Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	law_n	sin_n	sinful_a	1,296	5	10.4091	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A26034	The best treasure, or, The way to be truly rich being a discourse on Ephes. 3.8, wherein is opened and commended to saints and sinners the personal and purchased riches of Christ, as the best treasure, to be pursu'd and ensur'd by all that would be happy here and hereafter / by Bartholomew Ashwood.	Ashwood, Bartholomew, 1622-1680.	1681 (1681)	Wing A3999; ESTC R16623	259,580	565

Obedience of Christ are believers made righteous Rom. 5. 18 19. For this is necessary to Salvation that the Commandements be kept Math. 19. 17. And the Law fulfilled Math. 5. 17. Thirdly By his suffering all things we were liable to by the first transgression or any actual Sins flowing from it Phil. 2. 8. This he did in all the sufferings of his Life and at his death he bore the sins of believers for them 1. Pet 2. 24. He was wounded for our Transgressions Isa 53. 5. 2 Cor. 5. 21. And became a Sacrifice to God for Sin Isa 53. 10. Heb. 9. 26. The end of which was atonement Heb. 2. 17. He also paid the price that God demanded for their deliverance 1 Cor. 7. 23. Ye are bought with a price 1 Pet. 1. 17 18. Math. 20. 28. He gave himself a ransom for us Lastly By his Intercession Christ compleats his Purchase and carries on the salvation of his people Rom. 8. 34. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed yea rather is risen again who is also at the right hand of God and maketh Intercession for us Though by this he doth not purchase for his people yet he doth procure and apply mercy to them As I have largely shewn already therefore shall wave it now Thirdly What are those great and glorious things which J●sus Christ hath procured by his blood First He hath purchased Believers themselves unto God Acts 20. 28. Feed the Flock of God which he hath purchased with his blood Rev. 5. 9. For thou wast slain and hast redeemed us unto God by thy blood Every saved soul is part of Christs purchase They are set apart for God Psa 4. 3. A peculiar People to God 1 Pet. 2. 9. Though the Father hath ordained them to life yet they are not actually his till purchas'd by Christ Hence it is that Believers Conversion is not casual or dependent upon Men or means but is the effect and fruit of Christ's blood purely designed and unavoidably perfected by Redemption-grace And hence also their Salvation is sure being founded on the purchase of Christ As sure as Christs blood cannot be spilt in vain so sure shall every Believer have his Salvation perfected because it depends upon the Obedience Merit and Suffering of Christ Hence also all the Means of Salvation and the Efficacy of them are certain to believers Eph. 4. 8. Secondly He hath Purchased pardon of Sin and peace with God Col. 1. 20. Having made peace by the blood of his Crosse Chap. 2. 13. Heb. 8. 12. Rom. 5. 1. There is a full Pardon of Sin of all the sins of believers and of every believers purchased by the blood of Christ Here are four things I shall speak to First That there is a full Pardon of sin procured The Scripture sets this forth by clear and pregnant arguments and by several terms that leave no room for the least Suspition to the believing Soul 'T is called sometimes Remission of Sin Luke 24. 47. And that Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it signifies Dismission or Releasing All unchanged Souls are in Debt to God bound over to wrath and laid up in Prison but by Jesus Christ there is a discharge of this Debt procured the bond Cancell'd the Prison opened and the Sinners set free Isa 61. 1. Sometimes 't is call'd not imputing sin not laying it to the sinners charge Psa 32. 1 2. imputeth not iniquity that is doth not charge and reckon it and lay it on his account As a Merchant that sends his Bill to his Debtour and charges several sums upon him 'T is true every Believer is a Debtor in himself but God chargeth the Debt on another and not on them Sometimes 't is termed a covering or hiding of sin not from the sinners but from Gods judicial Eye Psal 85. 2. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people thou hast covered all their sin Psal 78. 38. He being full of compassion forgave their iniquity Caphar to cover or conceal from this Root is derived Caphoreth the covering of the Ark or Mercy-seat in which was the Law or knowledge of sin but by the blood of Christ was covered or purged away Sometimes 't is expressed by not remembring sin any more Jer. 31. 34. I will remember their sin no more I will be propitiously merciful or pacifiedly favourable to their sins and their sinful errours and unrighteousness will I remember no more or I will not remember them again Here are two Negatives which make the denyal the more vehement 'T is an allusion to men that forgive and forget and it signifies that God will not upbraid or reproach them with them any more hence Paul challengeth all the world to lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect Rom. 8. 33. Further 't is set forth by a taking away of sin Exod. 34. 7. Forgiving iniquity transgression and sin The word in the Original is lifting up or taking away all sorts of sins and iniquities Again 't is signified by blotting out of sin so that it shall never be seen more Isa 43. 25. I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions Like the Merchant when the debt is paid crosseth the Book throws Ink on it blots it out that it may not be read any more so God the Father casts the blood of Christ on a Believer's sin and blots it out so that Justice can lay no more to their charge Again 't is called a casting of sin behind his back Isa 38. 17. He doth remove them out of his sight as far as the East is from the West Ps 103. 12. He will cast all their sins into the depth of the Sea Mic. 7. 18 19. O the latitude of Believers pardon and the full discharge of all their sin Sometimes God seems to be throwing off his people and giving them a final farewel but oh he returns again and casteth their sins not them into the depth of the Sea where they shall be certainly drowned as the Egyptian● were never to be seen more Thus you see there 's a full pardon procured for God's people not the least ground for a Question left to them Secondly There is not only a full pardon procured but a pardon of every sin All the sins of Gods people are forgiven Col. 2. 13. 14. Having forgiven you all trespasses blotting out the handwriting that not one debt may be seen as a Book or Bill that is blotted out can be never more sued against one 1 Joh. 1. 7. The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin Jer. 50. 20. The iniquity of Israel shall be sought for and there shall be nove and the sins of Judah and they shall not be found for I will pardon them whom I reserve The most cruel Enemy upon the strictest search shall not find one they shall be all forgiven And indeed if Grace be free there is the same reason why all shall be

angry and then to Love which argues a Mutation yet that Change is not in Gods Will and Affection which is one Essence with himself but in his outward Dispensation So that the Divine Nature in Christ is unchangeable both in his Nature and Will he cannot he will not vary in him is no Variableness or Shadow of turning he is a Rock and his Work perfect Time or Change in Creatures work no Change in God 't is the Mistake of Unbelief to think that the Heart of God changes as the poor Believer doth like those that row by the Shore fancy the Land and Houses on it to move when 't is but the Vessel changes his place Comfort thy Heart poor Soul who hast sincerely chosen the Lord to be thy Portion on this Assurance that the Thoughts of God are the same towards thee as ev●● all thy changeable Frames and unfaithful Dealings with him works no more Alteration in his Heart to thee than the interposing Clouds do on the essential Light of the Sun or the Provocations of the Child on the Fathers Relation who is still a Father how unlike soever he carries himself to the Child but these Instances are too short to adumbrate and set out the Immutability of God who cannot but be Truth though every man be a Lye he is faithful and cannot deny himself to his though they believe not 'T is his Faithfulness secures thy Faith and not thy Faith makes good his Faithfulness Rom. 3. 3. 4. Shall their Vnbelief make the Faith or Faithfulness of God of none Effect God forbid Mat. 3. 6. I the Lord change not therefore ye Sons of Jacob are not consumed Is Christ immutable Then there is Ground enough for Believers to cast Anchor on him and to bottom their strong Hopes upon his Promises for faithful is he that hath promised Heb. 10. 23. He is not as man that he should lye or as the Son of man that he should repent Numb 23. 19. Hath he spoken and shall he not make it good He cannot alter the Word that is gone out of his Mouth Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one Tittle of his Word till all be fullfilled For this end hath God shewed to the Heirs of Promise the Immutability of his Council confirmed by an Oath that by two immutable things his Purpose and Promise in which 't is impossible for God to lye they might have strong Consolation who have fled for Refuge to lay hold on the Hope set before them Heb. 6. 18. 19. O Believer suffer not thy Soul to be tossed to and fro with every change of Providence without or of thy heart within but roul thy Hopes on this Rock of Ages on whom the Pillars of the Earth hang for their Stedfastness the whole Creation for its Sustentation by whom Winter and Summer Day and Night are kept within their Seasons and all the changes of his People reduced into a Consistency with his Covenant Fidelity This also yields encouragement to Believers for perseverance in the way of Duty whatever Alterations are in their Conditions and the Times they live in because he that leads them is the same in the worst as well as the best of Times and as able to secure them and as firm in his Affections to them seeing he changes not and therefore cannot will not leave them Again To this Immutability of God in Christ may gracious Souls go to get their unsteddy Hearts fixed and derive by Faith more constancy to their Spirits towards God He who is faithful hath engaged it to establish their Hearts with Grace and keep them from Evil. 2 Thes 3. 3. But the Lord is faithful who shall establish you and keep you from evil 2 Chro. 20. 20. Believe God so shall you be established As Christ's Life is Security for the Believer's Life Joh. 14. 19. His Power for their Preservation 2 Tim. 1. 12. so is his Immutability for their Stedfastness Psal 102. 12. The Author of this Psalm under the sense of his weakness and the languishing state of Sion comforts himself in the consideration of Gods Immutability But thou O Lord shalt endure for ever And upon this mountain of Spices raises his hopes of Sion this he takes for granted from his unalterableness He shall appear in his Glory Go Believer and lay by Faith thy changeable Heart on Christ's Constancy as the Shunamite did her dead Child on Elisha's Bed till she received him to Life again 2 Kings 4. 21. And she said when her Child was dead It shall be well vers 23. So in the same Spirit of Faith with her Leave thy Soul with a Faithful Jesus to be made faithful also 1 Thes 5. 24. Faithful is he that calleth you who will also do it Fifthly The Omniscience of Christ is another of his Divine Attributes by which he doth perfectly and in one Eternal and immutable Act know himself and all things that were are or shall be and things that are not that never were or never shall be things natural and voluntary necessary and contingent things in their Causes and Effects acted or intended good or evil finite or infinite all are most clearly and fully naked and open in his sight He alone fully knows himself and his Divine Perfections 2 Cor. 2. 10. The Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God ver 11. For what man knoweth the things of man save the Spirit of a man which is in man even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God So Matth. 11. 27. No man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son That is No man can know the Divine Nature but God himself immediately and perfectly That knowledge which the Saints have of God is but a secondary and communicated knowledge of Gods back parts as revealed in his Works Word and in a Mediatour according to the measure of the Gift of Christ But God knows himself immediately and fully as he is for his Knowledge is his Essence and so as Infinite as his Being is He is a pure Act without any potentiality therefore his Understanding and himself are the same He knows also all things else that are in Being and not in Being things past present or to come in one eternal Act without any search into Principles or Causes as Humane Understandings do in a discoursive way and by succession but hath the Idea's of all things in himself his Essence being the Exemplar of those things seeing he gives them their Being As the Artificer knows the Forms of the Pieces he makes and the Writer the proportion of his own Letters so doth God the first Cause know all things that receive their Nature from him they being first in him and so eternally present to him Hence the knowledge of God is most certain and infallible and things are as he knows them seeing his Knowledge gives them their Being which must be understood of the things that God

approves of as his Creatures his Providences and Evils of Punishment which are just and righteous But sinful Evils have no dependance on his Fore-knowledge or Influence from his Essence Indeed Actions as they are natural have their Being from God but the pravity and sinfulness of those Acts Sin being but the privation of that good which was and should be in them is derived from the Subject whose Acts they are As the Motion of the Clock is from the Art of the Artificer but the obliquity of the Motion is from some defect in the Clock it self Gods fore-knowledge of Sin confers no Physical Vertue and necessity to the Being and succession of Sin and yet his knowledge of it is certain all things being naked and manifest in his sight who is Truth it self and cannot deceive or be deceived He determining to permit the Being of Sin must needs fore-know it else his Knowledge would not be perfect and if his Knowledge should be imperfect his Essence would be so too they being both the same but this cannot consist with the Fountain of all Perfection He is the Holy One and can do no Iniquity Zeph. 3. 5. His Fore-knowledge of Sin doth not offer Violence to the Nature of man or destroy the natural Freedom of his Will but foreseeing what man would be determined to leave him to the natural Motion of his own Will Judas betraying Christ as it was sinful was the Consequent of Gods Foreknowledge but the effect of his own Covetousness Acts 2. 23. All Contingencies are perfectly foreseen of God also both in himself as the first Cause and so they are necessary to succeed in due time he sees them also in the second Causes in respect of which they are said to be contingent for to God nothing is accidental although it seems so to men through an Unacquaintedness with their Dependance on the first Cause Rebeccah's meeting Abraham's Servant at the Well and her Discourse with him Gen. 24. 15. seem to Standers by to be things contingent but look back to the former Verse and you will see them to be the answer of Prayer and so before appointed The like was the Midianites drawing Joseph out of the Pit Gen. 37. and the Wind blowing down the House on Job's Children Job 1. though they look like Accidents yet were the Effects of Gods Permission and fore-appointment Again God fore-knows all Contingencies not only as they are in their first and second Causes but as they are in themselves for all things being present to him he perfectly knows what every Cause will produce in time and so must necessarily come to pass according to that Axiome Every thing that is when once it is it appears necessary that it should be Acts 15. 18. Known unto God are all his Works from the beginning of the World Heb. 4. 13. Neither is there any Creature which is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and open to the Eyes of him with whom we have to do Psal 56. 8. Thou tellest my wandrings put thou my tears into thy Bottle are not they in thy Book Psal 139. 2. Thou understandest my Thoughts afar off that is before they are in Being Prov. 15. 3. The Eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good This Wisdom of Christ as God is part of his Unsearchable Treasure and so great a Deep that 't is past finding out by his most intelligent Creatures in Heaven and Earth Rom. 11. 33. O the depths of the Riches both of the Wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his Judgments and his wayes past finding out Again as God is infinitely wise in himself so is he the Author of all Wisdom to his Creatures He enlightneth every one that cometh into the World Jo. 1. 9. This is laid down to prove the Divine Nature of Christ he is the Word which is God this appears both in his making all things verse 3. and in his incomprehensible Essence He is the Light shining in Darkness and the Darkness comprehends it not Also he is the Fountain of all that Light and Life his Creatures enjoy and therefore must needs be God The Evangelist doth not speak here of Christ as Mediator and so of that saving Light which he gives to his Elect by his Spirit but of his divine Essence which the Jews would not own and as a proof of it doth instance in his creatorly Power he is the Fountain of that natural Light which all men have all Wisdom comes from him who is the Father of Lights he is the Fountain of Light able to fill the Children of men with all that Knowledge that is necessary to their highest Happiness to guide them with his Eye and lead them into all Truth First This yields wonderful Comfort to Believers that they have chosen such a Saviour as is able to make them wise to Salvation who not only knows what is best for them but can also reveal and make out the Knowledge thereof to them that they might know and chuse what makes for their best Good here and for ever He is the Son of Righteousness Mal. 4. 2. The bright Morning Star Rev. 22. 16. The Light of Israel Isa 10. 7. The Pillar of Fire by Night Neh. 9. 12. To shew them their way in their greatest Difficulties and Obscurity Secondly This assures gracious Souls that he who hath undertaken their Conduct Supply and Preservation to Glory knows how to make it good and finish the work he is intrusted with he can keep that good thing committed to him he can help them in the worst of Straits and lead them through the greatest Improbabilities Weaknesses Dangers yea Impossibilities to their desired Rest Thirdly This also relieves them that they have a Friend in Heaven who knows their Soul in Adversity and is acquainted with all their Troubles Wants Weaknesses Wrongs Fears Dangers yea with all their Labours Duties Desires and Designs for him and knows how to succour comfort support and deliver them when all Refuge fails them and there is none to help and how to requite and crown all their Duties and Sufferings for his Name He knows their Corruptions the Strength and Prevalency of them and how to subdue and destroy them he sees their Ways and Infirmities and how to heal them he knows the Power and Malice of their Enemies to restrain them and discovers the most secret Plots against his innocent ones to disappoint them that in vain is the Snare laid in his Sight against them He observes thy Tears Believer thy corner Duties thy Bed-side Breathings after him though hid from others he takes notice of thy Innocency when men revile thee and knows how to plead thy Cause and bring thee to the Light Fourthly This will serve to humble the proud Heart of men that God is acquainted with all their Vileness he sees their high their fretful their vain their unclean their unsound their rebellious Hearts Souls men see