Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	evil_a	good_a	indifferent_a	2,973	5	9.5052	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A19293	A familiar treatise laying downe cases of conscience, furthering to perseuerance in sanctification. By Thomas Cooper, preacher of Gods word.; Converts first love, discerned	Cooper, Thomas, fl. 1626.	1615 (1615)	STC 5700; ESTC S120771	80,590	120

done by God and the case different Feature Adde we hereunto that not only we haue not any president in the Scripture for the like in this case but also this changing of names is practised by such as either in their iudgements or liues or both deny the Lord that hath bought them namely Iesuites Seminaries Theeues Couseners c. For our feature so farre as that may be altered by changing the fashion of the haire beard c. this being but ciuill and differing according to the diuers guise of each nation so no painting or disfiguring abhorring to nature or denied by ciuility and religion be added I see not but this liberty may be vsed in a case of necessity for the preseruation of life so it stand with our callings and tend to Gods glory Apparell may be changed The like we may determine concerning change of apparell as being a ciuill thing and therefore both subiect to a religious end the preseruation of life with a good conscience and also subiect to change according to the diuers guise of nations callings condition and occasion of prosperity or aduersity keeping our selues within the boūds of our Christian liberty becomming all vnto all as to win others so to preserue our selues for their good 1. Phil. as most desirous to be with Christ which is the best of all yet ready to follow the Lord in any good occasion for the preseruation of life to benefit the Saints and make sure our owne election Prouided that we 1. Keepe our selues within the compasse of our religious and ciuill callings Deut. 22. 2. That we change not that which is vsuall to the other sex 3. That wee deny not our profession if this meanes will not conceale vs being demanded particularly 4. That wee simply intend in our preseruation Gods glory for the benefiting of others A fourth occasion of this false imputation that wee haue left our first loue A fourth occasion is the vse of spiritual wisedome in reprouing for sinne is our discretion in reproouing sinne when either wee cease to reproue scorners although our soules doe not cease to weepe in secret for them and our contrary conuersation is a conuiction of them or reproue priuatly and generally If in publike yet making difference of persons in regard of their calling and quality of their sinne sauing some with feare and yet raising vp others with the spirit of meeknesse Gal. 6.1 c. 1. Which imputation how vnjust it is may appeare by the rules of the holy Ghost 1. Tim. 5. 1. Mat. 19. And also 2. By the practise of the Saints Nathan 2. Sam. 12. Paul Compare the practise in reprouing the Church of Corinth first Epistle 11. chap. and the Church of Galat 3. chap. but aboue all the practise of our Sauiour is peerelesse in his different reproofe of the Scribes and Pharises Mat. 23. Luke 11. and of his disciples Mat. 8. Mat. 26.27 A fift occasion of this vniust challenge A fifth occasion is outward and inward afflictions that wee may loose our first loue is when the hand of God lying heauily vpon vs in some outward emptying because our estate is decayed outwardly therefore the world concludes a decay within especially if wee surcease in a measure such dueties of charity wherein before when our cup ouerflowed we abounded towards others 2. Cor. 8.12.13 Which by this may appeare to be most vnrighteous because it is the purpose of the heart which God respects which may bee no lesse open to our brother though our purse bee straitned yea beeing scanted of this outward deuotion A sixth occasion is the hohonest prouision for our families 1. Tim. 5. may be more enlarged in spirituall almes to procure mercy for the soule and contentment in all estates Act 3.6 A sixth occasion there is also of this false imputation when we rectifie our charity by wisedome to our selues so distributing to others as that we prouide for our owne lest we be worse then infidels and so louing our neighbour as that wee prooue not cruell to our selues so diuiding to others that wee preferre the houshold of faith Gal. 6.10 both doing the best good and as wee may continue and hold out longest therein For which seeing we haue the warrant of the holy Ghost as we ought to auoyd all appearance of this euil by moderation in our procuring and vsage of these things so need we not feare hereby any cooling of our loue Onely make we this vse of this vniust imputation as to suspect our selues inregard of our carnal loue and to try our abyding in the loue of God by such a loue vnto our selues as may prouide for the flesh to the humbling and mortifying of the same as may further our selues and others to those durable riches which are at the right hand of our God for euermore A seuenth occasion to this vniust challenge that we haue lost our first loue is the vse of our Christian liberty in things indifferent Act. 10. Rom. 14. 1. Cor. 3. 2. Tim 4.5 Tit. 1.15 Lastly wee may be falsely charged to haue left our first loue When encreasing of knowledge of our right in Iesur Christ and from him in these outward things wee take liberty for the vse of some things which before wee refrained as being either not informed or not throughly resolued concerning them either because they are indifferent and so are all ours in Christ and being sanctified by the word and prayer may be lawfully vsed seeing to the pure all things are pure Or else being simply good are now of conscience to bee embraced and cheerefully practised that they may further vs to the chiefest good Which how false an imputation it is seeing the rules of the Word and practise of the Saints haue made good 1. Cor. 9. Gal. 2. c. Therefore let vs feare the cooling of our loue The right vse of Christian liberty in things indifferent Phil. 1.9 in the vse of this liberty so that our consciences be perswaded and practise warranted by these rules namely first 1. That the meanes of our encrease in knowledge be the word of trueth not the authority of man 2. That wee be able to discerne betweene things that differ not stumbling as euil things vnder the pretence of indifferencie not subiecting things simply good to the nature of things indifferent making the necessary worship of God a matter of indifferency as the preaching of the Gospell catechising fasting c. yea thrusting out the substance of holinesse for the complement thereof That as wee despise not order so it further true deuotion so we rest not in the outside and make an idole of bodily seruice Rom. 14.1 Philip. 9.10 3. That in this liberty we offend not our Christian brother neither the Magistrate by refusing what hee lawfully imposeth nor the weake brother Rom 13. by not informing him in the true vse of these things or vsing what may justly giue occasion

a yeerely remembrance for that great deliuerance from the gunpowder Treason and doth the glorious Lord still giue new occasions to reuiue that great deliuerance Are not his mercies renued euery morning vnto his so great is his faithfulnesse and shall not we renew our thankfulnesse by renewing our repentance Shall wee not remember from whence wee are fallen by remembring from whence we haue been deliuered that so we may iustifie the free mercie of our God in our great deliuerances and renewing our right in Iesus Christ that so we may recouer our first loue and be enabled to walke worthy of the mercies of our God in strengthening the things that are readie to die and continuing with all patience and perseuerance that no man take away our Crowne from vs Are not our earthly Crownes often shaken that so we may bee sure of the heauenly inheritance which cannot bee shaken that so we may hasten from this prison to that citie which is aboue And hath not our gratious God giuen vs euen Eagles wings that we may mount vp from the loue of this world that we may flie away from the entising vanities theeof so come to that eternall rest May we not liue by faith in the experience of these so strange and vnexpected deliuerances that he which hath deliuered doth all still deliuer vs yea for his Names sake will deliuer vs from all vnreasonable men yea from euery euill worke that so we may be made meet for that glorious inheritance And shall not this litle sparke yeeld some light hereunto till the depth of mischiefe being further discouered the candle may be lighted and set vp vpon the hill to direct all to come out of Babylon to further the Saints in their iourney to the heauenlie Ierusalem surely as it pleaseth God to lend oportunity and libertie so shall I not be wanting by Gods grace from that light to kindle such a torch that may either burne vp all the stubble of Popery or else may sufficientlie warne vs to auoid the danger thereof Meane while I haue thought good to take this occasion to maintain the soundnes of our spirituall standing and recouery out of any decayes therein that so wee may bee thereby fitted to those further mercies which the Lord hath in store for vs. And seeing it hath pleased God to make you instruments beloued of my setling in the Citie and exercise of my calling I haue accounted it my duetie to consecrate these first fruits of my setled labours vnto you beseeching the Lord to giue you vnderstanding in all things and to preserue you blamelesse and vnspotted in these euill times vnto the day of Iesus Christ to whose gratious protection I doe most hartily commend you resting in him Your worships poore remembrancer at the throne of Grace THOMAS COOPER TO THE CHRISTIAN READER WISDOME TO DISCERNE HIS Estate aright and grace to grow forward to perfection BEloued in the Lord Iesus it is a most dangerous and yet very easie and plausible delusion to conceit vnto our selues an estate in grace when as yet we remain the bond slaues of Satan And it is a very difficult and yet most necessarie triall to discerne our constant abiding and proceeding in this estate of grace For to passe by these who make a mocke of conuersion as being a touch of noueltie a brand of inconstancie and imputation of hypocrisie who is there almost that flatters not himselfe to bee in the fauour of God and so interessed in his grace And hath hee not many such pretences and colours hereunto which may so abuse his iudgement Galat. 6.5 that he may thinke himselfe to bee somewhat when he is nothing and so refusing to bee found in Christ by being lost and emptied in himselfe thereby become worse then nothing Better neuer to haue beene borne then so to be deceiued Oh how the wisedome of the flesh prooues heere enmitie against God! Rom. 8.7 Iohn 9 43. Occasions to conceiue a false conuersion 1. Complexion 2. Natures impotencie Is not this the iudgement vpon the world that they which see not might see and that they which see might bee made blinde Consider first I pray you how nature occasions this deceit Is any lesse badlie disposed by the benefit of his complexion Is any restrained from some act of euill by natures impotencie and deformitie Behold euen these to the naturall man prooue very dangerous stumbling blockes to rest in nature as affoording some shew of good more then is of others of an harder constitution as breaking out lesse into grosse euils then such who by natures ability are more prone and prouoked thereto and so to reiect the holy meanes of conuersion and is it not esteemed a sufficient measure of goodnesse to bee lesse euill then others howsoeuer the desire and fountaine of corruption be the same in all Is not the seeming good which by natures benefit shewes foorth in the world accounted currant holinesse and thereby excludeth the true power of well-doing For is this any more then what brute beasts may boast of Is the heart lesse euill because the hand cannot act nay is it not more rebellious the lesse it hath it desire do not such wish for and talke delightfully of what they cannot doe will they not sport themselues in others that can do the same will they not take their fill if power be restored or is the heart the better because through benefite of complexion we are ingenuous sociable c. are not these fitter matter for Satan to worke on to draw vs into fellowship in euill to make vs instruments to deceiue our selues and others 3. Education Especially if to this shew of natures righteousnesse Education be adioyned whereby the minde being informed in knowledge and restrained by ciuilitie natures euill is heereby more kept vnder and it seeming good set out more saleable and beautious to the sinister iudgement howsoeuer now nature being puft vp hereby hath gained no other then a weapon of vnrighteousnesse to fight against God and his word to commit sinne more dangerously by how much it is enabled to couch it more closely and smooth it more cunuingly yet this with the world passeth for a currant conuersion Must we not onely not doe euill but also doe good and can wee doe any good of our selues vntill we be in Christ and will we hunger of Christ vntill we deny our selues especially if some such change now appeare in the outward man whereby wee may either differ from the rudenesse and grosse abuses of our parents or differ from the barbarous and desperate sprouts of our childhood and vntamed youth Is it not hence conceiued that we are now conuerted seeing now our childish and youthfull vanities are restrained seeing wee are growne more sober and regular although all tends to no better then ciuill honestie to fit vs for the world that so we may more hopefully and easily swallow the baites thereof although when wee are from vnder the