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
A44458	Blessed rest for the burthened sinner. Or the only center of the soul Wherein is discovered. 1. Who he is that invites and calls sinners to this rest. 2. The encouragements to come unto him for rest. 3. Many obstructions and impediments which keep back sinners. With their unreasonableness answered. 4. The rest that every one shall have that comes unto Christ. Delivered in some sermons at first, yet since some addition and enlargement has been made to them. By John Hopwood preacher of the Gospel.	Hopwood, John, preacher of the Gospel.	1676 (1676)	Wing H2761A; ESTC R216474	156,207	450

it do make it manifest 1. It cleanseth and puryfieth the heart true Faith and an unsanctified Heart are never concomitants or coinhabitants Acts 15.9 And put no difference between us and them Purifying their Hearts by Faith A defiled Gentile as well as a chosen Jew is purified by Faith for Faith apprehends the right means of purifying scil the Blood of Christ it will not suffer corruption to remain predominant in the Soul therefore the People of God are said to be a holy Temple for the Holy God to dwell and abide in 2 Cor. 6.16 2ly It lifts the Heart above the World and makes it come off Conquerer 1 Joh. 5.4 5. Whosoever is Born of God overcometh the World and this is the Victory that overcometh the World even our Faith Vers 5. Who is he that overcometh the World but he that believeth that the Lord Jesus is the Son of God Faith is a World-conquering Grace it can presentiate future things it looks to the Land that is a far off Isa 33.17 Faith cloaths the Soul with the Sun of Righteousness and gets the Moon of this World under his Feet it regards these things but as perishing and transitory the things of the future and sempiternal world to be most Glorious Permanent and abiding It was by Faith that all the Worthy Champions of Christ have conquered this Base World and followed their Lord and Master through the greatest difficultys I might instance in many Moses Refused all the Pomp and Splendor of Pharaohs Court the Riches and Grandeur of the World and made a voluntary choise of suffering with the People of God and esteemed the reproach of Christ greater Riches then all the Riches of Egypt but how did this valliant Conquerer break through all these difficultys what could not Courts nor Kingdoms nor Terrors of a King nor Treasures nor Horrors nor Displeasures conquer one Moses such an Army as here was set in aray against him the least of which is enough to foil if not to conquer the greatest Monarch if Faith be not his sheild Eph. 6.16 Heb. 11.24 25. 26 27. but all these cords were too weak to hold him whilst the seven-fold Lock of Faith remained his strength abode firm and his bow abode in strength it was by Faith he did all this and there were two main Pillars which supported him and his Faith the first was looking to him who is invisible i. e. God The second was the prospecting and looking forward to the recompence of reward I might number up many more Instances but in short all the Servants of Christ have this conquering Faith Rom. 8.37 for the nature of it although one acts inferiour to another by reason of the different degrees some being not called to that tryal as others are but all have a measure of this Rom. 8.37 Nay in all these things speaking of several sorts of afflictions we are more then Conquerers through him that Loved us Every Christian is to Fight the Fight of Faith and Righteousness and in a Combat there is a conquerer and the Conquered either we Conquer the World or the World Conquers us but if we come off Conquerers it must be by the Shield of Faith 3ly It is a labouring working Faith in opposition to an Idle Faith Jam. 2.22 Seest thou how Faith wrought with his Work and by Works was Faith made perfect That is by his works it was manifest that his Faith was a perfect and right Gospel one true Faith is opperative it is active in puting the Soul upon all obedience unto God as it did Abraham in that difficult Service he was called to by Faith he went through with it Heb. 11.17 By Faith Abraham when he was tryed offered his Son Isaac Faith put Noah upon his obedience unto God when all others neglected their Salvation and the Preach-of Noah unto them Heb. 11.7 By Faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet he being religiously afraid as the word may be rendred prepared an Ark to the saving of his house 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A right saving Faith whereever it is Religiose solisite cavet ne Deum offendat puts the Soul upon the performance of all dutys injoyned and commanded by God it doth not rest only in a bare assent to the revealed will of God saying it is true and so sits down there and proceeds no farther but it is up and doing for God Christ and the Soul 4ly It is a Living Faith it works a principal of Life in the Heart where it is wrought The just shall live by Faith In opposition to a dead faith Rom. 1.17 Heb. 10.38 It is a quickening Principle which inlivens all other graces and keeps them in motion they would all faint and Dye if Faith did not keep them alive Gal. 2.20 I am Crucified with Christ nevertheless I Live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the Life I now Live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Here the Apostle clearly manifests how he lived it was by a living Principle of saving Faith apprehending a living Jesus 5ly and Lastly It is a lasting and permanent in opposition to a temporary and perishing Faith many pretend to believe but it is for a time like the Stony-ground Hearers which rejoyce to day and by reason of some afflictions are offended to morrow but now true Faith is abiding Mat. 13.20.21 growing and increasing dayly 1 Jo. 3.9 Whosoever is born of God sineth not for his seed remaineth in him This Seed remains firm there because it is sowed not by Satan but by the Spirit of God Heb. 10.39 We are not of those who draw back into perdition but them who believe to the saving of the Soul According to that of Christ he that induers to the End shall be saved There must be a Perseverance in Faith if we expect the Crown of Righteousness for Christ will Crown none but conquerers and none can conquer unless they believe and none believe but them who persevere in it 4ly It is known by its effects I shall mention only these two Joy and Peace 1. Joy and exaltation Rom. 15.13 Now the God of Peace fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing Joy is a Fruit that Grows upon the root of Faith what hath made the Servants of Christ in all Ages Rejoice when they met with nothing in the Inn of this World but rough Entertainment but their believing in Christ 1 Pet. 1.8 The Apostle in vers 7. tells the believers of the tryal of their Faith and the preciousness of it in the day of Christ and saith in the 8. vers whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of Glory Faith assends by the wings of Love and Zeale and fixeth it self above the Clouds and takes a view of the celestial

but yet never obey him so as to believe in him Qui Christum non habet ipse non potest Christianus dici Augu. profess him they do but regard not whether they profess him 2 Cor. 13.5 Know ye not that Jesus Christ is in you unless you be reprobates Raigning in you ●nd ruling of you by his holy spirit He who hath not Christ in him is not a Christian I speak all along what dayly observation doth confirm and this is a wile of Satan by which he hinders thousands of Souls from coming unto Christ If we look into the Euopean part of the world where the name of Christ is professed we shall find that the Basis upon which the greatest number do build and rest is only a profession of the Lord Jesus and by professing of him are let from coming to him a strange Paradox but too evidently true Satan knows how to use this weapon for the Souls eternal ruine unless prevented by Divine grace from on high therefore I say let not this Devil hold thee by this device but labour to come nearer unto Jesus Christ for as the Body without the Soul is dead so is the Soul that only professes but doth not possess the Lord Jesus But in a word consider well and thy own Judgment and Conscience will tell thee that all shall not be saved that profess the name of Christ for if all should be saved that are called Christians then thou mayst conclude that Whoremongers Adulterers Lyers Theives Murderers and other abominable Livers shall be happy when they come to dye although there is no saving chang wrought in the heart only a bare profession of Christ as is throughout England and other places where the Gospel is spread Which Argument I know thou wilt deny if thou hast any esteem for real Godlyness It is not every one that sayeth Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 7.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Justin Christians are such who keep the commands of Christ saith Justin Martyr Veri Orthodoxi dicuntur a fidei rectitudine vitae integritate a true Christian is known by the rectitude of his faith and the integrity of his Life was the saying of the Antients 17ly He impedes by perswading the Sinner to rest in a continual series of Duty this is a step higher then the former they Look Speak and act as if they were come unto Christ when indeed they are far from him they keep communion with Christs Flock and are not discerned from his Sheep They hear the word Preached partake of the Sacrament read the word and pray in Publick and Secret but still are like the Foolish Virgins Mat. 25.1.2 Which had Lamps which I take not only to be of profession but a Series of duties for they kept company with the Wise till the Bridegroom was comeing Jo. 17.3 To rest in dutys without Christ is like Josephs Bretheren who bring all things with them but Benjamine i. e. till they were to appear before Christ Jesus then they wanted oile i. e. Grace in their hearts and a saving knowledg of Christ as may be gathered from Christs answer to them vers 12. I say unto you I know you not They did not in all their Duties labour to know Christ so as to believe and rest on him for Salvation therefore saith he I know you not depart from me There must be a coming off from all Duty in point of Salvation and there must be a reliance on Christ alone and not to make that our Jesus which is but the way to him here Satan doth not deceive the notorious Sinner but the seeming devout Saint these take a large step towards Heaven and yet come one step short of Heaven and so tumble headlong into everlasting Misery When the Conscience is a little awakened or wounded upon the account of some Sin he will permit the Sinner to go to Duty there to seek for cure but not to the Lord Jesus By this wile he seeks to deceive the Heirs of the Kingdom if it were possible therefore beware in all conditions of resting short of coming to Christ for if Duty doth not lead the Soul to Christ the Saviour that which usurps that office i. e. of a Jesus will certainly in the end Damn the Soul for ever consider this is one of the depths of Satan therefore to the end he may not delude thee and keep thee in this Snare suspect every duty and ordinance which doth not by Faith bring thee to Christ alone both for grace and Glory 18ly By reason of some gifts bestowed upon the Soul as knowledg it may be in the word of God and ability to discourse of it likewise a guift of Prayer even to admiration now Satan is ready to tell the person he need go no further for if God did intend to condemn him he would not so liberally bestow such gifts upon him he need not question but his condition and state is very secure by this means the Soul rests satisfied in what is bestowed upon it but never looks to Christ as the sole foundation of Salvation O How many doth he deceive by this wile that because of some supernatural gifts confered upon them conclude thence they shall be saved Have a care of this Golden bait for it hath allured many Souls into everlasting Flames for thou mayest have great knowledg parts and gifts and notwithstanding all be a Fire brand of Hell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For if thou knowest Christ savingly it is enough though thou art ignorant in other things but if thou knowest not him all other Learning is as nothing Jo. 17.3 And if thou knowest him savingly then thou lovest him really and superlatively 19ly By promises of repentance and future obedience The Language of Satan live in thy Sins gratify thy Lust secure the World follow the Customs of the times thou shalt repent hereafter which is many times Judas like this I know to be the device of Satan by which he prevents many from coming to Christ tell some of their Sins and the necessity of repentance and coming to Christ by faith now they will answer by the instigation of Satan they do intend to repent and lead a now life if they are by afflictions or by the word or some providence sometimes convinced that those things should be done now that they should turn to God lay hold upon Christ abandon all Sin Satan will not let them now but promiseth hereafter they shall do it I fear too many are caught by this wile but Reader be not thou one of them but come to Christ now repentingly and believingly for besure it is not the Spirit of Christ that bids thee demur and put off thy repentance and obedience it is only the voice of Satan The Spirit of God saith to day Heb. 3.15 Satan is for to Morrow 20ly Satan obstructs by telling the Sinner of the mercy of God what

is nothing but perpetual Commotions and distractions but when this Legion is ejected and cast out and the Soul hath bathed it self in the tears of Repentance and is made pure by the Blood of the Lord Jesus O then what inward sedateness and tranquility is there Sin whilst a Man remains in an impenitent State and condition like a Mad-man rageth in the Soul but when Christ brings the Soul to himself by the weeping-cross of Repentance he then saith to it as he did to the Sea Peace be still or as he did to his Disciples Jo. 14.1 Let not your Hearts be troubled and Vers 27. My peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the World giveth give I unto you let not your Hearts be troubled The Gospel of Christ is a Gospel of peace Rom. 10.15 and Eph. 6.15 Because it proclaimeth Peace and speaks peace from God and Christ unto poor wounded and distressed Consciences the Blood of Christ is the only sanctifying Medicine which the Gospel holds forth to cure wounded consciences Thus I have finished the first particular I come now to the second particular grace by which a person may know that he is come to Christ and it is this the Spirit hath wrought the grace of Faith in the Soul for it is by Faith the Soul apprehends and lays hold upon the Lord Jesus Although there are four kinds of Faith yet there is but one true Evangelick and saving Faith and my business must be to acquaint you how you may discern this from the others which will never end in salvation and I shall do it with as much brevity as may be for the discussing so great a question as this is how may I know that I have saving Faith I answer it may be known these four ways 1. By the Author or Efficient 2. By the Objects 3. By the Nature of it and 4. By the effects 1. By the Author and he is the Spirit of God for no Man can work Faith in his own Heart or can believe by his own Power it is a supernatural and Divine work Faith is the gift of God Eph. 2.8 It is the work of the Spirit of God Gal. 5.22 The Fruit of the Spirit are Love Peace Joy Goodness Faith If the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father hath not been at work upon thy Soul never conceit thy self to have any Grace we find this work once attributed to Christ Heb. 12.2 Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith but this must be understood Agit filius per spiritum sanctum Ursin * that Christ doth it by his holy Spirit and the Spirit works powerfully and with the irresistable efficacy he makes the Soul believe those things now which all Men or Angels could never have done if they had Preached Millions of years it now believes unseen things an unseen Jesus and an invissible glory 1 Pet. 1.8 If you have no more Faith then what your own reason or judgment helps you to or the teachings of men hath principled you with do not conclude it to be saving but Sinful the Spirit is the Efficiently and works instrumentally by the word of God by which he brings the Soul to believe in and close with Jesus Christ 2ly It is known by the objects of it 1. The Word of God that is an object of true Faith the Soul is brought to believe the verity and certainty of it therefore it believes not because Man saith so and so you must believe but because the word of the Living God saith it as the Apostle 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure Word of Prophecy to which ye do well to take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place Materia quae objecti rationem habet communiter quidem Dei verbum est propriae vero gratuitae promissiones in Christo fundatae Wol. de fide salvis until the day dawn and the day Star arise in your hearts Shee believes the reports of men no farther than they concur with the clear and evident truth of the word of God for as the Prophet saith to the Law and to the Testimony Isa 8.20 2ly Faith eyes the promises therein contained which relate unto and are founded in Christ as one saith the material cause of saving faith which may be termed an object is commonly the Word of God but properly the gracious promises founded in Christ It is said 2 Cor. 1.20 All the promises of God are in him i. e. in Christ Saith God by the Prophet Isaiah Chap. 43.25 I will blot out thy transgressions for my one name sake and will not remember thy Sins 2 Cor. 5.19 The Apostle tells us God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself not imputing their trespasses unto them So that we see what God promiseth in one place to do for his own name-sake in the other we find made good in Christ promises of Peace Pardon Grace and Glory upon the account of Christ are the objects of a saving Faith For indeed it is by laying the mouth of Faith to the brest of the promises that the Soul sucks and draws nourishment by which it grows in grace for had not Faith a promise of such and such mercys benefits and Priviledges to go to at all times it would grow languid and decay it would pine away The promises by the assistance of the holy Spirit keep Faith alive and active vigorous and strong as it is said of Abraham that Father of the Faithful Rom. 4.15.20 He staggered or doubted not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in Faith giving Glory to God But how came he to be so strong but by Eying the Promise and the power of that God that made it vers 21. And being fully perswaded or knowing most certainly that what he had promised he was able certainly to perform It was the apprehention of the promise that held his head above water so I say if thy Faith be of a salvific and evangelic kind it hath an Eye to the promises of God which contain those spiritual Blessings made over through Christ to the Soul 3ly And that principally it hath Christ for an object Act. 20.21 Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ He is the foundation for Faith to build upon as 1 Cor. 3.11 Other foundation can no man lay then that is laid which is Jesus Christ The Gospel throughout directs the Eye of Faith unto the Lord Jesus Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of our Faith Joh. 3.16 God so Loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not Perish but have everlasting Life That is no saving Faith which hath not an Eye to the Lord Jesus But having spoken more fully to this before I shall pass it over and come to the third particular by which it may more evidently be discover'd 3ly The nature and propertys of