Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
heaven_n church_n kingdom_n visible_a 4,215 5 9.6422 5 true
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
A55491 The character of a formall professor in religion preached in two sermons at St. Chads Church in Salop, Jan. 11, 1661, on 2 Tim. 3, 5 / by Tho. Porter ... Porter, Thomas, d. 1667. 1661 (1661) Wing P2989; ESTC R12187 26,346 43

There is 1 snippet containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

were marching towards Canaan Pyrats will not set upon an empty Pinnace but a Merchants Ship laden with gold and silver and rich commodities from the Indies A Thief will not break into an empty barn but into an house furnished with good houshold-stuff and money Now carnal men are told of this and therefore they are resolved against the power of godliness 3. For both together Some have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof Because of 1. The Wofull depravation of mans corrupted nature It is agreeable to mans naughty heart to have a form and to deny the power of godliness He hath in him so much imperfect goodness as that makes him to receive the Form of holiness and yet withall so much predominant badness as makes him to deny the power of holiness Psal 12. 2. a double heart An heart in shew for God and goodness an heart indeed for sin and Satan as that man of sin is rightly called Antichrist the Praeposition signifies pro con In shew he is for Christ in substance against Christ So that it is no more a wonder to see some have a Form and deny the power of Godliness then to see a Crow black 2. The Wily disposition of Satan who is very busie to water and cherish the seeds of Formality of godliness and of enmity against the power of godliness He was a glorious Angel by Creation and is become an ugly Devil by his defection and being fallen from heaven he maligns the happiness of poor souls He is therefore content that men should carry Gods Livery on their backs so that they will wear his favour in their bosoms He is content that men should be Gods servants in shew so that they will be his slaves indeed Thus it was with Ananias and Saphira who seemed to be as forward and charitable Christians as the best but out of base fear and diffidence least they should want in their old age kept back part of the price being said therefore to be filled with Satan this is that spirit Eph. 2. 3. that works effectually in the children of disobedience The heart is the Fort-royall and if he can keep that he cares not much for the outworks 3. The Wise dispensation of God who doth justly punish a number of men that live within the pale of the Church giving them up to Satan and to their own naughty hearts to be deluded with new forms that he might avenge himself on them for neglecting the seasons of grace and rejecting the blood of Christ tendred in the Gospel 2 Thes 2. 11. He gave them up to strong delusion Rom. 1. 18. who hold imprison and impound the truth in unrighteousness God doth this holily and justly but man unholily and unjustly Information 1. There is a godliness not only in words and complements but in deed and in truth There is good coyn though some bad There is a faith unfeigned 1 Tim. 1. 5. a Love without dissimulation Rom. 12. 9. wisdom without hypocrisie Jam. 3. 17. an obedience from the heart Rom. 6. 17. 2. The goodness and excellency of Religion because the worst of men will have the form of it That must needs be good it was wont to be said that Nero persecuted and godliness must be good when vile men assume the form of it There was sure some worth in Samuel in whose mantle and likeness the Devil appeared Gold and silver are pretious things because they are counterfeited Wisdom is the principal thing Prov. 4. 7. and wisdom is good with an inheritance Eccles 7. 11. and it is sad also without it Men may hate in heart to be reformed in their life when yet they take Gods Covenant in their mouths Psal 50. 16 17. 3. Wherein the excellency of Religion lies not in the form but in the power of godliness Religion consists not in profession but in power and practice Jam. 1. 26. 27. If any man seem to be religious and bridleth not his tongue this mans religion is in vain Pure Religion is to visit the fatherless c. Faith without works is dead Jam. 2. 17. Col. 2. 23. a shew of wisdom But the power of Religion is the substance and sinews as Theoph. calls it 4. Who are Hypocrites Some think the Papists are Dissemblers in Religion that have but a form and shew of Religion and deny and detest the power of it that pray for pureness and holiness of life but their hearts rise up in a secret Antipathy against it 5. Who are Fanatiques our ears are filled with the sound of that word which comes from a Greek word that signifies to appear or seem to be what they are not Now in Gods Name let them be taken for Fanatiques even in the sense of the Irish Dialect who have a Form of godliness but deny the power of it 2. For instruction 1. Let us examine our selves narrowly and impartially Whether we have a form of godliness and deny the power of it To quicken us hereunto consider Mot. 1. There are such in the bosom of the visible Church Of four sorts of ground there was but one good Mat. 13. 8. 23. 7. 47 48. The kingdom of heaven is like a Net that gathers bad as well as good fish Christ floor hath chaff in it as well as wheat his field hath Goats in it as well as Sheep his visible body hath rotten members in it fit to be cut off as well as sound to be cherished There is a Jew outward as well as inward Rom. 2. 28 29. and Rom. 9. 6. They are not all Israel who are of Israel It is good therefore to try whether we be the persons that live in the visible Church having a Form only 2. There are such even in Gospel times if this may be distinguished from the former ver 1. in the last days that is in Gospel-times of the New-Testament Some say when an end of time is meant then the singular number is used as four times in Joh. 6. 39 40 44 54. and I will raise him up at the last day But when continuance of time is meant it s used in the plural number as 2 Pet. 3. 3. there shall come in the last days scoffers which have lasted these 1600. years and shall till Christ come again to Judgement But this is not currant if you read 1 Joh. 2. 18. the last time twice in that verse and Jam. 5. 3. Ye have heaped up treasure together for the last dayes Howsoever without doubt here by the last days are meant Gospel times It is good therefore to examine whether we have but a Form for if there was a Judas among twelve in Christs family who was so good a Master what may we think now 3. Men may be guilty of gross sin and yet have a form of godliness Some conceive these words are to be referred to the 18. particulars aforementioned Men shall be lovers of themselves covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient