Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n
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A90376
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Of the internal and eternal nature of man in Christ.
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Pembroke, William Herbert, 3rd Earl of, 1580-1630.
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1654
(1654)
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Wing P1127; Thomason E740_6; ESTC R207015
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15,566
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64
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Christ 6. Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture Behold I lay in Sion a ch ef corner stone elect precious and he that beleeveth on him shall not be confounded Lastly Whereas we alledg divers Texts of Scriptures in our four last Pages to arm us for our duty and conflict of suffering with Christ that afterwards we may raign with him we conceive that most of those Scriptures speak of those inward afflictions and sufferings which we must pass through under Gods chastisements and Satans temptations whilest we suffer the loss death and burial of all our own imaginations carnal wisdom chosen holiness self-made righteousness turbulent zeal as well as of our sinful lusts desires and affections and that those testimonies aforesaid are not to be restrained to the oppositions and persecutions of wicked men only Loving Friend HE that continually sinketh down through Faith waiting in patience besides his continual preservation when it is meet for him the Lord doth comfort him with unspeakable joy letting him know that he hath ordained him to inherit the Promises For by that means when the Virgin will reigneth our own wills forsake their title and are secured by that of our Lord Jesus For a pure heathenish Virgin yeildeth to no defiled desire but entereth into the unity of Virtue whereby she is protected by the harmony of an unknown Power arising from the divine Law written in her heart namely the spirit of Abel who delivereth her from the multiplicity of treacherous and perfideous delights Therefore by faith let us appeal to our only Redeemer and Protector leading us to that pure and undefiled Champion and Conqueror Christ Jesus in our Souls who fighteth for us only and not after the manner of Aaron for himself and others shewing always his almighty Power when we have most need of the same I heartily rejoyce that in the Name of the Lord you purpose to meet for wheresoever two or three are gathered together in his Name he is in the midst of them upon which account likewise by the joynt custom and consent of those who meet within the Walls called Aldermary Church upon the first day of the week I am if God determine not otherwise resolved to meet there where I doubt not but many of the children of God will meet coming singly in his Name to receive spiritual promises therefore let not place divide the unity of our spirit so we shall at the same time in several places through faith in God receive in his holy Name what is necessary So professing my self your unfeigned Friend for the love you bear to our Lord Jesus I remain yours Dear Friend THe Grecians did abound in natural wit and lived much in bondage under the false will namely their own will being very ambitious of self-humane wisdom and reason that certainly was the Idol that more then in an ordinary measure they worshiped therefore the Apostle said unto them 1 Cor. 2. vers 6 7 8 9. 6. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect yet not the wisdom of this world nor of the Princes of this world that come to nought 7. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory 8. Which none of the Princes of this world knew for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory 9. But as it is written Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him Men certainly are as inclinable and willing by false rules to adorn themselves with unregenerated and unbeleeving wit and wisdom and set up their Rest therein as women to adorn and embelish themselves with overmuch art and care which breedeth vain thoughts and vile inclinations nourishing thereby the false will that leadeth into temptation the former being thereby inclined to determine the will of God regulating and governing the same by his comprehension the latter the will of Nature by art and dexterity whereby knowledg in man and ingenuity in women is made captive to the false depraved will Yet Nature when she returneth again and yeildeth obedience to the will of God is good for Nature her self standeth and hath its center and being therein But our own will that is artificial it is a violent possession a false usurped propriety a peculiar self-conceited selfishness goten by Adam when he fell from Gods will into his own O therefore return unto the will of God again for the life of faith more by far excelleth our own wisdom and willing then transitory and corruptible Nature in her perfection doth excel sophisticated and counterfeited Art therefore I hope the good will in us will enable us to sink down into the Cross and crucifie the bad will then shall we know and plainly understand the mystery of Christ crucified that immortal and pure Wisdom that incorruptible and resplendent Beauty Thus may you clearly see the Apostles meaning 1 Cor. 1.22 23 24. For the Jews require a sign and the Greeks seek after wisdom 23. But we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness 24. But unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God Let none hence conclude ' cause I speak of right and regenerated Nature that I would endeavor to perswade women to think well of transitory and fadable beauty no I would most humbly have them look after that eternal and unfadable one 1 Pet. 3. v. 2 3 4. While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear 3. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of gold or of puting on of apparel 4. But let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price And Paul saith 1 Tim. 2.9 10. In like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefastness and sobriety not with broidered hair or gold or pearls or costly aray But which becometh women professing godliness with good works Now as corruptible beauty is destructive to it self and others unless the inward man be renewed for in Christ there is no difference twixt man and woman Galat. 1.27 28. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ 28. There is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither bond nor free there is neither male nor female for ye are all one in Christ Jesus For the vanity pride and lust of artificial and sophisticated beauty allayeth very much virtue and piety alluring and inwardly kindling vile thoughts interrupting many times the simplicity and innocency of a harmless conversation Thus it is with those likewise who live in artificial painted self-reason making faith subservient to their humane wisdoms And the Apostle found it so amongst the Grecians who gloried in their self artificial knowledg not regarding the mystery of Christ crucified Hereby we may conclude that the wit of man unregenerated is like unto horsedung which before it is well rotted spoileth all the moulds it is mixed with Repentance and Resignation fitteth every man onely wherefore the Apostle saith 1 Corinth 1. vers 23. But we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness They indeed would raign with Christ but it must be in their own artificial wills not in his in their own false wisdoms not in his Fain they would live with him but not dye with him know him they would most willingly suffering for them but to suffer with him by no means that They would fain have his Power and Crown but not his faith virtue and patience Like a seed that would fain be a fine flowr and have a fine scent but not go into the earth to rot putrifie and dye Take this Direction PAtience is the divine Water Humility the divine Earth and Faith the divine Sun Love and Charity the divine Man Christ himself in the Spirit regenerated from thence Now as all things proceed from Water falling into the Earth being percolated and strained by virtue of the Suns warmth So likewise is it in the eternal Nature as in this temporary where the natural man is made of a clod of earth nourished by moisture circulated and digested by heat Even so the inward man Christ is generated Humility is the earth of which he is made Patience the water with which he is nourished and Faith the Sun of divine Righteousness by which he is digested circulated and brought to perfection whereby God is regenerated in us namely love and charity This is the Process if any one practise the same the vail shall be drawn from off their heart and the great Mystery shall be made manifest in them in their several proportions according as God hath ordained Colos 1. vers 26 27 28 29. Even the Mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations but now is made manifest unto his Saints 27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory 28. Whom we preach warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus 29. Whereunto I also labour striving according to his working which worketh in me mightily Farewell FINIS