Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	open_v	seal_n	seal_v	1,844	5	9.6479	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29912	Twenty five sermons. The second volume by the Right Reverend Father in God, Ralph Brownrig, late Lord Bishop of Exeter ; published by William Martyn, M.A., sometimes preacher at the Rolls.; Sermons. Selections	Brownrig, Ralph, 1592-1659.; Martyn, William.; Faithorne, William, 1616-1691.	1664 (1664)	Wing B5212; ESTC R36389	357,894	454

the summe and upshot of all sacred Truth What 's the use and end of Scripture To make us wise to salvation 2 Tim. iii. To acquaint us with the mysterie of godliness 'T is the grand text of all Sermons 't is the argument and theme of all Theological discourses 't is the marrow and kernel of all discourses 't is the drift and center of all the meditations of Saints and Angels I. For the nature of it 't is Mysterium 'T is the title of the Gospel Mark iv 11. Unto you it is given to know the mysterie of the Kingdome of God that 's the Gospel 1 Cor. ii 7. We speak the wisdom of God in a mysterie a mysterie which was kept secret since the world began Rom. xvi 25. Now to understand the nature of it A mysterie is Sacrum Secretum occultam habens intelligentiam An holy Secret the understanding and knowledge of which is close and conceal'd And then is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the summe of Christianity a mysterie It carries with it these conditions 1. Is it a mysterie then it is in it self full of secrecy and obscurity naturally unknown vayl'd up in great reservedness It is called an hidden mysterie a mysterie hid from ages and generations Col. i. 26. A mysterie 1. Hidden in God Ephes. iii. 9. lock'd up in the closet of his breast in his secret purpose and counsel 2. Hidden in Christ Colos. ii 3. In him are hid all the treasures of wisdome 3. Hidden in the Scripture that 's vayl'd up with many mysteries a book in it self seal'd up with seven seals no man or Angel is able fully to open it Revel iii. 18. 4. Hidden in those types and shadows and ceremonies of the Law 5. Nay even the Gospel though that brings this mysterie to some light yet it is but imperfectly discovered still a great part is hidden there is no clear discovery We know but in part Faith sees not clearly Adhuc manifestat se nobis sicut vult non sicut est Bern. Adhuc Iosephus loquitur per Interpretem He doth not yet fully disclose himself to us In heaven adipe frumenti saginantur nudo satiantur grano We must be content Sacramenti cortice carnis furfure Preachings and Sacraments they are but the husk and the bark the bran and the chaff not the clean Corn winnowed and cleansed Still it is hidden 2. 'T is mysterium therefore the knowledge of it is a matter of Revelation not to be known by the light or benefit of nature but it is of supernatural discovery The eye of nature cannot see it nor the ear of nature hear it nor did it ever enter into the heart of a natural man but God hath reveal'd it to us by his Spirit 1 Cor. ii 9 10. All other knowledge hath some prints and foot-steps in nature but this is a meer novelty to nature Animae creationem intelligunt Daemones Animae redemptionem ignorant Angeli Herein it exceeds the perfection of the Law that 's written in our hearts by nature the light of reason discovers the truth of the Law but the Gospel is not inbred in us it must be reveal'd and discover'd by God himself Non potest doceri nisi à donante nec addisci nisi à suscipiente We cannot see the Sun but by the light of the Sun nor know Christ till himself discover himself S. Paul prayes that they may have the Spirit of Revelation 3. 'T is in it self a mysterie therefore the discovery of it is a matter of dispensation an arbitrary voluntary discovery to whom God pleases and as much as he pleases This Christ acknowledgeth Matth. xi 25 26. Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight This will answer all questions And that of his to Christ Ioh. xiv 22. Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self to us and not to the world For natural knowledge He enlightens every man that comes into the world Ioh. i. 9. But this knowledge he dispenseth at pleasure less to the Iews more to the Christians To the Prophets it was the light of a Candle to the Apostles the light of the Day-Star Hereafter we shall see the Sun in his shining beauty 4. 'T is a mysterie therefore the Revelation of it is a special favour To communicate his secret thoughts the mysteries of his Will 't is a fruit of greatest love You are my friends saith Christ for I tell you all things S. Iohn learnt it in the bosom of Christ and he was the beloved Disciple he lay in the bosom the seat of Affection and of Secrets too One dram of this Knowledge is better then the knowledge of all the secrets of nature Which if it be a Mysterie then 1. Reverenter adeundum we must not approach to the looking into these Mysteries but with much fear and reverence The Heathens exacted all reverence to their false counterfeit mysteries They commanded all prophane men to stand off not to come neer their sacred mysteries Carelesness and profanation 't is the greatest opposite to the mysteries of Religion How hath God exacted holiness and reverence in all that draw neer to be partakers of his sacred mysteries Put off thy shoos it is holy ground When God came down on the Mount they were all to wash and cleanse themselves 't was death to come irreverently Nadab and Abihu were destroyed by fire for an unhallowed approach Levit. x. The Lord will be sanctified in them that come nigh him vers 3. The men of Bethshemesh for an irreverent approach to the Ark the Type of our mysteries were slain even many thousands of them Of the two Superstition less offends God then Profanation 'T was the great Charge God laid upon the Iews and for which he threatned to remove his Worship from them to the Gentiles because they prophaned his Worship polluted the Table of the Lord and made the meat of it contemptible Mal. i. 12. All the appurtenances belonging to this mysterie are to be reverenced the Place the Time every Utensil Is it a mysterie then 2. Castè sobriè tractandum we must handle this mysterie chastly and soberly The mysteries of Religion are not sleightly or vainly or sportingly to be handled but heedfully soberly with all awful attention 1. The Minister who speaks of them how holily must he handle them 1 Pet. iv 11. Let him speak as the Oracles of God It was the charge of the Priests in the Old Law Be ye clean that bear the Vessels of the Lord Esai lii 11. All those legal Pollutions that caused an irregularity in the Priests made them uncapable of ministring and they are all enforcements of that purity and sobriety that are required in the Servitours and Dispensors of these sacred mysteries This made Moses refuse Send I pray thee by the hand of him whom thou wilt send Exod. iv 13. And Esay