Selected quad for the lemma: grace_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
grace_n	deny_v	teach_v	ungodliness_n	4,302	5	11.7286	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A62549	Six severall treatises ... by the late worthy and faithful servant of Jesus Christ, John Tillinghast ; published by his own notes.; Selections. 1657	Tillinghast, John, 1604-1655.; Petto, Samuel, 1624?-1711.; Manning, John, d. 1694.	1657 (1657)	Wing T1180; ESTC R21376	167,572	313

doth extend unto but those to whom it doth extend are persons under such a condemnation So when we say the Tromises of Grace are made to persons as Sinners i. e. as they are in such a state and condition it doth not now follow that they are made to all sinners no but it onely shews that they are persons in such a state and condition which onely shall have benefit by the promise of Grace Object 5. But thus to tender the Promises of Grace to persons as they are sinners is the only way to make men presume and to harden them in their sins Answ 1. Not so The grace of God teacheth a quire contrary lesson T it 2. v. 11 12. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Rom. 6.14 For sin shall not have dominion over you for yee are not under the Law but under Grace 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these promises dearly beloved let us cleause our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 I grant some from the preaching of free Grace take occasion to presume yet is not the fault in the grace of God nor preaching thereof but in themselves and the naughtiness of their hearts As when a Magistrate proclaims pardon freely to a company of persons in actual rebellion if they from the grace and clemency of the Magistrate shall take occasion to persist or others to rise up in rebellion the fault is not in the Magistrate or his so doing but in them it is in him an act of grace and clemency it is their wickedness doth abuse it So in this case 3 Jesus Christ is set up as welt to be a stumbling stone and a rock of offence to some as to be salvation to others God hath laid Christ in Sion for these two great ends 1 Pet. 2. v. 6 7 8. Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner stone elect precious and hee that beleeveth on him shall not be confounded Unto you therefore which beleeve hee is precious but unto them which bee disobedient the stone which the builders disallowed the same is made the head of the corner and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence even to them which stumble at the word Rom 9.33 Behold I lay in Sion a stumbling stone a rock of offence Wheresoever the Gospel is preached there are two great designes on foot together the greatest that ever were in world viz. of the eternal salvation or condemnation of poor sinners The one glorified Justice the other Mercy what if some hearing the word of grace do presume it may bee God may have a secret design that some in hearing the grace of God should presume and stumble at that to their eternal condemnation which had they in love and sincerity imbraced would have been to their everlasting salvation The presumptions therefore of some men should not hinder the declaration of the grace of God 4 So long as a man in holding forth the grace of God doth really aime at the bringing in and building up of souls knowing no better way to effect it than preaching of grace abhorring from his heart the thought thereof that any should abuse this grace and turn it into wantonness if any do hee is free from the guilt of their sin and the danger will fall on their heads 5 The primary care of a Gospel Minister should bee to give children bread if they cannot have it but dogs will be snatching shall children be starved 6 If the grace of God should not bee held forth untill wicked men will not abuse it it must not whilst such are in the world for so long they will 7 Wee are not so much to look at the consequence of an action as whether the action it self bee according to the will appointment or institution of the Lord Jesus Christ Ill consequences oftentimes may and do follow the best practices as the bringing of some notorious Traitor or Murderer to his trial may occasion others to rise up in rebellion in his behalf yet doth not this make the act it self evil nay it is very good and the neglect or omission of it would be evill 8 If because sin takes occasion by the doctrine of grace it must not bee preached then must not men preach the Law neither because sin takes occasion from that also Rom. 7.8 Sin taking occasion by the commandement wrought in me all manner of concupiscence Upon this ground therefore neither Law nor Gospel must be preached Vse 1. Hence wee may see the mistake of many persons who look upon the Gospel and all the promises thereof as made to Saints whereas they are to sinners A sinner quatenus a sinner is the proper object of the grace of the Gospel Now looking on it thus there are these inconveniencies follow 1 They never come whilst they walk by such principles to any stedfastness in the faith for whilst they can look upon themselves as Saints they think grace is theirs and the promise theirs but when the contrary then they conclude they have no part in grace no right to the promise thus they are to and fro Saints to day to morrow Hypocrites to day in Gods favour to morrow out like a loose bone sometimes in joynt sometimes out 2 They injoy but little of the Spirit of Adoption which is a sweet child-like frame which makes a man come running to God and cry Abba Father Now they injoy but little of this being in continual doubts whether or no they may call God Father when they cannot see themselves Saints they are afraid to do it and when they can they speak it but faintly as fearing they may be deceived God is not their Father 3 They do God but little service whilst they can see themselves Saints they pray c. but when they cannot they are sullen and mopish and will do little or nothing for God 4 They know not how to bear afflictions for let but an affliction come and they have not faith to beleeve themselves Saints and then presently they cry out This is out or wrath now God meets with mee for such and such sins the affliction will undo me c. 5 Their very comforts and assurance are but seeds of doubting afterwards For will the soul say If I may conclude my self the childe of God when I see my self a Saint can pray c. then when I cannot see my self a Saint but the contrary why should I not conclude the contrary yea ought I not so to do 6 They are led back to an Old Testament faith It was very usual with the Saints of the Old Testament to conclude their condition to bee good or bad accordingly as they found themselves to bee thus and thus qualified or not as will appear if you look into many places in the Psalms And hence it is

as thou hast done what say you to Paul and others Object 5. But Christ doth not belong to me Answ 1. Thou shouldest not hearken to an objection which tends to drive thee from Christ when he commands to come to him 2 If God gives thee a heart to come then is the matter out of doubt Christ belongs to thee for beleeving gives thee a right Gal. 3.22 That the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might bee given to them that beleeve 3 Whether Christ belong to thee or no it s better to cast thy self upon him and dye in obedience than to run from him and dye in disobedience 4 Whatsoever makes against faith is assuredly from the Devil and not to bee beleeved this doth so Object 6. But I am not elected Answ 1. Election is a secret secrets belong to God I am not to question Gods secret will whether or no I am elected but to obey his revealed will which commands to beleeve 2 The way to know election being a secret is not to question the same but beleeve in hope against hope Heb. 11.1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen 3 Upon this ground thou shalt never beleeve for if thou canst not know thine election but by beleeving and wilt not beleeve till thou knowest thou art elected thou shalt never beleeve 4 By this thou wrongest Gods intention in revealing it who never revealed it to keep souls from coming to Christ but to strengthen their faith being come 5 Thou hereby settest one part of Gods will against another that which discovers election against that which requires beleeving 6 Thy questioning thou art not elected proves not the thing if any thing the contrary because Satan the father of lies tells thee so Object 7. But I have no power to come to Christ Ans Seek a power of God see a Promise for encouragement Isa 40.29 30 31. He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he increaseth strength vers 30. Even the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall vers 31. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint Obj. 8. But I have not a heart to seek Ans Hast no tongue neither seek though with thy lips God may give a heart whilst thou art speaking Hos 14.1 2 Take words and turn to the Lord say unto him take away all iniquity and receive us graciously Obj. 9. But alas I have a long time sought a power and finde none which hath made me weary and to give over seeking Ans 1. God is a free Agent and therefore will not be limited to time or ways in working but will work when and how he pleaseth and likewise an infinite being and therefore a Creature may not comprehend him in time which destroys his infiniteness but leave him all time to work in his own It was Israels fault to limit God Psal 78.41 Yea they turned back and tempted God and limited the holy one of Israel 2 Thou hast not sought perhaps in faith therefore not found what thou seekest for Jam. 4.3 Yee ask and receive not because yee ask amiss Israel sought righteousness yet obtained not why Rom. 9.31 32 with Chap. 11.7 Israel which followed after the Law of righteousness hath not attained to the Law of righteousness vers 32. Wherefore because they sought it not by faith So 3 Wilt thou say because thou hast not thou never shalt this conclusion follows not 4 God works all for the glory of his grace which as yet may be more magnified in denying than giving when a soul can live no longer without a mercy it comes with a welcome and grace is exalted hence God oft seems to deny a mercy not because hee wil not give but because the extreamity is not so great as may stand with the advancement of his grace in giving Isa 30.18 And therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious unto you and therefore will he be exalted that he may have mercy upon you Isa 33.10 Now will I rise saith the Lord now will I be exalted now will I lift up my self Isa 63.12 13 14 Where is he that put his holy Spirit within him that led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm dividing the water before them to make himself an everlasting name vers 13. That led them thorow the deep as an horse in the wilderness that they should not stumble vers 14. As a beast goeth down into the valley the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest so didst thou lead thy people to make thy self a glorious name 5 The longer a thing hath been sought the more sweet and satisfying when found long seeking will make Christ sweeter Mercy sweeter 6 Thou faintest and art weary see what God saith to one in this condition Isa 40.28 to the end Hast thou not known hast thou not heard that the everlasting God the Lord the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not neither is weary There is no searching of his understanding 7 Adde to thy seeking waiting if inferiors wait on Superiors much more should creatures on the Creator seeking shews want and desire this may have self-love in it waiting shews subjection to God and submission to his will this is true Self-denial to such a blessing is pronounced Isa 30.18 Blessed are all they that wait for him Object 10. But I am filled with fears as I think none that I am a rejected person a cast-away and therefore in vain to come Answ This ariseth onely from Israels mistake Isa 40.27 My way is hid from the Lord and my judgement is passed over from my God Yet see her folly vers 28 29 c. Hast thou not known Yea Sion from the same mistake saith as much yet false Isa 49.14 15 16. But Zion said The Lord hath forsaken mee and my Lord hath forgotten mee vers 15. Can a woman forget her sucking childe that she should not have compassion on the Son of her womb yea they may forget yet will not I forget thee vers 16. Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands thy walls are continually before mee It can be nothing but sin can make thee think thus See what God saith to it Jer. 51.5 For Israel hath not been forsaken nor Judah of his God of the Lord of hosts though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel Object 11. But I have been with Christ and since am a notorious backslider and dare not come again Answ Though it hath been thy sin to run from him yet now it is thy duty to come again to him thou hast not been so ready to run away but hee is as ready to receive thee Consider but one example of God to Israel Jer. 2.3 both Chapters 1

expectation for him my soul waited for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning Psal 130.6 How doth a soul watch for the morning a poor soul that is tired out and hath felt the pains and afflictions of the night and could not get a wink of sleep now hee waits with great expectation for the morning so a soul waits with great expectation and earnestly waits for God Why now is it so that a Christian is to live by faith even in respect of his Expectation wee may see a necessity of this in our Justification not any comfort of that without it in our Sanctification and Expectation we must exercise faith in all That which I would speak is to put us on to wait upon God in faith let us in all our waitings wait in faith my poor soul hath been waiting for such a mercy and for such a mercy and it comes not O wait in faith Take some few considerations for this 1 It is better for a soul to be kept up by faith in a waiting frame for a mercy than it is for a soul or would be for a soul to enjoy that mercy waited for it is better and many times a greater mercy to be kept up in a waiting frame of heart for the mercy than to enjoy that mercy waited for if you did enjoy it you would rest upon the enjoyment and so our life is turned into a sensible life and is it not better to live by faith than by sense and better to wait upon the Lord for the mercy than to enjoy it 2 Again There is more of the Power of God put forth in your condition of waiting than in the other a great power p●t forth to support a poor soul to wait upon the Lord to wait upon him what great power is put forth to inable us to beleeve Ephes 1.10 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us ward who beleeve according to the working of his mighty power power and great power and exceeding greatness of power and working of mighty power to inable a soul to beleeve that is that power that inables a soul to hang and wait upon God and hence it is that Paul does close with this when that mercy which he had been seeking of God for that the Thorne in the flesh and die messenger of Satan might depart from him was denied he said he should have more experience of the power of God though I would gladly bee out of it so long as God will bee with me in it and his strength made perfect in my weakness most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ might rest upon me 2 Cor. 12.8 9. so in Isa 40. ult They shall renew their strength there is a continual communication of power to inable a poor soul to wait to the soul that waits upon God and so it is better because it hath more experience of the power of God 3 Again it is better then there is in enjoying because there is more exercise of grace than in the condition of enjoyment the grace of enjoyment is chiefly joy but in waiting there is abundance of grace faith exercised and humility and patience and contentment and submission to the will of God and Self-denial exercised if the Lord will not give it it will deny it self there is a great deal of the exercise of grace in that condition therefore you cry out O I have not such a mercy and the exercise of such a grace as I would have I have not such strength against corruption and such parts and gifts and abilities now may not this very condition that by faith you wait upon God in be better to you than the condition that you would have that condition you wait upon God in than that condition that you wait for if you did enjoy it 2 Again consider if so be that by faith you do wait upon God for a mercy you shall assuredly in Gods time have the mercy you wait for Isa 44. those shall not be ashamed that wait upon the Lord vers 23. They shall not be ashamed that wait for me saith the Lord that wait for him the Apostle Paul grants this in Rom. 10.11 Whosoever beleeveth in him shall not be ashamed teaching us that our waiting must bee in a way of faith now a soul that waits upon God in a way of faith shall not be ashamed what is that it is that hee shall not miss of what he waits for as one that trusts in another and makes a boast of him is ashamed of his trust if hee fail Now if a soul should trust in God and make a boast of God God hath promised and if it should fail and not bee given in the soul should bee ashamed now he that waits upon God shall not be ashamed they that trust in Aegypt and Ethiopia shall bee ashamed of it but God will not fail them that trust in him They that wait upon the Lord shall never be ashamed what though it do not come in in thy time it will come in in Gods time there is a waiting time and a fulfilling time a time to wait upon God for the fulfilling of the Promise and that waiting time goes before the fulfilling time in Habakkuk 2.3 For the vision in yet for an appointed time but at the end it shall speak and not lye though it tarry wait for it because it will surely come it will not tarry a double tarrying it will not tarry it doth tarry and though it doth tarry it will not tarry all that time a soul is to live by faith waiting upon God waiting for it and in its time it will surely come and not tarry when the fulfilling time is come it will not tarry So have you been waiting upon God for such a mercy and a great time it is that you have waited for it and it is not come why this is the waiting time when the fulfilling time is come it will come you have been waiting for strength against corruption for the performance of such duties the exercise of this and the other grace why though it tarry it will not tarry As God will have thee to wait all the waiting time so hee will come in the fulfilling time God is very exact and punctual in observing the appointed time in fulfilling of his Promise God will not lose a minute when the time is come he will come in Exodus this is very clear Exod. 12.41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years even the self same day it came to pass that all the Hosts of the Lord went out of the land of Aegypt now see how punctual God is in the self same day God takes notice of a day God will not lose a day in four hundred and thirty years he will not lose a day so exact is hee in observing his day and time it is twice noted therefore in the