Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	love_v	see_v	soul_n	10,942	5	5.2331	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A67764	Preparation to conversion, or, Faith's harbinger in a rare epistle, writ by a person of quality before his death, to his surviving friends, shewing, that Satan prevails most by deception of our reason, that the beauty of holiness and true wisdom is unseen to the world, that ingrateful persons are as witless as wicked, why most men hear the Gospel year after year, and are never the better, with wholsom instruction, to prevent destruction : all richly fraught with choise and pithy sentences, similitudes, examples, metaphors, rhetorical and pointed expressions, which being thought by many worth the transcribing at no small charge, is now committed to the press / by R. Young ...	Younge, Richard.	1658 (1658)	Wing Y176; ESTC R39195	18,400	18

might be without souls then your Churches without Preachers You would not like so many Mules suck their milk and then kick them with your heels But this most plainly shews that you are so far from knowing the necessity and worth of the Word of life that you do not know you have souls which makes you as little care for them as you know them Otherwise how could you make such a mighty difference between your bodies and souls As had any of you but a leg or an arm putrified and corrupt you would even give money and think your selves beholding too to have them cut off Because it is the onely way and means to preserve the whole body And if so what love and thanks can be too much that is exprest to them who would would we give them leave pluck our Souls out of Satans clutches and bring us to eternal life Nor can he ever be thankfull to God who is not thankfull to the instrument or means by whom God does or would do him good Yea more That man I dare boldly affirm cannot possibly have any interest is Christs blood who is not forced with Admiration to say How beautifull are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace bring glad tidings of good things and publish salvation Rom. 10.15 Isa. 52.7 But to prove and cleer this see both Examples and Testimonies 4. First Examples The Galatians are said to have received them as Angels of God yea even as Christ Jesus and that to pleasure them they would if it had been possible have pluck'd out their own eyes and have given the same unto them Gal. 4.14 15. and thought it their duty to communicate unto them in all their goods Gal. 6.6 And likewise the Romans Rom. 15.27 Yea by the Apostles testimony we that are converted do owe even our own selves unto our spiritual Pastors Phil. 19. and the like of other Churches Insomuch that Luther speaking of the Primitive times and of Christians in general says that so soon as the Gospel took root in mens hearts the glad tidings of salvation by Christ was so sweet to them that in comparison thereof riches had no relish And Acts 2.44 45. and 4.34 35. do sufficiently confirm the same And indeed who ever knew what Conversion and Regeneration was who hath tasted of the powers of the world to come and enjoyed the joy of the Holy Ghost and that peace of conscience which passeth all understanding but would rather have their bodies want food and the Firmament want light then that their souls should want that light and spiritual food of the Gospel by which they are nourished and do live For far better be unborn then untaught as Alexander a meer Heathen could say That this is the one onely thing necessary and which Believers prize above all you may see by what holy David says of it Ps. 27.4 84.1 to 11. 119.1403 One thing have I desired c. Oh how sweet is thy word unto me c. As turn but to the places and see how he expresseth himself for I may but touch upon things And the like of wise Solomon Pro. 8.10 True to you that are strangers to and utterly unacquainted with these soul-ravishing enjoyments these things will appear impossible as the like did to Nicodemus touching Regeneration Joh. 3.4 and to that multitude of Jews touching Stephens vision when he told them how he saw the heavens opened and Jesus standing at the right hand of God in glory Which they were so far from believing that it made their hearts brast for madness to gnash their teeth stop their ears cast him out of the city and stone him to death Acts 7.54 to 60. They could not possibly-believe that he should see what was hid to every one of them But this I can assure you even you my friends beyond all exceptions That if ever the mask of prejudice be taken from before your sight or if your eyes shall be opened before you drop into Hell you will have other thoughts of these things and so of the Publishers of them and be clean of another minde yea you will loath what you now love and love what you now loath Yea I dare refer my self in this case to the very damned in hell For what else made Dives being in those torments desire Abraham that one might be sent unto his brethren from the dead to give them warning and to acquaint them with his success but the alteration of his judgment And you know how that Reprobate Balaam wish'd to die the death of the righteous though for the present he preferred and loved riches and honor before and above his soul But 5 Secondly see precepts and testimonies to confirm it Are we not commanded by the Holy Ghost to have them in singular love and count them worthy of double honor for their works sake 1 Thes. 5.13 1 Tim. 5.17 Yea the Apostles words are not only Let them that labour in the word and doctrine be accounted worthy of double honor but he adds He who preacheth the Gospel should live of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.7 to 15. saying also Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all his goods Gal. 6.6 Yea if any man saith he does not communicate and communicate in all his goods God is not mocked v. 7. So it falls and I fear it falls heavy on many amongst us Again says the same Apostle If we have sown unto you spiritual things is it a great thing if we reap your carnal things 1 Cor. 9.11 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the Temple and they which wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar c. v. 13 14. Again does he not say that our debt and duty he terms it not benevolence to our Spiritual Pastors is such as that we owe unto them even our own selves Phil. 19. with a great deal more of the like that he may meet with mens carnal reasonings in this case which are not a few 1 Cor. 9. All which is New Testament too if obstinacy would permit men to take notice of it Thus you see how you ought to esteem and reward your Ministers and how Believers do and have done Whereas you as if you were Antipathites to all wisdom and goodness hate revile slight rob and persecute them Are you not ashamed of it does it not make you tremble yea is it not enough to make you despair of ever finding mercy at the Throne of Grace or of having Christ your Redeemer and Advocate to whom and for whose sake you do it as I shall suddenly shew But you will say for want of acquaintance with the Word of God and your own hearts as every Natural man is as great a stranger to his own heart as Hazael was who could not be perswaded by the Prophet that he should commit such abominable wickedness as a while after it

fell out That you neither hate nor persecute any one of them To which I answer What then makes you so spightful in spitting out your spleen against them when you but hear a Minister mentioned What makes you so frequent in slighting scorning and scoffing at them where ever you come and in all companies What makes you pick so many holes in their coats finde so many faults with them raise so many objections if not lies against them that nothing they either do or deliver can please you As how many of your cavils and exceptions could I reckon up that I have heard from your own mouths if I would foul Paper with them Yea I could give you a large List of instances and in your own expressions But they are so trivial barbarous and base that I am ashamed to nominate them and no less unwilling lest I should arm other mad men with your weapons Now do but lay aside dissimulation and speak the naked truth and then say whether all this proceeds nor from an heart full fraught with enmity and malice against the Ministery even for the very graces of Gods Spirit that shines in them As it fared with that Councel of Priests Scribes and Elders touching Steven Acts 6.15 7.54 Do but examine your Consciences well and you will not deny it 6 Again what makes you that are so civil in other cases so uncivil as not to afford them of all other men the common Title of Master such an one which you will not deny to a very Cobler Can you tell me No I dare challenge the strongest brain'd Achitophel or the most fluent Tertullus amongst you to yield a wise reason thereof except that which God hath set down Gen. 3 15. I will put enmity between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman But further to convince you answer me another question What makes you to detain their dues from them and not pay them a penny except you be forced to it Or if you do for your peace or credit sake any thing is thought too much for your Minister and what you part with is drawn from you as so much blood from the heart And then also you will basely asperse him at least you will alleadge one thing or other to save your purses as He had not my voice nor consent when he was chosen or I hear at other Churches and come not at him or I like not his preaching or the like As any thing shall serve to save your silver and to forestal you with prejudice and make you resolve against your own Conversion For what is this but to pick straws as it were to put out your own eyes withal Yea many they be that will pretend conscience forsooth that they may rob their Minister and alleadge That he hath taken Degrees is Ordained He is a Black-coat Or rather which is the same in effect He is a conscientious Pastor or Sheperd of Christs sending and not an Intruder But left what hath been said should not prove sufficient how basely will you calumniate him that but takes his Dues especially of a poor body Ministers more then all the world besides must take a restern for a shilling And not he alone shall suffer but all these Church-men say you are so covetous that they never think they have enough when they have scarce enough to fill the bellies of their own families All which not onely argues you as brainless as beasts but proves you to be as full of the serpents enmity as the egg of a Cockatrice is full of poyson Thus every or any thing shall serve their turns that study quarrels Even as a crocked stick shall serve to beat a dog when a straight one cannot be found Now lay all together and tell me whether this argues not hatred if not what can For love as the Apostle witnesseth suffereth long it is kinde charitable envieth not doth not behave it self unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no evil rejoyceth not in iniquity beareth all things endureth all things 1 Cor. 13. Yea love is so far from finding faults where are none that as wise Solomon hath it it covereth or passes over all sins and will not see them Prov. 10.12 So that if you loved the Ministers as you will pretend you do you would deal by them as the people did by Ulysses whom they so applauded for the acuteness of an ingenious minde that they spared to object unto him his bodily deformities Or if any one did shew the least malignity towards him that person was branded for a notorious wicked man as Homer relates And to speak rightly we need say no more of a man then He is an Enemy to his faithfull Pastor that is enough to brand him Nor can there be a greater argument of his being of the brood of Cain Haman Eliah Michol Doeg Shimei Ahab Rabshekah Tobiah Sanballar Pashur Zedekiah Elymus Herodias and their fellows then the hatred of good Ministers For such men would do the same to Christ himself were he their Minister There was never any so innocent or vertuous to whom such Belialists took not exceptions because they are as deeply in love with vice as others are with vertue Yea whom all men commend you have some Thersites will take occasion to blast I 'll give you an ear-mark to know such a one by whereas one of the modester fort will alledge his Minister is a Presbyterian or an Independent or a Royalist this overgrown Tead will object that he is a Roundhead the meaning whereof is a Religious Godly Conscientious man 7 But perhaps this is not your case Suppose it be not yet what I have before convicted you of is sufficient to prove you a souldier belonging to that great Red Dragon that fighteth against Michael and his Angels Rev. 12. Who when his hands are bound casteth a flood of reproaches out of his mouth against the Church and the remnant of her seed which keep the commandments of God and have the testimonie of Jesus Christ v. 15 16 17. But you are not at all versed in Scripture therefore we 'll come to Reason and therein answer me a few questions Do you do by the Ministers as you ought or as you would be done by Would you when you have discharged your duty and conscience to the utmost of your endeavour have ill constructions made of your best actions and intentions be rewarded with the greatest evil for the greatest good and the greatest hatred for the most superlative love For love to the soul is the very soul of love Is this an evidence that you have them in singular respect for their works sake Is this to receive them as an Angel of God yea as Christ Jesus Is this to make them partakers of all your goods and to be willing to pluck out your own eyes and to give them if need were as God commands and as the godly have been willing to do I think

further informed ask your selves only these three questions Whether you are of that small number whom Christ hath chosen out of the world Whether you are Regenerate Whether you have true and saving faith For otherwise all your hopes and perswasions are but vain presumptions and delusions First Are you of that small number For the greatest number whether of men or great men or great Scholars go the broad way to destruction and but a few of either the narrow way which leadeth unto life as appears by many cleer testimonies and examples for which see those known places Mat. 7.13 14. 1 Joh. 5.19 Rev. 20.8 Christs flock that believe the Gospel are but a little flock Luk. 12.32 and but few in number Isa. 10.22 53.1 Rom. 9.27 10.16 Rev. 3.4 2 Cor. 4.4 Mat. 8.34 27.22 Acts 28.22 Rev. 13.16 Yea of all the CCLXXXVIII several Opinions which Philosophers held touching the Chief good never any was 〈…〉 to think the way to attain to it was by doing as the most do Yea they all concluded that Number was the best note of the worst way And we even see by experience that the basest things are ever most plentifull And therefore it amazes me to think how men should be so blockish as they are in this particular for if you mark it most men walk in the broadway and yet every man thinks to enter in at the strait gate which could never be if they were not fools or frenzie Again take notice that many seekers fall short of heaven Luke 13.24 Do you strive The righteous shall scarcely be saved what then shall become of the unrighteous 1 Pet. 4.18 14 Secondly Are you regenerate and born anew For Christs words to Nicodemus a knowing honest moral man are express yea and he bindes it with an oath Verily verily I say unto you except ye be born again ye can in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven Now if you be regenerate it will appear by this Regeneration or new-birth is a creation of new qualities in the soul as being by nature onely evil-disposed In all that are born anew is a change both in the Judgement from error to truth and in the Will from evil to good and in the Affections from loving evil and hating good to love good and hate evil in the whole man from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God Is this change wrought in you For without it there is no going to heaven no being saved Then Thirdly Have you a true and lively faith in Jesus Christ For there is no coming to Christ but by faith Heb. 11.6 By faith we receive the forgiveness of our sins Luke 7.47 50. By faith we are justified Rom. 3.26 28 30. Gal. 3.8 By faith through grace we are saved Eph. 2.8 9. Luk. 18.42 By faith through the power of God we are kept and preserved to salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 Nothing but faith can assure us of Gods favor Eccles. 9.1.2.3 By faith we obtain whatsoever we ask Mat. 21.22 By faith we are blessed Gal. 3.14 By faith we know God 1 Joh. 4.7 Psal. 9.10 Without faith we cannot profit by hearing the Word Heb. 4.2 Without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Whatsoever is not of faith is sin be they never so glorious performances Rom. 14.23 and 10.14 Now you shall know whether you have faith by this Faith comes by bearing the Word preached Rom. 10.17 And the Spirits powerfull working with it Ioh. 3.3 5.8 Faith purifieth the heart Act. 15.9 worketh by love Gal. 5.6 and sanctifieth the whole man throughout Act. 26.18 Faith is known by its works Iam. 2.17 18.22 Faith and holiness are as inseparable as life and motion the sun and light fire and heat Again Faith believeth the threats of the Word together with the promises and thereupon feareth sin as it fears hell Again if the Image of God by faith be repaired in you you cannot but love them that love God 1 Ioh. 3.10 Besides this is a sure rule That that perswasion only which follows found humiliation is Faith That which goes before it is Presumption And as Ambrose speaks No man can repent of sin but he that beleeves the pardon of sin nor none can beleeve his sins are pardoned except he hath repented Lastly how easie a matter soever men think it is to believe he that goes about it shall finde it as hard a work to beleeve the Gospel as to keep the Law And onely God must enable to both Now if upon trial you evidently finde that you are of Christs little flock that you are regenerate and that you have this precious grace of Faith wrought in your heart you may comfortably assure your self that you shall be saved Otherwise the Devil and your own heart do but delude you in promising you the least benefit by the blood of Christ Yea it had been better for you that there had been no Christ come into the world For even the mercy of God which you have contemned and the means of grace and the offer of salvation shall but inhance your damnation Yea Christ himself that onely Summum bonum who is a Saviour to all Beleevers shall be a just Revenger to you if you go on and bid you Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire c. Matth. 25.41 15 And so much for the discharge of my conscience and duty and to make a supply of that which I should have some way performed long since Yet least I should imitate those who kindle a fire under greenwood and leave it so soon as it begins to flame for I take it for granted that some of you will lay to heart what hath been said I have sent you three Books writ by an impartial Author not a Party which I hold exceeding profitable for you to peruse The one speaking more home and full to this matter The second shewing how it comes to pass that so many are deceived who hope to be saved The third setting out to the life the very thoughts words and actions of all natural men insomuch that no glass can more lively represent your faces then it does your hearts Therefore that you may not be disappointed of your end by mistaking your way that you may become as true friends to God and the Ministry as you have been bitter enemies and so have your part and portion with them at Gods right hand where are pleasures for evermore Be perswaded to read them with as much observation and circumspection as you would do the Evidences of your Inheritance Neither count it as a thing indifferent that may either be done or dispensed with except you are indifferent whether you be saved or damned Yea so minde what you read as if it were an Epistle writ from Heaven and sent to each of you in particular Expect not that Christ Jesus himself from Heaven should call to you severally by name as he did to Saul and say Ho Ishmael such a