Selected quad for the lemma: act_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
act_n	faith_n	heart_n	purify_v	2,568	5	11.6551	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41788	St. Paul's catechism, or, A brief and plain explication of the six principles of the Christian religion, as recorded Heb. 6., 1,2 with some considerations of the principles of natural and universal religion, as previous, and yet subservient to the rules of revealed and positive relgion: containing also, the duties of children to their superiors, written chiefly for the instruction of young Christians, children and servants in all Christian families / by Tho. Grantham.	Grantham, Thomas, 1634-1692.	1687 (1687)	Wing G1545; ESTC R39432	35,919	64

that he might be Lord both of the Dead a●d L●ving Rom. 14. 9. He gave himself a Ransom for all ● Ti● 2. 6. He tasted Death for every Man Heb. 2. ●9 〈◊〉 bought them that deny him and bring upon themselv●● 〈◊〉 destruction 2 Pet. 2. 1. S. These things cannot be spoken against But 〈◊〉 Christ die as he was God or as he was Man only F. Not as God for if God should die nothi●● could live Man cannot kill the Soul of Man muc● less the Divine Nature of Christ our Saviour was 〈◊〉 to death in the Flesh 1 Pet. 3. 18. He died through wea●ness 2 Cor. 13. 4. He was made Lower than the Angel that he might suffer Death Heb. 2. 9. It was sufficient that an holy Man perfectly jus● without Sin should die for the unjust that he mig●● bring us to God. S. To strengthen my Faith I desire to know som● clear Grounds or Evidence that the holy Spirit is God. F. 1. Because he is called the eternal Spirit Heb. ● 14. and is present in every place Psal 39. 7. He is e●presly called God Act. 5. 3 4 9. 2. We are baptised into his Name Mat. 28. But we are not to be baptised into the name of a Created Spirit 3. The Work of Creation is ascribed to him and he hath his procedure from the Father and the Son and is one with them Gen. 1. 1 2 3. Psal 104. 30. John 15. 26. S. I am well satisfied that the Righteousness of Faith is a grea● 〈◊〉 I desire to learn the Righteousness of Practice● F. Practical Righteousness is a holy walking with God in obedience to all his Commands to the best of our k●owledg and ability 1 John 2. 4 5 6. For the Gosp●● of the Grace of God teacheth us to deny all Vngodlyne●● and worldly Lusts and to live soberly righteously and g●dly on this present Life Tit. 2. 11 12. Christians are ●●rictly obliged to observe all things whatsoever Christ comm●●ded Ma● 28. 19. For they are God's workmanship 〈◊〉 in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God hath 〈◊〉 ordained that they should walk in them Ephes 2. 10 Christians are bo●●d to hear Christ their great Prophet ●n whatsoever 〈◊〉 shall say Nor are they his true Friends unless the● do to their best whatsoever he commands them Act. 3. 22. John 15. 14. S. Will not Faith save us without Works F. Altho we are not saved by Works yet we are not saved without Works For what doth it profit if a Man say he hath Faith and have not Works can Faith save him Jam. 2. 14. As the Body without the Spirit is dead so Faith without Works is dead also S. What shall I do that I may work the Work of God F. 1. This is the Work of God that you believe on him whom he hath sent John 6. 29. This Faith must be put into act else it is not the Work of Faith with Power 2 Thes 1. 9. Gal. 5. 6. Jam. 2. 22 24. 2. True Faith overcometh the World to wit 〈◊〉 Lusts of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyes and the Prid● of Life For this is the victory which overcometh the World even our Faith 1 John. 5. 4 5. and 2. 15 16. This Faith purifieth the Heart in obeying the Truth through the Spirit and leads to every good Work Act. 15. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 22. Philip. 2. 12 13. Colos 〈◊〉 10. S. Is this Faith in the act the Gift of God or the Work of Man F. With the Heart Man believeth and it is Man that worketh Good Rom. 10. 10. Rom. 2. 10. But the preparation of the Heart in Man to these things is of the Lord Prov. 16. 1. 1 Cor. 4. 7. 2 Cor. 3. 5. Isa 10. 23. S. Does God work this preparation in Man's Heart irresistibly F. In some special Case it may be so Gen. 20. 6. But God ordinarily works upon the Heart or Understandings of Men by his Works 〈◊〉 4. 13. Isa ●0 26. And by his Word Rom. 1. 16 17 18 And by the motions of his Spirit ministerially and graciously 1 Thes 1. 5. Against which Men may ●nd often do make resistance to their own destruction Psal 88. 8. This whole Psalm shews much of this to be too common and so does Act. 7. 51. S. I desire a short view of this excellent Grace of Faith. F. 1. It is an hearty and universal Credence of the Truth of God as revealed or made known to Man in the Scriptures or otherwise Luk. 24. 25. Deut. 1. 32. Rom. 1. 19 20 21 22. 2. A cleaving to God and his Truth as made known to us in sincere Love Psalm 119. 31. 1 Thes 1. 5 6. 2 Thes 1. 10. 3. A Shewing the Fruit of Faith by a ready obeying the Truth and suffering for it when called thereunto James 2. 28. 1 Pet. 3. 14 15. 4. An holy dependance upon God for the fulfilling all his Promises for his Grace and Help in this World and for Glory in the World to come 1 Pet. 1. 3. Heb. 10. 35 to the end Rom. 2. 7 10 11. S. I can say in some measure I believe and pray that God may help against my unbelief What I pray is the next Principle which belongs to a beginning Christian F. The next Principle is the Doctrine of Baptisms Of which we shall treat briefly Of the Third Principle of St. Paul's CATECHISM Or The Doct●ine of Baptisms Son. WHy is the word BAPTISMS used in this place Are there more Baptisms than one pertaining to Christians Father Yes there are three distinct Baptisms pertaining to the Christian Man. The first is the Baptism of Repentance for remission of Sins This was of divine Original it came from Heaven and was first administred by that great Prophet and Messenger of Christ John the Baptist Mat. 21. 25. The second is the pouring out of the Spirit of promise and in the ordinary way of its reception follows the Baptism of Repentance for the remission of Sins Act. 1. 5. 2. 38. 19. 5 6. Ephes 1. 13. The third is the Afflictions which attend Christians for the Gospel's-sake Luk. 12. 50. Mat. 20. 22. S. How is it said there is but one Baptism seeing it's evident there are three F. That is a gross mistake It is not said Ephes 4. 5. there is but one Baptism 't is said there is one and yet Paul speaks of two of these Baptisms in that very place as vers 4. There is one Body and one Spirit as ye are called in one hope of your Calling And the Ephesians had received both the Baptism of Repentance for remission of Sins in the Name of the Lord Jesus and also the Baptism of the Spirit afterward as is undeniable Act. 19. 5 6. So that Paul should have spoken false if he had said there is but one Baptism and also must have contradicted himself in his Epistle to the Hebrews where he speaks of Baptisms in the plural Number S. I confess the mistake of

Jesus which God forbid S. I desire you therefore to shew me this great Mystery of the Gospel which guides poor Sinners to the true Cause of Justification from the guilt and condemning Nature of Sin. F. That I will endeavour to do in our con●ideration of the second Principle of Christ's Doctrine to wit Of Faith towards God or towards our Lord Jesu● Christ Heb. 6. 1. Acts 20. 21. The Second Principle of St. Paul's CATECHISM Or Of Faith towards God. Son. I de●ire first to have a true definition of Faith that is I desire to know what Faith is Father St. Paul defines Faith thus Heb. 11. 1. Now Faith is the substance of Things hoped for the evidence of things not seen It is also truly defined of a firm belief of the Truth of God as made known in the Scriptures and particula●ly concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord John 20. 31. 1 John 5. 10 11. S. I perceive that the main design of the Holy Scriptures is to direct us to Jesus Christ I do therefore desire to know what Record God hath given of his Son F. This is the Record which God hath given of his Son That God hath given to us eternal Life and that this Life is in his Son. 1 John 5. 11. with John 1. 4. and 6. 51. S. Was the Son of God ordained to procure the Light of saving Life to the whole World F. Yes God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting Life And the reason why many shall not see Eternal Life is because they believe not on the Name of the only begotten Son of God John 3. 16 17 18. S. But how can they be saved by Christ who never heard of him F. Christ is the Lamb of God slain in the design of God to take away the Sin of the World John 1. 29. In whom God hath offered such means of Light as to him seemed convenient Act. 17. 26 27. that all might seek him and be reconciled to him 2 Cor. 5. 14 18 19. And according to the due use or wilful abuse of his Mercy so offered you shall all be acquitted or condemned in the day when God shall judg the Secrets of Men according to the Gospel Rom. 2. 14 15 16. Now the Gospel shews that God is not an hard Master he only expects improvement of what he gives he will not reap where he hath not Sown 2 Cor. 8. 12. Dying Infants never heard of Christ yet they shall be saved Mat. 19. 14. S. By this I perceive all Men are under the Mercy of God as well as under his Justice and that none shall therefore perish for want of Mercy but because they turn the Grace of God into wantonness Shew me therefore what we who have the holy Scriptures are bound to believe concerning God and Jesus Christ whom he hath Sent. F. We are firmly to believe that God is Heb. 11. 6. and that there 's no other God but one Mark 12. 32 34. This one God is made known to us by three Denominations especially The Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Mat. 28. 19. 1 John 5. 7. 1 Tim. 3. 16. John 1. 14. And that thou mayest know how this Great Mystery was understood by the Ancient Church about 1400 Years ago I will here shew thee their Confession of Faith published by a very great Council of the Christians in those daies wherein were 318 Pastors of the Church who thus profess their Faith. The Nicene Creed I Believe in one God the Almighty Father maker of Heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible And in one Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God Begotten of the Father before all Worlds God of God Light of Light Very God of very God begotten not made of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made Who for us Men and for our Salvation descended from the Heavens and was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became Man. Crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate Suffered and was buried And rose again the third day according to the Scriptures And ascended into Heaven and sits at the right Hand of God. And is to come again with Glory to judg the Living and the Dead and of whose Kingdom there shall be no end And in the holy Spirit the quickening Lord who proceeds from the Father and the Son and in like manner is adored and g●●rifyed with the Fathe● and the Son and who spake by the Prophets And I believe one holy Catholick and Apostolical Church I confess one Baptism f●r remission of Sins And I look for the Resurr●ction of the Dead And the Life in the World to come S. I much reverence this ancient Confession of Faith for it 's excellent Brevity and especially for the solidity of the Matter But I desire you to shew me what Scripture-Evidence we have for some things contained in the second Article where it says The Son of God was begotten before all Worlds F. In Heb. 1. 5. the Son of God is called the First-Begotten and vers 2. 't is said The Worlds that is all Worlds were made by him and vers 10. Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the Foundation of the Earth and the Heavens are the Works of thy Hands John 1. 1 2 3. is full evidence of the same thing And Colos 1. 17. He is before all things and by him all things consist S. But how is it said the Son is God of God Light of Light c. F. 1. The same Testimonies which prove He was God and that he was before all things proves that he was God of God because there was but one God nor as yet any other Essence but God. The Son w●s therefore begotten not made because all things were made by him which was made and sure he that made all things was not made himself 2. In 1 John. 5. 20. The Son is expresly called Very God and seeing there is but one God he must needs be very God of very God. 3. And for the same reason he is Light of Light for God is that Light in whom is no Darkness 1 ●ohn 1. ● and so is Christ John 1. 5 7 8 9. See also Rev. 21. 2● Heb. 1. 3. S. It seems the great Council did not want Scri●ture-evidence to confirm this great Article o●●he pr●existence of the Son of God. I pray explain the thi●d Article where the Son of God is said to be incarnate of of the Virgin Mary by the Holy ●●ost and became Man. F. It pleased the Father Almighty that his Son who being in the form of God and thought it not robbery to be equal with God should take upon him the form of a Servant and be found in the habit of Man Col. 2. 6 7. And in this state He that was above all Angels Heb. 1. 5. was now made a little lower than the Angels for the suffering

Counsel of God against all Power in Heaven and Earth Matth. 28. 17 18. being not baptised in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost S. I confess we have the foot-steps of Christ most plain in the case of Baptism but have we any thing from him to favour us in the Laying on of Hands with Prayer for the promised Spirit F. Yes verily we have as much from his own Example herein as the case could bear for Jesus as soon as he was baptised prayed and the Heavens were opened and the Holy Ghost descended in the bodily shape of a Dove upon him and a Voice came from Heaven which said This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased The things which from hence favour our Cause in hand are these 1. Christ did not ask this sealing and confirming Spirit till after he was baptised but as soon as baptised he prays and receives the Holy Ghost Here is nothing wanting but the Administrator which could not be found among Men for who durst pray for Christ that he might receive the Spirit I could object upon others that in Christ's Baptism Repentance was wanting Yet sure his Baptism is very precedential to us it coming as near us as the case would bear and so likewise he comes as near us in his waiting for the Spirit after Baptism as the case will bear S. I desire to see the Grounds of those two Duties Baptism and Laying on of Hands in a few Particulars F. The Grounds on which these Duties may be asserted and defended are 1. The express Command of Christ or the express Doctrine of Christ they being both Principles of his Doctrine 2. Christ's own Example or President as far as the greatness and holiness of his Person would bear it to be exemplary in either 3. The undoubted necessity of the chief Blessings annexed to the religious use of these Services respectively 4. Sufficient Example of many thousands of Christians Men and Women at Jerusalem and Samaria c. submitting to these Services at their Principles 5. No repeal of these Services or of either of them since their institution in the Church of Christ 6. The undeniable consent of Antiquity for some hundreds of Years down from the very dayes of the Apostles 7. The Scriptureless trifling self-contradicting and nonsensical Objections which hitherto have been brought against Sacred Baptism or Prayer with the Laying on of Hands for the Ends for which they were at first observed The Fifth Principle of St. Paul's CATECHISM Or The Resurrection of the Dead Son. WHat is the true definition of the Resurrection of the Dead according to Christian Doctrine and Faith Father The Resurrection of the Dead is an Act of Divine and Almighty Power quickning dead Bodies and restoring them to a state of such perfection as to have an eternal duration but does not necessarily infer the happiness of the Dead so raised but with respect to the Event of that Trial which they then shall undergo And therefore the Resurrection is distinguished into two parts by Christ himself John 5. 28 29. Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the Resurection of Life and they that have done evil to the Resurrection of Condemnation S. Shall the same Body in respect of it's Flesh and Bones rise again F. It must either be the same Flesh and Bones or nothing seeing there is nothing else laid in the Grave that may be called Man. And this is the ancient Faith of God's People as appears in Job 19. 26 27. Though after my Skin Worms destroy this Body yet in my Flesh shall I see God Whom I shall see for my self and not another though my Reins be consumed in me S. I confess this agrees with our Saviour's words before mentioned All that are in the Graves shall hear his Voice and come forth But does not Christ speak mystically of the Graves of Sin F. No he had spoken of those that are dead in Sin before vers 25. The hour is coming and now is when the Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live This he speaks of the powerful preaching of the Gospel to convert those that were dead in Sin. Then adds Marvel not at this for the hour is coming that all that are in the Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth but some of these to Condemnation which respects the Last Judgment undeniably S. How then does the Apostle say That Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15. 50. F. 1. He explains himself in the next words neither doth Corruption inherit Incorruption He speaks of Men in their sinful and mortal state They must be regenerate by the Work of the Spirit and freed from mortality in the Resurrection or as the next Verse shews partake of a change which is equivalent or else they cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven 2. It is certain our Saviour was Flesh and Bones after he was risen from the Dead Luk. 24. 39. Yet he entered into Heaven it self there to appear in the presence of God for us Heb. 9. 24. S. I confess it must follow that if no Flesh can enter into Heaven then Christ's glorified Body cannot be there which doubtless it is But have we sufficient Testimony that our Bodies shall put off Mortality and be glorified with his glorious Body F. Yes for it is written This Mortal must put on Immortality and this Corruption must put on Incorruption and so Death shall be swallowed up in Victory And again He shall change our vile Body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself Phil. 3. 21. S. Are there any Examples that any of the Dead who had lain long in the Graves was raised F. Yes there is a full Instance of that Mat. 27. 52 53. The Graves were opened and many Bodies of the Saints which slept arose and came out of the Graves and appeared to many Now these Saints doubtless had been long dead for we read of no Saints dying at Jerusalem about the time of Christ's Suffering S. Are there any other Examples to confirm this great Article of our Faith F. It pleased God to give an Instance of his Power and of his Will in this behalf near the beginning of the World in that he translated Enoch that he should not see Death Gen. 5. 24. Heb. 11. 5. 2. God also took Elijah the Prophet up into Heaven without tasting of Death 2 King. 2. 1 11 12. 3. Elisha by the Power of God raised a dead Child to Life 2 King. 4. 33 34 35. 4. By God's Power a dead Man was raised to Life at the touch of the Bones of the Prophet Elisha 2 King. 13. 21. S. Are there