Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	according_a	judge_v	write_v	2,865	5	5.2438	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39932	Aytokatakritos or, the sinner condemned of himself being a plea for God, against all the ungodly, proving them alone guilty of their own destruction; and that they shall be condemned in the great day of account, not for that they lacked, but only because they neglected the means of their salvation. And also, shewing, how fallacious and frivolous a pretence it is in any, to say, they would do better, if they could; when indeed all men could, and might do better, if they would. By one, that wisheth better to all, than most do to themselves.	Ford, Thomas, 1598-1674.	1668 (1668)	Wing F1511B; ESTC R222667	153,768	273

his will and pleasure And that he sent his Son into the World to condemn the World and not that the World through him might be saved Will he say indeed That he set men in such a way as they could not but perish in it and left them wholly depriv'd and destitute of all means and helps to save themselves from wrath to come Consider I say and bethink your selves before-hand Whether the righteous God will take home all this to himself and say It was he alone that hath been the cause of all the ruine and misery that is come upon his Creatures and so quit them from any the least blame of their destruction Yet this is it or very like it that men would fasten upon God if they knew how to do it This is the tendency of all their disputes about Gods Decrees and Dispensations of Grace and Providence It is this and no other even to charge it on God That if he had purposed and provided better for them it had never been so sad with them but they might have been happy and blessed for ever But le● God alone and it will appear one day where the fault lieth He is the Judge of all the Earth and will not he do right Yes he will do right to all and this the Apostle layeth down as a● unmoveable Principle Ro. 3.5 6. God is not unrighteous who taketh vengeance For then ho● shall God judge the World He will then acquit himself and say for ever These are the work of my hands and I made them so as they might have been happy for ever in communion with my self I allowed them means sufficient for that en● but they cast me off and chose somewhat else to 〈◊〉 their only good and though I have besought 〈◊〉 intreated them again and again with all poss●●●● earnestness and admonished them of the danger of their own wayes they would goe on however 〈◊〉 their frowardness and wilfullness in their own devices against my express command to the contrary hath brought them to this which they now see and feel but would never believe till now I have passed the sentence of condemnation upon them an● it cannot be recall'd nor can there be any reprieve or respite But I have not done it without cause and only for that I had a mind to see them lye for ever in torments and misery It was indeed 〈◊〉 will to damn them but I will'd their damnatio● only for their sin and because they would not be re●claimed I delighted not in their damnation 〈◊〉 as to condemn them meerly for my will and pleasure I have only done justice upon incorrigib●● Offendors such as have despised my grace an● mercy and the reward of these wicked ones is according to their works yea as they would have it For I fore-warn'd them of it as often and as earnestly as needed and they would not beware nor could any intreaties prevail to turn them from those ungodly wayes which led them to their destruction as they knew Let men say now as they please This is that which God will say to justifie himself against all the World And O! that men were wise to consider it in time and apply themselves to make their peace with God which I assure them they may do if they be not wanting to themselves And for their encouragement I shall give them the best account I am able how and in what manner God will proceed in the last and general Judgement The way that he will take in that day will be this That every man shall be tried according to a known Law 'T is a gross mistake in men to imagine That God will judge the World according to that which was never made known The question will not be Whether a mans Name were written in the Book of Life but how he hath behaved himself according to the Rule laid down in the Bible That is more particularly and plainly thus Whether when Christ was offered to them they accepted of him and closed with him upon his own terms For as they have answered the dispensations and overtures of his grace so shall their doom be If they counted all but loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of him and valued nothing else in comparison so they might serve and honour him whether by doing or suffering in life or in death Peace and Life and Glory and Immortality will be their portion and the lot of their inheritance for ever The Cause will for certain goe on their side for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it But if they have been contentious and disobedient and would not have the Lord Christ to reign over them but would walk after their ungodly lusts whatever could be said or done to reform them th●re's a declared Law to condemn them God will not needs not look into any other Records about it Obj. If any say That all shall not be judged by the Gospel Sol. I shall not contend but only say That all shall be condemned by a known Law one or other And if it be said further That as many as have sinned without law shall perish without law I answer That the Apostle shews what he means in the 14 th Verse of the same Chapter They that sin and shall be condemned without Law are the Gentiles who had not the Law delivered to them as the Iews had it in writing But yet they had the Law written in their hearts and that will be plain enough because it bare witness and accus'd them while they were in their sins And this we may well inferr from that place That if there be a Law that condemns men now in this World by witnessing against their wickedness much more will there be a Law found for their condemnation in the last day of account Or this That the same Law that condemns them now will certainly condemn them then And let that be observ'd also That as Sin is the transgression of the Law so Condemnation for Sin cannot be otherwise than according to that Law Once it cannot be according to that which never was a Law and that cannot be a Law which was never declar'd to be a Rule of Life and Duty Gods Decrees and Counsels are all righteous but they were never made known to us as a rule of moral actings When God is pleased to declare his counsell by the event we cannot without sin goe against it and it is impossible for us to alter it But still the rule we are to walk by is the will of God reveal'd for that end and purpose that ●e may know what to do in obedience to him who is our Soveraign Lord. And as we do or 〈◊〉 not according to this will of God so we are guilty or innocent before him And good rea●on why it should be so and not otherwise For 1. How can we be obedient to God in any thing but that which we know to be his will Obedience