Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	blood_n	part_n	vein_n	2,409	5	9.8272	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44344	A comment upon Christ's last prayer in the seventeenth of John wherein is opened the union beleevers have with God and Christ, and the glorious priviledges thereof ... / by that faithful and known servant of Christ, Mr. Thomas Hooker ... ; printed from the authors own papers written with his own hand, and attested to be such in an epistle by Thomas Goodwin and Philip Nye.	Hooker, Thomas, 1586-1647.; Goodwin, Thomas, 1600-1680.; Nye, Philip, 1596?-1672.	1656 (1656)	Wing H2643; ESTC R7774	293,622	460

our Savior by it leaves the like impression of Graces upon our Souls while by faith we keep our Hearts under the stroke thereof 3. Faith acts each faculty to disgest and improve that power from Christ received for his particular use according to its particular end As the Veines deliver up the Blood to each part as that special portion and provision which is allowed in the course of Nature for its relief and so each part taking the Blood it doth appropriate it to its own Nature Bone makes Bone of it Sinews make Sinews c. So Faith like those Veins conveys the efficacy of the Blood and merits of Christ to all the faculties to answer al their necessities 4. We must wait Gods leasure and stay his time for the bestowing of his favors Beggers must not be Chusers And nothing more free than gift And therefore he that will challenge it at his time and according to his wil makes it a Debt and not a Gift That they may be one as we are one Here is the third thing that was especially intended in the verse 1. We heard that Christ had all glorious Grace given him 2. That he gives all that glorious Grace unto his Saints Here lastly we have the END AND AIME of our Savior in this his bounty in giving and the benefit of the faithful in receiving Viz. That they may be one in the Father and the Son Hence The end why the Saints receive all glorious Grace from our Savior Christ is this Doct. that they may be one as the Father and Son are one with themselves This is a truth not included or that which may by way of consequence be collected or probably inferred out of the text But that which is clearely intended as the chief scope of our Savior yea fully and plainly expressed in the words beyond all exception or disputation and that which carries such evidence out of the phrase of speech that unless a man wil cast away the rule and dictate of right reason he can in no wise reject or refuse Ask but the Question why did our Savior Christ receive all glorious Grace into his Human Nature from God the Father The Answer is He received it by way of gift that he might give it to others out of his faithfulness He was their Treasurer But ascend one stair higher if yet further we may stirr What was the end of our Saviors giving of this Grace The Answer is ful and fair from the letter of the text for this is another reason that can be fastened upon the manner of the speech It was for this end it s that which our Savior aimed at in a peculiar manner That they may be one as the Father and Son are This is the Crown of that glory which the Saints shal attain in the ful perfection thereof in Heaven yea the diamond of that Crown the Pinnacle and highest point of perfection there to be expected in regard of their own particulars as that which each man hath in his Eye The Heaven of Heaven and one step higher than the highest Star of glorious Grace For we know the end is better than the meanes and adds beauty to the meanes Els there would be a flaw and blemish in glory and some defect Eph. 4.13 When all the Churches are perfected and the Saints gathered and come to the fulness of the Stature of Christ and have attained the unity of the faith The highest strain of their happiness is to acknowledg the Son of God q. d. There is nothing to do in Heaven but only that That 's the top of glory and one step higher than al the happiness of al that glorious Grace they shal injoy there to perfection To give in witness through al Eternity that al the good they have received it was in Christ as the fountain all that was done by al means it was done by him So the Apostle gives in the Reason of Gods dispensation It pleased the Father that in him all fulness should dwel That in all things he might have the Preheminence Tha Sacraments were ful of comfort and the word and Sermons ful of wisedom consciences ful of peace that passeth understanding but it was because the fulness of Christ overflowed in these filled these otherwise had he withdrawn himself the word had been a clasped Book and a killing letter and 〈◊〉 heart an empty Vessel So the Soul in glory acknowledg no means nor orders nor offices further than he appoints them nor was there any power in them or vertue communicated thereby further than the Lord was pleased to work by them The power was Christ that strengthened The life and vertue Christ that quickened The success was Christs only who was pleated to breath upon and bless I take it to be the meaning of that place very difficult and the expression very spiritual and of a high strain 2 Thess 1.12 That the Name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you in him according to the Grace of God and the Lord Jesus Christ Why you would say Is there any Name higher than the Name of Christ or glory due to any beyond or after Christ why is it added that Christ should be glorified and you in him For Answer open the words a little as we pass for the present we shall speak more fully and largely when we shall come to them again that which may suffice for the while is this The Apostle having prayed in the foregoing verse That God would count them worthy of their calling i. e. Worthy of the glory Vnto which they were called and so fulfil al the good pleasure of his goodness i.e. fully bestow al that spiritual good which in the ful purpose of his good pleasure he intended to them and that he would bring the work of Faith to perfection by his mighty power Now the end of al that glory and fulness of al that spiritual good he prayes for for them and they should partake of according to his prayer The end of all is that the Name of Christ Christ as he is made known in his word and Offices and the execution of the great work of Redemption may be made glorious in you He from the Father giving al to you You also may be glorified not in your selves but in your reference and Oneness towards Christ in receiving and returning al to the Father by him And therefore those words are added according to the Grace of God and our Lord Jesus Christ you so in him as through him in God God through Grace in Christ gives himself and Christ to you you also through Grace give up your selves to Christ and through him to God For the opening do three things 1. Recal what this oneness is 2. How this oneness and glorious Grace differ each from other or may be rightly discerned in their several considerations 3. The Reasons of the point upon what grounds it may rightly be gathered and concluded to

and fullest communication of himself that may be and hence as he came out of his bosom and left his glory so also he must bring him unto glory that he may again lie in the bosom of his love This our Savior intimates Joh. 13.3 Knowing that the Father gave al things into his hand and that he came from God and went to God he came from the Father for the accomplishment of the great Work of Redemption and he furnished him with the supply of al power and al provision al things in Heaven and Earth to attend him until he come again to him and when he is come into Heaven as he put the greatest glory upon him so he advanceth him to the neerest familiarity with himself By his right hand he hath exalted him Act. 2.33 And set him at his right hand Verse 34. That he might make him ful of joy with his countenance that the Eye smiling countenance of the Father might ever be upon him and fulness of the perfection of joy in him for ever If glory carry with it the greatest perfection that can attend our Savior and neerest union unto the Father then the love of the Father wil provide it But glory includes both greatest perfection in regard of Christ and neerest union unto the Father Therefore the love of the Father wil provide for it USE 1. Trial. We may hereby try what mettal our love is made of whether it come from the God of Love carry his likeness and superscription that we may be sure that he will own it at the great day and we both now and then may find the undoubted comfort of it unto our Souls we shal know the nature of it by the efficacy and work of it As it is in prime cordial quintessences if they be made of lively ingredients they do not only warm the Mouth and heat the Stomach a little but they search into al the Veins clear al the passages Purg al the Humors and cleanse the Blood that the Body is recovered to a lively and healthful constitution But if it warm a little overly and work no further we conclude it It s not the right it hath not the right work So with thy love if it be like the love of God it wil have the like work It aimes ever at the glorious good of the thing or person beloved staies not in these lower and inferior things but in and by these looks at those which be higher and of a more heavenly excellency Take then a Survey of the several operations of thy love according to the several occasions with which it meets and therein it s exercised What doth it work in the family where thou livest in the place and amongst thy neighbours with whom thou dwellest with thy Brethren who are linked to thee and thou to them in the fellowship of the Faith Nay what doth it do for thine own Soul if there be any power and efficacy it will then appear In thy family thou castest up and down how to compass the things of this life and art marvailous busie to contrive al earthly conveniences to thine own content Thou seekest what to Eat to Drink what to put on and obtainest what thou seekest and thy love looks no further Surely its worldly love and that in the lowest degree Thou wilt do as much for the beasts of the field and Heards of Cattel as for thy servants Children family Thou dealest courteously with those who shew Kindness to thy self yieldest repect to mens places honorest their persons carriest thy self honestly and inoffensively towards al. This love is no great excellency do not the Publicans and sinners the same Nay it may be thou dost incourage men in a good course and strengthenest their hearts and hands in the profession or the Gospel labourest for some knowledg of the truth and ablities to holy services that thou maiest carry out thy profession with applause and approbation of such with whom thou dost converse Lookest after ability to please eares rather than for humility and abasedness of heart to please God and here thou art at thy furthest desirest to be no other and do no more And it s the Pitch thou wouldest have others to aim at This is but the love of Formalists and moralists Thou never hast the love of God shed abroad in thy heart nor yet the true love for the good of thine own Soul to this day If thy love had been from God it would not have ceased until it had brought thee and others unto Heaven and glory and God No● that it is in our power to do this but its certain if the Love of God be in us it wil make us look at this and be easeless to endeavor after this So Paul travels till Christ be formed not til they had got a form of Godliness until Morality or Civility was formed in them but Christ glorious Grace Power Peace This is God-like Christ-like Love 2. TRYAL Whether our Love to the Lord Christ be God-like Love it 's then certain God wil own it Christ accept it and we may find comfort in it If it bear the Image of the Love of the Father it wil imitate God loved the Son and gave al things to the Son Do likewise give thy self yield and resign thy soul and al things unto Christ Thy Mind let him teach thee Heart let him rule thee Affections let him order thee Rom. 12.1 1 Cor. 6. last He out of his Love exalted him far above all Principalities and Powers and whatever is named Do thou set up the Lord in thy Soul far above al profits pleasures thy dearest lusts thy darling delights al powers and principalities the principality of thine own wil mights and dominions mighty and domineering distempers above every name the name of thine own Parts and Gifts the name of thy Glory and Credit and that which is named in another World even thy safety and Salvation He gave him Glory made him Lord and King Acts 2.36 Do thou likewise Let him Lord it over thy Lusts thy Pride thy haughty and high thoughts and bring every thing into obedience Rev. 4.10 Cast down the Crown of al thy Excellencies whatever is most honored admired loved lay it at his foot Honor him with al thy substance As he in the Gospel if he need let it go USE 2. For COMFORT to the Saints whom are beloved of the Father through Christ Where he loves his love wil work alike He is not the weaker for the working nor hath the less for his giving He loveth thee as Christ therefore he wil glorifie thee as he hath done to him Get Love and gain al Love carries al with it If he love thee if dead he wil quicken if weak he wil strengthen if damned he wil save though stubborn he wil draw thee With an everlasting Love I have loved thee and therefore I have drawn thee USE 3. Of Direction How we may gain the Gift of Glory from the

i.e. To grow up together in the similitude of his death Rom. 6.5 As his spirit by his death killed sin that was charged upon him So we by that Spirit grow up in the vertue of that death and die to sin USE 1. This gives in heavy evidence against a world of wicked wretches and casts out a crowd of ungodly persons our of the pale and fold of Christ as such as never yet had the work of faith here nor have any hope of glory hereafter If all beleevers share in the Grace of Christ what shal we think of such ignorant poor creatures that never knew this of those profane ones who profess themselves to be Scorners and Opposers of grace and the gospel of grace and the spirit of grace and Christ himself what shal we think of them think of them as they are They are unbeleeving creatures yet in the gal of bitterness and bond of iniquity and must and wil have their portion with unbeleevers in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone They loath the glorious grace of God now they shal be shut out and banished from his glorious presence for ever But I wil not trouble you nor my self with these whose conditions are so loathsome even unto their own consciences Only I shal settle it as a matter of sad reproof upon two sorts whose hopes and professions seem to promise better but in the issue couzen themselves and fal short of their own comforts 1. It crusheth the confidence and splits the vain pretences of al the most refined Hypocrites upon Earth It s not the gilt enameling of any ordinary duty nor the paint of any profession that wil evidence either their Title to Christ or the Grace of Christ which he gives indeed to his No it is the spiritualness of the work in their Souls If the outside be never so clean If there be rottenness within he loaths it Psal 45.13 The Kings Daughter is all glorious within c. The garments of the spouse are not gilt but wrought Gold It s not the shew and appearance in your lives if ye deny the power of Godliness in your hearts 2 Tim. 3.5 That is not Circumcision that is outward in the flesh that is not the glorious Grace of Christ that reformes a mans course before men But that is Circumcision which is of the spirit that is the Grace of Christ that makes a man close with God in Christ Thou mayst have strong inlightenings in thy mind strange raptures in thy spirit and rell●shes of joy tast of the good word and the heavenly gift and the power of the world to come have a Peep-hole into Heaven and see a glimpse of glory passing by and all this be nothing but the Grace of Apostates and Hypocrites not the Grace of Christ No saies the Apostle We hope better things of you Deeper impressions of the power of the Lord Christ and the work of the spirit must soak through thy soul and that not only tasted but digested and thy heart delivered up into the authority thereof 2. Those who please themselves with the apprehension that they have some Grace but are content to want some other and so indeed want al. When either education hath reformed them or their conscience awed them or their occasions or conditions free them from such assaults and because they want the temptation to sin they suppose they have the grace of Christ One man blesseth himself he is not worldly and sensual yet contents himself to be proud another is not passionate and loose yet worldly whereas if Christ be formed in a man nothing of the saving work of Christ wil be wanting if a new creature al things are new otherwise he is a Monster in Christianity not in truth a Christian of Christs make Either al or none at al. If ye have heard and learnt as the truth is in Jesus put off the old man not an old Hand or Eye but the frame of heart and life put on the ●●w man USE 2. Of Instruction Sanctification is a never-failing argument of a beleeving and happy condition If God give glorious Grace here he will give possession of glory hereafter It s Christs work he will approve of it It s the image of himself he will own it It s the tenure of the promise Jer. 31.33 It s the sentence which is now passed upon such Judged they may be condemned they shall never be Math. 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Eph. 4.20 21 22. USE 3 Its Matter of Thankfulness If Christ think nothing too good for us we should be ashamed to stand for a little cost and labour for him He parts with the choicest of his favour his Glory to us we should part with the best of our Duties to him the best of our hearts to love him of our love to honor him of our indeavours to serve him They are not common courtesies which he vouchlafes to us not creatures to comfort us profits to enrich but the most precious favor that the Father bestowed He hath no greater nor better and that glory he gives to them Let us be ashamed to give the Lean the Lame the leavings to the Lord. Give him the glory of al that glory we do receive As the Elders Rev. 4.10 Cast down our Crowns before him And let him be advanced in al that he advanceth us USE 4. Of Exhortation Whither we must go if we Hope to speed and to receive this gift to what dore to go to receive this dole come to Christ the giver if we Hope to receive this gift The Spirit takes of Christ before he gives it to us therefore much more we must go to him before we can receive it The way lies in these four things 1. See all in him And Joyn none with him as the Author and worker of this There be instruments to convey Grace but there is no Author of this or giver of this but Christ Of his fulness we receive All other things are empty without him and can work nothing further than he will work by them Christ is al in al. Col. 3.11 Not ordinances not Duties not Sacraments Paul is nothing Apollo is nothing but Christ is all Christ by all Christ through all these works 2. Look at that in Christ which we need and would have and keep the heart under the stroke of the Spirit in Christ that working Grace in the Nature of our Savior from thence he may work Grace in us If we would have patience Eye the patience of Christ and the Spirit working patience in him and from his patience patience in me As it is in a Glass that hath many colors Red Green Blew Yellow If the Sun shine upon it it wil convey the like colors upon that which is opposite to it The Human Nature of our Savior is as the Glafs all the Graces in their variety are like so many colors The Spirit shining upon the Nature of