Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	old_a	prophet_n	testament_n	5,085	5	8.1969	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56307	A serious exhortation to an holy life, or conversation With a clear discovery of the nature of it, what it is. The means of attaining it. The trials of it, how it may be known. The motives, or inducements to it. Or, a profitable companion for conversion. Confirmation. Illumination. Consolation. By Robert Purnell.	Purnell, Robert, d. 1666.	1663 (1663)	Wing P4240; ESTC R222001	22,777	109

A Serious EXHORTATION To an HOLY LIFE OR Conversation With a clear Discovery Of The Nature of it what it is The Means of attaining it The Trials of it how it may be known The Motives or Inducements to it OR A profitable Companion For Conversion Illumination Confirmation Consolation By Robert Purnell LONDON Printed for Edward Thomas at the Adam and Eve in Little Brittain 1663. An Epistle To the READER Reader COnsider there are many wayes to Damnation and but one way to Salvation and that is strait and the gate narrow so that although the runners are many the obtainers are few Now that we may so run that we may obtain is my desire and endeavour in this little Piece for there is a way if we could light on it which I have pointed at how to possesse what we want how to live long in a little time and to have one Foot as it were in Heaven whilst the other is upon the Earth This small piece is the Birth of many Prayers and the sum and substance of many sweet Converses and Meditations and the Judgement of most precious Christians so that this Book is of great Worth though but of small Price The best and chiefest Authors that I have consulted withal in compiling the ensuing Treatise are the Prophets and Apostles mentioned in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament so that here is no loose corns to blow off nor mis-spent words that I know of I did lately meet with a small piece about this bigness having the same Title Page upon the matter with this written by one Mr. Thomas Wadsworth sometimes Preacher at Newington near London in which Piece there are many choice things but I finding it lame or short as to the beginning carrying on and finishing the work of a Holy Conversation and finding the necessity of such a Piece in these loose Times wherein the Lords Day is profan'd his Ordinances slighted or adulterated his People despised c. I have made bold to put Pen to Paper and so to compose the ensuing Work which is neither deficient in necessaries nor abundant in superfluities Thou shalt finde it for Order Methodical for Matter Spiritual for Brevity Compendious for Use Precious c. Consider the Truth is the same in all Ages only it shines more and more clear from Age to Age until that which is perfect is come the Truth held forth is the same though with more of God and less of Man such addition is no innovation but illustration not a new light but new sight A man may not be said to make a new World when he makes a new discovery of the old My Friends labour to keep close to God in this loose Age spend not your precious time in complaining on others as most do but rather endeavour in the use of all means to reform your selves lay the Foundation of Mortification deep reserve no lust from the stroak of Jesus Christ let your Speech be seasoned with Grace take heed of neglecting or slighting any of the Ordinances of God in order hereunto read seriously this small Piece being a serious Exhortation to an Holy Life and Conversation and if thou wilt read so as to profit much by it consider observe these three things 1. Consider that Sanctification or an holy Life is the Eccho of Election and Holiness the Blossom of Happiness and Piety the inlet of Felicity whereas an unholy Life brings external internal and eternal misery upon Persons and Nations 2. Have no hand in any Plot but against Hells Policy have no design but against Sin learn how to act to thy God Fidelity to thy Prince Loyalty to thy self Humility so shalt thou be kept from future Falls and guarded from present Fears for God hath either the Castle of a Providence or the Ark of a Promise or the All-sufficiency of his own Grace for a retirement of his People in the greatest Storms and Tempests 3. Make a most strong Determination from the bottom of thy heart to embrace and observe whatsoever thou shalt finde to be the will of God though all the world should be against thee for it so shall all thy Duties and Services be regulated by Precept and winged by Promises Farewell A Serious EXHORTATION To An Holy Life And CONVERSATION THe Lord of Glory who is the great Master-piece of Speech when he speaks from Heaven he makes use of three several Texts of Scripture in one breath Mat. 17. 5. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear him First This is my beloved Son that Scripture you have in Psal 2. 7. In whom I am wel pleased this we have in Isa 42. 1. Hear him this we have in Deut. 18. 15. This high and mighty one hath gather'd up all practicall Divinity into ten Precepts Exod. 20. and Moses reduceth them to four Heads Deut. 10. 12. And the Prophet Micah to three Micah 6. 8. and our Saviour Christ to two Mark 12. 29 31. and all that we can pray for or against into six heads or petitions Matth. 6. 9. to the 14. verse And the Apostle Paul reduceth all into one Rom. 13. 9. He that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law if there be any other Commandment it is briefly comprehended in this saying Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Now that I may manifest my love to my neighbour I do here present him with this little piece which I have for my own and his sake taken great care and pains in I shall reduce the body of this Book to these two great Doctrines of Grace and Works and so shall begin With the great Doctrine of Gods free Grace and End with the Doctrine of Works which is the ready way to get the apprehension and application of mercy to our selves The Papists say if we are freely justified by Grace we need not to do any good works and if we cannot fall from Grace we need not fear to commit sin but every true Christian will say that Faith and Works must go together in our conversation First To begin with the Doctrine of Grace if we minde and understand the Covenant of Grace justification by Grace the Doctrine of Grace we shall finde that the Apostles all along were very careful to keep this Covenant and Doctrine of Grace distinct from all other things they all along do oppose the Law and Grace Works and Faith our Righteousness and Christs Righteousness teaching us thereby how needful it is that they be kept each in his place asunder and that we do not as most do jumble them both together This Doctrine of Grace hath been and still is a bone of contention Why so because learning cannot reach it natural wisdom is confounded at it evil Angels do not know it most men do turn their backs upon it being bereaved of the knowledge of it or else corrupted from the simplicity of it Let the Reader consider these Scriptures all speaking to the same thing Rom.