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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	call_v	holy_a	write_v	2,920	5	5.5632	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33925	The body of divinity, or, A confession of faith being the substance of Christianity, containing the most material things relating to matters both of faith and practice : published for the benefit and profit of all, especially those who love the Lord Jesus ... / by Thomas Collier.	Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691.	1674 (1674)	Wing C5268; ESTC R23929	303,320	630

THE BODY of DIVINITY Or a Confession of FAITH Being the substance of CHRISTIANITY Containing the most Material things relating to Matters both of FAITH and PRACTISE Published for the Benefit and Profit of all especially of those who love the Lord Jesus in Sincerity and desire the knowledge of the Holy and the way of the New-Covenant that leads to Glory Very briefly contracted according to Scripture light and plainly handled in 31. Chapters By THOMAS COLLIER John 5. 39. Search the Scripture for in them ye think to have eternal life and they are they which testifie of me Isa 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Rule it is because there is no light in them 2 Cor. 4. 13. But having the same Spirit of Faith according as it is written I believe therefore have I spoken we also believe therefore speak LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch in Exchange Ally over against the Royal-Exchange in Corn-hill 1674. THE PREFACE OR EPISTLE TO THE READER THis Treatise is designed for thy special and spiritual Profit its true that the holy Scripture commonly called the Bible is the Book of all Books and that according to which we all ought to speak write and walk and its true as the Wise man saith of making many Books there is no end especially unless our end therein be the glory of God and the good of Souls its true we know but in part and a very little little part too and therefore can Prophecy but in part Therefore read not any mans Book but with a supposition that there may be a mixture of some Errour with Truth and some mistakes and receive nothing for truth from the word or credit of the Person who ever it be but as it s rightly grounded on the Word of God the Scripture of Truth according to which all ought to speak and the best of men may be in some things mistaken though ordinarily in the substantial things of the New-Birth of Faith and Holiness the Spirits work is the same in all yet by reason of the Babylonish confusion that yet remains the language of the Saints seems to be much divided in consideration whereof I thought nothing more likely to produce unity in spirit then unity in the body and substance of Truth for which cause I have made this Essay in bringing forth this brief plain Treatise about the most substantial matters of Christianity that all who agree in the substance of Truth may unite in Spirit and although we cannot attain such a uniting as is desirable and shall in time be by the Lord accomplished in and amongst his People according to that Prophesie and Promise Zeph. 3. 9. Yet it is my hearts desire that all who truly love the Lord would shew it by their uniting at least in affection for that is Gospel-Grace and Love indeed to love for God and Christs sake though of differing apprehensions about some of the weighty things in the New-Covenant for every Truth of Christ is of weight and worth and is or ought so to be esteemed by all that love him Psal 119. 127 128. and the right understanding of the mind of God in the Scripture is the only wright way of uniting I am far from the mind of those who pretend and endeavour the uniting of all into uniformity in Faith and Worship by Coersive Power and human force a unity more suiting Brutes then Christians and a way to build up Satans Kingdom under pretence of the Kingdom of Christ but that I earnestly long after and pray for is the uniting of all true Christians in the spirit and faith of the Gospel who are the Church and Kingdom of Christ his Body Mistical and if through darkness we cannot attain the uniformity of Christian Faith and worship in every part but the language of Christians be yet divided yet let every one endeavour the attainment of a spirit of Love and forbearance each to other not Judging Sensuring and Reviling which shews the spirit of the World and not of Christ. And these ensuing Chapters are most especially and principally directed to such who alone are capacitated to Understand Believe and Practise the things in them contained they are not the Notions of sudden Conception but the fruit and birth of many years Travel and Meditation and I hope it may through the Blessing of God at some time or other to some persons or other add something or other to the Understanding Faith Hope and Joy of their Souls and be some help of direction to a right walk in the way of Life I shall not say any thing as to the matters handled in this Treatise by way of Commendation to induce the Reader to its Perusal if it speak not for it self in the use thereof the Reader is at liberty to lay it aside only let him beware that he slight it not because it is not suited to his mind if it be according to the Divine revelation of the Word and Will of Christ it s the great concernment of all that will approve themselves gratious before the Lord to bring their minds to the Scripture and not the Scripture to their minds it is to be feared that great hath been the miscarriage of Christians in this very thing at this day open-heartedness to God-ward and a sincere will to know that we may do the will of the Lord is the ready way to know more of his will and then shall we not be ashamed when we have a respect to all his Commandments ignorance of any part of the Revealed Will of God is a sin a sinful defect in gratious persons but to be willingly ignorant or willfully disobedient to any part of the Revealed will of God is a sin of the highest nature and must be punished with many stripes Luk. 12. 47 48. willfully to add to or diminish from the Word of God is a sin and the judgment of such is declared in the Word Deut. 4. 2. Prov. 30. 6. Rev. 22. 18 19. In a word I do believe that sincere desires accompanied with the like endeavours after the knowledge of the will of Christ and a faithful living up to what we know resolving our wisdom and wills in every thing into the wisdom and will of Christ would be wonderfully blest of the Lord for spiritual grouth and uniting of the Saints both in faith and worship I have herein declared my Faith in which I live and believe that by the grace of God I shall die and yet live Eternally This have I declared as the discovery of my heart in the matters of my God when I am gone hence and shall be hear no more seen And what ever may be found in any other of my Writing that may seem contrary to any thing in this or is contrary in very de●d either understand it by this or else let it fall to the ground for days of Temptation oft-times brings forth effects which occasions after Repentance To

me O God and know my heart try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wickedness in me and lead me in the way everlasting O this is a sincere honest heart indeed that would have all darkness discovered and brought to his knowledge and to that end desires the Lord to search and bring to light any hidden way of iniquity and darkness But the Hypocrite dwells in the dark and is afraid of the light he covers himself with darkness he thinks men see it not nor would he have God to see it he dares not make a search himself into his heart and ways much less would he have God to do it lest his deeds should be reproved 2. This honest sincere heart is a universal 2. It is a universal heart heart for God it hates abhors and forsakes all sin he would not have one sin left as he desireth to have all sin pardoned so he would have all sin mortified he loatheth every evil way Psal 119 128. is willing to imbrace every truth of the Gospel for truths sake to have a respect to all Gods Commandments Psal 119. 6. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have a respect to all thy Commandement the sincere soul according to his light do not half it with God or with men but as Joshua and Caleb Num. 14. 24. and 32. 12. Being men of another spirit they follow God fully and what they know not they beg light from him as the Prophet Psal 119. 33 34. Teach me O Lord the way of thy Statutes and I shall keep it unto the end give me understanding and I shall keep thy Law yea I shall observe it with my whole heart a sincere heart as he is universal in his obedience to God so is he careful of out-running truth moves not sudden but on sound and sollid ground he would not miscarry for a world to take errour for truth Psal 119. 128. I esteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be right and I hate every false way But the Hypocrite at best does but half it with God and with men leave some sins that are most scandalous and less profitable but keep some sins close and fast still as his Dallilah that he will not part withal touch his Darling beloved profitable sin then he startles be it covetousness oppression pride or whatever else that must not be medled with like Herod who heard John the Dipper gladly and reformed some things but when he touched the Darling Lust he must suffer for it so it is likewise with the Hypocrite in matter of service he will do some duties such as like him and may stand with his credit and profit but is not universal do not desire to know that he may do and so indeed is not upright and honest either with God or Men for the Hypocrite can sin out of sight lye and cheat for advantage without any conscience at all 3. The honest plain sincere heart carrieth 3. Designs only the glory of God c. no design along with him in his heart but the Glory of God and his own and others spiritual and eternal good This is the design of the sincere heart in all his undertakings both towards God and Men and this is Gods design in all his undertakings especially on the new Covenant account his own Glory and ehe Salvation of Sinners and this the sincere heart is principled with Psal 119. 55. I have remembred O Lord thy name in the night and have kept thy Law that is a good keeping of the Law of God that flows from the remembrance of his name Mal. 3. 16. There was a book of remembrance written for those that feared God and thought upon his name The sincere soul in all his seekings seeks God and Christ as the chiefest good and seeks the Glory of the Name of God and his own and others Salvation Psal 119. 94. I am thine save me for I have sought thy Precepts So Abraham and the Saints of old sought a Country Heb. 11. 14. They that say such things plainly declare that they seek a Country The Saints may yea they ought to be seeking after the Heavenly Country the Heavenly City and to have respect to the recompence of reward ver 26. to their own salvation and the salvation of others 1 Cor. 10. 33. But the Hypocrites design is to keep up a visible Profession for his own honour and esteem among men designing himself in all making his Profession a Cloak to cover his secret Abominations either covetousness as Judas they make it a Cloak for Covetousness 1 Thes 2. 5. Or for Malitiousness 1 Pet. 2. 16. or at best designs his own honour and esteem with men for they love the praise of men more then the praise of God But sincere souls can acquit themselves of such things and abhors such designs as these but designs to approve themselves to God whatever men think speak or do against them 4. A sincere heart is constant with God 4. Is constant with God he is the same at all times and in all places and in all companies time and place changes him not Ps 119. 20. My soul breaketh for the longing it hath to thy Judgments at all times vers 33. Teach me O Lord the way of thy Statutes and I shall keep it to the end ver 44. So shall I keep thy Law continually for ever and ever But the Hypocrite is much for timeing his service serve God in prosperity but turn away in adversity Mat. 13. 20 21. seem to be good in good company but bad in bad company Religious with the Religious and Prophane with the prophane the Hypocrite will be for God while it may stand with his ho●our and profit but when that failes his Religion is lost like those Mal. 3. 14. that said it is in vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his Ordinances and walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts they are all for worldly profit gain is their best Godliness but Gratious Souls see again in true Godlyness though obtained in worldly loss 5. The design of the sincere heart is to 5. Design to please God please God in every thing that he doth and to approve himself to God he will choose rather to cross the wills of the whole world then the will of God and yet will please men too so far as may be and not displease God sincere Christians in their non-conformity to the world it is not to please their own fancies and humours as some imagine but it is to please God to live to his word and will Gal. 1. 10. Do I now please men or God c. If I please men I should not be the Servant of God 1 Thes 4. 1. That as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and please God c. 1 Joh 2. 22. 2 Cor. 2. 17. That is a Son-like frame indeed that designs to pleas● his