Selected quad for the lemma: faith_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
faith_n	covenant_n	sacrament_n	seal_n	4,627	5	9.5821	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13530	Christs combate and conquest: or, The lyon of the tribe of Iudah vanquishing the roaring lyon, assaulting him in three most fierce and hellish temptations. Expounded, and now (at the request of sundry persons) published for the common good, by Tho. Taylor, preacher of the word of God, at Reeding in Barkeshire; Christs combate and conquest.	Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632.	1618 (1618)	STC 23822; ESTC S105331	393,043	443

little nearer we shall see it vanishing into nothing but deceit and mischeife For 1. What is this great all that he makes profer of A great catch iust nothing but shadowes and representations of things in themselues nothing at all but the show he had made 2. As this great all was but a show so it was but for a moment for shadowes cannot continue and what were Christ the better if he had beene put in possession of the things themselues if they so suddenly vanish away before he can giue a sight of them 3. His best and largest promises here are but in the transitory kingdoms of this life which all passe away as a shadow so as if he had offred and could haue performed the things themselues it had beene no great matter he neuer offers and makes good any sound grace or the things of Gods kingdome which are things onely worth hearkning after 4. Will he giue all the kingdomes and all the glory of them to Christ alone why what righteousnesse or iustice could be herein will he rob and spoile all other Kings and rulers in the world of their right and soueraignty which God had inuested them in and this all at once and in a moment 5. Whereas he pretends a gift he intends a deare bargaine and offring nothing but pure and vnmixed glory he would rob Christ our head and all his members at once of all ioy and happines both externall and eternall Of this kinde are all his promises be promised to Eue deity but it prooued mortallity and misery he promised Cai● respect and loue if he could make Abel out of the way but it prooued the casting of himselfe out from the face of God his fathers family 1. He that meanes not in true dealing to performe any thing may promise as much as he will Satan meant not to giue Christ one kingdome and he may as well promise all as one 2. His enmity and hatred of God and mans saluation makes him large in his promises he knowes how s●●ly temptations on the right hand steale into the heart and that no enemy is so dangerous as he that comes in pretence of kindnesse When he seekes to draw man to hell with him he takes on him to teach him how to become a God When Christ was to suffer he would haue him to spare himselfe to hinder mans saluation he will offer kingdomes all kingdomes with all the wealth and pleasure of them Satan herein deales as Iaacobs sonnes with the Sichemites they made very faire promises that if they would be circumcised they would giue their daughters and take their daughters and dwell together as one people Gen. 34.16 but they talked deceitfully v. 13. intending onely to reuenge vpon them as they did when the males were sore by meanes of their circumcising Satan can promise a victory to Ahab but it is to chase him before his enemie to confusion 3. He knowes mans credulity and follie who is easily taken with faire words which makes fooles faine their eyes beeing wholly vpon things before them Besides howsoeuer our blessed Lord here was fenced that the least inordinate affection could not fasten vpon him although he had all the obiects in the world to mooue him yet he commonly findes men and women fitted for his turne doating vpon the world and needs no such large offers as here are made to Christ but for lesse commodity and glory then that in one kingdome will fall downe and worship him 4. Satan is so much the larger in his promises to imitate God whom he sees encouraging his seruants by making couenant with them and promising them all the good things of this life and that to come as to Abraham All that thou seest I will giue thee Now to draw men from Gods couenant if it were possible and to disgrace the same Satan seekes to get men in league with him by larger promises of the world then euer God made to one man because that carrieth their whole desires and as God for the ratifying of his couenant hath appointed Sacraments and seales so the deuill hath certaine words figures characters ceremonies and charmes for the confirmation of his league with them and their faith in that league Hence obserue a difference betweene Gods promises and the deuills 1. They differ in the matter Satan profers earthly shadowes earthly kingdomes things that glance through the sense worldly things which may be perceiued and thrust into the eye and senses all at once the best of which is but a phantasie as Paul calls the great pompe of Agrippa and Bernice things of a moment for continuance that last as long as the fulnesse of the moone scarce seene but vanishing But the matter of Gods promises is the kingdome not of earth but of heauen and the glory thereof to which all earthly things are but appendices things which cannot be shadowed for the eye cannot see nor the eare heare neither can it enter into the heart of an earthly man to conceiue what God hath prepared for them that loue him 1. Cor. 2.9 The great promises of God are matters of faith not of sense and for continuance he promiseth a kingdome vnshaken eternall reserued in the heauens a glory not withering or fading vnlike the glory of flesh of all which the Prophet saith it is like the flower of the field Isa. 40.6 2. They differ in the scope and aime of them Gods promises all serue to prouoke and encourage men to lay hold vpon the couenant of life to draw men nearer God in faith and obedience 2. Cor. 7.1 Seeing we haue these precious promises let vs clense our selues from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit and grow vp vnto full 〈…〉 in the feare of God But Satans promises tend to fix 〈…〉 world as here hee would make Christ the greatest 〈…〉 it to withdraw men from God and their couenant with him to pull them from the seruice of the God of heauen to worship himselfe or serue their lusts or embrace the world or bow to any thing but the true God 3. They differ in the accomplishment God is euer as good or better then his word Tit. 1.2 God who cannot lie hath promised To Dauid as Nathan witnesseth in his reproofe 2. Sam. 12.8 he gaue his Lords house his Lords wiues his Lords kingdome and if that had beene little he would haue giuen him more To Salomon he promised long life or wealth or wisedome and in the accomplishment he giues him both life and wealth and wisedome But Satan is neuer so good as his word but a liar in all his promises For 1. He wants power to performe when he promiseth that which is none of his as the kingdomes of the world Or 2. He wants purpose and will to performe his promise For had he a purpose and minde to haue giuen Christ the kingdoms of the world if he had had power Doth not he enuie to euery man the fruition of

others let afflicted and humbled soules lay hold and make vse of this exhortation for Satan doth with so much the more violence assault them as he findeth it easier to preuaile with them for well he knowes that howsoeuer they heartily detest all other sinnes and much adoe he hath to bring them to his lure in other yet their spirits beeing oppressed and wounded by the sense of sinne and Gods dispeasure for it he findes them inclinable enough vpon euery triuiall temptation to despaire and so makes a wide breach by their improuidence watching narrowly all other things but not that which they ought most of all and which Satan most of all impugneth Quest. How may I strengthen and stablish my faith Answ. By obseruing these few directions I. Consider the excellency of this grace for those onely that know it are in loue with it and will vse meanes to preserue and increase it And this excellency appeares in these branches 1. It is the first stone to be laid in Christianity called a subsistence or foundation Heb. 11.1 from whence also Christians are styled 1. Cor. 1. and the houshold of faith Gal. 10.6 of which Christ himselfe hath vndertaken to be the author and finisher and hath appointed all his ordinances to breed and perfect it in the hearts of all that shall atteine the end of it which is saluation namely the word of faith Rom. 10.8 the sacraments the seales of faith chap. 4 11. and the prayer of faith Iam. 5.15 2. It is the beginning of our blessednes Ioh. 20.29 Blessed is he that hath not seene and yet beleeueth It espouseth vs to God and Christ and ascerteineth vs of the marriage day It honoureth God as Abraham by beleeuing gaue glory to God and makes vs witnesse that God is true which is not more honour to God then our selues Ioh. 3.33 3. All our strength is from faith Heb. 11.33 by faith the Saints subdued Kingdomes and were strong in battell faith is the victory whereby we ouercome the world by faith we stand A graine of it can worke wonders and what then can strong faith It drawes vertue from Christ who himselfe was foyled by it in the Syrophenissan All things are possible to it Mar. 9.23 Giue Peter faith he shall not sinke but shall walke on the sea Matth. 14.29 4. All our present comfort is from it peace with God and peace in our consciences Rom. 5.1.2 comfort in afflictions it beareth great weights vncrusht it selfe beeing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sound and sure foundation According to the measure of faith is the measure of all other graces and comforts As a man beleeueth so he obeyeth loueth prayeth and is heard Yea not onely the measure of grace here but of glory hereafter is proportioned to the measure of faith And is it not worth preseruing and increasing II. Vse meanes to increase and strengthen it and they be these 1. Acquaint thy selfe with the word of God often read repeated preached meditated and conferred on this is the word of faith and euery thing is fed and preserued by that whereof it is begotten and the often hearing reading meditating and conferring of it doth fixe and digest it and makes it at hand to comfort the weary hands and weake knees And we must not onely frequent the audible but also the visible word that is reuerently and conscionably vse the blessed Sacraments which are signes and seales of Gods fauour and our faith Those that say they beleeue and yet neglect the word and Sacraments deceiue themselues for there is nothing to saue where is no meanes of sauing A man cares not greatly for an empty chest Neither can faith stay where she sees not her selfe respected Oh take heed of Satans subtilty who to hold men in infidelity withholds them from vision and to starue mens soules intercepts their food And in comming to the word consider the excellent promises that are made to faith and take speciall notice of places which may batter the deuills temptations to vnbeleefe 2. Obserue the tokens of Gods loue and fauour towards thee and because no man knowes loue or hatred by things before him labour to find it in spirituall things how much thy heart loueth him which is a reflexion of his loue what ioy of the spirit what assistance in former trialls what strength patience issue and vse of them thou hast Experience of God is a strong prop when the soule can gather from former time a cōclusion of Gods presence and aide for time to come So did Dauid Psal. 23. vlt. and 1. Sam. 17.34.37 and Psal. 143.4.5 and 77.7 to 13. Hath the Lord forgotten to be mercifull and shut vp his louing kindnesse in vtter displeasure I said this is my death yet I remembred the yeares of the right hand of the most High I remembred the workes of old And how iustly doe some faint in trouble for want of obseruing the wayes of God with them in former trialls and deliuerances 3. Labour to get and keep the assurance of thy adoption for then the gates of hell shall not preuaile to hurt thee The former by the witnesse of the Spirit which will alway vphold vs in afflictions if our care be not to grieue and quench him So long as the spirit of consolation possesseth the heart what sound comfort can be wanting but if he depart in displeasure neither can our faith or comfort be long vpheld The latter by keeping good conscience for faith and good conscience stand and fall together an accusing conscience weakens faith and destroyes boldnes that we dare not come neere vnto God wheras contrarily our election is made sure by good workes 2. Pet. 1.5 and by the fruits of the Spirit It stands vs in hand if we would stand against Satan in the day of triall to take heede of admitting any thing against our conscience which the Apostle compares to a shippe fraughted with precious wares such as faith loue ioy with other graces Now if we cracke our shippe of conscience we make shipwracke of faith and the other graces which good conscience had preserued 4. Faith beeing the free gift of God who is the author and finisher of it a means to stablish it is feruent and continuall prayer as the Apostles knew well enough Luk. 17.5 saying Lord increase our faith and that good man Mar. 9.24 Lord I beleeue help my vnbeleefe Christ praies for the not failing of thy faith wilt not thou pray for thy owne A speciall marke of the least measure of faith is that it can pray for more III. When thou feelest Satan assalting thy faith and hiding from thine eyes the loue of God then set before thine eyes Gods gracious promises made and to be made good to thee in Iesus Christ both because 1. of the generality of them which run without excepting thee if thou doest not except thy selfe as also 2. because they are built and grounded not vpon thy sense and feeling but

iudgement as the deuills confessed Art thou come to torment vs before the time and yet he so besotteth and blindeth others that they make but a mocke of all as those in Peter who mocked and said Where is his comming 2. Pet. 3.1 Satan knowes that God is all an eye to whom day and darkenes are alike yet in tempting men to secret sinnes he will make them say Tush who sees vs can God see through the thicke cloud The deuill knowes that God is iust and will not take the wicked by the hand and yet he makes the sinner beleeue his case is good enough beeing a most graceles man and makes one wicked man say of another as in Malachi We count the proud blessed c. The deuill knowes that he that goeth on in sinne shall not prosper yet he makes the sinner who turnes from the word to beleeue he shall prosper As this temptation aimed to ouerthrow the word of God so also the faith of Christ in that word namely to bring him from his assurance that he was the Sonne of God Whence we may learne that Satan in his temptations against all the members of Christ aimeth to destroy their faith This Christ himselfe witnesseth that Satan desired to winnow the Disciples but himselfe prayed that their faith might not faile Luk. 22.31 1. Thess. 3.5 for this cause when I could no longer forbeare I sent Timothie that I might know of your faith least the tempter had tempted you in any sort And hence his continuall practise is to bring men to the extreams of faith in aduersity to despaire in time of prosperity to presumption 1. He maligneth faith as beeing a speciall gift and marke of Gods elect because it is giuen to them onely and to all them and therefore is called the faith of Gods elect Tit. 1.1 and to faith is the worke of regeneration ascribed Act. 15.9 2. All Satans temptations tend to breake off the couenant and communion betweene God and his children and therefore must in speciall manner aime against faith for by faith we are made the Sons of God Gal. 3.26 God espouseth marrieth vs vnto himselfe by faith Hos. 2.20 by faith we are brought into the grace by which we stand 3. He knowes that faith is our sheild wherby we both keep off the fiery darts of Satan and quench the same and that faith is the victory whereby we ouercome the world this is it that makes all his temptations forceles for though we haue no power of our selues to withstand him yet faith gets power from Christ and layes hold on his strength which quells all the aduersary-power of our saluation We stand by faith saith the Apostle and Satan sees the truth of Christs speach that the gates of hell shall neuer preuaile against it He hath reason therefore to labour to weaken it and to root it out if it were possible out of the hearts of men and out of the world 4. All his temptations bend themselues to cut off and intercept the course of Gods loue and his fauours to his children hee bursts with enuie at the happinesse of the Saints But vnlesse he gaine their faith he cannot interrupt this for by faith as by an hand we receiue Christ himselfe giuen vs of the Father Eph. 3.17 and with him all his merits and all things belonging to life and godlines We receiue the promise of the spirit by faith Gal. 3.14 yea the presence of the Spirit who dwels in our hearts by faith we receiue the hope and hold of our blessed inheritance hereafter Gal. 5.5 And whereas Satans continuall drift is to estrange God and vs faith only crosseth him by which we haue entrance and boldnes to the throne of grace by our prayers to speake vnto God freely as to our father Eph. 3.12 Hebr. 10.22 yea to aske what we will and obtaine not onely all corporall blessings good for vs but also the sanctified and pure vse of them whereas the vnbeleeuer corrupts himselfe in them continually 5. Satan well knowes that faith is the ground of all obedience without which the word and all Gods ordinances are vnprofitable Heb. 4.2 without which there is no pleasing of God Hebr. 11.6 in any thing for whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne Hath hee not reason then to assay by all his strength to take this hold from vs Doth not he knowe that the foundation being ouerthrowne the whole building must f●ll and the roote ouerturned all the tree and branches come downe with it Seuer a man from his faith he tumbles in impietie and vnrighteousnes hee is odious to God in all things Satan ●ramples vpon him and leads him at his will From all which reasons we see that Satan especially in temptations aimes at our faith as he did at Christs Those who neuer felt any temptation but euer beleeued and neuer doubted as they say neuer had faith for neuer had any man true faith but it was assayled most fiercely neuer was faith laid vp in the heart of any child of God but the combate between nature and grace faith and frailtie flesh and spirit was presently proclaimed Eues faith was wonne from her quickly Abrahams faith was mightily assailed which because in such a combate he retained he was renowned and stiled the father of all the faithfull and faithfull Abraham Moses his faith was shaken and his great sinne was vnbeleefe Iob in his miserie was many waies assailed to distrust God as his words import If hee kill me I will trust in him still and Satans aime was to bring him to blaspheme God and die As the deuill laboureth most against our faith so should we most labour in fortifying it Policie teacheth men to plant the most strength at that fort or part of the wall where the enemie plants his greatest ordnance and makes the strongest assault And nature teacheth vs to defend all our parts but especially our head and heart and such like vitall parts the very serpent will saue his head so long as he can by naturall instinct whatsoeuer become of other parts Our cheife fortresse is our faith we haue no grace but is worth preseruing and sauing yet of them all Faith is as it were the Head and leader it sends the vitall spirits of heauenly life to the whole man Let grace therefore teach vs to saue this grace which is the heart of a Christian aboue all the rest and to beware of the least pricke or cracke in it which is dangerous A man may receiue great gashes and wounds in his armes and thighes or exteriour parts and recouer it well enough not so in the heart or braine Though thy comfort ioy feeling yea and fruits may faile take heed thy faith thy root faile not This is that which the Apostle Peter exhorteth 1.5.9 whome resist stedfast in the faith wherein if a man sit not very fast Sathan will soone vn-horse him And of all

compact And this is euident by the confession of all witches at this day and by the Scripture Of this kind was this in our text Satan offers to compact with our Sauiour Christ and there wanted nothing but the free consent of our Sauiour to the condition But the more secret compact is the more generall and no lesse dangerous though Satan be lesse seene in it And of this kind the deuill makes many couenants in the world and innumerable persons contract with him vnderhand perhaps not thinking they do so And this two wayes 1. By a secret faith in the deuill 2. By a secret consent vnto the deuill Secret faith in the deuill is when a man vseth any superstitious or diabolicall meanes for the effecting of his desire which he knows neither in themselues nor from Gods institution haue any such power to effect things but from the power of the deuill as the vse of charmes or spells figures characters amulets scratching of a Witch or the like which hauing no power in themselues nor by Gods ordinance can doe no good but by a secret faith in the deuill who by Gods permission puts power in them to heale men for their delusion Secret consent vnto the deuill is yet more common then the former though the former be the common cure of common people namely when Satan secretly suggesteth and offereth to make a couenant and bargaine with a man without any expresse forme of contract but by inward temptation putteth the motion into the heart as of Iudas that if he will vse such an vnlawfull meanes or vpon such a condition he will effect his purpose which he earnestly desireth to attaine now the party blinding his owne iudgement by the eagernesse of his affection giues his consent to Satan and accepts the condition which mutuall and silent consent of partie with partie is a reall bargaine and couenant Satan solicites the heart and the heart consents to Satan here is a secret compact by which numbers of men are in league with the deuil that would be loath to be thought so to be Yea numbers there are that receiue the greatest part of their earthly portion at the hands of the deuill by vertue of this compact secretly beleeuing or consenting vnto him This serues to let vs see the difference between Gods gifts and the deuills in fowre things 1. Gods gifts come all from grace and loue he freely bestowes his blessings for his loue is euerlasting before our owne beeing and our inheritance is eternall aboue our merit and in the heauens aboue our reach But Satans gifts proceed out of his endles hatred and are wages of vnrighteousnesse 2. Gods gifts are deriued to vs by good and warrantable meanes diligence labour prayers Satans for the most part by wicked meanes Gods conditions are profitable and safe Satans hurtfull and dangerous by the breach of some commandement by impietie or iniustice 3. Gods gifts are first bestowed vpon vs and then obedience is required as a testification of thankefulnesse not as merit Satans are after our worke as a merit and wages of sin first fall downe and worship me and then I will giue thee all these things 4. Gods gifts are in mercie for our saluation and comfort and encouragement in his seruice Satans to draw vs from his seruice and to dragge vs to destruction Let this doctrine make vs afraid to receiue any thing from the hand of the deuill and accept of nothing but God offers For 1. God is more able and willing to doe vs good then the deuill is vnlesse we thinke with those wicked ones that it is in vaine to serue the Lord. 2. An enemy is neuer so dangerous as when he flattereth and fawneth he neuer kisseth but killeth with Ioab or betrayeth with Iudas his gifts are deare bought his conditions are intollerable he will haue a better thing for it euen our precious soules 3. A little from Gods hands is far better then if we could receiue all the world and the glory of it at the deuills for this comes with blessing with promise with contentment with good conscience so doth not the other Therefore be the iust mans portion small or great it is euer precious it hath no sorrow added to it as Salomon speaketh Quest. How may I know I receiue any thing from the deuill Answ. When any thing is gotten by the breach of any commandement of God as by swearing lying deceit oppression and the like this is a gift of the deuill and the wages of vnrighteousnes Note here how like the vsurer is to the deuill the deuill saith he will giue so the vsurer faith he will lend which should be free as gift but then comes a condition of ten in the hundreth which is more then the lending is worth Satan is an enemy to all charity and so is hee The like may be said of couetous men who will doe no good but where they looke for returne of the like or more as like the deuill as may be and altogether vnlike to God who doth good where he can receiue none sowes where he reaps not See the misery of men who accept of Satans profers 1. Such as are in open league with him as wizzards who binde themselues to renounce God and their baptisme and redemption by Christ and to beleeue in the deuill to expect aide from him and giue him body and soule for that help which is the substance of the solemne leagues made by such limmes of Satan he is of the sure side with them they can gaine nothing by him vnlesse he gaine themselues first And such by Gods law ought not to liue 2. Worldly-minded men with whom he deales as with Esau hee giues them a messe of pottage but on condition to sell their birthright a silly match is made presently an exchange of earth for heauen 3. Men impatient in losses or sicknesse who runne to the witch as not knowing what to doe with themselues But Satan neuer easeth the body of temporall paines but to cast the soule into eternall 4. Ambitious and discontented persons that take preferments of Satan vpon base conditions Absolom shall haue a kingdome on condition he will rebell against his owne father Zimri a captaine vnder Baasha 1. Kin. 16.10 shall haue the kingdome of Israel if he will rebell and slay his Master Discontented Papists shall diuide the land among themselues if they will blow vp the Parliament house Now if we would auoid the dangerous compacts with Satan let vs obserue these rules 1. Beware of profanenesse which is a sinne where men carelesly loose heauen and the ioyes thereof for these lower and earthly things as Esau to satisfie his lusts despised the blessing Heb. 12.16 Let there be none such amongst vs. 2. Beleeue the truth of Gods profers and promises to relie on them and thou shalt be fenced from Satans lies 2. Thess. 2.10 3. Consider how easily men powre out themselues for Balaams wages couetousnes