Selected quad for the lemma: love_n
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A67217
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Comfort for believers, or, A discourse of the duty and priviledge of being sealed by the Holy Spirit In five sermons upon Eph. I. 13-- published for the establishment of weak believers, who are fill'd with doubts and fears about their eternal state. By Nathanael VViles pastor of a Church of Christ in Shadwell.
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Wyles, Nathaniel.
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Wing W3770A; ESTC R221272
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44,526
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break our Bones therefore fight against it 1 Pet. 2. 11. Thirdly Renounce all trust and Confidence in your selves in your own Works and Righteousness depend alone upon God in Christ and labour to be found in him having on his pure Righteousness Paul desir'd to renounce and leave all to be found in Christ Phil. 3. 7 8. Where is the Christian like Paul that has no Confidence in the Flesh or in their own Abilities but trust alone in God who giveth his all things to enjoy 2 Cor. 1. 9. Fourthly Study Sanctification more both in Heart and Life they must follow after Holiness that would see God Heb. 12. 14. They that perfect Holiness in the fear of the Lord shall certainly see God and behold his Salvation Psal 50. 23. Oh! then be found in the constant and daily exercise of Grace and perseverance in Holiness and Piety 2 Cor. 7. 1 2. 1 Pet. 1. 15. But Fifthly Take heed of nourishing Jealousies and Suspicions of God in your hearts fear not his Love to you but yours to him Some cry out Oh! the Lord does not love me for he has set me as a mark for his Arrows and has forsaken me he is my Enemy and I fear he will damn me at last after all What dreadful thoughts are these of God even that God who keepeth covenant and mercy with his for ever Psal 89. 33 34. Oh! harbour not these Jealousies of God If you find them in you at any time see you check them for God abides faithful and his love is the same for ever Jer. 29. 11 12. I know the thoughts that I think towards you saith the Lord they are thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end My thoughts are not your thoughts nor my ways your ways saith God Isa 55. 8 9 10 11. But Sixthly Stand up for the Truths of God against all Opposers and for the Faith once delivered to the Saints Jude v. 3. Much of God's Glory lies in his Truth and they that stand up for his Truth as it is in Jesus and bear witness for it in the World are and may be sure they shall be happy 2 Tim. 2. 12. But Seventhly Have a care of Sinning but especially of sinning presumptuously against Light and Knowledge Pray as David Psal 19. 11 12. To be kept from all sin but especially from presumptuous sins that they have no dominion over you Sin is that which provokes God and will wound your Consciences spoil your Peace and mar your Evidences and Assurance for Heaven therefore strive and watch against all Sin Jer. 44. 4. Matth. 26. 41. Eighthly Be much in Prayer to God thro' Christ Pray often and earnestly like Jacob for the Spirit of Adoption to Seal you up to the day of Redemption 'T is the Spirit must Seal you and reveal to you the great things of God that appertain to the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 2. 10. Oh! Pray for more Grace more Faith more Love and for more Assurance Luke 17. 5. Psal 4. 6. 36. 10. Ninthly Be tender of God's Honour and Glory in the World seek and study that above all 1 Cor. 10. 31. Our dear Lord Jesus as Man abode in his Father's love by being zealous for his glory and so may you this way Let the zeal of God's House eat you up John 2. 17. Oh! study every way to advance his glory for they that advance God's glory here he 'll advance their joy and comfort in Christ 1 Sam. 2. 30. Tenthly Be very humble Oh! have a care of Pride for Pride estrangeth the Soul from God and God from the Soul He beholds the Proud afar off James 4. 6. but gives more grace to the humble When you are high in Assurance and have received much from God Oh! then be low in Humility for God resisteth the Proud Paul had a great assurance being Sealed by the Spirit yet saith one he baptizeth himself with this name the chief of Sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15 16. The Jewel of Assurance I am sure is best kept in the Cabinet of a humble and low Spirit Oh! be humble in your own eyes and lye low then God will exalt you But Secondly You that are Sealed by the Spirit and have Assurance be exhorted not only to keep it but to improve it for God's glory your own comfort and the good of others Quest How shall we do this in a right manner Answ First by encouraging of those poor Souls who are yet in their Sins and in an unconverted State Oh! tell them how sweet this hidden Manna is and what a good Master Christ is whom you love and serve Oh! persuade Sinners by the love and mercy of God in Christ to leave their sins and inroll their Names in his Family use what Arguments you can with them for he that winneth Souls is wise Prov. 11. 30. Such shall shine in glory Dan. 12. 5 6. Secondly Comfort as you can weak Christians who have not the Sealings of the Spirit that you have I say to you as Christ said to Peter Luke 22. 32. When you are converted strengthen your Brethren Comfort them that are strugling and ready to sink Thirdly Walk more heavenly than ever look to your Hearts Lives and Actions see that you walk as Children of the light not as the foolish but as the wise redeeming all time for God Eph. 5. 15 16. But Fourthly Improve it by a chearful walking and serving of God Come before him with gladness and singing Psal 100. 1 2. 'T is for Persons condemned to hang down their heads and be sad but you are pardoned and justified through Christ therefore rejoice Rom. 5. 1 2. 1 Cor. 6. 11. Shall Drunkards Swearers Whoremongers and wicked Wretches rejoice who are just upon the brink of Hell and are condemned already John 3. 18. and will you that are Believers be sad Oh! chear up lift up your Heads and Rejoice I say to you as Jonadab to Amnon 2 Sam. 13. 3. Why art thou being a Kings Son so lean from day to day so why are you Believers being the King's Sons and Daughters of Heaven so sad Why do you not rejoice more in Christ and in your blessed Estate being Sealed and assured by the spirit Oh rejoice in the Lord and again I say rejoice Phil. 4. 4. How merry is the Bird how musical does it sing that knows not where to have and pick up its next Crumb and will you be sad who are assured of God's Love to you and not rejoice in it I will rejoice faith Habakkuk in the God of my Salvation Hab. 3. 17 18. But Fifthly and lastly and so I shall conclude Let your Hearts be much endeared to God by Love he hath done great things for you in Christ and bestowed much upon you Oh see that your Hearts run out in Love towards him Psal 31. 23. Oh love the Lord all ye his Saints it was a Saying of Austin I would hate my Soul if I did not find it loving God Whom should you love but God Has he done so much in you and for you and will you not Love Him Oh give him your Hearts and best Affections and shew your Love to him by obeying his Commands If ye Love Me saith Christ Keep my Commandments John 14 15 16 Thus improve your Grace and Assurance that you may glorifie the Name of that God who hath called you out of Darkness into this marvellous Light and Sealed you by his Spirit Thus much for this Time and this Text the Lord give you Understanding in all these things Amen FINIS Advertisement ALL Sorts of Second-hand Books bought and Sold as Mathematical Arithmetical Philosophical Astrological Chymical Chyrurgical Physical Poetical Travels Voyages and Divinity choice Bibles where is to be had Money for any Study or Parcles of Books by Caleb Hooker at the Sign of the Muzeled Bear on Wapping-Wall near Pelican-Stairs
Spirit and through Christ to discover your state and condition to you that so you may not be deceived and go down to Hell with a Lye in your right hand Lord say to my Soul I am thy Salvation Psal 35. 3. Plead thus daily with God that so you may not lose your comfort on the one hand nor your precious Souls on the other But Fourthly Watch much over your own Hearts and Lives be very careful of your steps and how you walk that you grieve not the good Spirit Let not your Hearts run out too much upon the World and be not too careless of your steps lest you offend God Psal 39. 1. I said I will look to my ways c. That is I resoved to do so So Pray do you for to him that ordereth his Conversation aright God will shew his Salvation Psal 50. 23. Fifthly Wait humbly and patiently upon the Lord even 'till he shall shed abroad his Love in your hearts and set you as a Seal upon his heart They that wait upon God shall have renewed strength Isa 40. 29 30. Who is there among you that feareth the Lord who walketh in darkness and see no light Oh! trust in the Name of the Lord and stay and wait upon him I say to you as David Psal 27. ult Wait on the Lord and be of good courage for he shall strengthen your hearts Wait I say on the Lord waiting Christians will lose nothing Mich. 7. 9. Sixthly Mourn over all those sins that cause the Lord to withdraw and hide his Face from your Souls Isa 59. 2. Have you not grieved the Spirit and been guilty of too much Pride Passion Formality and Unbelief Oh! weep bitterly for this before the Lord look upon Christ whom you have pierced Zech. 12. 10. Sights of a broken Christ will cause a broken Heart None can look upon Christ truly without brokenness of heart he that looks upon Christ savingly will mourn for him as a Man for his only Son Mourning for an only Son is the greatest of Sorrow our sorrow for sins against God should exceed all other sorrow Though there be no merit yet there is much mercy in a broken heart Psal 51. 17. 34. 18. They that mourn shall be comforted Matth 5. 6. Seventhly In times of trouble and desertion keep up Faith and in times of Communion keep up fear when God has hid his Face and you sit in darkness then stir up Faith trust and stay still upon him Isa 50. 11. And when God shall manifest himself and shine upon you then keep up fear a fear of Jealousie not of Distrust Work out your Salvation with fear Phil. 2. 12. Blessed is the Man that seareth always Tho' my Beloved we blame the Papists for teaching People to doubt and for making that a duty which is a Sin yet we are for a narrow search and a holy Fear and Trembling in trying of our hearts lest we be deceived in the end Eighthly Make much of and cherish the holy Spirit of God Oh do not resist him but comply with his Blessed Motions it is the Spirit that is the Comforter John 14. 16. who seals up assurance to us 2 Cor. 1. 22. When good David would have assurance of God's Love that his broken Bones might be healed he prayed earnestly that God would not take his holy Spirit from him Psal 51. 11. 12. David knew that it was the Spirit only that could make him hear the Voice of Joy and Gladness O make much of the Spirit deal tenderly and kindly by him do not grieve nor quench him as too many do Eph. 4. 30. 1 Thes 3. 19. Ninthly As doubts arise in your Hearts get them satisfied and and as Sins are committed in your Lives get them pardoned Are your Hearts Christians filled with doubts and fears about the state of your Souls O cry to God to resolve and scatter them Have you fallen into any Sin thro' Infirmity and Temptation Cry for pardon through Christ who is your Advocate and Friend in Heaven and is there pleading for you Heb. 7. 26. 1 John 2. 1 2. Tenthly Keep a pure Conscience O see that no Sin or guilt lye there unrepented of remember that God Seals no Pardon before Faith and Repentance keep Conscience therefore pure and void of offence we are bidden Heb. 10. 22. to draw near to God with true Hearts and in the full assurance of Faith having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience c. He that allows himself in Sin and keeps not a good Conscience cannot draw nigh to God in the full assurance of Faith But 11. Lastly Lye at the Pool of Ordinances frequent much the Word and Sacraments that are God's Appointments in which he has promised to meet his People do not stay away from Hearing nor from the Table of the Lord at no time as many do for every small frivolous thing The way to meet with God and to have an assurance of his Love to be Sealed by his Spirit is to wait upon him in his Ordinances and to remember him in his ways Isa 64. 5. The Ordinances of God are the banquetting House where God displays the Banner of his Love and seals it up to his People Cant. 2. 4. To be found sincerely in the way and use of God's Ordinances is the way to be set as a Seal upon Christ's heart 2. Branch You that are Sealed and assured by the Spirit of the love of God in Christ to you Oh! be exhorted First to endeavour to keep the assurance you have as we must labour to get it so to keep it It is a Mercy we should beware of losing it is the comfort of your life and 't will be sweet in death What comfort is there preserable to this which flows from the Sealing of the Spirit or the Assurance of God's love in Christ Now that you may have much of this Sweetness and Comfort keep and hold fast that assurance which you have through Grace obtained Question How or by what means may we do this Answer First By renewing your Repentance often for Sin you cannot live without Sin therefore live not without Repentance God often cloaths such with the Garments of Joy and Comfort who tumble themselves in Ashes as it were for their Sins Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Matth. 5 6. And that are humble for they shall he exalted James 4. 9 10. Secondly Fear the hidings of God's Face and the withdrawing the Light of his Countenance from you David feared much therefore prayed much Hide not thy Face from thy Servant c. Psal 27. 9. Fear also to offend God by doing of any Evil beware of every Sin and of every Temptation to Sin either from the Devil the World or your Hearts When tempted to Sin say as Joseph did How can I do this great Evil and sin against God Gen. 39. 9. Sin is an enemy it hides God's Face from us and wounds our Souls 't will