Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	draw_v	faith_n	sprinkle_v	1,168	5	10.6414	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93404	Moses his prayer. Or, An exposition of the nintieth Psalme. In which is set forth, the frailty and misery of mankind; most needfull for these times. Wherein [brace] 1. The sum and scope. 2. The doctrines. 3. The reasons. 4. The uses of most texts are observed. / By Samuel Smith, minister of the Gospel, author of Davids repentance and the Great assize, and yet living.	Smith, Samuel, 1588-1665.	1656 (1656)	Wing S4189A; Thomason E1624_1; ESTC R208959	212,879	567

promise concerning Elizabeth his wife that she should bear him a son that the Lord struck him dumb till the day that the promise was fulfilled So that the point is clear and plain that our corrupt nature is such that we often call Gods power into question in times of straights that we fall into Because it was the first sin of our Father Adam Reas 1 by the which Sathan entered into mans heart Gen. 3.4 and so drew him from God to question Gods love and the same is derived to all his posterity And this is the root and mother of all other sins by it we depart from God when we call Gods power truth promises Heb. 3.12 and mercy into question what is this but to make God a lyar 1. Joh. 5.10 and so dishonour God in a high degree As we cannot honour God more than by sanctifying his name Numb 20.12 and acknowledging his power in times of affliction and distresse So is God highly dishonoured when we doubt of his power and goodnesse and call the same into question Secondly Reas 2 as it is the work of Faith to see God to be of power All-sufficient to help and succour us in times of straights And herein appeared the truth and power of Abraham's faith that he doubted not of the promise through unbeliefe Rom. 4.20 for he was perswaded that what he had promised he was able to perform Whereas the unbelieving heart blocks up the gate of mercy against it selfe and makes a man uncapable of mercy If we examine our selves by this Doctrine Use 1 we shall finde that we are guilty in some measure of this sin when our estate goes not so well with us as we desire how ready are we to thrust off the cause of it from our selves and to lay it upon others When we are in health peace and prosperity and set free from trouble O then we can acknowledge and say that God is all-sufficient mercifull and gracious But if the Lord send affliction sicknesse tryalls times of adversity then we are ready to call all into question and think that Gods power is shortned we dare not follow God in the dark we can hardly confesse God to be almighty powerfull just mercifull at such times Iudg. 6.13 but are ready to say with Gideon If God be with us why is this befallen us We shorten Gods arme and call his power into question as this people did Can God furnish a Table in the Wildernesse Psal 78. He gave us drink indeed out of a Rock but can he give bread also This is that sin which this cursed nature of ours is most prone unto and therefore are the more carefully to watch ouer our own hearts against it Seeing it is the sinne of our nature thus to question Gods power Use 2 his mercy and goodnesse towards us especially in times of trouble and adverfity and to lay the blame on him Let us learn to know that God is alwaies one the same most mighty most just true faithful in his Covenant towards his people Though our condition change yet God changeth not he is one and the same from all eternity and cannot change But if our condition be otherwise with us than we desire Lam 3.39 Es 59.2 let us ascribe all to our selves Man suffereth for his sin Your iniquities have separated betwixt you and your God Your iniquities have turned away these things and your sins have withholden good things from you Let us condemn our selves and accuse our selves that we are thus afflicted and know that God is just and the arme of his power is not shortned towards his people Quest Quest But how comes it to passe that the Lord seemes thus to leave his people so long a time in such fore affliction and distresse as his people here Answ Answ The Lord doth this in much wisdome and love to his people First to bring them to a clearer sight of their sins and to work in them a greater measure of humiliation for the same then yet they have attained unto We are apt to think that a little sorrow for sin is enough and every light and slight confession will serve the turn But the Lord sees it meet that the foundation of our repentance and conversion should be laid deeper Secondly herein and hereby the Lord will exercise our graces which in times of Gods delaies are exercised in us How was the faith of Abraham exercised whilst he took Isaac in his hand three daies together when he went up to the Mount to sacrifice him How was the faith of Paul tried when he received this answer from God My grace is sufficient for thee though the temptation was not removed The Lord will have it so to quicken the prayers of his people seeking him The Canaanitish woman had divers denyalls in her suit to Christ in the behalfe of her daughter yet at last had a gracious answer returned unto her And this is ordinarily the fruit of sore afflictions they produce fervency in prayer and have at last a welcome deliverance Before the Mountains Text. c. even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God MOSES being now to have recourse unto God by prayer for his people flies unto the Covenant of grace made unto the Church in Christ pleads that minds the Lord of that and that gives him boldnesse in prayer Before the Mountains c. thou art our God Hence we learn That the knowledge of Gods Covenant of grace in Christ Doct. 2 gives boldnesse in prayer The knowledge of Gods Covenant gives boldnesse in prayer It is the knowledge of our interest in the Covenant of grace that God is our God kindles prayer as a Sacrifice kindled with fire from heaven and is much accepted of God Upon this ground we are to pray Gods Cov●nant made with his Church and faithfulnesse in all generations in keeping promise with his people is the staffe and strength of prayer And this Covenant of grace the godly have been ever carefull to lay hold upon in prayer Heb. 10.23 Rev. 19.11 He is faithfull that hath promised And he that fits upon the white Horse is called faithfull and true Thus the Lord minds Jacob with his Covenant made with Abraham and Isaac his father Gen. 28. ver 15. and then confirmes the same unto Jacob Behold I am with thee and will keep thee which way thou goest Rom. 10.14 This made Paul to ask that strange question How shall they call on him on whom they have not believed implying thus much That where there is not faith in Gods Covenant there is no calling upon God Iam. 1.5 If any man lack wisdome saith Saint James let him ask it of God But how Let him ask in faith nothing wavering And again Let us draw neer with a true hears in assurance of faith sprinkled in our hearts from an evill conscience So that the point is clear and plain Ephes

3.12 That it is faith in the Covenant that God hath made unto us in Christ that gives boldnesse and confidence when we go to God in prayer And one Reason may be taken from that unchangeable nature that is in God Reas 1 and his covenant made with his people Gen. 17. I will be thy God and the God of thy seed after thee by an everlasting Covenant And he will not suffer his truth to fail This doth Moses minde the Lord of in the entrance into his prayer Lord thou hast been our habitation in all generations in the daies of our fore-fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob and as it is in this Text from generation to generation this they plead and that he will be the same to generations to come they rest upon Thus all his promises in Christ are Yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 Besides his Word is unchangable as himselfe is Reas 2 yea Heaven and earth hall passe away and perish yet not one jot or tittle of the Word shall faile All the promises of God are yea and amen in Christ firme and faithfull and God will be sure at last to speak peace to his people May not a man rest upon that for the which he hath a word for Thy testimonies saith David are sure Ps 93.5 Ro. 10.8 And the Word is called the Word of Faith which cannot faile This serves to direct the Church of God in generall Vse 1 and every particular member of the same to wait for the Lords salvation in times of danger when they shall be brought into straights as the Church of God at this time then is the time to live by faith and to live upon promises and in prayer to plead his Covenant say Lord thou hast been our habitation in all generations leave us not nor forsake us for thy Name-sake though we have finned and provoked thee to wrath againstus yet own us for thy people and forsake us not O God of our salvation The Lord delights to hear his people wrestle with him in prayer and to get arguments to move the Lord withall It is a signe that we then pray in faith when the soul is lifted up to behold this faithfulnesse that is in God This lets us see upon what ground we must lay all our suits and requests that we put up unto God Use 2 the Covenant he hath made with his people gives boldnesse and confidence in prayer It is true our unfaithfulnesse in keeping Covenant with God is enough to stop our months and make us ashamed when we come unto him But when we come unto him thus Deliver me O Lord Ps 31.1 according to thy righteousnesse and disclaim our own and rest upon his faithfulnesse we may hope to prevail with him And therefore seeing Gods Church and children have such a Rock to flye unto and such a ground to build their suits upon with what boldnesse may they goe unto God and be assured of deliverance Before the Mountains were brought forth Text. c. MOSES here speaking of God and to God mentions his eternity saying That before the Mountains or the Earth or the World were made thou art God Wherein he affirms two things of God 1. That he was the Creator of the earth and the world 2. That he was from eternity long before Or ever thou hadst formed the earth or the world HEnce we learn Doct. 3 Thre was a time when there was no earth or world That there was a time when there was no Mountain Earth or World but God created them all The glorious Heavens and all the host of them the Earth and all the creatures therein the Sun the Moon and the Starrs had all God for their Creator Yet this point is warily to be understood of us for howsoever this work of creation is attributed to the first Person in Trinity we are not to exclude the Son nor the Holy Ghost for the whole Trinity did create the world Let us make man Gen. 1.26 This being a rule in Divinity That the works of God that are without are undivided for that which one doth all do Yet there is this difference in their order of working 1. The Father wills it 2. The Son works it 3. The Holy Ghost finisheth it Now that God Created all things at first it is clear In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth Gen. 1.1 And I am the Lord and there is none other How proves he that but by this work of Creation Es 45.7 I form the light and create darknesse I make peace and create evill I the Lord do all these things And thus again doth he prove his Godhead Ier. 10.12 He hath made the earth and established the world by his wisdome And He spake the word saith the Psalmist and it was done Ps 33.9 He commanded and it stood fast And the Lord did without faintnesse and wearinesse Es 40.28 The everlasting God the Lord the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not nor is weary The visible creatures from the most glorious Angells to the most contemptible worm of the earth do all declare that there is a God and that this God is the Creator of them The visible creatures have in them all the print of an invisible God His power and his wisdome is engraven in them all yea in the smallest creatures doth Gods wisdome and power most of all appear Quest Quest 1 But when was this creation of all things Moses tells us when he saith Ans In the beginning the meaning is Gen. 1.1 In the beginning of Time For before the Creation Time was not but Eternity instead of Time And indeed the thoughts of man are here drowned here is the Ocean that we are not able to fathom what was before the world was And it is not meet that we should search into that for what are we to judge of eternity what hath plants to judge of sense or what have beasts to judge of reason or man to judge of Eternity that is himselfe finite But how did God create all things Quest 2 Not as man bringeth his works to passe by labour and pains no Ans for it is said Ps 33.9 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made and all the host of them He did but speak the Word and it was done the commanded and it was created God did but say Let there be light and there was light and all other creatures had their being at his command Seeing there was a time when there was no Mountain Earth or World Use 1 but that God was the Creator of them all then the heavens that are above us and the earth that is below us and all the creatures that are in the world they may serve to teach us this lesson that there is a God though these teach us not this lesson as the Scriptures teach us yet they are as a Christians Primer to teach us to