תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

into hell with his sins pressing him to the bottomless pit. David, being a mighty prince, had, I doubt not, all that his heart could wish, and yet he seems to cast aside all his dignities and royal pleasures, and esteem above all things the "blessedness of the man whose transgressions are forgiven and whose sins are covered." A man covered with a loathsome disease is most unpleasant to the sight, but such an one is not half so unpleasant to us as an unpardoned sinner is in the sight of God, and therefore the psalmist esteemed him blessed "whose sins are covered." It may be said by some, that there is no necessity to magnify this blessing so highly, seeing it is but a common blessing. Such fancies men may please themselves with who never knew what sin really is, but let a man, with the finger of faith, only touch the hem of Christ's garment, he will then see what sin is, and the necessity and blessing of forgiveness; and that all the world cannot produce so precious a thing as the free pardon of all sin in Christ, which is a peculiar blessing, belonging only to the Lord's renewed people. Though many drowsy Protestants seem to think little of this and to feel less, yet sanctified consciences esteem it one of the greatest vouchsafements that can be granted unto them, and, having discovered this treasure, are willing to sell all for the sake of possessing it. Therefore, this benefit is, indeed, most excellent, and for the same the living members of Christ's Church have abundant cause to give their soul's gratitude and thanks to God.

Here the learned Perkins concludes upon this article by saying, "The duties to be learned hence are these. And first, here comes a common fault of men to be rebuked. Every one will say, that he believeth the remission of sins, yet no man laboureth for a true and certain persuasion hereof in his conscience: and for proof hereof, propound this question to the common Christian; dost thou persuade thyself that God gives remission of sins unto his Church? The answer will be, I know and believe it. But ask him further, dost thou believe the pardon of thine own sins? and then comes in a blind answer, I have a good hope to God-ward, but I cannot tell, I think no man can say so much: for God saith to no man, thy sins are pardoned. But this is to speak flat contraries, to say they believe, and they cannot tell: and it betrays exceeding negligence in matters of salvation. But let them that fear God, or love their own soul's health, give all diligence to make sure the remission of their own sins: withal avoiding hardness of heart and drowsiness of spirit, the fearful judgments of God, which every where take place. The foolish virgins went forth to meet the bridegroom with lamps in their hands as well as the wise, but they never so much as dreamed of the horn of oil, till the coming of the bridegroom. So many men live in the Church of God as members thereof, holding up the lamps of glorious profession; but in the mean season they seek only for the things of this life; never casting, how they may assure themselves in conscience touching their reconciliation with God, till the day of death come.

Secondly, if we be here bound to believe the pardon of all our sins, then we must every day humble ourselves before God, and seek pardon for our daily offences: for he gives grace to the humble or contrite; he fills the hungry with good things, when the rich are sent empty away. Thus the Holy Ghost, who dwells in the hearts of all

"A FRIEND THAT STICKETH CLOSER THAN A BROTHER." 209 God's renewed people does, day by day, convincingly evidence to their souls, that the blood of Christ was not only shed for sin, but that it was shed for their sins; the truth of which they are assured of, by its application to their consciences. Hence, they live in the enjoyment of God's peace here, and are positively assured of eternal glory hereafter, and they can say from the very feelings of their souls, "I believe in the forgiveness of sins."

66 A FRIEND THAT STICKETH CLOSER THAN A BROTHER." THERE is something inexpressibly sweet in family affection and endearment; it savours something of that state of perfection and happiness which the redeemed family of God will enjoy when they assemble around his throne, and sit down together with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of glory. Christian families especially should cultivate, as far as possible, the happiness of each other, for family ties are sacred, and one interest ought to be the governing principle. Such, however, is the state and condition of men here, that few families will be found who have not to mourn over the loss of a parent, a husband, a brother, or a sister; every relation in life may be broken in upon, or cut asunder by death, or, what is by far more painful, discord may divide, and misconduct separate those who by nature are connected by the closest ties. The variety of circumstances, which in this fallen state may affect our interest and our peace, are of such a complex character, that the nearest and tenderest connexions may be permitted, in some way or other, sorely to wound and perplex; and the mind of a true believer, under such circumstances, naturally turns to that sympathising Saviour, who, in a much greater degree than ourselves, experienced the bitterest scorn and neglect, which called forth that remarkable declaration, that "a prophet is not without honour save in his own country, and in his own house." Yea, many of the Lord's people know the force of this expression by their own experience, and the servant is not to be greater than his lord. But although, through the sin and infirmity of our fallen nature, every kindred tie, in a greater or less degree, may fail, and the fluctuation of human affection is often painfully felt; it is, indeed, a thought full of consolation, that "Jesus is a friend who loveth at all times,” a brother born for adversity; and while the strong chord of natural affection may be loosened, and often secretly undermined, the arms of his love are ever around and about us, and while we lose our hold of earthly affection and earthly claims, too transient and too faithless, often to be depended upon, we can look up with humble confidence to Christ and lean upon him, as our stay and support even to the end. The sympathising character of Jesus is most fully shewn out in the history of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, the family whom he loved; as he stood at the grave of Lazarus " he wept." In his human nature he felt and sorrowed like ourselves; he wept also over Jerusalem, contemplating the awful desolation of that lost city: and, O! how deeply does he participate in the sufferings of his beloved people, " in all their afflictions he is afflicted." To shew the strong and abiding love the Lord has to his children, it is written, "For the mountains shall depart No. v. VOL. I.-New Series.

Р

and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee,” Isaiah, liv.: and the most endearing relation in life is brought forward to illustrate this truth, "can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee," saith the Lord: and, again, " as one whom his mother comforteth so will I comfort you:" and the dying parent and husband is exhorted and encouraged by that gracious promise, "Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them, and let thy widows trust in me." And the orphan children are encouraged to commit themselves to his keeping, and "When say, mother forsake me, father and my my then the Lord will take me up." Thus can God supply the place of father, husband, brother, and friend: and when these ties fail, either by death or any other cause, the broken link is united more firmly to himself." Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee." Thus is it also fully shewn out by what has been stated, that our true interest and happiness are in being united to Christ as an elder brother, who, in taking upon himself our nature, is able to sympathise with his believing people in all their sorrows; that he alone is the friend of the friendless, whatever be their station or situation in life, he controls and orders every event for their good be it adverse or prosperous; and, finally, he will receive them into his heavenly kingdom, where faith will be lost in sight, where sorrow will be turned into joy, and the tears which have flowed will be for ever wiped away, and where nothing can interrupt the song of praise and thanksgiving A-a.

THE ENGLISH REFORMER.

No. 5.

From the Writings of Robert Samuel, a godly and learned Minister and Preacher of God's Word, burnt at Ipswich for the faithful Testimony of the same, the 18th of August 1555. Of whose strange torments and unmerciful handling, &c., read in Fox, folio 1270.

"The belief of the heart justifieth, and to knowledge with the mouth waketh a man safe." Rom. x.

"Fear not the curse of men; be not afraid of their blasphemies and revilings, for worms and moths shall eat them up like cloth and wool. But my righteousness shall endure for ever, and my saving health from generation to generation." Is. li.

Considering with myself these perilous times, perishing days, and the unconstant and miserable state of man, the decay of our faith, the sinister report and false slander of God's most holy word, these urgent causes in conscience do constrain me to confess and acknowledge my faith and meaning in Christ's holy religion: as St. Peter teacheth me, saying, "Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, and that with meekness and fear; having a good conscieuce, that when they backbite you as evil doers, they may be

ashamed, forasmuch as they have falsely accused your good conversation in Christ." As touching my doctrine, for that little talent that God hath given me, God I take to record, mine own conscience, and mine auditory knoweth, that I neither in doctrine nor manners willingly taught any other thing than I received of holy patriarchs, prophets, Christ, and his apostles. For it were not only sin, but also the very part of a cursed miscreant, to deny, to belie, or betray the innocent of that heavenly doctrine; or to be ashamed to confess and stand to the defence of the same, seeing that Christ planted it with his most precious blood; and all good men have more esteemed the true and infallible word of God than all this transitory world, or their own mortal lives. And I believe this doctrine of the patriarchs, prophets, Christ, and his apostles to be sufficient and absolutely perfect to instruct and teach me and all the Holy Church, of our duties towards God, the magistrates, and our neighbours. First and principally, I do assuredly believe, without any doubting, that there is one Deity or one Divine essence, and infinite substance, which is both called and is indeed God everlasting, unbodily, unpartable, unmeasurable in power, wisdom, and goodness: the maker and preserver of all things, as well visible as invisible, and yet there be three distinct persons, all of one godhead or divine being, and of all one power, coequal, consubstantial, and coeternal, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. I believe in God the Father Almighty, &c. As touching God the Father of heaven, I believe as much as Holy Scripture teacheth me to believe. The Father is the first person in Trinity, first cause of our salvation, which hath blessed us with all manner of blessings in heavenly things by Christ; which hath chosen us before the foundations of the world were laid, that we should be holy and without blame before him, who hath predestinate us and ordained us to be his children of adoption through Christ Jesus. In him, as it is said, we live, we move, and have our being; he nourisheth, feedeth, and giveth meat to every creature. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. I believe that the word, that is, the Son of God, the second person in Trinity, did take man's nature in the womb of the most blessed Virgin Mary. So that there be in him two natures, a divine nature and an human nature, in the unity of person inseparable, conjoined and knit in one Christ, truly God and truly man, the express and perfect image of the invisible God; wherein the will of God the Father shineth apparently, and wherein man, as it were in a glass, may behold what he ought to do to please God the Father. Born of the Virgin Mary; truly suffering his passion, crucified, dead, and buried, to the intent to bring us again into favour with God the Father Almighty, and to be a sacrifice, host, and oblation, not only for original sin, but also for all actual sins of the whole (spiritual) generation of mankind. For all the works, merits, deservings, doings, and obedience of man towards God, although they be done by the Spirit of God in the grace of God, yet, being thus done, be of no validity, worthiness, nor merit before God, except God, for his mercy and grace, account them worthy for the worthiness and merits of Christ Jesus. The same Christ went down to the hells, and truly rose again the third day, and ascended into the heavens, that he might there still reign, and have dominion over all creatures; and from thence shall come, &c. I believe in the Holy Ghost, co-equal with God the Father and the Son, and proceeding from them both; by whose virtue, strength,

P 2

and operation, the true Catholic Church, which is the communion and society of saints, is guided in all truth and verity, and kept from all errors and false doctrine, the devil, and all power of sin. Which Church is sanctified and hallowed with the precious blood and Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ; which hath also her sign and mark, that she heareth and followeth the voice of her only and true pastor Christ, and no strangers. This Church also is the house of God, the congregation of the living God, the pillar of truth, the lively body of Christ, a Church both in name and in deed. I believe the remission of sins by the only means and merits of Christ's death and passion, who was made unto us of God that only sacrifice and oblation, offered once for all and for ever, for all them that be sanctified. I believe the resurrection of the body; whereby, in the last day, all men shall rise again from death, the souls joined again to the bodies, the good to everlasting life, the wicked to everlasting pain and punishment. And nothing may more certainly stablish and confirm our faith that we shall rise again immortal, both in body and soul, than the resurrection of Christ our Saviour, and first fruits of the dead. Now, that Christ our head is risen, we, being his body and members, must follow our head. Death, hell, and sin cannot sunder nor pluck us from him. For as the Son cannot be divided nor sundered from the Father, nor the Holy Ghost from them both, no more may we, being the faithful members of Christ, be separated from Christ. And for a confirmation of our resurrection, Christ would be seen after his resurrection in his most glorious body, his wounds being handled and felt, speaking and teaching, eating and drinking, &c. We look, saith St. Paul, for Jesus Christ our Saviour, which shall transfigure our vile bodies and conform them to his glorious body, by the same power and virtue, wherewith he is able to subdue all things; even like as the grain of wheat sowed in the ground is first putrified and brought as into a thing of nought, yet after that it springeth up freshly with a goodlier colour, form, and beauty than it had before. The body is sown in corruption, and riseth in incorruption; it is sown in dishonour and riseth in honour. Thus I verily know and assuredly believe the resurrection of our bodies, and to have life eternal by Christ, and for Christ's sake. "Verily, verily, I say unto you," saith Christ, "he that heareth my word,and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into damnation," but is escaped from death to life. It is Christ that died once for our sins and is risen again, never more to die; it is he that swallowed up death, and hath cast it under his feet for ever. What now can death do unto us? Verily, nothing else, but for a little time separate our precious souls from our wretched bodies, that divine substance from a mass of sin, that eternal life from a body of death, and so send our souls out of this miserable, wretched, and sorrowful life, cumbered with all calamities, unto that most blessed felicity and joys eternal. As concerning the holy and reverend sacraments of Christ's Church, which be in number two, the sacrament of baptism and the supper of the Lord, I believe them to be, as St. Paul calleth them, confirmations or seals of God's promises, which have added to them a promise of grace, and therefore they are called invisible signs of invisible grace. The sacrament of baptism is a mark of Christ's Church, a seal and confirmation of our acceptation into the grace and favour of God for Christ's sake. For his innocency, his

« הקודםהמשך »