Selected quad for the lemma: love_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A61227
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Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain he heapeth up riches and knoweth not who shall gather them, Psal.39.6.
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Stafford, Richard, 1663-1703.
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1700
(1700)
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Wing S5142; ESTC R221820
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22,526
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32
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alike Reasons as the Jews did reject and not receive the Words of Christ Herein we shall have boldness in the Day of Judgment which will be fear and shame and confusion of face to them in this matter Because as he was so are we in this present World Namely because that in my Preaching and Writing I have so learned from him my Lord and Example whose steps herein I follow I do also teach the way of God in truth neither care I for any Man for I regard not the person of Men Mat. 22. 16. For if I yet pleased Men I should not be the Servant of Christ Wherefore holy Brethren partakers of the heavenly Calling consider the Apostle and high Priest of our Profession Christ Jesus Who was faithful to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithful in all his house Heb. 3. 1 2. And so I do make it my sincere and actual endeavour to be faithful to that God who appointed me to the Ministry of his Word by his having enabled me and given me a knowledge thereof and by putting words into my Mouth and so I make it my endeavour to be faithful in all the Ministration thereof He that hath my word let him speak my word faithfully Jer. 23. 28. Moreover it is required in Stewards that a Man be found faithful 1 Cor. 4. 2. And because I have not shunned to declare unto the People of this my Generation and Country all the the counsel of God But in the things I have written unto them I have mentioned some Scriptures which other Preachers and Scribes have omitted Mat. 23. 23. Therefore they reject and receive not that part of the Word of God which hath been committed to my Ministration Speaking evil of me Who for this their falshood and Partiality Mal. 2. 9. Stubbornness and Rebellion shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead Thirdly Seeing that all things here on Earth are vain and Man the chief inhabitant thereof walketh in a vain shew How should this Knit and Unite our Hearts up unto God himself and also towards the future state of things for all there is Reality and Substance God himself is the most real and substantial being that can be for he created all things and now upholds them by the Word of his Power If any thing is real God himself is much more so and so likewise are all the things pertaining to his Kingdom in Heaven The Creature was made subject to vanity God made all things on this Earth so vain to the intent to draw off our Desires and Affections yet more from the things of this World to fix and set them on himself and the things above that in our earnest continued seeking after Earthly things they are Enemies to the Cross of Christ who mind Earthly things we may meet with this kind of Check and Reproof from our Creator O ye Sons of Men How long will ye turn my Glory into shame how long will ye love vanity and seek after leasing Selah Psal 4. 2. Importing that whilst the Sons of Men do love vanity and seek after leasing So long they turn the glory of God into shame In that hereby they do quite pervert the very design and order of things For whereas God designed his own Glory in making Man a reasonable Creature that is one capable to seek after himself and the things of the other and better World But by loving vanity and seeking after leasing Man doth degenerate himself And being made in Honour he abideth not When it would be for the Honour and Glory of God if he did pursue the right end but by not doing or intending that he doth properly turn the Glory of God into shame For it would be a shame if an alwise God should make reasonable Creatures for no better and higher an end than to love vanity and seek after leasing Whereas here the fault is in the Creatures themselves and in no wise in God who Created them In like manner every act of Sin doth turn the Glory of God into shame for the same Reason because it is a perverting of things from what he first made and designed them for he Created Man to serve God and do Good and not that he should Corrupt himself by committing Sin and Evil or by loving vanity and seeking after leasing Vanity is displeasing unto the Lord as Sin and Evil is For this is the Will of God even your Sanctification that not so much as Vain thoughts should lodge within ye Jer. 4. 14. And that People should not speak vanity Psal 12. 2. nor trust in vanity Isa 59. 4. Much less commit or do the same But as we are commanded Not to touch the unclean thing So we are to refrain from all vain things as much as it is possible to do in this vain World which passeth away According to the Exhortation which speaketh on this wise If ye then be risen in Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the Right hand of God Set your affection on things above not on things on the Earth For ye are Dead and your Life is hid with Christ in God When Christ who is our Life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in Glory Beloved when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common Salvation it was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you and put you in mind of the vanity of all things of this World that People should not forsake God and depart from the Faith once delivered to the Saints nor go aside from the Truth out of Love to this present World but that ye should Love God more and the World not at all For if any Man loveth the World the love of the Father is not in him So Witnesseth and Exhorteth RICHARD STAFFORD a Scribe instructed in the Law of God and in the Gospel of Jesus Christ LONDON Printed in the Year 1700. And are to be Sold unto such who will receive the love of Truth that they might be Saved Advertisement THese are to give notice That I have several other Practical Sermons or Discourses of mine own Composing lying by me in Manuscript Which if they who have the Plenty or Competency of this World's Goods would According to their several Ability Acts 11. 29. Thus Consecrate some part of their gain and substance unto the Lord Micah 4. 13. So as to be ready to distribute and willing to Communicate towards the outward Labour and Charge of the Printing and Publishing of them it would be for the Glory of God in making known his Truth Isa 38. 19. And for the Edification and Benefit of his Church and People and consequently it would be a Good work in such Persons who shall be helpful and any ways assistant herein for which they would be rewarded by God in the Life that is to come And I say unto you Make to your selves Friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness that when ye fail they may receive you into Everlasting Habitations Luke 16. 9. Charge them that are rich in this World that they do Good that they be Rich in Good Works ready to Distribute willing to Communicate laying up in Store for themselves a good Foundation against tbe time to come that they may lay hold on Eternal Life 1 Tim. 6. 17. 18. 19. This is a faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain Good Works these things are Good and Profitablsi unto Men Titus 3. 8.