THE BLESSEDNES OF MARIE the Mother of IESVS.
LONDON, Printed by RICHARD FIELD dwelling in Great Woodstreete. 1618.
TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL AND WORTHY LADIE, Ladie DOROTHY ZOVCH, the vertuous wife of Sir EDWARD ZOVCH Knight, at Oking: IOHN SHAW desireth increase of all true comfort here, and hereafter euerlasting blessednesse.
THe Scripture of truth, wherein the mysteries of Religion are treasured vp, hath three (amongst others) not a litle more eminent, most worthie of our daylie and holiest meditations. They are by some called, Bernardus in Vigilia Natalis. The wonders of wonders, & are in themselues most admirable, and surpassing [Page] comfortable for vse, manifested by the Highest, Ioh. Heid feldius. for the sure blessednesse of all Gods children, without which, all men had perished eternally. Not to speake of the blessed Trinitie, the greatest of all mysteries; the three here meant, are three Vnions, or Couplings in one, of things in themselues most different.
The first is, the Vnion of the Godhead to Manhood, in the person of Iesus Christ, whereby he is God and man, Immanuel, God with vs.
The second is, the Coupling of Motherhood and Virginitie in one woman, the blessed Marie, whereby her Sonne is called The Sonne of man.
The third is, the begetting of Sauing-faith, in the soule of sinfull man, whereby a sonne of Adam, becometh a childe of God, an heire of saluation.
The first, and third of these mysteries, are ioyntlie declared by Paul, in these words: Great is the mysterie of [Page] godlinesse; 1. Tim. 3.16. God was manifested in the flesh. — Beleeued on in the world.
The second was foretold by the Prophet Isaiah: Isa. 7.14. Behold a Virgine shall conceiue and beare a Sonne.
These are comfortable secrets, which none fruitfully know but the Lords heritage, that are taught by his Spirit. These manifest how God is neare vnto vs, and dwelleth with vs, and in vs, as in his holy Tabernacle. These are the appointed means of our saluation and blessednes. These mysteries so high, and holy, must be sought into by humble and earnest prayer, with much reuerence of heart, by reading, hearing, and intentiue meditation; we must beleeue them, and reioyce greatly in the sound and lasting consolation they bring vnto vs.
When man by his sinne was wofully fallen from God, and the blessednesse wherein he was set, and by his Apostasie, [Page] had cast himselfe and his posteritie into the state of damnation: then, euen then did God manifest his vnspeakeable loue in restoring him againe into the fauour of his Creator, and to the hope of a greater blisse then that which he had lost. It was agreeable to the Lords holynesse, for manifesting his mercy and iustice, that as man made the fault, so man should make the amends. But man alone could not do it, (the Creator onely could repaire the creature.) God therefore becometh man, that so he might throughly do it. And he was manifested in the flesh, (not for a small time, as he appeared to the Patriarches,) but the second Person in Trinitie, Iohn. 1.14. The WORD, euen the only begotten of the Father, was made flesh, and dwelt among vs, full of grace and truth. That man might be made partaker of the diuine nature, & enioy eternall peace with God: The Captaine of our saluation tooke not on him [Page] the nature of Angels, Heb. 2.16. but he to tooke on him the seed of Abraham; in all things it behoued him to be made like his brethren, that he might be a mercifull and faithfull High-priest, in things pertaining to God, to make Reconciliation for the sinnes of the people. This is the first, high, glorious, and comfortable mysterie.
The second craueth of vs like holy admiration and firme faith. Will God dwell in a Tabernacle? in a Temple? or as Salomon saith: 1. King. 8.27. Wil God indeed dwell on the earth? will he that made the heauens, take flesh of the wombe of a Virgine? haue her indeed to be his mother, and yet she continue a pure and vndefiled maide? Yes assuredly, & it is a wonder without all example, and a miraculous worke of him, Psal. 146.4. that alone worketh wonders. Motherhood and virginitie meete in Marie, the most blessed of women, & in her alone. And hath correspondencie, to that admirable [Page] Creation in the beginning, where Eue, the mother of all liuing, was miraculously made out of the side of man alone: so of the wombe of a woman alone, was borne the holy Messiah, euen Iesus Christ our Lord, for the fulfilling of the Couenant of grace, which God made with man. The womans seede shall bruise the serpents head. Gen. 3.15. This is the second secret, and high mysterie of Christian Religion.
The third wonder is, that faith and mans soule so meet, that man who is a sinfull sonne of Adam; by faith becometh a child of God, according as it is written: Gal. 3.26. — Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Iesus.
Here we may take vp Dauids words, and say: Psal. 144.3. Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him, or the sonne of man, that thou makest account of him? The difficultie of sound beleeuing in the Messiah the Sauiour of his elect, and the wonderfull mercy [Page] of God in that rare grace, will better appeare, if we call to minde, how that euen in Paradise, man beleeued not God, (when he said, Gen. 2.17. Thou shalt die the death:) and did beleeue the diuel, Gen. 3.4. (Ye shall not surely die.) Now that man is fallen from integrity, and captiued in Originall and Actuall sin, to beleeue a promise of eternall life, that God will make him an heire of heauen, for Iesus sake, is aboue all humane learning, sense and reason. And this hope and confidence is onely in that litle flocke, where Gods Spirit doth powerfully worke it. How few beleeue, Isaiah complaineth: Isa. 53.1. — Who hath beleeued our report? and to whom is the arme of the Lord reuealed? How great a work of God, faith is, Paul witnesseth: — Who beleeue according to the working of his mighty power, Ephes. 1.19 which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead. Certainlie as there was a darknesse in all Egypt, [Page] that might be felt: Exod. 10.22. but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings: Euen so all the chosen Israel of God now, haue Christ the light of the world dwelling in their hearts by faith. But the whole world of Hypocrites and vnbeleeuers, loue darknesse and abide in it for euermore.
Hereupon it followeth, that Iewes, Turkes, Pagans, Vnbeleeuers, and Hypocrites, who haue no communion by faith with the Sonne of God manifested in the flesh, abide vnder the curse and wrath of the Almighty. But the chosen litle flocke, to whom the mysteries of Christs kingdome are known, who soundly, and with all their heart, beleeue in Iesus Christ the Son of God, conceiued by the holy Ghost, borne of the virgine Mary; that he the promised Messiah, is their king, priest, and prophet, and by his obedience vnto death, hath wrought their full Redemption, and made their reconciliation with [Page] God: these through faith in his bloud, haue Christs righteousnesse imputed to them for the attaining of saluation; these haue a ioy glorious and vnspeakable; these cleaue to God in true holines; and in the end, for this their Mediators sake, receiue a crowne of righteousnesse, and the blessednesse promised that lasteth euermore.
This litle Treatise will so far lay open, & vnfold these three profound mysteries, as may giue occasion to the well-minded readers, to make further search into so high, holy, and necessarie doctrines, as are primary pillars of true Religion.
And now, worthie Madame, in that I commend vnto you, my poore endeuours contained in this litle booke, it is out of a good desire, to further you in the best things, to procure you some litle helpe, to get greater increase of the chiefe blessings; to cast in my myte by writing also, to adde that way somewhat [Page] to your spirituall treasure, of knowledge, holinesse, and comfort, as one desirous to be thankfull to God for his manifold mercis to you, in that since your coming among vs, you make it daily euident, that you haue a hearty loue to true Religion; and take much comfort in the Ministery, and publike worship of God established: as also that by your good example, & blamelesse conuersation, you grace your holy profession, going before many, in many Christian duties. Assure your selfe, your careful labouring to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ, will giue you an heauen vpon earth, and shall be your crowne in the day of the Lord: when all those that suffer their hearts to be stolen away from God and godlinesse, by excessiue cares or pleasures of this world, shall haue their sorrowes come vpon them like armed men, and their end shall be fully miserable. Mind you it well, I pray [Page] you; Eccl. 8.12. Though a sinner do euill an hundred times, and his daies be prolonged, yet surely I know, that it shall be well with them that feare God, which feare before him. But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his dayes, which are as a shadow, because he feareth not before God. Earnestly, & constantly seeke after those lasting ioyes, where is mirth without all mourning, life without vexation; eternall happinesse, by a blessed communion with the eternall God, who wil be all in all to them that loue him.
Passe ouer no day, wherein you call not to minde, the many, sweete, free blessings of the almighty, bestowed vpon you; but by them prouoke your selfe to offer to him, the heartiest sacrifice of thanksgiuing that you can attaine to, accōpanied with hūble, faithful, feruent prayers, for increase of his best blessings to you and yours; that your happinesse [Page] begun here, may be continued euerlastingly. Act. 20.32. And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you vp, and to giue you an inheritance, among all them which are sanctified. 1. Thes. 5.23. And the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout, and I pray God, your whole spirit, and soule, and bodie, be preserued blamelesse, vnto the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ.
Amen.
THE BLESSEDNES OF THE VIRGIN MARIE, the Mother of our Lord IESVS CHRIST.
THE holie Euangelist Saint Luke, Luke 1.28 writing the miraculous Incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ, that is, his wonderfull Conception and Birth: describeth the messenger that manifested these glad tidings, to be the Angell Gabriel; the woman that should be mother to Iesus, by name Marie, by condition a Virgin, affianced [Page 2] to Ioseph, of the house of Dauid; the place of their dwelling Nazareth, a towne of Galile in the land of Iudaea; the time, in the dayes of Augustus Caesar: the child to be conceiued and borne of her, by name Iesus; by office and dignitie, a King ouer the house of Iacob for euer; by nature the Sonne of the eternall God; by speciall fauour, and in regard of his humane nature, the sonne of the Virgin Marie, conceiued in her wombe, the holie Ghost comming vpon her, and the power of the Highest ouershadowing her, & she thrice by holy Oracle, assured, that she is exceedingly blessed.
The Virgin Marie, lineally descending from the royall Kings of Israel, found grace and fauour with God, was freely beloued of him, precious and honorable in his sight; had great honour put vpon her, was exceedingly blessed by Gods speciall [Page 3] loue to her, euen blessed aboue all women.
Maries blessednesse is twofold.
The first is singular and proper to her selfe, a prerogatiue granted to her alone, and neuer to any other creature: euen to be the Mother of Iesus Christ the Sauiour of all the Elect, the mother of Emmanuel, God-with-vs, euen God manifested in the flesh. Thus saith Gabriel from heauen, Blessed art thou among women, Luke 1.28 thus saith holy Elizabeth on earth: Blessed art thou among women, 42. and blessed is the fruite of thy wombe.
The second is, that hauing obtained like precious faith with the Saints in the common saluation, she with them, abiding in the truth of Religion, did beleeue, and waite for the promised Messiah, and her owne saluation by him; as in her holy prophecie [Page 4] she acknowledgeth: Luke 1.47. My soule reioyceth in God my Sauiour. She had also a peculiar proper holy faith, in a peculiar promise which was made to her alone, Gen. 3.15.12.3. which was, That the blessed seede, in whom all the families of the earth should be blessed, should be her seede; that the Sonne of God would become her sonne, and be borne of her wombe; and of these, holy Elizabeth, the mother of Iohn Baptist, Luke 1.45. saith: Blessed is shee that beleeued.
Blessed art thou among all women.
The singular blessednesse and rare prerogatiue, that Marie at once is a maide and a mother, beareth a sonne, and is still a Virgine; is both a daughter of God, and a mother of the Sonne of God; is a wonder of wonders, a strange miracle, glorious and comfortable: not fruitfully beleeued [Page 5] of any but of them that are taught of God, who maketh knowne the mysteries of his kingdome to babes and little ones, according to the good pleasure of his wil: and this part of the sauing truth, he writeth in our hearts by his Spirit, and the manifestation of it is in his word, thus recorded by the Euangelist Saint Luke.
In the sixt moneth, Luke 1.26. the Angell Gabriel was sent from God, vnto a Citie of Galile named Nazareth, to a Virgine espoused to a man, whose name was Ioseph, of the house of Dauid, and the Virgins name was Marie, and the Angell came in vnto her and said; Haile, thou that art highly fauoured, the Lord is with thee: Blessed art thou among women. Thou hast found fauour with God, and behold, thou shalt conceiue in thy wombe, and bring forth a sonne, and call his name Iesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Sonne of [Page 6] the Highest, and the Lord God shall giue vnto him the throne of his father Dauid, and he shall reigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer: and of his kingdome there shall be no end. Then said Marie to the Angell, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the Angell answered and said vnto her: The holy Ghost shall come vpon thee, and the power of the Highest shall ouershadow thee: therefore also that holy thing, which shall be borne of thee, shall be called the Sonne of God. And behold thy cosin Elizabeth, she also hath conceiued a sonne in her old age, and this is the sixt moneth with her who was called barren: For with God nothing shall be vnpossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaide of the Lord, be it vnto mee according to thy word.
This most ioyfull wonder, that God will dwell with man, be man, be borne of a Virgine, is the first sweete Prophesie, and gracious couenant, [Page 7] that God made to man in Paradise. Gen. 3.15. The womans seede shall bruise the serpents head: that is, Iesus Christ, the seede and sonne of the Virgine Marie, shall destroy the diuell (that spake by the serpent) and his kingdome, and worke mans full deliuerance, and eternall blessednesse. This worke of God, so strange and glorious, is the fulfilling of the prophesie of Isaiah: Isa. 7.14. A Virgine shall conceiue, and beare a sonne, and she shall call his name Emmanuel; for in the fulnes of time appointed by the Lord, The word was made flesh, Ioh 1.14. and dwelt among vs, full of grace and truth: euen he who is holy, harmelesse, vndefiled, Heb. 7.26. separate from sinners, and made higher then the heauens. The holy God, that of old declared himselfe from aboue the Mercie-seate in the Tabernacle, Exod. 25.22. Heb. 1.2. hath in these last dayes spoken vnto vs by his Sonne, whom he hath appointed heire of all things, by whom [Page 8] also he made the worlds.
This rare miracle, so wonderfull in the eyes of men & Angels, which had that due acclamation; Luk. 11.27. Blessed is the wombe that bare thee, and the paps that gaue thee sucke; will more clearly appeare in the excellencie of it, if we compare it with the conceptions and birthes that the worthiest women euer had, or with this of the blessed Virgine Marie. And to begin with the ancientest:
EVA, the mother of vs all, when she had conceiued, and borne a son, thankfully acknowledged Gods loue therein, Gen. 4.1. saying: I haue obtained a man by the Lord. Yet had she no comfort of him, 1. Ioh. 3.12 For he was of that wicked one, and slue his brother: but Maries ioy was sound, full, and lasting; for she did not onely obtaine a man of the Lord, Act. 4.27.5.31. but a man which is the Lord. The holy childe Iesus. A Prince and Sauiour, euen the Lord of glorie; 1. Cor. 2.8. of whom not [Page 9] onely Elizabeth a good woman, and Gabriel an holy Angell, gaue so honorable a testimonie: but euen God the Father from heauen, thus witnessed: This is my welbeloued Sonne, Mat. 3.17.17.5. in whom I am well pleased; heare him. Peter also auoucheth, 2. Pet. 1.17 that He receiued from God the Father, honour and glorie, when there came such a voice to him, from the excellent glorie, This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased.
SARA, when she was ninetie yeares old, was made ioyfull with this comfortable promise of the Almightie: I will blesse her, Gen. 21.6. and will also giue thee a sonne of her, yea I will blesse her, and she shall be the mother of nations, Kings also of people shall come of her. If Sara praise the Lord, saying: God hath made me to reioyce, all that heare, will reioyce with me: I haue borne to Abraham, a sonne in his old age: much more may blessed Marie [Page 10] say, God hath made me to reioyce, and from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed; Luk. 1.48. for he that is mightie hath done for me great things, and holy is his Name. For I haue borne a sonne, Reu. 17.14 who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. The Prince of peace, the increase of whose gouernment and peace shall haue none end; Isa. 9.6. he shall sit vpon the throne of Dauid, and vpon his kingdome to order it, and to establish it with iudgement and with iustice, from henceforth and for euer. A King shall reigne and prosper, Iere. 23.5. and shall execute iudgement and iustice in the earth; in his dayes Iudah shall be saued, and Israel shall dwell safely, and this is the name whereby they shall call him: the Lord our righteousnesse. This King shall reigne ouer the Gentiles, Rom. 15.12. Mat. 1.21. Reu. 1.5. and in him shall the Gentiles trust. He shall saue his people from their sinnes, and make all his redeemed, Kings and Priests vnto God.
HANNA, the godly wise of Elkana was barren a long time; but when with earnest prayer and teares she had begged and obtained a sonne of God, euen Samuel, and giuen him to the Lord all the dayes of his life, and had brought him when he was weaned, to Silo, that he might appeare before the Lord, and there abide for euer: she praised God chearfully, and reioyced in his saluation, 1. Sam. 2.5. and that the barren had borne. Now if this holy Prophetisse gaue praises to God, for such a worthy and gracious sonne, 1. Sam. 3.20. euen faithfull Samuel the Lords Prophet: much more had the blessed Virgine cause to magnifie the Lord, that made her mother of such a sonne, as is both the greatest Prophet, and holiest Priest, that euer was.
Of this Prophet thus Moses writeth, and Peter reporteth: Act. 3.23. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise vp vnto [Page 12] you, of your brethren like to me; him shall ye heare in all things, whatsoeuer he shall say vnto you: and it shall come to passe, that euery soule which will not heare that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. He is the wisdome of God, Ioh. 7.46. that spake as neuer man spake: He that maketh knowne to vs, all things that he heard of his Father: Ioh. 15.15. He that taught with authoritie of a Lawgiuer; Mat. 7.29. that with his gracious words giueth his Spirit, Act. 10.44. opening & powerfully bowing the heart; making all his elect wise to saluation, 2. Tim. 3.15. through faith which is in Christ Iesus.
This holiest PRIEST was after the order of Melchisedech, Heb. 5.2. had compassion on the ignorant, and them that are out of the way. He in the daies of his flesh, offered vp prayers and supplications, with strong crying and teares, and was heard; — and became author of saluation to them that obey him. This most holy, Heb. 7.25. high PRIEST, is perfectly able [Page 13] to SAVE them that come to God by him, seeing he euer liueth. He is our REDEEMER, Ephes. 1.7. In whom we haue redemption through his bloud. He is our RIGHTEOVSNES: Rom. 5.19. By the obedience of one many shall be made righteous. He is our RECONCILER: 10. When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne. He is the MEDIATOR of the new Couenant: Heb. 12.24 9.24. entred into heauen, now to appeare in the presence of God for vs. He is our ADVOCATE with the Father, 1. Ioh. 2.2. and the propitiation for our sinnes; he is at the right hand of God, Rom. 8.33 and maketh intercession for vs.
BATHSHEBA, the mother of King Salomon, had great cause to blesse God, that gaue her a sonne, so great, & so good; who gaue such honor vnto his mother, as is remēbred in the holy word, 1. Kin. 2.19 that The King rose vp to meete her, and sate downe on his Throne, and he caused a seate to be set [Page 14] for the Kings mother, and she sate at his right hand: But blessed Marie, had a greater and better sonne, euen him, Rom. 14.11. to whom all knees bow; euen him, of whom it is said, Let all the Angels of God worship him. Heb. 1.6. This sonne did highly honour his mother. First in his subiection to her, for it is written, that he was obedient to her. Luk. 2.51. Secondly, in his holy care for her, and that in his extreme anguish on the crosse. Ioh. 19.25. There stoode by the crosse of Iesus his mother, and when he saw her and the Disciple standing by, whom he loued: he saith vnto his mother, Woman behold thy Sonne; then saith he to the Disciple: Behold thy mother; and from that houre, that Disciple tooke her vnto his owne home.
And whereas conformitie to Gods image, and sound holinesse, is a great part of true blessednesse; this most godly Virgine shewed forth singular and rare vertues: for being at a [Page 15] Mariage with Christ at Cana in Galile: her Loue and Compassion was made euident, when she spake to her sonne, They haue no wine; Ioh. 2.3. her meeknesse, that kept silence when Christ rebuked her; also her godlinesse, in directing & perswading to that which is the summe of our duty, most agreeable to that voice of God from heauen, Heare him: Mat. 17.5. when she exhorted, saying: Iohn 2.5. Whatsoeuor he saith vnto you, do it. She suffered much affliction for Christ, (and so was partaker of that dignity of the Saints, Phil. 1.29. that both beleeue in Christ and suffer for his sake:) both when she liued as an exile with him in Egypt; Mat. 2.14. as also whē Simeons prophecie was fulfilled in his bitter passion: Luk. 2.35. A sword shall passe through thy soule. She persisted constantly in the profession of Religion, and continued in, and with the holy Church and assembly of the Saints, in all true holinesse: as it is said,— [Page 16] They all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, Act. 1.14. with the women, and Marie the mother of Iesus, and with his brethren. Thus it appeareth euidently, that she was a blessed mother, of a most blessed Sonne: euen blessed among, and aboue all women.
The first vse and fruite for Confutation.
We knowing and beleeuing the wonderfull conception and birth of our Lord Iesus Christ, do controll the madnesse, and confute the damnable heresies of all that impugne the two distinct natures of that one person Immanuel, Isa. 7.14. (who is the Sonne of God eternally, and the sonne of Marie, borne of her wombe in the fulnesse of time, decreed before the world was made;) or that any way derogate from his Propheticall, Priestly, or kingly offices, by which [Page 17] he wrought the saluation of his Church.
This doctrine soundly grounded on the word of God, refuteth the Iewes of this age, that yet waite for MESSIAH, who is already come in humilitie to redeeme his Saints, and will the second time come in glorie, Heb. 9.28. to crowne them, and confound his foes; 2. Thes. 1.8 and will then repay vengeance to all them that know not God, and obey not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ.
Yea moreouer, As euery spirit that confesseth, that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God: so euerie spirit, that confesseth not, 1. Ioh. 4.2. that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God; and this is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof ye haue heard, that it should come, and euen now already is in the world. There is no other true Messiah, but Iesus Christ the Sonne of the virgine Marie, whose blessed mouth hath [Page 18] said: Iohn 8.24. Except ye beleeue that I am he, ye shall die in your sinnes.
The second vse and fruite for confirmation.
Our holy faith and soundest comfort, are confirmed strongly in the ancient gracious Couenant of God made in Paradise, often renewed to the Patriarches and Church of the Iewes, accomplished when God was manifested in the flesh, & dwelt among vs, when Christ was borne of the Virgine Marie, as it is written: In the fulnesse of time, Gal. 4.4. God sent forth his Sonne, made of a woman, made vnder the Law, to redeeme them that were vnder the Law, that we might receiue the adoption of Sonnes. Rom. 10.10. With the heart we do beleeue, and with the mouth we confesse, that Iesus Christ, conceiued by the holy Ghost, borne of the Virgine Marie, is the Immanuel; (God with-vs,) foretold by the Prophet Isaias; made [Page 19] like vnto vs in all things, Heb. 4.15. Ioh 1.29. yet without sinne. Euen that Lambe of God, which taketh away the sinne of the world. Euen he by whom all effectually called, Heb. 9.14. receiue the promise of eternall inheritance. For be it, that we all were conceiued in sinne, and borne in iniquitie, and corrupted in all the parts of our soules and bodies: yet the Conception, Birth & whole nature of Christ our Sauiour, was fully sanctified, by being vnited to his Godhead, and imputed to vs, so that the holinesse of Iesus, is a robe to couer all our sinfulnesse, and whereby we shall stand most gloriously in Gods sight, in the great day of the Lord. For as Ester, Ester 5.3. aduanced from low estate to be a great Queene, had not this dignity put vpon her for her selfe alone, but also for the comfort of all her kinred, euen all the Iewes: so that the glorious Messiah was borne of the blessed Virgine Marie, [Page 20] was not her blessednesse alone, but redounded to the ioy, honour and saluation of all that beleeue in him, Rom. 10.11. be they Iewes or Gentiles.
This high, holy, and comfortable mysterie, why God would become man, to worke mans saluation, though it be greater then can be well expressed: yet let vs endeuour stammeringly to vtter what we haue learned therein. Iudg. 9.8. And as Iotham (in the booke of Iudges) vsed a parable to declare his mind more plainly, saying: The trees went forth on a time, to annoint a king ouer them, & so forth: So we desire without offence to vse a Dialogue or disputation, to see if this mysterie so profound may be better vnderstood, or leaue a deeper impression of so holy learning. Whē Adam (and in him all his posteritie) by disobedience had sinned against God, before he should receiue the doome of his iust damnation, sundrie [Page 21] stood vp to pleade.
IVSTICE tooke the first place, and with much vehemencie alledged, that the righteousnesse of God required, that vnlesse there were a ful satisfaction made by man for mans transgression, man must necessarily die, and that eternally, for his sinne; and that God could not be iust, if any of his debts should passe vnsatisfied. Infinite Iustice is wronged, therefore must man endure infinite torments. The most holy and iust God hath spoken: Gen. 2 17. In the day thou eatest of the tree of the knowledge of good and euill, thou shalt die the death: Againe he hath said: Deut. 27.26. Cursed is euery one that continueth not in all things, which are written in the booke of the Law, to do them. Yea and againe: The soule that sinneth shall die. Ezek. 18.5.
TRVTH likewise stood vp and said: My sentence must needs be, to second & make good all that Iustice [Page 22] hath spoken: for what God saith is true, all his words are as the faithfull witnesses in heauen, and He will be knowne by executing of iudgement: Psal. 9.16. Be ye well assured, Num. 23.19. God is not as man, that he should lie: hath he said and shall he not do it? and hath he spoken, and shall he not accomplish it?
MERCIE then put forth her voice, Giue me place also to stand for, and to witnesse, what is noted in the Scripture of truth. For though I may in no part derogate from Iustice or Truth, whose greatnesse I know and reuerence: yet know ye also, that Mercie will lose neither her right or preheminence, but will take first place of you both: for it is allotted by the word vnto me. It is first said, Gracious and (then) Righteous is the Lord. Psal. 25.8. Yea let it be engrauen in pillars of marble, and written with letters of gold, and in the hearts of all the holy ones: Psal. 145.8. The Lord is gracious and [Page 23] mercifull, slow to anger, and of great mercie. Yea I will auouch it confidently, that where there is one title of Gods Iustice, (He maketh not the wicked innocent;) there are seauen titles of his Mercie: Iehouah, Iehouah, Exod. 34.6 strong, mercifull, and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in goodnesse and truth, reseruing mercie for thousands, forgiuing iniquitie, and transgression, and sinne. If Iustice say, man shall die: Mercie saith, he shall liue. Eze. 16.6.
PEACE then very mildly tooke part with Mercie, and said: Sister Truth, I blame thee not for speaking on Iustice side, for we haue learned that God is true in his threatnings, none will herein gainsay thee: but speake vnpartially, (as I well know thou wilt when it cometh to thy turne to speake againe:) is not God also as true in his holy Couenants, and all his sweete promises? But without more vrging thee, I will [Page 24] speake for vs both, and in the words of the holy Ghost. — As I haue sworne, Isa. 54.9. that the waters of Noah should no more go ouer the earth, so haue I sworne, that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee; for the mountaines shall depart, and the hils shall be remooued, but my kindnesse shall not depart from thee, neither shall the Couenant of my peace be remooued, saith the Lord that hath mercie on thee. If rigor of Iustice should take such place, that man for his Sinne should eternally perish, then Mercie and Peace should be quite banished out of the earth. But I know assuredly, That he will speake peace vnto his people, Psal. 85.8. and to his Saints. The Lord will blesse his people with peace. Yea vnto man, Isa. 9.6. & for man is giuen the Prince of peace.
WISDOME then (as best able to decide this controuersie) tooke place and said: All of you haue spoken [Page 25] well, and as beseemeth you; for God will make his Name glorious, in manifesting before men and Angels the holinesse of his Iustice, Truth, Mercie and Peace. Mercie must be shewed, otherwise man cannot be saued; and yet God will not shew Mercie to violate or wrong his Iustice. There is a way found out by him whose name is Wonderfull and Counseller, Isa. 9.6. how to please you all, and to giue you full contentment, and to saue men from deserued damnation.
There is a law made by the most High, the Iust and Mercifull God, wherein it is thus enacted. — If thy brother be impouerished, Leuit. 23.47. and sell himselfe to a stranger by thee, after he is sold he may be bought out, ONE OF HIS BRETHREN may buy him out: — any of the KINRED of his flesh among his familie may REDEEME him.
According to the equity of this [Page 26] law, some second Adam that is a Brother, must make the Redemption and Attonement, who can pay all the forfets and debts of man, who can die, and yet ouercome death; die and be no debter to death, but meerely of loue, lay downe his life, to saue other from dying; who can perfectly fulfill the whole Law, and purchase the Creators fauour, and an eternall inheritance. For God by his Commandemēt requiring of man, sound, full, and perfect obedience; without a perfect and complete obedience, will not make man righteous: and threatning a curse, & setting downe the penaltie, will admit of no satisfaction, but by the suffering of that curse denounced by God himselfe. Now such a suretie, and man of worth that can thus suffer, and thus do, where shall he be found?
Here Adam and all his sonnes were silent, deiected, and heartlesse; [Page 27] for no such could be found on earth, man could do nothing to worke his recouerie, no more then a dead man can raise vp himselfe out of his graue, Ephes. 2.1. being dead in trespasses and sinnes; so that Desperation was readie to arrest Adam, and to take him from Gods gracious presence for euer: but the SONNE OF GOD came in due time to helpe at neede, and to saue that which was lost, and he graciously spake; I will take flesh of the wombe of a Virgine, I will become man, rather then man shall perish, whom I created after mine owne image. He fell not altogether of himselfe, but by temtation of another; & another that is more mighty shall raise him vp, and restore him fully into the fauour of his Creator. And this shall be accomplished, as Wisedome hath made it plaine vnto you, & altogether according as it is written of me in the volume of Gods booke:
Isa. 53.5. The iniquitie of all shall be laid on me, and I will make reconciliation, I will be wounded for mans transgression, the chastisement of his peace shall light vpon me. Dan 9.24. To finish transgressions, and to make an end of sinnes, I will make my soule an offering, and be cut off from the land of the liuing; I will make my graue with the wicked, Isa. 53.10. and (yet) see my seede, and prolong my daies, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in my hands. I will make intercession for transgressors, Dan. 9.24. and bring in euerlasting righteousnesse. This will I do, Psal. 40.8. for the Law of God is in my heart.
The eternall Father being euer well pleased in his Sonne, agreed, (yea before determined,) that this soueraigne Remedie should be propounded, before he pronounced the sentence of iudgment: Yea he plighted the Couenant of grace betweene him and man, (in few words, but containing in them the fulnesse of [Page 29] true comfort and blessednesse,) The womans seede shall bruise the serpents head. Gen. 3.15.
Thus was the great controuersie decided, and the disceptation ended. Mercy and truth met together, Psal. 85.10. righteousnesse and peace kissed each other. Iustice was satisfied, Peace and Truth well pleased, Mercie triumphed, Sin was abolished, Death destroyed, Hel vanquished, Satan troden vnder foote, Man eternally saued, Heauen opened, Angels ioyfully sung; Glorie be to God in the highest, Luk. 2.14. and on earth peace, goodwill towards men.
O that mans heart were rightly affected (to reioyce vnspeakably, & praise God vncessantly,) for this glorious harmonie, where the wisdome, power, mercie, iustice and truth of God meete in one, to worke mans reconciliation to God, and his eternall blessednesse! Psal. 107.8. O that the redeemed of the Lord, would praise the Lord for [Page 30] his goodnesse, and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men! O what an incomprehensible loue is it, that the Sonne of God, Phil. 2.6. who being in the forme of God, thought it no robberie to be equall with God, yet made himselfe of no reputation, and tooke vpon him the forme of a seruant; and was made in the likenesse of man, & being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himselfe, and became obedient vnto death, euen the death of the crosse.
Thus the blessed Immanuel (that as Iacobs ladder, Gen. 28.12 ioyned heauen and earth together,) must be equall to God, to satisfie Gods iustice, and procure his loue to vs: he must be in the forme of a seruant, a man, a brother, a kinsman; Touched with the feeling of our infirmities, yet without sinne. In which holy mysterie, Iob was well instructed, when so confidently he reposed all his comfort in his kinsman, Iob 19.25. in his Redeemer: I know that [Page 31] my Redeemer (the word is Goali, my kinsman) liueth, and he shall stand at the latter day vpon the earth; & though after my skin, wormes destroy this bodie, yet in my flesh shall I see God. Without this kinsman of our flesh, and mighty holy Redeemer, there is no coming to God, but as Ioseph said: Except your brother be with you, Gen. 43.5. ye shall not see my face. So high is Gods maiestie, and so low is mans wretched estate, that to make an vnion and attonement betweene vs, we stood in neede of such a Mediator, as must be both the Sonne of God, and of the seed of Abraham.
The Physitions tell vs, how the soule of man from heauen, and the body from earth, Bright in Melanch. 9 are by the spirit of life brought to liue together in a maruellous concord and vnitie. The soule is meerely diuine, the body meerely a lumpe of earth: but that which maketh either to affect other, [Page 30] [...] [Page 31] [...] [Page 32] be as handfasted, and comfortably to dwell together, is the spirit, though not so excellent as the soule; yet cometh it from the diuine influence of life; and not of it selfe earthy. So the golden clasp whereby God will be ioyned to man, dwell with him, Ioh. 1.14. and in him, is the Word incarnate, equall to the Father and the holy Ghost touching his Godhead, but inferior to them touching his manhood. By him we haue accesse vnto God with boldnesse, by him we haue right to the eternall inheritance, by him we haue comfort in our strangest and strongest temptations. It is written for our comfort, that He is not ashamed to call vs brethren, Heb. 2.11. saying; I will declare thy Name among my brethren. Ioseph highly aduanced in Egypt, Gen. 47.11. did not onely preserue all his brethren from perishing in that great famine; but procured also for thē, (and that with [Page 33] the Kings good liking) that although (as shepheards) they were abhorred of the Egyptians, yet they possessed Rameses in Gosen, euen the best of the kingdome: So our tender hearted Ioseph Christ Iesus, our most louing brother, (flesh of our flesh) hath reconciled vs to God, and so preuailed for vs, Luk. 12.32 That it is our Fathers good pleasure to giue vs the kingdome. Let euery true Christian then be comforted with this free, full, and lasting loue of God towards vs in Christ, and returne the sacrifice of daily, true, and heartie thanksgiuing, and say: Blesse the Lord O my soule, Psal. 103.2. and forget not all his benefits, who forgiueth all thine iniquities, and healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction, and crowneth thee with louing kindnesse and tender mercies.
Blessed is she that beleeued.
THE SECOND DEGREE of the [Page 34] blessednesse of the blessed Virgine Marie, is set downe in these words: Blessed is she that beleeued, Luk. 1.45. for those things shall be performed which were told her of the Lord.
Blessed Marie beleeued in the Messiah and Sauiour promised, as all the holy ones of that age did, and in greater measure, and daily shewed forth the fruits thereof; Christ dwelt in her heart by faith before he was conceiued in her wombe. She beleeued moreouer, that He should be the blessed fruit of her wombe, that the holy promised seede should be her seede, that the Sauiour of all the elect should be both her Sonne and her Sauiour. Her faith was holy, sound, and strong, when passing ouer all earthly thoughts that might haue moued to doubtfulnesse, she rested firmly and faithfully on the Lords word and promise, with sure assent and much certainty, saying: [Page 35] Be it vnto me according to thy word. Luke 1.38. Whereas Zacharias (a man that walked in the ordinances of God without reproofe, hearing the promise from an Angell, that his aged wife should beare a sonne) doubted through some vnbeleefe, Luke 1.20. and therefore was made dumbe for a time, till Gods promise was fulfilled. Is it not a rare, excellent, and glorious faith, to beleeue that which neuer any before did beleeue? to haue sure confidence, setled perswasion without wauering, and to seale that God is true, when the promise made seemeth contrary to all sense, reason, and experience? Looke we on the faith of Abraham, so often extolled in the Scriptures, and consider if her faith was not as great, stedfast, holy, and excellent as his, if not more admirable, in that a woman beleeueth the Angell once assuring the promise, which he a man was often told, [Page 36] and that by the Lord himselfe. It is said of Abraham, Rom 4.18 That against hope, he beleeued in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that was spoken, So shall thy seede be: and being not weake in faith, he considered not his body now dead, when hee was about an hundred yeares old, neither yet the deadnesse of Saraes wombe; he staggered not at the promise of God through vnbeleefe, but was strong in faith, giuing glorie to God, being fully perswaded, that what he had promised he was able to performe, and therefore was it imputed to him for righteousnesse. So holy Marie, knowing her selfe to be a Virgine, and by that ordinarie course of nature she could not bring forth a child: yet minding there was a sure promise, made by the God of truth, recorded by a holy Prophet, beleeued by all the Israel of God: Behold a Virgine shall conceiue and beare a Isa. 7.14. [Page 37] sonne, and shall call his name Immanuel: And seeing now the God of her fathers, had spoken to her by his holy Angell Gabriel: Luk. 1.30. — Thou hast found fauour with God, and behold thou shalt conceiue in thy wombe, and bring forth a sonne, and shalt call his name Iesus: She firmly beleeuing, that with God nothing is impossible, that all the promises of God are most sure, she strong and stedfast in her most holy faith, gaue glory to God, being fully perswaded that what he had promised, he was able to performe; made this sweete answer. Luk. 1.38. Behold the handmaide of the Lord, be it vnto me according to thy word. It followeth then, that as Abraham the Father of the faithfull, was accounted righteous by beleeuing: so likewise the faith of holy Marie was imputed to her for righteousnesse (and so consequently for blessednesse) as it is said: Blessed is she that beleeued.
If any hard of beleefe, take exception, and say, Maries blessednesse is auouched onely by a woman: let such remember, that Elizabeth that said it, was both an holy woman, & a Prophetisse, and the word of God speaketh euidently of her: Luke 1.41. Elizabeth was filled with the holy Ghost.
Moreouer if any say, we hold it for good, that sound, true, and particular beleeuing the promises of saluation, giueth assurance of full blessednesse: but is Maries faith such, in beleeuing she should beare a sonne, yet remaine a Virgine still?
We desire such not to seuer things so nearely ioyned together, her faith of hauing a sonne, and her faith in her sonne; (who also is the Sonne of God blessed for euer.) For it is euident by the word, that she both beleeued her own saluation by him the Messiah, as Abraham did; as also with a fuller light of knowledge, [Page 39] that the hope of Israel should be her sonne. By the one she hath a prerogatiue, to be blessed aboue all women: by the other, a preeminencie amongst all the Lords holy ones.
By comparing Scriptures together, we shall see very clearly, that we ought not so to restraine the meaning of those words, Blessed is she that beleeued. We reade in Genesis; Gen. 15.5. The word of the Lord came to Abraham againe—One shall come out of thine owne bowels, he shall be thy heire; looke now vp to heauen, and tell the starres, if thou be able to number them, and he said: So shall thy seede be, and Abraham beleeued the Lord, and he accounted that to him for righteousnesse. It is not to be gathered hence, that Abraham was accounted righteous in beleeuing he should haue a wonderfull great posteritie, like the number of the starres for multitude; but he formerly beleeued this promise of [Page 40] the Almightie: Gen. 12.3. In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Now the latter promise, Gen. 15. containeth in it the former, Genes. 12. and hath ouer and aboue it, a promise of the boundlesse enlargement of the Church, which should be blessed with him, by the promised seed, euen by him who is called Shilo, Gen. 49.10 Isa. 7.14. Dan. 9.26. Immanuel, and Messiah.
So the holy Virgine Marie, euen before the Angell came to her, soundly beleeued in the promised Messiah, and that he should be the sonne of a Virgine, as the Prophet Isaias had foretold: but after that Gabriel the Lords messenger had reuealed more to her, she beleeued that she was that Virgine, to whom this dignitie and prerogatiue was freely giuen, to be the mother of the most holy Immanuel. So hauing the common faith of blessednesse with Abraham, & this peculiar faith aboue [Page 41] Abraham, (for he saw Christ afarre off, but she felt him in her wombe, first saw him manifested in the flesh, heard his gracious words, enioyed him as her sonne and Sauiour,) we may hold it as a manifest truth, that she was before all in true and holy faith in the Sonne of the euerliuing God, hauing testimonie of her faith and blessednesse from the whole Church of God, as is prophecied— All generations shall call her blessed; Luk. 1.48. and from the sound and worthie fruits of sauing faith, which are mentioned in the word. It is among the praises of Abrahams faith, by Christs owne mouth: Ioh 8.56. Your father Abraham reioyced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad. Marie did not onely reioyce in God her Sauiour, Luk. 1.47. but also magnified the Lord, that is, with heart and voice praised and extolled the greatnesse and goodnesse of God to her and the whole Church. From [Page 42] her faith flowed the glorifying of God, ioy and gladnesse to her owne soule, and a comfortable reuiuing of the hearts of all the godly, by witnessing in her sweete song the fulfilling of Gods promises for helping vp his seruant Israel. Luke 1.54. We conclude then, that the Virgine Marie was a gracious woman, freely and fully beloued of God, a Maide and a Mother, a faithfull Israelite, a primarie Christian, an holy prophetisse, a daughter of God by adoption, a Mother of the Sonne of God by speciall fauor, blessed in bearing Christ, blessed in beleeuing in Christ, blessed by him on earth, blessed with him in heauen for euermore.
The first vse and fruite
Which wee must reape by knowing and beleeuing, that Marie was blessed in beleeuing; is, that we be taught and strengthened by her example, [Page 43] to seeke all our blessednesse out of our selues, in Iesus Christ, as he is the Head of his body the Church, Eph. 5.23. and by him as he is our holy Redeemer and Reconciler. Rom. 3.24. And that this gift is giuen of God, and receiued of vs by faith onely: For that faith and no other grace giueth vs right vnto, Eph. 2.8. and maketh vs owners of this blessednesse which is in Christ, (the proper act of this faith being to receiue Christ, and apply him to vs in particular.) So that we must be soundly instructed, and vnmoueably setled, in this high & holy doctrine, of the excellency of faith, and the necessitie of it, for receiuing Iesus our Sauiour to be our owne, and in him to haue and enioy free, full, and eternall saluation.
Looke we carefully into the gracious dispensation of our blessednesse, and we shall find it both plainly and plentifully taught in the word of [Page 44] grace. Life is primarily in the Father, from him in the Sonne, and that for as many as receiue him, — The Father hath life in himselfe, Ioh. 5.26. and he hath giuen to the Sonne to haue life in himselfe, but not onely for himselfe, but for all that beleeue on him. — This is the record, 1. Ioh 5.11 that God hath giuen TO VS eternall life, and this life is in his Sonne. Now if it be giuen to vs, we must receiue this life and blessednesse, and Christ the giuer to dwel in our hearts by faith. Eph. 3.17. By it we haue a neare vnion with his person, as members of his body, whereof he is Head, giuing vs life, (as feeling and motion are from the head, to all the naturall bodie.) And communion with all his graces, to our full blessednesse. And that it is the proper act of faith alone, to RECEIVE, is thus taught. — The true Light came vnto his owne, and his owne receiued him not; Ioh. 1.12. but as many as RECEIVED him, [Page 45] to them gaue he power to become the sonnes of God, euen to them that BELEEVE on his name. Paul thus speaketh, Gal. 3.14. — That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles, through Christ Iesus, that we might RECEIVE the promise of the Spirit THROVGH FAITH. In the same sence the word of laying hold on is vsed, expressing the nature and act of true faith, in this exhortation: Fight the good fight of FAITH, 1. Tim. 6.12. lay hold of eternall life, whereto thou art called. Faith is not a disposition to holinesse, or a beginning of other vertues, which vnited together, might be meritorious of life and glorie; (as some haue greatly mistaken it) but it is a receiuing apprehension, laying hold on, and applying of Christ vnto vs, for whom, and by whom, we are acceptable to God, and heires of blessednesse. Our iudgement and faith must be grounded on Gods [Page 46] holy word, which is most plaine and cleare in this great mysterie. It is no where said, thy faith hath begun vertues in thee, (though indeed there is no true vertue, but which floweth from faith; but it is said by the Lord himselfe. Luke 7.50.— Thy faith hath saued thee; as also, 1. Ioh. 5.24— He that beleeueth, hath passed from death to life. And the holy Apostles, in like manner set forth the sweete and comfortable fruites of faith. Heb. 10.39— We follow faith to the conseruation of the soule. In another place, he saith: Rom. 3.24 We are iustified freely by his grace, through the Redemption that is in Iesus Christ, whom God hath set forth, to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud, to declare his righteousnes for the remission of sinnes that are past, through the forbearance of God, to declare at this time his righteousnesse, that he might be iust, and a iustifier of him which beleeueth in Iesus. To this agreeth that in Peter: 1. Pet. 1.9. Receiue the end [Page 47] of your faith, euen the saluation of your soules.
Christ Iesus is the obiect of our faith, which assureth vs of our adoption, iustification and full blessednesse; and hath his seate partly in the vnderstanding, partly in the heart. In the mind and vnderstanding, faith is a sure knowledge and apprehension, that Iesus Christ the sonne of the Virgine Marie, is the eternall Sonne of God, the long promised blessed seed, the Sauiour of all his chosen; And in the heart, it is a true and sure perswasion, (wrought also in vs by Gods spirit) a confident application, that I haue right to him as giuen to me: waiting for all my blessednesse through him, relying, and casting my selfe wholly vpon him. So I put to my seale, Ioh. 3.33. that God is true, iust, and gracious, infinitely good, that extendeth such mercie to me, freely, for his beloued Sonnes [Page 48] sake, neither dare I do that wrong to God and my selfe, as to mistrust and doubt of his gracious promises, He that shall beleeue and be baptized, Mar. 16.16. shall be saued. Ye are of God in Christ Iesus, who of God is made vnto vs, 1. Cor. 1.30 wisedome, and righteousnesse, and sanctification, and redemption. Hauing Christ to be ours, in whom the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelleth, we haue by him free pardon of all our sinnes and vnrighteousnesse, the imputation of Christs righteousnesse to be ours, by his free gift, redemption through his bloud, freedome from the curse and rigor of the Law, from guiltinesse, bondage, and punishment of sinne, from condemnation and hell torments. By him we haue Reconciliation and Attonement, sure, sweet, and lasting peace with God, boldnesse with confidence to come to the throne of grace; the spirit of Adoption, whereby as deare children [Page 49] of God we call him our Father, ioying in his presence, desiring to do his will; we haue prosperitie and aduersitie sanctified vnto vs, to further vs to grow vp to full holinesse; we haue peace of conscience, sense of Gods loue, ioy in the holy Ghost, the Spirit of Christ dwelling in vs, teaching, enlightning, guiding, vpholding, and comforting vs, repairing the image of God in vs, setting beauty vpon our soules, giuing grace to be fruitfull in holy desires and meditations, in all good words and workes; strength to perseuere in the knowledge & loue of the truth, and carefull practise of all pietie, to fight the Lords battels valiantly & prosperously, to get Satan trampled vnder our feete, to triumph in Christ, and finally with him to bee partakers of glorie and eternall blessednesse.
An obiection and doubt
From these words of the Apostle, — Now abideth faith, 1. Cor. 13.13. hope, charitie, these three, but the greatest of these is charitie. If charitie be greatest, (say some) how then doth faith iustifie, and assure euery beleeuer of his blessednesse? Let such be put in mind, that although charitie in two respects be greater then faith: yet is it not that grace which receiueth iustification and life, but the excellencie and greatnesse of it is seene in other things.
First, charitie is greater then faith, in continuance of time, neuer falling away, neuer ceassing, but lasting euer more as may appeare in the words going before, from 8. verse. Faith and hope bring vs to Christ, possessing him, and with him, full blessednesse, there will be no more vse for them twaine. Like as a man got into his countrey, arriued where he will [Page 51] euer abide, needeth no more a ship to passe ouer the seas. Faith & hope end with time: Charitie ouer liueth all time. When faith and hope ceasse with the world, charitie then commeth to a fuller perfection.
Secondly, charitie is greater in fruitfulnesse, to do good to Gods people, (the proper worke of faith being to fetch comfort from Christ, and conuey it into our owne soule.) Faith casteth her eyes on God, and all his gracious sweete promises. Charitie looketh on men compassionatly, to helpe and comfort thē; and euen this good fruite springeth from faith, as an apple from middest of blossome that grew before it. Faith is the ancient and the true mother both of hope and charity, and worketh by loue. Gal. 5.6. All these three graces are excellent, but faith is first, & hath preeminence, first in giuing all glorie to God, that in his loue he [Page 52] made a free Couenant of saluation, and that in his truth he performed the same. Secondly, it is greatest by giuing to man hold and possession of the promised mercies, so that by it as with a hand, he taketh hold on, receiueth and locketh fast into his heart the Couenant of saluation, yea receiueth Christ to dwell in the heart, Ier. 23.6. who is the Lord our righteousnes. Faith is like to the root of a tree, that frō the earth sucketh in nourishment, to beget and continually to preserue and nourish the life and fruitfulnesse of it: but charitie is like the branches of the tree, which hauing receiued vitall sap, do put forth their fruits in due season, and according to their kind. Faith may be cōpared to the Magnes or loadstone that draweth iron to it, and keepeth it fast: Charitie to Hematites, that putteth out a vertue to stay bleeding. Faith is a Receiuer: Gal. 5.5. We through the [Page 53] spirit wait for the hope of righteousnesse by faith. Charitie is a Giuer, for hauing much giuen and forgiuen by Christ, we loue much, Luke 7.47. and giue back a reflexe of our loue, euē true thankfulnesse to God, and sundry fruits of hearty loue for his sake, especially to them that excell in vertue. As in the body the eye and eare, haue their seuerall powers and offices, the one to see, the other to heare: so in the soule haue faith and charitie. Faith clingeth fast to Christ, to haue in him iustification from sinne, and his imputed righteousnesse to be ours. Charitie sheweth forth the measure of our sanctificatiō, to hallow Gods name, to make sure our election and calling, and willing and doing good to the Saints that are on earth.
And this may suffice for answer to the first doubt: but fasten we yet our eyes more fully on the beautie of faith, whose fairenesse and worth [Page 54] we cannot sufficiently admire. That one place which is in the third of Iohn, and may be called the summe of the Gospell, openeth the treasure of grace to our view, and the excellencie of sauing faith, in these words: God so loued the world, Ioh. 3.16. that he hath giuen his onely begotten Sonne, that whosoeuer beleeueth in him, shall not perish, but haue life euer lasting. Consider we aright the true causes of our blessednesse; and how great a gift it is, and to whom it befalleth. The first mouing cause is the free loue of God, his rich grace, mercy & bountie. The second cause, is the Sonne of God giuen vnto vs, who also gaue himselfe to be our ransome, perfectly able to saue them that come to God by him. The third is the meanes or instrumentall cause, which is faith or beleefe, the very hand and mouth of the soule, to receiue Iesus Christ and all his riches to be ours. The [Page 55] fourth cause is the end, for which the Father gaue his Sonne; & hath two branches, the one, remouing of euill deserued, (That we should not perish:) the other, the bringing in of our blessednesse purchased, expressed in these words, (But haue euerlasting life.)
When the Law accusing sheweth vs our sinnes, and Gods angry countenance and iust wrath against vs, euen eternall damnation; when sinne and iniquities separate betweene God and vs, then must we apply by faith to our fainting soules, this glad tidings vttered by Christ, & the like, to keepe vs from despaire. True it is, that the wounds of sinne are deadly; but it is true also, that the salue and remedies to heale and helpe, are very soueraigne, to euery one that is sound in the faith, and layeth them to his soule, Rom. 13.14. as a man putteth on his garment to keepe him from the cold. [Page 56] As our sinnes are deformities, that make the soule foule and vglie, we haue Christ purging them by himselfe. Heb. 1.3. As they keepe vs in bondage, we haue Christ redeeming vs with his precious bloud. 1. Pet 1.19. As they are euill deeds that cannot be vndone, we haue Christ couering thē. Psal. 32.1. As they are debts greater then we can pay, we haue Christ forgiuing them. Rom. 4.7. As they are offēces against God, making vs worthy of eternall death, we haue Christ not imputing our sins vnto vs. Rom. 4 8. As they are disobedience against God and his law reuealed to vs from heauen, we haue Christ fulfilling the law for vs. Rom. 10 4. Yea we haue from the same neuer failing fountaine of grace, Rom. 4.11. Christs righteousnesse imputed to vs, by which we are accounted, and are righteous, as if we had wrought all righteousnesse our selues, euen as one friend setteth another free, fully paying his debts for him. As Caiphas (ouerruled [Page 23] by Gods spirit) well prophesied, That Iesus should die for that nation: Ioh. 11.50. saying, Ye know nothing at all, nor consider, that it is expedient for vs that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And Paul very comfortably teacheth, describing the faith of Abraham: Rom. 4 23. — And it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him, but for vs also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we beleeue on him that raised vp Iesus our Lord from the dead. How cleare is it in the word, that as Adams disobedience made vs all sinners, so the obedience of Christ maketh all true beleeuers righteous? the words of the holy Ghost are these: As by one mans disobedience, Rom. 5.19. many were made sinners: So by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. For like as our sinnes were imputed to Christ, when he suffered for vs, and bare our sinnes in his body on the 1. Pet. 2.25. [Page 58] tree: so his righteousnesse is imputed, and reckoned to be our righteousnesse, through Gods gracious acceptance, most iust and wise dispensation. Which also to the Galathians, Gal. 3.13. is thus set forth: Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for vs. — That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles, through Iesus Christ, that we might receiue the promise of the Spirit through faith. And yet more plainly to the Corinthians. 2. Cor. 5.21 God hath made him to be sinne for vs, who knew no sinne, that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him.
Now for the bringing in of blessednesse, mentioned in the second branch, called euerlasting life: it is so great, so good, and glorious a treasure, as no heart yet can sufficiently conceiue of the worth & excellency thereof, where he shall alwaies behold God in his glorie, and be satisfied [Page 59] with his likenesse, Psal. 17.15. yea conformed vnto him, and partakers of a ful and endlesse glorie. It is the bounty and kindnesse of the Highest to all his chosen little ones, Tit. 3.7. — That we should be iustified by his grace, and be made heires according to the hope of eternall life: Rom. 8.15 that we be annexed heires with Christ, Psal. 16.11. and possesse the pleasures at Gods right hand for euermore.
Now let it be carefully obserued, and well remembred, that while we so highly commend the sauing-faith, that ascribeth glorie to God, and bringeth such comfort to mans soule, we arrogate nothing to our selues, as if it were in our owne power to beleeue; but we acknowledge it meerely to be the free gift of God, as we are taught, Heb. 12.2. That Iesus is the author and finisher of our faith. We may not say that it is attained by mans skill and industrie, but that it is a peculiar [Page 60] gift to Gods elect, as the holy word teacheth vs: Phil. 1.29. — To you it is giuen to beleeue in his Name. It is a work of God, neither common nor small: — Ye beleeue according to his mightie power. Eph. 1.19. And when God by the ministerie of his word, and power of his Spirit, hath wrought it in vs; yet through our infirmitie, it is weake & imperfect, such as standeth in need of daily increasing and confirming; so as that the Apostles of Christ prayed, Luk. 17.5. Lord increase our faith. Euen where faith is in truth, and sound, it is but as a beggers hand to receiue a Kings bounty; or if you would haue a gayer similitude to expresse it, it is like the firie chariot that caried Eliah vp to heauen: or like a gold ring that hath a pearle or rubie set into it, the worth of the ring not being from the gold, but from the precious pearle in it. Excellencie of faith is in apprehending and applying to [Page 61] vs the most precious Obiect of it, that is, Christ Iesus, and in him eternall life; which the word doth plainly say, is the gift of God, Rom. 6.23 giuen onely to beleeuers; yet not for the worthinesse of their persons, or faith, but meerly of Gods loue and free fauour, as inheritances befall to men for whom they are prepared. 2. Sam. 9.7 As lame Mephiboseth was set continually at the kings table, not for any worth in him (being also a deformed cripple) but onely for Ionathans sake: so we find acceptance with God, but altogether because he hath loued vs in his beloued. So that both the blessing, Ephes. 1.6. & to be made capable of it, is his most free gift. We see that Kings suffer their Nobles to enioy much honor, and great prerogatiues, yet they will suffer no fauourite to weare their crowne: So the Lord out of his infinite and most rich grace, bequeatheth to vs in his holy Testament, the [Page 62] legacie of eternall life, and putteth faith into our hearts to seale the assurance thereof vnto vs; yet the honor (for the exceeding gift) he reserueth to himselfe, Isa. 45.25. and will giue it none other. We are all equally vnder the curse; but when God calleth outwardly by his word, and inwardly by his Spirit, giuing to vs faith to beleeue in Christ our righteousnesse, our hearts are much comforted, and we greatly reioyce in the Lord. He that spared not his owne Sonne, Rom. 8.32 but deliuered him vp for vs all, how shall he not with him also freely giue vs all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? It is God that iustifieth, who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen againe, who is euen at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for vs. If the Sonne of God obey the Law for vs, die for vs, make intercession for vs; why should we doubt of [Page 63] blessednes by him, seeing he casteth off none, but such as cast him off through their vnbeleefe? Heb. 3.18. — To them that beleeued not, he sware they should not enter into his rest. Dare man commit his life that is so precious vnto him, to a ship made by the skill of man, in it to passe ouer the wide & stormie seas: and shall we not boldly commend the whole safegard of our soules and bodies, to the Sonne of the euerliuing God, that laid downe his life for the sauing of vs? Dare Benhadad put his life into the hands of his enemy, vpon this ground, that he had heard that the Kings of Israel were mercifull: 1. Kin. 20.31 and shall not we that are professed Christians, and desire to be accounted for the children of the Highest, confidently, fully, and ioyfully resigne our selues to Iesus Christ, to claime the mercifull promises made vnto sinners? especially seeing he is at peace with vs, is our [Page 64] peacemaker, and taught vs that he came to saue sinners, 1 Tim. 1.15 Gal. 3.26. and that he hath made vs the children of God by faith in Christ Iesus: Ioh. 6.47. with a Verily, verily I say vnto you, he that beleeueth on me, hath euerlasting life.
Among all the seuen nations of the Cananites that for their abhominations were destroyed, the Gibeonites onely were wise, and escaped deserued destruction; Ios. 9.13. for they sought, and obtained peace with the Israelites: and yet had nothing to pleade for themselues why they should be spared, but put themselues vpon their mercie, pretending that they came from a very far countrie, shewing their old garments, old shoes, old bottels, & mouldie bread. So of all the people on the face of the earth, they onely will be found wise and happy, that distrusting their owne works, (done before grace as altogether sinfull:) and those done [Page 65] after grace receiued, (as very faulty for not right vsing of them,) wholly despaire in themselues, relie vpon, trust to, and cast themselues fully on the rich mercy of God, and the holy merits of Iesus Christ; and firmly beleeue, that it is a true saying, 1. Tim. 1.13. and worthie of all men to be beleeued, that Iesus Christ came to saue sinners. As Ionas was willingly cast into the sea, Ionas 1.12. to stay the raging of it, that all in the ship with him might not perish, and they vpon his suffering, enioyed a calme and desired safetie: so Christ Iesus to appease the wrath & curse that would haue fallen on vs, suffered, and gaue himselfe for vs, Ephes. 5.2. an offering to God for a sweete smelling sauour; by it Gods iustice is satisfied, his wrath appeased, and all beleeuers reconciled. As he that was guiltie of manslaughter, though he could make no satisfaction for the bloud he had shed, yet if he sought to the [Page 66] appointed citie of refuge, by Gods mercifull dispensation and pardon, he was set free; Num. 35.28. (but it was) at the death of the High-priest: So we that can pleade nothing for our selues, being guiltie of many and great sins, (euery one whereof deserueth Gods curse and damnation;) yet if we be truly humbled for them, seeke vnto Christ and beleeue, Heb. 10.19 We haue boldnesse to enter into the Holiest by the bloud of Iesus: and are commanded that we draw not backe vnto perdition, Heb. 10.39 but be of them that beleeue to the sauing of the soule. For albeit our sinnes are as bonds, death as a tormentor, hell an eternall prison, the diuell as a sergeant to arrest, and as a iaylor there to keepe vs, because we are indebted ten thousand talents to the great King, (who will haue the debt payd) and we are vtterly vnable: yet one comfort, Ioh. 8.36. (and but one) is left vs. If the Sonne make you free, ye shall be free [Page 67] indeed. Now he hath freed the beleeuing, as our High-priest, Heb. 7.22. and as our suretie paying our debts to God for vs. Christ hath once suffered for sinnes, 1. Pet. 3.18 the iust for the vniust, that he might bring vs to God. Colos. 2.14 Yea hath blotted out the handwriting that was against vs; and is a iustifier of him which beleeueth in Iesus. Rom. 3.26 And like as Abraham with a strong hand rescued Lot his kinsman, Gen. 14.16 when he was vnder the captiuitie of his enemies: after the like manner, Iesus our King and kinsman, Colos. 2.15 conquered Satan, spoyled principalities and powers, and deliuered vs out of his clawes. For when the Iudge and the Law are satisfied, what hath the Iaylor any more to molest the prisoner? Yea such is Christs louing kindnesse to all vnfeined repenting sinners, that beleeue, & with the whole heart seeke to him, Tit. 2.14. that He redeemeth them from all iniquitie, & withall doth purifie them to himselfe a [Page 68] peculiar people zealous of good works.
A second obiection and doubt.
Iam. 2.21. Was not Abraham our father iustified by workes when he had offered Isaac his sonne vpon the altar? Out of these words of S. Iames, some gather, that to be freed from sin, & so to obtaine blessednesse, (for blessed is the man to whom God imputeth none iniquitie;) is for the merit and worthinesse of good workes. To which we answer, that not onely the words, but the true meaning of them is diligently to be pondred, lest we should thinke one Scripture to be contrary to another, which cannot be. Gather we then the true sense of them from the word it selfe; for as no man can see the Sunne that shineth, but by the light of the Sunne: so neither attaine we to the right vnderstanding of the word, but by the other Scriptures, as this may clearely be vnfolded [Page 69] by the words of S. Iames going before. For he well knowing, that many who by their profession were Christians, but in their conuersation Libertines and Epicures, such as made shew of Religion, but denied the power of it; speakers of the word of God, but not doers of his will, euen such as turned the grace of God into wantonnesse: laboureth to set before them the danger thereof, and how they deceiued themselues, either not vnderstanding, or not regarding the nature of true faith; & he maketh it plaine to them, that they had no true faith, and by this argument, that they had not such workes as necessarily proceed from a right faith. (Reasoning as our Lord Iesus Christ did: Iohn 8.39. If ye were Abrahams children, ye would do the workes of Abraham; but ye go about to kill me that tell you the truth, this did not Abraham.) Assuring them, that [Page 70] faith if it haue no workes, is dead in it self. Iam. 2.20. Wilt thou know O vaine man, that faith without workes is dead? For as where there is no heate, there is no fire: so where there is no good fruit, there is no true faith. But where faith is, there workes follow, and flow from it; as Abraham, by a rare and readie obedience, in a seruice so contrary to nature, and in appearance also to the great promise made vnto him, did make it manifest, what true trust and stedfastnesse of faith he had in the Lords holy promises. By faith, Heb. 11.17 Abraham when he was tried, offered vp Isaac, and he that had receiued the promises offered vp his onely begotten sonne, of whom it was said: In Isaac shall thy seed be called. God gaue testimonie of these fruites of faith, when he said, Gen. 22.12 Lay not thy hand on the child, for now I know thou fearest God; seeing thou hast not withheld thy sonne, thy onely sonne, from me. On [Page 71] the other side, an hypocriticall and dead faith, Mat. 21.19 is like the fig tree with faire leaues, but hath no fruite on it; or if it haue a fruite, all we reade of, is compared to the faith of diuels; & the fruite, feare and trembling: — Thou beleeuest there is one God, Iam. 2.19. thou doest well: the diuels also beleeue, and tremble. But true faith hath with it, ioy and gladnesse: 1. Pet. 1.8. Though ye see him not, yet do you beleeue, and reioyce with ioy vnspeakable and glorious. The manner of speech which the holy Ghost vseth, must be carefully obserued, if we will not fall into heresies. What a dangerous noueltie of speaking is it to say, holy works done in faith are satisfactory, and meritorious of eternall life? whereas the word of God onely saith, Heb. 11.4. — That they obtaine witnesse of righteousnesse. As we reade, By faith Abel offered vnto God a more excellent sacrifice [...]hen Cain, by which he obtained witnesse, [Page 72] that he was righteous. As faith that is effectuall and fruitfull, giueth glorie to God for his goodnesse and true performance of all his holy promises, in their appointed time: so the works that spring out of it, beare witnesse to our selues and others, that we are not fruitlesse trees, which are neare the curse, but planted by the waters side, that bring forth fruit in due season, whereby God is glorified, our hearts comforted, and the faithfull praise God for vs. But on the contrary, such as haue a bare knowledge, & assent vnto the truth, or presumptuous perswasion, not rightly grounded; such as beleeue there is a God, but beleeue not in God (hauing no assurance he is their God) their gaines in the end is to be deceiued of their hope, and to be put in feare, horror, and trembling. Yea the fearefull and vnbeleeuing— shall haue their part in the lake which Reu. 21.8. [Page 73] burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. If any will yet persist to presse the words of Iames, we vrge his words for our assertion, who saith: Iam. 2.23. — The Scripture was fulfilled, which saith: Abraham beleeued God, and it was imputed vnto him for righteousnesse, and he was called the friend of God. But to reconcile Paul and Iames, vnderstand, that Iames speaketh how Abraham was iustified declaratiuely, but Paul actiuely or effectually; which distinction ariseth both from the words, & handling of the subiect in question. If we would compare Genes. 15.6. with Genes. 22.19. and Iames 2.18, Abraham was approued for righteous, when he beleeued Gods promise, euen before Isaac was borne; so it is as plaine as can be spoken, Gen. 15.6. — He beleeued in the Lord, and he accounted it to him for righteousnesse. But Saint Iames sheweth how he declared it, [Page 74] and made it manifest in worke and deed, by a rare obedience to God, — When he offered Isaac his sonne vppon the altar. Iam. 2.21. His faith so rested on Gods promise, that although Isaac were killed, and burnt to ashes, — Yet God was able to raise him vp, Heb. 11.19 euen from the dead: from whence also he receiued him in a figure. All that are taught of God know, that faith worketh by loue, Gal. 5.6. that it cannot be idle or fruitlesse, Eph. 2.10. God hauing created vs anew vnto good workes, which he hath ordained that we should walke in. Though they go not before iustification, yet do they follow it: where the Lord forgiueth sinne, he also giueth a power to resist sinne, to hate and shun it, with a sound desire to practise such holinesse as through Christ is pleasing to God. Though some ignorant people say, We are iustified for our good workes: yet the holy Ghost saith otherwise, namely, that [Page 75] We are iustified freely by his grace, Ephes. 1.7. through the Redemption that is in Christ Iesus. Euen that grace, wherein he hath made vs accepted in his Beloued, in whom we haue redemption through his bloud, the forgiuenesse of sinnes, according to the riches of his grace. Euen that grace, which is Gods eternall free bounty, and loue to vs, in electing, calling, adopting, and iustifying vs in Christ, who is the Lord our righteousnesse; Ier. 23.6. not that infused grace, which is but as a drop, and fruit of the other, consisting in the renouation of the new man, which being but in part, (for they that haue greatest measure, Rom. 7.16 do what they would not, and leaue vndone what they would do,) is not able to stand before the Tribunall seate of iustice, which exacteth entire & absolute obedience, Deut. 27.26. accursing euery one that confirmeth not all the words of the Law to do them: Which moued Dauid [Page 76] to powre out this desire of his soule: Psal. 143.2. Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant, for in thy sight shall none that liueth, be iustified. And Paul, who as touching the righteousnes which is by the Law was vnrebukeable, yet counted all things losse, Phil. 3.8. and did iudge them as dung, that he might win Christ, and might be found in him, that is, not hauing his owne righteousnesse, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, euen the righteousnesse which is of God through faith.
A third obiection and doubt.
It is said of the godly professors in Sardis, that had not defiled themselues, Reu. 3.4. that they shall walke with me in white, for they are worthie: there is then (say some) a worthinesse in our faith or works, or both together, by which we merit our blessednesse. That we may not mistake this place, [Page 77] (seeing no prophesie of the Scripture is of any priuate interpretation: 2. Pet. 1.20.) conferre it with Luke 20.35. They that shall be accounted worthy to obtaine that world, and the resurrection from the dead: and that in 2. Thessal. 1.5. That ye may be accounted worthy of the kingdome of God, for which ye suffer: And we shall perceiue that these are worthy by acceptation in mercy, worthy by the righteousnesse of Christ imputed, not by holinesse inherent: the reward of going clothed in white, or to haue a kingly dignity, and much beauty set on them, is not a merit or a reward for the desert of their works, but of the meere grace and mercie of God for the merits of Christ, for whom, we and our works wrought by his Spirit, find acceptance and fauour, the Law teaching that the reward is of mercie. Exod. 20.6 And the Gospell telling vs — That the sufferings of this present time are [Page 78] not worthy of the glorie which shall be shewed vnto vs. Rom. 8.18. The crowne of life is of Gods promise, not of our deseruing, Iam. 1.12. as it is said, Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receiue the crowne of life, which the Lord promised to them that loue him. The things which some call merits, (very vnfitly and not according to the phrase of the Scriptures) are the nurses of our hope, the prouocations of loue, the signes of our election, the forerunners of our future happinesse, the way of the kingdome, not the cause why we reigne. It is Iesus Christ, the holy Lambe of whom it is properly spoken: Reu. 4.11.5.12. Thou art worthy O Lord, to receiue glorie, and honour, and power: and, Worthy is the Lambe that was slaine, to receiue power, and riches, and wisedome, and strength, and honour, and glorie, and blessing. He alone purchased his Church with his owne bloud. [Page 79] Our robes are made white in the bloud of the Lambe. Our persons, Reu. 7.14. our seruice, & our works, haue acceptance with God, onely for Iesus sake, as it is said: Eph. 1.6. He made vs accepted in his Beloued, and our spirituall sacrifice, is acceptable to God by Iesus Christ. 1. Pet. 2.5. As no mans free gift can bind him to giue more, but he that receiues more, is the more bound to him that giues it; therefore hence it followeth, that by the good deeds which God hath enabled vs to do, he is not bound by the debt of his iustice to giue vs more, that he should be vniust if he gaue it not, but we rather are bound to him. And if he giue any reward to our well-doings, this is, not that he is a debtor to the works, but of his owne liberalitie. How vnfitly are good works said to be meritorious, seeing they are not ours originally, but Gods? Phil. 2.13. he working both the will and the deed, and that of his [Page 80] owne good pleasure. But as they are ours, they are debts due to God by his holy Law binding vs to do them; and more, Iam. 3.2. they are imperfect, For in many things we offend all, they are faulty, not done alwaies with sinceritie, fulnesse of desire, or not with whole strength, zeale and continuance, as the Lord requireth; yea they are vnequall to the recōpence: When ye shall haue done all those things which are commanded you, Luk. 17.10 say: We are vnprofitable seruants, we haue done that which was our dutie to do. Let not our hearts be lifted vp in conceit of the worthinesse of our doings, Habac. 2.4. as is vsuall in all Hypocrites; but desire we that (as they that looke through greene glasse, thinke all they see greene) the Lord will looke vpon vs in the face of his Annointed, and accept vs as righteous in him, who is our righteousnesse. Gen. 27.24. That as Iacob got a blessing which was not due to him, [Page 81] in the name of his elder brother, and in his clothing: so we putting on the Lord Iesus Christ, Phil. 3.9. may be found in him, not hauing our owne righteousnesse which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ: and may say with the Church (or seede which the Lord hath blessed,) I will greatly reioyce in the Lord, Isa 61.10. my soule shall be ioyfull in my God: for he hath clothed me with the garments of saluation, he hath couered me with the robe of righteousnesse; as a bridegroome decketh himselfe with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth her selfe with iewels. Now concerning faith, we do not teach, nor beleeue, that we are iustified or saued for our faith, or the worthinesse of it: but we cleaue to the word, and beleeue as therein we are taught, namely: Gal. 3.11. The iust shall liue by his faith. We are iustified by faith, & haue peace with God. Rom. 5.1. Gal. 3.26.— We are all the children of God, by faith in Christ Iesus. [Page 82] —To him that worketh not, Rom. 4.5. but beleeueth in him that iustifieth the vngodly, his faith is COVNTED to him for righteousnesse. And that comfortable bill of acquittance: Act. 13.38. Be it knowne vnto you, men and brethren, that through this man is preached vnto you forgiuenesse of sinnes, and from all things, from which ye could not be iustified by the law of Moses, by him euery one that beleeueth, is iustified. Vnderstand for a fuller clearenesse in this point, that like as it is said of Timothie, continuing in holinesse and sound doctrine: 1. Tim. 4.6 — In doing this thou shall saue thy selfe, and them that heare thee. It is not meant that Timothie or any Minister doth saue, otherwise then as instruments, (Who is Paul, 1. Cor. 3.5. or who is Apollos, but Ministers by whom ye beleeued?) So though no other faith iustifieth, but that which worketh by loue, (the same neither iustifying together with loue, nor [Page 83] faith hauing his efficacie from loue:) yet faith which saueth, Eph. 2.8. (Ye are saued by grace through faith, and not of your selues, it is the gift of God,) saueth not as it is a worke, or as it worketh by loue; but as it receiueth Christ, Iohn 1.11 that in him we may be righteous. Euen as fire giueth comfort to the frozen, and be nummed with cold, not by the light thereof, but by the heate of it. As God giueth his Sonne vnto vs, and in him eternall life: so giueth he also to euery of his, faith to be as a hand to receiue the gift, so that they which receiue abundance of grace, Rom. 5.17. and of the gift of righteousnesse, shal reigne in life by one, Iesus Christ. It is true, that true faith, is neuer alone, that is, it is not fruitlesse, barren or idle, as that in Hypocrites; but it is effectuall, or there is a worke of faith, 1. Thes. 1.3 and labour of loue. Yet it alone and no other grace iustifieth, as to them that will be wise according to the word, [Page 84] it is very manifest: Gal. 2.16. — Knowing that a man is not iustified by the workes of the Law, but by the faith of Iesus Christ, euen we haue beleeued in Iesus Christ, that we might be iustified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law; for by the works of the Law, shall no flesh be iustified. This needeth no further declaration, but is as cleare as that short speech of Christ to the same effect, Mar. 5.36. Onely beleeue. And that also, Luke 8.50. Feare not, beleeue onely, and she shall be made whole. And this doctrine, maintaineth Christs honour, and extolleth his bountie, who giueth to the thirstie of the fountaine of the water of life freely. Reu. 21.6. And it giueth to the broken in heart, and sorrowfull soule much and sound comfort, in greatest conflicts and terrors of conscience, and when for sinne Satan would draw vs to despaire. Let vs then cheare vp our hearts, & refresh our fainting spirits, with the holy [Page 85] harmonie of the Apostles, all of thē so sweetly sounding out this learning, of our blessednesse by faith in Iesus Christ. Saint Iude thus exhorteth: Iude 21. Build vp your selues on your most holy faith—looking for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ vnto eternall life. Iames requireth we aske in faith, Iam. 1.6. nothing wauering. Iohn assureth vs, that it is the commandement, 1. Ioh. 3.23 that we should beleeue on the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ. Paul setteth downe very briefly the summe of the Gospell. Beleeue in the Lord Iesus Christ, Act. 16.31. and thou shalt be saued. Peter in a great assembly taught, Act. 15.9. that God put no difference betweene them and vs, after that by faith he had purged their hearts. Why tempt ye God to lay a yoke on the disciples necks, which neither our fathers, nor we are able to beare? but we beleeue through the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, to be saued, euen as they do. Yea To him giue all the Prophets witnesse, Act. 10.43. [Page 86] that through his Name, whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall receiue remission of sinnes.
A fourth obiection.
If good works do not answer the righteousnesse of Gods Law, nor iustifie, nor satisfie, nor merite before God: it may seeme they are vile in your eyes, or at least you make small account of them, and you set a doore wide open to carnall liberty, and all licentiousnesse of liuing.
O be it farre from all that professe Christianitie, so to thinke or speake; for good workes are a maine part of that worship of God which he commandeth, and will call vs to account for: they are the end of our Election, assurances of our Calling, companions of our Iustification, the practise of Sanctification, forerunners of Glorification, the effects of grace, the life of Religion, the beauty [Page 87] of Christianitie, witnesses of faith, nurses of hope, fruites of loue, euidences of thankfulnesse, our sacrifice to God, our acceptance with men, the difference betweene Saints and reprobates, the truth of repentance, a turning from dead workes, preseruatiues from scandals, a lasting debt and dutie; they adde honour to our profession, peace to our consciences, further our reckning; they are seales of saluation, the way to the kingdome, follow vs to Gods tribunall; they are our walking in the waies of God, and our blamelesse conuersation, without which we are as fruitlesse trees, fitted for the fire, and hypocrites that without all helpe shall be cast into hell; for as the word of truth teacheth; Heb. 12.14 Without holinesse no man shall see the Lord. Take knowledge then and be minded, that we beleeue and teach, both a necessitie of good works, and sundry excellent [Page 88] vses of them.
A necessitie of good works we do beleeue. First, because of Gods commandement: Psal. 119.4. Thou hast commanded that we should keepe thy precepts diligently: Leu. 19.2. Be ye holy, for I am holy. This is the will of God, 1. Thes. 4.3 euen your sanctification. Secondly, it is Gods ordination: We are his wormāship, Eph. 2 10. created in Christ Iesus vnto good workes, which God hath before ordained, that we should walke in them. Thirdly, there is a necessity of the doing, and presence of good workes, for the manifestation of the righteous iudgments of God, when he will come to be glorified in his Saints, and crowne his owne works in them: Mat. 25.35 Reu. 22.12 For he will iudge all men according to their deeds. And giue to euery man, as his worke shall be. Fourthly, a necessity is imposed vppon vs, because we are debters, as it is said: Luk. 17.10 — We haue done what was our dutie to do. Rom. 8.12 And Paul saith: Ye are [Page 89] debters, but not to the flesh, but to God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, Euer thinke we on it, Tit. 2.14. that Iesus Christ gaue himselfe for vs, that he might redeeme vs from all iniquitie, and purifie vs to himselfe a peculiar people, zealous of good workes. The obligation and bond of our debt is, our Baptisme. —We are buried with him by Baptisme into death: Rom. 6.4. that like as Christ was raised vp from the dead by the glorie of the Father, so we should walke in newnesse of life. Fiftly, because there is no other way to eternall blessednesse, but by the practise of holinesse. For though good workes cannot be the cause of saluation, but onely Iesus Christ: (as it is said, Isa. 49.6. I will giue thee for a light of the Gentiles, that thou maist be my saluation vnto the end of the world:) yet are they the way and path vnto life and blessednesse. Pro. 12.28. In the way of righteousnesse is life, and in the path thereof there is no death.—Ye [Page 90] haue your fruite in holinesse, Rom. 6.22 and the end, euerlasting life.
The vses of good works are many and great, in regard of God, our selues, others, and our holy profession.
First, God is glorified by our good workes, which are (being rightly performed) a speciall part of his holy worship and seruice. Ioh. 15.8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bring forth much fruite. His grace is manifested by enabling vs vnto a measure of obedience: Eze. 36.27 — I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walke in my statutes, and ye shall keepe my iudgements and do them. God is honoured and praised for them, and by them:— They glorified God for me. Gal. 1.23. 1. Pet. 2.9.— Ye are a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of him which hath called you out of darknesse into his maruellous light. 1. Pet. 4.11.— Do it as of the abilitie which God giueth, that God in all [Page 91] things may be glorified, through Iesus Christ. As a father delighteth in a dutifull sonne: so God delighteth in all those that beare his image, imitate his holy nature, that take pleasure in well doing, Ioh. 4.34. whose meate and drinke it is to do their fathers will.
Secondly, by our blamelesse and good conuersation, we become followers of the example of Christ, & of his Saints: Ioh. 13.15. I haue giuen you an example, that ye should do as I haue done to you. As Christ forgaue you, Colos. 3.13 so also do ye. Take the Prophets who haue spoken in the name of the Lord, Iam. 5.10. for an example (of suffering affliction, and of patience.)
Thirdly, by our holy life and obedience to God, we gaine assurance that God hath chosen vs to be heires of saluation. 2. Pet. 1.10. Giue diligence that ye make your calling and election sure, for if ye do these things ye shall neuer fall. —If we loue in deed and truth—We [Page 92] know we are of the truth, 1. Ioh. 3.19. and shall assure our hearts before him. Thus the truth of faith is knowne, for faith that hath no works is dead, Gal. 5.6. being alone. Neither Circumcision nor vncircumcision auaileth any thing, but faith which worketh by loue. Thus also is the soundnesse of repentance knowne: Act. 26.20.— I shewed to them, that they should repent, and turne to God, and do works meete for repentance.
Fourthly, by carefulnesse of well performing our dutie, we are heartned to looke for the performance of Gods free promises made vnto vs. So Moses had respect vnto the recompence of the reward. Heb. 11.26 (Godlinesse hauing the promises of this life, 1. Tim. 4.8. and that which is to come.) We may looke for, (& obtaine, if God see it expedient for vs,) long life, a blessed posterity, peace & plentie, ioy of heart, preseruation in the euill day, and whatsoeuer good is. 1. Cor. 15.58. Be ye stedfast, vnmoueable, alwaies [Page 93] abounding in the worke of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vaine in the Lord. Gal. 6.9. Let vs not be wearie of well-doing, for in due time we shall reape, if we faint not. Know that whatsoeuer good thing any man doth, the same he shal receiue of the Lord.
Fiftly, they that liue righteously, escape curses and calamities, when the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience. 2. Pet. 2.5. For when God spared not the old world: he saued Noah the eight person, a preacher of righteousnesse. God said he would spare Sodome and Gomorha, Gen. 18.32. Isa. 65.14. for ten sake that were righteous. Behold my seruants shall sing for ioy of heart: but ye shall crie for sorrow of heart, and shall houle for vexation of spirit.
Sixtly, they that are of vpright conuersation, and are studious to abound in good workes, shall auoid offences: Giue none offence, 1. Cor. 10.32. neither to the Iewes nor to the Gentiles, nor to the [Page 94] Church of God. Mat. 18.7. 2. Cor. 6.3. For wo vnto the world because of offences. Giuing none offence in any thing, that the Ministerie be not blamed.
Seuenthly, by our good deeds we win others to God, or make way and prepare some to conuersion. I am made all things to all men, 1. Cor. 9.22 that I might by all meanes saue some. Haue your conuersation honest among the Gentiles, 1. Pet. 2.12. that whereas they speake against you as euill doers, they may by your good workes which they shall behold, glorifie God in the day of visitation. Rom. 11.14. I magnifie mine office, if by any meanes I may prouoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might saue some of them. 1. Pet. 3.1. Ye wiues be in subiection to your husbands, that if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be wonne by the conuersation of the wiues.
Eightly, righteous behauiour stoppeth the mouthes of the aduersaries, [Page 95] that they cannot speake ill of vs. So the loyall and iust cariage of Dauid towards Saul, ioyned with loue and meeknesse, preuailed so far that he made this acknowledgment: — Thou art more iust then I. 1. Sam. 24.17. 1. Pet. 2.15. So is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
Ninthly, by charitable works the poore distressed are much releeued, and such are commended and commanded in the word of God: Philem. 7. We haue great ioy and consolation in thy loue, because the bowels of the Saints are refreshed by thee, brother Iob saith: Iob 29.12. I deliuered the poore that cryed, and the fatherlesse, and him that had none to helpe him; the blessing of him that was readie to perish came vpon me, and I caused the widowes heart to sing for ioy. To do good, Heb. 13.16 and to communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Tenthly, when we do such works as beseeme them that repent, we countenance the Gospell of Christ, and our holy profession. Therefore euen seruants are commanded so to walke, Tit. 2.10. That they may adorne the doctrine of God our Sauiour in all things. And this precept is giuen to all the faithfull: Phil. 1.27. — Let your conuersation be such as becometh the Gospell of Christ.
Furthermore let it be well remembred, that to the wel doing of a good worke, all the foure causes must meete together: the two externall, the Efficient and the End: the two internall, the Matter and the Forme.
By the Efficient is meant, the Author, worker, or doer of a good worke, who is no meere naturall man, for he doth not perceiue the things of God, 1. Cor. 2.14 much lesse do them. No hypocrite, who doth all for himselfe, euen when he pretendeth most holinesse; as Iudas could say, Ioh. 12.5. Why was not this [Page 97] ointment sold for three hundred pence, and giuen to the poore? This he said, not that he cared for the poore: but because he was a theefe, and had the bag, and bare that was put therein. No wicked man, Pro. 15.8. whose very sacrifice is abhomination to the Lord. But he must be in Christ, a new creature, a regenerate man, one that hath faith purifying the heart, Act. 15.9. and which giueth him assurance, that for Christ, both his person and his worke is accepted with God. As God had first respect to Abel, and then to his offering: Gen. 4.4. So it is Gods chosen that he hath ordained to bring forth fruite, Ioh. 15.8. and be glorified that they beare much fruite. He being the true author of all good works, working in his both the will and the deed.
Secondly, the End, and principall scope of all our works, is the glorifying of God: Whether ye eate or drinke, 1. Cor. 10.31. or whatsoeuer ye do, do all to the glorie of God. Pro. 3.9. Honour the Lord with thy riches, [Page 98] [...] [Page 99] [...] [Page 98] and with the first fruits of all thine increase. Mat. 5.16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good workes, and glorifie your Father which is in heauen. There are also other lawfull subordinate ends of good works, as in those nine seuerall vses before mentioned, is made plaine.
Thirdly, the Matter and substance of good workes, is not euery deuised worke of man vpon his good meaning and good intent. Our Sauiour reproueth the Pharisies, for their traditions and seruices of God of their owne deuising, Mat. 15.9. saying: In vaine do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandements of men. Whatsoeuer I command you, Deut. 12.32 take heede ye do it; thou shalt put nothing thereto, nor take ought therefrom. So that nothing can be a good worke with God will allow, but onely what he hath commanded. The Law of God teacheth what good works we must do: [Page 99] as Christ out of it, answered to the yong man, that would know What good thing he should do, Mat. 19.16. Phil. 4.8. to haue eternall life. Whatsoeuer things are true, honest, iust, pure, louely, of good report, if there be any vertue, and if there be any praise, thinke on these things; these things which ye haue learned, receiued, and heard in me, do, and the God of peace shall be with you.
Fourthly, the Forme and manner of doing them must be as the Lord commandeth: 1. In faith, Rom. 14.23. 1. Pet. 2.5. the heart hauing a well grounded perswasion, that for Christ they are pleasing to God. 2. In loue, as the precept is, Let all your things be done in loue. 1. Cor. 16.14. Tit. 3.8. Whence springeth, 1. A carefulnesse: — They which haue beleeued in God, be carefull to maintaine good workes. Also 2. Readinesse, and forwardnesse, Tit. 3.1. Gal. 2.10. — Be readie to euery good worke. Onely they would, that we should remember the poore, the same which I also was forward [Page 100] to do. 3. Timely for the good of the receiuer. Pro. 3.27. Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hands to do it; say not to thy neighbour, Go and come againe, and to morrow I will giue thee, when thou hast it by thee. 2. Cor. 9.7. 4. Chearefully, for God loueth a chearefull giuer.
Thirdly, discreetly, and with iudgment, Eccles. 8.5. For a wise mans heart discerneth both time and iudgement. And as in the Psalme: Psal. 112.5. A good man sheweth fauour, and lendeth and will guide his affaires with discretion. Doing first good to them that excell in vertue, and then to others, after the example of the Samaritan. Yea prouidently to take occasions of doing good: As we haue opportunitie, Gal. 6.10. let vs do good vnto all men, especially to them who are of the houshold of faith.
Fourthly, Plentifully. The praise of Tabitha is, Act. 9.36. that she was a woman full of good workes and almes deeds. [Page 101] Charge them that be rich, 1 Tim. 6.18 that they do good, that they be rich in good workes, readie to distribute, willing to communicate.
Fiftly, zealously and earnestly must good workes be done, with feruent desire of heart, and outward diligence. — He gaue himselfe for vs, Tit. 2.14. to purifie vs to himselfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes.
Sixtly, Constantly also, and not for twice or thrice, and then giue ouer. Let vs not be wearie of well doing, Gal. 6.9. for in due time we shall reape if we faint not.
Thus we teach good workes, thus we practise, thus we encourage all thereto, Colos. 1.10 yea — We ceasse not to pray that we may walke worthy of the Lord, vnto all pleasing, being fruitfull in euery good worke, and increasing in the knowledge of God.
The second vse and fruite
Which we are to make by our knowledge [Page 102] of holy Maries blessednesse, is, to be informed and taught, that it is the nature of true faith, to apply to our owne selues apart, personally & particularly, the promises of saluation, and to put on Christ, as a man putteth on his owne garment vpon his body: not onely to beleeue that Christ and all his riches is ours, but also that Christ is mine, and I am his. So said the Spouse of Christ: My beloued is mine, Cant. 2.16. and I am his: so said the holy mother of Christ; Luke 1.47. My soule reioyceth in God MY Sauiour. It was no affectation of singularitie in that gracious woman to say, MY Sauiour, (as though he had bene hers alone.) But so she well expressed the life of true and liuely faith vnto vs. And after her example, euery Christian for himselfe is to beleeue his owne saluation, building his assurance, first on Gods loue in Christ, 2. Cor. 5.19 reconciling vs to himselfe. Secondly, and on the [Page 103] truth of Gods free and vnchangeable promises, sealed in our hearts by the spirit of adoption:— We receiued not the spirit of the world, 1. Cor. 2.12 but the spirit which is of God, that we might KNOW the things that are freely giuen vs of God. It is a conceit without warranty, to think this was a prerogatiue granted to her alone, or to Peter, Paul, or some few that haue it by reuelation: for euery one that is effectually called, doth particularly, with such application to himselfe, so beleeue as she did; and hath no sound and certaine comfort till he so beleeue. Marke it heedfully, how Paul so applieth to himselfe the promise of life, and then to all, & euery of the faithfull, that loue Christs coming: — I haue kept the faith, 2. Tim. 4.8. henceforth is laid vp for ME the crowne of righteousnesse, which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue ME, at that day; and not to ME onely, but to ALL them also [Page 104] that loue his appearing. He that doth not beleeue particularly, and faithfully, that Christ Iesus is His Sauiour, his beleefe is no better then the faith of diuels; they beleeue Christ is a Sauiour to some men, but they beleeue not that he is their Sauiour. As of old euery one that sprinkled his dore posts with the bloud of the Paschall Lambe, Exod. 12.13. was assured by the promise of God, that he should escape the destroying hand of the Angell: so euery one is baptized seuerally, that he may haue a personall beleefe, that His sinnes are washed away in Christs bloud, and He shall escape the wrath to come. Philip will not baptize the Eunuch till he professe such a faith: Act. 8.37. Thou mayest be baptized if thou beleeuest with all thine heart. We haue a cloud of witnesses of the holy ones, that thus apart to themselues applied the promises of God, whose steps we must follow, if [Page 105] we wil haue true peace in our soules. Iob expresseth his faith apartly, and particularly thus: Iob. 19.25. I KNOW that MY redeemer liueth. In Isaias we reade: My soule shall be ioyfull in MY God. Isa. 61.10. In Abacuk: I will reioyce in the Lord, Abac. 3.18. I will ioy in the God of MY saluation. In Zacharie, I will say it is my people, Zach. 8.8. and they shall say, the Lord is MY God. So Dauid, Psal. 27.1. The Lord is MY light and MY saluation. Elizabeth the mother of Iohn Baptist, Luke 1.43. Whence cometh this to me, that the mother of MY Lord should come to me? Thomas the Apostle after he was healed of his vnbeleefe, could say: MY God, MY Lord. Ioh. 20.28. Paul most holily acknowledgeth: I liue by the faith in the Sonne of God, Gal. 2.20. who hath loued ME, and giuen himselfe for ME. It is no presumption to beleeue all that God hath promised, nor to waite for all he intends to giue vs. But it is the great sinne (for which the holy Ghost will reproue the world:) Because [Page 106] they beleeue not on Christ. Ioh. 16.9. As a wounded man hath not comfort of his incarnatiue plaister, till it be laid on his sore: so haue we no fruit of Gods sweete promises, till we apply thē close to our soules. Who knoweth not that the commandements, Thou shalt not kil, nor commit adulterie, nor steale, are giuen to euery of vs? as if he had said, Thou Iohn, Thomas, Peter, &c. shall obey me when I say, Thou shalt not kill, &c. So the promises of saluation for comfort, are spoken to vs as if he named euery beleeuer seuerally. It will do thee no good, nor put any comfort into thy soule, to beleeue the resurrection of the dead, and life euerlasting: except thou beleeue, that thou thy selfe shalt at the end of the world rise againe, and enioy life euerlasting. [...]ias prophecying of the coming of the Messias into the world, Isa. 9.6. saith not onely, A Child is [Page 107] borne, but vnto VS a childe is borne, vnto VS a sonne is giuen. So the Angels that were messengers of glad tidings, say, Luke 2.11. Vnto YOV is borne this day a Sauiour which is Christ the Lord. So the Prophets and Apostles lay downe to their hearers their particular sinnes, particular punishments, and particular comforts when they repent. Our dutie and comfort it shall be, where God speaketh to all his generally, to apply it our selues particularly. As Seeke ye my face: my heart answered vnto thee, O Lord, Psal. 27.8. I will seeke thy face.
The third vse and fruite
Is comfort and reioycing for the certainty of blessednesse by faith in Christ Iesus. So the Virgine Marie hauing much assurance of her owne saluation: Luke 1.47. Her spirit reioyced in God her Sauiour. So the Lord bad his seauentie disciples, Luk. 10.20 Reioyce that their [Page 108] names were writtten in heauen. Now reioycing which God commandeth, is for good things that are certaine, and not vncertaine. Be it so, that such as know not that the Lords loue is towards them, are euer full of doubting and vncertaintie: and say, the Apostles & Disciples of Christ, by Christs reuelation might be sure and certaine of their owne personall and seuerall saluation, but so cannot others. Let such be put in mind, that where true faith is, there is also a true assurance of blessednesse: the holy Ghost teaching vs, that faith, assurance, and reioycing in the Lord, go together. Rom. 5.1 Iustified by faith we haue peace with God, through our Lord Iesus Christ, by whom also we haue accesse by faith into the grace wherein we stand, and REIOYCE in hope of the glorie of God. Phil. 4 4. Againe, Reioyce in the Lord alway. Agreeable whereto is that in Peter. 1. Pet. 1.8.— In whom, though ye now see [Page 109] him not, yet beleeuing YE REIOYCE, with ioy vnspeakeable and full of glorie. And for assurance and certaintie, the holy exhortation is: Heb. 10.22 Let vs draw neare with a true heart in full assurance of faith. We could not attaine to this assurance of Gods loue, But that we haue receiued the Spirit which is of God, 1. Cor. 2.12 that we might KNOW the things that are freely giuen to vs of God. He it is that perswades our hearts infallibly, enabling vs to beleeue the power, truth, and loue of God to vs. 1. Pet. 1.5. We are kept by the power of God, through faith, vnto saluation. What more assurance can we desire? or what surer ground of reioycing, then to know that we are kept for saluation, and saluation kept for vs? as it is there also said: 1. Pet. 1.4. — That the inheritance incorruptible is reserued in heauen for you. Yea & that we might haue strong consolation, we haue the Lords oath, Heb. 6.18. abundantly to shew to [Page 110] the heires of promise, the immutabilitie of Gods counsell for blessing vs. And as the Lord is true in his promises, so is he cōstant in his loue, the word witnessing that: Iohn 13.1. — Hauing loued his owne which were in the world, he loued them vnto the end. Hence it is that we haue boldnesse, Ephes. 3.12 Heb. 4.16. Rom. 5.2. 1. Thes. 1.5 and accesse with confidence by faith of him. Knowing the power of the word: The Gospell comming vnto vs in power, and in the holy Ghost, and in much assurance; and the power of faith, that it is a ground or confidence, Heb. 11.1. A substance of things hoped for, the euidence of things not seene. The phrase or speech of Scripture, is not to doubt of Gods loue, to weene, trow, or thinke well: but to haue cōfidence, assurance, to beleeue and to know: Iohn 6.69. We beleeue and know that thou art Christ, the Sonne of the liuing God. Rom. 4.21. Abraham was strong in faith, fully perswaded, that what God had promised he was able to performe. [Page 111] Most comfortable are the words in Iohn: Behold what manner of loue the Father hath bestowed vpon vs, that we should be called the sonnes of God. — Now are we the sonnes of God, 1. Ioh. 3.2. and it doth not yet appeare, what we shall be; but WE KNOW, that when he shall appeare we shall be like vnto him, for we shall see him as he is. Paul vseth much vehemencie herein: 2. Cor. 13.5 Proue your selues whether ye be in the faith, examine your selues; KNOW YE not your owne selues, how that Christ Iesus is in you, except ye be reprobates? And in another place: 1. Cor. 3.16 KNOW YE not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? Martha speaking of her brother Lazarus that was dead, saith: Ioh. 11.24. I KNOW that he shall rise againe, in the resurrection at the last day. Can we know a certainty of the resurrection of the dead, and may we not as well know the other parts of our faith which we confesse, a particular, [Page 112] and true assurance of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes, and of our liuing euerlastingly in the kingdome of Christ? Sure we are, the Lord checketh doubting, and reproueth staggering, mistrust, fearefulnesse, vnbeleefe, and wauering, where we haue any promise to stay vpon. Iam. 1.7. Let not him that wauereth, thinke that he shall receiue any thing of the Lord. Mat. 21.21 Mat. 14.3. If ye haue faith and doubt not. O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? and Why are ye fearefull, Mat. 8.26. O ye of little faith? If it be obiected that very faithfull and holy men haue doubted, bene deiected, and bewrayed their lacke of this assurance of faith: as Ionas, Ionas 2.4. when he said, I am cast out of thy sight. Dauid when he brake out: Is his mercie cleane gone for euer? Psal. 77.9. doth his promise faile for euermore? Iob, when he ran into extremitie of passion. Iob 6.9. O that God would destroy me, that he would let his hand go, & cut me off!
To these and the like we returne this answer: that like as the beautifull Sunne is sometime eclipsed, and the light of it to vs-ward, is diminished for a time: and as Iacob, when he had preuailed with God, and got a blessing, Gen. 32.31. yet halted on the one thigh: so the holiest vpon the earth fall; & faile in dutie, and yet recouer thēselues through the seed of grace which God hath put in them, 1. Ioh. 3.9. and so constantly to the end persist in grace and sanctimonie.
Yet to make it plaine by a fuller manifestation, know: First, that at the first conuersion of a sinner, he hath not full assurance of Gods loue to him, but beleeuing his sinnes are pardonable, afterward by spirituall growth he cometh to perswasion, they are pardoned; lastly to an infallible assurance and certainty thereof, as we reade of Abraham, Rom. 4.21 8.38. and Paul. Faith is first like a bud, then a [Page 114] blossome, and after fruite of a full growth. Eze. 47.3. As the waters that issued out from vnder the Temple, first tooke the Prophet to the ancles, thē to the knees, after to the loynes, lastly, became a riuer that could not be passed ouer: so are the graces of God in his children, small at the first, and haue their growth both by degrees, and by attending to the word of his grace. 2. Thes. 1.3 So Paul thanked God that the faith of the Thessalonians grew daily.
2. Secondly, by some fall into a heinous sinne, faith is much weakned, euen as a mans body is by a sharpe and sore disease: which moued Dauid to cry, Psal. 51.11. Cast me not away from thy presence, take not thy holy spirit from me; restore to me the ioy of thy saluation, and stablish me with thy free spirit.
3. Thirdly, in time of grieuous tentations, when Satans suggestions moue him to thinke hardly of God, [Page 115] [...] [Page 114] [...] [Page 115] and to thinke of himselfe that he is but an hypocrite, deceiuing both himselfe and others; & though God be good to his Saints, yet hath he forsaken him, that he is no true member of Christs Church, but as a dead branch. Notwithstanding this fall in the spirituall combate, there is a recouerie, Psal. 37.24. God putting his hand vnder, that though he fall, yet he falleth not away. In such fearefull skirmishes it is with Gods elect, as it was with the Patriarch Iacob in his trials, for he once thought, that he had lost three of his children: Ioseph is not, Gen. 42.36. and Simeon is not, and ye will take Beniamin: yet through the kindnesse of his God he receiued them all three againe, to the great ioy and gladnesse of his heart. So when faith seemeth to be quite lost and extinguished, or at the most, like a sparkle of fire couered with embers, yet where it once was in truth, it is recouered fully, (as [Page 116] in Dauid and Peter) and manifesteth it selfe, Mat. 8.25. somewhile, in 1. Prayer; for though fainting faith said, We perish: yet strugling, and recouering faith cryed: Ionas 2.7. Lord saue vs. Ionas soule fainted in him, Yet remembred the Lord, and his prayer came to him in his holy Temple. Otherwise, by 2. Hope: — On thee O Lord do I waite, Psal. 38.15. thou wilt heare me my Lord my God. Why art thou cast downe my soule, why art thou disquieted within me? Waite on God, for I will yet giue him thankes, he is my present helpe and my God. In 3. Humiliation also: 2. Sam. 15.26. If he say I haue no delight in thee, behold here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good in his eies. The perplexitie of some in sundrie temptations is not vnlike Dauids, and his men at Ziglag, who in their owne sense were miserable, when their wiues and children, (and all that they had) were caried a way captiues; and yet behold, after carefull [Page 117] vsing of good and discreete meanes, 1. Sam. 30.3.19. recouered all that the Amalekites had taken away. So though for a moment we are deiected, and seeme to be forlorne: yet God in his time, Psal. 63.5. (which is alwaies simply best) giueth a recouery, with comfort and reioycing in the Lord. Noahs arke may be much tossed, rocked and shaken; but drowned it cannot be: so the faith of the Saints is assaulted, weakened, and battered, but neuer finally and wholly ouercome. 2. Cor. 4.8. We are troubled on euery side, yet not distressed: perplexed, but not in despaire; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast downe, but not destroyed. The bush burned and consumed not, Exod. 3.2. for God was in the middest of it.
To draw to an end, that the called, chosen, and faithfull, may haue sincere rest, tranquillitie, comfort of mind and conscience, a true and vndoubted assurance of eternall blessednesse by Iesus Christ, God that is [Page 118] the giuer of the gift, giueth also witnesse thereof. Rom. 8.16. Gods Spirit beareth witnesse with our spirit, that we are the children of God. 1. Ioh. 3.24. And as Iohn saith (who most clearely and often teacheth this infallible certainty,) Hereby we know he abideth in vs, 4.13.5.13. euen by the Spirit which he hath giuen vs. Now the fruits of our spirit renewed by his Spirit, though they are not all, in all beleeuers, in like measure, and at all times; yet are they of such power, as giue vs comfort, and discerne vs from the vngodly and wicked, they are to vs pledges of Gods loue, and as the gate of heauen: as namely, a searching out of our sinnes and defections, a groning vnder the burthen of them, an hatred and abhorring of them, a striuing against them, a labour and watchfulnesse to preuent sinnes, and timely to cut off the occasions of them; a mourning for the sinnes of the land, an hungring [Page 119] after righteousnesse, true loue to God and his children, and the word of his grace; patient hope, waiting on God, knowing that he will blesse both prosperitie and aduersitie vnto vs; a desire aboue all things to please God, vprightnesse of heart without hypocrisie, and endeuour to keepe a good conscience, to walke in our calling faithfully and chearefully; boldnesse with God, in humble prayer, thankfulnesse for all his goodnesse to vs, these and the like do assure vs that we are borne of God. As for our certainty to perseuere in grace, the foundation of it is not on the earth, (for so it would fall,) but on the Lords faithfulnesse. He now hath the keeping of vs, and of our blisse; it is not in our hands, as it was in Adams, who quickly lost it. He will confirme you to the end, 1. Cor. 1.8. that ye may be blamelesse in the day of our Lord Iesus Christ. God is faithfull, by whom ye [Page 120] are called vnto the fellowship of his Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Yea he hath made a sure Couenant, so to renew vs, Iere. 32.40. that He will put his feare into our hearts, that we may neuer depart from him.
Maruellous is the light that God hath put into mans eye, whereby he seeth the earth about him, and the heauens aboue him, without paine, in a moment: but more admirable is the sight of faith, which can see before the world God electing vs to saluation in his Sonne our head, in the world redeeming vs by his Sonne our Mediator, after the world glorifying vs with his Sonne our King in the heauens for euermore. The loue of God (which is our life) is ancient, free, sweete, constant, great, vnspeakable, incomprehensible and eternall. God hath giuen his Sonne to be our Sauiour: his Spirit to be our Comforter, Isa. 60.19. and he will be [Page 121] our glorie eternally. Let all the Lords redeemed say, and that continually, with deuout and religious hearts: My soule doth magnifie the Lord, and my spirit reioyceth in God my Sauiour. Blessing and glorie, Reu. 7.12. and wisedome, and thanksgiuing, and honour, and power, and might, be vnto our God for euer and euer, Amen.