Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	heart_n	light_n	shine_v	8,936	5	9.6862	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85050	Vindiciæ mediorum & mediatoris. or, the present reigning errour arraigned, at the barr of Scripture and reason. Wherein is discovered the falshood and danger of that late borne opinion, that pretends to an immediate enjoyment and call of the Spirit of God, both above and against its owne fffects, [sic] cause, word, ministry, and witness, in all respects. Occasioned by a pamphlet, intituled, The saints travell to the land of Canaan, or a discovery of seventeen false rests, &c. By one R. Wilkinson, a preacher of this errour about Totnes in the West. In the treatise following, the reader shall finde, most of the maine fundamentall doctrinall truths that this age doth controvert, faithfully vindicated, cleared, confirmed. By F. Fullwood, minister of the Gospell at Staple Fitzpane in the county of Somerset.	Fullwood, Francis, d. 1693.	1651 (1651)	Wing F2521; Thomason E1281_1; ESTC R202060	131,348	337

Word and Gospel is the power of God unto salvation spirit and life and directly the means of sanctification so called and acknowledged by truth it self John 17. 17. Sanctifie us through thy truth thy Word is truth But Then if the spirit be indifferent with respect to the Word and other means which is your most pleasing and acceptable sense how fals it out that the Church of God is onely found where the Gospel dwels What reason can be given why God hath not an equal number and share of Professors among the Indians Is the spirit free yet surely it doth prize value and countenance that air to live and breathe in much more that is fill'd not to say blessed and purified with the sound of the Gospel A general darkness we see covereth the People where the Oracles of God give no advantage while the Land of Goshen is full of light But we have here most room and occasion to take notice and clear that Text on which indeed hang both the Law and the Prophets of Anti-scripturisme Obj. Some men do acknowledge the Scriptures are used to teach us our Rudiments and beginnings of the knowledge of Christ but this Milk is for Babes and strong men must have stronger meat when they have received the spirit once they put away these childish things to live above the Scriptures and harden themselves in such a practice as this upon that notable Scripture 2 Pet. 1. 19. We have also a more sure word of Prophesie to the which ye do well that ye take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn c. Hence say they we did take heed to Scriptures while we were ignorant untill we received the spirit but now what need have we thereof this place of Scripture it self inviting us to take no more heed thereto Answ This Text beareth to many weak sighted and prejudiced Christians a very fair gloss for the thing pretended But could we but stay a little upon it and take its genuine sense along with us we should certainly understand and know it to be otherwise There are two gross mistakes committed in this same fallacious construction of the words this way The first may be occasioned by the pointing of the words Let us leave out the Comma at the word Place read the words thus We have a sure word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed so far we both agree but these men would construe next untill the day dawn c. but upon what account let us reade construe and understand them as they lie in the Verse Whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn c. Which words are not to limit the time how long but to describe the manner how we ought to take heed It is not we must take heed unto this Prophesie till the day dawn but to it as a light that shineth in the dark till the day dawn The second and more dangerous misconstruction and mistake is of the sense of the very termes themselves they reade the words as a Collation between the whole Book of Scripture and the coming of the spirit and indeed it is onely of the Law and the Prophets and the coming of Christ as the Context doth most clearly manifest The Prophesie of old shining in those Dayes that were dark till the Day not properly of the spirit but of Christ did dawn i. till the Gospel for Christ is called a Sun the Light of the Gentiles at whose coming into the World The day spring from on Luke 1. ult high did visit us And the Times and Dispensation of the Gospel the Day and the Children of the Gospel Children of the Light and of the Day God 1 Thess 5. 8. Ephes 5. 8. that commanded Light out of Darkness shining thence in our hearts to give us the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 4. 6. Therfore this is the sum of the Apostles sense in that place he having given them a glimpse of the Vision wherewith he was blessed with Christ on the Mount in vers 16 17 18. He seemeth in vers 19. somewhat fearfull least he should by this means have stirred up a hankering in their mindes after such Visions to the weakening of their heed and respect to the Writing of the Prophets and therefore thus addes We have a more sure word of Prophesie More sure i not more true in it self but as to you which you have means of more assurance of having been a long time received for the Word of God c. whereunto ye do well that ye take heed and not to slacken your faith or heed thereunto any thing said by me of my Vision notwithstanding but least they should err on the other hand and prize the Law and the Prophets above the Light of the glorious Gospel he addeth further whereunto ye do well that ye take heed but you must heed it no otherwise but as a Light that shineth in a dark place before the day or untill the day dawn the Dayes of the Gospel being Dayes of greater Light then the Dayes of the Prophets yet not to undervalue these Prophesies neither we must know this first No Prophesie Vers 20. in the Scripture is of any private Interpretation though we must look upon them as shining in a dark place untill the day dawn yet must we bear respect and heed thereto as unto the Word of God also For the Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy Vers 21. men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost And now what advantage have any from hence for the Deniall of the Gospel or to make the Word of God of none effect for our teaching CHAP. XI Of the Scripture as profitable in its commands for obedience THis Error would strike at the very Majesty of God and his divine Authority in the holy Scriptures and therefore sticks not to deny the Commands thereof they being not by any to be heard or hearkened to as the voice of God And this I conceive upon a double respect as they look to the wicked and unregenerate world or relate to the godly and spiritual Church and upon this dilemma because the commands of Scripture cannot come in upon us at this or that door they must be shut out Reas 1 With respect to men unregenerate they imply the command is vain such having no power to obey it and God cannot inforce or intend it to them who doth nothing in vain Reas 2 And with relation to men regenerate the command is needless also they having the spirit the Law within them written in their hearts there is left no need no use of the letter or the Law without As the natural man receiveth no help so the man that is spiritual hath neither helpe nor need of

of Faith sufficient for it but I Protest unto every man that heareth the words of the Prophesie of this booke if any man shall add vnto these things God shall add unto him the Plagues that are written in this Booke Rev. 22. 18. Immediate Revelations may neither be lawfully expected by us For though it was necessary or at least most convenient for God intending to blesse the World at the length though gradually with a standing visible mean for its recovery in knowledge c. To reveale his will at the first in a more immediate manner to some yet if I mistake not we never read of any such inspirations so absolutly immediate way of Revelation as my Antagonists boast of God for the most part making use of some kinde of mean more or lesse through which he conveyed his minde to the men of God themselves He did not distill inspire and reveale it into them much lesse into the People in so secret insensible a manner as this age mentions Which we shall further cleere unto you by a few meditations upon this scripture viz. God who at sundry and in diverse manners spake of old to our Fathers by the Prophets hath in the last daies spoke unto us by his Son Heb. 1. 1 2. These words may testifie not only that but how God hath declared himselfe to the World both in the first and last dispensation But the question in hand is not about the truth but the manner of these Revelations Quest First then how did God declare himself in the time of the Law Answ This Place informeth that then in diverse manners he spake to our Fathers by the Prophets Observe God did not of old before any part of the Bible was written immediately reveale his minde to our Fathers i. the People but by the meanes of his Prophets Gods speaking to our fathers by the Prophets here must needs be meant of his speaking to the Prophets and rather in then by them to our Fathers For the Prophets for ought I have read had only one way of revealing i. by voice the Word and Will of God to the People but here this speaking must therefore be the speaking of God to the Prophets since it is as that was not only at sundry times but in diverse manners also God spake that truth unto the Prophets that they were to declare to the People in diverse manners i. not immediately but by diverse waies and meanes Somtimes by Vrim and Thummim somtimes by a voice somtimes by dreames somtimes by visions c. these are all mediums in and through which God cannot reveale himself immediately These are all carnall waies of Revelation when compared with our late inspirations the spirit of our daies not only speaking into but in them without the help of the shadow of any meanes whatsoever But Hath in these last daies spoken unto us by his Son Whence observe 1. The Prophet of Gods People in the daies of the Gospell is the Son of God 2. The way wherein the son of God giveth us his Fathers minde and Councell is his word voice or speaking to us 3. Untill the very last of daies shall expire we must look for the Minde and Will of God in the word of Christ his Son Hath in these last daies c. 4. That in these very last of daies the Son of God instructeth immediately by speaking unto us by his Word rather then by speaking immediately in us by his spirit Object Then what use of the spirit is not it promised to lead us into truth yea and to put into our mindes what we shall say when occasion serves c. Answ We admire and adore the promise and blessing of the spirit in all its use yet doth not the spirit or breath of Christ still come with his Word see the Office of the spirit declared expounded Joh. 14. 26. vers 25. These things saith our Saviour have I spoken unto you being at present with you but the Holy Ghost ver 26. shall come and teach you all things but how it is immediately expounded for he shall bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you Christ by his word both writ and preached declareth to the World his Fathers Councell As writ his minde is revealed as preached his Word is revealed to the World but the spirit can only take off the vaile from our hearts and make it effectuall and thus it doth its Office and maketh the Word to be spirit See Joh. 6 36. and life and the Ministers thereof the savour of Life unto Life and the ministration 2 Cor. 2. 16. of the spirit If it be in point of truth the spirit brings the word to our mindes or understanding and thus it is said to lead us into truth the way of truth is already laid in Scripture the spirit Joh. 16. 13 only leads us into it For he shall not speake of himself but whatsoever he shall heare that shall he speake if in point of Grace and Comfort The spirit doth worke these in us Joh. 1. 17. 17. by and in the use of the Word thus bringing the Word of Christ to our remembrance i. to our knowledge and improvement approving himself according to the Scripture in all respects as a Rom. 14. Acts 9. 31. spirit of truth and Holiness and consolation Obj. But he is also a spirit of supplication to us and doth he not then immediatly inspire when as he speaketh our praiers in us Answ Here is to be avoided a double fallacy 1. There is a difference observable betwixt the spirit speaking in us with respect to God by Prayer and with respect unto our selves by truth the sense we are now about Besides there is a double meaning in this little particle preposition in as in these two propositions it is used His speaking in us by praier is rather a speaking by us But his speaking in us by teaching is a speaking immediately into us 2. But more plainly the spirits speaking in us by Praier or as he is a spirit of Praier in us is not happily to be taken in such an immediate sense and way as some may think of it implieth as I can conceive only 1. A teaching us 2. An helping us to pray 1. The spirit as a spirit of praier teacheth us to pray either before praier or in our praying 2. The Spirit teacheth us how to pray before we pray by preparing our hearts to praier by meanes and by degrees by bringing unto us the knowledge of our estates wants the mercy and fulnesse of God by the word the Law and Gospel and by its daily increasing this habit of praier by daily acts Quest therefore it is that we never see a perfection of ability in the performance of this Heavenly duty of praier in instanti but by degrees But secondly It teacheth us to pray in the very exercise now is not that immediately Answ I answer not totally immediately

the conversion of the Jews promiseth thus I will give you Pastors after mine own heart 2. Again it is as cleer from the promises to it Go teach saith our Saviour and I am with you alwaies even to the end of the Mat. 28. ult World If there be no succession of the Ministry to the end of the World how can Christ be faithfull that hath promised and be with it to the end of the World Yet it is most certain their Commission lasts so long as the promise mentions go teach and I am with you while you teach even to the end of the World Obj. But this promise extendeth but to the end of that age as say they the originall signifieth Answ Although you of this way have so deeply abjured the Originall Text if you have any spark of Ingenuity left say thanks to the Originall for this yet But those that imploied themselves to teach you this might have learned you also viz. That though that Originall word doth more properly signifie an Age yet it is very frequently used in Scripture for the World also As is noted in the Luke 18. 30. Heb. 11. 3. Act. 3. 21. Margin where you have severall Scriptures wherein the very same word is so used that it cannot signifie an Age or any other thing but the World Therefore also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word disputed Rom. 16. 26. doth signifie Eternall 2. Again the interpreted sense being as most agreeable to the sense and Analogy of other Scriptures so rendred to us by the most learned councell of many grave and Godly Divines what reason or good end can move a change of it 3. But if this ordinary translation of the words viz. the end of the World be questioned Let their Interpreter speak for them I mean the word alwaies that stands in the same verse and for the very same use viz. As the terme of Christs presence with the Ministry of the word let that resolve us I will be with you alwaies how long is that even to the end of the Age a poor short alwaies indeed Christ cannot be alwaies with us and not at all times and in all ages also Therefore the comfort of the Ministry is Lo I am with you alwaies even to the end of the World 4. Lastly but seeing that this Commission is strictly and immediately the universall Commission of the Apostles who were indeed to expire with that age suppose we should grant you this desired sense yet what advantage would this give you against the common preaching the ordinary continued Ministry of the word especially considering that there are so many undeniable Texts discovering not only its continuance but the way of its succession Declaring Gods promises not onely of but which is the end and use of the Text discussed to it also For hath not God said it that in the last daies there shall not be only Fishers but those Fishers Ezek. 47. 10. shall cast forth their Nets and of Fish there shall be exceeding many yea he will give us Pastors after his own heart which shal Jer. 3. 15. 17. feed you with Knowledge and understanding and even then when they shall call Jerusalem the Throne of the Lord c. I will blesse the Labours of my faithfull Shepherds among you neither shall you walk anymore after the Imagination of your evil Hearts And again I will set up Shepherds over them which shal feed them and the blessed effects therof shal be viz. they Ier. 23. 4. shall fear no more nor be dismaid neither shal they be lacking saith the Lord. 3. We may in the third place argue the continued succession of the Ministry from the ends thereof Namely intrinsicall or extrinsicall naturall or positive And first from the end of the Ministry that is intrinsically in the nature of it and what is that namely Faith for what doth naturally answer or receive a report as the preaching of the Gospell is our Isa 53. 1. Faith or a beleeving of it And how do we obtaine Faith or credit but by a report therefore heare we the Prophet complaining Posito fine ponuntur omnia media ad finem thus who hath beleeved our report while there be any unbeleeving and ignorant Creatures that yet belong to God in the world there is need of preaching and let us be assured that while there is any Sublata causa tollitur effectus need of it there is place and use for it also For as how shall they know except they be taught so how shall they beleeve except they have heard and how shall they Rom. 10. hear without a Preacher and observe the Apostle there argueth it a thing as extraordinary for men to beleeve without hearing As for men to heare without speaking without a Preacher Be not deceived for as the word revealeth Christ so the Ministry of the word revealeth the word As the word is the means of the knowledge of Christ so preaching is the means of the knowledge of the word The word is the word of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5. 19. and the word of Reconciliation is committed to us 2. But secondly let us add hereto the other end viz. That that is more extrinsicall to the nature of this ordinance haveing its being in and dependance upon the will intention and appointment of the Ordainer himself And for that now let us examine that invincible Text Ephe. 4. That plainly resolves us that when he ascended Christ gave the World gifts some Ephes 4. 11 12 13. Apostles some Evangelists some Prophets some Pastors and Teachers The question is but how long did Christ intend that those should remain in the World or Church only for that age no verily but even untill the work of their Ministry we shall all come in the unity of Faith and knowledg c. To a perfect man now are some of these viz. The extraordinary officers gone yet assuredly others shall remain in the Church till their appointed end is come till we all come not till a few but till we all come c. Then indeed but let no wicked hand indeavour it before Christ shall give up the Kingdome to his Father Obj. 5 But there is one main scruple yet behind and that is this viz. That though it be granted that the Ministry of preaching is an ordinance yet remaining in the Church of Christ yet where may we finde it for as for those that pretend unto it they all the World knows were ordained by Bishops and the Bishops by the Pope and therefore it is plain their call is Antichristian Answ Two things deserve our undertaking here viz. To answer the Objection and to satisfie the scruple 1. Then first in answer to this argument that we are Antichristian because ordained by them that had their call from Rome I propound these ensuing considerables Those that first broke the Ice of the Sea of Rome