CHAP. I.
This first Chapter entreateth of the principall Care, Zeale, and vehement desire, which euery one ought to take in the see­king their saluation.

THere is nothing in the World that we ought so to affect and desire, as to seeke to haue our soules saued in the Kingdome of Heauen: And if there bee any thing in the Booke of GOD, from the Alpha of Genesis, vnto the Omega of the Reuelation, that is able to draw a sinner vnto Repentance, sure it is the re­membrance [Page 2] of his Saluation; And as the Lord of Hosts hath drawne his sword by forraigne Nations, shewing the miseries that are like to ensue vppon vs by reason of our sinne, and se­curity: Let vs now therefore, with all expedition, bestow our short and troublesome time in seeking our saluation, and with all Humility returne vnto the Lord by speedy Repentance, for if we loose the life of our bodies, by defending the Gospell, in see­king our saluation, wee may find it againe; but if we loose our soules for want thereof, it will be irreuokeable, and neuer re­called againe: Oh too too many now a dayes in this declyning age, seeme to bee carelesse of their saluation.

And although England neuer liued so long in peace and securi­ty, nor the Gospell neuer so generally Preached amongst vs, yet I feare, neuer did men make so ill vse of so good a blessing; [Page 3] miranda miserecordia, Gods mer­cy is to be wondred at, that he hath spared vs so long; it is his mercy, and nothing but his mercy, that wee are not consu­med; our sinnes is, In ulti­mo gradu, in the highest de­gree that may bee, so that Lae­tantur cum malefecerint, they re­ioyce and take pleasure, when they haue done euill; wherefore I doubt not, but the iniquity of the whole World is come to maturity, which causeth our sinnes to crye louder then the sinnes of Sodome; Ezekel 16. 49. 50. and ascend higher then the sinnes of Ni­niuch. Ionas 1. 2.

Wherefore, if all our Nauie were ready, all our Ports for­tified; all our Coasts guarded; all our men strongly armed, and our Land inuironed with a wall of Brasse; yet it is to be feared, that wee haue a Traytor within vs, euen our long continued and vnrepented sinnes, that will draw Gods vengeance vp­pon [Page 4] vs, and cause him to whet his sword, and vtterly confound vs, Except wee repent. God would haue spared Sodome, i [...] there had beene but twenty, nay but ten Righteous therein: So no doubt, it is for some good peoples sake, that holds vp their hands like Moses, and grieue for the sinnes of our time, like Lot, that God hath spared vs so long.

Agayne, Gods sword was once drawne agaynst Niniueh, agaynst whom a fearefull doome was pronounced; Yet forty daies and Niniueh shall bee destroyed. The King and the Nobility, Ionas 3. 4. with all his Subiects, present­ly fell to Repentance: they fa­sted; they prayed; and incessant­ly with all humility humbled themselues in Sacke-cloath and Ashes, their sinnes cryed for vengeance; but their Repen­tance for mercy, their sinnes ascend vp to Heauen, Ionas 1. 2. and cla­mours loud in the eares of Gods [Page 5] iustice for vengeance, venge­ance, O reuenge with venge­ance.

Their Repentance ascends higher, and cryes louder into the eares of Gods mercy: Good Lord haue mercy, spare vs, O spare vs we beseech thee; where­by we may see that God regards not the clamour of sinne, so much as hee doth the crye of a true repentant sinner.

But England, O sinnefull England, there was neuer any Nation in the World, that hath such store of Heauenly Manna, as his Word, his Will, his Truth, his Gospell, which wee haue receiued, Iugentia be­neficia, infinite benefits, much knowledge of the Truth, so much Preaching of the Word, and so much glorious light of the Gospell: And yet Mirandum est degeneres nos, it is wonder, and a great wonder, that such a degenerate generation as this, such a corrupt and sinnefull Na­tion [Page 6] as wee, should so liue in such a blessed and illuminated a time.

But our sinnes, our sinnes, our vnrepented sinnes, are more then can bee numbred by any Arithmetition, and greater then can be measured by a Geo­metrition: As our Ieremiah 5. 7. Eccles. 23. 9. swearing and forswearing; our Ierem. 17. 21. prophatning the Lords Sabaoth; our Iere. 6. 14. Ieremiah 5. 3. con­tempt of Gods Word; our Ieremiah 6. 13 co­uetousnesse; our Amos 6. 6. drunkennes; our Esay 3. 10, 11, 12. Ieremiah 9. 5. deceite; our Ezechiel 6. 9. whoredome, our pride, our vnthankfulnes, and our waxing worse & worse, with many moe, which crye to Heauen for Gods vengeance a­gainst vs.

Oh therefore let vs with all expedition seeke for our saluation by speedy repentance: Let vs not onely wéepe, but powre foorth our teares for our sins like Esay 5. Esay 29. 20. Hab. 2. 5. Da­uid: h Psal. 6. 6. Wrestle with GOD like Gene. 32. 24. Iacob: Crye like Esay. 58. 1. Esay: That our heads may be full of water, and our eyes a Fountayne of [Page 7] teares, like Iere. 4. 19. Ieremiah: Let vs be clad Iohn 3. 6. in Sacke-cloath like the Niniuites: Humbled vnto the ground Gene. 17. 18▪ like Abraham: Mourne like a Doue Esay. 38. 14. with Ezechia: Rore out Iob. 3. 24. our griefe with Iob: Powre out our Soule 1 Sam 1. 10. with Hanna: Rent our Ioel. 3. 13. hearts with the penitent; lament with Mat. 26. 75. Pe­ter: Sorrow Luk. 7. 38. with Mary: And crye out with the Acts 16. 30. Acts. 2. 37. Iewes; Men and Brethren, what shall we doe to bee saued? For there is no­thing more needefull, then the saluation of our soules.

The vehement desire of their saluation, caused the Patriarks, Prophets, and the Saints of the old World, to long for, and desire that eternall, sweete, and most ioyful inheritance, Regnum Dei, the Kingdome of God; It caused Abraham to forsake his Gene. 12. 4. Heb. 11. 8. owne naturall Countrey; and his Fathers House, and t [...] go [...] he knew not whither: It caused Moses to forsake Exod 2. 11. Heb. 11. 24. Aegypt, and refused to be called the Son [Page 8] of Pharaohs daughter: it cau­sed Toby, Iob, Elias, and Paul, to wish To be dissolued, and to bee with Christ.

It caused the carelesse Nini­uites to beléeue Ionas. 3. 5. Ionas Preach­ing: The desperate souldiers to heare Mat. 3 5 Iohns Sermon: The ob­stinate Israelites to heare Acts. 2. 37. Peters perswasion: The Euenuch to giue eare to Acts. 18 38. Phillip: Cornelius the Captayne, with a great multitude, to heare Acts. 10. 5. Peter; and the Macedonians to Acts. 20. 7 continue Paules Doctrine vntill mid­night.

When Iohn the Baptist first Preached, Primitiua quidem Ecclesia, The Primitiue Church did most clearely shine, in so much that Mat. 11. 12. the Kingdome of Heauen suffered violence; That is, there was such forwardnesse and zeale, in those that heard him Preach, to procure their saluation, in the Kingdome of Heauen, that they stroue most earnestly to goe in; and this af­fection [Page 9] our Sauiour requireth, when he sayth, Striue to enter in at the straight Gate; For Domi­nus vobiscum dum vos cum Do­mino: The Lord is with you, Luke. 13. 24. while yée heare his voyce. 2 Chro. 15. 2.

The Prophet Dauid lamen­ted that hée was so long kept from the ioyes of his Saluati­on: Woe is me (sayth hee) that I am constrained to dwell with Mosech, and to haue my habita­tion among the Tents of Keder. And agayne, Like as the Hart desireth the water brooke; so lon­geth my soule after thee O God: And agayne, hée sayth, That hee should vtterly haue fainted, but that hee did rest in hope of a better Kingdome; and beleeued verily in short time, to see the ioyes of his Saluation, in the land of the liuing.

And many others counted their Country but a cursed vale of misery; their worldly glory but vanity; their dwellings but a Prison; their pleasure but sor­row, [Page 10] mourning and teares; and all their doings were to this end that they might ioy in their saluation in the kingdome of Heauen.

CHAP. II.
The second Chapter entreateth of the shortnesse, and vncertainty of mans life, and how it may be a motiue to induce vs to re­turne vnto the Lord by repen­tance, because no man knowes the time thereof, nor when God will call him.

ALl Creatures waxe olde with this aged World; although Methusela liued 969. Gen. 5. 27. yeares; yet in our age if we reach to 80. it Psal 89. 46. is with sorrow and labour; mans dayes are but a Psal. 39. 5, 6. span, saith Dauid, and all flesh is grasse, sayth the Pro­phet Esay 40. 6. Esay: So that man is scarce entred into the World, [Page 11] but he is admonished to remem­ber to depart out of Eccle. 40. 1. [...]. the same; for as all the world is mutable, so of all the things in the world, man is most mutable, wee are all but Tenants at will, and know not how long we shall re­mayne in this earthly Taber­nacle, and as our dayes are but short and euill, and many cut off Gene. 7. 11. Gene. 19. 24. Exod. 14. 27. Num. 21. 6. Num. 16. 31. Acts 12. 23. Luke 12. 20. Acts 5. 10. Iudg. 3. 21, 22. 2 Sam. 3. 27. suddainly, that they haue scarce time to thinke on God, or once crye Lord helpe me; therefore we ought alwaies so to liue, that wee may euer Esay 55. 6. Iere. 25. 15. Gal. 6. 10. Heb. 3. 7. 15. Psalme 95. 8. bee prepared for the Lord.

Let the memory of death bee euer the looking-glasse of our life, and seeing the young must depart from the World as well as the old: Let vs imagine that the Spring of our dayes are past, our Summer is spent, and that wee are arriued at the Autumne, or fall of the leafe; Psalme 89. 46 So that in euery mo­ment wee are in the waning; The date of our poore Pilgri­mage [Page 12] almost expired, and the Lamp of our liues lyeth twinck­ling vppon the snuffe; our forces enféebled, our sences impayred, and on euery side, our tottering and ruinous cottage of our faint flesh, ready to fall.

It were now high time, there­fore, to leaue our owne wayes, and Psalme 77. 6. with all expedition looke towards our Caelestiall home; lest wée bée like those which are tos­sed with many sturdy stormes, and cannot ariue at their desired Port; ride little way, but are much turmoyled.

So, these that passe many yeares in their vnrepented sins, and purchase but small profit to salue their sicke soules, should haue a long lyuing in destructi­on, Prouerbs 8. 1. but a short life in Wis. 4. 8. 9. Prouerbs 16. 31 Wisdome 17. 10 conuersi­on; besides that, where sinne raignes there goes Gods curse also: There is no peace to Esay 48. 2 [...]. Prouerbs 28. 1. the wicked.

But howsoeuer, whether in youth, or in age, wée would [Page 13] leaue our sinnes, and returne vnto the Lord by Repentance, wee must know this, that it is not in our owne Lam. 5. 21. Iere. 31. 18. 2 Tim. 2. 25, 26. power.

No man can leaue his sinnes when he would; nor no Pope or Potentate can pardon them but God: neyther is any Psal 49. 7, 8 Acts. 4. 12. Hos. 13. 4. Psal. 32. 1, 2, 3. Math. 1. 21. Luke. 5. 11. Psal. 3. 8. Iohn 15. 16. Iohn 1. 29. Acts 10. 43. Psal. 17. 7. Daniel 9. 9. Hosa 14. 34. Luke 2. 30 1 Tim. 1. 15. Luke 24. 47. 1 Iohn 1. 7 Psalme 4. 8. 1 Iohn 3. 5, 6. Psal. 51. 12. 14. Iohn 6. 93. Esay 45. 15. Psalme 79. 9. Luke 1. 17. Iohn 4. 9. man capable of grace, necessary to saluation, before God cals him, as our Sauiour sayth, No man can come vnto me, except my Fa­ther draw Iohn 6. 44. him.

The labourer receiued his pe­ny, as well that came in the last houre, as hée that came in the Mat. 27. 38. first: And the Théefe was saued, that was on the Crosse: So that there is no time too late, in this life to repent, if wée re­pent truely, whensoeuer it shall please God to call vs, neyther any time too earely, if wée pre­pare our selues to leaue our sins, and come vnto him when hée calls vs: So that, whether it be earely, or late, wée must al­wayes prepare our selues, to [Page 14] forsake our selues in our sinnes, and come at his calling.

CHAP III
The third Chapter describeth a short and Caelestiall view of the place, whereunto we are called.

WE are not called vnto any earthly Iohn 7. 37. Taber­nacle, but to the Kingdome of Mat. 2 [...]. 14. Hea­uen, vnto that blessed [...] Peter 1. 11. and e­uerlasting Kingdome, vnto that Celestiall and Heauenly Luke 24. Ieru­salem, that Kingdome of Reue. 21. 11. glo­ry; that throne of Reue. 22. 1. Maiesty; that Paradize Reue. 2. 7 of pleasure; that glo­ry of God, and life Iohn 17. 3 euerlasting, which was the first Genesis 1. 1. Psalme 33. 6. Psalme 136. 5. Acts 14. 15. Reue. 14. 17. of all Gods workes and therefore it is most ancient.

Whose felicity cannot 1 Cor. 2. 9 Esay 64. 4 Psalme 31. 20. bee imagined, neyther the blessings numbred, so incomparable as cannot bee equalled, and of such value as none can comprize it, [Page 15] so great as cannot be measured, and of such eternity, as neuer can be Danel 7. 14. Luke 1. [...]3. Daniel [...]. 44. ended▪

The very name of Heauen to all is louely, because it is a Hauen Ma [...] 11. 28, 29. Iere▪ [...]. [...]6. for rest; a Citty [...] 2 [...]. 2. for beauty, and a Kingdom Ma [...] 16. 19. for state: It is the Harbour for the Exodus 6. 3▪ Iust; the peculiar 1 Peter 2. 9. people; the regene­rate Titus 2. 14. 2 Cor. 5. 9. Christians; the Luke 1. [...]9. Iohn 1 [...]. 8. 12▪ Iohn 9. 5. Iohn 1. 9 Iohn 11. 12. 35. Iohn 12. 36. Ephe. 5. 8. Children of light; the elect by Gods praeordi­nation; where all are Mat. 25. 34. Kings, and Heires with Gala. 4. 7. Christ; inuested with Rom. 8. 17. Rom. 9. 13. glory; Crowned with Ma­iesty, cloathed 2 Tim. 4. 8. 1 Peter. 5. 4. with security, decked with delights, repleni­shed with pleasure, garnished with all graces, adorned with beauty, furnished with the best company, and flourishing with the flower of all Nations; it is desired of all, hoped for of ma­ny, but only enioyed of the best.

And as Heauen is out Sum­mum bonum, our chiefe good thing, so it is our Terminus ad­quem y ^e end of al our 1 Cor. 1. 21. Esay. 2. 5. Ma [...]. 16. 15. Preaching, the drift of all our Psalme 95. 8. Ioshuah 8. 4. 1 Samuel 12. 14 Hearing, the [Page 16] fruite of all Rom. 10. 17. Mat. 13. 4. Mat. 4. 39. Luke. 8. 8. Mat. 16. 16. 17. Iohn 6. 65. our Beleeuing; the effect of all our 1 Iohn 5. 20. Gala. 4. 9. Knowledge; and the mayne poynt of all our Pro­fession, that wee may so liue, that wée may enioy, this blessed and euerlasting Kingdome.

CHAP. IIII.
The fourth Chapter entreateth of the Spirituall battle, in which no doubt, euery Regenerate man oftentimes fighteth against Sathan, before hee attaine eter­nall life.

SAthan is euer quiet with the sinner, before hee fea­reth he shall loose him, but then hée séeketh by all meanes that possibly hée can, to attempt, peruert, and vtterly ouerthrow 1 Peter 5. 8 him.

Moses was quiet, vntill hée beganne to deliuer the Children of Israel; but then [...]orah could say, Number 16. 3▪ Yee take too much vppon [Page 17] you: King Dauid was quiet when he kept his Fathers 1 Sam. 16. 11. sheep; but after he fought for the Church of God: Then Saul 1 Sam. 17. 50. 1 Sam. 18. 11. 29 could rise against him: Saint Paul was quiet, so long as hee was with the Scribes Acts 9. 1, 2. Acts 22. [...]. 34. and Pharisees, but af­terwards hee had enemies e­nough: Sathan tempted, and o­uercame the perfectest, as Genesis 3. 6. A­dam; the strongest as Iudges 16. 1 [...] sampson; and the wisest as 2 Reg 11 Salomon: Hee therefore that 1 Cor. 10. 12. standeth, let him take heed lest he fall, Christ was no sooner Baptized, and had fa­sted Mathew. 4. 1▪ Luke 4. 1. Marke. 1. 12. forty dayes, but Sathan could tempt him.

And so it is with euery Re­generate man, euen when hee is most weakest, then the Di­uell is strongest, 1 Peter 5. [...]. and busiest a­gaynst him; Who daily laboureth to delude him with all manner of inticements: First, To delight in sinne: Secondly, To consent: Thirdly, To custome, and from custome to hardness of heart from hardnesse of heart, to boasting, [Page 18] from boasting, vnto desperation, and from desperation to damnati­on; and thus by degrees, if sinne be not resisted, the Diuell will la­bour to bring the sinner vnto de­struction. Wherefore wee must daily labour to preuent them by Diuine meditations; diuert them by feruent prayers, and correct them by sighes, and speedy Re­pentance: For I holde those intisements, and vanishing thoughts, which many times passe through a Regenerate man without approbation, not with­out suppression, to be properly Nec mors nec morbus animae, sed deformitas, Neyther the death, nor disease of the soule, but the deformity thereof, they are Te­la immisa, Sathans darts, shot at vs, In corde, non excorde, in the heart, not of the heart: which the godly seeke, but giue no consent vnto, they are our crosses, but not our sinnes, they are but Morbus mentis, The di­sease of the minde.

[Page 19] Those motions St. Paul con­fesseth, the Children of God, are neuer free from them: It is obserued in Hierom, which hee bewrayes in many places of his workes, That his whole life, was in continuall war-faire with his lusts: It caused St. Paul to crye out, to bee deliuered from the pricke of the flesh; But the Lord answered him, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in thy weaknesse.

I hold these & such like temp­tations, to bee the battle which euery Regenerate man fighteth agaynst Sathan. For, where were Timothy 2. 9. grace, if there were Iames 1. 14. no temptation? where were mortifi­cation, if no lusts to Romans 8 13. mortifie? And where were Colosians 3. 5 Iob 2. 10. patience, if there were no Psalme [...]19. 71 affliction? if there were no motion to sinne, where were the battle, the victory, and the Crowne wee shall obtaine, if wee haue no Aduersary to striue withall?

[Page 20] The Diuell, as hee is the Prince of this World, So still he seeketh whom he may deuoure; 1 Peter 5. [...]. he himselfe is chiefe generall, and is alwayes the sore-man in the battle; his Lieutenants are flesh­ly lusts, which are in open war agaynst Chastity: the Serge­ants of his Band, are the cursed Children of dacknesse, which are in continuall strife, agaynst the Children of light: His common Souldiers are the effects of the flesh, to fight agaynst the fruits of the Spirit. And their armour is the brest plate of iniury, the girdle of falshood, the shoes of discord, the shield of infidelity, the helmet of mistrust, with the piercing darts of cruelty, the Cannon shot of spitefull Re­proaches, the arrowes of fly­ing slanders, and the frailty of the flesh, to peruert and vtterly confound vs, except wee pre­uent them by Prayer and Repen­tance.

Therefore, the Children of [Page 21] God ought to put on Gods Ar­mour, and manfully fight against the deuices of sinne, Ephesians 6. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 Sathan, and all his detestable crue, before they can obtayne their spirituall inheri­tance in the Kingdome of Hea­uen: Which weapons are able to ouercome the Diuell, and all the lewd lusts of the world; yea, and all the whole host of vices therein.

Our Captaine and chiefe Ge­nerall, in all our conflict, Is the mighty [...]. 5. 5. Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah, the [...] Prince of Peace, the Conquerour [...] of Death, [...] Heil, and [...] Sinne: Yea, the G [...]e [...]s [...] great Iudge of the World, and [...] 2. 2 [...]. Bishop of our Soules, Christ Iesus Mathew 1. 21 our Sa­uiour.

And to resist the Tyranny of the Diuell, 1 Timothy 4 [...] [...] Acts 5. 31. it standeth vs in hand, to be also well and strong­ly armed, with the brest-plate of equity, the Shield of vndoubted faith in Christ, the Helmet of as­sured hope, the Shoes of know­ledge and peace in the holy Ghost, [Page 22] the girdle of truth, well buckled with patience, and constancy, the Cannon shot of deepe sighes, pro­ceeding from a true penitent heart, the Arrowes of bitter teares, brought forth by remorse of con­science, and the two edged Sword of the eternall word of GOD; For, it standeth vs vppon, to keepe our continuall battle, ready and orderly; To sight valiantly, hope assuredly, endure constantly, to march on charitably and cheerefully: To watch and stand fast in our fight, for the quarrell is GODS, and the Victory ours, euen the very saluation of our owne soules.

If wée resist the Diuell in the power of Iesus Christ, He will flye from vs: So often as wee resist him, so often we ouercome, it will make the Angels glad, and glorifie GOD, which ex­horts vs to fight, and helpes vs in our extreamity, and time of néede; GOD beholds our stri­uing, [Page 23] and helpes vs vp, that we should not faint; and will crowne vs with glory, and ho­nour when we ouercome; there­fore, the greater our Temptati­ons are, the more noble must bee our Resistance; and the more godly our liues and conuersati­ons are, the greater shalbee our Crowne and Glory, in the king­dome of Heauen.

CHAP. V.
The fifth Chapter entreateth of the true estate of the Rege [...]e­rate man, with the certainty of his saluation.

REgeneration is our 2 Cor. 5. 17. Gala. 7. 15. new birth, whereby wee are borne, and renewed a­gayne Acts 11▪ 18▪ 2 K [...]n [...]s 17 13. Ho [...]ea 14▪ 1. Ierem. 18. 11. Ezekel. 18. 21. 22. 23. Ierem. 25. 5. Mat. 3. 2. 6. 8. Ierem. 36. 3. Mat. 4. 17. Luke 13. 3. Acts 2. 38. Luke 24. 4. Acts 17. 30. 1 Peter 3. 9 by Repentance: And as the Mat. 3. 2. 6. 8. Merchants sold all that hee had, and forsaketh [Page 24] his Worldly wealth, to gayne one precious pearle: So the Re­generate man leaueth and forsa­keth his sinnes, and all worldly vanities, for to obtayne eternall life: And doth not onely dislike and forsake his sinnes, but also from the tender bowels of his heart, incessantly, with all hu­mility, powre out his Mat. 15. 22 23 24▪ 25. 26. 27. 28 Mar. 7 25. 29. 27. 28. 29. 30. 2 Samuel 24. 20 Romains 12. 12 daily prayers vnto Almighty God, to giue him his grace, to suppresse, and mortifie them; and so shew­eth the powre of Gods grace, working in him. And by retur­ning vnto God by his true Re­pentance. God giueth him Iohn 5. 6. Ro [...]a [...]s [...] 4. Gal [...] [...] 16. [...]hesians 4 1. a new heart, and a new Spirit, (not in substance or quantity, but in quality) which is a true and faythfull witnesse giuing Testi­money, not to GOD, for that it needes not; not to o­thers, for that it cannot, but to the man who hath it, for that it must; of th [...] Truth of those things which it knoweth to bee in him, concerning Gods will, [Page 25] and his owne eternall well­faire.

Seeing then A faithfull wit­nesse will not lye; Prouerbs 14. 7. and the Spi­rit of the Penitent, testifie the Truth of his Repentance; why may not he then, be as firmely perswaded of the certainty of his saluation: as his heart wit­nesseth the sincerity of his con­uersion: Yes surely, 2 Cor. 13. 5. St. Paul proues it, Know yee not your owne selues, how Iesus Christ is in you, except yee be Reprobates: Wee may surely know, that if wee haue truely repented, and are heartily sorry for our sinnes, with a full and determinate pur­pose to continue in newnesse of life, Romans 81. That Christ is in vs, Iohn 5 [...]. 24. if Christ be in vs, then wee are in Christ; if wee bee in Christ, wee cannot be condemned: For there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus.

For, sinne legally considered is mortall, But Esay 59. 2. Luke 13. 3. Nahu. 2. 25. Euangelically, is veniall, except the sinne against [Page 26] the Holy Ghost, mortall, by his owne merrit, but Esay 1. 18. Iohn 5. 8. veniall by Chirst his mercy: Mortall to the naturall vnregenerated man; For hee Iohn 3. 18. that beleeueth not, is condemned already; but veniall to the Regenerate though still sinne: By the couenant of grace, it dissolueth not the loue and league betweene God and man, and so is veniall, in all other sinne is mortall by his owne na­ture.

Agayne, Rom. 7. 5. 6. by nature man and his flesh are all one, but by grace they are seperated: By nature when the flesh doth sinne, the man also sinneth, because hee is in subiection vnto it: but in the estate of grace, although the flesh be in him, (and doe sinne,) yet he sinneth not, because they are di [...]orsed a sunder; For man assoone as hee is in the estate of grace, is newly married vnto Christ: In this case, although the flesh beget sin, yet the regene­rate man shall not be condemned.

[Page 27] Yet, one thing let vs consi­der, That he which Iere. 20 14. 15. Psalme 22. 1. Ionas 2. 4. Mark. 9. 24. Psalm 77. 6 Psalme 42. 11. Psal. 51. 10. 12. neuer doub­ted of his saluation, scarce euer beleeued to be saued; For it is not euery little sob, or sigh, that brings Repentance sufficient to please God, or a little while to crye Lord helpe, Lord helpe, I am a sinner, but God is mercifull, &c. and so lightly daube them ouer, as though Gods mercy were gayned in a moment: Let no man deceiue himselfe, It Luke 18. 1. Rom. 12. 12. Colo. 4. 2. will cost him many a prayer, and ma­ny Iames 4. 9. Deut. 1. 45. Gen. 37. 34. 35 2 King 20. 1. 2. 3 Mat. 26. 75. 2 King. 22. 11. 19 Psalme▪ 30. 5. a teare, before he can be cer­tayne or sure to haue pardon for his sinnes.

For as no man can repent vn­till hee know his sinnes, so no man can know his sinnes vntill hee search himselfe; Therefore you must with King Psalme 77. 6. Psalme 119. 59. Dauid, Seach your spirits, and 2 Cor. 13. 5. Lamen. 3. 4. Psalme 4. 4 examine your conscience strictly, trye it throughly, search it narrowly, to proue dilligently, who, and what manner of person yee are, and in what case yee feele your [Page 28] selues, to set, and know how deeply your conscience is woun­ded with sinne.

And then, if you find Psalme 77. 6. your wayes dangerous, and your case fearefull, you must there­uppon resolue to take a new course, and withal to seek how, and which way you may come a­gayne into Pro. 3. 3, 4. Iudges 6. 17. fauour with God: As Dauid did, Who Psalme. 51. cryed vn­to God agayne, and agayne; and you must neuer leaue the Lord, vntill you obtayne his Exod. 20. 6. Exod. 22. 27. mercy, and fauour, that you may get some comfortable perswasion of Gods loue in Christ, for the par­don of your sinnes; vntill you do so, you shall neuer Pro. 15. 13. 2 Cor. 1. 12. Romans 5. 1. Acts 20. 26. 1 Pet. 3. 15. 16. 21 Psalme 30. 2. 3. haue any peace, or quietnesse of conscience, nor any sound comfort of Gods holy Spirit in you.

Therefore, Vnum necessarium, This one thing is necessary, what­soeuer wee leaue vnknowne, let vs labour to know this, That wee are Gala. 4. 9. 2 Timothy 2. 19 Romans 11. 2. Colo. 1. 10. Hosea. 6. 6. the Lords. Qui Chri­stum discit, satis est si caetera nescit, [Page 29] He may without danger be igno­rant of those things, that truely knoweth Iesus Christ.

The best haue desired to make their Saluation sure; as I the vnworthiest of all other, do day­ly labour to doe the same: Dauid which knew y ^t God loued him, entreateth to know it more, I know thou fauourest me; Psalme 35. 3. yet hee cryed, Dic animamcae, Say vn­to my soule. I am thy Saluation.

The Scripture hath many proofes of the Iohn. 19. [...]5 26. 27. Rom. 8. 9. 15. 16. Psalme 31. 1. Iob 13. 25. 26. Gala 4. 5. 6. 7. Iohn 4. 15. 16. 17 1 Iohn 2. 28. Psalme 35 9. 2 Peter 1. 10. certainty of our saluation; and Dauid would ne­uer pray for that which could not be: neyther would St. Peter charge vs with a duty which could not possibly be performed: Make your election sure; which must bee done, by the true and proper worke of Heb. 11. 1. 5. 6 Mat. 9. 29. Dan. 3. 17. Acts 15. 9. 1 Peter 1. 9. Faith, that giueth the true beleeuer a stedfast, and vnmooueable assurance of the loue of God, that hee may fully enioy the comfort of his Salua­tion.

And whereas St. Paul sayth, [Page 30] Know yee not how Iesus Christ is in you, 2 Cor. 13. 5. except yee be reprobates? Here the Apostle giueth vs to vnderstand, that all which be­leeue, haue the spirit of discer­ning, to know certainely that they doe beleeue. And sheweth that, to prooue a mans selfe whether he be in the faith, which is to prooue whether Christ bee in him, because the Faith of which he speaketh, is that liuely saith, whereby Christ dwelleth in our hearts.

Hee therefore that knoweth himselfe to bée in the true Faith, knoweth Christ to bee in him­selfe: As St. Paul sayth, I know whom I haue beleeued. And a­gayne, by this wee know, 2 Timo. 1. 12. hee dwelleth in vs, euen by the spi­rit which he hath giuen vs: 1 Iohn 3. 24: It is manifest y ^t the property of true faith, guides the assurance of our saluation, and the greater our faith is, 1 Peter 1. 7. 8 9 the greater is our assurance. And consequently the true be­léeuer knoweth, and is assured of [Page 31] his election and saluation, for Faith is the Faith of Gods elect: Acts 13. 48. So many beleeued as were orday­ned vnto saluation: [...]om. 8. 38. 39. And I am per­swaded that neyther death, nor life, nor Angels, nor Principali­ties, nor powers, nor things pre­sent, nor things to come, shall bee able to seperate mee, from the loue of God. Therefore the A­postle was fully perswaded of his saluation: 2 Timoth. 4. [...] And agayne, Hence­forth is laid vp for me the crowne of righteousnesse: So the Virgin Mary called Christ her Sauiour; Luke 1. 47. and the Théefe upon the Crosse, Luke 23. 43. sayd, Lord remember me; The like sayd St. Paul, Gala. 2. 20. That Christ gaue himselfe for me. Phil. 1. 2. 3. If you bee demanded how long you may be assured of your saluation; you may answer, so long as you haue truely repented, and continue in newnesse of life, your sure trust & confidence is, y ^t God will neuer forsake them that put their trust in him: for Euery one that belee­ueth in him, Rom. 9. 33. shall not be ashamed.

[Page 32] And this promise God hath made to all that beleeue in him: I will put my feare in their hearts, that they shal not depart from me: Iere. 32. 40. And agayne, There is no con­demnation to them that are in Christ Iesus, because (sayth the Apostle) they walke not after the flesh, Rom. 8. 1. but after the Spirit.

Lastly, the most excellent Faith, sheweth not it selfe most glorious, when wee haue most sence or feeling; but rather when we feele, or discerne the contra­ry. Iob, Iob 13. 15. when he apprehended nothing but Gods wrath and displeasure, euen then he shew­ed a most victorious Faith, Loe, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: The like of Iacob, in his tedious conflict, Gene. 32. 24. where hee sayd, I will not let thee goe, ex­cept thou blesse mee: Hosea 12. 4. And the woman of Canaan, who al­though shee receiued diuers re­pulses, and earnest deniall, yet continued her suite, Mat. 15. 28. and is com­mended▪ for her Faith, Heb. 12. 2. by the [Page 33] Author and finisher of our Faith.

To conclude, wee are not to build the assurance of our salua­tion, vppon our owne sence or feeling; but vppon Gods vn­changeable and gracious promi­ses made vnto vs, in Christ Iesus.

CHAP. VI.
The sixt Chapter, sheweth an ex­cellent marke to know the child of God, which hath truely re­pented.

HE that hath earnestly Repented, and is true­ly conuerted from his sinnes, hath this special marke in him: Mat. 13. 14. Hee is none of those fruitlesse Mat 13. 19. 29 hearers, barren beleeuers, vnregenerate know­ers, or verball Professors; but he is the faithfull doer of the will and word of God.

Whosoeuer 1 Iohn 3. 5 keepeth Gods word, in him verily is the loue of [Page 34] God perfected: Hereby know we that we are in him, hee that abi­deth in God, ought also to walke euen as he hath walked: That is as St. Iohn sheweth vs, Euery man that 1 Iohn 3. 2. hath this hope in him, purifieth himselfe, euen as hee is pure: And seeketh Psalme 95. 8. the present time to returne vnto the Lord; because hee hath a bleeding and a tender Psalme 51. 17 heart; it trembleth Psalme 51. 4. at the Word: It is pricked Acts 2. 37. when it is rebuked; and inflamed with bur­ning Psalme 69. 5. Iohn 2. 17 psal 119. 139. Titus 2. 14. zeale, when it is instructed. The Regenerate man desireth nothing so much, As hee [...] 55. 6. 26. desi­reth God; Therefore, he maketh himselfe 1 Iohn 3. 3. fit for him, Rom 4 7. 8 Blessed; the Esay 41. 8. Wisdome 7. 27 Iohn 15. 14. 15. friend of God, and doth count all things Phil 3. 8. but dung, that he may winne Christ.

Hee reioyceth in Rom 12 19. 20 forgiuing them that hurt him; and Mat. 5. 44. loueth them that hate him; and Rom. 12. 19. rendreth good for euill, he dispiseth Pro. 14. 21. none, but loueth Romans 12 10 all, and is not rash in Eccle. 5. 1. words, but Pro. 10. 32. reasonable, not hasty Pro. 18. 13. but seasonable, not Pro. 25 11 grie­uous, [Page 35] but gracious, not Prouerbs 15. [...] ▪ prouo­king, but Pro. 12. 19. appeasing, not Iudges 8. 3. of­fensiue, but to good Psalme 30. 1 purpose: Sober in Prouerbs 15. 1 censuring, faithfull Gala. 6. 1. in answering, milde Psal 119. 1. in reproo­uing, carefull in Psal. 39. 1. defending, and fearefull of 1 Cor. 11. 1 offending, imitating the Pro. 4. 14. Godly, shunning the Psal. 5. 9. wic­ked, imbracing the 1 Pet. 3. 9. vertuous, and flying Iames 4. 9. 1 Peter 5. 5. sinne: For the Spirit of God assures no man Luke 13. 3 pardon of his sinnes, but such as be hum­bled for them, repent and 1 Iohn 1. 9 con­fesse them to God, leaue and for­sake Ephe. 4. [...]4 1 Pet. 1. 2. 3. Gala. 6. 15. 2 Cor. 5. 17. them, and withall to be­come new Rom 6. 4. Acts 3. 26. Gala. 5. 16. Ephe. 4. 1. 1 Ioh. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6 1 Peter 2. 9. 10 11. 12. 13. Iohn 3. 16. Acts 20. 21. Creatures, and walk in newnesse Mar. 3. 35. of life. All those that walke in newnesse of life, are such as our Sauiour Christ called his Mother, Sister, Mar. 3. 35. and Brother, his Romans 6. 18 Seruants, his Friends, Iohn 15. 14. 1 his Sonnes, and Can. 5. 1 his Spouse.

All those bee tearmes of loue, and that from Christ himselfe, to requite the Regenerate man, that returneth vnto him by vn­feigned Repentance.

[Page 36] Non tam audire, quam obedi­re requirit Deus, God regards more an obedient heart, than an attentiue eare; what should I say more, seeing the whole course and cannon of Scripture run­neth that all Christians in their returning vnto the Lord by Re­pentance should bee Attents, vi­gilantes, Psal. 130. 3. Psalme 143. 2 Daniel 9. 7. 8 Luke 21. 26 Marke 24. 24 Mich. 6 6. Rom. 11. 25. Romans 12. Mat. 10. Pro. 4. 13. Ecces. 2. 15. soliciti, instantes, ser­uentes, perseuerantes sine intermis­sione, That is attentiue, vigilant, carefull, instant, feruent, and per­seuerant without intermission of the seruice of God; That they may attayne, Fontem vitae, radi­cem, prudentiae, coronam & ple­nitudinem sapientiae, gloriam & gaudium, quod est faelicissimum do­num: The fountayne of life, the roote of Prudence, the crowne and ful esse of wisdome, the glo­ry and ioy of God, which is the most happ [...]est estate that can bee giuen vnto man, a blessed gift: Who can desire more to mooue him to returne vnto the Lord by Repentance.