Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	death_n	sin_n	sin_v	3,797	5	9.4651	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64969	The principles of the doctrine of Christ, or, A catechism in which is contained the sum of the Christian religion, or what is necessary to be believed and done in order to salvation, the answers being but seventeen in number, and in very plain words easie to be understood : unto which is added A catechism for conscience, wherein the consciences of the ignorant, the grosly profane, the young, the meerely mortal, and the hypocrites are examined in order to their instruction and awakening, and the consciences of the sincere Christians are tried in order to their peace and comfort / by Nathanael Vincent.	Vincent, Nathanael, 1639?-1697.; Vincent, Nathanael, 1639?-1697. A catechism for conscience.	1691 (1691)	Wing V418; ESTC R25704	37,318	113

will hear his voice harden not your hearts Heb. 3. 7 8. If thou wert in pain wouldst not thou be for present ease If thou wert in great danger wouldst not thou be for present security If sick of a death threatning malady wouldst thou not desire to be presently healed Why oh why shouldst thou not be willing to part with sin immediately which is the worst disease and which if not presently cured perhaps may never be cured but issue in eternal death A. Methinks I see that evil in sin I never saw and the bewitching pleasure of it is not so taking a thing as it was formerly Q. 18. Art thou willing to be directed to a Saviour who can deliver thee from Sin and Wrath A. I may die while I am young and when I come to die I shall prize a Saviour certainly I ought now to value him I am willing to be directed to him Q. 19. That thou may'st come to Christ wilt thou flee youthful lusts and pray that thy heart may be cleansed from them and that thou mayest possess thy vessel in sanctification and honour counting it an honour to thy body to have the members of it Instruments of Righteousness unto Holiness A. I perceive my Lusts are hurtful and 't is a foolish thing to serve them to my own ruine Q. 20. When Sinners thy companions entice thee wilt thou refuse to consent and rather reprove them though they call thee fool and fanatick than have any longer fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness A. 'T is better to leave them and be laught at than in hell to weep and despair with them to Eternity Q. 21. Thy wanton and defiling and ensnaring books such as Plays and Romances wilt thou cast away and give thy self to search the Scripture Catechisms and other good books which may help thee in the understanding and practice of the Word of God A. I hope I shall become a student in the Holy Bible labour to be well grounded in the doctrine of the Catechism and add practice to knowledge Q. 22. Art thou sensible that the pleasures of sin are but for a season And are the vanities of the world fallen in thy esteem A. I hope I shall be no longer a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God nor prefer sports and pastimes before Prayer his word and service Q. 23. Dost thou perceive that thy happiness lies in God in being favoured by him in being like unto him in holiness and in enjoying him both here and for ever A. My naughty heart is unsuited to God and looks upon happiness in him with a strange eye but I desire my heart may be circumcised to love him and that I may chuse God himself above all Q. 24. Dost thou consent to receive Christ who is made known and offered to thee in the Gospel to justifie thee by his blood to sanctifie thee by his Spirit and to rule thee by his word and commandments A. I desire my heart may be opened to receive the Lord Jesus Q. 25. Dost thou rely on Christ alone to make thy peace with God as believing this truth there is but One God and One Mediator between God and Men the Man Christ Jesus A. I am perswaded that Christ alone is the Saviour of his Church and People and that there is not Salvation in any other Q. 26. Dost thou see thy inability to come to Christ except the Father who hath sent him draw thee A. The Lord make me willing in the day of his power and draw me to his Son Turn m● to himself that I may never return to my youthful vanity and folly or any wickedness more The meerly Moral Mans Conscience is thus to be Examined Q. 1. What are thy Apprehensions of thy Spiritual state A. I thank God I am not as other Men are Extortioners Vnjust Adulterers None can say black is my Eye I have the the good word and report of my Neighbours I do as I would be done unto I wrong I defraud no Man Q. 2. How dost thou perform thy duty towards God A. I pray and hear Sermons and come to the Communion Table and pay to the Church as well as to the Poor and therefore question not but all is and will be well with me Q. 3. Dost thou not believe that thou art descended from old Adam A. I have heard something of Adam I think he was the first Man but I do not well understand the meaning and intent of your question Q. 4. Dost thou not know that Adam was created innocent and upright but quickly fell from his integrity by believing Satan and eating the forbidden Fruit A. That was done several thousand years ago and I am not to concern my self about it Q. 5. Thinkest thou not that thou didst sin in Adam A. I cannot conceive how I should sin in Him so long a time before I was born Q. 6. Does not the Apostle expresly say that by one Mans disobedience many were made sinners This he speaks of Adam and does he not affirm that death passed upon all men because in Him all sinned Rom. 5. 12 19. A. I do not understand how this can be Q. 7. Dost thou not perceive in thy self the effects of Adam's sin And that thou hast derived from Him a corrupt and depraved Heart and Nature A. I thank God my heart is very true and good I believe that few if any have a better Q. 8. How long has thy Heart been thus true and good A. Ever since I can remember Q. 9. What thinkest thou of that black character which the Heart-searching God gives of the heart of man that it is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it Jer. 17. 9. A. I never perceived any such wickedness in mine Q. 10. Is it not because thy Heart deceives thee and hides its wickedness from thy Eyes But for thy conviction let me ask thee What kind of thoughts does thy heart entertain A. Thoughts are free and I let them take their course it would be an endless piece of business to observe my thoughts Q. 11. Does not the Scripture say that sinful thoughts as well as ways must be forsaken if we will obtain mercy Isa 55. 7. And does not the Apostle give advice to a man to pray that the thought of his heart may be forgiven Acts 8. 22. Do not these places plainly signifie that thoughts may be sins and need pardon A. I never understood so much before Q. 12. When thou are praying or hearing where are thy thoughts A. I am very reverent and devout in my gestures and behaviour but as for my thoughts I can give no account for I very little if at all mind them Q. 13. Does not God himself say that they worship him in vain who draw nigh to him with their Bodies and honour him with their Lips but their Hearts are removed far from him A. My heart I must confess does rove and wander while I am in

every imagination of the thoughts of his Heart was only evil continually Q 5. What is Sin A. Sin is a transgression of the Law of God and the desert and wages of it is Death and Hell Sin is a transgression of the Law of God 1 John 3. 4. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Law for sin is a transgression of the Law The desert and wages of Sin is Death Rom. 5. 12. Death passed upon all men for that all have sinned The desert and wages of Sin is Hell Psal 9. 17. The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God Q. 6. Who is the Saviour from Sin and Hell A. Jesus Christ the Son of God took Mans Nature and died upon the Cross that he might put away Sin and deliver Man from Wrath by the Sacrifice of himself and he arose from the dead and sat down at the Right Hand of God Jesus Christ the Son of God took Mans Nature John 1. 14. The Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his Glory the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth Christ died upon the Cross Luke 23. 33. And they Crucified Him and the Malefactors one on the right Hand and the other on the left Christ by his Death puts away Sin Heb. 9. 26. But now once in the end of the World hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Christ delivers from Hell and Wrath. Rom. 5. 9. Being now justified by his Blood we shall be saved from wrath through Him Christ arose from the Dead Luke 24. 34. The Lord is risen indeed Acts 13. 37. Rising the third day he saw no corruption Christ Ascended into Heaven and sat at God's Right Hand Heb. 1. 3. When he had by himself purged our sins sat down on the Right Hand of the Majesty on High Q. 7. What are the Offices of Christ Jesus A. Christ has a threefold Office He is a Prophet to teach a Priest by his satisfaction and intercession to reconcile and a King to govern and defend his Church and People Christ is a Prophet to teach Acts 7. 37. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren Him shall you hear Luke 24. 45. Then opened He their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures Christ is a Priest to reconcile Heb. 2. 17. It behoved him in all things to be made like unto his Brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest to make reconciliation for the sins of the People Christ reconciles by his Death which was satisfactory to God who had been by sin offended and by his Intercession Rom. 8. 34. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather is risen again who also maketh intercession for us Christ is a King to govern his Church and People Col. 1. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son Christ defends his Church against all Enemies Rom. 8. 37 Nay in all these things we are more than Conquerors through Him that loved us Q. 8. How is Christ made known A. Christ is made known by the Word in the Holy Scripture which is given by Inspiration of God The Old Testament gave a discovery of Him but in the New Testament he is more fully revealed Christ is made known by the Word in the Holy Scripture Col. 1. 27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory The Holy Scripture is given by Inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God The Old Testament gave a discovery of Christ John 5. 46. If ye had believed Moses you would have believed Me saith Christ for He wrote of Me. Acts 26. 22 23. Saying none other things than what Moses and all the Prophets did say should come that Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and shew light to the People and to the Gentiles In the New Testament Christ is more fully revealed 2 Cor. 3. 18. We all with open face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image Q. 9. How are we made partakers of Christ and interested in Him A. We are drawn to Christ by the Spirit working Faith in us whereby we receive Christ and rest upon him alone for Salvation unto which Faith Repentance is joined whereby we sorrow for sin and turn from it to God with the whole Heart We are drawn to Christ by the Spirit working Faith in us 2 Cor. 4. 13. We having the same Spirit of Faith Phil. 1. 30 Vnto you it is given in the behalf of Christ to believe on him By Faith we receive Christ John 1. 12. To as many as received him he gave power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe in his Name By Faith we rest upon Christ alone for Salvation Phil. 3. 8 9. I count all things but dung that I may win Christ and be found in Him not having my own Righteousness which is by the Law Acts 4. 12. Neither is there Salvation in any other Unto Faith Repentance is joined Acts 20. 21. Testifying both to the Jews and to the Greeks Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance is a sorrowing for Sin Jam. 4. 9. Be afflicted and mourn and weep let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness Repentance is a turning from Sin to God with the whole Heart Isa 55. 7. Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return to the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Joel 2. 12. Therefore now also saith the Lord turn ye even unto me with all your heart Q. 10. What is that Covenant which God hath made with them that repent and believe A. God hath made a New Covenant with penitent Believers wherein he hath promised to be their God to justifie them from and pardon all their Sins to renew and write his Laws in their Hearts and to give them Grace till they come to Glory God hath made a New Covenant commonly called the Covenant of Grace Heb. 8. 8. Behold the days come saith the Lord when I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel and of Judah They that repent and believe are in Covenant An Heart to repent and believe is from God Ezek. 36. 26. A new heart will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh The Lord in the Covenant promises to be his peoples God 2 Cor. 6. 16. I will dwell in them and

Assemblies Catechism is indeed above my commendation and will commend it self to them that are considerate whoever go about to disparage it But This which I have Composed being much more brief and having words somewhat easier to be understood I hope may not be unuseful I have added a Catechism for Conscience and have applied my self to the Consciences of several sorts of Persons And though in a special manner I design your Edification yet if these few Sheets shall through the blessing of that God who is and works all in all be made profitable to a great many more the greater will be the satisfaction and rejoicing of Your Affectionate Pastor and Servant for Jesus Sake Nathanael Vincent THE PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST OR A Catechism In which is contained the Sum of the Christian Religion or what is necessary to be believed and done in order to Salvation The Answers being but Seventeen in number and in very plain words easie to be understood By Nathanael Vincent M. A. Minister of the Gospel London Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chapel 1691. Unto which is Added A Catechism for Conscience Wherein The Consciences of the Ignorant the grosly Profane the Young the meerly Moral and the Hypocrites are Examined in order to their Instruction and Awakening and the Consciences of the Sincere Christians are tried in order to their Peace and Comfort THE PRINCIPLES OF THE Doctrine of CHRIST IN A very Short And Plain Catechism By Nathaniel Vincent M. A. Minister of the Gospel Qu. 1. WHat do you believe concerning God Ans God is eternal every where present a Spirit most wise powerful righteous and merciful the whole Worlds Creator and Governour God is Eternal Psal 90 2. From everlasting to everlasting thou art God God is every where present Jer. 23. 24. Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord. Do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord. God is a Spirit without bodily parts like Man Joh. 4. 24. God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth Rom. 1. 22. 23. They became fools and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an Image made like to corruptible Man God is most Wise Rom. 16. 27. To God only wise be glory through Jesus Christ for ever Amen God is most Powerful Psal 62. 11. God hath spoken once twice have I heard this that power belongeth unto God God is Righteous Psal 119. 137. Righteous art thou O Lord and upright are thy Judgments God is Merciful Psal 103 8 11. The Lord is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy As the Heaven is high above the Earth so great is his Mercy towards them that fear him God is the whole Worlds Creator Rev. 4. 11. Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power for Thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created God is the Worlds Governour Psal 103. 19. His Kingdom ruleth over all Q. 2. Are there more Gods tha● One A. God is but One yet he is distinguished into Father Son and Holy Ghost who have the same Eternal Power and Godhead and concur in the work of Mans Salvation God is but One yet he is distinguished into Father Son and Holy Ghost 1 John 5. 7. There are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are One. Baptism that is in the Name of the true God is in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Mat. 28. 19. The Son has the same Godhead and Power with the Father Rom. 9. 5. Of whom as concerning the Flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever The Holy Ghost is likewise God Acts 5. 3 4. Why hath Satan filled thy Heart to Lie unto the Holy Ghost Thou hast not Lied unto Man but unto God The Father concurs in the work of Mans Salvation John 3. 16. For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life The Son concurs in the Saving of Man Luke 2. 11. Vnto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord. The Holy Ghost concurs in this work of Saving John 3. 5. Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Q. 3. In what Estate did God at first Create Man A. God created Man after his own Image having true Knowledge and Holiness and Dominion over the Creatures and enter'd into a Covenant of Life with him upon condition of perfect obedience God created Man after his own Image Gen. 1. 27. So God created man in his own Image in the Image of God created he him male and female created he them The Image of God did lye in Knowledge Col. 3. 10. And have put on that new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of Him that created him The Image of God does lye in Holiness Eph. 4. 24. And that ye put on that new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness The Image of God lyes also in Dominion over the Creatures Psal 8. 5 6. Thou madest him a little lower than the Angels and Crownedst him with Glory and Honour and madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands God enter'd into a Covenant of life with Man upon condition of perfect obedience Rom. 10. 5. The Man that doth those things shall live by them Q. 4. Did Man continue in this blessed state in which he was created A. The first Man Adam sinn'd in eating the forbidden Fruit and all his Posterity sinn'd in him are Born the Children of wrath derive from Him a corrupted Nature being backward to good and prone to evil The first Man was Adam 1 Cor. 15. 45. The first Man Adam was made a living Soul Adam sinn'd in eating the forbidden Fruit. Gen. 3. 6. The Woman took of the fruit thereof and did eat and gave also to her Husband with her and he did eat All his Posterity being represented by him sinn'd in him Rom. 5. 19. By one Mans disobedience many were made sinners his Posterity though never so many All are Born the Children of wrath consider'd as Adam's Children Eph. 2. 3. And were by nature the Children of wrath even as others Rom. 5. 18. By the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation All derive from Adam a corrupted nature Eph. 4. 22. The old Man or Adam is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts All naturally are backward to good prone to evil Rom. 8. 7. The carnal man is enmity against God and is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can it be Gen. 6. 5. God saw that the wickedness of Man was great in the Earth and that

my days to grant me no more Sabbaths nor indeed any longer space for repentance Q. 23. Art thou now willing to sanctifie the Lords day to attend upon those Ministers that preach as being in good earnest that speak most to the Consciences of their Hearers and are desirous and wise to win Souls A. These above all I have hated but all the while I did so I now perceive I had no true love unto my self Q. 24. Dost thou consent to submit unto the easie yoak of Christs commands as well as desire pardon and reconciliation by his Blood And dost thou look upon it as unreasonable to hope to be saved by Christ if thou art resolved that Sin and the Devil shall still rule thee A. The wages of Sin is Death why should I serve such a Lord any longer Oh that I may become a Servant indeed to the best Lord of All. Q. 25. Art thou willing to be a true Convert unto God To have thy Eyes turned to look to him Thy Feet turned to walk in all his ways And thy Heart turned to love and fear and cleave unto Him A. Lord turn thou me and then I even I as bad as I have been shall indeed be turned The Conscience of the Young Man who is vain in his Youth is to be dealt with after this manner Q. 1. O young Man thou rejoicest in thy youth and seemest void of care and fear What is the ground of this thy joy A. I walk after the sight of my Eyes and in the way to which my heart is inclined and the fulfilling of my youthful Lusts is very pleasant Q. 2. But is not thy Creator to be remembred in the days of thy youth And is not his service infinitely better than to have thy Lusts thy Lords A. I reckon it time enough to think of God when I am old Q. 3. How dost thou know thou shalt live to be old A. I find Nature in me vigorous and strong And now what is gratifying to my Senses puts me into a transport of joy Mirth and Musick delight my Ear Meats and Drinks do please my apperite Brave Apparel is my Pride Sports and Recreations are my principal business and Amorous Thoughts and Desires are constant Guests which my heart entertains with wonderful complacency My mind aspires to worldly greatness and I hope to be somebody before I die Q. 4. Why dost thou not consider that the hour of Death may be near notwithstanding the strength of Nature and that many as young and lusty as thy self and who as confidently reckoned upon longer life have been by the small Pox or Feaver or some other malady or by unexpected accident suddenly sent unto their graves A. Pray don't talk of Death 't is a melancholick subject which I don't care to hear or think of Q. 5. But will the putting of Death out of thy mind be any defence against its stroke or keep Death off from thee A. To think much of Death would make life miserable it would be a torturing of ones self and a dying every day Q. 6. But if thou livest so as that to die will be gain to thee will the thoughts of Death be unpleasant then A. I have no inclination at all to change my course of life Q. 7. Why shouldst thou resolve to live a fool deceived and enslaved by thy lusts and pleasures and to venture dying miserably A. Pray let me alone I am not sensible of any bondage I am under I live a merry life and an ounce of mirth is better than a pound of sorrow Q. 8. If an ounce of carnal mirth which may so quickly end and end in endless sorrow be of so much account with thee what is a far more exceeding and eternal weight of joy and glory A. That joy is unsuitable to me That Man methinks spake very good sense who said Soul take thine ease eat drink and be merry thou hast Goods laid up for many years Q. 9. Does not God call that Man a Fool And did not Death which came to him many years sooner than he expected prove him to be both Fool and Wretched And did not Hell make him sensible of his folly when it was too late A. I dislike the thoughts of death but much more of what is to follow after Q. 10. Is it not a Lesson that the Wise man would teach the Young man Eccles 11. 9. But know that for all these things God will bring thee to Judgment A. I dread that day and cannot endure to think of the account I am then to give to Him that is to be my Judge Q. 11. Not thinking of Judgment does it not make thee secure and careless in making ready for it And hereupon will not thy account be with the greater grief and horrour A. I am sorry I have entred upon this discourse if once these things come to have a deep and abiding impression upon my heart I must bid farewel to all my joy and sorrow must fill up the remainder of my days Q. 12. Why dost thou suffer thy self to be deceived and abused Is not a greater joy to be preferr'd before a less A true and lasting joy before that which is but a shadow a dream and vanishes in a moment A. I cannot conceive that Religion should ever prove such a pleasant thing to me Q. 13. Why then does the Scripture speak of strong consolation Of a peace that passes all understanding Of a joy unexpressible and full of glory A. These strong comforts and joys seem to me to be but strong phancies and meer imaginations Q. 14. Hast thou not reason to say so of thy sinful Comforts But pray consider Is it not God the great Creator of all things which has put into the creatures that power they have to delight thy senses And cannot He himself infinitely more delight thy Soul A. Spiritual pleasures are things I do not understand I have had a deal of satisfaction in the delights that are fleshly Q. 15. Dost thou think the Holy Angels have no pleasure because they have no flesh How full of Torment are the Devils though they have no bodily senses to be tormented And have not the elect Angels though they have no bodies a far higher delight in God than a body is capable of A. I confess I have not minded my Soul which is a Spirit but have pleased my senses and my fancy as if there were no higher happiness Q. 16. While thou hast thus pleased thy bruitish part for Beasts have senses which they please hast thou not shewed thy self rather a Brute than either Saint or Man A. You intimate that to be a Saint is to act with the greatest reason But I would fain enjoy my sensual pleasures a little longer and afterwards I am for repenting and turning Saint indeed Q. 17. God who commands thy turning to him and turning Saint does he not command thee to do it presently Does not the Holy Ghost say To day if ye