Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	ghost_n	holy_a	trinity_n	3,214	5	9.7060	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53700	Gospel grounds and evidences of the faith of God's elect shewing : I. The nature of true saving faith, in securing of the spiritual comfort of believers in this life, is of the highest importance, II. The way wherein true faith doth evidence it self in the soul and consciences of believers, unto their supportment and comfort, under all their conflicts with sin, in all their tryals and temptations, III. Faith will evidence it self, by a diligent, constant endeavour to keep it self and all grace in due exercise, in all ordinances of divine worship, private and publick, IV. A peculiar way whereby true faith will evidence it self, by bringing the soul into a state of repentance / by John Owen ...	Owen, John, 1616-1683.	1695 (1695)	Wing O759; ESTC R9544	55,512	98

ver 7. There are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one The Trinity of Divine Persons acting distinctly in the Unity of the same Divine Nature do give this Testimony And they do so by these distinct Operations whereby they act in this way and work of God's saving Sinners by Jesus Christ which are at large declared in the Gospel And there is added hereunto a Testimony that is immediately applicatory unto the Souls of Believers of this Soveraign Testimony of the Holy Trinity and this is the witness of Grace and all sacred Ordinances There are three that bear witness on Earth the Spirit and the Water and the Blood and these three agree in one ver 8. They are not all essentially the same in one and the same Nature as are the Father Word and Holy Ghost yet they all absolutely agree in the same Testimony and they do it by that especial Efficacy which they have on the Souls of Believers to assure them of this Truth In this Record so solemnly so gloriously given and proposed Life and Death are set before us The Receiving and Embracing of this Testimony with an Approbation of the way of Salvation testified unto is that Work of Faith which secures us of Eternal Life On these Terms there is Reconciliation and Agreement made and established between God and Men without which Men must perish for ever SO our Blessed Saviour affirms This is Life eternal that we may know thee Father the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Joh. 17. 3. To know the Father as the only true God to know him as he hath sent Jesus Christ to be the only way and means of the Salvation of Sinners and to know Jesus Christ as sent by him for that end is that Grace and Duty which enstates us in a Right unto Eternal Life and initiates us in the Possession of it And this includes that Choice and Approbation of the way of God for the saving of Sinners whereof we speak BUT these things must be more distinctly opened 1. THE Great fundamental Difference in Religion is concerning the way and means whereby Sinners may be saved From Mens different Apprehensions hereof arise all other Differences about Religion And the first thing that engageth men really into any Concernment in Religion is an Enquiry in their Minds how Sinners may be saved or what they shall do themselves to be saved What shall we do What shall we do to be saved What is the way of Acceptance with God is that Enquiry which gives Men their first Initiation into Religion See Acts 2. 37. of Chap. 16. 30. Micah 6. 6 7 8. THIS Question being once raised in the Conscience an Answer must be returned unto it I will consider saith the Prophet what I shall answer when I am reproved Hab. 2. 1. And there is all the Reason in the World that Men consider well of a Good Answer hereunto without which they must perish for ever For if they cannot answer themselves here how do they hope to answer God hereafter Wherefore without a sufficient Answer always in Readiness unto this Enquiry no Man can have any Hopes of a Blessed Eternity NOW the real Answer which Men return unto themselves is according to the Influence which their Minds are under from one or other of the two Divine Covenants that of Works or that of Grace And these two Covenants taken absolutely are inconsistent and gives Answers in this Case that are directly contradictory to one another So the Apostle declares Rom. 10. 5 6 7 8 9. The one says the man that doth the Works of the Law shall live by them this is the only way whereby you may be saved The other wholly waves this Return and puts it all on Faith in Christ Jesus Hence there is great Difference and great Variety in the Answers which men return to themselves on this Enquiry for their Consciences will neither hear nor speak any thing but what complys with the Covenant whereunto they do belong These things are reconciled only in the Blood of Christ and how the Apostle declared Rom. 8. 3. The greatest part of Convinced Sinners seem to adhere to the Testimony of the Covenant of Works and so perish for ever Nothing will stand us instead in this matter nothing will save us but the Answer of a good Conscience towards God by the Resurection of Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. 3. 21. 2. THE way that God hath prepared for the saving of Sinners is a Fruit and Product of Infinite Wisdom and powerfully Essicacious unto its End As such it is to be received or it is rejected It is not enough that we admit of the Notions of it as declared unless we are sensible of Divine Wisdom and Power in it so as that it may be safely trusted unto Hereon upon the Proposal of it falls out the eternally distinguishing Difference among Men. Some look upon it and embrace it as the Power and Wisdom of God Others really reject it as a thing foolish and weak not meet to be trusted unto hereof the Apostle gives an Account at large 1 Cor. 1. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24. And this is mysterious in Religion the same Divine Truth is by the same way and means at the same time proposed unto sundry Persons all in the same Condition under the same Circumstances all equally concerned in that which is proposed therein Some of them hereon do receive it embrace it approve of it and trust unto it for Life and Salvation others despise it reject it value it not trust not unto it To the one it is the Wisdom of God and the Power of God to the other Weakness and Foolishness as it must of necessity be one or the other it is not capable of a middle State or Consideration It is not a good way unless it be the only way it is not a safe it is not the best way if there be any other for it is eternally inconsistent with any other It is the Wisdom of God or it is down-right Folly And here after all our Disputes we must resort unto eternal Soveraign Grace making a Distinction among them unto whom the Gospel is proposed and the Almighty Power of actual Grace in Curing that Unbelief which blinds the minds of Men that they can see nothing but Folly and Weakness in Gods way of the saving of Sinners And this Unbelief worketh yet in the most of them unto whom this way of God is proposed in the Gospel They receive it not as an Effect of Infinite Wisdom and as powerfully Essicacious unto its proper End Some are profligate in the Service of their Lusts and regard it not unto whom may be applied that of the Prophet Hear ve Despisers and wonder and perish Some are under the Power of Darkness and Ignorance so as that they apprehend not they understand not the Mystery of it For the Light shineth

unto him in all the Acts and Duties of spiritual Life This is that whereby the Holy Ghost is in them a Well of Water springing up into Everlasting Life Joh. 4. 14. It is the Spirit that is born of the Spirit it is the divine Nature whereof we are made partakers by the Promises It is a Principle of victorious Faith and Love with all Graces any way requisite unto Duties of Holy Obedience as to the matter or manner of their Performance enabling the Soul unto all the Acts of the Life of God with Delight Joy and Complacency THIS it is in its Nature however as unto Degrees of its Operation and Manifestation it may be very low and weak in some true Believers at least for a Season But there are none who really are so but there is in them a spiritually vital Principle of Obedience or of living unto God that is participant of the Nature of that which we have described and if it be attended unto it will evidence it self in its Power and Operations unto the Gracious Refreshment and Satisfaction of the Soul wherein it is and there are few who are so destitute of those Evidences but that they are able to say whereas I was blind now I see tho' I know not how my Eyes were opened whereas I was dead I find motions of a new Life in me in breathing after Grace in hungring and thirsting after Righteousness though I know not how I was quickned 3. IT may be considered as unto its Disposition Inclinations and Motions these are the first Actings of a vital Principle As the first Actings of Sin are called the Motions of sin working in our Members Rom. 7. 5. Such Motions and Inclinations unto Obedience do work in the minds of Believers from this principle of Holiness It produceth in them a constant invariable Disposition unto all Duties of the Life of God It is a new Nature and a Nature cannot be without suitable Inclinations and Motions And this new spiritual Disposition consists in a constant Complacency of Mind in that which is good and according to the Will of God in an Adherence by Love unto it in a Readiness and Fixedness of Mind with Respect unto particular Duties In Brief it is that which David describes in the 119th Psalm throughout and that which is siguratively foretold concerning the Efficacy of the Grace of the Gospel in Changing the Natures and Dispositions of those that are Partakers of it Isa. 11. 6 7 8. THIS every Believer may ordinarily find in himself for although this Disposition may be variously weakned opposed interrupted by in-dwelling Sin and the Power of Temptation though it may be impaired by a neglect of the stirring up and exercise of the Principle or spiritual Life in all requisite Graces on all Occasions yet it will still be working in them and will fill the mind with a constant Displacency with it self when it is not observed followed improved No Believer shall ever have Peace in his own Mind who hath not some Experience of an universal Disposition unto all Holiness and Godliness in his Mind and Soul Herein consists that Love of the Law of which it is said those in whom it is have great Peace and nothing shall offend them Psal. 119. 165. It is that wherein their Souls find much Complacency 4. IT may be considered with Respect unto all the Acts Duties and Works internal and external wherein our actual Obedience doth consist Being on the Principles mentioned made free from Sin and becoming the Servants of God Believers herein have their Fruit unto Holiness whereof the end is everlasting Life Rom. 6. 22. This I need not stay to describe Sincerity in every Duty and Universality with respect unto all Duties are the Properties of it THIS is the Will of God even your Sanctification 1 Thessal 4. 3. That Holiness without which none shall see God Heb. 12. 14. That good and acceptable and perfect Will of God which we are to approve Rom. 12. 2. OUR next Enquiry is what is that Approbation of this way of Holiness which we place as an Evidence of saving Faith And I say it is such as ariseth from Experience and is accompanied with Choice Delight and Acquiescency It is the Acting of the Soul in a delightful Adherence unto the whole Will of God It is a resolved Judgment of the Beauty and Excellency of that Holiness and Obedience which the Gospel reveals and requires and that on the Grounds which shall be immediately declared and the Nature thereof therein more fully opened THIS Approbation cannot be in any unregenerate Person who is not under the Conduct of saving Faith who is destitute of the Light of it So the Apostle assures us Rom. 8. 7. The carnal mind is Enmity against God for it is not subject unto the Law of God neither indeed can be Whatever Work it may have wrought in it or upon it yet whilst it is carnal or unrenewed it hath a radical Enmity unto the Law of God which is the frame of Heart which stands in direct Opposition unto this Approbation It may think well of this or that Duty from its Convictions and other Considerations and so attend unto their Performance but the Law it self in the universal Holiness which it requires it doth utterly dislike those in whom it is are alienated from the Life of God through the Ignorance that is in them Eph. 4. 18. This Life of God is that Holiness and Obedience which he requireth of us in their Principles and Duties And to be alienated from it is to dislike and disapprove of it and such is the frame of Mind in all unregenerate Persons HAVING thus prepared the way I return unto the Declaration and Confirmation of the Assertion namely THAT true and saving Faith in all Storms and Temptations in all Darknesses and Distresses will evidence it self unto the Comfort and Supportment of them in whom it is by a constant universal Approbation of the whole Will of God concerning our Holiness and Obedience both in general and in every particular Instance of it WE may a little Explain it 1. FAITH will not suffer the Mind on any Occasion or Temptation to entertain the least Dislike of this way of Holiness or of any thing that belongs unto it The Mind may sometimes through Temptations fall under Apprehensions that one shall be eternally ruined for want of a due Compliance with it this makes it displeased with it self but not with the Obedience required Rom. 7. 10 11 12. The Commandment which was ordained to Life I found to be unto Death but the Law is holy and the Commandment is holy and just and good However it be with me whatever becomes of me though I dye and perish yet the Law is holy just and good It dislikes nothing in the Will of God though it cannot attain unto a Compliance with it Sometimes the Conscience is under Perplexities and Rebukes for Sin sometimes the Mind is burthened