Selected quad for the lemma: faith_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
faith_n	abraham_n	believe_v	impute_v	7,639	5	9.9008	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34992	A practical and polemical commentary or exposition on the whole fifteenth Psalm wherein the text is learnedly and fruitfully explained, some controversies discussed, sundry cases of conscience are cleared, more especially that of usurie : many common places succinctly handled ... / by Christopher Cartwright ... ; the life of the reverend and learned author is prefixed.	Cartwright, Christopher, 1602-1658.; Bolton, John, 1599-1679. Life of the author.	1658 (1658)	Wing C693; ESTC R18318	282,330	382

It is not such a Faith as whereby Abraham was justified for his Faith did appear and evidence it self by his works vers 21 22 23. And so did Rahabs Faith vers 25. Caution 1. But let none so mis understand this as if according to the Popish Doctrine a man were justified by his works By the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in his sight for by the law is the knowledge of sin Rom. 3.20 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law vers 28. See also Rom. 4.3 6 7 8. Therefore when S. James saith that by works a man is justified and not by faith onely Jacobus docet quod non side sterili sed fide foecundâ operibus justificamur Cajet in Jac. 2. Jam. 2 24. the meaning is as Cajetan himself doth expound it That a man is not justified by faith that is barren but fruitful in good works So when he saith vers 21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered up Isaac his son upon the Altar by works must needs be meant a working Faith for he addes vers 23. And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness Now that was spoken of Abraham long before his offering up of Isaac as appears by Gen. 15. 22. so that Abraham was justified by faith long before but that work of obedience which he did in offering up his son shewed that his faith was a true justifying faith indeed and that it was not without good cause said of him that he believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness Caution 2. Neither again must the Doctrine so be understood as if which the Papists also hold good works did merit heaven and eternal life It is one thing not to be saved without good works and another thing to be saved for them Aliudest secundum opera reddere aliud propter ipsa opera reddere Greg. in Psal 145.8 God will render to every one according to his deeds Rom. 2.6 but not to every one for his deeds To the wicked indeed he will render both according to their deeds also for their deeds because their deeds deserve damnation But to the godly he will onely render according to their deeds not for their deeds not for the merit of them because they do not deserve salvation For 1. The best works that any can do are due and therefore not meritorious When ye shall have done all these things which are commanded you say We are unprofitable servants We have done that which was our duty to do Luk. 17.10 Secondly If we do any good we do it not of our selves by our own power but it is God that doth inable us to do it For we are not sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but all our sufficiency is of God 2 Cor. 3.5 Therefore whatever good we do we are beholding to God and not he to us for it and consequently we cannot merit any thing at his hands by it Thirdly Our good works are mixed with evil works and are in themselves even the best of them imperfect In many things we offend all Jam. 3.2 There is iniquity even in our holy things Exod. 28.38 Therefore Nehemiah though he prayed unto God to remember him concerning the good that he had done yet to shew how far he was from presuming of the merit of it he added And spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy Neh. 13.22 Fourthly There is no proportion betwixt our works and Salvation no works that we can do are equal to it Illi namque beatae vitae in quâ cum Deo de D o vivitur nullus potest aequari labor nulla opera comparari presertim cum Apostolus dicat non sunt condigne passiones hujus temporis ad futuram gloriàm quae revelabitur in nobis Gregor ubi supra and therefore neither can they merit it The most that we can do is to suffer for the Name of God and of Christ and for righteousness sake Phil. 1.29 Mat. 5.10 11. But the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 But as none must think to be saved for good works so neither must any expect Salvation without good works In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but faith which worketh through love Gal. 5.6 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the commandments of God 1 Cor. 7.19 Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling Philip. 2.12 Vse 1 This then may serve first to vindicate our Doctrine and to wipe off the Aspersion which the Papists cast upon us as if we were adversaries and enemies unto good works teaching people that if they believe then all is well enough what ever they do however they live they are sure of Salvation This is not our Doctrine though some may make this perverse use of it We are for the necessity of good works as much as they of the Church of Rome are though we dare not ascribe so much unto them as they do See Serm. 5. Use 1. Vse 2 This also confutes the Antinomians and such as are so for the preaching of Gods mercy and free Grace that they cannot endure to have Duties preached unto people and pressed upon them This they think is legal and servile not agreeable to that Evangelical and free Estate that Christians are now in But we have not so learned Christ He indeed doth make us free Joh. 8.36 But how Not free to sin but free from sin For whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin Joh. 8.34 Know ye not that to whom ye yeild your selves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death or of righteousness unto life But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of Doctrine which was delivered unto you Being then made free from sin ye became the servants of righteousness Rom. 16.16 17 18. For this end God sent his Son to redeem us that being delivered out of the hands of our enemies we might serve him without fear in righteousness and holiness before him all the days of our life Luke 1.74 75. For this end Christ gave himself for us He died for all that they which live might not live unto themselves but unto him that died for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5 15. He gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 2.14 There is no hope of Salvation by Christ without yielding obedience unto Christ He is the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him Heb. 5.9 He is a King as well as a Priest and a

doer or as a busie-body in other mens matters Non debet quid quisque patiatur sed quarè ●atiatur atten●i Aug. contra Crescon lib. 4. cap. 46. Non poena sed causa facit martyrem Yet if any suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorifie God on this behalfe Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their soules to him in well doing as unto a faithful creator 1 Pet. 4.15 16 19. SERM. VI. SERM. 6 Psal 15.2 And speaketh the truth in his heart HEre David begins to shew more particularly how he is qualified that shall abide in Gods tabernacle and dwell in his holy hill that is that shall inherit heaven and enjoy salvation He is one that speaketh the truth in his heart that is so as he conceiveth in his heart he hath not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one thing in his mouth and another thing in his heart as R. Salomon and Kimchi note upon the text The observation which I raise hence is this Doct. He that would be a citizen of heaven and an heire of salvation must have a care to speak the truth and to eschew lying The Prophet Zephanie notes this as the propertie of the true Israel of God upon whom shall be peace and mercy Gal. 6.16 that they shall not doe iniquity nor speake lies neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth Zeph. 3.13 And diverse precepts there are both in the old and in the new Testament wherein speaking the truth is required and lying is forbidden Ye shall not deale falsly nor ly one to another Levit. 19.11 Speake ye every man the truth to his neighbour Zach. 8.16 Putting alway lying speake every man truth with his neighbour Ephes 4.25 Lie not one to another Col. 3.9 Divers cominations and threatnings of destruction there are in both Testaments against lyars Thou shalt destroy them that speake leasing Psal 5.6 He that speaketh lyes shall perish Prov. 19.9 Amongst others are reckoned all lyars that shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Revel 21.8 So Revel 22.15 among those that shall be without that shall have no place in the heavenly Jerusalem is reckoned whosoever loveth and maketh a lie For the further confirmation of the doctrine there are these reasons 1. Lying is repugnant unto God and odious unto him For God is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one that cannot lie Tit. 1.2 He is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the God of truth Isai 65.15 Amongst those things that are an abomination unto God is reckoned a lying tongue Prov. 6.16 17. So Prov. 12.22 Lyings lipps are an abomination to the Lord. 2. Lying is a part of the old man which al must put off that would be saved The Apostle having shewed that such as have truely learned Christ have learned this that they must put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts And be renewed in the spirit of their minde And put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness from thence he inferres this exhorta●●on Wherefore putting away lying speake the truth every man with his neighbour Ephes 4.20 25. So Col. 3.9 Lie not one to another saith he why seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deedes 3. Lying is the worke and invention of the devil He abode not in the truth saith our Saviour speaking of the devil because there is no truth in him when he speaketh a lie he speaketh of his owne for he is a lyar and the father of it to wit of a lie John 8.44 Before I come to the use of the point some things are to be observed for the better understanding of it 1. It is not allways necessary nor expedient to speake all that we know or thinke of a thing whereof we speake A foole uttereth all his minde but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards till occasion require him to speak Prov. 29.11 A wise mans heart discerneth both time and judgment both when and how to speake Eccles 8.5 But it is both expedient and necessary that we speake no more then we know or thinke for this is lying though the other be not It is lawful and requisite somtimes to conceale what is true but it is never either requisite or lawful to utter what is false the former is no lying but the latter is Abraham might be too blame in saying of Sarah his wife She is my sister Gen. 20.2 In this he might shew his weakness of faith and might expose his wives chastity to danger but I doe not well see how he can justly be taxed for lying because there was nothing false that he uttered though there were some thing true which he concealed For Sarah as she was his wife so was she also his sister that is his neare kinswoman which in the Hebrew language is as much as sister The Jewish Doctors thinke Iscah the daughter of Haran Abrahams brother to be the same with Sarah Vide Annotationes meas in Gen. 11.29 When Abimelech understood that Sarah was Abrahams wife and expostulated with Abraham about it Abraham having shewed the reason why he said that she was his sister and concealed that she was his wife added And yet indeed she is my sister she is the daughter of my father but not the daughter of my mother he meanes that she was his kinswoman by his father but not by his mother and she became my wife Gen. 20.12 2. Figurative speeches are no lyes as metaphorical speeches such as that is The pastures are clothed with flockes the valleys also are covered over with corne they shout for joy they also sing Psal 65.13 So when false Prophets are termed wolves Mat. 7.15 Act. 20.29 And Herod is called a foxe Luke 13.32 So hyperbolic●l speeches as that Deut. 9.1 Cities great and fenced up to heaven And that John 21.25 There are also many other things 〈◊〉 Jesus ●●d which if the● should be written every one I suppose 〈◊〉 even the world it selfe could not containe the book●● that should be written And so parables which are frequent in the Scripture These speeches I say are no lyes because though a thing be not so as they expresse according to the proper acception of the wordes yet according to the figurative acception of them it is so Metaphorical speeches expresse one thing by another because of some remarkable similitude that is betwixt them So also doe parables which as allegories are but as it were continued metaphors And hyperbolical expressions are used only to set forth the greatness of a thing not as if so much were meant as is expressed Ironical speeches wherein one thing is uttered and another thing quite contrary is intended of all figurative expressions may most seeme to be lyes Such was th●● of Micaiah to Ahab concerning his

rather then others that so the glory of mans salvation may the better appear to be due not unto man but unto God For you see your calling brethren that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty And base things of the world and things despised and things that are not hath God chosen to bring to nought things that are That no flesh should glory in his presence 1 Cor. 1.26 27 28 29. Vse 3 In the last place Let all be admonished to take heed of coming short of the common Salvation How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Heb. 2.3 If we have the means whereby to attain unto Salvation and yet neglect them either not use them at all or use them negligently what do we else but neglect salvation and are we not worthy to be without if we do neglect it Men and brethren children of the stock of Abraham said Paul to the Jews and whosoever among you feareth God to you is the word of this Salvation sent Act. 13.26 Then a little after he addes this admonition Beware therefore lest that come upon you which is spoken of in the Prophets Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish for I work a work in your days which you shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you vers 40 41. It is true we cannot be qualified and fitted for Salvation except God work this qualification and fitness in us It is he that must make us meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1.12 It is he that must work in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure Phil. 2.13 Yet nevertheless we must yea even therefore we must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 God doth work in us so as that through him we must work also Acti agimus being acted by him we act and because of our selves without him we can do nothing therefore it behooves us to take heed both of sloth negligence and carelesness and also of security and presumption and self-confidence and with fear and trembling that is in all humility and with all diligence to work out our salvation 1. Therefore take heed of unbelief Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God Heb. 3.12 By Christ we come unto God No man cometh to the Father saith he but by me Joh. 14.6 And by faith we come unto Christ to come unto Christ and to believe in him import one and the same thing He that cometh unto me saith Christ shall never hunger and he that believeth in me shall never thirst John 6.35 Therefore we are said to be saved through faith Ephos 2.8 And salvation is called the end of our faith 1 Pet. 1.9 2. Take heed of a false Faith Examine your selves whether you be in the faith prove your own selves 2 Cor. 13.5 See that your Faith be the Faith of Gods Elect Tit. 1.1 that is Faith unfained 1 Tim. 1.5 Faith that worketh through love Gal. 5.6 As many as walk according to this rule peace shall be upon them and mercy c. Gal. 6.16 SERM. XXX SERM. 30 Psal 15.5 He that doth these things shall never be moved HAving done with the Agent He that and the observation arising from thence I come now to the Act doth It is not said He that heareth these things or knoweth these things or professeth these things or assenteth to these things but He that doth these things Hence we may observe Doct. That it is not hearing or knowing or professing of duty or assenting to it but the doing of it that will bring a man unto salvation 1. It is not the hearing that will do it Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it that is observe and obey it Luk. 11.28 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doth them I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock And the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell not for it was founded upon a rock And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand And the rain descended and the floods came and the windes blew and beat upon that house and it fell and great was the fall of it Mat. 7.24 52 26 27. But be ye doers of the word and not hearers onely deceiving your own selves For if any man be a hearer of the word and not adoer he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass For he beholdeth himself and goeth his way and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work this man shall be blessed in his deed Jam. 1.22 23 24 25. Nor will knowledge serve the turn Thou Solomon my son said David unto him know thou the God of thy father and not onely know him but also serve him c. 1 Chro. 28.9 If ye know these things said Christ to his disciples happy are you if yee do them Joh. 13.17 3. Neither is profession sufficient They profess that they know God but in their works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and to every good worke reprobate Tit. 1.16 Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven Many will say unto me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy Name have cast out devils and in thy name done many wonderful works And then will I profess unto them I never knew you depart from me ye that work iniquity Mat. 7.21.22 23. Then shall ye begin to say We have eaten and drunken in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets But he shall say I tell you I know not whence you are depart from me all ye workers of iniquity Luk. 13.26 27. 4. Nor is it enough to assent unto the truth such a Faith as is not active and operative shewing forth it self by good works is not availiable unto salvation What doth it profit my brethren if a man say he hath faith and have not works can faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that faith to wit which is without works save him Jam. 2.14 Faith if it have not works is dead being alone vers 17. Such a faith is no better then the faith of devils who believe and tremble vers 19. He is a vain man that relies on such a Faith vers 20.