Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	john_n	know_v	love_v	12,900	5	7.0960	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57310	A standard of righteousness lifted up unto the nations, and an ensigne of grace unto the people, but the flagge of defiance against Antichrist, and all his messengers and ministers, who are under his power and pleading for it, for terme of life all of which are held forth in a plain answer unto Leonard Letchford's quaery concerning perfection and keeping of Gods law and Commandments, which may serve the universal good, and satisfaction of all people who are yet unsatisfied in these weighty matters in this book inserted : with a testimony concerning the natural man who cannot keep the law nor commands of God ... / given forth this 13th day of the 8th moneth, 1663, by a follower of the Lamb thorow [sic] many tribulations, whose name is Ambrose Rigge.	Rigge, Ambrose, 1635?-1705.	1663 (1663)	Wing R1492; ESTC R6133	30,605	38

of Aurst-Pierpoint a metamorphosed Minister in the County of Sussex hath lately given under his hand by way of Quaery The Paper is as followeth September 6. 1663. WHether to do good and not to commit sin be a perfection that any man dares challenge whilest he lives on Earth or whether it be possible for any man so keep Gods Commandements and to observe his righteous Law as to say any day I have not offended I have no need to say forgive me in any thing wherein I have done amiss This was the Question By which I have struck the Devil dumb in the Quakers Oracle at Hersham known to the World by the Name of Ambrose Rigge Lord open his lippes that his mouth may shew forth thy prayse in saying plainly it cannot be done L. L. Now Moses and Abraham which I have before asserted to whom the Law and Commandements was given forth did so keep them and observe them that the breach of them was never charged to them but was blessed in the keeping and doing of them as I have before spoken And David turned not aside from any of the Commandments of God all his dayes save in the matter of Vriah and many more who kept Gods Law and Commandments all the dayes of their lives and was blessed and their posterity after them and praised God with an upright heart in their obedience to the Law and Commandments of God and none of them did ever say Lord open my mouth that my lips may shew forth thy praise in saying plainly thy Commandments cannot be done as L. L. doth If they did shew when or where ever such a doctrine was preached by any either in the first Covenant or the second or else let those faithful servants of God afore-mentioned who kept Gods Law and Commandments and did live with God in them be as a thousand witnesses against Leo. Letchford who would have people believe it cannot be done Here followeth divers instances of Christ and his Apostles under the second Covenant concerning his Commandments which I shall here lay down from plain Scripture proof in order to the further discovery of this damnable doctrine 1. Christ saith after he had given forth many Commandments unto the people He that breaketh one of these least Commandments and shall teach men so he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven but whosoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the kingdome of heaven Matth. 5. 19. 2. Christ said to his Disciples If ye love me keep my commandments Iohn 14. 15. 3. He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and manifest my self to him Iohn 14. 21. 4. A new commandment I give unto you that you love one another Iohn 13. 34. 5. If you keep my commandments you shall abide in my love even as I kept my Fathers commandments and abide in his love Iohn 15. 10. Verily verily I say unto you If a man keep my sayings he shall never see death Iohn 8. 51. 7. All which promises was made unto his Disciples upon this condition That they kept his commandments and not otherwise 8. To which the Disciples answered not as Leonard Letchford doth in saying it cannot be done and count this praise to God but they said Hereby we know that we know him if we keep his commandments 1 Iohn 2. 3. 9. Again they spoke in reproof of those who should say they knew God and kept not his commandments and said such were lyars and the truth was not in them 1 Iohn 2. 4. 10. Furthermore they testified that whatsoever they asked they received of him because they kept his commandments 1 Ioh. 3 22. 11. He that keepth his Commandments dwelleth in him and he in him and hereby they knew that he did abide in them by the Spirit which he gave them this was their proof of him in the dayes of old which is now so much condemned and cryed against by Leonard Lechford and men of his coat who saith none can exactly keep the commands of God 1 Iohn 3. 24. 12. And by this they knew they loved the children of God when they loved God and kept his commandments 1 Iohn 5. 2. 13. Again they said This is the love of God that they kept his Commandments and his Commandments were not grievous 1 Iohn 5. 3. Harken Leon. Letchford Art not thou of another minde who would have people say it cannot be done May not all these rise up in judgement against thee 14. And this is love that we walk after his Commandments 2 Iohn 6. All these gave testimony how they kept his Commandments thorow which their love was manifested to him and for so doing had no cause to repent any day nor to ask forgiveness of the Lord but yet Christ in their infancy taught them to say Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us Matth. 6. 12. but this was before Christ was offered up who purged their Consciences from dead works by the blood of his Cross through the eternal Spirit by which he cleansed them from all sin and sanctified them in body soul and spirit which as they grew up unto God in stature they bare witness unto as hereafter I shall make appear in answer to Leonard Letchfords great Query concerning perfection which may serve for the universal good and satisfaction of all reasonable people for which end I was moved to make it and my answer to it publick Priest Letchfords Query Whether to do good and not to commit sin be a perfection that any man dares challenge while he is upon the earth Which plainly demonstrates that he is against doing of good and for committing of sin and denies perfectien while people are upon the earth which is absolutely contrary both to the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and makes the coming suffering and blood of Christ of none effect 1. It is contrary to the doctrine of Christ Matth. 5. 48. who said to his disciples Be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect which was a perfection of holiness and freedome from sin for otherwise they could not be perfect as their heavenly father was perfect 2. Christ said unto the young man who had kept the Commandments from his youth If thou wilt be perfect sell that thou hast and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come and follow me Matth. 19. 21. 3. It is contrary to Christs prayer Iohn 17. 23. who desired that they whom God had given him might be one as he and his father was one He in them and they in him that they might be made perfect in one c. which could never be till sin and transgression was finished which was the first cause of separation 4. To say that none can be perfect while he is upon the earth is contrary to Christs words who said

everlasting Covenant Make you perject in every good work to do his will Heb. 13. 20 21. 18. To say that none can be perfect on earth makes Paul a lyar who satd to the Hebrews But ye are come to Mount Sion unto the City of the living God the heavenly Ierusalem to the innumerable company of Angels Heb. 12. 22. To the general assembly and Church of the first-born which are written in heaven and to God the Iudge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect vers 23. But it may be objected That there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not Answer This was spoken before the coming of Christ who came to destroy sin and finish transgression as it is written 1 Iohn 3. 8. And to save his people from their sins Mat. 1. 21. not to be favour in sin nor to save his people in their sins but to save them from their sins and so from the punishment due thereunto Objection But some in their blinde ignorance will say What benefit hath man by Christ if he come to live without sin Answ He hath the benefit of the coming of Christ of his Death and of his Resurrection and of his blood which was shed for the remission of sins as it is written Matth. 26. 28. And he onely can call Christ his Redeemer who is redeemed from all iniquity Tit. 2. 14. Object Again it is said in many things We offend all c. Answ This was spoken to the brethren as a warning not to go into the many things nor to be many masters for then they should receive greater condemnation for in many things they offended all and so did Martha while she was cumbered about many things as Christ told her Luke 10. 41. So when they went into the many things and many Masters as the world doth now they offended all but as they dwelt in the one thing which Christ spoke of Luke 10. 42. they were kept out of the offences and kept a conscience void of offence towards God and all men Acts 24. 16. 1 Cor. 6. 3. And Christ said Wo to the world because of offences For it must needs be that offences must come but wo unto that man by whom they come Mat. 18. 7. Luke 17. 1. Object It is said also If we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us Answ This was spoken by Iohn before he came to the fulness of Christ though he was come to a measure of the Stature of Christ which kept him from committing of sin for he said He that committeth sin is of the devil and hath not seen God neither known him 1 Iohn 3. 8. And whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God 1 Iohn 3. 9. Who afterwards grew up to a perfect state and said herein is our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of Judgment because as he is so are we in this world 1 Iohn 4. 17. After which he said Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God but he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son 2 Iohn 1. 9. And if any come unto you and bring not this doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid him good speed For he that biddeth him good speed is partaker of his evil deeds ver 10 11. Hear this Leo. Letchford and all other of thy belief Iohn did witness a further state then committing of sin or having it but said Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ is not to be received into the house least they were partakers of their evil deeds Will not this Doctrine shut thee and all thy brethren out of doors who is not in the doctrine of Christ in any thing but pleading with all your might against it which is perfection and keeping his Commandements as I have before shewed This was hir doctrine while he was on earth which you are now so much opposers of and pleading for committing of sin for term of life I shall not trouble the Reader to reckon up the Commandements and Lawes of Christ they are so generally known to all who doth but read the Seriptures But I shall further lift up a Standard of Righteousness against this viperous generation who dayly breaks the Commands of God and would perswade others so to do as Leo. Letchford hath done I shall here demonstrate how this strikes at the Crown Dignity of Christ and renders him inferiour to the devil and then I shall leave it to the serious consideration of the honest hearted whether this man be a friend to Christ or an enemy to him 1. To say the things commanded by Christ cannot be done this renders him unjust to command his servants to do that which he knows they cannot do 2. This frustrates the end for which God manifested him which was to give power to as many as received him to become the Sons of God 3. This makes his Commands of none effect for if the things be commands cannot be done to what end were they given forth 4. This Doctrine renders him more unjust then the devil for he giveth power to his servants to do all manner of Iniquity which he commands them and they obey his commands dayly 5. This is the highest dishonour that the enemies of Christ can bring to his Sovereignty 6. This makes the second Covenant inferiour to the first which is damnable Doctrine and Heresie 7. This makes him an insufficient Saviour who was called Iesus because he saved his people from their sins which is the breach of Gods Law and Commandements 8. This makes the blood of the Covenant of none effect which was shed to cleanse his people from all sin 9. This renders him an hard Master To say his Commands cannot he done which none ever said of him but the slothfull servant who did his talent in the earth 10. To say his Commands cannot be done doth make him a lyar who commanded his servants to take his yoke upon them for his yoke was easie and his burthen light 11. This is an Inlet for all the workers of Iniquity to encourage them to break the Commands of Christ and to keep them in unbelief all their dayes 12. This makes the Apostles testimony false who faith Greater is he that is in us then he that is in the world But this renders him inferiour to the Prince of the world if his Commands cannot exactly be done without sinning for what is it that hinders any from keeping his Commands but the Prince of this world by whose power all who breaks his Law and Commandements are led 13. This makes Iohn a lyar who said his Commandements were not grievous but joyous 14. To say the things commanded by Christ cannot be done without committing sin as Leo.

Every one that is perfect shall be as his Master Luke 6. 40. which agrees with his words Matth. 5. 48. 5. It is contrary to the doctrine of Paul who said We speak wisdom among them that are perfect 1 Cor. 2. 6. 6. It is contrary to the Apostles exhortation 2 Cor. 13. 18. 7. It is contrary to all the gifts that was given to the Apostles which was for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ Till they all came into the unity of the Faith and of the knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4. 11. 12 13. this was a large measure of perfection indeed which they testified of which afterwards was fulfilled in them 8. To say that none can be perfect while he is upon earth makes Pauls words to the Philippians false who though he had not then attained to perfection either were already perfect he did not say as Leo. Letchford doth that none could be perfect on earth but said he followed after it Phil. 3. 12. And pressed towards the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus v. 14. Let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal this unto you Phil. 3. 1st It seems iome was ready to be of another minde then as many are now unto whom this was not fully revealed to whom Paul said Whereunto we have attained Let us walk by the same rule Let us mind the same thing v. 16. So that it is clearly manifest that there was degrees of growth in the gift of God before they came to perfection for Paul was not perfect while he had a body of sin in him and the rest were not perfect as soon as they came to be convinced and believe but first witnessed a warfare against sin and the power of it and afterwards came to be freed from sin and have victory over it Rom. 6. 17 18 19 20 21. 1 Iohn 5. 4. and then grew up to perfect men in Christ to the same measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ and said by this was their love made perfect that they might have boldness in the day of judgment because as he is so were they in this world 1 Iohn 4. 17. Mark they were as he was in this world If Leonard Letchford had been amongst them then surely he would have cryed out against them for so saying and his unbelieving heart would not have received this doctrine no more then he can now for if Christs work had effected no more but to leave his people still in their sins he had done no more then the old Covenant did nor his blood had been no more available then the blood of Bulls and Goats which could not take away sin nor his offering of more force then the offerings of the old Covenant which did not make the Comers thereunto perfect Heb. 10. 1. and so was disannulled because of the weakness and unprofitableness thereof Heb. 7. 18. For the Law made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better hope did vers 19. Mark the bringing in of a better hope did this better hope was Christ in them the hope of glory Col. 1. 27. who when he was brought to within the Saints made them perfect even as he was in this world 9. This Christ in the Saints the Apostles preached warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdome that they might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Col. 1. 28. This was the end of their preaching to present every man perfect in Christ and 〈◊〉 any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are past away Mark that old things past away which is sin and transgression and all things are become new 2 Cor. 5. 17. Here is the new man who is created in Christ Jesus to good works that he should walk in them Eph. 2. 10. Here is good works in which they were to walk who was new creatures without which their faith was dead even as a body without a spirit Iames 2. 26. I suppose this may stop Leonard Letchfords mouth for asking Whether to do good and not to commit sin be a perfection that any man dares challenge while he is on earth c. It seems he dares challenge committing of sin but not doing good while he is upon the earth and so when all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God And shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life he that hath done evil and committed sin shall rise unto the resurrection of condemnation Iohn 5. 28 29. 10. To say that nothing can be perfect upon the eatth is against the Apostles fervent labour in prayers for the Saints which was that thut they might stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God Col. 4. 12. 11. It is against the end for which the Scriptures was given foth which was That the man of God might be perfect thorowly furnished unto every good work 2 Tim. 3. 17. 12. It is contrary to the Apostles exhortation to say that none can be perfect on earth who said Let us go on to perfection not laying again the foundation of repentance c. Heb. 6. 1. And these things we will do if God permit vers 3. 13. It is contrary to the exhortation of Iames who said Let patience have its perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing Iames 1. 4. and said If any man offend not in word the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body Iames 3. 2. 14. It is contrary to Peters prayer who prayed That the God of all grace who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Iesus after ye have suffered a while make you perfect c. 1 Pet. 5. 10. 15. To say that men must commit sin while they are upon the earth is contrary to the whole body of the Scripture and was never affirmend by any of the holy men of God but by such deceivers as Leonard Letchford hath proved himself so to be by pleading the devills cause so frequently which is to keep people in sin for term of life which if h● can by any means do he knows they must come to him at the last because the Son of God hath spoken it Luke 13. 27. 16. It is contrary to all these plain Scripture proofs Iohn 8. 34. 1 Iohn 3. 4. 1 Iohn 3. 8. He that committeth sin is of the devil c. 17. To say that none can be perfect doth make void the Apostles prayers for the Hebrews when he parted from them who prayed That the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Iesus Christ that great shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the