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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
act_n	faith_n	grace_n	justification_n	4,599	5	9.2931	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A55567	A sanctuary for the tempted: being a discourse on Christ's friendly admonition to Peter Wherein the fall and rising of Peter, is at large considered: the craft, potency, and malice of Satan (that arch-enemy of our salvation) discovered: his various wiles. stratagems and machinations invalidated: several choice and excellent Gospel-truths handled, and cleared (from the calumnies and objections of gainsayers.) ... Delivered in sundry sermons, at first; and now, published for the benefit of God's church in general. To which is added, four sermons, preach'd upon sacramental occasions. By Thomas Powel, preacher of the Gospel, and one, whom Satan hath winnowed.	Powell, Thomas.	1679 (1679)	Wing P3075; ESTC R30536	152,491	435

so Faith works by Love which it Excites Love 't is true is the Grace that at last possesseth the Inheritance But it is Faith that gives the Christian Right unto it without which he should never have Enjoyed it Ioh. 1. 12. To as many as Received Him He gave Power to become the Sons of God Faith is the Grace of Graces It stands among them as the Heart in the midst of the Body Other Graces are but Stars unto this Shining Sun And now that Faith hath such a peculiar Excellency above all other Graces I shall shew in these following Particulars First In that the Apostle Recommends it to us above all Things what-so-ever Ephes. 6. 16. Above all taking the Shield of Faith where-with ye shall be able to quench all the fiery Darts of the Wicked That Faith hath a Preheminence above other Graces appears 1. By the Piece of Armour he compares it to the Shield which of Old was prized above all other Pieces by Souldiers They counted it greater Shame to Lose their Shield than to Lose the Field And therefore when under the very Foot of the Enemy they would not part with it but esteemed it an Honour to Dye with their Shield in their Hand It was the Charge that one laid upon her Son going into the VVars when she gave him a Shield That he should either bring his Shield Home with him or he be brought Home upon his Shield She had rather see him Dead with it than come Home Alive without it 2. By the Noble Effect which is here ascribed to Faith By which ye shall quench all the fiery Darts of the Wicked The other Pieces are nakedly Commended Take the Girdle of Truth Breast-plate of Righteousness and so the rest but nothing singly ascribed to any of them what they can do But when he speaks of Faith he ascribes the whole Victory to it This quencheth all the fiery Darts of the Wicked Secondly The Commendations that are given to Faith above other Graces shew that it hath the Preheminence For you shall observe that in the same Action wherein other Graces are eminently Exercised as well as Faith even then Faith is taken notice of and the Crown set upon Faith's Head rather than any of the other We hear nothing almost of any other Grace throughout the whole Eleventh of the Hebrews but Faith By Faith Abraham by Faith Jacob and the rest of those Worthies did all those Famous Exploits There was a Concurrence of the other Graces with Faith in them all But all goes under the Name of Faith The whole Army fight yet the General or Captain hath the Honour of the Victory ascribed to him Alexander's and Caesar's Names are transmitted to Posterity as the Great Conquerours that Over-came so many Battles not the Private Souldiers that Fought under them Faith is the captain-Captain-Grace all those Famous Acts of those Saints are Recorded as the Atchievments of Faith Thirdly The High Office that Faith busieth it self about shews its Preheminence above other Graces Now the Office of Faith is two-fold 1. The Office of Faith is to Unite us unto Christ. Faith and the Holy Spirit are the Bonds of the Spiritual Union The Spirit on Christ's part and Faith on Ours Hence it is that Faith is called Vinculum Unionis the Ingrafting Grace And in this it appears that Faith doth more especially Excel all other Graces Other Graces make us like Christ but Faith makes us one with Christ. By Love and Humility we imitate Christ but by Faith we are implanted into Christ. 2. To Justify us Being Iustified by Faith we have Peace with God Not Justified by Love Repentance Patience or any other Grace beside Faith O how harsh doth it sound in a Christian Ear Iustifying Patience Iustifying Repentance If they were concern'd in the Act of Iustification as Faith is the Name would as well become them as it doth Faith it self But we find Iustification Appropriated only to Faith and all other Graces are hedg'd out from having to do in the Act of Iustification though supposed and included in the Person Justified Faith I say Justifies us not Qualitative but Relative in that it apprehends the Righteousness of Christ the Subject matter of our Iustification That we are Justified is not by any Vertue that lies in Faith not in Faith considered purely as a Grace but as it hath Respect to the Object The Vertue is not in Faith but in Christ. Fourthly The Mighty and Universal Influence that Faith hath upon all her Sister-Graces makes her the Chief of them all What makes the Sun so Glorious a Creature but because it is a Common Good and serves all the Lower World with Light and Influence First Faith finds all the Graces with work As the Rich Tradesman gives out his Wool some to this Man and some to that who all Spin and work of the Stock he gives them out So that when he ceaseth to Trade they must also because they have no Stock but what he affords them Thus Faith gives out to every Grace what they Act upon If Faith Trades not neither can they To instance in one or two Graces for all the rest Repentance This is a Sweet Grace but set on work by Faith Niniveh's Repentance is attributed to their Faith Ionah 3. 5. The People of Niniveh believed God and proclaimed a Fast and put on Sackcloath All is whist and quiet in an Unbelieving Soul no News of Repentance nor Noise of any Complaint made against Sin till Faith begins to stir When Faith presents the Threatning and binds the Truth and Terrour of it to the Conscience then the Sinner hath something to work upon Secondly As Faith sets the other Graces on work by actuating their Objects about which they are Conversant So Faith doth assist them in working by fetching Strength from Christ. Christ is the Magazine and Faith the Radical Grace sucks Vertue Vigour and Strength from this Magazine Not to speak any more touching the Preheminence of Faith above other Graces though I might dilate in several Particulars more I shall conclude this Head with those several Appellations that are given to Faith whereby the Glorious Excellencies of that Grace are shadowed forth 1. Faith is called a Key because as a Key it opens Hidden Heavenly Treasure 2. Faith is call'd an Eye because as an Eye it beholds Things though Invisible 3. Faith is call'd an Hand because it layes hold on Eternal Life in that it Apprehends the Merits of Christ by which Salvation is Purchased 4. Faith is call'd a Mouth because it Eats Christ the Bread of Life 5. It is call'd a Ladder by which we Ascend up to Heaven Now in all these the Excellency of Faith discovers it self Moreover Faith is a Tree the Root whereof is a Sound Knowledge of God and his Wayes The Branches thereof is Assent and Application And the Fruits of it is the Production of Good Works Yea so Excellent is Faith that it is compared

but an Almighty Power There is no Power below that Power which Rais'd Christ from the Dead and Made this World can Raise the Heart of a Man to Believe When God Made the World there was nothing to Oppose He had only then to do with Simple Nothing But when God comes to make the Heart Believe he finds Opposition and Rebellion It is a Miracle for a Man to Believe Nay What is Faith but a Mystery Secondly Faith is very useful to such that have it It s Usefulness appears in these Three Particulars First In Repelling Temptations Without Faith we cannot Resist so much as one Temptation Ephes. 6. 16. By Faith we can Resist Temptations by Faith we Bear Afflictions by Faith we Foil Corruptions by Faith we Endure Persecutions by Faith we Over-come the World and by Faith we Subdue Sin in its Conception and do even make Sinful Thoughts Abortive No Wrestling with the Devil no Entring the Lists with him but by having this Shield of Faith which is so exceeding Useful therein Secondly Faith is Useful in an Art of Spiritual Extraction that it hath Faith can Extract Good out of Evil. An Unbeliever can see nothing in Affliction but a Lump of pining Grief and Sorrow But a Believer knows that there is a Blessing in it The Sharpness of it may let out his Corruption the Suddenness of it may Alarum his Spiritual Watch and the Bitterness of it may Wean him from the Breast of the Creature Faith explains that Paradox Can a Man gather Grapes of Thornes or Figs of Thistles Yea out of Tryals and Persecutions Faith can Extract Ioy and Peace Thirdly Faith is Useful in that it hath a Mighty and Universal Influence upon all our other Graces The Spirit of God indeed doth infuse all the Seeds and Habits of Grace But Faith is the Fountain of all the Acts of Grace It is as the Spring in the Watch that moves the Wheels and sets them all a-going How doth Love work but by Faith and How doth Humility work but by Faith and How doth Patience work but by Faith SECT V. Secondly Cherish Faith This is as I have told you the Cardinal Grace For the Sake of God and for the sake of your Soul Water this Root Now there are Two Ranks and Degrees of Persons that I shall take occasion to speak unto 1. Such who have Faith in a Great Measure 2. Such who have Faith in a Little Measure First Such who have Faith in a Great Measure And that which I have to say unto you is Grow Though you have a great deal of Faith yet you have need of more and it is possible for you to have more For God hath allotted unto every Believer such a Degree of Grace unto which he must attain before he is to be taken up in Glory The more Strong you are the more Formidable you shall be to the Devil Sirs Dream not of a Perfection in this Life Though you have much Faith yet you have need of more and therefore go Forward because not to go Forward is to go Backward Could the Heathen-Painter be so intent and industrious upon his Trade of Painting that he could say Nulla Dies sine lineâ Not a Day without a Line and all that he might Excel in that Art and Shall not Christians be more intent upon in their Attendance to the Work of Grace in their Souls Several Motives I shall lay down that you may thereby be excited to Growth Motive I. First God calls for it And shall we deny it 1 Thes. 4. 1. Further-more Then we beseech you Brethren and Exhort you by the Lord Jesus That as ye have Received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God so you would abound more and more The Winds and Seas Obey God Shall We be Rebels Let us rather give an Answer like the Eccho Lord we will Grow Do thou Bless thy Word and Sacraments to us Purge us Cleanse us Water us Manure us make us Capable of Growth and let us Dayly Grow in every Grace and never give over till our Dying Day Say Lord make us every Day Better and Best of all at last Motive II. Secondly God is Honoured by our Growth A High-grown Faith Glorifies God The Husband-man is Honoured when his Field and Orchard is Fruitful Let God be Honoured by our Fruites of Piety Charity Righteousness Patience and Obedience that Men may say It is a Good God and a Good Gospel that hath wrought on this People Motive III. Thirdly God gives his Word and Ministers and Sacraments for this End All our Preachers call for Growth Let not God say I have given them the Great Things of my Law but they esteemed them as a Vain Thing Let not the Preachers say We have Laboured in vain and have been beating the Air and Plowing upon the Sea-Shore Motive IV. Fourthly If you Grow not you will Perish by the Hands of Satan that is The Devil will get the Advantage of you The Tree that Grows not must be Hewn down and cast into the Fire And is it not better to be Flourishing than Perishing If we take not pains to grow Better we must suffer Pains for being Worser Motive V. Fifthly The Truth of your Faith appears by the Growth of it Faith may be Little but if it be True it will not alwayes be Little Those that are of God's own Planting are Flourishing in their Old Age. If you begin in Hypocrisie you will end in Apostacy A sound Young Convert proves an Old Disciple O let it not be said Ye did Run well You had Good Affections You were once Zealous Let your Soundness appear by your Growth and Perseverance Motive VI. Sixthly A Growing Christian hath most Comfort There is Ioy in Knowledge The more Knowledge the more Comfort Let him that Glorieth Glory in this That he knoweth Me Jer. 9. 23. There is Joy in Believing Rom. 15. 13. The more Faith the more Ioy. The Growing Christian gets the strongest Evidences of God's Favour of God's Spirit working in him His Acts of Growth and Fruites of Obedience are Seeds of Ioy and the Ground-work of Consolation Motive VII Seventhly The Growing Christian wins Others Those which Decline do make as if there were not that Power in God's Ordinances that Sweetness in the Promises as was expected As if a Godly Life had not the Contentments nor God's Rewards were so Sure nor his Wayes so Happy as Men take them to be And therefore they give over But he that Grows Better and Better and holds on notwithstanding Opposing Heresies Schisms Reproaches and Pleasant Baits and Sweet Allurements He proclaims Vanity in the Creature Satisfaction in God Power in his Word Amiableness in Grace He brings Credit on God's Family Honour to the Truth Others see something in him which is Supernatural They desire to be like him They are Almost yea sometimes Altogether perswaded to become Professors They are drawn to Taste of God's Goodness to

Bernhard Thou shalt find more in the Woods than in a Corner Stones and Trees will Teach thee what thou shalt not have from Learned Doctors I shall Conclude with Iob Chap. 12. Vers. 7 8. Ask now the Beasts and they shall Teach thee and the Fowls of the Air and they shall Tell thee Or speak to the Earth and it shall Teach thee and the Fishes of the Sea shall Declare unto thee That is saith Neat and Accurate Mr. Caryl The Creatures Teach us when we think of them They Teach us though not Formally yet Virtually They Answer and Resolve the Question put to them though not Explicitely to the Ear yet Convincingly to the Conscience So then we Ask the Creatures when we Diligently Consider them when we search out the Perfections and Vertues that God hath put into or stampt upon them To set our Mind thus upon the Creature is to Discourse with the Creature The Questions which Man asks of a Beast are only his own Meditations Again The Creatures Teach us when we in Meditation make out Collections and draw down a Demonstration of the Power VVisdom and Goodness of God in making them or of the Frailty of Man in needing them Such Conclusions and Inferences are the Teachings of the Creatures FINIS Books Printed for and Sold by Benj. Harris at the Stationers-Arms at the East-End of the Royal-Exchange in Cornhil THE Accomplisht Ladies Delight in Preserving Physick Beautifying and Cookery The Second Edition with Large Additions Price 2s War with the Devil Or The Young-Man's Conflict with the Power of Darkness Discovering the Corruption and Vanity of Youth the Horrible Nature of Sin In a Dialogue between an Old Apostate and a Young Professor The Fifth Impression Price 1s The Second Part of the War with the Devil The Grand Impostor Discovered Or The Quakers Doctrine weighed in the Ballance and found wanting A Poem by way of Dialogue wherein their Chief and most concerning Principles are laid down and by the Authority of God's Holy Word thereby Refuted Price 1s Animae Astrologiae Or A Guide to Astrologers with a New Table of the Fixed Stars Rectifyed for several Years to come and divers other Illustrations By W. Lilly Student in Astrology Price 1s 6d Summonds to the Grave Or A Timely Preparation for Death Demonstrated in a Sermon Preached at the Funeral of Iohn ●…rcost With Two Elegies there-unto prefixt By the Author of War with the Devil Price 8d The History of the Young Converted Gallant Or Directions for the Reading of of that Divine Poem War with the Devil Shewing the Readers thereof how to Read the same Poem right in these four Respects c. First In reference to the Substance or History thereof Secondly In reference to the Intent or Mystery thereof Thirdly In reference to the Consequent Doctrine thereof Fourthly In reference to the Practical Application thereof Compiled in a Poem By Iohn Mason ●…tleman of Fordham in Cambridge shire Price 1s The Beauty Vigour and Strength of Youth be-spoke for God In a Sermon lately Preached to Young Men from the Twelfth of Ecclesiastes on Verse the First By Thomas Powel Minister of the Gospel Price 6d Blessed Rest for the Burdened Sinner Or The only Center of the Soul Wherein is Discovered First Who he is that Invites and calls Sinners to this Rest. Secondly The Incouragement to come unto him for Rest. Thirdly Many Obstructions and Impediments which keeps back Sinners with their Unreasonableness answered Fourthly The Rest that every one shall have that comes unto Christ. Delivered in several Sermons from Matthew the 11. 12. By Iohn Hopwood Preacher of the Gospel * Luk. 1. Act. 1. 3. † So much I conceive is intimated in that Form of Address 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Term which is wont to be given to Persons of Honor as Acts 24. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Acts 26. 5. In both Places we render Noble ‖ No Man can Love Grace in another Mans Heart but he that has Grace in his own * Faith and Good Works go ●…gether ●…ough not in the Act of ●…stifying † A Simpathizing Friend as one sayes is like a Dry House in a Wet Day ‖ Some two or three Ministers that violently assail'd my Book Entituled The Young Mans Conflict w th Victory over the Devil by Faith c. Reporting that it was Fictitious which Sir next unto God and my own Conscience you your self can bear witness unto the Truth thereof being an Eye-witness of me when I was under the Workings of the greatest part that I declare there If my Method and Stile being dark and obscure and unbeseeming the Matter declared in that Book has offended any I am sorry and would not have done it had I not in my Iudgment deem'd it most In-offensive How-ever ● hear of Good that it has done and that almost Daily * A Sermon Preached by me on Psalm 22. v. 1. † One Old piece of Gold is worth a thousand New Counters so one Old Truth of God is more worth than a thousand New Errors ‖ T is not the Knowing of Truth nor the Hearing of Truth nor the Commending of Truth nor the Talking of Truth but the Indwelling of Truth in your Soul that will keep your Judgment Chast and Sound * Deus est summum bonum omne bonum in summo † Dr. Manton in Jam. Cap. 1. 21. ‖ Omnia siperdas animam servar●… memento † JesusChrist has purchased a Salvation that is possible necessary rare near everlasting * Here the New Man is mingled with the Old ‖ Spiritual Desertions many a gracious Soul in his Life time is exercised with † Grace that dwells in such a Soul a Soul that dwells in such a Body a Man that dwells among such variety of Business Companies and Temptations cannot but be under much Variableness and Alterations * Our Faith is mixt with Unbelief our Humility is stain●…d with Pride ‖ God's Church is now rented w th Schisms eclipsed with Error oppress'd with Trouble † And now may be added also The Church of God in England that is at this Day in great Affliction * Ingratus qui beneficium accepisse se negat quod accepit ingratus qui id dissimulat rursum ingratus qui non reddit at omnium ingratissimus est qui oblitus est ‖ The Mercies of God in number are as the glittering Stars of the Firmament the Drops of the Briny Ocean the Sands upon the Winding Shores the Dusts of the Earth the Atoms th●… swim in the Sun-Beams are not so numerous as them † Which I understood from others before I did from you * You may Sir draw Comfort from Jam. 1. ult Pure Religion undefiled before God and the Father is this To Visit the Fatherless and Widows in their Afflictions c. ‖ The Giver should shut his Eyes when he opens his Hands † Humility should be every Christian's Upper-Garment * 〈◊〉

Heir and couldst thou not believe so still What now Abraham Wast thou willing to take away the Life of thy Son thy only Son the Son of the Promise the Son whom thou loved stedfastly believeing that God knew what to do better than thou and yet did thy Faith stagger when thy Wife 's and thy own Life did but as thou thought lie at Stake Poor Man as if God was not as able to appear for thee in the Latter as well as in the Rest Lord what then shall I do what will become of poor Me if Satan foil'd Abraham a Man so strong in Faith Where must I go What must I do who am so weak in Faith Whence is it that Satan doth not only assail me but ruine me considering what a Dwarf I am to proper Abraham and what a Shrub I ●…m to such a Cedar as he Yea Lord when I consider the vast Disproportion between me and others and that Satan seeks to destroy me as well as them I admire how it is that I am kept But when I do on the other hand consider tha●… Power which is concern'd in the Perseverance of Believers whether Weak or Strong I am then resolv'd and by it my Admiration is turn'd into Praises seeing clearly from thence that a Weak Believer with thy Assisting Presence can better Encounter with Satan than one under the With-drawings of thy Self can do that formerly was Strong and very Eminent for his Conquests and Victories All that remains O Heavenly Father is only this My Work is great my Strength is small Enemies many and Time short so that what I desire of thee is To give me a Tast of Heaven before I come there and afford me some Draughts of Comforts out of the Promises that I may notwithstanding my Infirmness and the number of my Troubles be still Aspiring after those Pleasures and Beatitudes that are Above 2. A Second Instance is that of Moses whose Excellency was in Meekness Moses who so Meek as him Numb 12. 3. Now the Man Moses was very Meek above all the Men which were upon the Face of the Earth But read Chapter Twenty of the same Book and Verse Ten and there you shall read another Character of Moses One would think that it was impossible for such a passionate Expression to drop out of Moses's Mouth Yea his Speech was Passionate and Blasphemous and God was sorely angry with him for it and because of that Moses only had a Sight of Canaan 3. A Third Instance is that of Iob a Patient Man a Holy Man a Perfect Man Who more Upright than Iob He had not his Fellow on Earth See what a Character God gives him Iob 1. 8. And the Lord said unto Satan Hast thou considered my Servant Iob that there is none like him in the Earth a Perfect and an Upright Man one that feareth God and escheweth Evil And many Combats and Conflicts Iob had with Satan by which we have a great Proof of his Faith And the many Miseries into which he was brought do very much demonstrate his Patience But God lets not this Holy Man go out of the World without some Token unto us of his Imperfection and that he was but a Man and one whom Satan could easily Conquer when God did but say Satan Job is in thy Hands 4. The next Instance is that of Holy David a Valiant Man much Endowed with Faith and his Encomium is A Man after God's own Heart and yet this good Man David notwithstanding his having a Promise from God that he should be King which was Grounds enough for Faith to Act upon yet David's Faith did at last so stagger in regard of the many and great Difficulties that he was to go through that he fear'd lest he should Perish by the Hands of Saul forgetting his former Expressions Yea Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death I will fear no Evil for thou art with me thy Rod and thy Staff they Comfort me I will not be afraid of Ten Thousands of People that set themselves against me Many Instances we have also in the New-Testament that may demonstrate the Truth of this Point I shall only allude to that of Peter That no Christian is or hath been so Eminent but at some time or other may be remarkably Foil'd by Satan See this verify'd in Peter Who more strong in Faith Love and Holy Courage than Peter His Name was Simon which signifies an Obedient Hearer and Peter which signifies Strong and Confident like a Rock Invincible Nay so Confident he was that when our Lord told him He should deny him he could scarce credit it Lord I am ready to go with thee saith he both into Prison and to Death But what saith our Saviour unto him I tell thee Peter The Cock shall not Crow this Day before that thou shalt thrice Deny that thou knowest me So that Satan was too Strong for Weak Peter He that thought his Faith was strong enough to Encounter with the whole World most shamefully suffered a Maid a Woman and the Weaker Vessel to discountenance him Well might Peter go out and Weep bitterly reasoning the Case thus with himself Oh! what have I done miserable Man that I am How foully have I Fallen in Denying the Lord of Life my Lord I a Rebellious Sinner to Deny Him that saved me and by his Death Redeemed me And was I so Wicked as having Denyed him Once I must proceed to Deny him Thrice together and that with Oathes Curses and Bannings Hath my Protestations and Confident Boldness come to this Issue Have I shewed my self so Cowardly and such an Impotent Weakling that I could not remain Constant till the Morrow This Last Day I protested If all the World were offended yet I would not be offended Yea I was ready to lay down my Life for Christ my Lord and yet lo before the Cock crew Twice I had Denyed him Three times O Perjured Wretch that I am How have I Transgrest and what 〈◊〉 Ship-wrack have I made of my Faith Is this not to be offended Is this ●…o give my Life for my Master Nay Is not this to forsake him quite and to joyn with the Wicked Iews ●…o Condemn and Crucifie him For What could I have done more ●…heinously against him unless I had joyned with the Wicked to take his Life from him Iudas did but Betray him and Sell him for Money and I have voluntarily Denyed him without Hire and without Money The World hereafter and all Posterities shall take knowledge of my Sin My Name deserves to go with a Brand upon it like the Name of Ieroboam My Name cannot once be mentioned but my Sin must likewise be remembred And surely Peter had great cause for going out and Considering thus with himself considering the Greatness of his Sin he had great cause to Weep as he did For if Annah had cause to Weep