Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	dead_a	holy_a	pilate_n	2,163	5	11.4686	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A25204	Decus & tutamen, or, Practical godliness the ornament and muniment of all religion being the subject of several sermons preached at Westminster upon Titus ii, 10 / by V. Alsop ...	Alsop, Vincent, 1629 or 30-1703.	1696 (1696)	Wing A2907; ESTC R16042	63,995	144

be convinced that they are treasuring up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God 2. When Man will be and do evil that God may be good in pardoning such there are who say Rom. iii. 8. Let us do evil that good may come Let us Sin that Grace may abound Against this presumption the Apostle thunders out a just Damnation and because that they might pretend that this was only the Consequence of that Doctrine of Free Grace which he Preach'd he abhors it as a scandalous report and that his Doctrine abetted no such abominable Inferences he owns indeed Rom. v. 20. That where sin abound●…d grace did much more abound but he denies the Consequence chap. vi 1. That therefore any should continue in sin that grace might abound The Apostle Jude ver 4. notes those ungodly ones who turned the grace of God into lasciviousness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where it will deserve observation 1. What it was they thus wretchedly abused It was the grace of God not the work of Grace upon their Hearts for that they were Strangers to they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as had thrown off all worship of God but it was the Doctrine of Grace which is indeed sometime called Grace because it is a revelation of free rich Grace offered to the Sons of Men. 2. Into what did they turn this Grace into Lasciviousness or an unbridled Licence to commit all manner of iniquity with greediness 3. But how could they do this Abominable thing They did it by a Metathesis most wickedly transposing inverting and perverting the Order Method and design of God and his Gospel in every thing and what should have been the strongest Argument to withdraw them from sin they made their great encouragement to sin and thus they turned the point of God's argument upon himself 2. Secondly When Men take up a Profession and form of Religion but deny the power of it upon their Hearts and in their Lives this is one of the Characters of those perillous those last and worst of days 〈◊〉 Tim. iii. 5. Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof for the great end of the Gospel is to Convert Sinners unto God to subdue them to the Authority of Christ but these Wretches represent it as a weak and inefficacious Doctrine that has no power nor prevalency upon their Souls they deny the power of it There 's nothing more certain than that if Mens Religion does not drive out their Lusts their Lusts will drive away their Religion and yet these will be lovers of their own selves covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankful unholy without natural affection truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce and despisers of them that are good and yet which is wonderful they will maintain a form of godliness If you ask them Do you believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth They will tell you they firmly believe it Ask them again Do you believe in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary that he suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified dead and buried that he descended into Hell And all the other Articles of the Creed All these they stedfastly believe But when this Doctrine commands subjection of Soul to all these Truths That we should live to him that died for us and rose again 2 Cor. v. 15. In this point they desire to be excused which is an evident affront to the Gospel whose design is to turn them to God from Idols to serve the living and true God 1 Thess. i. 9. This is it which evidences that the Gospel comes not in word only but in power and in the holy ghost ver 5. And so the same Apostle Rom. vi 17. gives thanks to God that they who had once been the servants of sin had obeyed from their heart that form of Doctrine which was delivered unto them or rather that unto which they had been delivered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Men may be sound and Orthodox in their Heads and yet Heterodox and rotten in their Hearts They can afford to lend Christ an Ear and give him a civil hearing still reserving their Lusts to themselves and their Hearts for the World and when the Word demands entrance into and to have a Throne in their Hearts they deny it the commanding power and bid it sit below at the Footstool sending away the blessed Gospel disappointed and ashamed 3. Thirdly The Gospel has been exceedingly stained when it 's entertained for no other end than to subserve some base low design of the Flesh and made a slave to some worldly interest This Reproach the Pharisees cast upon their own Religion Mat. xxiii 14. who under the Covert and Colour of long Prayers devoured widows houses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A pretence indeed they had but it was so thin and transparent that an ordinary Eye might see through it and discover the wicked Design at the bottom Such were they 1 Tim. vi 5. who supposed Gain to be Godliness But most notable was the Instance of Simon the Sorcerer Act. viii 13. This famous Hypocrite was baptized nay believed and adbered to Philip and was free of his Money too but all was that he might make his Markets of Religion that he might purchase the Gift of Miracles for himself and his Disciples and so maintain his former Repute that he was some Great Thing the very Power of God amongst the deluded People But all this Project was defeated and blown away with one breath of St. Peter's Mouth thy Money perish with thee We have a Generation of Men in our Age denominated from this Simon who have driven a mighty gainful Trade by the Gospel who buy or sell the Superintendency of Souls whose Money and we may justly fear their Souls too and those of their Flocks perish together These are a horrid Scandal to Religion not seeking Christ but themselves not feeding the Flock but their own Pride and Ambition who when the Great Shepherd shall appear must be compelled to stand before his presence but will not dare to lift up their Faces with a holy and humble Confidence and shall receive a just Recompence of Reward 4. A fourth thing that has blemish'd the Doctrine of the Gospel is those swarms of damnable Doctrines which have been poured out upon the World of these the Apostle 2 Pet. ii 1 2. has prophesied That there shall be false teachers who privily shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction And many shall follow their pernicious ways by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of That they shall bring upon themselves swift destruction is very sad but the least part of the evil they have justly deserved it but that the way of Truth should be evil spoken of which