Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	act_n	faith_n	work_v	2,638	5	7.9635	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78144	A Christian standing & moving upon the true foundation. Or, A word in season. Perswading to sticke close to God, act eminently for God. In his present design a- against [sic] all discouragements, oppositions, temptations. Expressed in a sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons upon the day of their monthly fast, Octob. 25, 1648. By Matthew Barker, M.A. late preacher of the Gospel at James Garlick-hith, London, and now at Morclacke in Surrey.	Barker, Matthew, 1619-1698.	1648 (1648)	Wing B772; Thomason E468_40; ESTC R10148	45,680	72

the skin and cask of Anaxarchus but you cannot touch Anaxarchus himselfe A Christian seeth his treasure his portion his life his heaven his all so secured in God so set out of the reach of the world as that he is not shaken when the world is powring out floods of wrath and violence against him Hereby is the soule established also against the smiles of the world this casts a dark vaile upon all earthly glory that we may say of it as the Apostle of the administration of the Law 2 Cor. 3. 10. That it had no glory by reason of the glory which excelleth As by the shining of the greater light of the Sunne all other light is contracted and retires into that body wherein it is placed so doth the appearance of this higher glory in Christ shrinke up contract and even annihilate all other beside it self that now the great things of the world appeare as small things the pretious things of the world as mean and worthlesse the high things of the world are now degraded and come down from that height wherein they stood before and are brought to lie under the feet of a Saint so that now the soule truly and strongly pursues after God his glory in Christ having caught her up into such a blessed captivity to it selfe as that the glistering beauties of the world doe no whit divert or retard her in her pursuit after it and she remaines unshaken yea even invincible by reason of her immixt and immutable love of this divine beauty and her full propension to that Dionys Arcopag de Coelest hierarch cap. 2 which is truly desirable as Dionysius the Arcopagite divinely speakes Yea she beholds all that finite particular deceived good in the creature to be but a low communion of the infinite originall and universall good that is in God and therefore is not called of by the stream from the fountain by the particular from the universall by the finite from the infinite Moses was not tempted by Heb. 11. the glory of Pharaohs Court seeing him that is invisible and having respect to the recompence of reward And the Lord Jesus having his eye still fixed upon the beauties and glory of the Godhead did by this overcome the temptation of Satan and the allurements of the world And according to that degree that any Christian is brought up to this sight of God in Christ doth he thus remaine stedfast both against the frownes and flatteries of the world 6. By this appearance of God in Christ is the soule establisht also against the darknesse of divine dispensations by this she comes to see that this infinite love in God to her is not cannot be founded upon any thing in her selfe for she beholds nothing but vilenesse and emptinesse in her selfe but upon the unchangable righteousnesse the infinite and invalluable merit of the Lord Jesus and therefore how ever the dispensations of God to her are changed and she findes her selfe changed yet by this she is established kept from sinking because the foundation of love is still the same and how ever the face of God speakes wrath and displeasure yet the mystery the designe of God in Christ speakes unchangable love yea she can by faith behold her selfe enjoying a fulnesse of love joy and glory in Christ while she can behold and feele none of these in her selfe Vpon this account also is she established under all the strange acts of providence to the Church abroad seeing his love to her setled upon such imūtable grounds that he cannot cast her off and that this love still followes her in every condition and will certainly worke her out of all her wants darkness distresses conflicts into perfect fulnesse perfect light salvation and victory 7. Lastly by this appearance is the soule established against strange doctrines for by it she comes to see truths especially fundamentall as it is in Jesus shee comes to taste its sweetnesse to see its beautie and to be convinced of its authenticknesse by the demonstration of divine light and therefore will hold it as invaluable treasure against the gates of hell As that Martyr spake I cannot dispute for my religion but I can die for my religion Such a Christian is able to fetch Arguments not alone from the Letter without but from the Spirit within to confute Errors by He is able experimentally to assert such truths as these That we are justified by grace alone That there is no power in man to good supernaturall That the grace of God works irresistably That the union between Christ and the soule is inseperable And that a full assurance of eternall life is attainable These and many such like can the soule put her seale to and therefore holds them fast So that holinesse and communion with God are better supportes of Truth in the world than any Coercive decrees or wrangling disputes and reasonings The Letter of truth may delight the fancy but it is the Spirit that makes it relish in the soule the ointment doth not smel til the box is opened nor the Jewel shine whiles it lies in the Cabinet Truth must be unvailed in spirituall light before the soule can prize it or hold it fast Thus have we spoken to the first Act. 2. The Second is an act of mortification the flesh in a Christian is the fountaine of all unstedfastnesse the more this is cruicified the more is he established and at peace The Spirit would alwayes lie and live in the bosome of God the onely Centre of true rest did not the flesh call it off and so disquiet it now God is daily bringing the soul into this stedfast frame by crucifying it to the flesh and gathering it up into his owne unchangable life and Spirit And therefore Mysticall Divines * Di●imus itaque assiduis ad deū connitendo aspirationibus aque totalibus contrariorli mortificationibus et abolutionibus homines Spirituales status hujus de●formis immutabilitate pot●ri Isagoge Corderit ad Myst Theol. Cap. 5. to bring up the soul to that Deiforme state which they speake of which is the perfect conjunction of the soule with God and the enjoyment of an eternall Sabbath in him they first prescribe a daily mortification for the soule cannot enjoy this peacefull conjunction with God till the unquiet principle of the flesh is crucified in her And she especially is crucified to these three things which are causes of much unstedfastnesse A sensuall life Private ends Proper will 1. A sensual life in this life is the soule hurried up and downe changing according to the severall changes and motions of times and things about her as they rise and fall ebb or flow so doth the soule of what Complexion the world is and outward administrations of the same is the soule also as the fish Polypus that Pliny mentions that alwayes is of the same colour with the Rock by which she lies Now God comes and crucifies her to this life drawes her

as the crown wherwith the work is rewarded though the work may be in vain as to men it finds no reward in the world but it meets with abundant recompense in the Lord. Thus we have the words briefly opened the Observations might be severall Onely one I shall speak to and under which the substance of the rest may be comprehended That Christians are to presse after a spirituall excellency in Doct. 2 the service of God To excell and be eminent in spirituall work We have a parallel place 1 Thes 4. 1. Furthermore we beseech you brethren c. as you have received of us how to walk so ye would abound more and more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word in the text which Beza translates Vt magis excellatis and notes upon it It a conemiai magis ac magis excellere ac vos ipsos quotidie superare And the French translation renders the words very fully Vous passier plus autre de plus en plus that you would passe on further from more to more Solomon compares the way of a righteous man to the shining Pro. 4. 18. light which shineth more and more till the perfect day A Christian like the Sun is daily to mount higher and shi●e brighter in the sphear of his spirituall activity For this we have Christ admiring his Spouse Cant. 6. 10. who is she that looketh forth as the morning fair as the moon clear as the sun she is shining forth still in a purer and brighter light and glory She is walking in the light as Iohn expresseth it that is she acts in light and makes a progresse 1 Ioh 1. in it also And Christ compares the kingdom of heaven to a seed that grows up into its perfection by degrees Mar. 4. 28. the earth brings forth first the blade then the ear then the full corn in the ear The first works and fruits of a Christian are weak and lowe and exceeding imperfect that he can scarse know them whether they be of the flesh or of the spirit as a blade of good corn is scarse discerned from a tare then it brings forth the ear Now his actions are more raised springing from higher acts of faith and love and clearly appear to spring from a Divine seed and spirituall root Lastly the full corn in the ear now his fruit is come to some perfection and maturity In the heavenly Academy there are three degrees First Tyrones novices babes in Christ newly entred Secondly proficientes those that have ascended to an higher degree and who are past the first principles and are moving towards perfection Thirdly perfecti who are arrived at the top strong men and dextrous in spirituall works now those of the first form are to aspire toward the second and the second to the third The Psalmist Psal 84. 7. seems to allude to this They go on from strength to strength it is in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 margin and so the originall will bear it from company to company from one form and company of Christians to another The French de bande eu bande every one of them in Sion appeareth before God It is said of Abraham Gen. 12. 9. that he journeyed going on still towards the South A learned Interpreter observes this upon it he journeyed towards the South which Ainsworth in loc is towards the Sun figuring his progresse in faith grace The Apostle presseth to this often as Hebr. 6. 1. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ let us go on to perfection not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and faith towards God Not that faith and repentance are to be layed utterly aside but onely in the primi●ive and first acts of them and afterwards to put forth higher acts of both And this excellency in the work of God is to appear 1. In the matter of the work to be still undertaking higher and greater works for God As the work that Moses was upon to bring Israel out of Aegypt and Ioshua to bring them into Canaan and the Apostles to preach the Gospel among the Gentiles these were great works So Christians are to be still ingaging in works of greater eminency of a more publick nature more importance and difficulty 2. In the number of our works a Saints life is to be a continuall service God hath not tyed us under the Gospel to any number because he delights in free services and where there is a Gospel principle it constrains to act abundantly Love it is a short Tyranny as one cals it it sweetly Charron compels the soul to be industrious and active in the service of her beloved The vestall fire never went out so the fire of a Saints activity is to be alwayes flaming The more active a Christian is the more like Angels who are described Isa 6. 2. as alwayes flying yea the more like Christ whose meat and drink was to do his Fathers will yea the more like God who though alwayes at rest in himself yet alwaies in act yea activity it self 3. In the manner of our working which is the main 1. In doing our works with more simplicitie to do them purely for Gods sake when we look singly at God in them and da●e not appropriate either the service it self or the strength whereby we mannage it or the successe of the service to our selves but look upon God as all and our selves as nothing in them And therefore an ancient Writer perswading men to depart out of themselves bids them beware 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Philo in li. Quis rerum d●v●na●um haeres they appropriate not understanding apprehension quicknesse of sight any thing to themselves in their actions But to offer up and dedicate all these things to him who is the cause of all It is an easie matter to do works great in outward appearance but to do them with this simplicitie of spirit Hic labor hoc opus est this is Christianity indeed The Pharisees did great works for the matter of them gave great Alms payed Tithes of all built the Sepulchers of their fathers but because they wanted this simplicitie of spirit did them to be seen of men they stunk in the nostrils of God But the rule of Christ to his disciples is when thou givest an Alms let nor thy left hand know what thy right hand doth hide what thou doest even from thy self left the flesh assume glory 2. In doing them with more delight to rejoyce as a gyant to run a race to act with as great freedom in a work where God alone is concerned as where our own interests are the most deeply involued When we can rejoyce more in opportunities of service then in all outward contentments counting it an honour that God will make use of us in the meanest work 3. In doing them with more self-denyall when we can be content to lay down and wave our own interest that we

may do God service The more self-denyall appears in any service the more true excellency shines forth in it To be stiffe and inexorable in matters concerning common good and to be flexible and yeelding in his own private is the temper of a gracious heart 4. In doing them with greater bent and intention of spirit when the heart is carried out strongly in the work of God that no difficulties and opposition do discourage or stop Hezekiahs heart was lifted up in the wayes of the Lord 2 Chron. 17. 6. not lift up with pride but resolution an heart soaring above dangers sufferings lowe and earthly interests Not slothfull in businesse but fervent in spirit serving the Lord saith the Apostle Rom. 12. 11. As the Angels called * Fervorem acumen ●ffer vescentiam inte●tae ac nunquam intermissae nunquamque decl●nantis motionis nomen Seraphim luculenter designat Dionys Areop de coelest hierarch cap. 7. Seraphims have their name from that burning heat of spirit wherewith they are carried forth to God and for God There are two words in Scripture most commonly used signifying a man Ish and Adam the latter comes from a word signifying earth and expresseth man in his dead corrupt and earthly state the former from a word signifying * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fire and expresseth man in his raised quickned state in Christ Christians then act not up to their renewed state in Christ when they are not carried forth Ignis Avenar with fervor of spirit in the work of God We shall onely make one Use of this and so conclude You see then Christians your duty before you Oh Vse then let you and I be daily advancing into an higher excellencie in the work of God In other things we are ambitious to excell as who shall have the greatest state who shall have the best repute among men who shall drive the greatest Trade who shall be best seen into his Art and Profession who shall be best skill'd in Mysteries and Sciences and shall we alone be sinfully modest and indifferent in the work of God are there any works so noble and attended with such plentifull incomes as these works are And doth not God deserve from you something that is excellent daily Or can you in the perfection of any works arrive at so much satisfaction peace and joy as in the perfection of spirituall works Or can your spirits ever be in their highest operation in any works save onely these Or are they ever imployed to the end for which they were created till they busie themselves in these works O that this might be all the strife contention among Christians not who shall get victory over each other and whose private opinion shall be most applauded but who shall most excell in the work of the Lord who shall put forth highest acts of faith and love and out-shine in a spirituall ●nd exemplary conversation And O that this was all the contention among Ministers not who shall get the greatest Livings who shall be most in favour with men or gain the greatest party but who shall be most laborious in the work of the Gospel who shall most deny themselves for God and win most souls to the Lord Jesus And O that this was all the contention among Magistrates not who shall most enrich themselves by the ruines of the State who shall carry on some private designe with greatest strength and successe but who shall shew himself most faithfull to his trust who shall be most sollicitous and sincere for the advancing the honour of God and the freedom and happinesse of the Nation such strife would reconcile us such contentions would make us all friends And you Right Honorable I shall addr●sse the residue of my discourse particularly to You have already done g●eat things we do acknowledge but if you sit down he●e England will be on this side that cure she needs and that happinesse she expects from You. Therefore still strive to excell not alone other Parliaments for so You have done already but your selves also daily Let your last works excell the first that it may never be said of you as the mother of Claudiu● Caesar said of him That Nature had begun him but not finisht him That you begun a good work and left it abortive and unfinisht Seneca speaks of some that they were semper victori alwayes about to live let it not be said of you that You were about to settle us and establish our Liberties but never did it And let there appear still more simplicity love self denyall and intention of spirit in all your actions that none may have occasion to say that you have any whit abared of your primitive integrity and zeal And to move you to this let me be bold to propound to You some serious Considerations 1. Consider how God hath excelled towards You he hath appeared for you and gone along with you after an excellent and extraordinary rate What Parl●ament or people before you can speak higher things and tell larger stories of the power and goodnesse of God then you may And hath he not exceeded of late do not the mercies and victories of a later birth bear a livelier image and clearer lileaments of God upon them then the former hath he thus excelled in his workings for you and will not you excell daily in your acting for him How often hath the Parliament of England been at the very brinks of the grave the proud waves have beset you round and you have been reacy severall times to be buried in a deluge of desolation ruine and yet God hath given you a new life from the dead and you stand upon your feet this day as rich monuments of the excelling mercy and providence of God to the joy and comfort of your friends and the terror and astonishment of your Enemies Now as it was with the Captain of our salvation after his resurrection he appeared in greater glory And as Herod said when he heard the fame of Christ John Baptist is risen from the dead and therefore mighty works shew forth themselves in him So Sirs you having been al●eady as crucified and buried and now as risen from the dead Oh that we might now see more of God breaking forth from you and more mighty works shewing forth themselves in you 2. Consider how the eyes of all the Saints have been upon you not onely in England but even in all parts of the world to see what will be the issue of that work which is now in you hands And never did God more raise up the hearts of his people to pray for any society of men as for you and they are now looking how prayers are answered in you And oh that we might daily see you rising up in your actions and resolutions answerable to the height of our hopes and expectations from you 3. Consider seriously what precious blood hath been spilt for the advancing of that work you