Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	add_v	word_n	write_v	5,624	5	6.1842	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64336	The saints duty in contending for the faith delivered to them a sermon preached at Pauls church before the right honourable the Lord major, and aldermen of the city of London, July 17, 1659 / by John Templer ...	Templer, John, d. 1693.	1659 (1659)	Wing T666; ESTC R12673	26,766	48

of later date yet the thing was as early as this Epistle They pretended to a more refined and sublimated knowledge then others were arrived at Irenaeus lib. 1. cap. 1. which the Apostle tels them Puffeth up 1 Cor. 8.1 They stiled themselves spiritual and all others carnal and therefore in the 19th verse of this Epistle it is charged upon them notwithstanding this pretence that they themselves and not those whom they would brand with that mark were carnal not having the Spirit Their false claims to the divine Spirit gave occasion for those words That ye be not shaken in mind neither by spirit c. 2 Thes 2.2 Irenaeus tells us Lib. 1. advers H. they drew their Rise from Simon Magus who was contemporary with the Apostles Oecumenius upon the place that the persons against whom the Christians were animated here to defend the Faith were the followers of Simon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These men crept into the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse 4. by pretending to unusual severities they did by degrees insinuate themselves They made many meek condescentions to those whom they desired might become their Proselytes we find them there in a very lowly posture creeping upon their knees The minds of the vulgar sort were so low that they could not get into them without stooping Yet in the mean time their tongues were imploy'd in inveighing against the sacred Appointments of God in speaking evil of Dignities despising Dominion verse 4. He that considers the present danger the Doctrine of Faith is exposed unto by persons not much of a different stamp will conclude for the seasonableness of this Advice Earnestly contend for the Faith once delivered unto the Saints In these words three parts expose themselves to our view 1. An Act contend 2. The Object of this Act the Faith once delivered to the Saints 3. The manner how thir Contention is to be managed earnestly after the manner of the Agonists 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I shall treat of these in their order 1. Here is the Act contend It speaks the using your most serious endeavours to maintain the Doctrine of Christ the opposing of every thing which may conduce to its prejudice the expence of your parts your Authority your Estates your Lives if God requires to maintain faith in its primitive purity it calls to every one to come into the help of the Lord against the mighty those mighty and strong delusions which prevail with many to the eclipsing of the glorious Gospel during this present state the Faith of Christ hath so many enemies to contest with so many prejudiced minds rebellious hearts seared Consciences that if there be any bowels or love in us we can do no less then side with him in this holy Conflict 2. Here is the Object we are to contend for Faith once delivered to the Saints It is Faith not the Faith whereby we believe though that merits our most vigorous contending but the Faith which is believed by us The Doctrine of the Gospel 1 Tim. 4.1 This Faith either pertains to the Foundation of Religion or else to the Superstruction this Distinction the Apostle makes 1 Cor. 3.10 11. If we would know what Faith belongs to the Foundation the best way is to examine its Connexion with that which is of undoubted necessity to salvation The Scripture mentions two heads Saving Faith and Holiness Heb. 11.6.12.14 without the first none can please God without the second none shall see him whatsoever hath an essential Connexion with these two is to be owned as a fundamental Truth and whatsoever is repugnant rejected as a fundamental Errour By the light of this Rule a great part of Socinu's his Divinity will appear to be a fundamental mistake for how can a man believe and devolve himself upon God in the way of his providence who is possessed with an apprehension of his not knowing future Contingents How can a man believe and relie upon Christ who conceives him to be but a mear man when the Scripture pronounces him cursed that relies upon man Jer. 17.5 As these Apprehensions are repugnant to saving Faith so they will appear to be as contrary unto Holiness The first prevents the Resignation of our Wills to the divine pleasure the principal part of a holy life The second destroyes the first branch of the Mysterie of Godliness God manifested in the flesh As for what belongs to the Superstruction the Apostle hath ranked it under these heads Gold Silver Pretious stones Gold that is next to the Foundation and therefore of the greatest value then Silver then pretious Stones Every stone in the Building is pretious though every Truth be not of equal importance in reference to salvation yet every one hath his just price and value It is a Faith once delivered once for all Indeed it was gradually discovered to the world first in the Promise to Adam then the Sun of Righteousness began to appear above the Horizon Then to Abraham He was injoyned to offer up his Son to signifie that the promised seed should break the Serpents head by being made an offering for sin in the very Act he was prohibited to denote the time was not yet come for the manifestation of that seed A Ram a principal Sacrifice amongst the appointments of the Law was substituted to express Gods acceptance of that service in the mean time The waters of life like Ezekiels waters did arise by degrees Eze. 47. v. 3 4 5. in Adams time they were to the Ancles in Abrahams to the knees in Moses and the Prophets to the loines in the times of the Messias they became a great River in time past God spake at sundry times and in divers manners but now he has spoken by his Son most fully once for all in the New Testament This is his last Will and Testament which Christ as his only Son and Heir hath opened and disclosed he hath spoken by his Son whom he hath appointed Heir Heb. 1.2 This Testament being the last will admit of no alteration and therefore at the End of the book which concludes it there is a curse pronounced against him who shall make any such Attempt I testifie to every man that heareth the words of this Book if any man shall add to these things God shall add to him the Plagues which are written in this Book and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this Prophecy God shall take away his part out of the book of life Rev. 22.18 By the Book of this Prophecy is not only meant the Revelation but the whole Scripture which is sometimes called the Prophets Act. 24.44 45. sometimes the Scriptures of the Prophets Rom. 16.18 and here the Book of Prophecy because the greatest part of those who were imploy'd to pen it Omnes Canonici Thri veteris Testamenti scripti sunt a Propheris Vid. Whitakcri contrav 1. Q est cap. 5. had a prophetick

indifferent what outward worship they had so the purity of the heart was preserved Grotius such were those among the Corinthians who made no scruple to sit down in the Idol-Temples This is believed to be the reason of Johns Admonition Little Children keep your selves from Idols The Tempter knows if all external worship the solemn appointments of God in which he hath obliged himself to make conveyance of his Truth be taken away or made indifferent he can with the greater facility impregnate the mind with apprehensions repugnant to the faith of Christ Lest these designs prove abortive he attemps the corrupting of the Christian Faith by a prophane mixture of Paganism Simon Magus and his Adherents were his principal Instruments in this design This seems to be the reason of the Apostles caveat Col. 2.8 Beware lest any spoil you through Philosophy Philosophy here signifies the Doctrine of the Pagan Religion which some endeavoured to incorporate into the Christian Faith Such mixtures have always been attempted by Satan if he cannot pul down the Ordinances he will indeavour to imploy such in the dispensing of them as shall intermingle their own erroneous Conceits if he cannot remove the golden Candlesticks he will infuse what dross he may into them He indeavours to make such a potion as the Jews once offered to Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Gentiles wine mixt with the Christians Myrrhe which hath a Narcotick vertue and in time will extinguish all the sense of Religion If we had no other Argument but this the frequent attempts of Satan to destroy the Christian Faith it would give in a sufficiency of Light to evidence the value of it What Tertullian says in his Apology of Nero Qui scit illum intelligere potest non nisi grande aliquod bonum a Nerene damnatum may be well applyed to the Devil he that knows his nature may understand that it is a very great good which is persecuted and condemned by him 3. From the Resolution of the Saints to defend it All the Devices which the Understanding could frame were used to compell them to renounce their Faith The Heathens set their own wits upon the wrack to invent tortures for them Filesaci select tom 1. p. 44. Prudentius in hymno Cyptiani witness the Candida Massa at Carthage a deep pit filled with lime into which great numbers were cast head-long Vlpian wrote seven Books to shew the several punishments which ought to be inslicted upon Christians They were condemned to the fire to the Cross to the Mines incredible numbers suffered every day Jerome writes that there is not a day in the year to which the number of 5000. cannot be ascribed What effect did all this produce not any affrightment to the survivers The cuting off of these branches made the Vineyard to grow the faster They like the plant upon Olympus did flourish in the midst of burning Flames They were daily increased the love of their Saviour made them to forget their own safety This firmness and constancy to the Faith which by the Apostle is stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Pet. 3.17 a stedfastness peculiar to a Christian was so well known to the Heathens that with Galen it was grown a Proverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he would express an impossible thing A man may as soon unteach Christians what they have learnt of Christ Austin relates when the Oracle was consulted by one how he might convert his wife from the Christian faith that the answer was he might as soon engrave letters on a swift stream or fly in the ayr as bring his desires to pass This resolution of their's is a fit pattern for our imitation Before I proceed I must remove a scruple Quest Must we contend for every branch and parcle of faith as for foundation truths they are worthy of Zeale but as for others which are not of indispensable necessity to eternal life we are apt to pronounce the expence of our thoughts and indeavors about them vain and superfluous Answ Amongst those truths which belong to the superstruction some are neerer the foundation some are more remote every truth calls for a measure of vigour and zeale sutable to its situation and nature and every errour a proportionable opposition For 1. The least slip in any article of faith portends danger to the whole if a man be at the top of a house where he is most remote from the foundation in case his foot slip 't is very doubtful whether he will stop till he comes to the bottom If a man lets his hold go in any part of the doctrine of Christ 't is very uncertain where he will stay a little errour imbases the mind Effecit poto Mithridates saepe veneno Toxica ne possent sava nocere sibi and by a hurtfull influence prepares it for the reception of a greater The King of Pontus by taking at first weaker poysons wrought himselfe by degrees into such a constitution that he could concoct the strongest 2. Though the being of a Christian depends upon his holding the foundation yet the well being and comfort of his life lies in the superstruction Though a house may have a sure foundation yet if there be an errour in the superstruction if it be not contrived into convenient roomes fit for habitation the Inhabitant will be deprived of the comfort of his life 3. It is an argument of a selfish spirit to contend only for such truth as is of absolute necessity to its own salvation T is a sign it is moved by a private interest of its own and not by the publick interest of heaven Was there no reward at all yet the owning of truth none of the least stars in the bright constellation of divine perfections in every tittle and apex would be a piece of that homage we owe to God These arguments speak our duty to contend for every branch of Faith whether it belong to the foundation or that which is built upon it Although I would not contend so much for the slate of a house as for the foundation stone yet both are worthy the contending for if the foundation be taken away the house must presently fall but if the slate which use to defend it against the importunity of the weather it may in time fall and the foundation it self perish Having thus opened the duty and the reasons of it I shall in the next place before I proceed to the Third particular look back a little and make some inference from what has been spoken 1. Observe it is Faith we are to contend for a matter of pure revelation the eternal wisdom of God disclosed a Doctrine given from heaven The heathen could tell us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 More then a superficiall regard is to be had to the Illustrious gifts of the gods The faith of Christ is one of the Choicest gifts of heaven life and immortality are brought to light by it the way