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	light_n	shine_v	8,667	5	10.0024	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A28292	Sermons preached on several occasions shewing 1. the saints relief in time of exigency, 2. The admirableness of divine providence, 3. A prisoner at liberty, and his judge in bonds, 4. The most remarkable man upon earth, or, the true portraicture of a saint / by Samuel Blackerby ....; Sermons. Selections	Blackerby, Samuel.	1674 (1674)	Wing B3070; ESTC R23157	148,255	274

him but he was at the very point of death then God revived him Even so it is in this case when the darkness of the soul is at the heighth and the soul is at the greatest loss and plunge no way open for its comfort and relief then God gives in some beam of Divine light to guide and direct it unto peace and comfort for though it be the portion of good men and of children of light sometimes to walk in darkness yet they are never cast into utter darkness eternal darkness is not their portion they shall not lie down in darkness light is sown for the righteous and as God hath his seeds time so they shall have their harvest let the soul be never so full of fears and perplexity of spirit yet this cloud shall vanish these fears shall be scattered and the soul shall see and know that it is under the gratious dispensation of a most gratious God who hath ordered all things for her peace here and eternal well-fare hereafter This is clear in our Text the Prophet had been in darkness I but God had brought him forth into the light and now he is able to correct his mistakes 5. That experimental light and knowledge which a sanctified soul gains in the time of its darkness and from the flowing in of Divine Light to scatter that darkness affords the soul unspeakable joy and satisfaction that she accounts it a sufficient recompence for all her trouble and sorrow in the want thereof As there is knowledge of things by principles so there is a knowledge that ariseth from experience and it would be very strange if the soul should gain no experimental knowledge by the incomes of Divine Relief in the time darkness S. Paul saith Tribulation worketh patience and patience experience Hereby the soul knoweth more of God and attains clearer apprehensions of him then it had before when she is able to say 'T is true I was in darkness but then God carried on a glorious design of doing me good all though I could not see it I was blind and not able to guide my feet into the way of peace but I had the conduct of Gods Holy Spirit I was very much perplexed in my Spirit but Divine strength kept me up in a waiting frame Yea I found at last light breaking in upon me in the darkest night my dark night was turned into a bright shining day Now this experience must needs fill the soul full of ravishing joy and satisfaction that she may say as David Return unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee and this is one mair end of Gods drawing a cloud over the eye of a Christian that he may have some experience of Gods gratious dealing with him in this condition and thereby attain a fuller knowledge of the ways of God then he did before I confess it may seem strange but 't is true that a Christian gains light by the darkness of his spirit Did not the light of a Christian fail him he would never have such experience of Divine Relief as now he hath This makes his light double to what he had before he had the light of instruction before but now he hath the light of experience and hence it is that those Christians who have had the greatest clouds upon their spirits prove the most knowing Christians for experience is the mistress of truth and when the soul is taught by experience it knows the truth indeed Now the soul is put out of all doubt there is no room for queries about it she is fully satisfied in it Many times when God goeth about to teach a man by his word and reads him a Lecture of Divine Promises made to the Soul in such and such a condition he little minds it but when God teaches him by his works in fulfilling those promises then he cannot but sit down and admire at the riches of Gods grace that God should deal thus with so vile and wretched a creature as he is Thus you have seen how Divine Relief flows in to the Soul of a good man when his understanding fails him 2. A second particular case is in point of Election It cannot be denied that as the appetite of all men is carried out to that which is good so the appetite of a good man is fixed upon the highest good and the ultimate end But then it must be granted that there is sometimes a failing of the Will both in point of Liberty and also in point of Domination 1. In point of Liberty which consists chiefly in making choice of such means as are most proper for attaining that end 2. In point of Dominion which lies in imploying all inferiour faculties for execution of those means Now the failing of the Will in both these respects is when the Will falls into a kind of hesitancy or indifferency and begins to halt God hath appointed proper means for the attaining this end but the Soul may be at a stand at some time and not determined Every good man can't say at all times with the Prophet My Heart is fixed It may be fixed as to the end but not as to the means There may be at some time a wavering in the Will about it Christians find it so by experience 2. When the strength of Resolution is not so powerful as to stand out against all assaults and to bear down all opposition The Will may be fixt but not so firmly as it ought to be there may be a giving ground for a time to our spiritual adversary a small retreat in time of temptation A Christian never yields to a temptation of Satan but there is at least a weakness in his Resolution and some presumption in his Will against which David prayed Ps 19. 3. When the Will grows cold and dead there is not that vigour or activity as ought to be put forth in the use of means his heart fails him when as he grows like a silly Dove without heart he prayes and hears and confers but in all with a dead and lazy Spirit 4. When the Will is fickle and inconstant 't is in and out and keeps not in one tenor and frame but like a broken Bow that soon starts aside This this is the spiritual plague and distemper of a good heart Now let us see the remedy and relief that flows from God for the cure hereof First God is pleased to cure this sad distemper by discovering the evil that is in it The failing of the Will is a greater evil and is far worse than the failing of the Understanding The more there is of Will in the commission of Sin and the less there is of Will in the performance of Duty the greater is the Sin Other wants of the Soul will sooner be passed by in a duty then the want of Will and therefore when God sets upon the cure of this distemper he first opens the wound and shews the filth that is in

THE CONTENTS THe Introduction to the words of the Text. Page 1. The Psalmists two-fold Experiment his Malady and Relief a Demonstration that God is good to Israel Page 2 The Particulars contained in the Text with the Observations raised from each Particular Page 4 The first principal Doctrine That God is the Rock of a Saints heart strength and portion for ever Page 5 Divided into two Branches Page 6 The first branch that God is the Rock of a Saints heart strength proved by Scripture ib. Explained in three particulars 1. He is the Author and giver of all strength 2. He is the increaser and perfecter of a Saints strength 3. He is the preserver of a Saints strength ib. Six Positions laid down by way of Demonstration Page 7 1. All strength is in God originally and fully ib. 2. The Israel of God have a peculiar interest in the strength of God Page 8 3. According to the Saints communion with God and Gods influence into them such is their strength Page 9 4. According to the fulness and extent of Grace promised in the Covenant of Grace such is Gods influence into the hearts of his people for their strength Page 13 5. According to that mutual Transact that is between God the Father and his Son Christ Jesus both on Gods part and on the Believers part so doth the Covenant give forth its vertue and grace to the Believer Page 14 6. According to the Spirits Revelation of this Grace in the Heart such is our sense and feeling thereof and according to our sense and feeling thereof such is our comfort Page 18 Vse of Instruction to all true Believers 1. To account God their strength 2. To give God the glory of their strength Page 19 The second Branch of the first principal Doctrine That God is Israels portion for ever proved and explained Page 40 Demonstrated by shewing how God comes to be a Saints portion Page 44 The Vse of Inference is in three particulars 1. That the people of God are the richest people Page 52 2. That the people of God are a truly happy people Page 53 3. That the people of God cannot be made miserable ib. The second Vse is of Instruction to teach us 1. Where to have a Portion for our selves and ours Page 54 2. That if we would have God to be our portion we must be his Page 56 The third Vse is of Direction and Counsel to Gods Israel 1. To learn the distinction to the height between God in himself or God in the Creature and the Creature without God Page 59 2. To be content with such things as they have Page 61 3. Not to be solicitously or distrustfully careful for what they want Page 62 4. Above all to be thankful for the enjoyment of God Page 63 The second principal Doctrine That Divine Relief flows from God to his people according to their necessity Page 64 The particular Cases wherein a Christian stands in need of Divine Relief are failing of the Flesh and failing of the Heart Page 65 Divine Relief flows in divers wayes when the comforts of a mans life fails him Page 66 Divine Relief flows in divers wayes when the outward man fails Page 75 Divine Relief flows in when the Vnderstanding fails Page 87 When the Will fails Page 94 When the Memory fails Page 102 Divine Relief flows in when the infused habits fail Page 110 God works four things for the Christians good by his decay in Grace and falling into Sin Page 114 1. Hereby God discovers that corruption that is in the Heart ib. 2. Hereby God teaches the Soul where its strength lies Page 115 3. The falls of Christians through the weakness of Grace and the power of Sin are made notable Antidotes and Preservatives against final Apostacie ib. 4. These falls and decayes settle him faster and make him root deeper in Christ Page 116 Four Cautions entered hereupon Page 118 Divine Relief flows in when the Animal Spirits fail through Disappointment Page 122 When they fail through the hiding of Gods face Page 124 When they fail through a sense of Sin and Gods displeasure for it Page 128 When they fail through a sudden passion of fear Page 132 When they fail through some strong temptation of Satan Page 136 The Doctrine confirmed by three Reasons The First Taken from that near relation that is between God and good men Page 140 The second taken from Gods design in all his peoples straights and necessities Page 142 The third taken from the beautifulness of Relief in the time of necessity Page 144 A grand Case put by a Christian that doubts of his Interest in God because he hath no experience of Divine Relief flowing into him according to his necessity resolved Page 145 Vse 1. From this Doctrine is inferr'd the woful state and condition of those who have no Interest in God Page 152 The second Vse is of Comfort to all that have an Interest in God Page 154 An Objection against taking Comfort from this Doctrine drawn from the Christians unworthy walking of former Relief answered Page 155 Jehovah Iireh OR THE Saints Relief In a Time of EXIGENCY Held forth in several Sermons Preached at Stowe Market in SVFFOLK By Samuel Blackerby Minister of the Gospel and Vicar there LONDON Printed for Nevil Simons at the Princes Arms in S. Paul's Church Yard 1674. SERMON I. The Saints Relief in a time of Exigency Psal 73.26 My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever THough Divine truth may be clearly understood by Divine revelation yet the heart of a Christian is then most confirmed and settled in the belief thereof and most confident to assert it when he hath had some experience of the power and life thereof in himself when he can say I know this by experience The first conception and rise of true faith and sound knowledge springeth from Divine principles revealed and explained by the Holy Spirit but the confirmation thereof flows from experiments made and had of those principles We need go no further than this Psalm for a proof hereof The Prophet whoever he was was one that was endued with a saving knowledge of Divine Principles and with faith therein I but the confirmation of his faith was made by a Divine work in which the life and power of those principles shone forth He did believe at first that God was good to Israel I but his faith was not strong and able to overcome an assault and to quench this fiery dart that Satan shot at him until he had found the truth of this principle by experience in himself So you may see vers 2 3 13 14. Sense prevails against his faith until such a Divine work was wrought in himself as terminated his faith and sense in one object Now he can with boldness and great confidence assert that God is good to Israel c. For he is able to give a demonstration thereof