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William Perkins. A golden chaine: or, the description of theologie : containing the order of the causes of salvation and damnation, according to Gods word ... (page 88 of 149) |
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guiecconidcocs. be feucred and difccrned thus.Firft,let the belceuing Chridian examine him-^
felfe, whether his confciencc was affliaed with the ^nfc of Gods iudgements
and prelTed downe with the burthen of his finnc before he came to that qui-
^ctneffe : for then he may be in good hope , that it was the Spirit of God who
^loh.7, ?7. brought that peace, becaufe God hath promifed , ^That he rv'tll dxvellyvith the
Era.r7,/s. ^^*^^^^^^^ contritCyto reuine andcjHick^n them . But if he haue alwaies had that
peace from the beginning of his daies, he may cafily deceiue himfelfe,by ta-»-
king the numncflc and fecuritieof a defiled confciencc , for the true peace of
Confcicncc.SecondlVjlet him fearch from whence this peace of his confciencc
S'Rtjm.f./. proceedeth. S Forif it come from any thing elfe but from thc certaintie of the
Heh.9,1^ remiflion of finncjit is no true peace: as many, flattering rhefelues in finne,&
dreaming of a pardon,are thereupon quieted, and the deuill is rcod'c enough
to put this into their mindstbut this can be no true peace. Thii diy Jet him ex-
amine himrelfc,ifhc haue a care to keepeagood confciencc: which if he haue^
he hath alfo rcceiued from the Lord a good and a quiet confcience. ^ For if
^(.A^.2j, God beftow vpon any man a gift concerning his faluation , he giueth him al-
aud 24^ 16. fo a care to keepe it.
xxviir.
J I The fecond inward benefit is, > An entrance into Godsfauow, and a perfeue*
i£ph.7. j2, rsrice in it,%vhich is mdeede a wonderfiill benefit. When a man commcth intt»
*Rnm.s.2. favour with his Prir«ce , then he is bold to come vnto him, and he may haue
s.Entrance with fi ec acccffe vnto liis prcfencc , and he may (ue to his Prince for any benefit or
GodJp.efSKe. preferment whereof he ftandeth in ncedc, & mav obtaiiie it before any other:
'«^Rom.j.s. fo they which are in Gods fauour,by rcafon that they are fieely p3rdoned,and
find 14.. 1 7 itiftified in Chrift ,doc boldly approach into Gods prefence,and they are rca-
I X I die to aske , and fiire to obtaine any benefit that is for their good. ^ The third
5 . \
lookc
lookc certenlv to oWtinie the kingdome oflicatien.The fourth is'tliat the hue T T 1 1
of God.iifi)edmfhf hearts oH\\Qh\xh^\\ by the holy Ghoft:thatis,thnt thcho- 4-reeHagof
iy Ghoft doth ir.ake the ftiithfullvery euidcntly tofeelethe loue ofGod to- j"»"' '*'"'*
wards them.and doth asit wcre.fill their hearts with it. <^«»'/-/.
XXIX. ^I/'*7
The fecond inaine benefit is ^ Adaption , whereby they which are iuftjfi€d>. tr / '["^ *
are alfo accepted of God as his ownc children. From *><^d
ny other benefits. Firft the ele(ft child of God hereby h made a brother t^.
ChrtJ}. Secondly he is a King, and the kingdome of heauen is his inheritance. „
Thirdly,he^/i3r^<7«f^"'2//f^'?'f?/»''<'jfaue Angels. FourthlVjthe holy ^^f(ff/f;»^ ' ^ '^'^°
fiifter vnto him for his good:thcy guard him and watch about him. F3fthly,all ^
tliings,yca grieuous affliftions and finne it felfe, turne to his good j though in
his owne nature it be neuer fo hurtfiiil : ^and thereforedeath (which is molt ^
IJl^ OWllC XJrtlUl*. 11 uwii».uvA iv/ HH1V.IMIJ . «JJJU 4iJVlWHJlt.UtdlI) ^WllJLilJS moil ZJ L £ a
terrible) vnto him is no entrance into hell , but a narrow gate to let him into c- * '^'
idopted.hcmaylookeforcomfbrtatGeds J
f h is affliilion:as God hath promifed. rV f *^* "^
YYY tieb./.i^
«erlafting lift.Lai1:ly,beeing thus adopted.hc may looke for comfort at Geds ^
hand,anfwerablc to the mcafureof his affliilion:as God hath promifed. rV / *^* ^^"^
ThcinwardalTuranccof Adoption is by two- witnefles. The firftisourT/* «. »
lpirit,that is.an heart and confciencefanftificd,bythefpririk]ing of the blood J^' ' ^ '
©f Chnft.Now becaufe it commcth to palfe that the teftimonic of our fpirit is b'o- l *^'
often fecbk and weake, God oFhis goc»dncs hath giuen his ownc fpirit to be ^ '
a fellow witnsflTe with cnir fpirit: for the Ele
Icfiis Chrift , teftifying vnto them and perfwading them that they arc ihtf'a- '^^''^ *
//-
doptcd children of God. <= For this caufe the holy Ghoft is called the /'?'/r;> of A
carnelt , then nnuranc e is made, that men will pay the whole : fo when the "option.
Adoptfoyi,hccdufe it worketh in vs the affurancc ofonr adoption: ^and it is cal
led a pawnc orearncd.For as in a bargainc,when part of the price is payed in Afiiiranceof a-
ofa-
childc ofGod hntli rcteiued tlius much from the holy Ghod to be perfwadcd Jopt'oa?
that he is adopted and rhofenin Chrift^emny be in good hope,and he is al- ^Rom.S./6l
rcadic put ingood^ilurance, fully toanioj^.etci^iall.life in the kingdome ofga/.^. 6,
heauen. riv-ii'-^^''- -^3 Hr->'- ^r) N;rw;r.:{^j-:?i,''. /.l^et.s.2/.
'= ;- .< Indecde this tefumanic is xvcakc in moft iiicn , and can fcarcc be pcrcei- ^2.Car,i.,2 /
«edibecaafc mall: ChriRians,thaiigh they may be old in refpeft ofyenrcs.yet '^Ror/iJ.i/,.
generailythcyarebabas inlChri{i,a
may finde-intheri^rdues great ifrcngtli offinvie , andthe.^races of God to be Colof^.^^'.'
in final] mcafure in them.. And againe , the children of God becing moil di- i.Cor.^.i\
ftrelTedjas in time of trialhaiid in the houre ofdcath,thcn theinward woikin'^ Sph.^.. /^.
ofthe holy Gholf is^ltmoficuidently. But a reprobat-e cannot haucthibte-
ftimonicat all : though indoe'dc a. man flattcreth hi mi(elfe,and \h^Atm}Ummu
ting the fpirit of God â– ;, dbth ?vfaaliy^crfwade carnall men and hy^yo^ifites thai:
thfey'^aHbe&iied. BiJtthatdeuiHil7iiHufion,andthe
maybcdifccrncd bf 2.notes:TheT.is hcartie &fe}:ii€iapprl-?ieif«6God in the l,lvki"t^f'
narneofChriii.F^irthcfinfwfbirittliattefHfieth to vstliat'W'e^r^ the adopted pr/^pefrpiritof-
fpeciall
- - 3 The eft ate of 4 ChriflUn
fpeciall marke of the Spirit of God. The other note is , thatthcy which hiiuC!
thcfpcciall tcQinionic from the fpiritof Goci, haiie nlfom their hearts the
f;4meaffc£Hons to God, which children haucto their father: namely, louc,'
fcare,reuerewce,obcdiertce,tharikfuInes, for they call not vpon God, as vporr
2. terrible Iud<^e,but they crie Abba, that is', father. AndthefeaflFei^ions ihey
baue not , whome Satan illudeth with a phantafticall imagination of their fal-
uation : for it may be , that through hjfocrifie'i or through cHJfome , they may
call God fatl>er, but in truth (hcV can not doc it.
' XXX].
The eled bcin^ thus allured of their adoption and iuftificatidh,arc indued
Hope. with hope: •'by which they looke patiently for the accompliOiing of all good
^RomJ.zs. things which God hathbegun in them. And therefore they can vndergoe all
ands.s- erodes and affliftions with a cjuiet and contented mindc : becaufc they knov»
2.Cor.f.6.7. tliat the time will come when they fhall hauc full redemption from all cuillj.
Heb.n.2. Thiswas^ the patieiitc^of7^afi/sJjope,when he (aide , that nothing in thcvvorld
*> /.Th./.s» could feucr him from the Joue of God in Chnft. And like to this was the pati'
Kom.S.sS. cnccofPolicarpc,andoflOTatius, who when he was condemned and iudged
• . to bcthrowncto wild bcafts,and now heard the Lyons roring,he boldly and
yet patiently (aid ; I^mi the wheat ofChriji, T P^all he ground with the teeth ofrvifti.
■heafis , that I may hefoH»dgood bread . Alfo the fame was the patience of the
blefled Mart)T S. Laurence , who like a meeke lambe fuffered himfclfc to be
tormented on a fieric gridyromand when he had bin prefTcd downc with fire
pikes for a great fpacc,in the mightie fpirit of God,(pak€ vnto the Emperour
that caufed him thus to be tormcnted,on this wife ;
This fide is novc rofied enough,
turne vf,0 tyrant great :
^yf^ay, whether rofied or ratve
thou thixkefi the better meate. >
XXXIL
fa^lflT'^' '^^ ^^^^^ "^^'"^ benefu,is ^AVw^zxAfana^cation : bv which a Chriftian in
pr ' ^"J'smindjin his will,and in his afFeftions is freed from the ^oWrf^
Ez!e /// o^*^""eahd /atan,and is by litde and little inabled through the fpirit of Cbriil
prj ' ' to defire and approoue thatwhicli is good, & to walke in it. And it hath two
^Gal ' ' P^*^^^- ^ The fir ft is mortification,vJ\\Qn the power of finnc is continually weak-
^f ^ ' ' ned,corv{umed,and diminiihed.'^ The fccond is vifiification, by which inherent
d Vnl' r rtghicoufnes\&xciMv put into thcra,and afterward is continually incrcafed.
/'• • ' ' , XXXIII.
•o -J* This finfiificatroni J wrought in all Chriflians after this maner. After that
Mortificaaon. ^'^^' sfc iovned to Clirift,snd made myflically bone of his bone , and ficfh of
^Ro.6.^,4, his Hc£h,Chrifl: w^cwkcth intliem cffc^f^ually by his holy fpirit, and hisworkes
Col.2. 12. arc principally threes Firffc, *"hc caufeth his own death lo wdrkc effeftually the
and ^. y,f, death of all fmnc,& to kil the power of thef?efli.For it is as a corrafiuc,whicfa
viuification in bceiug applied to the part affe/led., eateth oiK the venomeand corruption:
yon.'"*'""" 3nd fothc death of Cnrift by faith applied , fretteth out and confumeth the
^ Phil. 3. to, concupifccnce 6c the corruption of the whole man. Secondly, his burialLcau-
%om.6^, feth the buriaJl of finue,as it wjcrcina grauc. ^ ThJrdly,liis Rcfuirc^ion Icn-
deth
r 'inihiiFife. 5« 9'^
(iniie,in vvhicii tncy were dead and buried, to worke rightcoufnes, and to hue
in hohncs of life. Lazarus bodie lay foure dajes, and Itanke in the graue, yet
Chrift raifcd it and gaue him hfe agam,and made him do the fame works that
liumf; men doe; fo alio Ghrifl: dealcth with the foules of the faithful!; tbey rot
and flinke in their finns,and would perifn jnthem,if they were left alone: but
Chrift puttcth a heauenly hfc into them , ^ maketh thera a£^iue and huf ly to
doe the will of God in the workes of Chridjanitic, and in their works of iheir
callings. And this (aniflificathon is throughout the whole man inthefpirite,
fpule,and mmde, i . The{r5 . 2 ^ . And here the [pint iignifieth ths minde and
xneraorie i thefottle, the will a«d affeftions.
XXXIIII.
The fan^ification of the mind is the enlightning of it with the true know-
ledge of Gods word. It is of two ioxtSy^vhex jfmttiollvnderjiayjdmg, or jpintn-
allmfdome.Sph-ituallvnderfiandmg is a generall conceiuing of euery thing that
is to be done or not to be done,out of Gods word. SfiritHAllvrifdome isa wor-
thie grace of God, by which a man is able to vnderftand out of Gods word,
what is to be done or not to be done in any particular thing;, or a
ding to the circumtlances of per(bn, time , plac€,&c. Both thefe are in euery
Chrifi;ian,other wi fe Paul would neuer haue praied for the Cololfians, ^ That k ^^y^ ^ ^^
they might befptlfiHed with k^orvledge of Gods will , in allwifdome andlfiritftaU vn^
derflandng. In both thefe excelled Datiid,whoteIlified of himfelfe, that Gods
word ^ vM a la-ftterne to hisfeete^md d light to Ijis paths: a'nd that'" Gcd by hh com- ^Pfat.t ip,
mandeme>its had made hint wifer then his enemies: that he hadi^ore vnder(la>}dtniT loy.
then all his teachers:becafife (jodsteflimonies Tvere his meditations, "^"^ that he^nder- m v.gSygg^
jioodmore then the ancient, becunfehe kept Gcds precepts. The properties of the "' /Off,
mind enlightened are fpecially two. The fir ft is , that bv it a Chnflian fees hij^ ' ' -^^^ • '^ '
owne bUndnes, ignorance, a«d vanitie, as appeareth.in Dauid,who beeing a
Prophet of God, yet praied:. ^Open mine eyes (O Lord) that Ir/iayfee the ixon- o .g
tiers of thy Inv. A^nd thence it is thatthc godly fo much bewailed the blmdues ' ^'' '' ' '
of their minds.Contranwire,th£ wicked P man in the middcfl: of his blindncs, p/ L " '
tfiinks himfelfe to foc.The fJ?cond is,that the Hwnd runneth and is occupied in* '"'t**
a continuall meditation ofGodi word.So Dauid faith, thc^Wighteom mans ile- f\^hil 12
h
^ XXXV. ,,,,/ . "
The memor)r alfo is fan^ified in that it can both kcepc and remember that sanaifcrienof
which is good and agreeable to Gods will : whereas naturally it bed remem- die memorie.
breth le-vvdnes,and wickednesjand vanitie.This holv mcmcnjic was in Dauid:
^ I haue hid thy pro?mfes in mine heart^that 1 might not'finne Againji thec.hxs\ Ma- ''Tf.i ip.i /.,
t\t'' k^pt all the fayings of Chrijl and pondered tb^m in htr heart. And to the ex- .
erci(c of thismemorie , Salomon hath a.good leiTon, U\€yfonne, het^^ke» vnto '^ ^' ''^*"
my vrords,inclu7e thine eares vnto myfayings: ^ let them not depart from thine eyes, tprou,2.i,
but keep£ them in the middefi of thine heart.
,■■•:•.,•. • ' .. ..xxx\a,.
Furthernjoreytlie willofaChriflian i^^fenued and piLnfied-by CbriH, which '^anftii^cation of:
a^caEetlxiadiat it is fafiu: forth freeiiiom iaoi,thatit.ca«.wiU- & choofe that ' "'""'^'
^oo TheeffateofdChriBian
which is ffood and acceptable to God^and jcftiTc that which is euiljaccorclin^
'^^Phi/.J. t s* to that ofl?aul, ■// « God whtch worketh wyou ihe ntll and the deede , enen of hit
eoodfjeajttre. Now, if a man be confideral as he is naturally , he can neither
'^/o^ //. /^. will, nor performc that which is good,but oncly that which is cuill: '^ for he is
Jifh.2.2. fold vndcr fin;as the oxc or the alfc, & committcth miquitic, as the fifh draw-
JLuk^i 1.2 K cth in water, yea he is in bondage vndcr Sata, who infpireth his mind with vile
motions , and bowcth his will,afFc£lions; and the members of his bodie to his
curfcd wilhfo that for his life,hcisnot able to docany-thing but (inne & rebel
ao-ainft God . And it muft be remembred, that although the Chriftian mans
will be freed in fart from the bondage of iinne in this life, yet it /lixill mt be free
yRom.7. ij..for>tthcfov;>cr offinne vntill the life to comccfbryPaul that worthicSairit_,/rfi/)t
â– of him/elf e beeing regenerate , that he tvoicarfiall Mndfold vndtrfinne.
;*in5ific3tionof XXXV U.
theaffiaioDs. Sanctified affc^ions arc knowne by this that they^arc mooued & inclined
'i-Rom. J2.p. ^^ ^^^^ whiah is good,to embrace it:& arc not commonly affefted and ftirred
a^f7w. /2.tj ^^^^ j|^^ J which is cuill, vnlefle it be to cfcbcw it . Examples hereof are thefc
■^^'^•'^j' which follow. '^Toreioycervith them that reibjce. tyftid to rceefeyrtth them that
■'J' 'j^J' ' tpeepeyro reiojce htcaufc a mans name is Kpritte» in heauen. ' To defre Gods pre-
Jrr f' fi^ccandfauouryAt the driejand defireth water. ^ Tofeareand tremble at gods
I jal.4. .2. ^^^^ e rj-g i^y^g ^.^ to faint after the places where (jodii veorjhif^ed. ^Tobe vexed
2.1 e .2. . ijjj'Qf^iffgj^^yfQ day in feeing and hearingthe vnlavpfull deedes of men: andtB
J '^* '^ -f^^*^ riuers of teares becattfe men breake ^odt comman dements, f, Jnferuencie of
^"^* " • jpirit to feme the Lord. ^Toput on the bowels ofcompafpon towards the miferies of
^Dr^i^' ^ ytiojce in trembling.
Ja . t/9. jij^y^y gho/i. » To be heaui^f through manifold temptations, ^ To reiojce in beeihg
^ ' P partaker oft he fufferings ofChrif. ^ To watte on the Lord, to reiojce in him , and tc
o'aa ' 't^' ^^'*fi '" ^^ ^^^^ nameJ^o waiteforthe full redemption. ^-Tofighjefrtng to enioj t»
. 1 '' * ternallhfe.lTohue thehkbitationofgodshbufe , andthe place where his honowr
/5 '^' '' dweOeth. * To efteeme all things di loffe and dung in rejpeH ofChrift.
r pfV/ XXXVIII:
^' n*'*' ' But among all thcfe (arif^ified aflFe«Sl]ons,thcrcarcfourefpecially to bcmar-
x<^f/t' ' ^' M-The firft is a zeale for Gods glorierby which a Chriftian is tlius affcftcd,
J'* '3 3' ^^^ rather then God flioiild loofc his gl.orie , he could be content to hnue his
a A*' * - ^ ^'^' " ^'^'C^t dnrnncd. As it was with Mofcs^who feared leaft God iTiould loo(e
'""'-"â– his glorie ,ifhcdid\'ttcrly deftroythelfraelitcs for their idolatric, whomehc
ypflg^'^o ^â– '^^ chofcn to be his pcoplc: praied vnto the Lord,
xPhf J? ' ^Therefore now ifthouptirdon their fnne, thy mercie'fhallappeare : butifthou wilt
Zejl« for Gods ^'^^>^F^^y ^^'<^^ ^^f<^ ^<: o^^ oft he Ibocke which then hafi written. ^ And Paul could
^oric. hauc wifhcd with all his heart to be cut off from all fellowfliip with Chr ift,
*'Ex.,^2. 12. ^ind to begiuen vp to cternall defi;ruftion,for his countrie men the Tcwcs,and
^^^"f'9' ^ for Gods gloric fpecially. Some may fav, this affedion is not common to all,
V • ' ■" ^yt particular to fiich as aic lead with fuch an exceeding aflPeiflion ,'ai thcfc
holy men were y afld whicli lihuc their hearts Co pierced and kindled with di-
. '- uinc
PI this life. go I
Uinc Io«c, and Co rauinwd with the fame out of thciii{elucs,that they forget all
other ihingSjVea thcmfclucs, hauing nothing before their eics but God. and
his gloricT© this 1 anfwcre,that this affcftion is common to all , thou^^h the
meafure of it be diuers, in fomc more, in forae leffc : which appcareth in that
our Sauiour Chritl: tcacheih cuery one in his praier which he made,beforc he
crauc any other thuTg,either concerning God,or himfelfc, to pray that G ods
namemay befanftjncd.Forby thisallChrifhans are taught that they arc to
puerpalTeall confiderations of thcmfclucs, their owne plcafure and profit*,
their faluation or damnation:and abfblutely with an heartie affedion , to feck
after the glorieofGod in all their doings, that as Gods gloric ismoftdearc
vnto him(eife , (6 it may appcarc alfo that it is moft deare vnto them.lfany
thinkc it ftrange tliatMofes, Paul,or any other fliould be content to fall into
niiferie,toloofe their liues,and to bee caft into eternall perdition in hell fire,
with reprobate and damned fpirits,rather then Gods honour fhould bee tur-
ned into diflionour and blafphcmie ; let them confider that wondcrfull is the
power of true louc^^ivhtch makes all things <;•<«/?(•:
that ouercomes alland was neuer yet oyxtrzomzwohich is oi a flaming fire, that verr.?. '
a whole fea of water cannot quench . And the loue which thcfc menhad to d r'arit.i.
God did fo rauifh them,that they felt no feare of hell fire. -, .^/ J '
XXXIX. -^ '^*
The fccond affe£lion is the feare of God, a moft excellent and wonderfull The fr^re ofgod
grace of God.Salomon « matcheth it , yea and preferreth it too , before all ^ EccLj2,
things in this worldjroaking it the end of al. Without it a man cannot be wife, /4.
it is the firfl: ftep to wifdome,^/;* it isaffured (irengthalfo it is a rvelfpring of life to ^ Pro. t4..26
efchevf thefnarcs of death. The Churches of ludca beeing in peace,werc edifi-
cd,and walked in the Z feare ofg O'Z), and were aboundantly filled with 'j.e g ji^,p, s/,
comfort of the holy ghoftln this feare of G O D there be two parts: the firfl:
IS a perfwafion in the heart,that a man is in Gods prefcnce wherefoeucr he is,
andwhen he by infirmitic forgets GOD, a drawing ofhimfelfe into Gods ho?/-/ ^ •
prefcnce. As it was in Dauid, ^ / haue (faith hc)fet the Lord alxvaies before me. -' '
For heis M my right h^.nd,therefore I /hall not (like . And this his beeingin the
prefcnce of God,hefettcth down mofl: ex<:cllently in the 1 5 9 V^aXmc.^ Enoch i Qen r 22.
Vfalkedwith ^od.^ Abraham is commanded to rvalke before Godandto bevfright. "k Qg„ ',y /,
The fccond part of the feare of God is, in G ods prefcnce to ft and in awe of
himiwhich is when a man takes hcede to his waies leaft he offend God. This
aduifc Dauid giiies to Sauls Counfellers . ^ Stand inmveandfnnemt. Pha-
'godlyhearc ^c
feare and trembling,
XL.
^ The third is,the hatred and detcflation of finnc,bccaufe it is finnc,and fpc-"'""'' °^^"^
dally of a mans owne corruptions: wherewith a Chriftian is fbturmovled,
that in regard of them and for no other caufe,he moft hartely defireth to bcc
forth ofthis moft miferablc world,that he may be disburdened of his finne,5c
Icaiijc off to difpleafe God.Pjiul fcelcs in himfelfc a huge mafic of deadly cor-
Rr I ruption
^O 2 The efiateofd Chriflim
ruotion,it makes him decme himfelfc mo(lmircrablc,andtomoumebecaufc
olio 7. 2-^.lie was not deliucred from it,faying ^ Oh mifemhle man that I am^TvhoJhallde-'
VCaijf / ^Jfuey me from this 6odie of death? A^aineykisCmnc that makes the Church co-
plaine that ?Jheeisblacke,thatthefHrt'/je bath looked vpon her ^ and ihereforfi
<^ReH.22.20 ii^^g ^j.jgs^ q Come Lord I efH}^come quickly.
XLT.
The fourth is,ioy ofheartin confideratio of tiie necrcnes or preftncc of the
^Lnk^i 1. 27 terrible day of mdgemcnt.The "^ rpprobatc eitlier trerableth at the confidera*
^2.Tm> 4.B. tion of the day ofmdgement.or els in the fecuritie of his heart heeregardeth it
2,C^r.j. 6,7 not. Andvvlien he iLall fee the (ignes of the comming of Chrift-//;^^ heart fhal
^Luk.2 1.2 S fade hmiox Mtxy^c-x^z^^hefljall'- call the hiih to fall vpon htm: but contrari-
v/ife,the faithfuU lone the fecondcomming of (fhr'tfl ^2>.XiA therefore wait and long
»»Z//;^.r/.^'f f<5i»'^=^"<^^'^^^"^W '^^llfeethefi^esof it,they fhall " hftvp their heads>.
becaufe the tull accomplifhment of their redemption is at hand.
XLIL
SanfHfication cf The fan£lification of the bodic is when ^ all the members oHt are careful-
the boJie. ly prefcrucd from beeing meanes to execute any finne: and are made the in-
^'K^ryi.6. {Iiuments of righteoufncs and holines.So Paul prayed for the Theflalonxana
verf.ig. y ilj'^i f^cy miirht k^orp. horve topojfejfe their vejfels in holme jfe^a^d in honoHr,and
Yihef. 4. 4-' not in the lufl of concupifcence^ the Gentiles doe which kfJow not God. And lob *
"^lob.s /. made a couenant with his eies not to lookpna woman. In whote.example it appea •
verf.i, j.g[}^ \^Q^ euery member is to be kept pure and holy.
XLIIL
A confoiaaon. If any humblcd Chriftian finde not this mea(ure of {an£lification in him-
^%orn. ^. /.feife.yetlethimnotbe difcouraged. For if any man haue a ^ willingnefle,
verf.h and a defire to obey all Gods commandcments,he hath the fpirit,and he who
hath thefpiiit is in Chrifl:,and he who is in Chriil: Hiall neuer fee damnation.
And though he faile greatly in the adion of obedience, yet God will accept
his aflfeftion to obey, as obedience acceptable vnto him . God will approouc
pfthcefor his o.wne worke which hce hath wrought in thee , and not reie^
thee for thine. • •
XL IV.
Rtpentanctr From fnniTtiHcation arifeth repentance.Fora man cannot hate his own ^\m
before he be finftiHcd: and he cannot truely repent for them before hce hate
^Afi.26.2 <^ them.Pvepentanceis whcna man^ turnestoG O D,and brings foorth fruits
worthy amendment oflife.This turning vnto God hath two paits: The firli
a purpofe and rcfokition o^ heart neuer to finne an)' more , butto lead a newc
lif^cThis wasinDauidj who fuHv ptirpojWi to keepes Gods cornmdndefy.ents,
^l^fa. I tz.6 â– ^ivA'^ applied his heart to fiifill his (latates vnto the ende. And Vnto- this did Bar-
^A^.ii.zs. n^bas exhort the brethren at Antioch, ^ that with fill purpofe ofheart^they
r^or.li clenrie -vnto the Lord.Yht (econd part is an holv labour in mans life and
conaerfation to purine and clenfe himfelfc from finne : of this fpeaketh
^ /.loh.^.j. lohn,^ Afid eiicry one that hath this hope in him pPir^eth himfe/fe euenasheispHre.
This did Dauid pracl:3fe,as may appeare in that he (aid". ^ Certainely , I hatie
tlcjfcdmy heart in vaine.and -a^afhed my handes in mnocency.Jfnny maruaile how
rq>cntance.follo.wethfiinftificalioii^.coniidering it is the iiilt thing of all,
^'/S'^^^
inthlilife. (Sqj
that tlie Proplicts, Apoftles, and Miniftcrs of G O D preach vnto the peo*
pic who me they would winnetoChrift: Ianrvverc,that all other graces are Sh'STanaS
more hidden in the hcart.whercas repentance is open, and fooncr appeareth f-"'?" '" "^t""
to a mans owne felfe,and to the eies of the worlde. It is like the budde in the al!d Ippwr^*^
tree, which appeareth before thelcafe ,the blolTorae , the fruite : and yet in
nature , it is the laft ; for a man muft bee renewed , and come to an vt-
ter dilliking of his owneGnnes, before hee will turne from them ,and Icauc
them.
XLV.
By this it may appcarc , that there is one manner of finning in the godly,
.6c another in the vngodly,though they fal both into one fin.A wicked man
when hcfinneth in his heart he giuethfiill conlent to the finne: but the godly
though they fallinto the fame fins with the wicked, yet they neuer giuefull
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