Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	good_a	hate_v	hatred_n	2,544	5	9.6222	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42363	The Christians great interest: or A short treatise, divided into two parts the first whereof containeth, the tryal of a saving interest in Christ. The second, pointeth forth plainly, the way how to attain it: wherein somewhat is likewise spoken to the manner of express covenanting with God. By W. Guthrie, minister of the gospel in Scotland.	Guthrie, William, 1620-1665.	1681 (1681)	Wing G2273; ESTC R218716	96,110	156

fear of God put into it whereby the mans duty becometh in a manner native and kindly to the man Jer. 32. 39 40. Ezek. 36. 26. It was before a heart of stone void of the fear of God The affections are renewed now The love is renewed in some good measure it goeth out after God I will love the Lord Psal 18. 1. after his Law O how I love thy Law Psal 119. 97. after those who have Gods Image in them John 13. 35. 1 Joh. 3. 14. This love to Gods people is upon a pure account as they are the children of God and do keep his Statutes 1 Pet. 1. 22. It is with a pure heart Psal 119. 63. and therefore it goeth towards all such whom the man knoweth or apprehendeth to be such Psal 119. 63. I am a Companion to al● them c. In all cases and conditions even where there is nothing to beautify or commend but the Image of God And this love is so fervent many times 1 Pet. 1. 22. tha● it putteth it self out in all relations so as a man seeketh a Godly Wife a Godly Master a Godly Servant a Godly Counsellor if he have to choose upon Psal 101. 6. and it is not quenched by many waters Cant. 8. 7. many imperfections and infirmities difference in opinion wrong received will not altogether quench love Also it is communicative of good according to its measure and as the case of the poor godly requireth Psal 16. 2. 1 John 3. 17 18. 19. The mans hatred is also renewed and is now bent against sin Psal 119. 113. I hate vain thoughts against Gods enemies as such Psal 139. 21 22. Do not I hate them that hate thee c. The joy or delight is renewed for it runneth towards God Psal 73. 25. Whom have I in Heaven c. towards his Law and Will Psal 1. 2. His delight is in the Law of the Lord. And towards the Godly and their followship Psal 16. 3. In whom is all my delight The sorrow is turned against sin which hath wronged Christ Zech. 12. 10. Looking on him whom they have pierced they mourn 2 Cor. 7. 11. The sorrow is godly there and against what incroacheth upon Gods honour they are sorrowful for the assemblies and the reproach of that is their burden Zeph. 3. 18. There is some renovation in all the affections as in every other part of the soul pointing now towards God 3. The very outward members of the man are renewed as the Scriptures speak the tongue the eye the ear the hand the foot c. so that those members which once were improved as weapons of unrighteousness unto sin are now improved as weapons of righteousness unto holiness Rom. 6. 19. Secondly A man who is in Christ is renewed in some measure in all his ways Behold all things are new 2 Cor. 5. 17. The man becomes new 1. In the way of his interest He was upon any good before though but apparent and at best but external Psal 4. 6. But now his interest and business is how to be found in Christ in that day Phil. 3. 9. or how to be forth-coming to him and walk before him in the land of the living Psal 56. 13. which he would choose among all the mercies that ●ill this earth Psal 119. 64. The interest of Christ also becom● eth the mans interest as appeareth in the song of Hannah 1 Sam. 2. And in the song of Mary Luke 1. ● is strange to see people newly converted and having reached unto the beginnings of knowledge concern an● interest themselves in the publick matters of Christ● Kingdom so desirous to have him riding prosperously● and subduing the people under him 2. The man that i● in Christ is renewed in the way of his worship He wa● wont to serve God in the oldness of the letter for the fashion answering the letter of the command in the outside of duty which one in whom the Old man hath absolute dominion can do But now he worshippeth God in th●● newness of the Spirit Rom. 7. 6. In a new way wherein he is helped by the Spirit of God Rom 8. 26. beyond the reach of flesh and blood He serveth now the true and living God 1 Thess 1. 9. in Spirit and in truth John 4. 24. having spiritual apprehensions of God and engaged in his very soul in that work doing and saying truly and not feignedly when he worshippeth still desiring to approach unto him as a living God who heareth and seeth him and can accept his service Psal 42. 1 2. I grant he fails of this many times yet I may say such worship he intendeth and sometimes overtaketh and doth not much reckon worship which is not so performed unto God and the iniquity of his holy things is not the least part of his burthen and exercise Such a worship natural men are strargers unto whilst they babble out of their vain-glorious boastings Luke 18. 11 12. to an unknown God Acts 17. 23. 3. The man that is in Christ is renewed in the way of hit outward calling and imployment in the world he now resolveth to be about it because God hath commanded so Rom. 12. 11. and to eye God in it as his last end doing it to his glory 1 Cor. 10. 31. and studieth to keep some intercourse with God in the exercise of his outward employments as Jacob doth in his latter Will Gen. 49. 18. and Nehemiah did Nehem. 2. 4. So as the man resolveth to walk with God and set him alwayes before him Psal 16. 8. wherein I deny not he faileth often 4. He becometh new in the way of his relations he becometh a more dutiful Husband Father Brother Master Servant Neighbour c. Herein doth he exercise himself to keep a conscience void of offence towards men as well as towards God Acts 24. 16. 1 Cor. 22. Becoming all things to all men 5. He becometh now in the way of his lawfull liberties he studieth to make use of meat drink sleep recreation apparel with an eye to God labouring not to come under the power of any lawful thing 1 Cor. 6. 12 13. Nor to give offence to others in the use of these things Rom. 14. 20 21. 15. 2. nor using liberty as an occasion to the flesh Gal. 5. 13. Yea he laboureth to use all these things is a stranger on earth so as his moderations may appear Phil. 4. 5. And some way he doth eye God as the last end in these things 1 Cor. 10 31. doing all to the glory of God So as we may say of that man old things are much past away all things are in some measure become ●ew 2 Cor. 5. 15. He that is so new a creature is ●ndoubtedly in Christ This renovation of a man in all manner of conversa●ion and this being under law to God in all things is ●●at holiness without which none shall see God Heb. 12. ●● Men may fancy things to themselves but unless they ●●●dy

hinder many from the knowledge of their interest in Christ is their ignorance of some special principles of Religion as 1. That it was free love in Gods bosome and nothing in man that moved him to send a Saviour to perfect the work of Redemption Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the World that he sent c. Men are still seeking some ground for that business in themselves which leads away from suitable and high apprehensions of the first spring and rise of Gods Covenant-favour to his people which hath no reason cause or motive in us and so they cannot come to the knowledg of their interest 2. They are ignorant how that love doth effectually discover it self to a mans heart so as he hath ground to lay claim to it viz. That ordinarily it doth first discover his broken state in himself because of sin and corruption defiling the whole man and any thing in him that might be called a righteousness all these things are loss and dung Phil. 3. 6 7 Secondly It discovereth Christ as the full and satisfying treasure above all things The man finds a treasure for which with joy he selleth all c. Mat. 13. 44 46. Thirdly it determineth the heart and causeth it to approach unto a living God in the ordinances Psal 65. 4. and causeth the heart to wait upon him and him alone 62. 5. My soul wait thou only upon God Thus having dropped in the seed of God in the heart and formed Christ there Gal. 4. 19. The heart is changed and made new in the aforesaid work Ezek. 36. 26. and Gods Law is so stamped upon the heart in that change Jer. 31. 33. that the whole yoak of Christ is commended to the man without exception Rom. 7. 12. 16. The Law is acknowledged good holy just and spiritual upon all which from that new principle of life there flow out acts of a new life Gal. 5. 6. Faith worketh by love Rom. 6. 18 22. and the man becometh a servant of righteousness and unto God which doth especially appear in the spirituality of worship Joh. 4. 24. Rom. 7. 6. men then serve God in spirit and truth and in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter and tenderness in all manner of conversation The man then exerciseth himself how to keep a conscience void of offence c. Acts 24. 16. Now this way doth the love God discover it self unto man and acteth on him so as he hath ground of laying some good claim to it so as he may justly think that the love which sent a Saviour had respect to such a man as hath found these things made out unto him Surely Ignorance of this doth hinder many from the knowledge of their interest in Christ for if a man know not how God worketh with a person so as he may justly lay claim to his love which was from eternity he will wander in the dark and not come to the knowledge of an interest in him 3. Many are also ignorant of this That God alone is the hope of his people he is called the hope of Israel Jer. 14. 8. Although inherent quallifications are evidences of it yet the staying of the heart upon him as a full blessing and satisfying portion is faith 1 Pet. 1. 21. the faith and hope must be in God and the only proper condition which giveth right to the saving blessings of the Covenant Rom. 4. 5. To him that worketh not but believeth faith is imputed for righteousness Indeed if any person take liberty here and turn grace into wantonness there is without doubt in so far a delusion since there is mercy with him upon condition that it conciliate fear to him Psal 130. 14. Yea hardly can any man who hath found the foresaid expressions of Gods love made out upon him make a cloak of the Covenant for sinful liberty without some measure of a spiritual conflict In this respect he that is born of God doth not sin and he who doth so sin hath not seen God 1 Joh. 3. 6 9. I say God is the hope of his people and not their own holiness If they intend honestly and long seriously to be like unto him many failings should not weaken their hope and confidence for it is in him who changeth not Mal. 3. 6. And if any man sinneth he hath an Advocate 1 Joh. 2. 1. Now when men place their hope in any other thing beside the Lord it is no wonder they be kept in a staggering condition according to the changes of the thing which they make the ground of their hope since they give not to God the Glory due to his Name and which he will not give unto another compare Psal 9. 10. They who know thy Name will put their trust in thee with Isa 42. 9. My glory will I not give to another I am the Lord that is my Name 4. Many are ignorant of the different wayes and degrees of Gods working with his people and it doth much darken their knowledge and reflex acts of their interest in him This ignorance doth run mainly on three heads 1. They are ignorant of the different degrees and ways of that Law-work which ordinarily dealeth with men and of the different way how the Lord bringeth home people at first to Christ They consider not that the Jaylor is not kept an hour in bondage Acts 16. Paul is kept in suspence three days Acts 9. Zacheus not one moment Luke 19. 2. They are ignorant of or at least do not consider how different the degrees of Sanctification are in the Saints and the honourable appearings thereof before men in some and the sad blemishing thereof in others Some are very blameless and more free of gross outbreakings adorning their profession much as Job Job 1. and Zachariah Luke 1. Those are said to be perfect walking in all the Commandements of God Others were subject to very gross and sad evils as Solomon Asa c. 3. They are ignorant of the different communications of Gods face and expression of his presence Some do walk much in the Light of Gods countenance and are much in sensible fellowship with Him as David was others are all their days kept in bondage through ●ear of death Heb. 2. 25. Surely the ignorance of the different ways of God's working and dealing with his people doth very much darken the knowledge of their Interest in him whilst they usually stint the Lord to one way of working which he doth not keep as we have shewed in the former examples The second thing which doth darken men about their interest in Christ is There is one thing or other wherein their heart in some respect doth condemn them as dealing deceitfully and guilefully with God It is not to be expected that these can come to clearness about their interest whose heart doth condemn them for keeping up some known transgression against the Lord which they will not let go neither are using the means which

say Thou knowest there was a day and an hour when in such a place I did accept of peace through Christ and did deliver up my heart to thee to write on it thy whole Law without exception heaven and earth are witnesses of it Remember thy word unto thy Servant on which thou causedst me to hope Object I dare not adventure to speak such words unto God because I find not my heart coming up full length in Affection and Seriousness So I should but lye unto God in transacting so with him Answ It is to be regreted that mens heart doth not with much bended sail of Desire and Affection embrace and welcome that blessed offer and portion Yet for answer to the objection remember 1. That those to whom the Lord giveth the new heart forming Christ in them the whole heart is not renewed There is Flesh and Spirit lusting against each other the one contrary unto the other so as a man can neither do the good or evil he would do with full bended sail Gal. 5. 17. It is well if there be a good part of the heart going out after Christ desiring to close with him on his own terms 2. That there is often a rational love in the heart unto Christ Jesus expressing it self by a respect to his Commandments 1. John 5. 3. when there is not a sensible prevailing love which maketh the soul sick Cant. 2. 5. Men must not alwayes expect to find this I say then although some what in your heart draw back yet if you can say you are convinced of your broken state without him you want a righteousness to cover your guilt and you want strength to stand out against sin or to do what is pleasing before God You also see fulness in him in both these respects You dare say somewhat within your heart would be fain at him upon his own terms and would have both Righteousness for Justification and strength in order to Sanctification and what is within you contradicting this is your burden in some measure and your bondage If it be so your heart is brought up to a tolerable length Go on to the business and determine the matter by covenanting with God and say with your mouth that you have both Righteousness and Strength in God as he hath sworn you shall do Isa 45. 24. It is approved Divinity to say unto God I believe when much mis-belief is in me and the heart divided in the case Mark 9. 24. Withal shew unto God how matters are in your heart that so you may be without guile before him concealing nothing from him and put your heart that is in his hand to write his Law on it according to the Covenant For that is the thing he seeketh of men that they deliver up their heart to him that he may stamp it with his whole Will without exception And if you can heartily consent unto that judging Christs blood a sufficient ransome and satisfaction for Mans Trangression You may go and expresly strike Covenant with God for your Heart and Affection is ready engaged Object I dare not so Covenant with God lest I break to him Yea I perswade my self if such a tentation did offer so and so circumstantiate I should fall before it and succumb Therefore to transact so with God whilse I foresee such a thing were but to aggvedge my condemnation Answ 1. You have already entred Covenant with God as you are a member of his visible Church And what is now prest upon you is but that you more heartily sincerely particularly and more expresly covenant and transact with him You are already obliged heartily to close with God in Christ And if you do it in heart I hope the hazzard is no greater by saying that you do so or have done so 2. What will you do if you shift hearty transacting with God in Christ and do not accept his peace as it is offered You have not a second of it in the World Either you must do this or perish for ever And if you do it with your heart you may also say it with your tongue 3. If people may scare at Covenanting with God because they will afterwards Transgress then not one man should Covenant with God for surely every one will transgress afterwards if they live any length of time after the transaction And we know no way like this to secure men from falling For if you Covenant honestly with him engageth beside the new heart to put his fear and Law therein To give his Spirit to cause you to walk in his way And when you Covenant with God you deliver up your self unto him to be sanctified and made conform to his will It is rather a giving up of your self to be led in his way in all things and kept from every evil way than any formal engagement on your part to keep his way and to hold off from evil So that you need not scare at the Covenant the Language whereof is Wilt thou not be made clean Jer. 13. 27. And all that shun to strike Covenant with God do thereby declare that they desire not to be made clean 4. As it is hard for any to say confidently they will transgress if such a tentation did offer so and so circumstantiate because men may think that either God will keep a tentation out of their way or not suffer them to be tempted above what they are able to bear or give to them a way of escape Psal 46. 1. 1 Cor. 10. 13. So the question is not What I may do afterwards but what I now resolve to do If my heart charge me presently with any deceit or resolution to transgress I must lay aside that deceit before I transact with God But if my heart charge me with no such purpose yea I dare say I resolve against every transgression And although I think I shall fall before such and such a tentation yet that thought floweth not from any allowed and approved resolution to do so But from knowledge of my own corruption and of what I have done to provoke God to desert me But the Lord knows I resolve not to Transgress nor do I approve any secret inclination of my heart to such a sin but would reckon it my singular mercy to be kept from sin in such a case And I judge my self a wretched man because of such a boby of death within me which doth threaten to make me transgress In that case I say my heart doth not condemn me therefore I may and ought to have confidence before God 1 Joh. 3. 21. If this be the case I say to thee although thou shouldest afterwards fail many wayes and so perhaps draw upon thy self sad temporal strokes thereby And lose for a season many expressions of his Love yet there is an Advocate with the Father to plead thy pardon 1 John 2. 1. Who hath satisfied for our breaches Isa 53. 5 6. and for his sake God resolveth to hold fast