Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	lord_n	soul_n	trust_n	2,559	5	9.6245	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A73612	The spiritval tovchstone: or, The signes of a godly man drawne in so plaine and profitable a maner, as all sorts of Christians may trie themselues thereby. Together with directions, how the weake Christian, by the vse of these signes may establish his assurance. By. N. Bifield preacher of Gods word at Isteworth in Middlesex.	Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622.	1619 (1619)	STC 4236.8; ESTC S124755	25,453	144

As much as for crosses for his sinnes as he was wont or now shold be for crosses in his estate He mournes as heartily for the sorrowes that fell vpon Gods Sonne for his sinne as if he had lost his owne and onely sonne Zachar. 12. 10 11. or at least this he striueth for and iudgeth himselfe if worldly afflictions do trouble him more then his sins Psal 38. 5. Fiftly he is truly grieued 5. And for the sins of others and vexed in soule for the abhominations that are done by others to the dishonor of God or slander of true religion or the ruine of the soules of men Thus Lot 2. Pet. 2. 6. and Dauid Psalm 119. 136. and the mourners marked for Gods owne people Ezech 9. 4. Sixtly he is heartily 6. And for spirituall iudgments affected and troubled and grieued for spirituall iudgements that reach vnto the soules of men as well as wicked men are wont to be troubled for temporall crosses so he is grieued and perplexed for hardnesse of heart when he cannot mourne as he would and for the famine of the word or for the absence of God or for the blasphemies of the wicked or the like Psal 42. 2. 3. 137. Nehem. 1. 3. 4. Esay 63. 17. Seuenthly he is most 7. And is moued thereunto by Gods mercie stirred vp to abase himselfe and mourne for his sinnes when he feeles God to be most mercifull The goodnesse of God doth make him feare God and hate his sinnes rather then his iustice Hos 3. 5. Eightly his griefes 8. And he is eased onely by spirituall meanes are such as can be asswaged onely by spirituall meanes It is not sport or merrie companie that easeth him his comfort is onely from the Lord in some of his ordinances As it was the Lord that wounded him with the sight of his sinnes so to the Lord onely be goeth to be healed of his wounds Hos 6. 1. 2. Psal 119. 23. 24. 50. Ninthly in his griefe he is inquisitiue he will 9. And is carefull to learne how to be saued aske the way and desires to know how he may be saued He cannot smother and put off his doubts in so great a businesse He dares not now any longer be ignorant of the way to heauen He is not carelesse as he was wont to be but is seriously bent to get directions from the word of God about his reconciliation sanctification saluation c. Ierem. 50. 4. 5. Acts 2. 37. Tenthly he is fearfull 10. And is fearfull of being deceiued of being deceiued and therefore is not slightly satisfied He will not rest vpon a common hope nor is he caried with probabilities nor doth it content him that other men haue a good opinion of him nor is he pleased that he hath mended some faults or begun to repent but repenting he repents still that is he takes a sound course to be sure his repentance be effectually performed Ierem. 31. 19. Eleuenthly he is vehemently 11. And earnestly desires to leade an holy life carried with the desires of the sound reformation of his life His sorrow is not water but washing nor is it euery washing but such as maketh cleane Worldly sorrow may haue much water but it maketh nothing cleane whereas godly sorrow alwayes tendeth to reformation and sound amendment Twelfthly in all his sorowes he is supported 12. And trusts vpon Gods mercie in his griefe by a secret trust in the mercie and acceptation of God so as no miserie can beate him from the consideration and inward affiance and hope in the mercie of God In the very disquietnesse of his hart the desire of his soule is to the Lord and before his presence though he be neuer so much cast downe yet he waits vpon God for the helpe of his countenance and in some measure condemnes the vnbeleefe of his owne heart and trusts in the name of God and his neuer failing compassions Psalm 38. 9. 42. 5. 11. Lam. 3. 21. Zepha 3. 12. 13. He is wonderfully 13. And is in loue with God if he heare his prayers inflamed with loue to God if he at any time let him know that he heareth his prayers In the midst of his most desperate sorrowes his heart is eased if he speed well in prayer Psalme 116. 1. 3. 14. He daily keepes 14. And daily iudgeth himself for his sin an assise vpon his owne soule he iudgeth himselfe for his sins before God arresting accusing and condemning his sinnes He confesseth his sinnes particularly to God without hiding any sin that is without forbearing to pray against any sin he knowes by himselfe out of any desire he hath stil to continue in it and by this signe he may be sure he hath the Spirit of God and that his sins are forgiuen him Esay 4. 4. Psal 35. 5. 1. Ioh. 1. 7. 1. Cor. 11. 32. 15. His requests are 15. And prayes in the holy Ghost daily powred vnto God He cries vnto God with affection confidence though it be with much weaknesse and many defects as the little child doth vnto the father and thereby he discouers the Spirit of adoption in him Rom. 8. 15. Zach. 12. 10. Ephes 3. 12. 16. He is vnfainedly 16. Desiring to be rid of all sinne desirous to be rid of all sins as well as one There is no sin he knowes by himself but he doth desire as heartily that he might neuer commit it as he doth that Note this God should neuer impute it This is a neuer failing signe a fundamentall one 2. Tim. 2. 19. 17. He is content to 17. And is willing to suffer affliction receiue euill at the hand of God as well as good without murmuring or letting go his integritie as being sensible of his owne deserts and desirous to approue himself to God without respect of reward This proued that Iob was an holy and vpright man Iob 1. 1. 2. 3. 10. 18. He dislikes sinne 18. He dislikes sinne in all in all euen in those that are neare and deare vnto him in other respects 1. King 15. 12. 13. 14. 19. He is innocent frō 19. Sinne reignes not in him the great transgression and keepes himselfe from his owne iniquitie He is not subiect to the dominion of sinne Sinne doth not reigne in him Psal 19. 13. 2. Sam. 22. 24. 20. He finds a desire 20. He hūbles himselfe for sin euen in his prosperitie to be rid of sinne and to humble himselfe for it in prosperitie as well as aduersitie He leaues sin before sin would leaue him He forsakes it then when he could commit it without apparent danger Iob 8. 5. 6. 21. Or if he be in aduersitie 21. And in aduersitie his heart is vpright his heart is vpright without lying or dissimulation He so seeketh the pardon of his sinnes then and so promiseth amendment as that he is also as carefull to practise

THE SPIRITVAL TOVCHSTONE OR THE SIGNES OF A GODLY MAN Drawne in so plaine and profitable a maner as all sorts of Christians may trie themselues thereby Together with Directions how the weake Christian by the vse of these Signes may establish his assurance By N. BIFIELD Preacher of Gods word at Isleworth in Middlesex 2. COR. 13. 5. Examine your selues whether ye be in the faith proue your owne selues Know ye not your owne selues how that Iesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates LONDON Printed by R. FIELD for IONAS MAN 1619. TO THE MVCH HONOred Ladie the Ladie RVTH SCYDAMORE increase of peace and ioy in beleeuing HOw great the benefite of assurance of Gods fauour and of our owne saluation is those onely know that are either scourged with the conflicts and terrors of their own doubtings or that are solaced and established with the sweet dewes of refreshing that arise from a rooted and well grounded faith If men studie assurances so much for their outward possessions in this world how much more earnest and diligent should men be to assure Gods loue and the inheritance of the glorie to come There is not a clearer signe of a profane heart then to account these cares needlesse nor do I know a iuster exception against any religion then that it should teach that when a man hath done what he can to obserue the directions of that religion yet he cannot be sure he shall go to heauen But since I know that all that are possessed of the grace of Iesus Christ do account assurance great riches I therefore conceiue hope that my paines about this subiect will not be altogether vnacceptable and the rather because in this present treatise I haue endeuoured to expresse the signes of trial in a much more easie way then before and besides haue added directions that shew how a weake Christian may establish himselfe in his assurance I make bold to dedicate my new Essay herein vnto your Ladiship You haue heard the substance hereof preached and receiued it with much gladnesse and in the priuate vse of these signes you haue bene pleased to professe to the glorie of God that you haue found much contentment and establishment of your owne assurance Your eminencie in the sincere profession and practise of true religion and the shining of the graces here intreated of long acknowledged by many witnesses haue made you worthy to be publikly obserued and praised in the Churches of Christ and your great respect and fauour shewed to me hath made this way of testifying my thankfulnesse but as a small pledge and assurance of my desire to do your Ladiship any seruice in the things of Iesus Christ Thus beseeching God to enlarge the comforts of his Spirit in your heart and to prosper you in all things that concerne the blessed hope of the appearing of Iesus Christ our mightie God and Sauiour I end and rest Your Ladiships to be commanded N. Bifield CHAP. I. Describing the godly man by such signes as discouer him to the obseruation of other men THe signes of the tru Christian that hath true grace in this world and shall be saued in heauen whē he dies may be cast into two Catalogues The Two Catalogues of signes one more briefe the other more large The one Catalogue of signes describe him by such markes as for the most part do outwardly distinguish him amongst men The large Catalogue I intend especially as a more infallible and effectuall way of triall as cōtaining such signes as for the most part are not obserued by other men or not fully but are knowne to himselfe and can be found in no reprobate For the first Catalogue The shorter Catalogue handled in this Chapter The true Christian vsually discouers himselfe by these marks First he will not haue 1. He auoids the companie of the wicked fellowship with the vnfruitful works of darknes he will not walke in the counsell of the wicked nor stand in the way of sinners He will not sort himselfe with workers of iniquitie Psal 1. 1. 26. 2. Cor. 6. Secondly he will afflict 2. He is sorrowfull for his sinne humble his soule for his sinnes mourning and weeping for them till the Lord be pleased to shew mercie and forgiue him He doth account his sinnes to be his greatest burthen He cannot make a mocke of sinne c. Thirdly he labours 3. He is throughly reformed in conuersation to be holy in all parts of his conuersation watching ouer his owne waies at all times and in all companies Psal 50. 23. Esa 56. 8. 2. Pet. 3. Fourthly he makes 4. He maketh conscience of lesser sins as well as greater conscience of the least commandements as wel as the greatest auoiding filthy speaking and vain iesting and lasciuiousnesse as well as whoredome lesser oathes as well as the greater reprochful speeches as wel as violent actions c. Fiftly he loues and 5. He loues preaching esteemes and labours for the powerfull preaching of the word aboue all earthly treasures Sixtly he honours 6. He esteems the godly aboue all men and highly accounts of the godly and delights in the companie of such as truly feare God aboue all others Psal 15. Seuenthly he is carefull 7. He is carefull of the sanctification of the Sabbath of the sanctification of the Sabbath neither daring to violate that holy rest by labour nor to neglect the holy duties belonging to Gods seruice publicke or priuate Esa 56. and 58. Eightly he loues not 8. He is not in loue with the world the world neither the things thereof but is more heartily affected in things that concerne a better life and so doth in some degree loue the appearing of Christ Ninthly He is easie 9. He loues his enemies to be intreated he can forgiue his enemies desires peace and will do good euen to them that persecute him if it lye in his power Math. 5. Tenthly he goeth 10. He is constant in good courses though opposed on in the profession of the sincerity of the Gospell and doth such duties as he knoweth God requires of him in businesses of his soule notwithstanding the oppositions of prophane persons or the dislike of carnall friends c. Eleuenthly he setteth 11. He serues God in his family vp a daily course of seruing of God and that with his family too if he haue any and exerciseth himselfe in the word of God as the chiefe ioy of his heart and the daily refuge of his life calling vpon God continually c. CHAP. II. Shewing the generall diuision of the Signes and the ways how the signes were found out THus of the shorter Catalogue of signes Now it followes that I proceed to those infallible marks of Election and saluation And whereas I haue diuers yeares since published a Treatise which I called Essayes or signes of God loue and mans saluation Hauing obserued The occasion of this Treatise