A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…

Q. 3. What is the reason that such obedience is a certain sign and evidence of our good estate in Christ, that we know that we are in Christ?

Reas. 1. From the wonderful insufficiency of our natures to keep any Commandment of God without this, 2 Cor. 3.5. Matth. 12.34, 35. Rom. 3.12. we of our selves are altogether fruitless in the works of righteousness, till Christs love dwell in us, Ezek. 36.25. to 27. How come men to keep Gods Law but from the Spirit of God which dwells in them? Look on men in the state of Nature, and their fairest fruits are but the Vines of Sodom, and Grapes of Gomorrah, Deut. 32.32, 33. they seem as fair as any, but their clusters are bitter, and so the best fruits of all Natural men are bitter, our very Honey is like Gall, and Wormwood, and our best actions full of corruption and bitter, so that if a man find his Grapes savoury, his words, thoughts, and actions gracious and sweet, so that now he is fruitful in obedience, it is an evident sign we are in Christ, else we could not be enabled to any thing which is good.

Reas. 1. From the wonderful insufficiency of our natures to keep any Commandment of God without this, 2 Cor. 3.5. Matth. 12.34, 35. Rom. 3.12. we of our selves are altogether fruitlesse in the works of righteousnesse, till Christs love dwell in us, Ezek. 36.25. to 27. How come men to keep Gods Law but from the Spirit of God which dwels in them? Look on men in the state of Nature, and their fairest fruits are but the Vines of Sodom, and Grapes of Gomorrah, Deut. 32.32, 33. they seem as fair as any, but their clusters are bitter, and so the best fruits of all Natural men are bitter, our very Honey is like Gall, and Wormwood, and our best actions full of corruption and bitter, so that if a man finde his Grapes savoury, his words, thoughts, and actions gracious and sweet, so that now he is fruitful in obedience, it is an evident sign we are in Christ, else we could not be enabled to any thing which is good.

2 Were it not for the love of Christ that constraineth us, we should never be willing to deny our selves; Do you see a man willing to submit himself to Christ, to his Ordinances, it could not be but by the love of Christ, that constrains us to deny our selves.

Aquinas concludes, that we cannot know we are in the state of grace, certainly, but upon conjecture, which implies a contradiction, for opinion is contingentium, scientia necessariorum & certorum, yet he makes some Objections against himself.

Obj. Is it not said, Gen. 22.12. Now I know that thou fearest me, &c. that is, as he expounds it, Cognovi, i. e. Cognoscere te feci, I have made thee to know that thou fearest me, therefore saith he, he might know that he was in the ⟨p. 72⟩state of Grace, because he was willing to deny his dearest Son for Christ. He answers, it may be it was special Revelation, but it was not special Revelation, to resolve to kill his Son at Gods command, he knew his own heart well enough.

Obj. 2. 1 Cor. 2.12. Now we have received not the Spirit of the World but the Spirit of God, that we might know the things that are given us of God; so then saith he, if we may know things that are given us by the Spirit of God, then it is more than conjecture, it is a certain Knowledge. His answer to this is, it is spoken of a state of Glory but it is manifest to be meant of a state in this life; for he speaks of Princes that persecuted the truth, and that they knew not these things, but we know it by the Spirit of God.

Obj. 3. If men may discern they are in darkness, when they are in darkness; much more may we know we are in light, when we are in light, of the two, it is the easier: now he that is in the state of darkness, knows it, Ephes. 5.13. Gal. 5.19. the works of the flesh are manifest.

Obj. 3. If men may discern they are in darknesse, when they are in darknesse; much more may we know we are in light, when we are in light, of the two, it is the easier: now he that is in the state of darknesse, knows it, Ephes. 5.13. Gal. 5.19. the works of the flesh are manifest.

4 He saith those things which are in a man essentially, he knows they are in him: now Graces are essential in a regenerate man, that is, the essence of them is there, therefore he may know that Repentance and Faith, &c. is there: if they be there, what is in a man, is known to be in him: if he have a judgment, he knows he hath it: if he hath a will, he knows he wills: so if a man hath Graces in him, he may know that he hath them, as a Woman with child, doth know that she is with child, Gal. 4.1. and takes it not upon others report, but upon her own sure Knowledge: so if Christ be conceived in us, the stirring motions of Gods Graces be in us, we may know it, thus Aquinas confutes himself.

Use 2 Refutation of an unjust complaint they do make against us, they say that we discourage men from good works, this complaint is unjust, for though we do not say they justify us, yet thereby we know that we are justified, and that is no small encouragement; my good works do not justify me, but yet they justify my justification, nay further, we say to them that they discourage men from good works, who say, when a man hath done what he can, and fulfilled the whole law, yet he cannot certainly know that he is in Christ; and so what profit will it be for a man to take pains, and do much, and suffer much, and yet knows not whether God loves him or not? but we on the contrary say, if a man walk in a constant course of obedience to Gods Commandments, he may thereby know that he is in Christ, and this must needs be an encouragement to good works.

Ʋse 2 Refutation of an unjust complaint they do make against us, they say that we discourage men from good works, this complaint is unjust, for though we do not say they justifie us, yet thereby we know that we are justified, and that is no small encouragement; my good works do not justifie me, but yet they justifie my justification, nay further, we say to them that they discourage men from good works, who say, when a man hath done what he can, and fullfilled the whole law, yet he cannot certainly know that he is in Christ; and so what profit will it be for a man to take pains, and do much, and suffer much, and yet knows not whether God loves him or not? but we on the contrary say, if a man walk in a constant course of obedience to Gods Commandments, he may thereby know that he is in Christ, and this must needs be an encouragement to good works.

Use 3 For trial, 1 Whether we keep Gods Commandments.

Ʋse 3 For tryal, 1 Whether we keep Gods Commandments.

2 Whether we be in Christ or no.

1 Wouldest thou know whether thou keepest Gods Commandments as thou shouldest? dost thou keep them as thy Way, as thy Treasure? &c. if thou dost, I declare to thee, thou art in Christ, and thou either dost, or shalt know Christ. And if thou wouldest know whether thou be in Christ, why, thou mayest know it, if thou keep Gods Commandments.

1 Wouldest thou know whether thou keepest Gods Commandments as thou shouldest? dost thou keep them as thy Way, as thy Treasure? &c. if thou dost, I declare to thee, thou art in Christ, and thou either dost, or shalt know Christ. And if thou wouldest know whether thou be in Christ, why, thou maist know it, if thou keep Gods Commandments.

Use 4 Of Consolation, to every such soul as keeps Gods Commandments; there is a double benefit to such.

Ʋse 4 Of Consolation, to every such soul as keeps Gods Commandments; there is a double benefit to such.

1 Thou art in Christ, 2 Thou knowest thou art in Christ, and this is fullness of joy; for if thou be in Christ, thou hast no condemnation belonging to thee, Rom 8.1. and thou mayest also know it; how ill then do they deal with their own souls, who know they are in Christ, and yet every discouragement puts them off from comfort? it is a shame that Christians that have such a privilege as to be in Christ, and know it, should be so discouraged; therefore those that would keep a continual festival unto Christ, let them get into Christ, and learn to know that they are in Christ, and this may be a comfort unto them against all discouragements.

1 Thou art in Christ, 2 Thou knowest thou art in Christ, and this is fullnesse of joy; for if thou be in Christ, thou hast no condemnation belonging to thee, Rom 8.1. and thou maist also know it; how ill then do they deal with their own souls, who know they are in Christ, and yet every discouragement puts them off from comfort? it is a shame that Christians that have such a priviledge as to be in Christ, and know it, should be so discouraged; therefore those that would keep a continual festival unto Christ, let them get into Christ, and learn to know that they are in Christ, and this may be a comfort unto them against all discouragements.

Doct. It is the duty of all such as profess Fellowship with Christ, to walk as Christ walked; or the profession of Fellowship with Christ, ought to be joined with imitation of Christ.

Doct. It is the duty of all such as professe Fellowship with Christ, to walk as Christ walked; or the profession of Fellowship with Christ, ought to be joyned with imitation of Christ.