Selected quad for the lemma: grace_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
grace_n salvation_n teach_v ungodliness_n 2,577 5 11.7800 5 false
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A91351 A cryer in the vvildernesse of England, declaring the baptisme of the eternall spirit, to be the onely baptisme in Christs kingdome published in Gospel-light, according to the word written in the Scriptures, and the eternall word written in the hidden man of the heart, for satisfaction of those, who are satisfied with truth alone. By Edward Punch of Carisbrook in the Isle of Wight, who is not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, because it is the power of God to salvation. Punch, Edward. 1653 (1653) Wing P4211; Thomason E725_7*; ESTC R206765 72,185 101

There are 4 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

the world seeing Gods Laws are pure holy just good righteous and upright Laws that are written in his peoples hearts and brought forth in their conversations what think you are not such Laws who are of God the Laws of the spirit of life of love of power and of a sound mind are not these sufficient to distinguish Gods people from the world the world being led by the Devil and their own lusts 3. What think you is not the light of God in his people clear enough bright enough shining forth in them and they in it to distinguish them from the blind and dark world who do live and walk in darknesse and stumble at they know not what seeing light is sown for the righteous and it springs up in them and they shine forth in it I hope this will be bright enough to see and discern them in without their going under water 4. The wisdome of God being wrought in his people by the word of Gods eternall wisdome in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge this is wise enough to distinguish them from the ignorant and foolish world this is wise enough to direct them in wayes above the wayes of the world and so the wisdome of God being revealed in the secret parts in the inward man and so teaching the whole man to walk wisely toward all men that so wisdome might be justified of her children and this is enough to distinguish wisdomes children from the world they need not have water-Baptisme to help in this businesse 5. Is not the love of God revealed in his people the foundation of their happinesse and that whereby they do stand is not this enough to distinguish them from the world who lives in wrath hatred malice and envy hatefull and hating one another 6. Is not the holinesse purity and righteousnesse of God holy enough and pure enough and righteous enough being brought forth by the mighty power of God in them for to distingish them from the unclean unholy and unrighteous world except they be washed in earthly water what think you can this adde any thing to the purity holinesse and righteousnesse of God for the further distinguishing of us from the profane world 7. The grace of God that bringeth eternall salvation to light in our souls teacheth us to deny all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and teacheth us also to live Godly Righteously and soberly in this present world and is not this enough to distinguish us from the evil world O that we could once see that principle of eternall grace manifest it self in those that professe godlinesse then I affirm they need no more to separate them from the world 8. God dwells in his people walks in them lives in them they are his habitation his resting place they live in God in divine injoyments and what think you now is the presence of God living and dwelling in his people in the precious discoveries and injoyments of love and favour living in them to Eternity Is this enough to distinguish them from the world who do live without God c. What think you is not eternall being the Lord Jehovah the mighty God in the love wisdome life light power c. of divine spirituall glory enough to distinguish his people from the world without their coming under some carnall ordinance of being thrown into water or the like 9. You talk of distinguishing the world and carnall Church one from another by water-Baptisme but you are quite out for this is rather a mark of Antichrist wherein the world and carnall Church are joyned together and so a Kingdome of Antichrist is made up of carnall Christians made so by water-Baptisme Objection 4. But Infant-Baptisme hath been of a long time standing for ought we know even from the Apostles times Answ 1. Let this be granted yet if you cannot make it appear to be of Scripture proof either from command or example it is nothing worth for consider there were many Antichrists gone forth even in the Apostles times and that which hath no ground in Scripture must needs be an Antichrist and then here is the whole line of your succession cut off What do you think Is not this the way to set up an Antichrist to go about to make Christians where Christ makes none Now all Europe have been made Christians by Infant-Baptisme and yet many thousands of them have not been Christians indeed and then what have they been but Antichristians and all this hath been done without any Testimony at all from the word therefore it is of Antichrist and not of the true Christ Again many have been dipped in water at severall times from an outward profession and after their conversation have declared them to be of Antichrist so both forms in both wayes go to make up a Carnall Church for Antichrist From unity in a form for which there is no ground at all for in the word of truth but meerely from mens carnall principles conceits and traditions one never being commanded nor any example of the practise of it and the other in Force and in use when other Ceremonies were Objection 5. Water-Baptisme keeps men in Fellowship Love and Unity among themselves so that they denyed no● asunder as others do and as they might if they did not take up this form Answer 1. Example teacheth us that Unity in an externall form cannot keep people together in Unity fellowship and love for many that have been and are still one in some forms as water-Baptisme c. yet they agree not in other things and at last many have broken quite in pieces and parted quite asunder Forms do commonly keep people together for their own ends and interests therefore this Unity is not Gospel-proof but Antichristian Unity for that is Antichristian Unity that tyes up peoples love in one form 2. The people of God who are called by his grace and hath his love revealed in them and do really live in God and so in love and so in the Unity of one eternall Spirit by whom they are all led into all truth faithfullnesse Love fellowship kindnesse tendernesse of heart Bowels of Compassion c. one to another they need not to have any outward form of water or any such thing to keep them in Unity of Spirit c. being one Spirit in the Lord but that one eternall Spirit that is in them all who doth quicken them all it being the spirit of love in them all this internall work of God in power from on high shed abroad in his peoples hearts is of infinite more force to keep them in love and fellowship with one another in the Father and the Son than any earthly form dipping or sprinckling a little cold water you that are truly spirituall consider Objection 6. That which was once commanded and never reversed or repealed is still in force and water-Baptsme was once commanded and never repealed therefore it is still in force An. 1. All Ceremonies were
practise then you have for water-baptism and that will be more in force when the other doth appear to be no Ordinance at all But now to the latter part of your Objection that this is the way to bring in ranting principles if we deny water-baptism to be an Ordinance c. First must carnal liberty be brought into the Church of Christ if that be not set up and practised there which Christ never commanded this is very strange 2 Is this the way to bring in carnal liberty and ranting principles among believers to exalt the work of all power in heaven and earth I thought that creature-exaltation self-seeking and setting up idols had been the way to bring in carnal liberty and ranting principles when these things are imposed upon creatures to make up an out-side society then take heed of ranting 3 God doth according to his promise write his righteous and holy just and good laws in his peoples hearts and puts his fear in them that so they may never depart from him and hath said they shall not depart from him any more and that he will be their God and they shall be his people that he will live in them and dwell among them and they shall be all taught of him and great shall be their peace c. Now I hope this is not the way to bring in ranting principles and carnal liberty among the people of God who are thus taught of God and do live in the law of the spirit of life that is in Christ who is their life and their all The Law of God written in his peoples hearts doth no way bring in ranting principles into their mindes but these that is unto the kingdom of the devil and antichrist that do consist in sin and all unrighteousness and in empty forms traditions and precepts of men who proceed from fleshly and carnal principles in the world and carnal Church And I must tell you that the Law of God written in his peoples hearts and mindes this is the most rantingest principle to these that can be upon the face of the earth therefore when God writes his Laws in his peoples hearts and brings forth the new creation in them and so makes them partakers of the divine nature then let antichrist and all his carnal priviledges look for a final rooting out and an eternal destruction For the life and power of godlimess wrought in the people of God by a divine principle destroys all empty carnal and formal and traditional outside Religion in them that proceeds from antichrist which proceeds from carnal principles of flesh and blood The Law of God in the new nature destroys the Law of sin and flesh in the old nature with the very corrupt nature it self The life of God in his people or rather God living in them destroys the dead works of sin and flesh in them the power of God from on high being present in his people destroys the power of sin in them the wisdom of God in his people destroys the wisdom of the flesh in them The work of God in his people in the new creation brought forth in them destroys the works of sin and antichrist in their old nature yea the whole body of sin it self Yea the work of God in the new man is the onely ranting principle to antichrist the whole mystery of iniquity and man of sin for it makes it all flie in pieces before it even all the gross darkness and corruption and filthiness of the flesh with all the false light in the flesh and spirit of man with all empty forms and carnal observations c. all goeth down when God appears in his people in the brightness of his coming in spirit and power from on high in the hidden man of the heart And now where are your Ranting principles and carnal liberty you so much speak of to fall upon those that obey not your carnal Ordinances it falls altogether upon time-servers outside-professors self-seekers c. but not upon those that worship God in spirit and truth For the Grace of God that bringeth salvation to light in the souls of his people teacheth them to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live godly righteously and soberly in this present world and this proves Ranting principles to be nothing but the whole body of sin which is contrary to the divine principle that God brings forth in his Temple therefore take heed of throwing dirt in the face of truth and of slandering the Grace of God shed abroad in his peoples hearts the onely principle of true holiness and righteousness Do you think nothing can keep us from Ranting principles but a little cold water why then have so many that have gone under water fallen also under Ranting principles Obj. 23. Several baptisms were used in the primitive times and water-baptism is nowhere forbid in Scripture therefore we may use it still c. Answ 1. If the truth were not a mystery then antichrist might understand it but God is pleased to declare the truth in a mystery that so those that receive it not in the love of it may be blinded and so given up to strong delusions to believe lies as it is appointed for the antichristian world man of sin and mystery of iniquity 2 Thes 2. in which the antichristian world is deceived and blinded even to this day 2 Paul teacheth one baptism unto the Church of the Ephesians Eph. 4. 5. and doubtless Paul would not leave out another baptism viz. water if it had been any one bond of the true Churches unity seeing he doth reckon up seven which are a perfect number And that we may not be mistaken in the true understanding of this baptism Paul here speaks of he satisfies us what baptism it is 1 Cor. 12. 13. for by one spirit are we all baptized into one body whether Jews or Gentiles whether bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit So here Paul bears witness to the one and onely baptism of the New-Testament which witness is enough to satisfie those who are satisfied with the truth it self But you will say that baptism spoke of Ephes 4. 5. is one baptism of a sort and that this is the meaning of the place c. First this is more then the word declares and so we have no ground to build where there is no foundation 2 If you make an addition unto this part of the words namely one baptism and put in this word here one of a sort then we must put this word unto the sense of all the rest of the bonds of the true Churches unity mentioned in this place And then we must read it thus One body of a sort one spirit of a sort one hope of a sort one Lord of a sort one faith of a sort one baptism of a sort and one God of a sort And now let all that have eyes to see behold the gross blindness and more then Egyptian
by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the holy Spirit 5. This is shed forth abundantly on us in Jesus Christ 6. In the partaking of Salvation in this Spirituall washing and spirituall renewing we are justified by the Grace of God 7. And being justified by free grace we are made Heirs and have hope of eternall life or according to the hope of eternall life O that we could in this clear discovery of the eternall God behold his Testimony in this place in the clear light and wisdome of the eternall Spirit for then we should not look so low as we do upon earthly and carnall observations of the things of God and especially of the Baptisme of the eternall Spirit the onely Baptisme of the new Testament but then we should look upon it as it is the work of all power in heaven and earth according to its first institution and then we should see the glorious effects of it fulfilled in the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the holy spirit then we should see the new birth brought forth in souls by this spirituall washing the work of God alone in the operation and renewing of his Spirit or wrought by his spirit in us Here is declared the true Gospel-washing even the saving of souls from sin and all uncleannesse here is the great Gospel-promises fulfilled with a witnesse even opening a fountain of pure living water and pouring it forth upon the barren wildernesse and the dry ground the barren dry and unfruitfull ground of unbelievers are by this Spirituall washing made the Garden of the Lord and being trees of the Lords planting they are watered every moment and refreshed and comforted with the streams of that river that makes glad the City of God This is the true washing that washeth away the fi●thines and pollu●ions of the sons and daughters of Zion coming forth from that eternall fountain the Lord of Hosts who dwelleth in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem making his people a fit habitation for himself to dwell in by washing away their filthinesse in the pure waters of the Spirit of life flowing out from the Lord God and from the Lamb whose habitation they are in the Spirit and spirituall washing Here is the work of all power in heaven and earth in saving souls by spirituall washing and this onely is suitable to the Commission of Christ Mat. 28. spirituall washing or baptising in which we are made partakers of the name nature of God being by the presence of the eternal Spirit in us washed renewed regenerated sanctified and cleansed from our own filthinesse sin and pollution which is contrary to God and all appearances of God in Spirit Here is the great Gospel-work of saving creatures from their sin and all iniquity by the love kindnesse and mercy of the Lord Jehovah and here is the way also set forth in which the Lord Jehovah saveth souls from sin it is by spirituall washing and spirituall renewing of them by the work of the eternall spirit and O that we were more sensible of the glorious work of all power in heaven and earth manifested in us in washing and cleansing us from all sin and uncleannesse and bringing forth the pure and divine nature in us which work is of the Lord alone and not of man who is as nothing and vanity it self The Baptism or washing of the New Testament is not like those carnall legal figurative and typicall washings c. which were administred either by Moses or John in which the substance of the great things to come were figured out or declared to come after But the substance it self goeth forth in the Baptisme or washing of the New Testament this washing is to purpose for in it and by it we are washed and saved from our sin and this is the substantiall and onely washing of all washings Eighthly we have another clear Testimony of the true and spirituall washing the onely Baptisme of the New Testament 1 Pet. chapter 3. verse 21. the words are these The like figure or example whereunto Baptisme doth also now save us not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience toward God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ c. Here we have the true Baptisme of the New Testament set forth and the people taken off from all outward washings not the washing of water 1. Here the Apostle declares the saving of Noah and his family in the Ark from drowning by water v. 20. and now he tells them of another kind of saving and this is by water of which that was a signe or example or this is an example of that c. Baptisme doth now save us but is it water-Baptisme that doth save us now no saith he not the washing of the filth of the flesh what then why the answer of a good conscience but whereby is the answer of a good conscience brought forth not by water-Baptisme but by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Here is a clear allusion to the Resurrection of Christ and to the power and vertue thereof for then Christ received all power in heaven and earth for the accomplishing this great work of spirituall Baptism or washing and so the power and vertue hereof doth baptise souls into the goodnesse of God cleanse and purifie their Consciences and so the answer of a good Conscience is brought forth in them by vertue of Christs Resurrection by virtue whereof soules are washed and cleansed from an evill and corrupt Conscience whereby all men are naturally defiled by sin and evill The like testimony of spiritual Baptisme or Washing we have declared Heb. 10. 22. in v. 20. the Apostle describes a new and living way by whom we do enter into the holiest place even the presence of the infinitely holy God and in this 22. v. he declares how it is that we doe draw neer unto God in this new and living way it is by having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our bodies washed with pure water So here we see how the answer of a good Conscience is brought forth it is by being sprinkled with pure water but our earthly waters will not nor cannot bring forth such effects in us it is onely the waters of the Spirit that can doe this that river of pure water of life that John saw Revel 22. 1. and this is the onely water that washeth sprinkleth and clenseth hearts spirits souls consciences and bodies from all evill sinne filthinesse and uncleanenesse of the whole man Thus I have faithfully declared the true Gospell baptisme as I have received from the Lord agreeable to the word written in the Scriptures and also the eternall Word written in the hidden man of the heart the two great Witnesses of God in the World And now I know this clear truth of God revealed in the clear light and wisdome of the Eternal Spirit will not with many opposers as it hath already throw mens carnal understanding of the Baptism of
Baptisme of this nature do onely agree with such a kingdome as this wherein creatures are made partakers of the divine nature their own corruptions being destroyed and washed away in the pure baptism of the eternall Spirit this is the onely baptisme that is agreeable with the pure spirituall kingdome of Christ 5. This interpretation of the Commission is quite contrary to the true Gospel-worship which consists in Spirit and Power from on high for Water baptisme is such an ordinance and such worship as the Apostle speakes of Heb. 9. vers 10. that was to continue untill the time of Reformation but when once the time of Reformation came then no more outward and carnal Ordinance to be set up by command from Christ but when the time of Reformation came which was when Christ was glorified and the Spirit given then all worship was and is spiritual that was and is from God we have two proofs of this that Gospel worship is spirituall John 4. from v. 20. to 24. and Phil. 3. 3. Here is not confidence in flesh nor fleshly worship let it be what it will nor no joy nor delight in it but those that worship God should worship him in Spirit and Truth and spiritual worship is the onely true worship in the spirituall kingdom of the Son and the Father 6. To affirm the Commission to be meant of Water baptisme as quite contrary to the clear Testimony of other scripture both from the testimony of Christ himself and the Apostles and seeing it is clear by other Scriptures that there is another baptisme besides Water baptisme and not one word of water in this place How dare any to affirm the Commission to be Water baptisme This is Antichrist like to set in the Temple of God and so confine Scriptures and mens Consciences to their Carnal and Traditional Interpretations and so to change Times and Laws 2 Thess 2. Dan. 7. 25. or think to do it 1. See those Scriptures that are clear against this Interpretation Luke 24. 49. compared with Acts 1. 4 5 8. Here is another baptisme spoken of by him who gave the Commission and he calls it the Promise of the Father Power from on high and the baptisme of the Holy Spirit Now all this considered how can we safely wring any material water out of the Commission Seeing the Author of the Commission declareth another baptisme so plainly which is infinitely more suiteable to such a Person then an outward and bodily washing 2. See also the witnesse of the Apostles to another baptisme besides that of material water Acts 11 16. 1 Cor. 12. 13. Ephes 4. 5. besides those places spoken of in our former discourse If the Testimonies of John Baptist and the Apostles in their Epistles and as the Word bears witnesse to another baptisme so also it doth bear witnesse to another kind of Water and of baptisme and of washing besides that of earthly water as we have already declared And that baptisme and that water and washing being onely suitable to the Power the Person here giving the Commission and therefore it is also suitable to the Commission given by such a Person in such Power for the accomplishing a work suitable to such a person Power and Administration which is wholly spirituall and from above not carnall nor from beneath nor from the Elements of this world for all earthly things perish with the using as saith the Apostle Coloss 2. v. 22. 7. Paul declares plainly that he was not sent by Christ to baptise with Water 1 Cor. 1. 17. when he is speaking of water baptisme and this were sufficient to satisfie all men if they were not byassed with the erroneous Traditions and carnall Observations and understandings of Scriptures But here the old Objections will come in that Paul was not sent to baptise onely but also to preach the Gospel But I could wish you would not forget the Conclusion of the New Testament Revelation 22. 18 19. and we may as well put in words in other places as here as for example where the word saith salvation is not of works we may put in onely and read it thus Not of works onely but also of Grace and so these words set up Antichrist with a witnesse But now if this Commission had been to baptise with material water then Paul had more reason to have had a Commission to baptise so than any of the Apostles seeing he was to go into all the world where no Ordinance of God had ever been but you will say that others were to do this but yet if it had been a part of his Commission then he would have exhorted others to practise it but we find no such thing in all his Epistles unto any But he gives God thanks that he baptised no more v. 14. lest they should scandall him about it but he was so zealous for all the commands of Christ that he valued not his life so it might be accomplished and if this had been a command of Christ he would not have cared who had abused it or him about it for his work was to fulfill the ministry of Jesus Christ or the Commission of Christ and not to respect what p●rsons did say against him in the fulfilling of it But if water-Baptisme were in the Commission of Christ to the other Apostles then Paul had but a part of the Commission of Christ given unto him for he was not sent to baptise with water and so Christ gave a whole Commission to some and but a piece to the rest 8. If water-Baptisme must be meant here then in all places where Baptisme is spoke if it must be meant of water though water be not named as here it is not This is to cheat the people and to tell them this is the naturall signification of the word here do but observe how this doth crosse other Scriptures as Luke 12 50. Matth 2. 1. Acts 1. 5. chap. 11. 16. here one word is used for severall Baptismes we may well say wise men are simple Ob. 10 Spirit-Baptism consists in visible gifts given in an invisible manner c. and so all those places that speak of Spirit-Baptisme are to be understood Answer 1. I deny this upon these grounds First gifts are no where called Spirit-Baptisme but that gifts were a part of it I do not deny though they were not the substance of it 2. The Apostle declares 1 Cor. 12. 13. that all were by one Spirit baptised into one body whether Jews or Gentiles bound or free let them be what they will but all were not partakers of such visible gifts as you would have called Spirit Baptisme as appears in the same chap. 29 30. which is to speak with tongues work miracles as heal the sick c. which all could never do 3. If Christs Baptisme did consist onely in visible gifts c. then John was not out when he declared the Baptisme of Christ to be mighty to the through cleansing of his people from