Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	faith_n	good_a	shipwreck_n	6,868	5	12.4968	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B02273	An additional word to The body of divinity, or Confession of faith; being the substance of Christianity. Added on special occasion, tending further to confirm some truths therein. With a further discourse about the doctrine of election, universal, and special grace, &c. All which were touched in the said Confession of faith, but in this more plainy and fully (though briefly) discoursed and designed for the good of all. Whereunto is annexed a seasonable word of advice, being an essay for peace and union among all the sons and daughters of peace. / Written by Thomas Collier.	Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691.; Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691. Body of divinity.	1676 (1676)	Wing C5267AB; ESTC R174082	85,720	108

you to will and to do of his good pleasure Answ 1. It 's the good VVill and Pleasure of God by the Gospel to work men to will and do His VVill therein and this is that which seems to be intended in this place for the Apostle exhorts them earnestly to do the VVill of God as the Text and Context doth demonstrate therefore he intends not such a working as of which they had no power or will to perform but that as God of his good pleasure had by the Gospel wrought in them to will and do his will therein they should improve the Grace received and in which they stood To understand it to intend Gods working an impulsive VVill and that they could not or should not work without it destroys the Exhortation and makes null the Duty 2. As God had begun the good work in them he lets them to know that in the faithful performance of their duty God would continue to work in them and in this way it is that Christians may assuredly expect the continuance of the Spirit 's assisting presence it is as much as to say Vp and be doing and the Lord will be will you But to understand that God works to Gospel-duty by an impulsive power and that without it we can do nothing and so must wait for this before we move towards him in Gospel-duty is corrupt and dangerous tending to end all Gospel-obedience The 8th and last Scripture I shall mention is 1 Joh. 2. 19. They went out from us but they were not of us if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out from us that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us Answ 1. John was an Apostle and might be able to judge infallibly in this matter touching the persons of whom he spake as sometimes Peter did in the case of Ananias and Saphira his VVife Act. 5. 1. to 10. So John might know that those gone out from them were Hypocrites and if so were not truly of them but Plants that were not of Gods planting So that this proves not that all that may go out from the Church were not of them but some may go out who if they had continued might have obtained for such as make Ship-wrack of Faith and a good Conscience had they continued they must have obtained Or 2. Had they been of the Elect in the special sence they would no doubt have continued or returned again by Repentance CHAP. VI. That the Salvation and Damnation of Men shall be sutable to the several Ministrations under which they have Lived WE may now result clearly and safely that the Salvation of all that shall be saved shall be sutable to the means and Ministries under which they have lived That there hath been and is a sufficiency of means of Salvation under all is apparent as hath been before proved and that there was Salvation to some under all hath been likewise proved Act. 10. 34 35. This Salvation shall be sutable to the means and ministry and the attainments of those under it viz. such as have been United to Christ by Faith in and under the Gospel are Espoused to him in the nearest Relation a priviledge and glory which the Gentils that have not heard of Christ nor the common saved ones of the Jews may be supposed to arrive unto Gal. 4. 30 31. Yet this we must understand that all Salvation must be by the Lamb slain i. e. Jesus Christ Crucified and Raised again There hath been no ministration simply in its self capable to save but relative to the Lamb slain though they have been ignorant thereof Act. 4. 12. and this all the Saved ones shall know and Condemned ones too Rev. 5. 11 12 13. Phil. 2. 10 11. 2. That the Condemnation of men in the Judgment day shall be for sinning against God under the means and ministries under which they have lived i. e. They before the Law and without the Law and Gospel too shall be Judged and Condemned for not improving the Ministry of the Creation Psal 28. 4 5. Rom. 2. 1 2 3 12. And they under the Law for sinning against the Law Rom. 2. 12. And they under the Gospel for sinning more immediatly against the Gospel Joh. 3. 19. 2 Thes 1. 7 8 9. They that never heard the Gospel are not capable to believe the Gospel Rom. 10. 14. therefore are not under the Condemnation thereof for not believing although the Gospel is Preached more remotely both by the works of God and by the Law and all Sin since the Fall hath been in a true sence against the Gospel yet their judgment must be by the ministrations under which they have been they shall then know that they sinned against their Lord and Judge Act. 17. 31. Phil. 2. 11. Hence it 's said Rev. 20. 12. The Books were opened that is the Book of the Creation and works of God under which all had been Psal 19. 1 2 3 4. and the Book of the Law ver 7. to 12. and another Book was opened which was the Book of Life this is the Book of the Gospel and Men were judged according to the things written in the Books And a fourth Book may be well understood i. e. The book of every man's Conscience that will accuse or excuse at that day and will be a Witness too for or against at the day of Judgment Rom. 2. 15 16. Which should be a warning to all to take heed how they neglect the great Salvation of the Gospel and so judge themselves unworthy of Life Such must then know that the word of Salvation which was able to save them had they believed and obeyed it must be their Judge at that day Joh. 12. 48 And this must needs be very grievous when the word of the Gospel that hath sought to save Sinners and Jesus Christ who hath been thereby wooing and intreating acceptance shall then Judge and Condemn them and they themselves shall then acknowledge the Judgment is just and right where will be no Plea of Non-ability in the matter when it shall be found that it was their own wilfull Will that was the cause thereof CHAP. VII Some further Considerations about the Eternal Judgment relative to the Wicked Whether there may be any probability from Scripture-light of any deliverance from or mitigation of the Punishment of any after the Sentence is past and the Judgment Executed TOuching this I do apprehend that there are probable grounds both from Scripture and Reason that there may be a deliverance of some from the penal part or pains inflicted though not from the sence of Loss the Judgment in that respect will be Eternal The probable Scripture-grounds for this probable supposition are as followeth 1. The Scripture lets us to know that some shall be saved that through their own miscarriages shall lose the reward of their work 1 Cor. 3. 14 15. They shall be saved yet so as by

Damnation from Eternity and so the case as hopeless to all that were fore-known not to believe the fore-knowledge being certain as special Election as generally held in the strictest sence does render it Answ Though we are not to question the fore-knowledge of God in this or in any other matter yet we are not to think of the fore-knowledge of God as either 1. To derogate from his Gospel-Law of grace that promiseth Life to all that believe Or 2. So as from thence to suppose a necessity for any to perish this is a foolish thing in men to sore aloft into Gods secrets so as to contradict his revealed Will which is dishonourable unto God and pernicious unto Men. As some affirm that God decreed Adams Fall before he made him or at least so far fore-knew it as that it must be That he fore-knew it is without doubt but that he decreed it or so fore-knew it as to necessitate it is so far from having true holy and honourable thoughts of God as that it layeth all the Wickedness and Plagues of the World at God's dore therefore we may not have such thoughts of the fore-knowledge of God as to lay a necessity on Man to Sin and die What God may do in giving up to hardness of heart as a Judgment for former sins is another case as in the case of Pharaoh Exod. 1. 8. to 22. and 9. 16. For this cause have I made thee to stand i. e. against God in his sin because of his former sins and wrong done to his people and in the case of his own people Joh. 12 39 40. Quest May we suppose that persons who are Regenerate and born from above may possibly fall from this state of grace Answ 1. The Scriptures do not say they may not nor that they shall certainly obtain but that without Regeneration or the Birth from above none can see the Kingdom of Heaven 2 We are to suppose all Gospel-Believers to be Regenerate and then we may and must suppose a possibility for the Regenerate to fall or none can fall away 3. I know nothing stated in the Gospel Law of grace as a duty in order to obtain the end but that persons may obtain and be supposed possibly to fall finally from Joh. 15. 4 5 6. The truth hereof will further appear if we consider 1. That the Gospel makes no difference but warns all to take heed of falling Rom. 1. 8. with 8. 13. Heb. 3. 12. 4 11. Rev. 3. 11 12 13. which necessarily supposeth a possibility of falling in respect of us without taking that heed unless we will suppose all the Churches to be Unregenerate which is contrary both to the Word and Charity of the Gospel 2. They have all the same Faith and Love for kind there is but one Faith which hath the same object and is influenced by the same Spirit which produceth the same effect i. e. a good Conscience even in such as fall from it 3. The Scripture supposeth that Persons may have the same Gospel-spirit in all its operations and yet may possibiy finally fall from God Heb. 6. 4 5 6. So that according to the Law of Grace all that do believe and obey the Gospel stand related to God therein and nothing makes the difference But sincerity and perseverance shall be crowned and Hypocrites and Back sliders must fall short and meet with Condemnation Joh. 3. 6. 13. Prov. 14. 14. Luk 9 62. And whatever special grace and Divine assistance some do obtain in their perseverance and preservation to the glory promised it no whit lessens the duty or danger of the Disobedient of Hypocrits and Back-sliders God affording a sufficiency of assistance that all might obtain if they would Luk. 13. 34. Quest Doth not the Doctrin of Salvation by Jesus Christ as in this it is represented as generally tendered viz. on terms of Faith Repentance and Obedience and Constancy therein to the end without which it cannot be had tend to make null the New Covenant in its absolute and inconditional promises and so cast a cloud upon the absoluteness of the New Covenant Answ No in no case for first we must distinguish between the absoluteness of the Covenant and its Ministry now in the imperfect state of the Church in which its preparing a people for it's perfect glory and its ministration in the perfect state and so suitably of its promises It s Ministry now in preparing a people for the glory is on terms without which they can never obtain the glory promised this is so clearly stated in the Gospel that I need say no more to confirm it And as for the absolute and inconditional promises of the Covenant if we apply them to the present state we may not so understand and apply them as to thwart or contradict the conditional or to make them null if we do we are never like to obtain the glory for no man on Earth can rightly claim a part in Gospel grace or glory that hath not the terms thereof effected in him Heb. 12. 14. Rev. 22. 14. We may not understand any absolute promises contrary to the law of Gospel-grace and glory the absolute promises are sure to none but such as are under the conditional and so they ought to be understood Rev. 3. 10 11 12. and 21. 7. 2. We may look for and believe-down assisting grace from these promises to preserve us to glory and the Covenant in the perfection thereof when come to glory will be absolute in all its promises it s absolutely true to all Over-comers and administers power through Faith to preserve us to the promised glory 1 Pet. 4 5. and then the Covenant will set all Over-comers above all fears of going out any more from God Rev. 3 12. And this distinction between the imperfect and perfect state the Scripture is full and clear in Heb. 4. 3. For we which have believed do enter into rest we enter now by Faith v. 9. There remaineth therefore a rest unto the people of God This is the Rest which is yet to come and remaineth to be entered into which Rest as to come admits of some doubt of entrance into it because we are yet on the terms of entering v. 11. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest lest any man fall after the same example of Vnbelief which supposeth a possibility yea and a danger to of coming short and that of those who now do enter by Faith v. 1. and on these terms God keeps all his people even the special Elect and that too for their safety and preservation to Glory and that without any wrong at all to his Covenant of grace or absolute promises thereof but as the sure way for the obtaining thereof he lets us to know our Duty and hath assured us that he will be faithful in his Word Object This asserts a possibility of falling from Grace and so destroys the assurance and comfort of Believers Answ 1. It doth

pretended Wolves yet it shews forth a Wolvish-nature And how Persecuters can acquit themselves from Wolves though in Sheep's-Cloathings I know not Therefore take heed and beware of a persecuting-spirit and fall-in with Truth Love the Truth and Peace This I must say That were there nothing else to make a Difference I could never hold Communion with a Persecuting-Church it being so contrary to the Spirit and Word of the Gospel and State of the true Gospel-Church who did never persecute but was always persecuted for Christ and the Truth 's sake And whereas it 's said That those which pretend to be against Persecution do the same in words and evil-speakings which is as truly Persecution of the Tongue as any other way of Persecution This I must say 1. I am much of the same mind that there hath been too much of this amongst us All and as our Lord said in another Case He that hath not offended in this matter let him throw the first-stone And cause we have all to be humbled and to repent of this Evil. Yet 2dly we must contend earnestly yet humbly in the Gospel-spirit for the Faith once delivered to the Saints Jude v. 3. And I earnestly desire All who fear God to manifest Truth of Love to all People especially such as have the Visible-appearance of Godlyness according to the Gospel in their differing-ways though on a Church-account constituted according to the Gospel-Rule I do not yet understand how there can be a walking-together in Church-Worship without a Unity in that Worship and in the one sort of Members that are to be exercised therein whithout which I see no way for the Church to be either constituted or preserved according to the Gospel-Law and Order Yet there should be a great heedfulness of unchristianing each other unless Persons unchristian themselves by prophaneness nor to account each other as Enemies but converse together and love as Brethren For I truly desire That among all the differing-Apprehensions all that hold to the Head Christ Jesus and that call on His Name may study the Things that make for Peace forsaking the quarelling opposing-spirit which best becomes the Gospel and Spirit of Christianity These Things have I written to discover the weakness of the grounds on which Christians commonly make Divisions that they may see the weakness and that there is not so much in the Matter as they supposed And am willing to conclude That if Christians are not too much wedded to their own Understandings it may prove of some help in the Matter and that all sorts of differing-Apprehensions may learn to bear with and forbear each other in love and till they can come to be of one mind from sense of weakness and fallibility to pity one another and to seek the Peace and Welfare of one another This is the Lovely-spirit of the Gospel and the People who thus walk are a lovely People and the People who thus walk God will bless But if Christians will still go on to bite and devour each other What can they expect but to be devoured one of another and that as a righteous Judgment from God who is the God of Peace and would have His People to be the People of Peace Therefore if you love God and Peace think on these Things CHAP. VI. In which are Three-Things presented that may tend to further the Churches-Peace I Shall present three Things in this Matter that may tend to help on and to further Union and Peace among all the Godly 1st To discover what Unity and Peace it is I plead for 1. That all who agree in the one Faith and one Baptism of the Gospel may own each other and walk together in one Constituted-Church-Relation though they may differ in several disputable Things in matters both of Faith and Practice and not by making Laws for each other where Christ the Lord and Law-giver hath made none that in all such cases that Rule of the Apostle may be observed Hast thou Faith have it to thy self For I am clear there may be some differing-Apprehensions in both matters of Faith and Practice that should make no Breach in Church-Fellowship Such things as these did not throw the Church into Divisions in purer times than we are yet arrived to We find that the Disciples of Christ were ignorant of and unbelieving in the main Fundamental-Truth of the Gospel viz. The Death and Resurrection of Christ though He instructed them herein at least three times yet He separated them not from Him but owned them in what they did Believe Matt. 16. 16 17. The Apostle Paul deals moderatly about the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15. where it's evident that some in that Church denyed it v. 12. though a Fundamental yet the Apostle endeavours to convince of that Errour and not to reject Which clearly argues That Persons for Errour in matters of Faith are not suddainly and rashly to be separated from as for matter of Practice as in the case of the Incestuous Person 1 Cor. 5. The Jews that Believed likewise held many things in Practice about the Law which for Peace-sake the Apostles did bear withall and conform to Act. 21. 20 21 22. And lik-wise the Gentile Churches had diversities of Opinions about Meats Drinks and Days c. Rom. 14. which the Apostle endeavours to reconcile not by making all of one Opinion in these matters but by bearing with and forbearing each other in love By all which it appears That the greatness of Evil lyeth not in variety of Opinions about many Religious things but in making Divisions and Breaches by reason of those Opinions and it appeareth to be a Fruit of the Apostatized Spirit and of the Flesh so to do And as for those Christians who so far differ either in Faith or Practice as that there cannot be Communion on a Church-account and yet hold the Head and prize and press after Holiness let there be Truth of Love allowing each other a Latitude in their way according to their Faith and Conscience else we do not as we would be done unto not envying one another nor unchristian one another though there cannot be Communion in the Ordinances of Christ as by Him stated being not of one Mind therein yet to encourage Godliness in All and to own and approve what of Faith and Truth there is in each other so far as there is a Unity therein For I doubt not but that there is so much of the Root of the Matter in all gracious Persons as will minister occasion of rejoycing in each other if Pride and Prejudice be laid aside that so there might be a free Converse with each other about matters of Faith and Practice And as for such who are Enemies and hateful Christians should seek Peace with such in all lawful ways As much as in them lyeth they should live Peaceable with All Rom. 12. 18. They should love Enemies with the Love of Pity and pray for Enemies This is the Will of