Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	apostle_n	sin_n	sting_n	5,518	5	11.9612	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53292	The unconquerable, all-conquering, & more-then-conquering souldier, or, The successful warre which a believer wageth with the enemies of his soul as also, the absolute and unparalleld victory that he obtains finally over them through the love of God in Jesus Christ : as it was discussed in a sermon preached at Boston in New-England, on the day of the artillery-election there, June 3d., 1692 / by Urian Oakes ...	Oakes, Urian, 1631-1681.; Shepard, Thomas, 1635-1677.	1674 (1674)	Wing O24; ESTC W28467	45,642	48

finds enough in the best of Believers that found nothng in our Saviour Satans sparks easily e●…me us because he finds so much Tinder in us The Lusts within us are ready to take fire at every injection There is a Traitour in our own Bowels that is ready to open our Ports and let in the Adversary Now of the War which a Christian wages with this home-bred intestine Enemy the seventh Chapter of this Epistle to the Romans gives us a clear account where the Apostle raises an Out-cry and makes Doleful Complaints of the remainders of sin the Law in the Members the body of Sin and Death and Discourseth of the Nature Power and Prevalency of in-dwelling sin as to some engagements The Apostle Iames speaks of the Lusts that War in our Members Jam. 4. 1. And Peter of fleshly Lusts that war against the Soul 1 Pet. 2. 11. these make up that opposite party within a Christian that would intercept and stop him in his way to Glory a secret subtle treacherous designing party that creates him a world of trouble and danger in his journey towards Heaven 2. From the World which is another Enemy that would obviate and intercept the People of God in their Travels Hence the World was a part of Christ his glorious Conquest Be of good chear I have overcome the World Joh. 16. 33. And the Believer that is born of God by Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ overcomes it too 1 Iohn 5. 4. which plainly implies that the World is an Enemy Considerable are the Expressions of the Apostle to this purpose Iam. 4. 4. know ye not that the friendship of the World is enm●…ty with God whosoever therefore will be a Friend of the World is the Enemy of God And doth it not follow hence that he that is a Friend of God is an Enemy to the World as it lies in opposition to God and the World in that respect an Enemy to him The World is one of the Associates of that false party within a Christian and under the conduct of Satan militates against a Believer Particularly 1. The Snares Allurements of the World which would 〈◊〉 away and seduce a Chr●…stian from following after God These make war upon a Child of God and are dangerous Enemies As they say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fight with Silver or Gold weapons and never doubt of Victory Some Enemies have bought great Victories which they could never have won otherwise All these things wi●… give th●…e this profit pleasure Honour saith the flattering World 〈◊〉 Believer if thou wilt fall down or surrender to me These ensnaring and alluring Objects which the world presents the Sons of Men with have such a close and intimate correspondence with the Lusts in their Hearts and what is carnal in them that they fight against their Souls with great Advantage and Success The Apostle having dehorted from the love of the World and the things that are in the World sums up all that is in the World in those three particulars the Iust of the Flesh the Iust of the Eyes and the pride of Life 1 Ioh. 2. ●…5 16. The Apostle speaks as if there were nothing else in the world but Lusting because there is such a curse come upon all Creature-enjoyments with reference to man that so farre as He is of the world they are Objects of Lust to Him exciting drawing forth invigorating and improving that Lust and Corruption that is in him By these Lusts the Apostle means the several respective Objects and puts the Lust which is in us for the things themselves lusted after Carnal Pleasures Profits and Preferments He saith not sensual Pleasures Riches Honour though he speaks of them but the Lusts of the Flesh and Eye ●…nd pride of Life because our Lusts render them evil to us how lawful soever in themselves the Objects are and make them Objects of Temptation and Seduction from the Lord putting a painted Whorish Beauty and tempting Lustre upon them varnishing them 〈◊〉 and making false representations of them Yea it is evident as the 〈◊〉 Dr. Owen observes Treatise of Temptat pag. 68. That all th●…se things the Lust of the Flesh c. are principally in the Subject not in the Object in the Heart not in the World But they are said to be in the World b●…cause the World gets into them mixes it self with them unites incorporates As Faith and the promises are said to be mixed Heb. 4 2. So are Lust and Temptation from worldly Objects mixed they twine together 〈◊〉 mutual improvement one from an●…ther grow each of them higher and higher by the mutual strength they administer to one another From this mixture Union and Incorporation of the Objects in the World with the Lusts in the Hearts of Men and their firm and close combination together it comes to pass that the enticing tempting World is a very potent and prevailing Adversary to the Souls of Men And that Believers themselves ●…n whom the Lusts mentioned are but in part mortified and subdued have hard work sometimes to stand their Ground against the snares and allurements and bewitching insinuations of a d●…ceitful World To this Head reduce sinful Examples in the World Counsels of Carnal Friends the Friendship of the World which is E●…mity ●…o God and good men Jam 4 4 False Doctrines which are spo●… out of the Wo●…ld 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Ioh. 4 5. calculated to the corrupt Humors Inclinations and Interests of the m●… of the World and therefore of a very grateful resentment with them In a word all Worldly Lusts as the Apostle calls them Tit. 2. 12 that are so many baits and snares to entangle and entice the People of God to desert the Holy and good wayes of the Lord those Golden 〈◊〉 that are thrown down before a Christian to invite him to g●…ze upon them and stoop to take them up that so he may be retarded and stopt in his course and lose the prize he runs for 2. The Troubles and Affrightments of the World Th●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the formidable f●…ightful Afflictions and persecutions that would im●…e or reta●…d and hinder the people of God in their Travels towards that H●…enly Country where the sweet Fruits of Divine Love are to be enjoyed in the greatest maturity and perfection of them That Tribulation in the World against which the Lord Jesus layes in great encouragement from the consideration of his own Corquest of the World Ioh. 16. 33. Of this ill 〈◊〉 and Entertainment in the world the Afflictions that the Children of God must expect to contest withal the Apostle discourseth here Rom. 8. 35 36 37. Tribulation Distress Persecution Famine Nakedness Peril Sword and such like formidable things to Nature oppose the Faithful in their way and make warre upon them A Christian lies open to many sharp and fiery Tryals 1 Pet. 4. 12. and must look to endure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a great fight or Concertation of Afflictions

He must strive hard that will enter in at the strait Gate Luk. 13. 24. ordinary seeking will not do it If the Believer put off his Armour lay by his weapons suffer the Sw●… of Faith to rust in the Scabberd and draw it not forth as there is occasion 〈◊〉 He hang down his Hands in Prayer sink in his Hopes cool in his Courage and stand still in a secure careless manner it will be impossible that he should b●…eak through those Legions of Devils those Armies of Temptations and make his way through those Adverse Powers that oppose themselves in his wa●… to Happiness 4. As the Opposition from at least some of his Enemies is perpetual in this life So the Believer hath no rest but hath work enough every day to contest with them A Believer hath a restless E●…my to contend withal as Hamibal said of Marcellus the Roman Consul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plutarch Marcel Let him conquer or be conquered he would never be quiet nor give over neither give rest to his Enemy nor tak●… it himself he would be at it still and never have done So may we say much more of the Believers Enemies Satan never draws his Forces out of the Field Corruptions one way or other will be stirring and the Christian shall be exercised ●…ill with some Thorn in the Flesh and Buf●…etings of Satans Messenger The People in Nehemiab's time when they were Alarmd ' and afraid of their malicious and malignant Neighbours wrought with one hand and held a weapon in the other Nehem. 4. 17. But such is the case of a Christian that he must not only work with a Weapon in the other hand but he must actually use his Weapon whilest he is working ●…ghting with one hand and building or labouring with the other If his Enemies conquer they will be sure to prosecute their victory to the utmost and lose no Advantage if they be worsted and routed in any particular Engagement they will not fail to rally their Forces recruit and reinforce themselves presently and fall on again So that a Christian had need eat and drink and sleep in his Arms. He hath no time to put off his Armour to lay by his Weapons He will be hotly engaged till the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 3. 19. the times of refreshing and cooling shall come He can never be said in this world to be miles emer●…us or stipendia confec●…sse which were the Roman Phras●…s for them that were discharged from the Wars If a Christian live to threescore years of age or more he is not thereby superannuated nor can he plead Age or any thing else to excuse himself from the duty of a Souldier Verily there is no discharge in this Warfare on this side of the Grave There is no bringing of these Enemies to a composition no cessation to be made no League or Truce to be admitted in this Warfare A Christian must be constantly fighting and contending against●… the Enemies of his peace and happiness Thus much for the second Conclusion Concl. 3. A true Believer is never totally and absolutely conquered in any Engagemen●… with the Enemies that War against him To be Conquered sin the ●…se I take it here is to be separated from the Love of God and utterly deprived of the special fruits of it Who shall separate us saith the Apostle Rom. 8. 35 from the love of Christ that is who shall conquer us I am perswaded that neither Death ●…r Life nor Angel c. shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord Rom. 8. 38 39. Importing thus much that a Christian can never be totally conquered notwithstanding all the opposition that is made against him Let Enemies do what they can against him yet if he be not separated from the love of God he is not absolutely Conquered or defeated of his Happiness In this respect a Believer is never Conquered For 1. Nothing befals him in his Warfare notwithstanding what his Enemies attempt against him that turns away the Heart of God utterly from him Though Sin and Satan may prevail very far in some conflicts yet never to such a degree as to provoke the Lord to reject him and cast him out of his favour God may be provoked by the compliances of a Believer at some turns with Sin and Satan and the World to take away the manifestations of his Love to deny him some expressions of his Favour to visit his transgressions with a Rod and his iniquity with Stripes but never to take his loving-kindness utterly from him Psal. 89. 30 33. A Believer may be so foiled and worsted by his Enemies through the neglect of his watch or otherwise that God may be displeased with him that there may be a discontinuance of the sensible expressions of the love of God to him and an interruption of it as to manifestations and yet there is no intercision of the love of God to him as to the being of it His love to him is unchangeable and everlasting 2. Nothing fal●…s out in his progress or march that absolutely flops him in or diverts him f●…om his course of proceeding or moving towards the enjoyment of the sweet fruits of Divine Love A Believer may be wounded Lemed and retarded but not totally checked in his way and turned aside from it He may receive many a blow that staggers him that makes him reel and complain that wounds him in his Graces and comforts David had his Bones broken received deep and dangerous wounds that were long healing that s●…ank and were corrupt Psal. 38. 5. 7 8. Because he did not apply a timely Remedy unto them they were not presently searched and looked after He was knock'd down and lay in a swoon for a great while that those about him might be ready to fear he would never come to himself again but he revived and recovered at last Satan prevailed with him to commit Folly with B●…hsheba to murder and imbrue his hands in the Blood of Vriah to vent his pride and vain glorious humor in the numbring of the People and to incu●…re the displeasure of God thereby but all this did not ex●…uss and expel the Love of God out of his heart or divert him totally from prosecuting the enjoyment of it Take a Believer in his lowest condition when he is most worsted and prevailed upon by his Enemies yet at that time there is the Seed of God remaining in him 1 Ioh. 3. 9. that inclines 〈◊〉 carries him God●…ard There is a power of Grace and a work of the Spir●… upon his Heart that gives him an inclination bent tendency Godward cont●…ually and though temptations may turn him out of the way for a time and he may meet with many Rubs and Impediments in his Christian race yet there is the strong Byas of Grace the poize and impression of Gods spirit upon his heart that inclines and carries him Godward so that he will come

Heb. 10. 32. The World can put on two Faces and change its Countenance as occasion servs If feigned flattering smiles will not do then killing Frowns shall if it be possible The World hath Terrours to affright as well as Allurements to entice Believers out of the way of Happiness The men of the world are usually pricks in the eyes and Thorns or Scourges in the sides of Believers Briers and T●…orns are with them in the world as the Lord tells the Prophet Ezek. 2. 6 that will scratch the Face of their Reputation wound them in their outward Concernments and tear th●…ir Flesh yea they dwell among Scorpions that will put them to great torment and sting them to Death Aelian reports concerning the Lybians ocreatos dormire solere that they were wont to sleep with their Boots on lest the Scorpions their Country was infested with should sting them I am sure a Christian had need walk Booted and have his Feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace yea to be defended and ●…med in all respects or He will be in much danger of t●…●…any scorpions in ●…is way vid. Greenhil on Ezek. 2. 6. As beleivers have bodies of flesh and mortality that keep open House for sicknesses pains Dis●…ses and give Entertainment to them So they are exposed to the Rage and 〈◊〉 of u●…reasonable men They pass through an Enemie Country where they have many Affronts and Indignities offered them If lies and Calumnies Scoffs and Scorns angry looks and cruel threatnings opprobrious and injurious dealings or any kind of Cruelty may be likely to scare a Believer out of his way or force Him to a dishonourable Retreat or to run from his Colours by quitting his profession the malignant angry world will be sure if the Lord permit to prove Him in that kind In both the respects mentioned the world is an Enemy and makes Opposition to Believers in their way to Glory Furthermore a Believer meets with Opposition 3. From Satan the Prince and God of the World Eph. 6. 11 12. If a Christian were to try Masteries and contest only with Flesh and bloud whether we understand thereby his own Corruptions or Opposition from men like Himself He would have hot and hard service of it But this is his Case and Lot to meet with Opposition from Principalities and Powers the Rulers of the Darkness of this World and spiritual wickedness in High places He fights at great Disadvantage with Enemies that have the Hill and upper-Ground He combates hand to Hand with the God of the World as well as his Creatures the men of the world Satan is one of the Allies of In-dwelling sin and of Conf●…deracy with our own Hearts which are ready every moment if there be not a strict watch kept upon them to betray us into his Hands and deliver us up to Him A Christian had need look to Himself considering that Satan goes about dai●…y seeking to devour 1 Pet. 5. 8. A Believer will be sure to meet with this Lion in his way And our Flesh and Hearts as was intimated before are Satans Correspondents and Confederates against the Spiritual Life and Comfort and Happiness of our Souls ready to open to Him make a Surrender of all and comport with him in all his dangerous and destructive Applications of Himself unto us This Spiritual Leviathan is a p●…ercing Serpent and a crooked Serpent Isai. 27. 1. Sometimes he opposes the People of God by Force and then he is a p●…ercing Serpent Sometimes he circumvents them by craft and then He is a crooked Serpent Vel rectus venit vel tortuosus Satan opposes the people of God in a way of Fraud He playes the Dragon and deceivs them He is a Serpent yea an old Serpent Rev. 12. 9. and hath his Wiles Eph. 6. 11. and advantagious Devices t Cor. 2. 11. his methods of Deceit and h●…s Depths or deep Contrivances Rev 2. 24. and in a way of force and violence He acts the part of a Lion and rageth and he hath his venemous Arrows his fiery Darts Eph. 6. 16. and makes many violent On-sets upon the Children or God The Church of God or the Body of Saints and Called Ones in the world have the Gates of Hell Math. 16. 18. that is as it is commonly expounded the Power and Policy of the Devil and his Instruments and Under-Agents to oppose them in their way to Heaven though they sh●…ll not prevail in that Opposition Lastly 4. From Death it self which is the last Enemy 1 Cor. 15. 26. When all the rest are beaten cut of the field and a Christian is marching off and 〈◊〉 ready to make his Triumphant Entrance into Heaven Death encounte●… him This comes in by the Curse and the natural or direct tendency of it is to separate a Son of Adam from God for ever It is the great and g●… Executioner of the vindictive justice of God Here men enjoy some Fruits of at least the general and common goodness of God but when Death comes it pushes them away from God makes an everlasting separation between them and all the fruits of the goodness of God turns them into Hell where they must feed upon the bitter Fruit of their own wayes for ever When Death hath done its Execut●…on upon the Condemned Sons and Daughters of Adam God will then carry away all his goodness from them and never afford them so much as one drop of Water to cool their Tongues to Eternity That which makes Death so terrible is that in the ordinary course of it it makes a perfect and perpetual separation between the Sons and Daughters of men and all the Fruits of the Love and Goodness and Patience of the blessed God Death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom. 5. 12. And where it Reigns and Triumphs and is Victorious over any man and fastens its Sting in him as I may allude to 1 Cor. 15. 55. it destroyes him utterly by putting him into a condition of everlasting separation from God Now this is the last Adversary that the Believing Christian Souldier contends withal though upon more advantagious Terms then other men Thus much for the second Particular under the second Conclusion Every Believer meets with great opposition in his way 3. A Believer cannot possibly make his way through all these Enemies and ●…ar down all this opposition without fighting He skirmishes with these Enemies yea fights many a pitch'd Battel against them He must put on the whole Armour of God Eph. 6. 11. and keep it on and make use of the weapons of his Christian Warfare and his Faith and other Graces will be soundly put to it It costs him many a Bickering He runs and Wrestles and labeurs and strives and fights the good fight of Faith as we might demonstrate by many Scripture Instances By Fighting I mean a vigorous contending and conflicting with the Enemies of his Soul which is exprest variously by the Holy Ghost in Scripture

Church of God the Woman mentioned Rev. 12. 1. is said to have the Moon that is all these changeable Earthly things under her feet Nay he overcomes Death it self which tramples upon and prevailes over other Conquerours Death stings kills ruines other men but cannot hurt a Christian because it cannot separate him from God Oh Death where is thy sting Oh Grave where is thy Victory 1 Cor. 15 55. Those words which are commonly translated the Gates of Hell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 16. 18. and are thought to import the Power and Policy of the Devil are rendred by Learned Camero the Gates of the grave or Death alledging that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth never but once in Scripture signifie Hell but either the Grave or the state and condition of a deceased person And he conceives the mind of our Saviour in that expression to be that though the Faithfull lye dead for a time as well as other men Death exercises a Dominion over them the worm feeds sweetly upon them they are imprisoned in the Grave and lye bound hand and foot with the Cords of death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…unes vel acerbissimi Cruciatus Mortis Psal. 18. 3. yet that the Power of Death and the Grave shall not finally prevaile over them Si quis saith that Learned man fi●…urat a ●…ac Loeutione significatum velit perituram omnem Mortis Sepulchri vim is demùm profecto a Spiritûs sancti mente mini●… è aberraverit The Abolition of the destructive Dominion of Death is intended by the Lord Jesus according to this Exposition Christiani saith Cyprian mori possunt vinci non possunt Christians may dye but cannot be overcome Death may kill them but cannot conquer them The victory of Believers over their Enemies is very glorious in this respect Glorious also it is in that a Believer conquers his Enemies by cor quering himself crucifying himself the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts Gal 5. 24. subduing his own Spirit beating down his own Body and bringing it into subjection 1 Cor. 9. 27. plucking out an offending right Eye cutting off an offending right Hand Mat. 5. 29. 30. Doing strange Execution upon himself in a way of Mortification which is both a noble and a strange way of Conquering He overcomes himself and thereby overcomes all his Enemies Moreover glorious it is in that he is so far from being separated from the love of God by the opposition which his Enemies make against him that he is thereby greatly furthered in the way to the perfect enjoyment of the Fruits of it His Enemies whether they will or no help him to a most Glorious Conquest For all things how adverse and opposite soever work for his good Rom. 8. 28. that is for his most Glorious Everlasting Triumph in the highest Heavens As the Afflictions and Troubles which happened to Paul in the course of his Ministerial Warfare fell out to the furtherance of the Gospel Phil. 1. 12. so the Opposition which a Believer meets with from all his Adversaries falls out to the furtherance of his victorious proceedings in the course of his Christian Warfare and of his After-Triumph and Glory Nay this Victory is Glorious in that he gives his Enemies a total Defeat and Overthrow at last He hath a perfect and absoute Victory and Conquest over them so as never to be molested with them more He passes to Heaven through the midst of his Enemies and gets out of the reach of their opposition or molestation and there Triumphs Gloriously to Eternity Concl. 6. Every Believer ob●…ains this Glorious Victory and Conquest through the Lord Iesus Christ. We are more then Conquerours through him that loved us that is through Jesus Christ or God in Christ which is the same thing The Apostle having discoursed excellently of this Spiritual War with one of the greatest Enemies that a Christian hath to do with namely In-dwelling sin issues all triumphantly in thanks to God through Christ for Deliverance and Victory Rom. 7. ult And having spoken of D●…ath the Grave very formidable Adversaries triumphed over them Thanks God who gives Victory through Christ 1 Cor. 15. 55 56 57. And there is the like Reason as to all the Enemies of a Christian. A Believer obtains this incomparable Victory and Glorious Conquest over all through Christ. For 1. The Lord Iesus Christ hath procured and purchased this Victory and Conquest for Believers Therefore he hath Suffered and Dyed Satisfied and Me●…ted that his People might obtain a Glorious Victory over Sin Satan World Death and all their Enemies The Foundation of this Victory hath been la●…d by an high hand of Grace in the Death and Medi●… of the Lord Jesus Man having revolted from under the Government and ●…inion of Gods revealed Will and Law and thrown off his Obedience 〈◊〉 made Election of Sin and Satan for his Lords and Sovereigns The Holy God in Justice and Righteous Severity delivers him up to the Authority and Soveraignty of Sin and Satan and his Spiritual Enemies even Death it self and they put in their Claim to a Soveraignty yea and actually exercise a Dominion over Him So that man in this Condition is a Captive Prisoner Slave and cannot get his Liberty If He struggle sometimes and rise up to warre against them All his Contendings are vain He is overcome presently and held in bondage The Reason is because his Enemies are in a Sense as strong as the Law and Justice of God The strength of Sin and by pa●…ity of Reason of other Enemies is the Law I Cor. 15. 56. that is the Law broken and the Iustice of God offended But the Lord Jesus having satisfied and merited when there is an Application of that Redemption which is in Christ to any man Now Sin Satan World have no Right to exercise this Dominion they lose their Claim and Title to such Dominion and this is the Foundation of any man●… Conquest of them Hence though Sin may Tyrannise sometimes yet it shall not reign over them not have any of their Enemies any Right to Conquer or prevail as before Nay Christ hath paid 〈◊〉 great price and bought the Victory for them of Him in whose Hand it is to adjudge it unto them They overcome by the Bloud of the Lamb Rev. 12. 11. 2. He hath actually in his own person conquered their enemies for them Be of good Comfort saith our Saviour I have overcome the World Joh. 16. 〈◊〉 That is the Lusts of the world the men of the world the prince of the world the shares temptations terrours and evils of the World He hath bru●…sed the Serpents head Gen. 3. 15. destroyed the works of the Devil I Joh. 3. 8. Now saith the Lord Jesus with reference to the time of his sufferings is the judgement of this World now shall the Prince of this World be castout Joh. 12. 31. The Dethroning of Satan and destruction of his Dominion by Jesus Christ is

that which is intended in that expression Hence the Apostle saith that be spoiled Principalities and Powers and and made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it that is his Cross or in himself Col. 2. 15. The Lord Jesus took away the Prey or Boo●…y of Souls which Satan had gotten and led away the Devil and his Angels as Prisoners of War He divested Principalities and Powers that is the Apostate Angels of all that Title they had got to the World by the sin of man yea he triumphed over them as sawful Captives to be disposed of at his pleasure He hath bound the strong man armed spoiled his Goods Thus Christ is said to wound the Head for so is it in the Original not Heads over many Countries Psal. 110 6. By the Head 〈◊〉 the large Earth Some understand Satan that ruleth as Head over 〈◊〉 the Children of disobedience every where though I judge it better to ●…pound it to the most comprehensive sense and then the meaning is that Christ breaks in pieces the Head that is the counsel and power of Satan and all ●…is Instruments crushing and conquering all the Enemies of his People He hath conquered Death is self and having grapled and fought with that Serpent he hath pulled out the Sting and he hath disarmed that King of Terrours that it may be in no condition to hurt and ruine his People Death can be no longer a Curse to them but a Blessing An Out let as to Misery●… and an In-let to all Happiness He hath Conquered and triumphed over all the Enemies of Believers vertually on his Crosse but actually and effectually in his Exaltation when he ascended up on high he led Captivity Captive Eph. 4. 8. Psal. 6●… 18. And he hath Conquered and Triumphed over all out Enemies not for himself but on our behalf and for our behoof and advantage Victoria Domini est Servorum Triumphus Hieron The Victory of the Lord is the Triumph of the Servants Well may the Army of Believers be assured of Victory and Triumph when as they fight with a conquered Enemy and their General alone in his own person hath routed their Adversaries 3. He puts them into a Conquering-capacity He sends his Spirit to make the Application of his Redemption to all his Redeemed ones by working ●…aith in their Hearts drawing them to himself giving them an actual Interest in himself and his Benefits and putting them into a State of Justification which is a State of Victory and Triump●… A justified person is in a Conquering-capacity and condition He is under Grace and not under the Law therefore neither Sin nor any other Enemy shall have dominion over him Rom. 6. 14. Take an Elect person that was given to Christ by the Father from Eternity and Redeemed by Christ in the fulness of time yet before his effectual vocation he is under the feet of his Enemies in no better condition to fight it out with them then other men Sin and Satan and World are much too hard for him But when once the Spirit of Christ hath wrought an effectual work of Grace in his Soul by uniting him to the Lord Jesus hath brought him into a state of Justification now he is in a condition to dispute it out to the last with all his Enemies and to get the day also 〈◊〉 Justified person is invincible he cannot be Conquered and he is victorious none of his Enemies can stand before him Victory Triumph are adjudged by the Lord to a state of Justification and are infallible consequents thereof Hence Paul's comfortable perswasion and Triumphant Expressions Rom. 8. 38 39. Now all the People of God are admitted into this state of Iustification and ●…ested in the Glorious Priviledges of it through the Lord Iesus Christ. 4. He furnisheth Believers with skill and Strength and Courage and Weapons and all War-like Furniture and Military Qualifications and Accomplishments They are in all respects well appointed for the ●…ar and it is the Lord Jesus that sets them fort●… and furnisheth them with A●…s and Weapons for the Battel The Lord Jesus Christ is the Christians Magazin All those Arm●… and Weapons which a Believer useth in his spiritual conflicts of which you have an enumeration Eph. s. 6. 13 14 c. are such as come out of Christs Armory As he puts the Believer into a conquering state in his Justification so he gives him conquering Abilities in his Sanctification He gives them Skill and Valour and Resolution and all other Qualifications and Endowments that a Militant condition calls for 5. He Administors seasonable supplies and recruits of Grace and Strength unto them He sends them Auxiliary Forces and gives them such Assistance as they need for every Conflict He giveth Power to them when they are faint and when they h●…ve no might encreaseth their strength Isai. 40. 29. He gives them a sufficiency of Grace and his Power rests on them Hence when they are we●…k yet then they are strong 2 Cor. 12. 9 10. Because habitual inhevent Grace will not carry them through their difficult Engagements therefore he affords actual and occasional Assistance as their necessities require All that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that seasonable help which is Admininistred to Believers from the Throne of Grace Heb. 4. 16. comes from the Lord Jesus Christ. They have the immutable Assistance of the Spirit of Christ that dwells in them They must needs overcome in this respect because greater it be that is in them then he that is in the World 〈◊〉 Joh. 4. 4. Hence the Apostle that had low thoughts of himself and was as much nothing in his own eyes as any man yet attributes a kind of Omnipotency to himself I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me Phil. 4. 13. He strengtheneth them with all might Col. 1. 11. Concl. 7. The Love of God in Christ is the absolute first cause of those ●…torious proceedings and this infallible conquest of Believers For 1. The Everlasting love of God determines that the Victory shall fall on the side of Believers The will of God is that all Believers shall conquer Hence the Apostle layes the Foundation of this Triumph in Divine Predestination and in Gods being for us Rom. 8. 30 31. Those that are appointed to obtain Salvation by Jesus Christ as it may be concluded of all Believers ●…ving Faith being a special fruit of Election may meet with many Enemies in their way but shall infallibly break throughall opposition g●…t to Heaven at last The Love of God hath Decreed them Victory 2. The everlasting Love of God layes in suitable provision of means for an infallible conquest Divine Love concluded upon the mission of Christ into the World to purchase it for his People and obtain the victory in his own person as a common person representing all Believers This Love gives them a Leo●… and General the Lord Jesus Christ that is invincible the Captain●… the Host