Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	law_n	sin_n	sin_v	3,553	5	9.3146	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10824	The anatomie of a distressed soule Wherein, the faults of the elect,are discerned from the sinnes of the wicked, spirituall defections cured, confused consciences resolued, all meanes of presumption and desperation remoued, the sicknesse, dulnesse, and deadnesse of the spirit releeued, crosses and temptations inward, and afflictions outward remedied, for the benefite of all that groane vnder the burthen of sinne, and feeling of Gods anger, thirsting for the sense of reconciliation in the blood of the lambe.	Robertson, Bartholomew, fl. 1620.	1619 (1619)	STC 21096; ESTC S100444	64,335	297

then defence or excuse then boasting of it and this is the wickeds chayre and steps to hell then be ashamed to thinke that thou art ashamed to speake for I see thy heart and thoughts know what thou art striue against them and if they yet remaine haue indignation of them feare and cry to mee that thou art troubled with them and I will ease thee for iustly doe I challenge thy heart who gaue my Sonnes heart to be pierced for thee thus thou must obey against thine inclination and naturall reason For what is faith but a contrariety to reason and hope to experience and lay not downe thine owne conclusions I am wel pleased with thy intents which prepare thy heart to seeke mee the seeds of all sinnes are in euery mans heart which would appeare if I suppressed them not the tongue is a worlde of wickednesse what is the heart then out of whose aboundance the mouth speaketh Soule I know that in mee that is in this flesh there dwelleth no goodnesse but euery good and perfect gift is from aboue from thee the father of lights open my eyes I beseech thee that I may see the maruellous things in thy law I cannot leaue alas my sinne I haue vsed it so often and so long it is so plyable to my nature that I would rather lose my life hauing long accustomed it then now cease from it and yet I am now and then tormented with the memory of it my conscience is a snare to mee yea an assize a bench a iudge a iaylour yea a hangman it selfe to me and whither shall I flie poor wretch Lord. It is good to learne thy inward corruptions by thy outward senses thy sense leades thee to sinne because thy heart leadeth thy sense thy corruption hath stolen away thy heart for outward senses bewray thy inward affections therefore Christ will neuer bee sweet vntill thou see yea and feele in experience thy naturall corruption for none can hunger for righteousnesse except hee feele himselfe empty and wanting thereof and where there is an exceeding hunger there must bee an exceeding feeling as a feeble and small hunger had the like feeling comforte then thy selfe in that thou feelest the impurenesse of thy heart and want of vprightnesse and deadnesse to all goodnesse for the feeling of their wants is quicknesse and liuing and this quicknesse and life is by my spirit in thee and where my spirit is there is life euerliuing which is regeneration or life euerlasting the more thou doest feele the one the more deepely doest thou weigh the feeling of thy confused estate by which thou findest comfort in sorrow great light in darknesse and in this that thou both sighest and groanest for the hardnes of thy heart it is a testimony that thy hart is not altogether hardned for if thou feelest this in thy selfe that thou desirest to loue mee and to bee better being wearied and toyled with sinne comfort thy selfe for it is in earnest of regeneration for difference betwixt a motion to euill and consent to it for the body of sinne wicked motions and affecons shall neuer bee out of thee while thou liue thou must not onely striue to presse out the breath of sin and close vp the eyes of it at the death of it but to follow it to the graue and couer it that it neuer rise for this is to ouercome and receiue the crowne not that the life of sinne can be here destroyed but may well be weakened as the mangled part of a Serpent cut in peeces haue not that power to hurt as when it was whole so corruptiō hath not siercenesse to preuayle against thee how-soeuer the reliques thereof remaine but like a mighty Prince which is become a poore prisoner Soule I by reason of my olde custome in sinne doe often yeelde to tentations I doe not abound more and more in wisedome and goodnes but rather perseuere in sinne and rebellion Lord thou knowest and I feare vnlesse thy mercy be the greater the sentence of my conscience which is thy register and my remembrancer the wicked may bee secure but neuer in safety Lord. Custome is worse a hundred folde then nature and doth greatly preuaile with my dearest children Ioseph a good man beeing among prophane men had some smell of their wordes and lied The Sodomites by their vniust conuersation vexed Lots righteous soule yet hee could haue found in his heart to liue still amongst them therefore there is nothing more fit then to auoid all occasions of sinne and to procure honest things both in the sight of God man and then in all actions to auoide euill thou must learne to keepe that which is good and abstaine from all appearance of euill bee sure it be good thou doest but if it haue but a shew of euill auoide it and if it be an ill fauoured thing to see to flie it If thou heare threatnings and tremble heare promises and beleeue pray in wants be thankfull for mercies and with reuerence receiue Sacraments they keep thee from falling and recouer thee when thou art fallen it goeth wel with thee to prosper and thriue in sinne is a signe of my wrath as the childe that the father hateth is giuen ouer to be ruled by his owne pleasure but I chastise my children whom I loue that they should not be condemned with the world again thou wilt neuer leaue sinne vntill thou knowe sinne to be sinne and be truely sorrowfull for it presse to resist the first motions of sin for one breedeth many it is hard to get out of the clawes of the diuell thou canst without great danger touch the young thorne dallie with the young bore and carry a young Serpent but if these bee olde thou knowest the danger cut the thorne in the roote mussle the boare bruise the head of the Serpent yea destroy it in the very egge before it be hatcht by the fall of others in sinne thou maist be taught to stand and rise if thou be fallen and as cōcerning the accusation of thy conscience thou speakest of thou shalt neuer labour to leaue sinne so long as thou art quiet in minde vntill thou be stricken with feare or cast downe with iudgements then if thou looke to my highest maiesty offended by sinne the benefits which bound thee to doe my will how neare thy sinnes pierce mee the purpose and ende thou tendest to in sinne the time and place of transgression last if thou see the loathsomenesse and deformity of sinne for that a stinching carrion is more tolerable to the sent then a sinfull soule vnto me if thou narrowly consider how huge and detestable thy sins will seeme for by them thou art made like vnto the diuell himself I haue imprinted naturally in all a condemnation of sinne that euen committing it thou shouldest condemne it in thy selfe and be ashamed of it before others wo vnto them that are depriued

which delay from time to time to turn to the Sauiour of mankinde which haue made a couenant with death and with hell are at agreement though a scourge run ouer and passe thorough it shall not come say they at vs for we haue made falshood our refuge and vnder vanity are wee hid but what followeth hereon hey falling from the bridge of their vaine hope and Satan that deceiued them shall be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone then shall they with great griefe say to the mountaines and rockes fall vpon vs and hide vs from the presence of him that sitteth vpon the throne and from the wrath of the lamb for the great day of his wrath is come and who can stand yes truely they will wish any thing fall rather vpon them then that they should fall into that lake O but can a Lambe wax angry yea the more patient and slow the Lord is to punish sinne the more irefull he is when in spite hee is prouoked to his face which the very Saincts of God haue wisely fore-seen O Lord rebuke mee not in thine anger saith hee neither chastise mee in thy wrath and the Prophet Lord correct mee but with iudgement not in thy anger least thou bring me to nothing and no maruell for euen the Angels in that vision had the face of a man and of a lion euen as they were taught of the Lord hee had the face of a lambe to take away the sinnes of the world yea and the face of a lion to punish the sins of the world for this is the day of grace and acceptable time wherein mercy is offered to the penitent which being neglected and contemned in his day the day I say of the Lord hee will vtter cruelty wherefore the Prophet saith woe be vnto them that desire the day of the Lord what haue you to doe with the day of the Lord it is darknesse and not light but the godly contrarily desire the time to bee at hand and therefore doe earnestly craue the appearance of the Lord Iesus saying euen so come Lord Iesus come and tarry not which the wicked doe tauntingly and scornefully vtter but as Sampson was reuenged on the Philistims who iested at him so beholde here is a stronger one then Sampson for now by mercy hee is a man that is sometime to be a lyon and the man is that lambe that taketh away the sinnes of the repentant but then the lyon shall be to the wilfull and stubborne sinner a boare to teare them in peeces And thus God suffereth with long patience the vessels of wrath prepared to destruction and to declare the riches of his glory vpon the vessels of mercy which hee had prepared vnto mercy Cast not away therfore beloued thy confidence which hath great recompence of rewarde for thou hast need of patience that after thou hast done the will of God thou maiest receiue the crowne and be not one of them which with-drawe themselues to perdition but be of faith to the saluation of thy soule if thou cast thy selfe downe humbly at his feet water thy couch in thy earnest repentance with teares if thou shalt with all thy soule aske mercy and forgiuenesse God cannot deny himselfe hee is faithfull and will forgiue euen for his owne Sonnes blood as of a lambe without ipot and blemish let all them which are redeemed thus refuse all things in regarde thereof and cast downe their crownes before his feete confessing them to haue beene and now are most vnprofitable seruants and hee will put away their transgressions as a clowde and like a mist O turne vs vnto thee O Lord for thou art our Sauiour waken vs that we may strengthen the things which remaine that are ready to die before our wickednes be full and time of recouery past so shalt thou redeeme our life from the graue and crowne vs with mercy and compassions and thereafter bestow on vs the crowne of righteousnesse layed vp for vs which the Lord the righteous iudge shall giue vs at that day not to vs only but vnto all them also that loue his appearance wee shall euen receiue I say that incorruptible crowne of glory at the appearance of of our chiefe shepheard not for the works of righteousnesse which wee haue done for our best are but glistering sins but for his owne bountifulnesse and loue of his meer mercy fauour and grace to vs which walke in the spirit and do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh for he that soweth in the flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reape life euerlasting let vs then bee renewed in the spirit of our minde and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnes and holinesse haue the worlde crucified to vs and vs to the world yea that we may liue vnto God bee crucified with Christ and may in all soundnesse of minde say I liue yet not I now but Christ liueth in me and in that I now liue in the flesh I liue by faith in the Sonne of God who hath loued mee and giuen himselfe for mee O that once to conclude wee might thinke all things but losse for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesus our Lord and iudge them but dung that wee may winne Christ setting alwaies our affections on things that are aboue and not on things which are on the earth that beeing dead to sinne our life may bee hidde with God in Christ that when hee that is our life shall appeare we may also appeare with him in glory to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost we render all glory praise maiesty and dominion both now and euer-more Amen A Heauenly Christian caueat whensoeuer or wheresoeuer the Diuell by suggestions the flesh by the corruption thereof or the world by wicked example would allure or entice thee to sinne then seriously bethinke thee and guard thee with these few Articles 1 VVEigh diligently the eternity both of life which is a reward of well-doing as also of death paine for yeelding to the contrary which both are such as the eye hath not seen the eare hath not heard neither yet can enter into the heart of man and shall rather by sense be felt then by iudgement bee vnderstood 2 Remember the nobility worth and dignity of the nature of man how gracious it is in the sight of God while it standeth in grace how abiect vile it is subiect vnder sinne 3 Consider the value of the rest tranquillity and peace of a good mind both with God thy selfe and thy neighbour for while thou sinnest God is against thee to punish thee in doing well Satan is against thee to assault thee 4 Make euery day a recitall of the Lords blessings vpon thee in thy predestination and

art thou that sufferest for righteousnesse sake then feare not the wickeds feare neither bee troubled but count it exceeding ioy when thou fal into diuerse temptations that the tryall of thy faith bringeth forth patience let patience haue her perfect worke that thou may bee perfect and intire wanting nothing that thou may say O Lord thou knowest remember me and visit mee reuenge me of my persecutors take mee not away in the continuance of thine anger for thy sake I haue suffered rebuke to such belongs the kingdome of heauen for it is better if it be the will of God that thou suffer for well doing then for ill doing Thou maiest know and discerne hereof by the sicknesse of thy heart arising of the guiltinesse of sinne which maketh thee suspect all thy waies for the wicked man is continually as one that trauelleth with childe and the number of yeares is hid from the tyrant a sound of feare is in his eares and in his prosperity the destroyer shall come vpon him for thus the wicked may say the thing that I feared is come vpon mee and the thing that I was affraid of is come vnto mee I haue no peace neither had I quietnesse neithr had I rest yet trouble is come thus the sinners feare commeth like sudden desolation and their destruction like a whirlewinde for ease slayeth the foolish and the prosperity of fooles destroieth them impatient they are in aduersity and proud in prosperitie yet that they haue is as a bird in captiuitie which beeing let loose will returne to her owne liberty againe the righteous are escaped out of trouble and the wicked shall come in his steed yea the godly account that the afflictions of this present time are not worthy of the glory which shall be shewed when as the wicked man dieth his hopes perisheth all afflictions end in death and can pursue the Saints no further but I will bring an euerlasting reproach vpon the wicked and a perpetuall shame which shall neuer bee forgotten for sinne not beeing cured in this world endeth not in death for what was in hope recurable finite measurable here becommeth in hell incurable infinite vnmeasurable which makes the godly say how excellent is thy mercie O God therefore the children of men trust vnder the shadowe of thy wings they shall bee satisfied with the fulnesse of thy house and thou shalt giue them drinke out of the riuer of thy pleasures for with thee it is the well of life and in my sight shall they see light and yet neuerthelesse for their manisolde good and because I loue them I chastise them but the wicked are not in trouble as other men are neither are they plagued as other men and when they are raised vp I will despise their image but the godly are alwaies with me I will holde them by my right hand I will guide them by my counsaile and and afterwardes receiue them to glorie Soule Now I clearely perceiue Lord my misery from that corrupt fountaine in mee O what a blessed estate haue I fallen from what a woefull and miserable condition hath the transgression of Adam brought vpon mee a generall infection and corruption of all the powers and faculties of my soule and body my soule alas spiritually 〈◊〉 my minde through ignorance vaine in all the discourses and imaginations thereof the vnderstanding blinde not sauouring the things of God my conscience wounded and neuer soundly peaceable my memorie fit to reckon euill and forget good my will altogether gaine-standing either to chuse or doe good and my affection led by it my conuersation loathsome to God and man my thoughts both infinite and insatiable to euill my members weapons of vnrighteousnesse my best actions the greatest abhominations that minde can thinke or tongue expresse All the mischances of that hereditary pollution and actuall transgression which I am so propense and naturally willing vnto as is the foule to flie or the stone to goe downewarde thou art I know a iust and righteous God who will not iustifie sinners Lord. Be of good comfort sin is transgression of the law I haue decreed a remedy from all eternity promised immediately after the fall and exhibited in the fulnesse of time my Son Iesus Christ to performe a full redemption for thee and all the elect which hee performed in obedience to mee the Father in comming to redeeme and take thy nature vpon him made obedient to the lawe in fulfilling it perfectly which thou hadst broken and in vndergoing the punishment due vnto thee in obedience I say in humility at his natiuity and whole life suffering all the miseries that sin had drawne vpon thee in his body hunger colde pouerty c. in soule ignorance temptation faintnes and then his death the paines wee had deserued but specially in his soule griefe for the sinnes of the worlde when hee pleadeth himselfe before my iudgement seate as guilty for thee who had neede of his owne creatures the Angels to comfort him withdrawing of the Diety for the present my curse vpon him for sinne the power of Sathan preuailing for a time the horror of beeing ouerwhelmed with my heauy wrath for thee his detaining vnder the power sorrowes of death these and much more done in his humaine nature accompanied with the merit and efficacie of the diuine nature made them meritorious for thy saluation beleeue in him and thou shalt passe from death to life Soule O well is mee that the curse of the lawe is deriued from mee vnto Christ that my nature beeing crusifyed with him corruption in it may bee abolished not to serue sinne hereafter that hand writing of my sinne is cancelled and shall not come to remembrance before thee the spots of my soule purged by his blood by the which the eternall testimony of grace is ratefied vnto mee now sin and death and the diuell that hath the rule of death is destroyed thou hast deere Iesus not onely not beene holden by the sorrowes of death but also hath obtained a glorious conquest by thy resurrection ouer all thy enemies Satan power of hell and sinne in taking away his sting and guiltinesse thereof the rage and fury of the same in weakening the force and eating out the corruption thereof death it selfe also and the dominion thereof by the same meanes are subdued and in the place of these there is recouered vnto vs the fauour of our GOD whose children we are become in Iesus Christ who giueth faith peace of conscience and ioy in the holy Ghost vnto them whereby they become fruitfull to all good works and in the end ceasing from all sinne by him do attaine eternall glorie in the heauens Lord. Yea and in heauen thou shalt be deliuered from all sorrow haue perfect knowledge with me perfect righteousnesse and holinesse neuer to be changed

tabernacles we may receiue the end of our faith euen the saluation of our soules now the very God of peace sanctifie vs throughout and wee beseech God that our whole spirit soule and body may be kept blamelesse both this day and vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holy Spirite three persons in one Godhead we ascribe all honour maiesty dominion power for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for Wednesday Euening LOrd God heauenly Father wee are come here to worshippe and fall downe and kneele before thee our Maker doe heere acknowledge with quaking and trembling soules our wickednesse to be very great and all the imaginatiōs of the thoughts of our hearts are not only euill continually but also wee doe commit sinne in transgressing thy holy law yea the least sinne breaketh the whole law and maketh vs guilty of the wages therof which is eternall death endlesse condemnation O how filthy and loath some is sinne in the greatest pleasure and most ioyful actions thereof by birth wee are altogether tainted defiled and polluted with corruption and vncleanesse who can bring a cleane thing out of filthinesse we are prone and desperately set to commit sinne with greedinesse wee reioyce in doing euill alas we delight and repose our chiefe contentment therein although all the day long thou O deare Lord stretchest forth thy hand vnto vs disobedient and gaine-saying people who hate to bee reformed and pluckt out of sin yea our best actions are but beautifull sinnes wee are all vncleane things and all our righteousnesse is as filthie clouts and wee all doe fade as a leafe and our iniquities like the winde haue carried vs away and we know good Lord that hee that committeth sinne is of the Diuell for the Diuell sinned from the beginning but for this purpose appeared thy Son O God that hee might loose the workes of the Diuell who was to that effect decreed from all eternity promised immediately after our fall in Adam but when the fulnesse of time was come thou O most mercifull father sent forth thy Sonne made of a woman and made vnder the lawe that he might redeeme vs that were vnder the lawe that wee might receiue the adoption of thy sonnes who for vs hath obtained a glorious and meritorious conquest his humaine nature being accompanied with the efficacy of that his diuine ouer the curse dominion and rigour of the lawe chaining vppe Satan and destroying for euer the power of hell sin death and condemnation O Lord our God what can wee render vnto thee for so great graces and benefites wee will take the cuppe of thanksgiuing and call vpon thy name O Lord for thy mercies sake grant vs a full assurance of our acceptation into thy fauour through Iesus Christ a constant desire of the promised happinesse that wee may hunger and thirst after righteousnesse a cheerfull expectation and wayting for all these ioyes spirituall blessings thou hast blessed vs with in heauenly places that wee may willingly resigne our selues vnto thy holy obedience embracing those meanes which thou hast offered for our saluation that wee may trust in the and doe good commit our way vnto thee and cast our selues vpon thee when all meanes shall faile and rest in thee yea euen hope in death reuerently depend vpon the truth of thy promises although wee cannot see them as yet accomplished albeit they seem against all sence and reason that this following night wee may not onely meditate of the true life of God day of resurrection and our arising to iudgement to render account for the workes done in our flesh whether they bee good or bad but also may rest in the sweete bosome of thy portection desiring at all times to bee loosed and to bee with Christ euer thinking the time of our departure to be at hand and therefore to fight a good fight to finish our course and keepe the faith that henceforth there may be laid vppe for vs the crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteuos iudge shall giue vs at that day and not vnto vs onely but to all them also that loue his appearing which shall bee cloathed in white array and whose names are written in the booke of life purchased by the blood of our Lord Iesus Christ who treadeth for vs the vine presse alone to whom with thee and the holy Spirit our comforter be all praise power honor and glory Amen A Prayer for Thursday Morning O Eternall God and euerlasting Father we from the bottome of our hearts do thanke thee for thy blessings spirituall and temperall common particular that thou hast predestinated vs before the world begā elected vs to be in thy Christ adopted sons called vs by thy spirit to this light of thy Gospell and giuen vs assurance in faith of thy vnchangeable fauour renewing in some measure this corrupt nature and framing thy image in true righteousnes and holinesse in our inwarde man not making vs not onely capable of grace in the soule of wisedome and spirituall knowledge but also making some conformity in vs to thy will in life and conuersation these blessings wee haue receiued of thee freely beside thy continuall prouidence and ouer-sight ouer vs this night by-past and all the daies of our life Lord enlighten our mindes that wee may know all things in thee and nothing any otherwise then as it commeth from thee and as it hath relation to thee for thou art all things in all all things do exist in thee therefore euery thing may be knowne in thee thou most merciful father known yea seene and felt in euery thing euen in the least and basest creature grant therefore that we doe neuer rest in any thing till wee come to thee and now beholde wee approach to renew that soundnes wherewith wee laide downe that no roote of bitternesse breake out at the first of this day and to prouide for holy and setled courses in our callings all the day after and so begin a-new to liue the daily life of grace that thy kindnesse and mercy may follow vs all the dayes of our life and now haue we laid our selues downe in peace which was thy gift doe awake with the comfort there of thy mercies are renewed euery morning if we should count them they are more then the sand when wee awake we are still with thee good Lord assist vs that wee may daily weaken the olde man in vs with the vitious lusts and sinneful concupiscences thereof giue vs comfortable experience of this our corruption that wee may be the more and more humbled in our selues euer hungring and thirsting for that righteousnesse which is in Christ Iesus our Lord and Sauiour weane vs from the loue of this world and distrustfull cares for temporall things cōfirm our faith stedfastly in the prouidence of