Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	john_n	see_v	write_v	2,594	5	5.3629	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60368	Christian instruction directing to a more perfect and saving knowledge of God, in the foundation-principles of true religion. By way of question and answer. Meet to be seriously considered by all true Christians, for their help and furtherance in the great concerns of eternal life. By W.S.	Saller, William, d. ca. 1680.	1670 (1670)	Wing S398C; ESTC R218598	19,270	28

Christian Instruction DIRECTING TO A more perfect and saving KNOWLEDGE of GOD in the Foundation Principles of True RELIGION By way of Question and Answer Meet to be seriously considered by all true Christians for their help and furtherance in the great Concerns of Eternal Life By W. S. And this is Life Eternal that they might know Thee the only True GOD and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17.3 LONDON Printed for Francis Smith at the Elephant and Castle without Temple-Bar TO THE READER Courteous Reader I Desire thee to take knowledge that this little following Treatise is not intended only nor chiefly for young Christians but especially for such growing Plants as it s to be hoped may be helped thereby to become so much the sooner ripe and ready for service to the Church of God The Texts I point to for proof of these Doctrines I neither repeat nor argue partly because I would not make my Book great that the price might be small and partly because I would have thee to exercise thy study but if thou meetest with any knot in the reading of my Book too hard for thee to unty if thou please to use my help I doubt not through the grace of God but I shall be able to help thee therein And for any Brethren that shall read my Book and upon the best consideration of it shall in any material point or points be found contrary to me in Judgment I should rejoyce to see such a frame of Spirit in them as to write me the reasons of their dissent I should comfortably hope this course in some short time would through the blessing of God graciously tend to bring us to Unity in the Truth Thus desiring thee to read seriously the ensuing Discourse I heartily bid thee farewel and rest Thine in any service for Christ W. SELLERS Christian Instruction Directing to a more perfect and saving Knowledge of GOD in the Foundation-Principles of true Religion Question WHat are we to judge of God is there one or more Answ There is but one God the Father of whom are all things Deut. 4.35 6.4 Qu. How must we understand and judge of him Ans He is not only the Author of all Beings but also the Fountain of all Good 2 Cor. 1.3 Ephes 4.6 Jam. 1.17 And all his Wayes which contain both his Decrees or Purposes and his Works are all like himself very good Gen. 1.31 Jam. 1.13 17. Psal 33.4 5. Q. But how can it be clearly proved that there is a God beyond doubt A. The Works of God make it evident Rom. 1.19 20. Psal 19.1 See more of this in my Book called A Preservative from Atheism and Error Q. But if God did make all things very good how came Mankind so very bad A. By breaking the Law and Covenant of God Q. Is the Law and Covenant all one A. There is no difference but only this the conditions of cursing the breaker of the Law and blessing the doer of it exprest Gal. 3.10 12. annexed or added to the Law maketh it a Covenant Q. What Law do you mean A. The ten Commandments exprest Exod. 20. Q. How doth it appear that this Law was given from the beginning and that Man transgrest it A. In that it is called the old and first Covenant Heb. 8.7 c. as also from Rom. 3.19 20. in that it stops every mouth and lays all the World under guilt and brings them to the knowledge of sin See more of this in the fore-mentioned Book Q. What is the punishment due for the breach of this Covenant A. The Curse of God Gal. 3.10 Deut. 27.26 Q. Did the Curse fall upon Mankind immediatly upon the first sin A. Yea in part it did Gen. 3.17 18 19. Rom. 5.12 c. yet not in full measure to the utter ruin of the World as in God's just severity it might have done Q. How came the World to have any mercy and patience extended to it A. The Lord did graciously pre-ordain a Mediator to stand between Himself and Man who did undertake to die for Man and so stay the Curse from falling upon him to his immediate and utter ruin 1 Tim. 2.5 Rev. 13.8 Psal 75.3 Q. Do you judge Adams eating the forbidden fruit was a sin against the ten Commandments seeing it is judged by some that they were not given till they were made known at Sinai A. It is evident he sinned against that Law breaking the first fifth sixth eighth ninth tenth in the very letter of them And that his sin was against this Covenant is further manifest thus Till the first Covenant was faulty there should no place have been sought for the second Heb. 8.7 For the Law is not faulty in it self Rom. 7.12 13. but its only fault was it would not save nor any way help us when once it was broken Rom. 7.10 8.3 4. Now the breach of this Law leaving us helpless for it could give no life when once life was forfeited Gal. 3.21 therefore all life and mercy since the Fall must come by Christ upon a New-Covenant-account no other way being left now to attain it But further this is clear from this consideration That by the deeds of the Law can no flesh be justified Rom. 3.20 28. and yet Justification Abel obtained upon a New-Covenant-account at that day for he was justified by Faith Heb. 11.4 and Faith hath no relation to the Law Gal. 3.10 11 12. but they that are made just by Faith it is by Grace through Redemption-mercy Rom. 3.21 quite through to the end of the 5th chapter all Grace Light and Mercy whatsoever flowing now to the World through him ever since the Fall Joh. 14.13 14. 1 Pet. 3.18 19 20. Gen. 6.3 Q. If this Law of the ten Commands were given at the beginning wherefore then was it given at Sinai again A. First That the World might the better discern their sinfulness Rom. 5.20 and 7.7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14. Secondly That the rich grace extended by Jesus Christ might be the better seen and esteemed and thankfully embraced Rom. 5.20 21. 1 Cor. 15.56 57 58. Q. Is then the whole World bound to keep this Law A. Yea as appears Mat. 5.17 18 19 20. Rom. 3.9 to 21. Jam. 2.8 9 10 11 12. Q. Wherefore doth James call this Law the Royal Law A. Because this Law is Kingly or Supream the other Laws of God being inferiour to it in dignity which as hand-maids are given to serve this Law since sin came into the world which but for the sake of had been altogether useless For what place could there be for the Law of Shadows but to represent a Saviour to come to redeem us from the Curse of that Supream Law neither could there be need or use of the Law of Judgments to punish evil doers if the Law of the ten Commandments had not been broken Q. Doth it appear that Man was created very good A. Yea as appears Gen. 1.31 and

2.1 Eccles 7.29 Q. How bad doth Man appear to be now since the Fall A. So exceeding sinful that he of himself if left to himself would do no good 2 Cor. 3.5 Phil. 2.13 John 15.5 nor spare no evil but commit all iniquity with greediness Psal 14.2 3 4. Rom. 3.9 to 20. Sin having its rise or spring in the nature or heart of man Mat. 15.19 Job 14.4 and 15.14 16. Q. If all men be by Nature and of themselves thus vile how comes it to pass that many who are not born again are yet preserved from that high degree of abomination that according to some of those fore-named Texts the heart of man is let out unto A. Men may and are kept from much evil and carried forth to much good by the liberal distribution of common grace and sometimes by restraining grace Q. What call you restraining grace A. That is thus to be understood When God ordereth Providences so that persons are prevented and kept by his over-ruling hand from the evils that other-wayes they would do You have an Instance in the preservation of David from Saul when the Philistines Army took off Saul by a strong hand from pursuing Davids life And many discreet Parents by their good government and watchful eye over Children preserve them from many evils that otherwise they would run into These and other like Providences by which sin is prevented I call restraining grace Q. VVhat call you common grace A. That gracious work of the Spirit by which the generality of men are ordinarily followed and striven with Gen. 6.3 which although it may not prevail with multitudes to convert them yet may it carry them far into a reformation of life and usefulness to others The Scripture is full of Instances Joash Amaziah Vzziah Saul Herod himself with multitudes moe Yea many may go farre not in Profession only but so high in the Practice of Godliness as to Prophesie and cast out Devils in Christs Name who never were thorowly converted yet take themselves for Converts but will at last be disappointed Mat. 7.22 23. Q. VVhat proof is there that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments commonly received to be of Divine Authority are so indeed A. It is certainly a tried word Psal 12.6 and he that will faithfully obey it shall have sufficient proof of it in so doing according to John 7.16 17. See a fuller proof in the forementioned Book Q. Of what use are the holy Scriptures to us A. They are of such excellent use to us in so many respects that it is not easie to name but in general thus They are the only safe Rule of Faith and Life without any Tradition whatsoever giving safe direction and such comfort to the observers of them 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. Mat. 15.9 Deut. 5.32 33. and 12.30 31 32. Q. Seeing man-kind do receive great benefit by the Mediator let us understand something of his worth by the Scriptures A. This Mediator of the New Covenant in the man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 who for the excellency of his person even as he is Man is the only choice piece in all the workmanship of God and in respect of his Spirit or inward Man the first of all the Creation Heb. 1.3 4. Col. 1.15 16 17. which lived in glory with God the Father before any other of his Works had a being Prov. 8.22 to 30. John 17.5 and was sent from Heaven to take upon him our nature Heb. 2.14 16 17. and in respect of his body flesh or outward-man he was begotten conceived and brought forth between the most high and omnipotent Spirit and a Virgin without all spot or stain of sin Luke 1.35 Isa 7.14 1 Pet. 1.19 Q. Think you he was no more but a creature although the most excellent of the Creation A. I believe if he had been but a meer creature the work he came for would have been too hard for him But he was possessed filled or anointed with the fulness of the Godhead according to the Scriptures Psal 45.7 Col. 2.3 9. 1 Tim. 3.16 See the excellency of his Person set forth and argued more at large in my Book called Means to prevent perishing Q. Wherefore was it necessary for this most excellent Spirit of Christ to receive a truly humane body of flesh A. That he might die according to the Scriptures Isa 53.7 8 9. Dan. 9.26 Q. What did his Death effect for us A. Our Redemption is effected thereby Rev. 5.9 Gal. 3.13 Q. What sort of men are redeemed A. All Mankind without exception of any Q. Are all effectually redeemed Believers and unbelievers alike without any difference A. Yea believing makes not a man to be ever the more redeemed nor unbelief makes him not to be the less redeemed for that is wrought out by Jesus Christ for all it dependeth upon the price of his Blood alone whether men believe or not Q. Had you not need to prove this point clearly seeing many learned men deny it As also because it is the great Wheel upon which all the curious parts and branches of the Gospel turn A. I will therefore lay down these fourteen Reasons to prove it 1. The Scripture in so many plain positive words asserteth it John 3.16 17. 12.47 2 Cor. 5.14 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. Heb. 2.9 1 Joh. 2.2 2. There is not one Text in the whole Scripture that saith he died for no more but Believers or Elect persons Sheep or the like Neither can any Text be pressed to serve in that warfare but what may well be discharged of that Service and yet have a very clear and holy Interpretation allowed it every way according with Godliness 3. The Scriptures sometimes character or describe the Redeemed by such names and titles as do not at all agree to Chosen-ones or Saints distinct from the ungodly world but they bear these names Sinners Ungodly Enemies Unjust Rom. 5.6 8 10. 1 Pet. 3.18 and in those Texts mentioned in my first Reason they are called all men and every man and the world and the whole world Now these can be no meet titles for or descriptions of Redeemed-ones if the Elect distinct from the Reprobates were redeemed only 4. The work of the Ministry is the unworthiest service that any man can undertake if all men be not redeemed for whoever will preach the Gospel must offer Salvation to Sinners in Christs Name and upon the account of his Death call them to Repentance and press them to believing and an holy Conversation exhorting them and if cause be reproving them with all Authority Tit. 2. the whole Chapter But this can no man do to the satisfaction of his own conscience that doth not believe that they are redeemed that he thus exhorteth and reproveth for if his heart secretly tell him These Sinners how obstinate soever they seem to be can no way help it nor possibly be better if they be not redeemed as for ought I know they be not and if