Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	prepare_v	vessel_n	wrath_n	3,005	5	9.3678	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A75800	The spirituall use of an orchard, or garden of fruit-trees. Set forth in divers similitudes betweene naturall and spirituall fruit-trees, in their natures, and ordering, according to Scripture and experience. The second impression; with the addition of many similitudes. By Ra: Austen, author of the first part. By Ra: Austen, author of the first part.	Austen, Ralph, d. 1676.	1657 (1657)	Wing A4236; Thomason E915_8; ESTC R208885	172,355	230

the same in all but from different degrees of light and manifestations in particular things some are more renewed and changed in the spirit of their minds and have more of the Image of God and are more purged from Corruptions then others and thence it is that all cannot comprehend things alike yet is their a likenesse and resemblance in their Natures there are the same actings and movings of soule the likenings and lustings after holy and spirituall things in some measure or degree in one as in another in weake as in strong Christians A Child hath the same Members and is of the same Nature as a man at full growth So the Spirituall Man God hath promised to put this likenesse upon his people Ier. 32.39 I will give them one heart and one way God will make all of them hate the same things all the detestable things where they come Ezek. 11. vers 19. I will give them one heart The Multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soule Acts 4.32 Vse 1 Here we have a true Touchstone of an honest heart such as have a reall love and liking of spirituall things Those whose hearts secretly close with the people of God because they are his and heartily joyne with them in their most spirituall holy walkings disliking and opposing from a Principle within things that hinder the worke of grace and kingdome of Christ they may certainly conclude they are of the Elect of God because they are like and of the same stamp with the rest of his people Vse 2 This is a strong Cord to draw and tye fast together all the Children of God They are like and resemble one another are of one and the same nature properties and dispositions also they have all one God one father one saviour one spirit one and the same portion and inheritance Likenesse and resemblance in Naturall Morall and spirituall things is a ground of Love and Vnion The two and twentieth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman prepares in his Nursery such wild Pants as he intends to bring and plant in his Garden He plants none in his Orchard or Garden where they are to grow a long time but such as are first ingrafted prepared and growen fit for that purpose in the Nursery This shadowes out unto us That Those whom God purposeth to bring hereafter into his Celestiall Paradice he prepareth them for it here Proposition shadowed in this life The Whole Earth is Gods great Nursery where he hath Plants growing of all sorts and ages some newly sprung up wild and unmanured others well growen Engrafted and prepared for the heavenly Canaan whom he is daily removing and transplanting thither preparation for this Garden of God is absolutely necessary Now ther 's no preparation of wild Plants for a Garden without Engrafting all the Culture pruning dressing or ordering the husbandman can use is to no purpose without Engrafting either of Naturall or spirituall plants Jo. 3.3 Except a man be borne againe he cannot see the kingdome of God As to the wild Naturall Plants there is a new Nature added by Engrafting so there is also a new Nature the divine Nature put into the soule by Regeneration or Ingrafting into Christ without which there can be no preparation for glory The Apostle speaking of the glory above and that the saints groan earnestly for it saies God fits them and prepares them for this state of glory 2 Cor. 5.5 He that hath wrought us for the selfe same thing is God God squares and works these spirituall lively stones for the spirituall building as a Mason hewes and squares the stones he intends for a Materiall building Or to keepe to the similitude in hand the husbandman prepares the Plants he intends to Plant in his Garden ere he remove them thither Col. 1.12 Giving thankes to the father who hath made us meete to be pertakers of the inheritance of the saints in light As there are vessels of wrath fitted to destruction so also there are vessels of mercy prepared unto glory Rom. 9.23 This people have I formed for my selfe they shall shew forth my praise Esay 43.21 There is an absolute necessity of this preparation because might it be supposed as a thing possible that a naturall man should come to heaven it would be but even a burthen to him he would have no joy no rest nor contentment there for all things there are contrary to his Nature now nothing pleaseth but things that are according to our Nature therefore God prepareth his people by giving them another Nature the divine Nature which is sanctification or holinesse God fits and prepares his people for glory by Convincing them of their state and condition by Nature shewing them a way and meanes of getting out of it even by laying hold on Christ by faith closing with him upon the tearmes of the Gospell The Spirit of God unites them unto and by faith ingrafts them into that fruitfull living stock Iesus Christ without which none can be prepared unto glory And after this Ingrafting the Husbandman goes on to prepare his Plants by Pruning dressing and ordering of them by meanes of Ordinances Afflictions Temptations dispensations of providence and workings of his spirit in all these whereby he brings them to further degrees of Sanctification untill they have attained their measure and are fitted for glory Vse Let all that have an expectation of the glory that is to be revealed consider well this poynt it is as possible and as likely the Carpenter should take Trees newly cut downe rough and unsquared boughes and all and put them into a Building as that God should bring soules to glory the body being cut downe which he hath not fitted and prepared for glory Therefore if thou canst not upon some good grounds satisfie thy selfe that God is in a way of preparation with thee let not thine eyes sleepe neither the Temples of thine head take any rest untill thou find some good evidences of this thing And let such as find and know they are prepared for glory by Engrafting into Christ Calling Sanctification c. Rejoyce in the Lord alwaies because their a This is a cleare evidence our Names are written in heaven when the Law of God according to the New Covenant is written in our hearts that is when there are inclinations and dispositions in our hearts according to the word when there is a new Nature Holinesse or sanctification in some measure Names are written in heaven they being prepared for it shall certainly be brought unto it The three and twentieth Observation in Nature NAturall Fruit-trees increase by little and little every yeare they are not suddenly great and large trees but they increase by degrees every yeare they grow bigger and larger every way by the culture and diligence of the husbandman and influences of heaven untill they attaine their full growth This shadowes out unto us the state of spirituall Fruit-trees in this Proposition

Cordials seasonably He is a God of Iudgment and Wisdome and he waits to be gratious Esay 30.18 He taries the time stayes till the fittest time waites for the oportunity the season to give in a mercy when it may be with most advantage to his owne glory and the good of his people As God staies till the fittest time for the punishment of wicked men when he may do it most to the glory of his Iustice so also in the dispensations of grace and mercy to his people God tarries till men have filled up the measure of their sin Gen. 15.16 The iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full And God indures with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction Rom. 9.22 so also he waits till his people be fitted for such or such a mercy as he intends to give till some corruption be more mortified and subdued and till grace have attained more strength till grace have beene tryed and thereby beene improved and increased when the soule is prepared and the season come then also the mercy will come Hab. 2.3 it will surely come it will not tarry Israels deliverance out of Egypt as a type of other mercies and deliverances to the Church and people of God in after ages it was at an appointed time and fittest time when the people were best prepared for such a dispensation Exod. 12.41 the selfe same day it came to passe So also God dealeth with others of his people according to that of the Prophet Psalm 102.13 Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Syon for the time to favour her yea the set time is come God observes the fittest time the season in his dispensations towards his people that thereby he may lay a ground for the advantage of his owne glory for the clearer manifestation of his glorious Attributes Mercy Justice wisdome power goodnesse c. And secondly because hereby wee are the more clearely convinced of what is done and are more taken more affected with it it makes the deeper impression is set on the more strongly and a mercy in season ingages the heart more firmely and fully than otherwise it would do Peter was not delivered out of Prison at first so soone as the Church prayed for him but God chose a peculiar season even the very night before Herod intended to bring him forth to execution Acts 12. God made Hanna to wait long for a mercy yea God himselfe waited to be gratious to her at the fittest time when she was in extraordinary bitterne of spirit God gave her her hearts desire a Child of Vse 1 many Prayers and so of many mercies Hence we should learne to magnify the riches of the wisdome and grace of God towards us who not only bestowes good things upon Vse 2 us but his care is also to give them in the fittest time Doth God waite on us to dispense mercies for our best advantage and shall not we waite on God shall not we be content to tarry the Lords leasure which is alwaies the fittest time for the fulfilling of his promises and our prayers as the Prophet encourageth Vse 3 us Psalm 27.14 Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart wait I say on the Lord. Is God seasonable in all his dispensations towards us let us then labour to be seasonable in bringing forth fruit unto him and one towards another It is true we should beare good fruits continually but yet there are some especiall times some seasons opportunities which are advantages in our actings for God our selves and others these a Christian should watch for and wisely mannage The ninetie seventh Observation in Nature THe Roote of a tree communicates and gives up sap to all the Branches one as well as another to the smalest as well as to the greatest the least branch or Twig upon the Tree yea the least bud upon the least branch hath as constant and reall a supply of sap from the roote as the greatest bough or branch upon the Tree This shadowes out unto us Proposition shadowed That Jesus Christ gives forth as constant a supply of all grace to the meanest of his people as to those who are most eminent Christ takes care of all his people he will not loose or neglect the least member John 17.12 Those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost He praies for them all Iohn 17.21 That they all may be one as thou father art in me and I in thee c. He provides milke for babes as well as strong meate for such as are better growne 1 Cor. 3.2 And chargeth Peter againe and againe as he would shew his love to him to feede his Lambs and his Sheepe Iohn 21.15 16 17. He gives a charge to all that they take heed that they offend not nor despise one of his little ones Matth. 18.10 He is the good and carefull Shepheard that takes care of all his sheep and feeds them Iohn 10. He carries the Lambs in his bosome and gently leadeth such as are young Esay 40.11 not one of his little ones shall perish Matth. 18.14 And as he writs unto the elder and stronger Christians the fathers and young men so also to his little Children 1 John 2.12 13. c. He takes care of all and communicates grace and supplyes to all to the meanest and weakest as well as the strongest Yea and rewards all that shew good will though the smalest kindnesse to the least of his Members as if they had donne it to himselfe Matth. 25.40 Verily I say unto you in as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren yee have done it unto me Vse 1 This magnifies the riches of the free grace and love of Jesus Christ towards his people who though he be exalted on high and set at the right hand of God farre above all Principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in the world to come Ephe. 1.21 yet he remembers his people even every one of them as well the least and meanest as the strongest and most eminent of them as well the Lambs little Children and babes as strong men and fathers and communicates of his fulnesse grace for grace as well to one as to another in their measure as really as the Roote does sap to all the branches small and great Vse 2 This is a ground of strong and lasting consolation to all weake believers who are still under doubts and feares by reason of their weaknesse let such know and consider that Christ upholds them though they are but small and weake twigs or branches being united to the stock or Roote the same nourishes them and gives up by his spirit sure and constant supplies of sap and life unto them whereby they live and grow and beare fruit some more some sesse as really as the greatest branches His love is to one as

and Corruptions also of other Natures brake forth from time to time which were a sting to all other Miseries that befell him and which were being improved and strongly set on by Sathan against him grounds and foundations of the most fearfull apprehensions that came into his minde The enemy pleading it against him and that from many grounds of * Such as these Heb. 6.4 It is impossible for these who were once enlightned c. and 2 Pet. 2.20 The later end is worse with them then the beginning Scripture misapplyed that no child of God did ever fall into the like and labouring to perswade him that no one guilty of the like should possibly ever recover out of such a state This was a long and tedious winter in which seldome any sunne or starrs appeared to him and then but dimly and soone clouded againe the soule was for the most part filled with stormes and tempests sad apprehensions of many present evils and feares of more and greater to come upon him The particular passages of which Condition might be related at large were it convenient But the Lord hath said he will not contend for ever neither will he be alwaies wrath lest the spirit faile before him He correcteth in measure At length the sun of righteousnesse began to arise with healing in his wings and to cast some beames of light into his darke soule which increased more and more unto the perfect day As he fell by degrees so by little and little after a time in the use of meanes he was raised up againe and restored to former comforts with great and many additions and advantages The Lord put a new song into his Mouth even praises and thanksgivings unto his God Let the father of mercies and the God of all Comforts be for ever praised for he comforteth those that are cast downe when they cry unto him in their troubles he delivereth them out of their distresse he bringeth them out of darknesse and out of the shaddow of death and breaketh their bonds asunder O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodnesse and declare the wonders that he doth for the Children of men Now therefore Seeing that a winter of desertion may come Let Vse 1 us wisely prepare against it by giving all diligence to make our Calling and Election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 To lay up Treasures in heaven Now in the time of plenty to store up against a time of of famine to gather now in Summer against a spending time in Winter Now to gather Evidences and sure grounds of the unchangeable love of God towards us to make sure of our interest in Christ that so we may be able to fight and conquer and to stand in the evill day and having done all to stand Eph. 6.13 This also may comfort all those that are in this case who find Vse 2 that the Sunne is withdrawne and gone a far off Let them in the use of all good meanes wait and tarry the Lords leasure he will certainly come in his time Esay 50.10 Whoso walketh in darknesse and hath no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay himselfe upon his God for the Sunne will againe shine forth and refresh such a soule and though comfort and deliverance tarry yet wait for it it will surely come it will not tarry Hab. 2.3 The word and promises and the Experiences of performance to others are sure grounds of hope Esa 54.7 for a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee in a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer The time is at hand when it shall be said to these weather beaten fruit-trees the winter is past the raine is over and gone the Fig-tree putteth forth her greene figgs the Vines with the tender Grape give a good smell Cant. 2.11 13. Then shall they Bud and blossome and bring forth abundance of Fruits pleasant to the husbandman And shall say unto him Let my beloved come into his Garden and eat his pleasant fruits Cant. 4.15 They shall dayly bring forth the fruits of Praise Love and obedience which he will like and accept of The seventh Observation in Nature FRuit-trees that bring forth the fairest and most beautifull blossomes Leaves and shootes they usually bring forth the fewest and least fruits because where Nature is intent and vigorously pressing to doe one worke spending its strength there it is at the same time weak about other workes but distinct and severall works of Nature in moderate and remisse degrees are all promoted at the same time This is another Similitude c whence we learne that Proposition shadowed Generally those persons who are excessive and most curious about the Formes of duties have least of the power of godlinesse There are some who wanting sincerity lay out their thoughts and endeavours about the outside of duties they will be as forward it may be as any about the externall parts of worship who have nothing of the truth of Grace in them Much formality little or no sincerity The Pharises were excessively carefull about the outside of Gods worship Mat. 6.2.5.16 In Preaching Praying fasting giving Almes c. their care was mainly to make cleane the outside to carry things fairly to the world that they might have the praise of men broad Phylacteries long Prayers exactnesse in tithing Mynt Annis Cummin Strictnesse in observing the Sabbath and outward Ceremonies but where was sincerity all this while they had the forme but wanted the power of godlinesse These were but Leaves buds or blossomes but no Fruits they were not profitable to them as to Eternall advantages Mat. 5.20 Except your righteousnesse exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharises ye shall in no case enter into the kingdome of heaven So it was among us of late yeares bowing at the Name of Iesus and Communion Table Surplesse Common-Prayer c these and such like were pressed with all eagernesse and strictnesse The body of Religion was large and monstrous but without a scule or if any it was Leane and feeble These kind of persons are like the Indian Fig-tree that Pliny speakes of which had Leaves as broad as Targets but fruits no bigger then a Beane Let every one take heed of this and not suffer their spirits and Vse 1 endeavours to runne out and be spent about things of lesser moment and neglect the greater This is a foule fault among us at this day some men stand more about the formes of worship than about the power of it they looke so much after the way manner and circumstances that they almost loose the substance things which are but as husks or shels to the Kernels or as Leaves in respect of fruits Some others labour more for Gifts then for graces for humane Learning than for holinesse All these are guilty of the