Selected quad for the lemma: heart_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heart_n	worship_n	worship_v	worshipper_n	281	4	11.6455	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A49291	Personal reprobation reprobated being a plain exposition upon the nineth chapter to the Romans, shewing, that there is neither little nor much of any such doctrine as personal election or reprobations, asserted by the apostle in that chapter : but that his great designe is to maintain justification by faith in Jesus Christ, without the works of the law / humbly offered to serious consideration, by Samuel Loveday.	Loveday, Samuel, 1619-1677.	1676 (1676)	Wing L3235; ESTC R39683	197,425	354

of the flesh are understood to be such as look for justification and acceptance with God upon the account of the works of the law circumcision and Obedience to the ceremonial law this is plain for flesh and works of the law are often taken one for another and by this our Apostle Rom. 4.1,2 what shall we say then that Abraham our father according to the flesh hath found for if Abraham were justified by works that which is called flesh in the first part of the verse is called works in the latter part this is understood Gal. 3.3 of being made perfect by the flesh and so chap. 4.29 he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit that is he that was born according to the works of the law and thus S. Paul must be understood Phil. 3. though he was circumcised and kept the law yet he had no confidence in the flesh now in this third sense must our text be understood the children of the flesh are not the children of God Adoption and heirship doth not come in that way they that have nothing else to plead must stand off let us take it in which sense we will the text is here the children of the flesh are not the children of God 1. Such as have only nature Nor 2ly those who live after the flesh though they profess to believe in Christ Nor 3dly those who are most circumspect as to the observation of the law except they believe in and obey Jesus Christ Secondly who are the Children of the promise unto whom these are opposed By children of the promise must be understood such as rest and depend upon the free promise of God in Christ for life and salvation believers in Christ who seek for acceptance and salvation by him alone such as are begotten to love and obedience by the power of the promises To this doth the Apostles words agree Such as are Christs are the seed and heirs according to the promises therefore doth the Apostle oppose the Law to the promise Gal. 3.18 For if the inheritance be of the Law it is no more of the promises but God gave it to Abraham by promise So also Gal. 4.14 if they that are of the law be heirs their faith is made void and the promise of none effect the Gospel is a dispensation of promises and consequently of faith S. Paul calleth the Saints Heb. 6.17 the heirs of promises So also Gal. 4.28 We as Isaac are children of the promises So that when the Apostle saith here the Children are counted for the seed he intends not others then true believers in Christ Jesus Thus I have briefly answered these two Questions in order to the explication of the words I shall now summary the first part of the words into this Doctrine Doct. That the true seed of Abraham are not nor were not at any time estimated or accounted as they were found in the external profession or practice of Ordinances though of Gods own appointment but of such who under such Ordinances had the life and power of them in their hearts The true heirs of justification and salvation were in all ages intended to be inwardly and believin●…y children of God God did never accept of any outside professors since the beginning but as he was a searcher of hearts allways so he allways required heart and inside-inside-worship he did always require to be worshipped with heart soul and strength In Abels time Cain was a worshiper as well as Abel but the difference lay in the inside of the worship therefore it is said Heb. 11.4 by faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice then Cain In the time of Circumcision God was not satisfyed with a fleshly circumcision only but God calls for circumcision of heart Deut. 10.16 circumcise therefore the foreskin of your hearts and we see the severe threatnings of God against Israel for the want hereof Ierem. 9. Inward spiritual worship was always required and much more in Gospel-days therefore Christ tells the Jews John 6.53 Except you eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you Rom. 2.28 he is not a Jew who is such outwardly God almighty was so cautious and careful lest men should bear upon works for Justification and acceptance with him thereupon that he declares Abraham justified before he was circumcised and that our Apostle takes special notice of Rom. 4.11 Abraham received circumcision a seal of the righteousnesse of the faith which he had being not yet circumcised to which agreeth these words verse the 5. now to him that worketh not but believeth in him that Iustifieth the ungodly his faith is accounted to him for righteousnesse so that it is plain that the spirit of God is greatly concerned in beating men off from bearing upon works of righteousnesse and we see the spirit of St Eaul to this purpose Titus 3.5 not by works of righteousnesse that we have done but according to his mercy he saved us This Doct. seems to discover to us a great mistake amongst professors in this day there are but a sew who do not erre on this hand to bear upon their external obedience to ordinances and raise their comforts and hopes from thence Is not this like the plea of the pharisee Luke 18. I fast twice in the wee● are there not many who bless themselves upon this account and this appears because your comforts are high and low according to your duties but some may say ought it not so to be I answer you must have a special care to keep allways in a clear sight and sense and assurance of your relation you stand in to God if you are truly regenerated persons and are begotten from above do not easily let go that hold it is the duty of a child to grieve that he hath offended his loving father but not to call in question his relation to him thereupon God doth not unchilde for every fault nor for many sins if they be not wilfully committed but I pray mistake me not I would not have Gods children passe lightly over their miscarriages against him nor their unanswerable returns to him but mourn cordially as David and Peter did not in slavish but filial frame of spirit but know this that our sanctification is not the ground of our justification but the Demonstration of it good works may demonstrate our justification 2. Let each of us be instructed from hence to have a special care that we do not bear or rest upon our Gospel-obedience for acceptance or justification namely our Baptism nor other gospelobedience in ordinances for this we may be assured of as a truth that if legal performances of God● appointment were not accepted being only outward much less are gospel persormances in ordinances acceptable without the spiritual part of them Baptism hath an inside as well as circumcision which consists in two parts death to sin life to righteousness now if

unalterable decree of Reprobation The seventh thing to be enquired into is how persons comes to be vessels of wrath in speaking to which head I shall First speak a few words to this borrowed word vessel 2ly Shew you what kinde of sins are these preparing sins that prepares for wrath 1. The Apostle here calls those of whom he speaks by the name of vessels both the reprobate and the Elect the Original word here translated vessel doth not always intend a hollow vessel to contain things liquid or dry but in the Hebrews the Apostle calls the instruments of the temple or tabernacle tongs and fireshovels yet elsewhere are called vessels but it is commonly and properly that by a vessel is meant a cask or vessel to contain men are called vessels from a threefold consideration 1. As they are the fruit and product of labour and art as well as designe and some vessels are more curiously wrought fixed according to what they are to contain either liquid substance or dry yet all vessels made are the fruit of labour wicked men takes pains to make themselves they weary themselves to destroy themselves men are not these vessels in their Original but by their formation the clay in the lump is not the vessel till it be formed and shaped by gradual proceedings so men come to be vessels of or for wrath by a gradual and followed course of actual sin and rebellion We reade of children of wrath Ephes 2. but we must make some difference between children of wrath and vessels of wrath children of wrath respects the aversnesse of our nature against God but vessels of wrath respects Gods wrath to men who are fitted and formed to it 2ly They are called vessels because they are to contain what is put into them therefore saith the Lord by the prophet Jeremy chap. 13. speaking of men every bottle shall be filled vessels are not made to keep always empty but to contain when Saul is called a vessel Act. 9. it was with respect to what God is to put into him he is to contain and carry his name amongst the gentiles saith the Apostle we have this treasure in earthen vessels 3. Called vessels of wrath because God doth designe to fill them with wrath as a vessel is filled with liquor to pour in wrath as liquor is poured into a vessel made for that purpose till it be brim-full for this wrath shall not only be without but within I will saith God to Pharaoh pour all my plaguos upon thy heart they shall be within as well as without thee thus we see that wicked men by rebellion against God do form themselves into vessels of wrath but that which I have yet a few words to speak unto is this what sins are those that tend to make men vessels of wrath or prepare persons for wrath as a vessel is prepared to contain things moist or dry I answer in general first reiterated acts of disobedience and rebellion against the known and declared will of God this was the case with Pharaoh and with the Jews 2. More particularly slighting and abusing the faithful servants of God sent of God who seek your souls and bodies good this also in particular was the case with Pharaoh he threatens Moses and Aaron who came from God upon a message for his good yet tells them that if they see his face any more they shall die this was also the case of the Jews see 2 Chron. 36.16 they mocked and misused his servants till the wrath of God brake out without remedy this was the case with the latter Jews See Matt. 21.40 chap. 23.37 they killed the Prophets and stoned them that were sent unto them 3. Sins of hypocrisie in the worship of God Iob 36.13 the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath See with what indignation our Lord appears against the hypocrites Mat. 23. eight woes pronounc't against them 4. Such as abuseth Gods mercys and favours multiplyed upon them and grow worse under mercyes as Pharaoh did and so did Israel see Psal 78. hereupon the wrath of God brake out upon them see Rom. 2.4 abusing Gods mercies they treasure up wrath against the day of wrath 5. Voluntary contracted hardnesse of heart this hath been shown at large Pharaoh hardened his heart a long time when neither mercies nor judgements will touch or penetrate the heart that resisteth the touch impenitent hearts precedes wrath 6. That sin that prepares a person for wrath is unbelief and gospel-disobedience see for this John 3.36 the wrath of God avideth on such Rom. 2.8.9 those who do not believe on or obey the truth tribulation and wrath 2 Thes 1.8 he shall come in flaming fire rendring vengeance on them that know not God nor obey the gospel there are several gradual steps by which persons are formed to be vessels of wrath But that which remains is to sum up those doctrinal conclusions that do offer themselves from the words thus opened I shall only name six doctrins and proceed 1. Doctrine That Gods proceedings with disobedient rebellious sinners is more inoffensive and equal then the proceedings of the potter with his marred clay This reddition or application is argumentation arguing from the lesse to the greater as if he should say and shall not God much more the unreasonable stupidity of the Jews was such that they would not allow God that power which they would allow a poor potter as to his clay that after much enduring and long-sufferings upon disobedient and rebellious sinners he might then make them vessels of dishonour 2. Doct. That God is admirable in his attribute of long-suffering and forbearance as to the worst of sinners over such as are fit for destruction Wicked men are the subjects the proper subjects of Gods long-sufferings it is not a little but much long-suffering that is exercised over them 3. Doct. It is not the work of God but the work of men themselves to prepare and make themselves fit for destruction God findes men fit for destruction when he thus endures them 4. Doct. That which vindicates and justifieth the Revelation of Gods wrath and revenging power is his precedent long-sufferings exercised towards them If God would shew his wrath and make his power known convincingly to stop every mouth he ushers it in with much long-suffering and those who have had most long-suffering from God may expect most severity from God Mat. 11.22 Rom. 2. Rev. 18. 5. Doct. That persons fitted and prepared for destruction may yet be in a capacity of repentance whilest God spares them See three Scriptures Jer. 36.3.7 Chap. 26.3 Ezek 12.3 6. Doct. That the power which God claimeth and exerciseth in hardning whom he will respectech not men as men nor men as sinners simply considered but it respects men as they are already actually prepared and compleated for destruction such as he may justly destroy whether he harden them or no so that the proper subjects of Gods wrath and reprobation are such