Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	believe_v	faith_n	revelation_n	1,466	5	9.8611	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A76707	The copy of the covenant of grace With a true discovery of several false pretenders to that eternal inheritance, and of the right heir thereunto. Together with such safe instructions as will inable him to clear his title, and to make it unquestionable. Exactly evidenced by many perspicuous and unconstrained testimonies of scripture. Penned, and published upon mature deliberation, and good advise. / By Robert Bidwel, a servant, and minister of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.	Bidwell, Robert.	1657 (1657)	Wing B2886; Thomason E2117_1; ESTC R212678	175,027	429

well qualified as none but a true Believer can rightly apprehend and therefore I will referre the censure to such a one as the onely competent Judge in this case And to the second part I answer That without doubt the Apostle did speak no other then what was dictated unto him by the Spirit of God that holy Spirit that never deluded nor deceived any man But let us take heed that we deceive not our selves by expecting other kindes or degrees of profit then the Lord in his wisdom sees to be beneficial for us Serve the Lord with all your heart and turn ye not aside for then should ye go after vaine things which cannot profit nor deliver saith Samuel 1 Sam. 12. 20. And for the promise of the life that now is or of the things belonging to the life that now is we must know that we may not be altogether our own carvers But must willingly submit our selves unto the Lord both for the time the quality and the quantity Jacob Joseph David and the Church of the Jews in general were servants and greatly distressed before they came to be Masters and men of Authority Job Mordecay and Manasseh were more prosperous in their beginning and end then in their middle age Lot Asa and Josiah seemed most unhappy in and towards the end of their dayes Yet these were all approved of God and such upon whom he bestowed very remarkable favours Neither do I remember any of Gods most successefull servants that suffered not their several interruptions or alterations in their outward happinesse either at one time or another who will appoint me the time saith the Lord Jer. 5. 44. And therefore every good Christian will say unto the Lord with the Prophet David My times are in thy hand as Psal 31. 15. Secondly for the quality Peradventure the dearest Childe of God may sometimes desire such things as are very inconvenient Hezekiah that good King desired to be renowned for his precious things his Silver and his Gold c. 2 Kings 20. 13. But it threatned the ruine of his posterity ver 18. And that godly King Josiah desired a victory over Necho King of Egypt But he sought his own destruction For thereupon he received his deaths wound in the valley of Megiddo 2 Chron. 35. 22. James and John the Sons of Zebedee and the Disciples of Christ desired that they might sit the one on his right hand and the other on his left in his glory Mar. 10. 37. But he answered ye know not what ye ask verse 38. And Peter the Apostle desired to know more of his Lords minde then his Lord was minded to reveal and was reproved with what is that to thee John 21. 22. We see here that there are mistakes among the godly But what may be expected from such as suppose that gain is godliness Truely it is to be suspected that riches honour and preferment with the like outward additions have made many seekers For all seek their own not the things which are Jesus Christs Phil. 2. 21. I will not say but a man may desire a competency or a sufficiency agreeable to his calling or condition but not primarily or principally Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousnesse and all these things shall be added unto you saith Christ our Lord Mat. 6. 33. Lay hold on the substance and then doubt not of the circumstance For it is the Lord that maketh poor and maketh rich 1 Sam. 2. 7. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtfull lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition 1 Tim. 6. 9. And lastly concerning the quantity It is a rare thing for a man to see when he hath enough we say much would have more Yet commonly the more we have the less good we do with it and the more loath we are to part from it We consume our dayes in hunting after increase and though we live never so long yet we die unsatisfied He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied mith silver nor he that loveth abundance with increase Saith the preacher Ecles 5. 10. Whereas if we could truely consider that of our Saviour where he saith A mans life or the happiness of a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth Luke 12. 15. Certainly our conversation would be more without covetousness and we should be better content with such things as we have seeing the Lord hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee According to that of the Apostle Heb. 13. 5. This is a sore evil under the sun yea even among the saints of God Baruch the Scribe was faithfull unto the Lord yet he desired more then the Lord was pleased to allow him And therefore the Lord sent Jeremiah to say unto him Seekest thou great things for thy self seek them not for behold I will bring evil upon all flesh saith the Lord but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest Jer. 45. 5. I will not say but a rich man may be a true beleever But charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high minded nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy That they do good that they be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they lay hold on eternall life Saith Paul to Timothy 1 Tim. 6. 17 c. Thus you see that though it is very true that godliness is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is yet the best of Gods people may deceive themselves either in the time the quality or the quantity And therefore it is necessary that we moderate our desires or rather that we refer them wholy to Gods all-seeing and all-searching wisdom And whosoever shall thus continue in the faith by patient waiting upon the Lord in time of Adversity and by moderating his affections in time of prosperity with this confidence that whatsoever he doth or suffereth it is all through Christ which strengtheneth him It is a very good sign that he is well rooted in Christ by faith Another sign is to be grounded in the faith If ye continue in the faith grounded c. And to be grounded in the faith I conceive is to beleeve upon good ground It is to be feared that in these last dayes these perillous times we have too many that do build their faith upon very slight and slippery grounds As upon temporary promises good success revelation traditions or self-worthiness By which they decei●e both themselves and generally all the simpler self-ended sort of people In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that beleeve not least the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the image of God should

9 10 11. The second degree is knowledge when a mans judgement is so far convinced either by reason or by some powerfull argument that his knowledge is confirmed in the thing whereof he was formerly somewhat uncertain Rabbi saith Nichodemus we know that thou art a Teacher come from God for no man can do these miracles that thou doest except God be with him John 3. 2. The third is Assurance And this is when a man becometh confident in the thing that he thinks and knows in regard of the infallible authority of the Authour thereof Lord saith the Centurion I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof But speak the word onely and my servant shall be healed Math. 8. 8. And thus the Apostle Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering for he is faithfull that promised Hebr. 10. 23. By these three degrees this Assent amounteth to the nature of a general faith And as this general faith hath several degrees So there are likewise divers kindes of faith As first there is a miraculous faith or a faith inabling men to work miracles Verily I say unto you If ye have faith as a grain of Mustard-seed ye shall say unto this mountain remove hence to yonder place and it shall remove and nothing shall be unpossible unto you saith our Saviour to his Disciples Mat. 17. 20. Secondly there is the Doctrine of Faith Now the spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and Doctrines of Devils saith St. Paul 1 Tim. 4. 1. where the Doctrine of Faith is opposed to the Doctrine of Devils Thirdly there is an Historical faith King Agrippa believest thou the Prophets I know that thou believest saith the same Apostle Acts 26 27. Fourthly there is a Temporary faith Intimated unto us in the stony ground which for a while believe and in time of temptation fall away Luke 8. 13. But the most considerable is a justifying and a saving faith Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the faith of Jesus Christ even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might he justified by the faith of Christ saith St. Paul Gal. 2. 16. And thus the Saviour to the sinfull woman Thy faith hath saved thee go in peace Luke 7. ult The first two kinds of faith Namely the miraculous faith and the Doctrine of faith were common to the Reprobate as well as to the true believer For first we read that the miraculous faith was given to Judas the Traitour together with the rest of the Disciples Mat. 10. to the 9. An● secondly we finde that Himeneus and Alexander did sometimes incline to the Doctrine of faith But they put it away And therefore St. Paul delivered them to Satan 1 Tim. 1. 19 20. The third being the Historical Faith is not onely used or rather abused by the Reprobate but even by the Devils also Thou believest that there is one God thou doest well the Devils also believe and tremble saith St. James James 2. 19. The fourth kinde which is the Temporary faith is likewise proper to the Reprobate we read that Simon the Sorcerer whom we call Simon Magus believed and was baptized Acts 8. 13. Neverthelesse not long after Simon Peter tells him That he perceives him to be in the gaul of bitternesse and the bond of iniquity Acts 8. 23. But the fifth and last kinde which is the justifying and the saving faith is peculiar onely to the Children of God Ye are all the Children of God by faith in Jesus Christ Gal. 3. 26. For by this kind of faith we are inabled not onely by Assent to believe the Promises but also by consent to imbrace them According to that of the Apostle Heb. 11. 13. Now the want of knowledge and ability to distinguish rightly of these several kindes of faith presented unto us in the word of God under the general notion of faith is one main occasion of many dangerous errours now promoted amongst us For first the miraculous faith is unseasonable For albeit it was necessary in the infancy of the Gospel or at the first preaching or planting thereof to manifest that it was altogether of God To which purpose the Lord Christ in his first Commissions to the twelve Luke 9. 1 2. And likewise to the seventy Luke 10 9. did impower them to work miracles as well as to preach Yet in the greater perfection of the Gospel when the Saviour had sealed it with his bloud In his last Commission to his Disciples wherein he promiseth To be with them alway even unto the end of the World Math. 28. 19 20. He makes there no mention at all of Miracles But you will say There were many Miracles wrought after Christs Ascention True Yet I finde nothing to confirm me that they were wrought by any other then some or one of the former twelve or seventy or some such as the Lord was pleased to impower personally to that purpose as being the first and chief planters and propagatours of his Gospel For I do not read that he promised that power to succession This I argue to inform the ignorance of such of our Protestant profession as do say or think that they cannot attain to any measure of true faith For if we had will some say as much thereof as a grain of Mustard-seed we shoud be able to remove mountains But this is one great mistake arising from the misapprehension of the word faith Secondly the Doctrine of faith is declinable It may be both declined slighted and deserted A man may both fail in it and fall from it like those foolish Galatians whom St. Paul reproved for that very offence Gal. 3. to the 6. verse But though it may be declined slighted and deserted yet it cannot be wrested falsified or corrupted for so the very nature thereof is destroyed And instead of the Doctrine of faith it becometh the Doctrine of Devils Thirdly the Historical faith is corruptible It may be corrupted depraved and prophaned as it is oftentimes by such as endeavour to countenance or excuse their own abominations by the Histories of the Saints infirmities As their drunkennesse by Noahs ignorance or weaknesse Gen. 9. 21. Their Adultery by Davids over-sight 2 Sam. 11. Their Perjuries by Peters denial Matth. 26. 72. Their impenitence or procrastination by the good thiefs last hours successe Luke 23. 43. and the like Abusing such Scriptures as might serve to confirm their faith in the mercies of their Saviour by making them serviceable to Satan wresting them to their own destruction 2 Pet. 3. 16. Fourthly the Temporary faith is unfruitfull cowardly and contemptible For we read of many in great authority that believed on the Messias but they were frighted from their profession John 12. 42. And the reason is annexed For they loved the praise of men more then the praise of God verse 43. Now from the

shine unto them As in the 2 Cor. 4 4. And well may the Apostle call it the glorious Gospel not onely in regard that it bringeth us unto glory or for that God is so much glorified thereby But principally because that whatsoever God purposed or performed In by or cencerning his said Gospel he did it altogether in relation to the advance of his immortall glory And in testimony of this truth I beseech you let us First consider this glorious Gospel in the Originall thereof even in this eternall covenant of grace concluded and agreed upon between God the Father and his onely begotten Son for and on the behalf of mankinde before the foundation of the world By vertue whereof we were elected and predestinated before the world began And we shall finde that in this great design the Lord did wholy aym at his own glory Bl●ssed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ saith St. Paul who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that me should be holy and without blame before him in love Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his wil To the praise of the glory of his grace Ephes 1. 3 4 5 6. Secondly let us consider our redemption and see how that relateth to Gods glory The Son of God being about to suffer and so compleat the work of our Redemption Father save me from this hour saith he but for this cause came I unto this hour Father glorifie thy name glorifie thy name in the redemption of sinfull man even by the death of thine own sinless Son Then came there a voice from heaven saying I have both glorified it and will glorifie it again Jo. 12. 27 28. I have both glorified it from everlasting and I will glorifie it again to everlasting And excellent to this purpose is that of the Apostle Ye are bought with a price saith he therefore glorifie God in your body and in your Spirit which are Gods 1 Cor. 6. 20. Thirdly he created us for his glory Bring my Sons from farr saith the Lord and my Daughters from the ends of the earth even every one that is called by my name for I have created him for my glory Isa 43. 6 7. Fourthly it is for his glory that he preserveth us For my name sake will I defer mine anger and for my praise will I refrain for thee that I cut thee not off behold I have refined thee but not with silver I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction for mine own sake even for mine own sake will I do it for how should my name be polluted and I will not give my glory to another Isa 48. 9 10 11. Fifthly it is for his own glory that he calleth us Ye are a chosen generation a royal priestho●d an holy nation a peculiar people that ye should set forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darknesse into this marvellous light 1 Pet. 2. 9. And whose offereth praise glorifieth me saith the Lord Psalm 50. 23. Sixthly he justifieth us for his own glory Thy people shall be all righteous they shall inherit the land for ever the branch of my planting the work of my hands that I may be glorified saith the same God Isa 50. 21. Seventhly he sanctifieth us for his own glory I am the true Vine saith the Son of God and my Father is the husband-man every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away and every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit John 15. 1 2. And in the 8. verse Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit And this I pray saith St. Paul that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement That ye may approve things that are excellent that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ being filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Jesus Christ unto the praise and glory of God Phil. 1. 9 10 11. And lastly it is for his glory that he saveth us Father saith our Lord Jesus Christ I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me Joh. 17. 24. And this shall he accomplish most compleatly when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe 2 Thes 1. 10. See here how infinitely the glory of God is interessed in all his Evangelical actions and concessions As namely in his Election Redemption Creation Preservation Vocation Justification Sanctification and Salvation of the Sons of men And doest thou want a sure ground for thy faith Cast away all execrable opinions of humane perfections and performances As truely as I live all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord saith Almighty God Numb 14. 21. Ingage thy Soul therefore boldly upon this eternal design of Gods glory with this assurance that it can never perish so long as the God of all power and glory is able to preserve it This I am confident is the soundest and the most substantial foundation that any Christian can build upon having its Warrant from the manifold wisdom of God Ground thy self therefore firmly thereupon and then doubt not but thou art well rooted in Christ by faith Thirdly to be setled in the faith is a very good argument that we are well rooted in Christ by faith To be setled that is to be confirmed or established in the faith according to that of this Apostle Col. 2. 7. And this is done chiefly by observation and experience Doest thou desire to be setled in the faith Observe Gods mercy and loving kindnesse towards thee Prospering thine honest endeavours in the works of thy lawfull calling blessing thee in thy person and in thy posterity providing for thy necessities preserving thee from thine enemies comforting thee in all thine afflictions delivering thee out of thy distresses and graciously answering thee in thy fervent prayers and supplications But especially consider what great things God hath done to thy Soul In weaning it from the world redeeming it from the bondage of sin and Satan Translating it from darknesse unto light supplying it with good motions and godly desires fixing it firmly upon thy Lord and Saviour And working it to the willing obedience of faith and love If thou shalt thus apply thy self to see the good hand of God upon thee and to feel the sweet influence of his holy Spirit within thee Thou shalt come to know God experimentally Thou shall know that thou knowest him According to that of the Apostle 1 John 2. 3. With Job Thou shalt know that thy Redeemer liveth Job 19. 25. With David thou shalt know that God fav●ureth thee Psal 41.