Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	hate_v	love_v	sin_n	9,451	5	5.6895	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93437	The doome of heretiques: or, A discovery of subtle foxes, who were tyed tayle to tayle, and crept into the Church to doe mischiefe. As it was delivered in a sermon at Wickham-Market in Suffolke, upon the fast day, being the 26 of May. 1647. / By Zeph: Smyth, minister of Gods Word. Imprimatur, Ia: Cranford, August 22. 1648.	Smyth, Zeph. (Zephaniah), fl. 1646-1648.	1648 (1648)	Wing S4363; Thomason E467_7; ESTC R204204	27,627	23

thee come these are good evidences thou art a true saint Secondly There are some notes of tryall whereby thou mayest perswade thy selfe concerning another that he or she is a true saint First when thou feest they are as carefull to walke close with God in a generall and particular calling at home as well as abroad many are zealous abroad amongst such as will observe them who but they for religion but if you follow these men home then 〈◊〉 may be yee shall see they neither regard body nor soule are faithfull neither in the duties of their generall calling nor particular neither truly if it be so that man or womans heart is very suspicious Secondly A gracious man is an humble man That soul that God makes his residence withall is an humble soule I dwell with the humble saith the Lord Jsa 57.15 and I will looke to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit Isa 66.2 When we see a soule walke humbly with God Mich. 6.8 this may give good evidence to others that such a one is godly and on the contrary it makes such suspicious as are proud self-conceited esteeme well of themselves and are ready to scorne others Thirdly When we see men and women established in the truth this gives good evidence unto others of their uprightnesse as saith the Apostle Col. 2 7. Rooted and built up in him and established in the faith not like the wandring stars Iude 13. which runne from one errour to another untill they have lost all truth but fixed staires established in the truth stedfast unmoveable and abundant in the worke of the Lord. When wee see them so established as nothing can remove them but with Paul are willing to be bound and to dye for the Lord Jesus this man gives good evidence of an upright heart it is the expression of Salomon Pro. 14.15 The foole beleeveth every thing but the prudent man will consider his goings Fourthly A man gives others good testimony of his uprightnesse when he takes reproofes well Give admonition to the wise and he will be wiser saith the wise man Prov. 9.9 When reproofe is to him as Jewels of gold and he ready to say blessed be God for this reproof as David who said to Abigall Blessed be thou of the Lord who met me to keep my hand from shedding of blood and in another place Let the righteous smite me for it is a benefit it is the property of a godly man to take reproofes well and on the contrary when a man hates him that reproves in the gate Amos 5.10 and counts him that reproves an enemy and ready to say Why doth he reprove me Is he not as bad himself and I could have charged him with as much as he charged me and I know as much by him as he doth by me these expressions savour of a bad heart Fifthly A man gives others good evidence of his uprightnesse when he is not a respector of persons but loves the meanest saint that beares the Image of God as well as the richest my meaning is not that a godly man should not give that civill respect to every one that their place calls for Honour to whom honour belongs but that I minde you of is that where there is true grace there will be a true love and respect to those saints that go in gray coats ay and thred-bare coats too such as go out to their day labour such as live in a poor cottage as well as those that are arrayed in silkes and sattins and live in stately houses there is many a man loves so much as they see of the fashion in another and so much as they see of their opinions in another but the godly love whatsoever they see of God in another Hereby saith our Saviour shall all men know ye are my disciples if yee love one another Iohn 13.35 The saints love the Image of Christ wheresoever it is So that yee see beloved that though all that externally seeme to be saints are not yet there is a possibility for a man to know himselfe to be a true saint and to be perswaded that another is a true saint Wee come in the next place to that which followeth and here I might insist upon their coming into the Church which is subtily They creep in unawares but I intend not to speake of that now but to come to the point of doctrine which arises from their condition Which were of old ordained to condemnation for having the doctrine of Reprobation held forth in the Text I shall insist upon that and handle it somewhat more generall then as it concernes the persons spoken of in the Text the doctrine therefore is this That God did of old ordaine some unto condemnation And because it is a doctrine not often insisted upon and at this time is denyed I intend to prove it from Scripture Secondly To give you the reason Thirdly Answer objections Fourthly Make application But before I come to the proofe of the doctrine it is very necessary that I should shew you what Reprobation is Predestination hath two parts Election and Reprobation for it is Gods eternall and unchangeable decree to save some of the lost race of Adam by Jesus Christ and to passe by others leaving them under sinne in a state of condemnation as they were lest in Adam without any possibility of mercy so that Reprobation is Gods eternall and unchangeable decree to passe by some of the Iost race of Adam leaving them in that condition they were lost in Adam without any possibility of recovering for ever First It is Gods decree you have the proofe in the Text They were of old ordained to Condemnation so 1 Peter 2.8 To which they were ordained it was ordained that they should stumble at Christ Secondly To passe by some Rom. 9.11 12 13. For the Children not being yet borne neither having done any good or evill that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of workes but of him that calleth it was said too here The elder shall serve the younger as it is written Iacob have I loved Esau have I hated here we see plainly God chose some and passed by others not for foreseene works and merits for God saw nothing in Iacob that deserved his love more then he saw in Esau but he chose some and rejected others because it so pleased him therefore saith the Apostle That the purpose of God might stand so that it is plaine that it was Gods purpose to passe by some of the lost race of Adam Thirdly They are left without any possibility of recovering for ever because Gods decree to leave them under sinne and condemdation cannot be altered Psal 33.11 the counsel of the Lord shal stand for evermore his purpose is unchangeable yea it is as impossible for the Reprobate to be saved as it is for God to change and alter his purpose so that though Christs death was sufficient in it selfe to ransome not onely

to condemnation he did decree likewise to permit them to destroy themselves as did those who stumbled at Christ 1 Pe. 2.8 though God did ordaine Cain and Pharaoh and Judas to condemnation yet through their sinnes they bring to passe Gods purpose sain his envy murther cruelty and desperation this brought his ruine and destruction and Pharaoh by his contempt of God cruelty to his people obstinacy and hardnesse of heart wrought out his ruine so Iudas his covetousnesse treachery treason to his Lord and Master Jesus Christ desperation procured his ruine so hereticks by their pride vaine glory selfe-conceitednesse wickednesse deceiving and being deceived they ruine themselves and thus they themselves bring to passe Gods purpose Reason of the doctrine is That he might magnifie the glory of his justice as well as the glory of his mercy the glory of his justice in inflicting punishments upon the vessells of wrath and the glory of his mercy in saving his people he hath created all things for his owne glory and the wicked for the day of wrath Prov. 16.4 For as the godly shall for ever set forth the glory of his mercy so the wicked shall for ever set forth the glory of his justice We come in the next place to answer objections May some say If God hath ordained some to condemnation how shall we know who they bee or how many there be of them Ans Secret things belong to God but things revealed to us and our children Deut. 29.29 We have nothing to do to pry into Gods secrets as whether so many of a hundred or so many of a thousand shall be saved and the rest damned or whether this man or that woman be an elect vessell or a reprobate that is onely knowne unto God the foundation of God standeth sure and hath his seale the Lord knowes who are his and the Lord knowes who are not his but we know not neither is it necessary that we should know thus much we may know that God hath elected some and rejected others for this he hath revealed in his word and that the number he hath elected is but a remnant in comparison of the rest of the world as in Rom. 11.5 There is but a remnant according to the election of grace but how many in a towne or a kingdome no man can determine it is not for the minister to say so many in my parish are reprobates for the housholder to say so many in my family such a sonne or such a daughter or such a servant is a reprobate we know not but God may let the day of his power come upon them and bring them in to Jesus Christ it is not for a particular man to determine concerning himselfe he is a reprobate he knowes not but that God may shew mercy to him therefore we have nothing to do to be so curious as to pry into Gods secret counsell Object This doctrine of reprobation is not fit to be preached because it is the next way to make people despaire Ans First It is a part of Gods counsel and therefore ought to be preached how can a Minister with Paul Act. 20. say I have not ceased to make known to you the whole counsell of God if they do not with Paul teach the doctrine of Reprobation Secondly It is the doctrine of Christ Mat. 20.16 Many are called but few are chosen the doctrine of Paul Rom. 9 10 11. Chapters in all three chapters how doth the Apostle insist upon Election and Reprobation and Saint Iude in the Text Peter 1 Epistle 2.8 did Christ live now and the Apostles these men would tell them too their doctrine were not fit to be preached Thirdly When a fundamentall truth comes to be questioned the question is Whether because some suck poyson where they might suck honey by stumbling at religion whether the truth should not be preached seeing by the same rule we may say Christ is a stone of stumbling unto some therefore Christ is not to be preached though the wicked by reason of the corruption in their hearts suck poyson from this doctrine yet the fault is not in the doctrine but in their wicked hearts for the doctrine is rather a doctrine they might suck honey from if they would from hence give all diligence to make their calling and clection sure But to this doctrine the Pelagians are adversaries also for they deny the doctrine of Reprobation and affirme that Christ dyed for all without exception alledging that text in 1 Ioh. 2.1 He is a propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sinnes of the whole world For answer to this First I pray observe how these men confound Election for if all be reconciled where is Election for to elect is to chuse out some from amongst the rest as Ioh. 15.19 I have chosen you out of the world that is from amongst the rest of the world where I gather some were chosen and some refused Secondly I pray observe how they corrupt the true sense of the text for the world is foure-fold in Scripture there is the elementary world which God created Gen. 1.1 and which we read of Heb. 11.3 Through faith we understand that the world was framed by the word of God so that the things that are seen were not made of things which did appeare Secondly There is the reasonable world and that is all mankind without exception Ro. 5.12 By one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne and so death went over all men that is all the world in Adam all dye Thirdly There is the Elect world and this is spoken of in the text He is a propitiation for our fins and not ours only but also for the sins of the whole world that is the whole world of beleevers agreeing with 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe not imputing their sins unto them he doth not speak of such a world as can possibly perish any one of them for if Christ have reconciled them it is impossible any thing past present or to come should separate them from the love of God Rom. 8. latter end of the Chap. but Christ doth reconcile this world he makes attonement for them he offered himselfe a sacrifice for them he is a propitiation not onely for their sinnes they did commit before conversion but if after conversion they sinne through frailty and weaknesse he is a propitiation for that too and none of their fins shall be laid to their charge therefore sayes the text 2 Cor. 5.19 Reconciling the world to himselfe not imputing their sins to them and if he do not impute their sinnes to them they shall all be saved but the Pelagians themselves do not affirme that all mankind shall be saved but acknowledg some of this world may perish then let every godly man take notice how they abuse this text of Scripture to prove that Christ dyed for all the world without exception when both

no eye pitied thee it was I spread my skirt over thee and washed thee from thy filthinesse and entered into a Covenant with thee It was of his free grace to predestinate thee to life and therefore be humble and give him the glory of his free-grace Thirdly as it is your duty to rejoyce and to be humble so also to be thankfull that God should looke upon you and predestinate you to life When hee passes by so many on the right hand and the left as the Scripture expression is There is but a remnant according to the election of grace Rom. 11.5 And that I should be one of them would the soule say such a vild and sinfull wretched creature as I Was there ever the like love was there ever the like mercy May not Heaven and Earth stand amazed at it Oh! what shall I doe to be thankfull enough to this God oh you know your Interest is in Christ studie prayses and thankfulnesse not a verball thankfulnesse but a reall thankfulnesse shew it by your obedience by your holy conversation by your walking sutable to your place as in 1. Pet. 2 9. Yee are a chosen Generation a Royall Priesthood a holy Nation a peculiar people that yee should shew forth the vertues of him which hath called you out of darknesse unto his marvellous light so should Christians walke according to their place that God may be glorified by their holy conversation God hath chosen the Saints to be holy and called them to holinesse and commanded them be yee holy for I am holy and therefore the Saints should studie holinesse and shew their thankfulnesse in a holy obedience 5. Use If God hath of old ordained some to condemnation then hence bee you exhorted as you would be glad to know you are none of them to give all diligence to make your calling and election sure 2 Pet 1.10 Not but that it is sure in respect of God but the meaning is to use all meanes to make it sure to our soules and Consciences But it may bee you will say why should I use the meanes if God have decreed I shall be saved I shall if hee have decreed that I shall perish I shall doe I what I can and use what meanes I can I answer What hast thou to doe to pry into Gods secret Counsell concerning thy election though God hath decreed to passe by some yet hee does not name thee for one but have appointed the use of the meanes and call upon thee to make thy election sure so that it is thy duty to use the meanes and leave secres things to God for God hath appointed how long every man shall live and they cannot passe that time that God hath appointed them Iob 14.5 He hath see his bounds that hee can not passe but withall as hee hath appointed how long everyone should live so he hath appointed the use of the meanes for the preservation and maintenance of life to such a time as to dwell in houses weare cloathes eat and drinke will any man say God hath appointed my time and I shall live that time whether I use the meanes or no no surely but will use the meanes God hath appointed so God hath appointed the use of I meanes for the attaining the Knowledge of our election Would wee make it ture then we must use the meanes 6. Vse I might use many motives to put you upon the use of the meanes I intend to speake but of one or two First consider there is a possibility of making thy Calling and Election sure Why should the Apostle exhort to it if it were not possible 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves faith the Apostle whether you bee in the Faith prove your selves know you not your owne selves Iesus Christ is in you except yee bee Reprobates Why should the Apostle exhort to try prove and examine our selves if it were not possible to know that our Calling and Election is sure Secondly consider thou canst have no comfort in the neglect of the use of the meanes but rather terrour because thy perseveting in the neglect of the use of the meanes will rather evidence to thee that thou art not Elected for you see Rom. 8.30 Those he Predestinated hee called that is those that God predestinated to life hee calls in his due time and therefore wee must looke for a call or not looke to come into the Kingdome of Heaven doth God let thee sit still in securitie in thy carnall condition under the meanes many a hard heart have been softned and many a blind mind inlightned many a unbeleeving soule have got faith in Christ in the use of meanes and thou art a hard-hearted Sinner still hast a blind mind still lie in unbeliefe still lye frozen in the dregs of securitie I tell thee if thou goest on and die in this condition thou must bee sure to perish for thy persevering in this estate is a signe that God did not decree to save thee It will appeare if thou compare Acts 15.38 with Iohn 10.26 in Acts. 13.58 So many as were ordained to Eternall life beleeved thus That whom God did Predestinate to eternall life hee did predestinate to faith to beleeve in Christ And therefore in time the Lord either sends the meanes to them or them to the meanes and calls them and workes Faith in them and on the contrary when the Word proves a hardening a condemning letter to the hearers when it is not a word of Faith to them It is a signe that God did not Predestinate them to life for in the other text of Scripture John 10.16 Yee beleeve not saith Christ because yee are not of my Sheepe this is the Reason they were none of Christs sheepe and therefore could not beleeve And therefore take heed of neglecting the use of the meanes and rocking thy selfe asleepe with this If God have decreed I shall be saved I shall I tell you many have stumbled and fallen upon his Rocke and so mayest thou if the Lord bee not mercifull to thee Mee thinkes this should make such tremble as are in the state of unbeleefe and impenitencie and hard-heartednesse under the meanes how shouldest thou tremble ever when thou seest any of thy Companions brought in to Iesus Christ such a fellow Drunkard such a fellow Sweater such a vild wretch the Lord brought home and I am yet lefe in sinne I am yet uncalled unjustified unsanctified and yet I must bee called or hee damned for tall those that God predestinates to life hee calls them in his due time I mee thinks I feare God hath not predestinated mee to life that hee lets mee alone in sinne oh Brethren that you would consider of these things thou that art a husband and looke upon thy wife that is godly and thou act ungodly still With what sad thoughts may'st thou thinke of this Oh! God hath called my wife and manifested his love to her shee hath left her former sinnes and she walks close with God but I am uncalled still and I goe on in the wayes of sinne still Oh! had God intended good to mee surely he would call mee and give mee a new heart and with the like sad ●●●●ghts may ungodly Wives looke upon their godly Husbands And ungodly companions who it may be have many a time scoffed and jeered at others of their companions because they have left their former sinnes and walke more close with God out oh they might looke upon them with weeping eyes it they would consider this that those that God predestinates to life them hee calls and them he justifies them hee gives faith too As many as were ordained to eternall life beleeved and yet he hath to this day let them alone in their sinnes to goe on after the hardnesse of their hearts as if the Lord should say to them as to Ephraim Hosea 4.17 He is joyned to Idols let him alone let them goe on in their sinnes and perish in their sinnes if they will die ungodly men and women Consider of this They could not but mourne and lament their conditions and therefore let this Doctrine be rather an incouragement to put you on to give all diligence to make your calling and election sure then a ground of presumption or despaire FINIS