting, etc. yea, and the God of glory. Our eyes shall be enlightened with a pure faith, and we shall think our time weariness, if then our time were prolonged, and be a sojourner in this body, in which we are strangers from the presence of the Lord. And the nearer our time approacheth, the gladder we shall be of the end of our journey, when our heart shal● feel it: For when the earthly house of this Tabernacle shallbe destroyed, we have a building given of God, a house not made with hands, but eternal in the heavens, where the God of all mercy, and Father of our Lord jesus Christ shall be before us for ever. There we shall see the patriarchs of whom we have heard so much; the Prophets whom we have loved; the Apostles whose society we wish for; where our time shall not be tedious, and glory have no change: O happy days that shall never end! O blessed inheritance that shall never waste! There shall be no more sorrow, nor crying, etc. For the first things are past, and what have we here that can please us? Fear of our enemy, grief in poverty, pain in labour, care in riches, unstedfaftnesse in friendship, envy in Authority, emulation in Honour, change in Nobility, fear in a Kingdom, what but vexation of spirit in all things that is under the Sun? So true it is, Vanity of vanities, and all is but vanity. What then can disquiet us, if in the face of Christ jesus, we see our rising again from the grave? Who hath given us inheritance in pleasant places, and our portion in a happy lot: the dead man feareth no evil, he is only bitter to them that have peace in their riches: then we shallbe bold to say, Surely the Lord will deliver me from the snare of the hunter, and from the noisome pestilence: Ps. 91. etc. I shall not be afraid of the fear of the night, nor of the arrow that flieth by day, nor of the pestilence that walketh in the darkness, nor of the plague that destroyeth a● noon: I have set the most high to be my refuge, and there shall no evil come near my tabernacle. For among the dead I have seen Christ, and in the grave I have found the glory of God; and therefore do say, Let me dye with the righteous, and let my latter end be as unto him: for Christ is my life, & death is my advantage: why then should we not desire to see the loving kindness of the Lord, which is better than life: Yea, Psal. 42.1. as the heart longeth after the water brooks, so our souls long to see the Lord. Lord grant we may have even here our conversation in heaven, from thence looking for a Saviour, even jesus Christ the righteous, who shall change this corruptible body, to make it like to his glorious body, in that blessed time which shall scatter away all affliction, and seal within us the happy assurance of immortality, which shall be in the presence of the God of Grace. Amen. FINIS.