Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	aaron_n	bear_v	head_n	15	3	5.7794	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50402	The law of God ratified by the gospel of Christ, or, The harmony of the doctrine of faith with the law of righteousness wherein many of the types and rites of the ceremonial law are unfolded, and the moral law adjusted a rule of holy living to all, though justified by faith / as it was delivered in several sermons preacht to the parochial congregation of Mayfield in Sussex by Mr. Mainard late rector thereof, publisht since his death.	Maynard, John, 1600-1665.	1674 (1674)	Wing M1450; ESTC R33505	161,259	298

him who is invisible and so despising earthly things Labour for union with Christ that partaking of his Spirit ye may partake of his holiness and graces and so of his beauty and glory Holiness beautifieth and adorneth the soul and ptepareth it for perfection of heavenly beauty and glory whereas sin doth both defile and disfigure the soul filling it with deformity This being noted in general I intend to mention some few of the particulars First The two precious stones upon the two shoulders of the Ephod or Priestly Robe wherein were ingraven the Names of the twelve tribes of Israel six in one stone and six in the other so that the high-priest bare their Names upon his two shoulders 1. This may note unto us the support which the Lord giveth unto his Church and to all the living members of it He beareth them as it were upon his shoulders Hence it is that his little flock hath been preserved in the midst of so many wolves from age to age Vpon this rock I will build my Church aud the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it What a blessed priviledge have they that are in Christ being built upon him as a rock immoveable and upheld by him born upon his shoulders who is their eternal high-priest 2. See how precious the people of Christ are in his account as if their names were engraven in precious stones and set in ouches or bosses of Gold 2. The breast-plate of Iudgement in which was to be set four rows of precious stones three in a row in all twelve stones of several kinds and in these again were ingraven the twelve names of the twelve Tribes of Israel and so Aaron was to bear the Names of the Children of Israel in the breast-plate of judgment upon his heart when he went into the holy place for a memorial before the Lord continually 1. See the tender love and affection which the Lord Christ hath toward his people he beareth them upon his breast upon his heart continually he shall feed his flock like a shepherd he shall gather the Lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom next his heart and therefore it seemeth the Church prayes to Christ set me as a seal upon thine heart that tender love which moved him to let out his heart blood for their redemption is still so powerful and prevailing with him that he beareth them upon his heart in heaven 2. Ought not Christians then to bear Christ upon their hearts to entertain him to dwell in their hearts by faith to cleave unto him in love and walk in him following the guidance of his spirit 3. Christ this eternal high-priest beareth the Names of his people upon his breast-plate or heart now that he is in heaven before his Father for a memorial before his face continually I conceive this noteth Christ his intercession for his people He presenteth their names before his Father in Heaven as the High-priest did in the holy place on the earth which was a figure of Heaven Blessed are they whose Names God the Father readeth engraven upon the breast-plate written upon the heart of his beloved Son in whom he is well-pleased What is there that such may not obtain of the Father through the Son And how should all labour to give in their names and to give up their hearts to Christ that he may bear their names upon his heart for a memorial before the face of God continually Thirdly Vpon the hemme of the High-priests Robe were placed golden Bells and Pomegranates that his sound might be heard when he went in unto the holy place before the Lord and when he came out so the Lord Christ entring in to the most holy place in heaven after his death and resurrection maketh a most sweet and pleasing sound in the ears of his Father far beyond that of golden bells his mediation and intercession in behalf of his people grounded upon the merit of his death sacrifice and satisfaction maketh heavenly melody before his Father Jesus the mediator of the new Covenant and the blood of sprinking which speaketh better things than the blood of Abel And these Pomegranates may well resemble the sweet savour of Christs sacrifice Again Aarons bells were heard to sound not only when he went in to the holy place but also when he came out Now although the Lord Christ as he is man continueth within the most holy place not made with hands and doth not come out again yet he sent down his spirit upon his Apostles soon after and caused these golden bells to give a most pleasant sound throughout the several Quarters of the world publishing the glad tidings of pardon and salvation through Christ to the comfort and refreshing of many thousand souls and the precious promises of the Gospel published in the name of Christ were as Pomegranats that yeilded a pleasant smell to the reviving of many fainting hearts and drooping spirits Had we circumcised hearts and ears gracious spirits heavenly affections how pleasant would the sound of the Gospel preached how sweet would the promises of it be unto us Fourthly The Lord gave this Command Thou shalt make a plate of pure Gold and grave upon it like the engravings of a fignet Holiness to the Lord and this golden plate was put on the forefront of the Mitre and so to be worne on the forehead of the High-priest that he might bear the iniquity of the holy things which the Children of Israel should hallow in all their holy gifts and it was to be always upon his forehead that they might be accepted before the Lord. The Inscription I suppose may be read either Holiness to the Lord or the Holiness of the Lord. 1. Here see how the Lord Christ whose holiness and righteousness is of infinite worth and value the holiness and righteousness of Iehovah of him who is very God taketh away the iniquities and pollutions of the duties services spiritual sacrifices offered by his people Aaron did bear these but in a figure and in a way of representation Christ did really bear them and his holiness and righteousness of Jehovah is imputed to them and is alone sufficient to take away all their uncleanness and to procure acceptance for them How should Christians be humbled that such is the corruption of their natures and imperfection of their graces that the best of their services the holiest of their offerings have such iniquity cleaving to them that they need the imputation of Christs righteousness to cover them And again this may comfort them that are in Christ and are sincere in their services and stir them up to thankfulness that such a precious remedy is provided them in this case even the Holiness of Jehovah 2. This golden plate with this Inscription on the forehead of the High-priest may intimate unto us that God the

Churches by Victor Bishop of Rome about the year 198 about a business of small moment scil the time of keeping Easter inclining to excommunicate many famous Churches of Asia dissenting from him had not some more moderate men especially Irenaeus Bishop of Lions restrained his rashness though agreeing with him about the thing in controversie What worse divisions were made by the abominable Heresie of the Maniche's in Iudea Egypt Greece Thrace Spain and other places But as the blasphemous Heresie of Arius was raised in a time when the Church was free from heathen persecutors so what dismal Rents and divisions did it make in the Church when there were Bishops against Bishops Churches against Churches Councels against Councels So the Macedonians Nestorians Eutichians Monothelites and others how sadly did they tear the Church in pieces That false and proud tenent of the Papists making the Pope the universal Bishop and head of the whole Church what a breach hath it made between the Eastern and Western Churches for many hundred years and what is the reason that there is no reconciliation made all this while between them and the Protestants but because they remain so obstinate in their errours Heresies and Idolatries against the manifest light of the holy Scriptures The stiffeness of those that are called Lutherans in adhering to their corrupt opinions hath made a miserable and lasting breach amongst the Protestant Churches But though we should not look either far back or far off for examples in this kind our own Land and our present times may afford us more then enough Have we not breach upon breach divisions and subdivisions many rending themselves from our Churches and then again making new rents among themselves and yet when there is an opportunity to act mischief against the truth and the Preachers and Professors of it they can make truce with each other for a time and conspire together to carry on wretched designs as the Pharises and Sadduces as also Herod and Pilate did against Christ. But here I think it needful to put in a caution or two First some are apt to lay the blame of these divisions upon those that maintain sound doctrine either when they labour to revive the truth after it hath been kept under by old errours and corrupt customes or to defend it against new heresies and attempts of Seducers When men see them constant and inflexible that they will not suffer themselves to be bowed and biassed according to the crooked fancies of those that are Seducers or seduced how ready are they to condemn them for Schismaticks froward men enemies of peace But this is a dangerous mistake and a very great injury to them that stand for the truth and to the truth it self For 1. The people and Ministers of Christ are bound to stand fast in the Truth against all opposition and contradiction So the Apostle sheweth that one end why Christ ascending into Heaven gave gifts unto men Ministers and ministerial abilities was that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lye in wait to deceive but speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things who is the head even Christ. Buy the Truth and sell it not The peace of the Church is greatly to be esteemed and endeavoured yet we must not sell the Truth to buy peace Iude accounted it needful for him to write unto the people of God and exhrrt them that thoy should earnesty contend for the faith scil the truth or doctrine of faith which was once delivered unto the Saints for saith he there are certain men crept in unawares c. The Apostle Paul gives a strict charge to Timothy hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and Love which is in Christ Iesus Hold it fast whatsoever means are used to wrest it from thee that good thing which was committed to thee keep by the holy Ghost which dwelleth in us Then he addeth this thou knowest that all they which are in Asia be carried away from me I conceive the word all is not to be taken universally here for all absolutely but indefinitely for the generality of those in Asia the lesser and therefore Timothy being left at Ephesus a chiefe City of Asia was likely to meet with many Adversaries and much contention in holding fast the form of sound words yet the Apostle would not dispense with him in this case he must stick close to the Truth So he telleth Titus that a Minister must hold fast the faithful word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and convince the gainsayers for there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers especially they of the Circumcision whose mouthes must be stopped c. And then he addeth wherefore rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith Is it not very likely that contentions and divisions would follow hereupon Secondly Therefore consider that when contentions and divisions follow upon the faithful preaching professing maintaining of the Truth or the right administration of holy Ordinances the fault is in those that will not indure sound doctrine but take offence when none is given either because their errours are confuted or their sinful practices reproved If divisions and contentions follow upon the publishing and asserting the Counsel of God they are the cause of it who resist the Truth for was not this the case of our Lord Jesus Christ himself and his Apostles Many of the people when they heard Christ said Of a truth this is the Prophet others said this is the Christ but some said shall Christ come out of Galilee c. so there was a division among the people because of him There was a division therefore again among the Iews because of these sayings and many of them said he hath a Devil and is mad Why hear ye him Others said these are not the words of him that hath a Devil Can a Devil open the eyes of the blind Yea the Lord Christ forewarned his Disciples Think not that I am come to send peace on the Earth I am not come to send peace but a sword or as it is in Luke division For I am come to set a man at variance against his Father and the Daughter against her Mother and the Daughter in Law against the Mother in Law and a mans foes shall be they of his own houshold Christ is the Prince of peace and his Gospel is the Gospel of peace and the proper end of his coming in the flesh and the great business that he undertook was to make peace between God and men and so by consequent between men and men and this design took effect accordingly in those that savingly received Christ and his Gospel and yeilded up their hearts to him but

Father in the forehead and face of his beloved Son readeth such an inscription of perfect holiness and righteousness that beholding his people in him he accepteth them as perfectly righteous through him that as this golden plate with this inscription was placed so eminently on Aarons forehead that it was visible and obvious to the bodily eyes and sight of the people of Israel so the perfect righteousness and holiness of the Lord Jesus Christ is eminently visible to the spiritual eye of his peoples faith that they may receive sweet comfort in the assurance that their iniquities are taken away through him and may behold the Fatherly love and kindness of the Father towards them and his gracious acceptance of their sevices in the face of Jesus Christ. One thing more was to be added before as belonging to the breast-plate of Judgement scil Vrim and Thummim concerning which there is a great question What it was Wherein it seemeth that neither Iewish nor Christian writers are yet agreed Whether it were these words engraven upon a golden plate and put upon a breast-plate or whether the twelve precious stones upon the breast-plate were so called or what other thing it might be Howsoever the meaning of the words is plain which being both of the plural number signifie Lights and Perfections These may point out unto us the fulness of heavenly Light wisdom and knowledge and perfection of grace that is in the Lord Jesus Christ. Saith he I am the light of the World again I am the Truth And the Apostle saith In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bedily This may shew that all by nature are darkness and imperfection and therefore needing such a Saviour who is fullness of Lights and Perfections Ye were sometimes darkness but now are Light in the Lord. God who is rich in mercy for his great Love wherewith ●e loved us even when we were dead in trespasses and sins hath quickned us together with Christ. And ye are compleat in him who is the head of all principality and power They that are natur●lly full of spiritual death darkness imperfection receive spiritual life light and grace from Christ when once they are truly united to him and so are compleat not in themselves but in him upon whose breast are Vrim and Thummim in whom is fullness of Lights and Perfections And Malachy who seemeth to be one of the last Prophets before Christs coming to raise up the hearts of the godly in expectation of Christs appearing in the flesh told them or rather God speaking by him assured them thus But unto you that fear my Name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing under his wings with light to deliver you from darkness and with healing graces the influences of his heavenly perfections to cure the diseases defects distempers of your souls Sixthly The High priest was appointed for men in things pertaining to God to offer gifts and Sacrifices for sins so the Lord Christ was ordained for men in things pertaining to God to offer Sacrifice for sins Christ hath loved us and given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God Where it is manifest that he is both the High-Priest and the Sacrifice both the offerer and the offering as he is the offering or sacrifice so he was figured by such sacrifices as those formerly spoken of As he is the offerer or High-priest so he is figured by the High-Priest of the old Testament None was worthy to offer this sacrifice of infinite value but Christ himself and the infinite worth of Christ God and man who as the High-Priest or Sacrificer presented this offering to God the Father and the infinite worth of the same Christ presented as an offering may assure the greatest sinners which truly turn to the Lord and come to him that there is enough done to make atonement and reconciliation between God and them only take heed least by neglecting so great salvation the infinite worth of the High Priest and sacrifice prove in the Issue an aggravation of your guilt and condemnation Seventhly The High-Priest having killed the Bullock of the sin-offering was to take a Censer full of burning coals of fire from off the Altar before the Lord and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small and bring it within the Vail scil into the holy of holies and then fire the Incense that the cloud of the Incense might cover the mercy-seat and then to sprinkle of the blood of the bullock upon the mercy-seat and before the mercy-seat seven times● so first the Lord Christ having sacrificed himself entred with his own blood scil with the merit and virtue of his blood into the most holy place within the vail that is into Heaven it self into the second sci the most holy place went the High priest once every year not without blood which he offered for himself and for the errours of the people but Christ being being become an High-Priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle not made with hands that is to say not of this building neither by the blood of Goats and Calves but by his own blood he entred once into the holy place having obtained eternal Redemption so that the merit and virtue of Christ his most precious blood is always presented before God in Heaven in behalf of those that truly lay hold on Christ. Also the sweet incense put upon the fire in the Golden Censer and resting as a cloud upon the mercy-seat may teach us that the sweet incense of Christ his sacrifice and offering make way for the Persons Prayers and services of Gods people that so they may approach to the mercy-seat or gracious presence of God in Heaven The blood also sprinkled upon and before the Mercy-seat may note unto us that the blood of Christ procures mercy with God for repenting and believing sinners and maketh way for them to draw nigh unto God And so much for this eminent Type of Christ. The High-Priest of the old Testament figuring Christ the eternal High-Priest In the next place somewhat might be spoken of the inferiour Priests which were of the posterity of Aaron These I take to have been Types of the Members of Christ of whom it is said that Christ hath loved them and washed them from their sins in his own blood and made them Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to whom also Peter saith Ye are are a chosen generation a royal Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar people And these are first to offer themselves as sacrifices to God I beseech you Brethren by the mercies of