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
A93368	Soule-reviving influences of the sun of righteousnesse, or Some bright beames of light and love, sparkling from Christ upon the darke and drooping hearts of sin-weakend and clouded believers, even while we are in this solitary wildernesse, not yet arrived at the land of spirituall Canaan; but taking a turne in the darke and dampe valley of the shadow of death. With several evangelicall and heart-winning incouragements to the life of faith in the Sonne of God, notwithstanding our manifold weaknesses and hainous provocations; yea to the keeping up of the same comfort, hope confidence, and joy in him in the sadest straights, of the sorest darknesse.	Smith, John, of Badgworth.	1654 (1654)	Wing S4091A; Thomason E1485_1; ESTC R208761	97,631	237

imputation of Christs righteousnesse inherent in him who sits at the right hand of God and farre above the reach and spheare of sins activity and is therefore perfect and compleate yea the foundation of all blessednesse The later is in our selves and therefore weake and uncertaine he that understands not the true nature and doctrine of justification cannot enjoy true stable and constant peace In the right understanding of this point is treasured up a fountaine of soul-reviving consolation 11. Means Let not thy comfort depend upon thy owne personal sanctification because from it there can no stable comfort proceede this is none of the least causes of much trouble in many weak believers viz. to seeke the living among the dead to think to suck consolation at the brest of their own sanctification whereas the spiritualized Christians experience tels him that his sanctification hath nothing to do with his justification or salvation as any cause of it sanctification also admits of degrees but justification neither of rules nor degrees and is abundantly more glorious then sanctification nor having any dependency upon our apprehending or receiving it but upon what the Lord Jesus hath done for us justification is effected by Christ and apprehended by faith The Spirit and faith do evidence unto us our justification All that believe are justified c. The Spirit also in another place intimates unto us that it is possible to have a full assurance of faith faith is an unquestionable evidence and when faith is hidden and doubtful Justification is not apprehended nor sanctification evident but doubtful and so cannot evidence unto us our Justification but rather induce us to call it into question And that soule that apprehends its free justification by Christ Jesus alone may live upon it and thence enjoy unspeakeable peace joy and strength the sweete fruits and effects thereof yea at that time when he sees no personal sanctification in himselfe since Christ is made unto him sanctification Why may not a soule live by faith upon that at all times and say I have sanctification in him that hath justified me and this is perfect my own actual righteousnesse often failes me saith such a soul but Christs endures for ever therefore wil I fetch all my comfort from Christ and from my free justification by him And as we are not to conclude our justification from any effect of sanctification so we are not to conclude that apprehension of Justification to be from God which takes us off the meanes waies or rules of sanctification for when the grace of God appeares it teaches men to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and in our souls bodies and conversations to honour and magnifie the God of our mercies who hath justifi'd us freely by his grace 12. Means Allow not your selves in any sin but in the strength of God hate and abhor all sin and the appearance thereof yea with the greaest indignation it is better to die then to sinne there is that in sin which strikes at a poore believers peace and comfort and joy in God it wil damp and straighten the soul yea is a let to our faith and brings unsettledness and disquietness to the poor soul 13. Means Mind seriously those promises that are sutable to thy condition and apply them to thy owne soule God hath imparted himselfe and ingaged his faithfulnesse in the promise and it is our duty and would be our wisdome to rest thereupon in order whereunto separate thy selfe to meditate thereon thou knowest not but that God may reveale the promise more and more in thy meditation of it and settle it by his almighty power upon thy soule let not the precious promises of God be strange unto thee be not willing to leave a promise until thou art refreshed by it yea raised and ravished with thankfnlnesse for the exceeding riches of his mercy and plentious redemption held forth in them as for example that one promise in Heb. 10 17. Their sins and iniquities wil I remember no more This is enough if accompanied with the Spirit of Christ to quiet and settle a troubled soul 14. Means Treasure up experiences of Gods goodness unto thy soule Remember the dayes of old saith David I have considered the dayes of old and the years of ancient time thou hast beene my helpe I was brought low and he helped mee therefore thy God who is unchangeable wil helpe thee still and be thy refuge in the time of thy trouble I tell thee oh disquieted soule that the calling of the experience of the goodness of thy God into thy mind will be a notable means of quieting thy soule This duty the Lord knowes a poore believer is backward to But who among you wil give eare to this who wil hearken and heare for time to come It is thy duty and priviledge oh believer to set the loving kindness of thy God ever before thine eies We have thought of thy loving kindnesse oh God 15. Means Slight not nor refuse the consolations of thy God let them not seeme small unto thee Are the consolations of God small unto thee oh disowne not the comfort that God gives out for thee lest thou live to complaine as David my soul refused to be comforted and to wish that thou hadst not despised nor refused it be thankful unto the Lord for what thou hast received hold it fast improve it to the glory of the Donor and let nothing go that may tend to thy peace and establishment 16. Meanes Rest fatisfied in Christs righteousnesse and adde nothing to it I wil make mention of thy righteousnesse even of thine only Thy righteousnesse saith the Psalmist is an everlasting Righteousnesse See Psalm 31 50. 6. Jerem. 33. 16. The perfection of Christs righteousnesse is held forth unto us and alwaies lies before us for us that we may be ever comforted in it and rejoice with thanksgivings for it Oh it is compleatly perfect and ful of divine consolation yea it is a welspring of life to refresh and satisfie all the Lords people to the dayes of eternity so that we have enough we neede no other nor any more righteousnesse to live upon 17. Meanes Let not thy comfort depend upon Gods actings or dispensations towards thee whether inward or outward for so doing thou canst not be setled for these are often changeable and contrary each to other one day thou mayst have peace joy and strength another none of these to day perhaps God shewes himselfe unto thee and in a moment hee may hide himselfe to day perhaps thou art rich and enjoyest health and many friends and yet to morrow thou mayst be poore sick and thy friends alienated Gods actings in us and upon us are not alwayes as he is unto us God is unchangeable and ever the same however he may seem to be therefore

manifests himselfe to others of our Brethren and fellow Members he rises in their Hemispheare And what though thy sinnes have eclipsed the love of thy God unto thy soule The Lord onely bids thee to acknowledge thine iniquity that thou hast transgressed against the Lord c. What a poore recompence is this Turne oh backsliding children saith the Lord for I am married unto you c. Poore soule the love of God remaines still as sure and as great as ever and in his due time shall shine forth againe upon thy soul the thick clouds will blow over and the soule reviving light of his love will arise upon thee He will take away all iniquity and receive us graciously I thought I had true faith but since I fell into an hainous transgression I am perswaded that if I had beene the Lords he would not have left me to sin as I did This is a deplorable case indeed and the fruit of unbelief and of the want of watchfulnesse yet consider the Lord hath suffered such or as great if not greater spots to overtake his own dear children David sinned in adultery and murder Solomon sinned greatly after hee had obtained mercy and Peter denyeth Christ with an oath these examples are recorded to hold forth the glory of the riches of Gods free grace that men may be acquainted with the mirrour of his grace long sufferance and forbearance that so great sinners might not despaire and faint under their sinnes 2. To despair of the mercy of God because our sins are great were to limit God in his mercy which is to add sin unto sin and a greater sin then the former The Lord Jesus takes much pains and le ts out merciful power for the raising of sin-weakened souls and for the gathering of wandring Lambs Poor soul know this that the greatest sin a believer can commit ought not to make him mourn without hope for no sin can put him in the state of condemnation or bring him under the curse While we live here below God healeth not our sinfull nature wholly nor takes it quite away the flesh lusteth God ever looks upon his as they are in Christ and not simply as they are in themselves saith Paul I my selfe keepe the Law of God but with my flesh the Law of sin flesh and sin do the evil Consider Nehem. 9. 16 17. The Spirit also tells us in another place that he knowes our frame and remembers that we are but dust God hath in much wisdome and love left sinne in his to humble them and to exercise the fruits of the Spirit in them and that we might long to be where we shall not sinne also that we might the more dearly love Christ in that it is pardoned and depend upon him to subdue it and that we might not scorne nor insult over any poore sin● weakned ones but restore them with the spirit of meeknesse and that we may admire the more that rich grace of the Lord Jesus whereby notwithstanding all our provocations we have accesse unto the Father by him The Lords people are indeed taught by his spirit not to sinne that grace may abound but to love and to love with the more vehemency of affection the God of their incomprehensible mercy and to use all means against sinne and not to be over-pressed and sunk in despaire under it They also know that they are the more happy in that they were sinners else how could they be capable of union with God of mercy and heaven If there were not evil it would not be known what is good Justice and mercy had not beene known the wisdom of God could not have been known in drawing good out of evil or his love in sending the dearly beloved out of his bosom to die for us man had not come unto that happness in Christ which the Saints have and shal enjoy 3. God is never an enemy to his though they greatly sinne against him Wee are not beloved for our owne sakes nor for any thing in our selves but in Christ Who hath made us acceptable in the beloved Therefore nothing wee doe can cause God to love us more or lesse his love is as himselfe ever the same therfore a belivers hope joy and confidence is to bee ever the same in Christ Hence it is that such are alwayes to reioyce Reioyce alwayes Reioyce evermore Againe I say rejoyce Let them exceedingly rejoyce The joy of the Lord is our strength Oh there is enough in the Lord to satisfie● thee at all times he is an unchangeable object of true joy in him is all our hope and happinesse therefore let not thy fall cause thee to question the love of God unto thee thy salvation depends not upon thy repentance and holinesse See Rom. 9. 15 16. Isa 43 24 25. Ezek. 16. from 1. to ver 9. See also and mind what the Apostle saith in this case My little children these things write I unto you that you sinne not And if any man sinne we have an advocate with the Father Christ Jesus the righteous and he is a propitiation for our sins c. These things are written unto us indeed that we sinne not But as for such as turne the grace of God into wantonnesse whom the mercies of God encourage in their sinful practise these are led by the spirit of the divell he is their father and his works they doe these are not at present in any wise to be numbred with those who through temptations and weaknesse are overtaken with the sin they hate if fallen be not out of hope If the Lords children have fallen into sinne they are to rise by faith Shal a man fall and not arise Who is a God like unto thee that pardonest the transgression of the remnant of thy people God subdues the corruption that is in his not all at once but by degrees and thereupon saith I will be merciful to their unrighteousnesse and their sins and iniquities I wil remember no more God hath nothing in charge against those who are in Christ and therefore commands us to goe boldly to the throne of grace in full assurance of faith If I were fitted with Qualifications as humblenesse brokennesse of heart c. and tooke delight in hearing and praying as others I could then entertaine hope that God hath thoughts of love and mercy towards me but it is not so with me Such an objection in some may be the product of the sweet operation of the Spirit of grace which hath shewed them some amiable and desirable thing in the precious promises and wayes of God so as they pan● after them But more usually this is a whining because the worke of preparation is more sensible then the worke of

whereby they are led forth to weigh their state of grace only in the scale of mortification of sinne as it is commonly taken for dying to particular Acts and in so doing they unavoidably come short of that comfortable perswasion as to the eternal condition of their soules which others who place their assurance in Christ and his free promise do enjoy because sinne hath a stronger side in us then the Spirit and for that the spiritual condition in this life consists more in being justified from sin then cleansed from it and our blessednesse more in having the curse of sin removed then the corruption our justification being more glorious then our sanctification and our forgivenesse of sinne is farre more glorious then our cleansing from sinne for the just shall live by his faith which is not a life by sense and sanctification only but a life by believing for life in another in Christ and thereupon our life is said to be hid with Christ in God and Christ is called our life When Christ who is our life c. I speake now to the weak and wounded believers for sinne not to the carnal and unregenerate in sinne God will have Christ to be our life and our all that our all that man may be nothing And as the light of the Sun damps the fire and extinguishes its light as not enduring any light but it selfe so when Christ the Sun of Righteousnesse arises in a poor soul out-goes all fire and candle light yea and sparke light of its own kindling wherewithal the soule had compassed it selfe about it leaves not one spark remaining to walke in or for the heart to derive comfort from Saith such a soule what if all the fire which I have heretofore kindled and compassed my selfe about withall be extinguished and annihilated Christ is infinitely a better light heate and comfort and sparkles with the brightest lustre when alone 2. From ignorance of the ends that God many times proposes unto himselfe in suffering corruption to be strong in his deare children God hath in wisdome and much love left sinne in his to abase them in their own eyes and to keepe them humble in the sense of their transgressions and that we may know what we are and our strength and that our God might thereby exercise in us the fruits and graces of his own spirit faith for pardon wisdome watchfulness self-denial meekness ●umility c. and that we might love Christ the more in that all our sins are pardoned which graces had we no sin left in us we should not have such occasion to exercise as also that he might inure us to live upon him by faith that we might long to be in heaven where we shal enioy perfect freedome from all sin and that we seeing our selves to stand in such need of Christ to manifest unto our consciences our pardon thereof and to heale us might love and prize him the more and depend upon him for strength against sin and live upon his fulnesse and that the power of Christ might the more palpably appeare in the miraculous preservation of a little sparke of grace in the midst of the ocean of our corruptions and that the power of his grace in subduing of our so strong and so many corruptions might be made manifest Saith Paul I glory in my infirmities not simply as they are sins but in that the power and goodnesse of God is the more seene both in pardoning and healing of them if there were not evil it could not be knowne what is good justice and mercy had not been knowne And when thou sinnest against the Lord Jesus albeit he will tell thee of thy fault in thy conscience to humble and abase thee in thine own eyes yet he still remembers the grace that is in thee The sinning Church in Sardis hath but a few good names among many bad and Christ records them thou hast a few names even in Sardis c. And falling Philadelphia hath but a little strength and yet Christ eyes it and blazons it Thou hast a little strength and hast kept my words and hast not denyed my name Because thou hast kep● the word of my patience I will also keepe thee from the houre of temptation which shal come upon all the world to try them that dwel upon the earth Christ will not forget thy weake grace though mixed with strong corruptions he turns all his childrens sins to their good he makes Samsons riddle a truth in believers souls Out of the Eater there comes forth meat and out of the strong sweetness Christ makes the devouring corruption in believers to become meate for their faith to feed upon while he is killing of one sin he gives ground to believe the ruin of another and he brings forth sweetnesse out of their strong sins in making his grace to superabound where sin did but abound The Lord Jesus kindles the Spouses love even by her coldnesse doth he not cause her sleeping while he knocked to end in a healthfull fit of love-sicknesse when shee awaked 3. From their ignorance or forgetfulness that they are in all their dealings with God to draw neare and come unto him as having put on Christ and sonship first and not as sinners and unrighteous A believer is to consider himselfe thus in Christ in the first place and to put on the relation of Sonship and righteousnesse and to look at or consider sinnes no otherwise in himselfe then as debts paid and cancelled by the blood of Christ and never to conceive himselfe and Christ as two but endeavour clearly and constantly to see that whatsoever good there is in Christ is his owne as if it were in his owne person and by this all bondage fears and doubtings are removed and his spirit is free For the Son hath made him free indeed And now he comes in the Spirit of Adoption and calls God Father And here begins all faith hope confidence love liberty when as others dare not believe themselves in such a condition til upon termes of humiliation sorrow for sinne and works of righteousness they have as they think a reasonable price or satisfaction to come with and then begin to believe hope and be confident And thus in way of compounding and bargaining with God deal with him at all occasions but such submit not to the righteousnesse of God and the free gift of Justification by grace and give not glory to God we must either have all in Choist or nothing in him hearken what the spirit saith of every true believer she is black but comly he is clothed with the white robes of Christs purity and holiness and therefore comly in the sight of God though in himselfe in the glass of the Law reason and sense he appears black yet in Christ