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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heart_n	act_n	faith_n	sin_n	2,568	5	4.9286	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81056	Samson a type of Christ in a sermon preached at Mr. Pomfret's meeting-house in Gravel-lane near Hounds-ditch, London: at the morning-lecture, on July 22. 1691. from Judg. xiv.5. Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Tunnath; and came to the vineyards of Timnath; and behold, a young lion roared against him. Wherein is shewed, I. In six particulars, how clearly Samson doth type forth Jesus Christ, ... II. With respect unto Samsons marriage, ... III. As Samson loved and married an uncircumcised woman, ... IV. As Samson did overcome the young lion which opposed him: so Jesus Christ doth overcome and destroy that roaring lion, the Devil, that opposeth him. Published at the request of the Congregation, for Publick Good. By D.C. an unworthy servant of Christ.	Crosley, David, 1670-1744.	1691 (1691)	Wing C7247A; ESTC R232725	34,097	40

that is but a counterfeit Conversion But alas we see too many Examples of this nature at this day in the World many set forth fair for Heaven in all outward appearance for a while and yet afterwards wither and dry away The Lord make all these Examples as so many awakening warning Caveats to us to be the more watchful for though all sleep till the Bridegroom's Voice be heard yet woe to them that sleep afterwards Oh the many Evils occasioned by a lukewarm Spirit Who is able to express them But in a word Luke warmness if it prevail setteth open a door forth at which all present Enjoyments of God take their Flight and in at which Satan Sin Death and Darkness come in And truly when once it comes to this the Face of Heaven looks black upon such a Soul Therefore I beg of you all that hear me this day have a care of a lukewarm Spirit CAVTION 2. Again Secondly If you find God delivering you from this dangerous Rock of Lukewarmness directing your Feet from this dreadful Path which directly leadeth down to the Pit so as that Satan can do no good of you here Then have a care on the other hand of splitting your selves upon the no less dangerous Rock of Hypocrisie and Self-conceitedness And to prevent this 1st SEE that you be found in the Faith especially in the great Article of Justification 1. Holding Justification by Faith 2. And that not Subjectively but Objectively not as a bare Act in us but as Beholding Receiving Imbracing and applying of Jesus Christ according to that clear and most precious Text Acts 13.39 And by him all that do believe are justified from all things c. And 2ly BE careful to live Holily and as careful to do it sincerely the Grace of God inforceth Holiness but hateth Hypocrisie and that you may do this 1st See that you expect not that Holiness should bring you to Christ but that you should derive Holiness from Christ being by Faith Primarily brought unto him 2ly That the performance of good Duties moveth not God to give his Grace to you but his Grace first given to you and wrought in you moveth you to perform good Duties if you do them aright 3ly THINK not that your love to God or to Goodness doth produce love to God towards you which was not in him before but contrariwise that God's Love to you manifested and revealed in you produceth and begetteth love in you both to God Goodness and Good Men nay to your very Enemies But Oh wherewith shall it be lamented that this Godly Love which always produceth Christian Unity is so much wanting at this day among professors But 4ly IN all your Holy Actings do not as it were Act for Life or that you may receive Life but on the other hand Act as from Life already received from Christ by Faith and revealed and wrought in your Hearts by the Spirit LASTLY Be not puffed up with or by any thing that you do have done or can do Oh forget it look over it take Christ's Advice let not the left Hand know what the right Hand doth and when you have done whatsoever is commanded you still account your selves unprofitable servants Luke 17.10 And be sure you hold fast the Foundation and Corner stone Christ Jesus and bring nothing as a Ground of your Faith into the presence and before the Face of God but Christ and him alone Oh observe the words of Luther upon his Dying Bed which are said to be his last words Says he Christ have I loved Christ have I feared Christ have I served Christ hav● I preached in Christ have I believed and unto Christ I commende my Soul Beloved here was a Blessed end here was a Comfortable and Glorious End The Lord bring us all to such an End for his Names sake And would you come to such an end then beware of Hypocrisie But I haste A word or two more of Caution to the Wicked and so I come to the Application AND in the first place if there be any Persons among us this day that are Ignorant of and Strangers to God and his workings upon the Souls of his People and that are mindless and regardless of God Christ the Gospel Heaven and their Souls Salvation living either in desperate Wickedness Moral Civility or Legal Holiness and yet without God Well to all such I would say Oh have a care have a care how you dally away your precious time Consider your Souls lie at stake and if you miss of Christ you are undone for ever remember the Rich Man Luke 16. who never lift up his Eyes till he was in Hell Oh examine before hand what you will do upon your Dying Beds when you must take your Leave of Friends and Relations go off the Stage of this World and pass into endless Eternity Beloved pray mind me there is as it were two great Porters if I may so speak which stand beside the Gates of Death viz. Christ and the Devil Christ as it were on the right hand and the Devil on the left and when the Soul of a Righteous Man passes the Gates of Death Christ whose everlasting Arms are still spread under all his with open Heart and Hand is there ready to receive him and will not suffer Satan as much as once to come nigh him but will say No Satan the time of this Souls warfare is accomplished thou hast had thy time to try and sift him and hast caused him to feel many a bitter hour of Trouble but I who long since bought him have saved him from thy Hands and will now receive him to Glory where thou shalt never trouble him more for precious to the Lord are the Death of all his Saints and Blessed are the Dead which die in the Lord from henceforth for they rest from their Labours Trouble and Toil. But on the other hand when a Wicked Unbeliever dyes and comes to pass the Gates of Death presently he falls into the Jaws of the Dog of Hell i. e. the Devil and is caught in the Arms of Satan and so hurried down into Eternal Flames and if he cry Lord save me No saith Christ for in thy Life time thou contemnedst my Grace and Gospel and cast off my Counsel and Reproof thou set light by my Death and Merits and would have none of my Salvation I will therefore now Laugh at thy Calamities and mock when thy Fear cometh Depart thou from me O thou Worker of Iniquity O consider this all you that forget God and while it is called to day and while the Door of the Bride-grooms Chamber standeth open hear fear and lay it to heart return to the Lord accept of Grace and embrace those things that belong to your Peace before they be hid from your eyes For the Devil designs nothing more than to draw you on with one Temptation or another in Blindness and Forgetfulness of God till Death hath closed up your Eyes and then

SAMSON a Type of CHRIST IN A SERMON PREACHED At Mr. Pomfret's Meeting-House in Gravel-lane near Hounds-ditch London At the Morning-Lecture on July 22. 1691. FROM Judg. xiv 5. Then went Samson down and his Father and his Mother to Timnath and came to the Vineyards of Timnath and Behold a young Lion roared against him WHEREIN IS SHEWED I. In Six particulars How clearly Samson doth Type forth Jesus Christ viz. 1. In his Conception and Birth 2. In his Education and Manner of Life 3. In his Work and Office 4. In his Manner of Warfare 5. In his Marriage 6. And lastly In his Death And II. With respect unto Samsons Marriage treated of in the Text like as Samson went down to Timnath a City of the Philistines to take a Wife So Jesus Christ came down from Heaven into this sinfull World to Redeem and Espouse his Church to himself III. As Samson loved and married an Uncircumcised Woman and one that belonged to the House of his Enemies the Philistines So Jesus Christ Loved his Church when she was Uncircumcised in Heart polluted in her Blood and when residing in the House of his Enemies the Fallen Nature he took her to himself IV. As Samson did overcome the Young Lion which opposed him So Jesus Christ doth overcome and destroy that roaring Lion the Devil that opposeth him Published at the Request of the Congregation for Publick Good By D. C. an unworthy Servant of Christ LONDON Printed for William Marshall at the Bible in Newgate-street 1691. To the READER Christian Reader IT hath been and is to all the truly Godly in this present Age an occasion of great Trouble and Sorrow of Heart to see the World so exceedingly declining the Ways of God and reducing it self into such an height of Conformity to the Will and Ways of the Devil in this Generation even superabounding with all manner of Sin and abominable Wickedness and that in such measures to speak no further as former Ages have been absolute strangers to And indeed to see this in France Spain and Italy where it is to be feared they very much content themselves with the very Name of Christians being with respect to Faith and Worship even drowned in Idolatry and Superstition is a great pity but not so much to be admired But now to see this Notorious wickedness and these unheard of sins So much in Credit and Practice in England I say in England a Nation so much admired and cryed up for Learning Piety and Gospel Light truly this is not only much to be pitied but also very much to be admired And again were but this Sin and Wickedness Thus in Credit and Practce among the Carnal and Irreligious ones Who either profess nothing at all or else content themselves with meer formal Worship in the mean while Denying the Life and Power of true Godliness then it would not seem half so strange neither But now that this Sin and Wickedness is as much if not in some respects more in Credit with and in Practice amongst them that of late years have born the Rod of Persecution for Conscience-sake Who have not only Dissented from what they perceived in others to be too superstitious but have separated from the Ways of the Vulgar and have joyned themselves to the Lord and to one another in the strictest Sincerity and Zeal Now I say that this Sin and Wickellness should so easily get amongst and be so readily entertained by these yea by These O this is not only an occasion of pity but of Great Admiration and Astonishment to and amongst all truly fearing God at this day But if any say What sin is there amongst such I answer What sin is there amongst such Nay thou mayst rather say What sin is there not amongst such Yet I do not mean sins manifestly Gross and notoriously wicked such as is Drunkenness Whoredom Swearing and apparently loose Living No but I mean this Abominable Spirit of Pride which certainly was scarce ever before at the height to which it is now arrived both Externally and Internally both in City and Countrey For though it may be within when it doth not manifestly appear outwardly yet when it is so highly apparent without there is black work within for certain And also this excessive Covetousness yea and that with respect unto Gospel-matters of which I fear I may too truely speak it the Ministers are too highly not to say most highly Guilty For Souls and Congregaetions are by many slighted and over-looked where there is not that Honour Advantage Entertainment and Esteem which this Ambitious Age calls for And hence it cometh to pass that the city is ready to surfeit with Superfluity while the Countrey is almost starved for want of Supply c. And 't is well if too many who have formerly condemned others for that for which they were indeed highly worthy of blame do not now themselves in this time of Liberty fall into the same snares with them Besides there is a spirit of Envy and Evil-will with the which the Minds of most Professors at this Day are too highly influenced which generally arises from a desire which now reigns in the Hearts of most to be Great and Lordly among if not over their Fellow-brethren the sad Effects whereof many Congregations are too highly sensible at this day But when Samson comes down to Timnath viz. When Christ comes down in more Light Life and Power by the Gospel and amongst his People to the overcoming and flaying of this Lion the Devil the grand Author of all these Troubles Then will the Trumpet of the Gospel sound a Retreat in order to the bringing back of backsliding Sion to her first Husband Concerning which Reader thou hast a short Account given thee in this ensuing Discourse which though it be unpolisht wanting those learned Phraises and Terms of Art so much in use at this day yet the Simpleness and Plainness thereof may be Advantageous to such as are of mean Capacities and such as are otherwise are desired to look over the same And further know that when it was preached it was not at all designed for the Press No nothing less was in the Authors thoughts But it being publickly requested before the Congregation went away for that the People then present seemed to be very much Affected therewith the Author was thereby engaged together with some other reasons of the like Import to give way to the same not much regarding what in a way of Derision may be charged upon him for the same And now Reader that thou mayst be Benefited and the Lord alone Exalted is both the Design of this and Desire of him who remaineth a hearty Well-wisher to all the whole Israel of God From my Chamber for the present in Lawrence-lane near Cheap-side London July 28. 1691. David Crossey SAMSON a Type of CHRIST JUDGES xiv 5. Then went Samson down and his Father and his Mother to Timnath and came to the Vinyard of

at liberty by paying all their Debt for them and suing forth of the Court of Heaven a free and full Discharge in their behalf subduing withall in due time all their Enemies both within and without doth in the second place defend and preserve them in this liberty and heavenly freedom to which he hath restored them And all this by virtue of his own Power and Merit without any assistance from them either in whole or in part Nay He as Samson was delivered up by his Brethren the Men of his own Nation into the hands of heathen Infidels to be Crucified and put to death a sad requital to him for his kindness Nay further I may speak it and you hear it with sorrow and shame Where is the Christian who in a spiritual sense doth not again and again give Christ over so far as lyeth in his power to be Crucified over and over by giving way to the Enemy to take possession of his Heart But happy they that lay not hands upon him themselves on purpose and in despite for that is the unpardonable Sin But I haste 5thly SAMSON typifies Christ in his Marriage This is the Point upon which our Text treateth we will therefore pass it by till we come to the words 6thly HE typifies Christ in his Death For it is said of him That he gave his Enemies a greater stroke and did more execution among them at the day of his death than he had done in all his life-time Judg. 16.30 Which is more especially true in Christ Jesus for he gave the Powers of Hell a greater stroke at the day and hour of his Death than he had done in all his Life-time by his Word and Miracles for then it was that by death he overcame him that had the power of death that is the Devil Heb. 2.14 Then it was that he took away the Hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us nailing it to his Cross Col. 2.14 and having spoiled Principalities and Powers he made a Show of them openly triumphing over them in it Then it was that through the Eternal Spirit he offered up himself to God without spot whereby he became the Mediator of the New Testament to the end that by the means of Death for the Redemption of the Transgressions that were under the First Covenant they which are called might receive the promise of an Eternal Inheritance Heb. 9.15 Then it was that he was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him he will appear the second time without sin unto Salvation Blessed are all they that wait for him in sincerity BUT I come to the matter in hand AND in the first place I would note by the way four things from the four first Verses of this Chapter antecedent to our Text. 1st SAMSON's falling in Love with a Woman in Timnath a Daughter of the Philistines Ver. 1. and from hence I observe That as Samson loved this Philistine Woman though dwelling in the House of his Enemies and so by nature one of them so also Jesus Christ loved his Church when in the House of his Enemies viz. the fallen Estate and not only so but whilst she was an Enemy he laid down his Life for her Rom. 5.8 2dly THE oppositions he met with from his Father and his Mother in the pursuit of his Desires in taking her to be his Wife ver 3. and hence I observe That Persons out of a sincere Zeal may sometimes oppose God in his most Wise and oft times various Dispensations 3dly THE Reasons moving them so to do ver 3. which was because she was a Stranger of another Nation and uncircumcised and the Israelites were forbidden to Marry with such by the Law Deut. 7.3 And from thence I observe That God can turn all things yea even sin it self so as that it shall conduce abundantly to his Glory and his Peoples good benefit and advantage 4thly I would note Samson's Answer to his Father and Mother when by them opposed for loving of this Daughter of the Philistines Get her for me for she pleaseth me well And from hence I observe 1. That as no Oppositions nor Perswasions could remove Samson's Affections from this Philistine Woman so nothing no not sin it self could nor can ever be able to separate or remove the Love of Christ from his Church Jer. 31.3 Rom. 8.38 39. But contrariwise the Love of Christ will move him to seperate and remove all sin with whatever else offends him from her in his own time 2. As the want of Circumcision and several other things required by the Law could not prevent Samson's loving and marrying of this Philistine Woman so want of inherent Qualifications c. cannot hinder Christ's loving and espousing of his Church to himself Ezek. 16.6 7 8. But contrariwise his Love to her hath doth and will move him to wash and cleanse her fit and qualifie her renew enrich and adorn her so as may render her most well-pleasing in his Eyes Ezek. 16.9 10 11 12 13. AND this brings me to our Text in which I would note four things also 1st SAMSON's Journey down to Timnath a City of the Philistians and from hence take this Proposition That as Samson went down to Timnath a City of the Philistines to take a Wife from thence so Jesus Christ came down from Heaven into this sinful bewildered World to purchase Marriage and Betroth unto himself his beloved Church and Spouse Hos 2.19 Jer. 3.14 2dly HIS occasion thither which was to Marry the Woman whom Love notwithstanding her nonconformity to the Laws and Customs of Israel had made so well-pleasing unto him And from hence take a second Proposition That as Love was the only impulsive or moving cause which brought Samson down to Timnath to Marry this Woman who otherwise could not have been acceptable to no more than she was in an Eye of reason fit for him so likewise meer Love was the impulsive cause which alone moved Jesus Christ to come down upon the Earth to Marry his Church unto himself whom had she not been so loved by him could never have otherwise been acceptable to him being in her fallen Estate in an eye of reason upon all accounts so unfit for him 3dly HIS Company which went down with him which was his Father and his Mother he would do nothing in the case without their Company and Consent which affords us this third Proposition That as Samson notwithstanding the ardency of his Love would do nothing without the knowledge advice company and consent of his Father and Mother so Jesus Christ in all his Proceedings in and towards his Church did not only in all things conform to the Will of his Father but also had the Father still present with him to bear him company Mat. 26.39 And so much was he delighted therein that when through excessive sorrow and trouble he had but the least apprehension of his Fathers absence

how vehemently did he cry out Ely Ely Lama sabachthani i. e. My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Mat. 27.46 Oh happy that Man or Woman among us this day that is thus tender on and desirous of the Heart-inriching Soul-ravishing Love Company and Presence of Jesus Christ But again 4thly LET us note the terrible opposition that Samson met with in his Journey even when he came nigh to the place so the Text coming to the Vineyards of Timnath Behold a young Lion roared against him Young noting vigour and nimbleness a young Lion noting strength cruelty and fierceness a frightful Adversary indeed especially considering how unprepared Samson was to an eye of reason for such an Assault which affords us this fourth and last Proposition viz. That as Samson in going about to Marry and Espouse this Woman of Timnath this Daughter of the Philistines to himself met with many oppositions but more especially this young Lion so Jesus Christ in endeavouring the Redemption and Espousal of his Church unto himself hath and doth meet with many oppositions but especially that roaring Lion the Devil 1 Pet. 5.8 For 1. when he was in the Flesh in order to the Accomplishment of Mans Redemption how often did this Lion this Devil set upon him and not contenting himself with daily troubling vexing and persecuting of him by his wicked Instruments the Jews he first drives him into the Wilderness to tempt him there where he deals with him as it were Hand to Fist but still doth no good Again 2. He stirs up his Disciples to molest and grieve him first Peter by his fleshly advice hence Christ saith Get thee behind me Satan c. Mat. 16.23 Then secondly Judas to betray him for saith the Text Satan entered into him again Thirdly Peter to deny him and that with Oaths saying I know not the Man Oh horrible And after all this he again comes himself as it were accompanied with all the Powers of Hell to assist him and taking him at the greatest disadvantage even when under the heavy burden of his Fathers Wrath according to Psal 69.26 as designing if possible at once to strike him down to Hell for ever But blessed be God it was not possible c. Joh. 14.30 The prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me See then the Devils Malice though he had nothing in Christ yet would he not cease to afflict Christ whilst in his reach and he carries the same mind towards Christians also Luke 22.31 32. Simon Simon Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as Wheat c. Again secondly when he cometh in the Spirit in and by the Gospel actually to call and unite his People to himself the Devil still ceaseth not to interrupt him in his Proceedings if by any means he can although in this respect he doth not directly so much fight against Christ as Christians for he knows he can do no good with him he long since overcame him upon Mount Calvary Heb. 2.14 By death he overcame him that hath the power of Death even the Devil And now seeing he can do no good on Christ the Husband he desires to have poor Believers the Church that he may try and sift them as Wheat And truly Beloved the Devil hath put many a poor Christian hard to it he hath made many a one cry out Oh what shall I do And I doubt not but many of you in this Congregation have met with him to your sorrow and so by woful experience know these things I now speak to be true BUT to all you that are labouring in this bitter warfare and hour of tryal this day of Jacob's trouble let me say thus much to you Have a care of trusting to the Arm of Flesh and of putting confidence in Man Have a care of selling your selves for nought by putting confidence in that which cannot save but consider our great Samson is spiritually come down in and by the Gospel and he is among us and present with us and if he do but as much as shew his Head or make bare his Arm in any of our Hearts and Souls then the Devil is gone he is fled and though we seek him at such a time we cannot find him and why well because Christ is come down to dwell with us Oh Sirs could we but live more by Faith with and in Christ we should be less troubled with the Devils Company But I haste BELOVED time will not permit me to speak to all these Four Propositions thus raised from the words I shall therefore make choice of the Fourth and last of them for the subject of my remaining Discourse at this time viz. THAT as Samson in going about to Marry and Espouse this Woman of Timnath this Daughter of the Philistines to himself did meet with many Oppositions chiefly this young Lion so Jesus Christ endeavouring the Redemption and Espousal of his Church to himself hath and doth meet with many Oppositions and Opposers but especially that roaring Lion the Devil IN the handling of which Point I shall observe this Method First TO shew the State and Condition of Christ's Church in general and every Member thereof in particular before called by and United or Married unto Jesus Christ Secondly I shall consider whether the Church first seeketh unto Christ or Christ unto the Church in order unto the effecting of this Blessed Union or Marriage Thirdly MENTION some of the greatest Lets Hindrances and Impediments which do most interrupt this Blessed Union and Agreement betwixt Christ and his Church Fourthly I shall give you some Cautions in order to a timely prevention of the dangers occasioned thereby And Lastly MAKE some short Application First I shall shew the State and Condition of Christ's Church in general and of every Member thereof in particular before called by and United or Married unto Jesus Christ but I must be brief in the whole And First THE State of Christ's Church in general and of every Member thereof in particular before called c. is a State of Deadness This is plain from Paul's words to the Church at Ephesus Fph. 2.1 But you hath he quickened who were dead in sins and trespasses See also vers 4 5. Now this deadness is two-fold 1. A deadness to God and all Goodness And this deadness is 1. Absolute And 2. Universal 1. Absolute not a deadness in part as some do vainly imagine as if Man was partly dead and partly alive to God by Nature No for Man is wholly dead so as that there is no Spiritual Life to Heavenly things remaining in him 2dly It is an Universal deadness or a deadness throughout Death saith the Apostle Rom. 5.12 past upon all men for that all have sinned And as it passed upon all so it obtained a Compleat Dominion over all so that take an unconverted Man that is altogether natural and such a Man is with respect unto God a dead Man his Heart his Will

his Mind his Affections together with all other Faculties of the Soul are altogether dead and lifeless And secondly it is a deadness in sin not to sin for so is the truly godly according to their measures but a deadness in sin Hence note a natural Man thus dead in sin is First not sensible of sin secondly he is not troubled for sin thirdly he is not burdened with sin fourthly he hath no true desire to be delivered from sin true he may have some Convictions and perhaps sometimes sharp ones too but it is either not for sin as sin or else but for some particular Acts of sin more notorious than ordinary in the mean while not seeing that his whole Nature is polluted and that the best of his Actions whilst out of Christ is but as filthy Rags which instead of meriting any good thing for him doth rather like the Blood of Abel cry to Heaven for vengeance upon him for without Christ we can do nothing John 15.5 that is nothing well-pleasing to him for whatsoever is not of faith is sin O that the World could once be brought to see this then Men would have done talking of Free-will and of a power in Man whilst in Nature to do that which is good then would they be brought off trusting in depending upon or boasting of their own Righteousness then should we all fall down as one Man before the Lord crying out as with one Voice Oh wretched men that we are who shall deliver us from this body of sin Rom. 7. 24. Then should we know what Christ meaneth in that notable place John 5. 24 25. But Secondly THE State of Christ's Church in general and of every Member thereof in particular before called by him c. is a State of Hardness and desperate Wickedness but still I mean as to the things of God for alas if the Devil tempt if the World allure if the Flesh lust after its own things if any Profit Pleasure Honour Preferment or Advantage be offered to us Oh how soon then have we an Eye to see an Ear to hear and an open Heart to receive these things though tending never so much to our Souls ruine and destruction but on the other hand God may call and call again he may stand at the Door and knock day after day he may cry aloud in our Ears by his Word Works and Providences he may threaten Death Damnation and Destruction by the Law and again sweetly tender Grace Mercy Forgiveness of Sins and Salvation by the Gospel time after time and in Sermon after Sermon and yet for all this Man whilst in Nature hath neither Eye to see Ear to hear nor Heart to receive Oh sad Condition But again Thirdly THE State of Christ's Church in general and of every Member thereof in particular before called by Christ c. is a State of Blindness and Insensibility for though Man in this Estate lie in the Gall of Bitterness and Bond of Iniquity chained up in the Devils Prison where Satan himself is Gaoler though he be in a State which if lived and dyed in will certainly usher him into the Pit of Hell and though he be posting with the greatest Expedition towards everlasting Damnation sleeping and snoring in a Condition near equivalent to the Damned in Hell and though he hear all this from the Scriptures and God's Ministers yet still he remains blind and insensible till God move upon the Heart See Eph. 4.18 But Fourthly FOR I haste The State of the Church of Christ and every Member thereof whilst in Nature and uncalled is a state of Alienation from God Alas whilst thus they have no true knowledge of him nor fellowship with him they see him not nor enjoy him though in him they live move and have their Being they rise up in the Morning and ly down again at Night Day after Day Month after Month and yet have not God in a godly way as much as once in all their thoughts they rarely do as much as once seriously consider whether they be going to Life or Death to Heaven or Hell to God or the Devil Fifthly and lastly THE State of Christ's Church in general and every Member thereof in particular before effectually called by Christ to himself is a State of Deceiveableness This Paul confesseth to Titus Titus 3.3 For alas generally nay I think I may say always they that are most without God have the least sense of the want of God they that are most with the Devil are in the least fear of the Devil and they that are really the greatest sinners are the least troubled for their sins for either they are wholly Carnal in their Lives as well as Hearts and so minding no Religon at all or else they fall a doing and working for Life building upon their Prayers Duties Works and Obedience thinking these shall stand them in some stead concluding that if they can but live Civilly deal Justly do their Duties orderly and keep all God's Commandments to the utmost of their Power according to the Law Well then undoubtedly all shall be well with them both in Death and Judgment and consequently to Eternity though they know nothing no nothing of Christ the Gospel Faith nor Self-denyal not minding that the Scripture saith That there is no name given under heaven whereby we can be saved but the name of Jesus and that whosoever believes not in him shall be damned for without Faith it is impossible to please him but Do and Live is the only Religon consistent with the fallen Nature it is wholly a stranger to all Gospel Mysteries and so I fear are too many called Gospel Ministers else why is Free-will and Mans works and Righteousness cry'd up at such a height at this day to the great dishonour of Christ and the Gospel in so many places and persons and why is there such Heart-burnings against such as preach the Pure Gospel of Christ whereby Man and his Righteousness is laid in the Dust and Christ and his Righteousness exalted according to the Scriptures But to conclude this Point Paul most plainly tells us what all Men are by Nature For indeed there is no difference In the second of the Ephesians 11 12. 1st Gentiles in the Flesh 2ly Uncircumcised in Heart 3ly Without Christ 4ly Aliens to the Commonwealth of Israel 5ly Strangers to the Covenant of Grace 6ly Void of Hope 7ly Without God in the World a dreadful Condition indeed and this brings me to the Second Particular To consider Whether the Church first seeketh unto Christ or on the contrary Christ first seeketh unto the Church in order to the effecting of this blessed Union or Marriage betwixt them And the Solution is plain First as intimated by the Text and 2ly As confirmed by all the Scriptures relating thereunto 1st As intimated by the Text thus viz. As Samson first sought unto and endeavoured after this Philistine Woman in order to the concluding of this Contract betwixt