Selected quad for the lemma: heart_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heart_n	according_a	holy_a	spirit_n	3,056	5	4.8732	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77987	Habakkuks prayer applyed to the churches present occasions, on Hab. 3. 2. And Christs counsel to the church of Philadelphia, on Rev. 3. 11. / Preached before the provincial assembly of London. By that late reverend and faithful minister of Jesus Christ Mr. Samuel Balmford, pastor of Albons Woodstreet.	Balmford, Samuel, d. 1659?	1659 (1659)	Wing B608; Thomason E1910_2; ESTC R209972	36,857	123

all Gods people though I may interlace something that will bear respect to Church-Angels and Officers For the opening of this consider we 1. What it is which the Churches and people of God respectively are to hold fast since every thing that every one hath is not worthy to be held fast 2. How they are to hold that fast or what their fast holding is in way of duty First That which Philadelphia and so other approved Churches of Christ had worthy to be held fast was 1. The Word of God and the Name of God thou hast kept my Word and hast not denyed my Name said Christ ver 8. Under this Word and Name of God c. is to be understood that whole truth whereby God in Christ had revealed and manifested himself and his will unto his Church whereby his Church knows what he is and what he hath done and what he hath willed and commanded his people to believe and do Hence it was said to the Church of Sardis ver 3. Remember how thou hast received and heard and hold fast c. Part of which truth Philadelphia is minded of ver 7. in that description of Christ from his 1. Holinesse 2. Truth and 3. Having the key of David which three Branches point at his three Offices Priestly Prophetical Kingly as some judiciously learned think 2. The Ordinances of God for Gospel worship and Church Administrations are insinuated in this context as enjoyed by Philadelphia For mark it Christ remembers her that he had set before her an open door and no man could shut it ver 8. i. e. He had given her fair opportunities and open and large means for the propagating of the Gospel and advancing of Gospel-work many bars of obstruction and hindrance being removed out of the way So that Gospel-Administrations had free course or passage among them as 't is said it had among the Thessalonians 2 Thes 3. 1. Yea we may gather from part of his Title which he purposely takes up in writing to her viz. He that hath the key of David that he had not onely used his key for opening to her but likewise given her the keys both of Doctrine and Discipline Ministerial under himself to open and shut unto others And no doubt this Church was not wanting to that according to her power which was commended in that of Ephesus cap. 2. 2. viz. in not bearing with those that were evil but trying them which said they were Apostles and finding them lyars c. 3. Good works or practice according to the Word and Ordinances of God For 't is the first part of Christ his testimony given to her that He knew i. e. approved her works at the beginning of v. 8. And what might her works be Doubtless of as good account as any of her sisters works of charity and service and faith patience as were her sisters of Thyatira cap. 2. 19. And for patience it is expressed here ver 10. that she keep the word of his patience i. e. she exercised patience according to Christ his word and prescription So that to summe up all and according to the tenour of other Scriptures compared with this if the people of God be considered in the general notion All that which they are to hold fast is 1. soundnesse of Doctrine and 2. Holinesse of life and conversation which are mentioned together in 1 Tim. 1. 19. Holding faith and a good conscience c. To hold faith there is to hold the Doctrine of faith or to hold fast the form of sound words as 't is phrased 2 Tim. 1. 13. And ro hold a good conscience is to hold such a practice according to that rule of faith as an enlightned conscience may witnesse to be good or to be rightly consciencious in walking and working according to that rule Again if the people of God be considered collectively as embodied together in a Church frame and order that which they are to hold fast is those Church-Ordinances which Christ hath given them whether about duties of worship to God or government among themselves or about the enjoyment of those liberties or priviledges or powers which he hath granted them In reference to which under-Ordinances the most judicious understand the Apostle speaking thus to Timothy I charge thee in the sight of God c. that thou keep this Commandment i. e. that body or rule of Commandment laid down in the premises without spot unrebukeable untill the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Tim 6. 13. 14. This for the object that is to be held fast Sect. Next for the manner of holding fast what is it The Holy Ghost useth sundry words in several places which are all of them sometimes rendred by our Translators into these terms of holding fast yet of somewhat different importment But by collection of them together we may more fully take up the nature of this duty When St. Paul bids Timothy 2 Tim. 1. 13. Hold fast the form of sound words he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. hold them as having and retaining them by thee in possession But there is more than that barely in this duty For when Christ bids the Church of Sardis supra ver 3. Remember what thou hast received and heard and hold fast c. his word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. hold or keep or observe with all diligence as that which is committed to ones carefull custody But yet there is more imported in this duty For when Christ bids the Church in Thyatira That which ye have already hold fast till I come cap. 2. 25. his word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the same word radically is used here in our Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. hold fast strongly use not onely a carefull eye in keeping but put to they utmost strength in holding fast that which thou hast that keeping it vigorously thou mayst keep it also perseverantly and constantly to the end And a perseverant holding fast is here intended by Christ as well as cap. 2. 25. as may be gathered from the annexed Motives Now unto this strong and vigorous holding fast of Truth and Holinesse Faith and good Conscience there is requisite 1. Firm purpose of heart and stedfast resolution of will to persevere in the profession of sound faith and Doctrine and in the execution of Gods commands according to place and power and in the practice of holinesse c. If there be not first strength in the will and resolution there will be none found in external practice and exercise The vigour of the heart conduceth much to the vigour of the hand or foot Hence it was that good man and full of the holy Ghost exhorted the Christians at Antioch that with purpose of heart If there be weaknesse in the spirits there will be weakness in the joynts if weakness in the heart weaknesse in hands and limbs they would cleave unto the Lord Act. 11. 23. And the Apostle Paul

of temptation drawing on upon the present reformed Churches of Christ which sweetly answer to Philadelphia to say no more wherein they are likely to be extreamly shaken and so tryed to the purpose Nay be there not some symptomes that such an hour is already entred upon some of them Is there not an horrible tempest already risen among the poor reformed Churches in Piedmont which hath already shaken divers of them in pieces and scattered them among the Mountains and some other neighbouring places where they may hope for no shelter Now how soon and how farre the like Earthquakes may shake other Churches and places the Lord onely knows but the probability of a time of shaking triall to passe over all may be sufficient ground of warning to hold fast what good we have Never are men more in danger to let go what they have than when they are terribly shaken never were the Disciples in more danger of taking scandal at Christ and letting go their hold of him than when Satan desired to sift and winnow them as wheat Luke 22. 31. Therefore in apprehension of such a time that the reformed Churches abroad and we together with them may hold fast that we have They that seem to be as pillars in the house of God Gal. 2. 9. though they be not used as that prophetical Simeon did those Material Pillars before an Earthquake yet need such a warning as he gave them Stand fast for we shall be shaken 2ly understand here Christ his coming quickly in a way of mercy to moderate the trial to deliver from the power of temptation q. d. I come quickly to restore thee Thy troubles and trials shall not last long The trials of the Church of Smyrna were measured by dayes and were called tribulations of ten dayes suppose years to be understood by dayes as usually in this book that was no long time But here the Churches time of temptation is measured I cannot say by hours but onely by an hour it is foretold onely to be an hour that is a very short time of temptation And truely Beloved such short trials 't is conceived and hoped will be the remaining trials of the reformed Churches how sharp soever they may be for the while But whatever their duration may be ye know what the Apostle said that our the Churches afflictions are but for a moment 2 Cor. 4. 17. Now therefore as Christ said to his Disciples what Could ye not watch with me one hour So I say shall we not hold fast what we have one houre not one moment after which all hard trials shall be over O let this perswade us Especially since we are to understand Christ his coming quickly Thirdly In a way of judicature to call men to an account and to distribute rewards according to their works To shew himself gracious and bountifull to such as do hold fast the good they have till he come and severe toward others See Chap. 22. 12. And behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give to every man according as his work shall be Heb. 10. 37. For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry James 5. 8. Be ye also patient stablish your hearts for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh But the meditation of this will carry me into the second Motive following the duty in the latter part of this verse passe we therefore over unto it That no man take thy Crown 2. Motive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. that no man take away thy Crown or that thy Crown be not taken away from thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hic idem est quod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matth. 5. 40. Brightman And doubtlesse want of good hold fast hath lost many a Crown It is an argument taken from the danger of losing her Crown if she did not hold fast But withall insinuating a Crown assured unto her keeping fast her hold Well Our first enquiry here may be what means he by her Crown It is taken two wayes First for that Crown she had in some sort already viz. That honour which this Church had partly gotten and was further to get by that holy Spiritual grave manner of administration and observation of Gods Ordinances which carried that lustre of excellency and Authority in it as convinced the mindes and affected the spirits even of Adversaries so that they which were formerly of the Synagogue of Satan which said they were Jews i. e. true worshippers of God and of the onely Church of God but were not should come and worship before the face of that Church and acknowledge her beloved of God and honourable ver 9. And in some such respect as this did the Apostle Paul call the Philippians and Thessalonians his Joy and his Crown Phil. 4. 1. 1 Thes 2. 19. For how came he to esteem them so In that God was pleased by his Ministery to translate them out of darknesse into the kingdom of Christ Jesus and to make his Ministery instrumentally powerfull to bring them under the yoke of Christ and to lay down their former pride and professedly to subject themselves to the Gospel of Christ 2 Cor. 9. 13. yea when persons convinced shall be ready to fall down upon their face and worship God and confesse that God is in his servants and Ordinances of a truth 1 Cor. 14. 25. Secondly For that superexcellent Crown or highest honour and dignity in Heaven which God hath promised out of his free grace to bestow upon those who persevere in Faith and obedience to the end that which is called the Crown of life Chap. 2. 10. the Crown of righteousnesse 2 Tim. 4. 8. a Crown of glory that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5. 4. Now Beloved for the Argument In respect of the former Crown it stands thus If thou dost not hold fast what thou hast thou art like to lose the glory of Gospel-Ministery and the due reverence and authority which it hath had hitherto more or lesse in the hearts of men and may yet further have if thou be not wanting unto thy self and negligent to retaine and keepe those Ordinances and Priviledges which make for thy spiritual honour And it is possible for a particular Church in time to lose its Ecclesiastick Crown here below as it fared long since with that Church of Philadelphia Again In respect of the other Crown of life and glory never fading the Argument standeth thus Thou hadst need use all thy prudence and diligence and fortitude to hold fast what thou hast and to persevere unto the end lest being at a loss of grace thou be also at a loss of glory Thou standest by Faith be not high-minded but fear said the Apostle Rom 11. 20. And look we to our selves that we lose not those things which we have wrought but that we receive a full reward saith the Apostle John 2 Joh. 8. Quest. But doth not the implyed danger and caveat upon