Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	day_n	lord_n	word_n	2,869	5	3.9037	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64833	Venning's remains, or, Christ's school consisting of four classes of Christians, I. babes, II. little children, III. young men, IV. fathers : with their several characteristical differences and attainments, also the doctrines proper to be taught to each of them : being the substance of many sermons / preached by Ralph Venning and fitted by him for the press before his death.	Venning, Ralph, 1621?-1674.	1675 (1675)	Wing V225; ESTC R27039	205,701	393

long dead in sin he came to himself i. e. was convinced of his wicked living and therewithall of his own lost undone and perishing condition which is the very hinge upon which he turns about to go to his Father The first sense is not of sin as against God though that came in afterward but as against himself whereupon he takes up a resolution to go and complain of sin and withal that he will indent with God to serve him for wages as an hired servant but assoon as the Father had kissed him and assured him of his Love though he go●s on to confess his sin yet not a word more of being an hired Servant So these poor Babes they come to God with a composition and indent like hirelings they are afraid of being damned and rather than so they will serve God with Prayers and Tears day and night but after God hath kist them with the kisses of his mouth they abide in the house as Sons that serve him and not as Servants The grown Saints then we see do much in a little when Babes at and while such do but a little though they keep much ado in all they do Love and Faith do more in a day than Fear will be able to do in many daies or years But 3. To come to the highest step and degree of Repentance 't is not only for but from dead works there is a reformation and fruits worthy of proper and suitable to this their Repentance Men that repent do not only say What have I done and mourn for that but what Lord what wilt thou have me to do and so fall into a way of obedience When John the Baptist called for fruits worthy of Repentance 't is very observable that Luke 3.7 14. the people askt What shall we do Vers 10. and the Publicans What shall we do Vers 12. and the Souldiers What shall we do Vers 14. To all whom he gives directions to leave their former particular sins and to lead new lives directly contrary to their former lives which is the proper fruit of Penitents When they were prickt at heart Acts 2.37 they cryed out What shall we do And the Jaylor Acts 16. Sirs what must I do And Paul himself Acts 9. Lord what wilt thou have me to do True Penttents are not only for humiliation but reformation they repent not only for but from dead works yea the Babes do so How or in what sense Thus Dead works are properly such sins as they lived in before conviction and conversion such as are the course of the world and of men acted by the Devil as is clear by Eph. 2.1 2 3. There are other sins which are deadly workings for to be carnally minded is death Rom. 8.6 which yet cannot in a strict sense be called dead works which are the sins of men dead in trespasses and sins So that though grown Saints do mortifie not only the flesh but the lusts and affections too yet Babes scarce go further than leaving the works of the flesh the sins in which they lived before conversion thus did the Prodigal he spent no more of his time and substance upon Harlots and riotous living Zacbeus begins with mercy and restitution as to any wrongs he had done to any Luke 19.8 So Paul to Preach the Christ and the way which he had persecuted Acts 9. The Jaylor from making wounds turns Chirurgion and binds up the wounds which he had made Acts 16. Throughout the Scripture you will find that babes became clean contrary to themselves you shall not find them retaining the sins which they were first convinced as guilty of and this is their Repentance from dead works And this shall suffice to have been spoken concerning the Explication of the first attainment of Babes or their eating the first portion of Gospel-milk viz. Repentance from dead works The Application follows I. With reference to them that have not Repented and so are not Babes 2. To them who are Babes and have repented from dead works 1. WIth reference to them who have not repented and are not yet Babes not new-born Alas there are but too many who live under the Preaching and Profession of the Gospel are called Christians who have not received into themselves this first spoonful of Milk nor learnt the first principle of Repentance from dead works Though men take up the common Principles which I named above but newly yet they have eyes and see not ears and hear not so as to understand with their heart to be converted and healed Their hearing and seeing doth not affect their hearts they are still without a sense and feeling of sin How many that know Drunkenness Uncleanness c. to be sins and that they live in such sins yet are not prickt at heart they never yet so saw sin as to feel it nor so selt it as to confess and be sorry for it or never so complained or sorrowed as to repent from dead works to cry out What have I done Or Lord what wilt thou have me to do they have done more than enough to undo themselves have been told the way of recovering and saving themselves and yet these things are but to them as idle tales and we are to them as Let to his Sons in Law like them that mo●k that flatter them with promises or scare them with threatnings as if we were not in good earnest But that they may yet at last be awakened and if peradventure God may give them Repentance I shall intreat them to consider these things 1. Consider this that all the common principles which thou hast received from the light of Nature Law or Gospel will not be sufficient to justifie but they will to condemn thee as Rem 1.18 21 c. and chap. 2.14 27. Our Lord Jesus Christ will one day sit in Judgement upon men and he will then convince and condemn them from their own Principles Mens Consciences will be one of the Books that shall then be opened and they will be self-condemned As for example suppose Christ Jesus to ask these Questions Did not you believe and know that there was a God Yes Lord we did Why then did you not serve him Did not you believe that his Word declared his Will Yes Lord saith Conscience Why then did ye not obey his Word c. Men will be speechless and silent having nothing to say for themselves as he that came without a wedding garment If thy Principles do not convince thee now they will condemn thee hereafter and thou wilt cry out when 't is too late my perdition is of my self even I being Judge I have rewarded evil to mine own soul 2. Confider how many times God hath been knocking at thy door and how long waiting to be gracious unto thee How many times hast thou been smitten at a Sermon and trembled like Felix how often thou hast been almost perswaded as Agrippa to be a Christian how many times thou hast purposed and

of which before there is a further influence from this victory which almost doubles their joy love and obedience it being another witness as it were or a confirmation of the former an assured assurance 1. It fills them with joy and rejoycing in the Lord that of him they make their boast and to him they give the glory all the day long They rejoyce not only as the Disciples did that the Devils are subject to them but that their names are written in the Book of Life Luke 10.17 They triumph in the praises of God and say Thanks be to God who hath given us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ When they erect an Altar the name and Motto is Jehova nissi the Lord my Banner and the Lord my strength 't was he that taught me to fight and gave me the victory Not to us not to us but to thy name be all the glory They set up their Eben-Ezer saying Hitherto the Lord hath helped us They rejoyce in the Salvation of God and in the name of their God they set up their Banners They glory not in riches nor strength but in the Lord. In fine I may tell you that they sing the 18. Psalm 2. The Lord having given them rest and settlement which is the consequent and effect of victory they do not only rejoyce and sing songs but they study what to return to the Lord for all his benefits they dedicate all the spoiles to God they study as David did to build an house for God and lay up all they can as a preparation for it they have friendship with Hieram the high Life if I may allude or allegorize that he may assist in this great work and they may live above where the way of life is to them that are wise that their affections and conversation also may be in Heaven They Court not the Dalilahs of this worlds pleasure as too many Samson-like conquerors do nor turn Laplins to lust after their great successes but study to walk with God and to please him yea therein to abound more and more till they walk worthy of him to all well-pleasing They put not God off with words and a Song and then forget his works but they give and live thanks to God the fruit of their lips and of their lives 3. They are exceeding humble and lowly towards their weak Brethren they dare not Lord it over the Lords inheritance their Brethren though but Babes but they give them their helping hand and communicate their experience to them for their relief and assistance as Paul did 2 Cor. 1.4 6. If any be overtaken they indeavour to restore him with a Spirit of meekness for these Souldiers are not proud like others and lifted up but being spiritual they know tenderness and are acquainted with the heart of tempted ones having been tempted themselves and so are conformable to their great High-Priest and Captain-General of their faith and victory which to brave Souldiers is alwaies an obligation to meekness and moderation not a spur to ambition nor a stirrup to pride Yea though some Babes are apt to envy their attainment and glory yet they pity them and bear as well as bear with their infirmities 4. They keep Centinel and strict watch standing and walking in their Armor that of God alwaies they turn not their Swords into Plow-Shears nor their Spears into pruning hooks as if all were over but they watch because of their adversary the Devil and keep strong guards not knowing but that the Devil may fall on again they are not secure nor do they lay by their weapons as if they should know war no more 5. From the experiences they have had they take courage and good heart of grace to trust in God for the future not in their Sword or in their Bow though it like Josephs abide in strength Though some Young men faint and Youths fail by reason of presumption yet these wait on the Lord and renew their strength they mount up with wings as Egles they run and are not weary they walk and faint not Isa 40.30 31. They look on past deliverances as earnest of and security for future deliverances as Paul did 2 Cor. 1.10.2 Tim. 4.17 18. 6. They intangle not themselves with the affairs of this life that they may please him who hath chosen them to be Souldiers 2 Tim. 2.4 They live above the lusts of the eye the lusts of the flesh and pride of life the love of these things being inconsistent with the love of God they make Moses his choice being come to Age as he was Heb. 11.24 27. They as 't is said of Themistocles will not stoop to take up much less to take up with these things which are below this earth is for their feet to tread on and not to set their hearts on no no this is the victory whereby they overcome the world even their Faith which looks to higher and better things than this world hath any 1 Job 5.4 5. These charming and bewitching things have no power over them but they go on from strength to strength till they appear before God in Sion and say with David Whom have I in Heaven but thee there is none on earth that I can desire in comparison of thee Psal 73.25 I have thus briefly gone over the things intended and promised as to this Classis of Saints the Young men in relation to which as to the former also I have endeavoured to set out their conditions not by guess and conjecture but as they are represented in the Scripture and have chosen to wave speaking to other things as intermissions desertions c. which our text did not at all lead us nor hint us to take notice of I shall shut up all with the Application proper to this Subject which speaks first to the little Children to prepare for this War and to the Young men to make good what is said of them viz. that they are strong c. CHAP. XII The Application 1. AS for you little Children who have lived hitherto in the Fathers house and lain in his bosome injoying his love without doubts or disputes let me bespeak you to look for and to prepare for temptations Satan makes challenges and desires to winnow and sift you as he did Job and Peter c. Luke 22.31 Therefore watch and pray lest ye enter into temptation and beg of God either not to lead you into temptation or if he will and do as the Spirit did Christ Jesus that he will not suffer you to be tempted above your strength but that he will deliver you from the evil or the evil one Tell your Father that you have heard what a potent and subtle adversary the Devil is and that he throws fiery darts to inflame the hearts of Gods Children against their Father and tempts them to worship Devils which are such horrid things as you would not willingly be acquainted with but if as he hath glorified his name so

believing as they call it than which I think there is scarce a greater mistake that is in this sense when they read or hear a promise as that God will be a Father that all things shall work together for good c. they think there is to more required but to believe that God will make this good and do as he hath promised there is no question but he will for he is faithful that hath promised and cannot lye but beloved let me tell you lest you deceive your selves that 't is not so much Faith as obedience and practice which is necessary to the enjoyment of these promises if you practise the duty to which the promise is made God will make it good whether you believe it or no 2 Tim. 2.11 13. but if you believe it a thousand times over and do not do the duty God is under no obligation to make good the promise If you love not God how can you expect that all things should work together for good to you when the promise is made to none but lovers of God so if you separate not from uncleanness how can you expect God will be a Father to you when 't is promised only to them that separate c. Take heed then of an idle and dead Faith 't is true Faith is a duty but not Faith alone Faith that 's idle and dead what ever promises are made to Faith shall be made good to Faith and what ever promises are made to Love to Humility to Patience shall be made good when these graces are acted Saith the Apostle Heb. 10.23 24. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our bodies washed with clean water Let us hold fast this profession of our Faith without wavering for he is faithful that hath promised by which we see that there can be no Plerophorie or full assurance of Faith without the other qualifications therewith mentioned viz. a true heart c. by which we can expect the performance of promises This I thought good to hint that none might think Faith enough in relation to the promises without obeying in that very particular to which the promise is made But to proceed 7. Would you attain to perfection be patient then Babes are apt to be impatient and peevish for which they have been already noted but impatiency hinders growth as ever therefore you would be perfect let patience have its perfect work then shall ye be persect intire and lack nothing viz. of perfection Jam. 1.4 Patience is a compleating and perfecting grace as God speaks to Abraham Gen. 17.1 Walk before me and be th●● perfect that is not only sincere as 't is in the Margent but patient wait yet a while longer till I give thee seed by Sarah perfect thy hitherto waiting by waiting to the end So the good-ground-hearers bringing forth fruit with patience is opposed to the Thorny-ground-hearers not bringing forth fruit to perfection Luke 18.14 15. so that patience doth not a little contribute to the bringing forth perfect fruit and to our growing up to a perfect stature For 1. It establisheth the heart makes it stedfast and immoveable which helps to abounding and growth as appears by the places where they are joyned together 1 Cor. 15.58 2 Pet. 3.17 18. While persons hang loose and are tossed to and fro as Babes are apt to be Eph. 4.14 they are not in a growing conditior but patience doth settle fix and establish the soul as the Apostle tells us Jam. 5.8 Be patient stablish your hearts i.e. stablish them by patience For as 't is hinted in a parallel place Luke 21.19 In patience we possess our souls when as an impatient man is wavering and unstable is uncertain inconstant and double-minded ever doubtful and in suspense and therefore receives little if any thing from the Lord Jam. 1.6 8. 2. Patience helps the soul to wait notwithstanding disappointments and sufferings disappointments c. are discouraging things they dishearten weaken and make us faint and so put us under an incapacity of thriving but patience steels and strengthens our hearts when hope deferred makes us sick patience gives supports and cordials inabling to wait till the hoped and long'd for desire be granted which is as a Tree of Life This may be seen in such places as these Rom. 8.23 25 Heb. 10.35.36 and 12.1 Both these waies to name no more doth patience help us onward 8. As ever you would grow and proceed to perfection watch over your hearts and lives and keep your accounts well observing how you gain or lose day by day narrowly view your daily experiences considering what 's attained and what 's lacking that you may forget what 's behind so as to rest in it and press forward to what is yet before as the Apostle did Phil. 3.13 They are not like to thrive that keep not their Books and Accounts well but let all go at fix and seven and run at random As ever you would grow keep your diurnal monthly and annual annotations for else how can you discern the difference between what you were are and ought to be 9. And lastly make Conscience of Prayer your own and others Praying Saints and Saints Prayed for are most like to prosper The great Apostle not only prayed himself but often beg'd the Prayers of others his inferiours also for himself much more should you who being but sickly Saints cannot pray as much and well as you ought for your selves and therefore should call in the help of Elders and the Church to pray for you Read over the Prayers which the Apostle made for Babes and make them for your selves I will instance only in one and with that conclude this whole Discourse 't is that in Heb. 13.20 21. Now the God of Peace who brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus the great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good work to do his Will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through J●sus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen The SECOND CLASSIS IN THE School of CHRIST Viz. Little CHILDREN From 1 John 2.13 I write unto you little Children because ye have known the Father HAving formerly spoken to the first and lowest Classis or Form of Saints viz. Babes in Christ from several other Texts I now proceed to treat of the second Classis or degree or rank of Christians who are called Little Children which Title is not used here as sometime 't is elsewhere for a name common to all the Saints for in that sense a Babe is a Child and a Father is but a Child but here it notes a peculiar state characterized and discovered by a peculiar attainment as was cleared in the former Treatise where I gave a general account of this Text and to which I must refer the Reader as for many other