It is the very drift and design of the1 whole Scripture to bring souls first to an acquaintance with Christ, and then to an acceptance of Christ, and then to build them up in a sweet assurance of their actual interest in Christ; which made Luther to say, That he would not live in Paradise if he might, ⟨p. 4⟩without the word, but with the word, he could live in hell it self.2 No Histories are comparable to the Histories of the Scripture; First, For Antiquity; Secondly, For Rarity; Thirdly, For Variety; Fourthly, For Brevity; Fifthly, For Perspicuity; Sixthly, For Harmony. And seventhly, For Verity. The Word evidences truth, it evinces falsehood; it fights against folly; it opens the bowels of mercy, and it assures believing souls of eternal felicity. That is a precious word3 in that Heb. 6. 18. God hath given us his word, his oath, his seal, that our consolation may be strong, and that our salvation may be sure. Now what comfort can a believer have without Assurance. It is the assurance of my interest in the land of Canaan, in Gospel cordials, in precious promises, and in a precious Christ that comforts and delights my soul. It is not enough to raise strong consolation in my soul, barely to know that there are Mines of gold, mountains of pearl, heaps of treasures, a land flowing with milk and honey; but it is the knowledge of my interest in these that ⟨p. 5⟩raises joy in my soul. To know that there are such things, and that I have no interest in them, is rather a vexation,4 then a consolation to me. To know that there is a feast of choicest Delicates, but not a taste for me, that there are pleasant fountains and streams, but I must perish for thirst in a wilderness; to know that there are royal Robes for such and such, but I must dye in my rags; to know that there is a pardon for such and such, but I must be turned off the ladder of life; to know that there is preferment for such and such, but I must still lie with Lazarus at Dives door; such knowledge as this may well add to my vexation, but it will not add to my consolation. It was rather matter of sorrow, then joy to the men5 of the old world, to know that there was an Ark, when they were shut out, and to the Israelites to know that there was a Brazen-serpent set up whereby others were cured, when they died with the stinging of the Fiery serpents.
It is the very drift and design of the1 whole Scripture to bring souls first to an acquaintance with Christ, and then to an acceptance of Christ, and then to build them up in a sweet assurance of their actual interest in Christ; which made Luther to say, That hee would not live in Paradise if he might, ⟨p. 4⟩without the word, but with the word, he could live in hell it selfe.2 No Histories are comparable to the Histories of the Scripture; First, For Antiquity; Secondly, For Rarity; Thirdly, For Variety; Fourthly, For Brevity; Fifthly, For Perspicuity; Sixtly, For Harmony. And seventhly, For Verity. The Word evidences truth, it evinces falshood; it fights against folly; it opens the bowels of mercy, and it assures beleeving soules of eternal felicity. That is a precious word3 in that Heb. 6. 18. God hath given us his word, his oath, his seale, that our consolation may be strong, and that our salvation may bee sure. Now what comfort can a beleever have without Assurance. It is the assurance of my interest in the land of Canaan, in Gospel cordials, in precious promises, and in a precious Christ that comforts and delights my soul. It is not enough to raise strong consolation in my soul, barely to know that there are Mines of gold, mountaines of pearle, heaps of treasures, a land flowing with milke and honey; but it is the knowledge of my interest in these that ⟨p. 5⟩raises joy in my soule. To know that there are such things, and that I have no interest in them, is rather a vexation,4 then a consolation to me. To know that there is a feast of choisest Delicates, but not a taste for me, that there are pleasant fountaines and streames, but I must perish for thirst in a wildernesse; to know that there are royall Robes for such and such, but I must dye in my rags; to know that there is a pardon for such and such, but I must be turned off the ladder of life; to know that there is preferment for such and such, but I must still lie with Lazarus at Dives doore; such knowledge as this may well adde to my vexation, but it will not adde to my consolation. It was rather matter of sorrow, then joy to the men5
- 1Gregory calls the Scripture (Cor & animam Dei) the heart and soul of God.Gregory calls the Scripture (Cor & animam Dei) the heart and soule of God.
- 2Adoro plenitudinem Scripturarum, I adore the fullness of the Scripture. Tertul.Adoro plenitudinem Scripturarum, I adore the fulnesse of the Scripture. Tertul.
- 3Heb. 6. 18. Assurance produces such strong consolations, as swallows up all worldly griefs, As Moses Serpent did the Sorcerers Serpents, or as the fire doth the fuel.
- 4Non in honorum cognitione, sed fruitione.
- 5Spira cried our, Christ is to me a grief, a torment, because I despised him, I rejected him, and I have no part in him.Spira cryed our, Christ is to me a grief, a torment, because I despised him, I rejected him, and I have no part in him.
