Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	darkness_n	heart_n	shine_v	3,010	5	9.0570	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33925	The body of divinity, or, A confession of faith being the substance of Christianity, containing the most material things relating to matters both of faith and practice : published for the benefit and profit of all, especially those who love the Lord Jesus ... / by Thomas Collier.	Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691.	1674 (1674)	Wing C5268; ESTC R23929	303,320	630

1 Cor. 15. 48 49. It accomplisheth the work of Sanctification and an holy conformity to the Lord Jesus Saving knowledg reacheth the heart it 's exercised about heart-work it humbles the heart it changes the heart it glads the heart it conforms the heart and so the whole man to the will of Christ all that the understanding receives it immediately conveys to the heart the understanding savingly inlightned by the Word and Spirit conveys light and love to the heart In this way the love of Christ is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit Rom. 5. 5. 2 Cor. 4. 6. For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ. God's new-covenant-light shines not only into the head but likewise into the heart making an heart-change and working heart-love and heart-obedience and giving heart-consolations it works heart-hatred of sin and heart-performance of duty Ps 37. 31. The Law of God is in his heart none of his steps shall slide that is it is in his heart to believe God to love God and obey him as far as he knoweth and is willing to know more that he may do it he prayeth with the Prophet Ps 119. 33. Teach me O Lord the way of thy Statutes and I shall keep it unto the end The truly knowing soul accounts nothing well done in which the heart is not believes with the heart loves with the heart obeys with the heart hates sin with the heart rejoyces in the Lord with the heart in a word what-ever such a soul doth he doth it heartily as to the Lord. But head-knowledg or the knowledg of the hypocrite and formalist never affects the heart unless it be some sudden flashes of seeming joy Mat. 13. 20 21. But short it is and short of truth and reacheth not so far as to affect the heart indeed with God and Christ his Word and Will his Precepts and Promises he goes no further at best than that Church Rev. 3. 1. I know thy works that thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead Dead while alive and such mens works are dead works and dead services with all their knowledg they are not changed but remain the same worldly still and carnal and proud still and vain and like the World still no true non-conformists to the World it 's to be feared that there is too much of this sort of knowledg among Professors that will at last leave them where it found them i. e. in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity The knowledg of the hypocrite dwells most in the head it is swimming-brainknowledg and runs into the tongue and it may be into some form of profession but sinks not into the heart it makes no change there works not the heart after God come to Christ's Ordinances they may and make profession of his Name but their hearts are after their covetousness the world hath their hearts be-sure where-ever their persons are so that word is fulfilled in them ●rov 10. 20. The tongue of the just is as choice silver but the heart of the wicked is little worth But saving knowledg reaches the heart affects and transforms the heart and conforms the whole man into the image of our Lord Jesus 3. Saving knowledg is a trusting relying 3. It is a trusting relying knowledg knowledg the soul that rightly knows God will trust in him trust in his Faithfulness in his Word trust in his all-sufficiency to perform it trust in him for body and soul and that in the greatest difficulties and under the greatest temptations Ps 9. 9 10. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed a refuge in time of trouble and they that know thy Name will put their trust in thee that is they that know him to be according to his Word merciful and gracious all-sufficient and faithful will put their trust in him and rely upon him It effects in them that exhortation Isa 26. 4. Trust in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength This knowledg of the Name of God it was that made the three children Dan. 3. 17. Not to be careful or fearful of the Fiery Furnace Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us out of thine hand O King they knew Gods all-sufficiency and there they trust and leave the issue to him ver 18. But head-knowledg or the knowledg of the hypocrite whatever it talks yet it never works a soul truly to trust in God at all times nor truly at any time there may be a supposition of trusting sometimes but when the difficulty comes the soul starts aside from God to some secondary and unlawful way of deliverance like those complained of Hos 5. 13. But the soul that truly knows the Lord does trust in him at all times especially in times of need and danger Ps 56. 3. What time I am afraid I will trust in thee that is the time especially to trust in God in time of need this was it kept up the heart of the Apostle in all his temptations 2 Tit. 1. 12. Nevertheless I am not ashamed for I know whom I have believed or trusted and am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day I know his goodness faithfulness and all-sufficiency and that makes me trust him with body and soul I commit all to him and to his keeping unto that day thus knowing souls are trusting souls Psal 52. 8. I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever They trust in his Word in his Mercy in his Faithfulness in his all-sufficiency that he will never fail them See the precious promises to such knowing trusting souls Jer. 17. 7 8. Ps 34. 22. 37. 40. 125. 1. O therefore trust in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength 4. Saving knowledg is a doing working 4. It is a doing knowledg knowledg they who rightly know are ready to do what they know Joh. 13. 17. If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them see Heb. 12. 17. Saving knowledg is no sluggard it is no idler but its design to know is that it may do the will of God that is the design of the soul in all his seekings to know that he may do the will of God Ps 119. 33 34. Teach me O Lord the way of thy Statutes and I shall keep it unto the end Give me understanding and I shall keep thy Law yea I shall observe it with my whole heart Heart-knowledg designs heart-obedience to the Lord ver 10. With my whole heart have I sought thee O let me not wander from thy Commandments and the Word the Scripture of Truth is the rule of the gracious souls obedience he knows and believes that the Scriptures by the teachings of the Spirit therein is able to make him

me O God and know my heart try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wickedness in me and lead me in the way everlasting O this is a sincere honest heart indeed that would have all darkness discovered and brought to his knowledge and to that end desires the Lord to search and bring to light any hidden way of iniquity and darkness But the Hypocrite dwells in the dark and is afraid of the light he covers himself with darkness he thinks men see it not nor would he have God to see it he dares not make a search himself into his heart and ways much less would he have God to do it lest his deeds should be reproved 2. This honest sincere heart is a universal 2. It is a universal heart heart for God it hates abhors and forsakes all sin he would not have one sin left as he desireth to have all sin pardoned so he would have all sin mortified he loatheth every evil way Psal 119 128. is willing to imbrace every truth of the Gospel for truths sake to have a respect to all Gods Commandments Psal 119. 6. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have a respect to all thy Commandement the sincere soul according to his light do not half it with God or with men but as Joshua and Caleb Num. 14. 24. and 32. 12. Being men of another spirit they follow God fully and what they know not they beg light from him as the Prophet Psal 119. 33 34. Teach me O Lord the way of thy Statutes and I shall keep it unto the end give me understanding and I shall keep thy Law yea I shall observe it with my whole heart a sincere heart as he is universal in his obedience to God so is he careful of out-running truth moves not sudden but on sound and sollid ground he would not miscarry for a world to take errour for truth Psal 119. 128. I esteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be right and I hate every false way But the Hypocrite at best does but half it with God and with men leave some sins that are most scandalous and less profitable but keep some sins close and fast still as his Dallilah that he will not part withal touch his Darling beloved profitable sin then he startles be it covetousness oppression pride or whatever else that must not be medled with like Herod who heard John the Dipper gladly and reformed some things but when he touched the Darling Lust he must suffer for it so it is likewise with the Hypocrite in matter of service he will do some duties such as like him and may stand with his credit and profit but is not universal do not desire to know that he may do and so indeed is not upright and honest either with God or Men for the Hypocrite can sin out of sight lye and cheat for advantage without any conscience at all 3. The honest plain sincere heart carrieth 3. Designs only the glory of God c. no design along with him in his heart but the Glory of God and his own and others spiritual and eternal good This is the design of the sincere heart in all his undertakings both towards God and Men and this is Gods design in all his undertakings especially on the new Covenant account his own Glory and ehe Salvation of Sinners and this the sincere heart is principled with Psal 119. 55. I have remembred O Lord thy name in the night and have kept thy Law that is a good keeping of the Law of God that flows from the remembrance of his name Mal. 3. 16. There was a book of remembrance written for those that feared God and thought upon his name The sincere soul in all his seekings seeks God and Christ as the chiefest good and seeks the Glory of the Name of God and his own and others Salvation Psal 119. 94. I am thine save me for I have sought thy Precepts So Abraham and the Saints of old sought a Country Heb. 11. 14. They that say such things plainly declare that they seek a Country The Saints may yea they ought to be seeking after the Heavenly Country the Heavenly City and to have respect to the recompence of reward ver 26. to their own salvation and the salvation of others 1 Cor. 10. 33. But the Hypocrites design is to keep up a visible Profession for his own honour and esteem among men designing himself in all making his Profession a Cloak to cover his secret Abominations either covetousness as Judas they make it a Cloak for Covetousness 1 Thes 2. 5. Or for Malitiousness 1 Pet. 2. 16. or at best designs his own honour and esteem with men for they love the praise of men more then the praise of God But sincere souls can acquit themselves of such things and abhors such designs as these but designs to approve themselves to God whatever men think speak or do against them 4. A sincere heart is constant with God 4. Is constant with God he is the same at all times and in all places and in all companies time and place changes him not Ps 119. 20. My soul breaketh for the longing it hath to thy Judgments at all times vers 33. Teach me O Lord the way of thy Statutes and I shall keep it to the end ver 44. So shall I keep thy Law continually for ever and ever But the Hypocrite is much for timeing his service serve God in prosperity but turn away in adversity Mat. 13. 20 21. seem to be good in good company but bad in bad company Religious with the Religious and Prophane with the prophane the Hypocrite will be for God while it may stand with his ho●our and profit but when that failes his Religion is lost like those Mal. 3. 14. that said it is in vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his Ordinances and walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts they are all for worldly profit gain is their best Godliness but Gratious Souls see again in true Godlyness though obtained in worldly loss 5. The design of the sincere heart is to 5. Design to please God please God in every thing that he doth and to approve himself to God he will choose rather to cross the wills of the whole world then the will of God and yet will please men too so far as may be and not displease God sincere Christians in their non-conformity to the world it is not to please their own fancies and humours as some imagine but it is to please God to live to his word and will Gal. 1. 10. Do I now please men or God c. If I please men I should not be the Servant of God 1 Thes 4. 1. That as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and please God c. 1 Joh 2. 22. 2 Cor. 2. 17. That is a Son-like frame indeed that designs to pleas● his

9. 24. Let him that glorieth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord which exerciseth loving kindness judgme●● and righteousness in the earth c. To know that he is the Lord gracious and merciful c. As he hath opened and made known himself in Jesus Christ crucified in whom he was and is well pleased and satisfied and 〈◊〉 his sake pardoning justifying and saving all that come unto God by him In a word He that cometh to God must believe and know that God is as he hath made known himself to be in the Gospel and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Knowledg differs little from Faith and sometimes it 's all one when th● soul is so inlightned into the knowledg of God and Christ and Truth as to believe Joh. 6. 69. We believe and are sure Greek know that thou art the Christ the Son of the Living God 1 Joh. 5. 20. And we know that the Son of God is come c. And Job I know that my Redeemer liveth c. By all which it appears that knowledg which is saving differs but little from Faith and includes Faith Now in as much as knowledg or illumination Difference between saving knowledg and that which is not is common to all where the true light shines i. e. to hypocrites and formalists as well as sincere Christians as Heb. 6. 4. 6. 10. 32. 2. 2 Pet. 2. 20 21. Rom. 2. 17 18. 21 22. 1 Cor. 8. 1 2. I shall therefore rather apply my self to speak something to shew the difference between the saving knowledg of God and Christ in the new covenant of his Grace and that which men may have and yet be short of Grace and Life referring the Reader to Chap. 1. for the distinct knowledg of God The first difference is the saving knowledg 1. It is a soul-humbling knowledg of God and Christ is a soul-humbling self-abasing knowledg and that in the first work of Conversion the very entrance of saving knowledg gives the soul such a sight and apprehension of God and of Christ and of himself and sin that it throws down and lays low the soul and makes him cry out as those Acts 2. 37. Being pricked at the heart with the light of truth they understood and believed what they did not before both concerning Christ and themselves They cried out men and brethren what shall we do How wonderfully was the case changed they who but a little before cried out Crucifie him Crucifie him now are pricked at the heart for it and cry another cry Men and brethren what shall we do Sutable to this is that Psalm 119. 130. The entrance of thy Word giveth light it giveth understanding to the simple The very entrance of the Word of Life into the heart giveth this light the soul comes thereby to know something of God of his Holiness of his Justice and Goodness and something of himself of his own badness unholiness sinfulness and need of mercy and this amaseth and abaseth the soul and if the work be right this soul-abasing is not only in the sight and sense of some one particular sin or particular sins but it gives a sight of the body of death that is of the sinful nature that there is nothing but sin a sinful state the thoughts and imaginations the words and works yea that the best works as done by us are menstruous and filthy A soul never rightly knows himself till he thus know himself and the want of this is the cause of so many abortives in Religion that comes to nothing Persons may meet with some convictions of and conversion from some particular sin or sins but never see themselves utterly lost and undone and filthy all over and such conversions ordinarily first or last comes to nothing not but that the beginning work oft-times may arise from conviction of some capital iniquity as those Acts 2. 37. But if saving it leaves not till it discover the body of death this is the effect of saving knowledg or if it meet with and steal in by degrees on those that have lived under good education and use of means that it makes not so great a noise at first This must be effected first or last the knowledg of God in Christ Jesus in the way of the Gospel and of themselves to know themselves to be indeed wretched and miserable without which they never rightly imbrace Christ and the Grace and Mercy of the new Covenant And this self-humbling self-abasing and self and sin-abhorring frame is not only a work for a day i. e. at first conviction but where the true light shineth it abideth and gracious growing Christians the longer they live and the higher they grow in Gospel light the more they know themselves and the more they abase themselves have little and low thoughts of themselves This is that which sincere Christians do and can experience see witnesses from Scripture of this truth David a man after God's own heart though a King when he danced before the Ark and withal his wife mocked him he said I will yet be more vile than this and base in my own sight By which we may see that this is the common work of God in all gracious souls Greatness nor Kingship did hinder it laies low the souls of Great men and Kings where it is in power Job 40. 4. I am vile what shall I answer thee I will lay mine hand upon my mouth c. And Chap. 42. 5. 6. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eye seeth thee wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes The more a soul knows of God and Christ the more he abhors himself not only an abhorrency of sin but of self because of sin attends gracious knowing persons Isa 6. 5. That Evangelical Prophet cries out Wo is me I am undone I am a man of unclean lips c. For mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts He had seen King Jesus it was a Gospel sight which did thus humble and abase him Joh. 12. 41. These things said Isaiah when he saw his glory and spake of him It was the glory mentioned in this Chapter the Evangelist alludes unto John the Baptist the fore-runner of our Lord of whom he testifieth that he was greater both in light and work than the greatest Prophet yet he had this frame of spirit in him Joh. 1. When they sent to him to know who he was he confessed and denied not that he was not the Christ He it is who coming after me is preferred before me whose shooes latchet I am not worthy to unloose ver 20. 27. Not worthy to do the meanest service for him So the holy Apostle Paul acknowledgeth Rom. 7. 18. I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing and hence he cries out ver 24. O wretched man that I am who shall