Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	earth_n	heaven_n	know_v	10,810	5	3.7517	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A19697	The vvay to a blessed estate in this life. By Ezekel Culuervvel.	Culverwell, Ezekiel, 1553 or 4-1631.	1623 (1623)	STC 6118.4; ESTC S109140	5,124	21

obserue these two in two divers sorts of beleevers The former in those 1. Not prizing Christ in two divers sorts of beleevers The former in those who not sufficiently feeling their wants and too much contented with their estate doe not so prize Christ and this blessed estate in him as may moue them to take this paines and therefore neuer reach vnto this growth in grace wherevnto they might come if the fault were not in them selues The other let is in those who highly prizing the benefit 2. Our vnworthines and earnestly labouring for it are by the sense of their owne vnworthinesse so kept downe ' that they cannot with any hope looke vp for so great a blessing Remoue of the first let For the remooving of both these lettes the first sort are to bethinke themselues what an vncomfortable account it will be when God shall call them to it to see how many yeares they haue spent with little growth in grace either to the glory of God or good example to others or to the peace of their owne soules Whereas on the other side they might haue attained vnto such a sweet life as would haue beene a heauen vpon earth namely To reioyce alwayes in the Lord. Of the second let For the other poore soules who are kept downe with the sense of their owne vnworthinesse they are to know that all Gods promises are free and vndeserved so as no vnworthines ought to hinder them from beleeving yea rather they that haue the most sense of their owne vnworthinesse haue most incouragement to beleeve for that voice of Christ Mat. 11.28 Come vnto me all you that are weary and heavie laden and I will ease you serue not onely for our first conversion but in all our distresses whatsoever throughout the whole course of our life Satan will beguile If any escape both these lets and goe about this worke then will Satan vse all his skill to beguile both sorts such as are weake and heauie hearted Some that they beleeue not soone discouraged he tempts and perswades they labour in vaine and doe not beleeue when indeed they doe as shall appeare Others that they haue more faith then they haue The other sort who are too well conceited and light hearted Satan labours to perswade that they haue more faith then indeed they haue and that their case is better then in truth it is It shall be therefore the wisedome of all who will not be deceived carefully to examine and try themselues which that they may the better doe let them consider of these markes that follow whereby either sort may certainely iudge of themselues Foure markes of faith not seene For such as conscionably endevour to nourish their faith in such manner as hath beene shewed and yet finde no comfort but feare they doe not beleeue when as indeed they doe these are to discerne their faith by such secret operations as doe certainely shew faith to be there though it be not seene namely An vnfeigned griefe for the want of faith 1. Griefe for want of faith with an vncessant indevour for the attaining of it Againe A reverent esteeme of God and hearty affection of vnfeigned loue to him which cannot be without some former apprehension of Gods loue to them which is in many though they see it not And lastly A tender Conscience 4. A tender conscience fearing to displease God even in smaller matters which others little regard Whosoever shall find these fruits which cannot come but from faith may certainly know that there is a roote of faith grounded in their hearts though they see it not No fruits no faith But such as haue no feeling of their faith and see no such effects in their liues haue iust cause to thinke that they haue no faith at all Notes of true and false comfort As for the other sort who are too well perswaded of themselues that they finde comfort in meditating on Gods promises whereas indeed they deceiue themselues and haue not that faith they imagine as their fruits doe shew This may be discerned by these notes 1. True is hardly got First True comfort is vsually very heardly gotten with much prayer and labour and it is oft a long time before this be felt therefore they who vpon their first thoughts on these promises finde comfort that they haue part in them may so farre mistrust all is not sound till they shall see some better proofe thereof which if they doe not but for all this will be confident that all is well it is to be feared their comfort is not sound 2. Feare of deceit For this is another propertie of that true comfort which springs from faith especially in young and weake beleevers that they so highly valewing the benefit are very fearefull of being deceived and must see good evidence before they will be perswaded that they haue this saving faith 3. Poore in spirit mourne and lowly Whereof if they shall be perswaded yet therwithall is ioyned such a feeling of the weakenesse of their faith and so of all grace as makes them poore in their owne eyes and mourne for their wants thinking lowly of themselues and more highly reuerencing the graces of God in others Whereas they who be deceived are as the Laodiceans rich and wanting nothing and so be merry and too light hearted thinking too well of themselues and too slenderly of others better then themselues 4 Hunger and labour for more Another sure marke of sensible faith and comfort is this That they that haue tasted of it can never be satisfied but still hunger and labour for more none more diligently vse all good meanes to grow in grace then they Even as the strong and most healthfull bodie doth feed better then the weake and sickly But such as being well satisfied with that they haue and feele no hunger nor labour for more it is evident their faith and comfort are not good 5. Answerable obedience To proceed and not to gather all that might be added hereto this shall serue for all That as like fire like heate so like faith like life great or small So that where there is strong faith there must needs be great obedience and therefore whosoever hee be that is carelesse of his conversation and barren in the fruits of a holy life his faith must needs be weake if not dead Wherefore to conclude I advise every one who by these markes shall discerne himselfe to be deceived with fancie in stead of faith to goe about this worke more seriously and to lay a better foundation of faith and not to say he hath found comfort till he can bring good witnesse thereof Which whosoever shall neglect shall in the end to say no more lament his folly when he who seeing his errour shall more carefully and constantly put in practise this maine dutie of daily feeding vpon Christ shall grow in grace and attaine to that blessed life here whereof we speake besides eternall life the full reward of all his labour FINIS