Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A65908
|
The doctrine of perfection vindicated by way of answer to some objecting reasons frequently used by them that plead for sin in this life ... with some wholesome exhortation ... shewing plainly how it is agreeable with what is signified in the Scripture and the light within ... : something likeways expressed concerning bread and wine : also some wholsome directions to stir up young people to seek after their Creator in the days of their youth / written by one who breathes to God for the redemption of the seed that lies yet in the house of bondage bound by the cords of iniquity, J.W.
|
Whitehouse, John, fl. 1662-1663.
|
1663
(1663)
|
Wing W1984; ESTC R33637
|
36,477
|
48
|
taking every motion of evil in the conception and so destroyes it there before it be acted or consented to which every one that receives him in his Light which maketh all things manifest shall come to witness even a dying with him to the flesh from whence comes sin and then quickning by the Spirit with Christ unto Righteousness This is the first Resurrection to arise out of Sin into Perfection with Christ the which except a man be made a partaker of in this life the second death will have power over him So by all this it appears that Christ is the Minister of Perfection who preached it more clear and exacter than it was in the Law Matth. 5.28 who said if a man lust to do any thing he is guilty as if he did it which the Law without was too weak to find out and so became a strengthner of the Law which requireth Perfection and also for the effecting of this he gave gifts to his Apostles and Ministers some he made Prophets some Teachers and Evangelists others Pastors and the like for the finishing of the work which he had begun which was to perfect all the Members of his Body the Church that they might all come to the measure and stature and fulness of him who was perfect and is the perfecter of all that believe in him who is the Light that shines in darkness and these Apostles brought some Rom. 6.18 by turning them from darkness to this Light to witness freedom from sin and had their fruits unto holiness and the end everlasting life and also those who had not attained to this estate 1 Pet. 1.15 they did not tell them they never should in this life but exhorted them to go on to Perfection giving them many Commands to that end warning and teaching every man in all wisdom that they might present themselves perfect in Christ in whom there is no sin nor sinners for they that are in him are new created in Righteousness and true Holiness which is without sin and all things in them are of God being all made new by the Son of God who sits upon the Throne as a Refiners fire which consumes all the dross and takes away the tin and then sin must needs be done away for that 's of the Devil Now for this end did Paul strive and labour mightily Heb. 13.21 Jam. 1.4 both praying and desiring God to make them perfect in every good work And likewise James in the tryal of their Faith exhorted them to keep in the patience and let it have its perfect work that they might be perfect and entire wanting nothing Peter also in his exhortation wherein he stirs them up by way of remembrance to go on unto the end and not faint by the way neither to live in the fashions of the world nor lusts of the flesh but commands them to be holy in all manner of conversation as he that hath called them is holy 1 Pet. 1.16 The reason why saith he because it is written Be ye holy for I am holy Mark that He doth not say this Command is taken away neither too hard to be fulfilled To the same effect John the blessed Disciple to the little Children warned them not to deceive themselves by saying they had no sin before they were cleansed therefrom but that they should confess it to God then he would forgive it them and not only so 1 John 1.7 8 9. but if they walked in the Light as he is in the Light then their fellowship should be with him and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son should cleanse them from ALL Sin 1 Joh. 3.8 9 10. He then exhorts them not to be deceived by any man telling them he that doth Righteousness is righteous even as Christ is righteous and that he that hath the living true Faith in him purifies himself even as he is pure saying he that commits sin is of the Devil for he sinned from the beginning but he that is born of God sinneth not neither indeed can he because God's Seed remains in him which is Christ the Light which saves from sin And then he gives a mark to know the Children of God from the children of the Devil saying Whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God but of the Devil as his words before signifie and also if a man sayes he knows Christ Mat. 5. last and keeps not his Commandments one of which is to be perfect he is a lyar and the truth is not in him for he that saith he abideth in him ought himself so to walk even as he walked For he that sinneth and abideth not in his Doctrine 2 Joh. 9. hath not God but denies and is denied of both the Father and the Son let him say and profess what he will Also the Spirit speaking to one of the Churches found fault because their works were not perfect before God Rev. 3.4 who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity bidding them therefore to repent and be watchful because there was something wanting Wherefore the Spirit cryeth this day through me Awake awake ye sluggards arise arise ye careless ones who are at ease in sin and have taken up your rest in iniquity for the Son of Righteousness is risen and the Day of Holiness is dawned therefore God requireth all men to repentance and to bring forth fruits meet thereto for the night of ignorance whereat he winked is past and he is arisen in his mighty Power who will no longer be silent but will cry like a travelling woman who will not cease till the Birth is brought forth which is to establish Judgement and Righteousness in the Earth that he alone over all may be exalted therefore will he search the whole Earth with his pure candle of Light and will make the sinners in Sion afraid and fearfulness shall surprize the hypocrites and none shall abide before him who is a consuming fire nor dwell with everlasting burnings but he that walketh in Righteousness and speaketh uprightly Psa 15.1 2 3. and despiseth the gain of oppression and holdeth his hands from bribes his eyes from seeing of evil and his ears from hearing of blood it is he that shall dwell on high his place of defence shall be the Name of the Lord which is the Refuge of the Righteous his eyes shall see the King of Sion in his beauty and therefore let all people fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his Judgment is come wherein he will be avenged upon all the Inhabitants of the Earth who are made drunk with the Wine of Fornication in Babylon the Mystory of Iniquity which the Lord God in his Almightiness is arisen to destroy and therefore if any man follow the Beast which is that unclean nature which polluteth man or receives and keeps his Mark which is Sin the same shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God which is poured forth without
Faith and in times past and doubtless now also hath raised as it were things that are not to bring to nought those things which are contrary to him that he may have the Glory to Himself alone But however it may be received or rejected I shall rest in patience being content in that I feel am Acceptance with God in this my Obedience to him which is a sufficient Reward unto me who am known to the World by the name of John Whithouse The Doctrine of Perfection vindicated c. The Worlds Question VVHether is Perfection or freedom from all sin Quest to be attained in this life or no Yea Answ or else to no purpose was Christ made manifest in the flesh as may hereafter appear for in the lowest distance or alienation in the fall from God we are but the servants of sin and if by him we are not set free from the service thereof then what are we saved from or what are we the better by him for without him we are but so and if he leave us where he finds us which is to say in sin what then is he a Saviour from or how doth he effect that which is said of him For Sin and Imperfection is of the Devil 1 John 3.8 for the destroying of which he the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of all that believe in his Light and Son of the world was manifested and if this work be not effected by him then may we say he is insufficient and comes short of the end for which he was given for a Light to the Gentiles Isa 42.6 7. and to be Gods Salvation to the ends of the Earth who is the second Covenant which is not sound faulty as was the first which made nothing perfect Therefore was it taken away that the second Heb. 7.19 which is the better hope by which we draw nearer to God might be established so then shall I conclude with the world that the first made none of the comers thereto perfect nor the second neither God forbid For they who do believe and receive him who is the new and second Covenant Christ Jesus the true Light who enlightneth every man that cometh into the world to them as the Scripture saith he gives power to become the sons of God who are not born of flesh and blood neither of the will of man Joh. 1.12 13. but of God and who is so born sinneth not because God's Seed Christ Jesus abideth in him 1 John 3.9 Mal. 1.21 who is a Saviour thar saves his People from their sin and not in it they who know this know the Scripture to be true because it is fulfilled in them and can truly call Christ Lord because they do his Will and not their own but are dead thereto and are only alive to God bringing forth fruits of Righteousness the end of which is Life and Peace Rom. 8.3 13. All which is fulfilled in them who walk not after the flesh but through the Spirit of Life in Christ which makes free from sin and death and doth mortifie the deeds of the same These are they who through the washing of Regeneration in the work of mortification come to know and witness a cleansing from all sin and to have their Robes made white in the blood of the Lamb Heb. 9.26 who was made manifest to put away and make an end of all sin and to perfect for ever those that through the Spirit are thus sanctified Yea Object but saith the world Our Teachers * Rich. Baxter for one who are learned and wise tell us this Doctrine of Perfection is a dangerous tenent and the Doctrine of the Devil and not of Christ nor his Apostles but is a blasphemous Principle contrary to the Scriptures Now to this Answ I say You are not to believe all that your Teachers tell you but come down to the Light of Christ and hear these things tryed by it and the Scriptures also and hold fast that which is good Now this is the Record that God gave of his Son by his Servant Moses who prophesied saying Acts 3.22 A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you like unto me Him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he saith And it shall come to pass That whosoever will not hear and obey him shall be cut off from the Land of the Living And in like manner Mal. 3.3 to Him gave all the Prophets witness saying He shall come as a Refiners fire and as Fullers sope and shall thorowly purge the sons of Levi that they might offer an Offering to the Lord in Righteousness Mat. 3.12 Also John Baptist bare witness of him saying His Fan is in his hand and he will thorowly purge his Floor Mark that not in part he doth not say but thorowly And now he the Eternal and Everlasting true Light the chief and High-Priest over the Houshold of God the pure Purger Perfecter Cleanser and Fulfiller of all the Law and the Prophets Behold this is his Doctrine preached by him in the dayes of his flesh Be ye perfect Matth. 9.48 as your heavenly Father is perfect And now behold he is arisen in many sons and daughters by his quickening Spirit which hath raised them out of Sin and Death and through them is he preaching by Life and Doctrine the same as he lived in who is the same yesterday to day and for ever who is the perfect Pattern and finished his course in Perfection leaving it an Example for all that believe in him to follow So this is none of the Devil's Doctrine neither his Command but the Doctrine and Command of the Son of God who is not a hard nor an unjust master requiring that of his servants which he gives them not power to do but it is the slothful servant that makes not use of his talent but buries it in the Earth and then complains for want of power but they who receive the gift of God God giveth them power to do whatsoever he commandeth whose Commandments 1 Joh. 2 3.1.7 to them that follow him in faithfulness were not greivous but joyful who were washed and cleansed but not by themselves but by walking in the Light as God was in the Light so came they to witness the Blood of his Son to cleanse them not from some sin but all and so were made Ministers not of the Letter which killeth but of the Spirit which giveth Life and quickeneth unto Perfection and laboured to bring men thereto that they might present every man perfect in Christ in whom there is no sin for he was not sent to be a cloak to cover sin under his righteous garment but to destroy it and take it away slaying the carnal or fleshly mind which warreth against the soul working sin in the members upon the Cross which is spiritual or all spirit which Cross worketh inwardly bringing into subjection every vain thought and imagination