Selected quad for the lemma: power_n
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A53746
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A funeral sermon Opening the nature and grounds of assurance, occasioned by the death of Mr. Philip King, Minister. Who departed this life, November, 8th. 1699. By Jonathan Owen.
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Owen, Jonathan.
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1700
(1700)
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Wing O827; ESTC R216657
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12,870
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31
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of the Scrutiny so if we make the most diligent inquiry into the Lives and Experiences of most Men and Women O where are the Persons that can or may thus warrantably declare themselves I know that my Redeemer liveth among them that profess Christ in a more exact way then others that hear more of his Person Office and Glory as Redeemer even among these it is a rare thing most are but come up to Hopes and but few to the good Hope through Grace that which maketh not ashamed 2 Thess 2.16 2. For as I would awaken all so I would not cast down any of Christs weak Lambs We that Preach the Word must with Boanerges Thunder and with Barnabas speak Consolation to you therefore know it is possible to be interested in Christ and not be fully assured of it Assurance is not of the Essence of Christianity it is but accidental like Benjamins Mess it is a peculiar Favour they were as really Josephs Brethren that had it not as he you may be of Christs Brotherhood by adopting Grace and yet be without it If Assurance were of the Essence of Grace then none could be saved but such this makes the number of the Blessed Saints Ten Thousand Times fewer then they are it excludes all Dead Infants out of Heaven indeed what the Apostle saith is remarkable 1 John 5.10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the Witness in himself But consider as it is spoken of Adult Persons so it refers to the Three-fold Witness spoken off before viz. the Spirit the Water and the Blood now every Adult Believer hath this Witness in himself but alas it oftentimes so falls out that the Ear of Faith is so Deaf and the Eye of Faith so dim and Hand of Faith so weak that the renewed Believer neither hears sees nor receives his own Mercy 's as he ought many a doubting Saint hath got safe to Glory when carnal Confidents have dropt into Hell-Flames a Child may be born Heir to a great Estate and by reason of his Infancy not know it it as Birth and Blood which gives right to it not the present Sense and Knowledge of the thing this renders the Matter comfortable the other makes the Thing sure thus much of what I thought needful to be Premised but few know upon Scripture Bottom that their Redeemer liveth it is possible to be savingly interested in Christ and yet not know it certainly I enter upon the second General 2. What is that Scripture-Foundation which this full Assurance of Faith I know that my Redeemer liveth must be Built upon Here take Notice for it is without Controversie this Assurance hath its Original in Grace and not in Nature true a natural Man may be endued with great Knowledge his Head may be full of Speculative Understanding about Divine Things he may come under very powerful and common workings of the Spirit and yet be without a Foundation for this so much the Apostle declares Heb. 6.4 5. Now that I may set this weighty Matter before you in the plain Light of the Word to know that ones Redeemer liveth it is and must be built upon this Threefold Foundation viz. 1. The saving Knowledge of Christ 2. The appropriating Acts of Faith 3. And the Witness of the Spirit 1. Christ Jesus in his Person Office and Glory as Redeemer must be revealed to that Soul Without this Manifestation of Christ no Man can say it though ignorant and confident Persons may Orally speak the Words but he that doth it with this Faith must know in whom he believeth 2 Tim. 1.12 The Glory of God in the Face or Person of Jesus Christ must shine into that Heart 2 Cor. 6.4 For God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shin'd into our Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ All this is evident from Jobs Confession let me consider it a little farther 1. He knew the Lord Jesus Christ in his Person i. e. He knew him to be really God eternally naturally and essentially God therefore he expresly so calls him ver 26. Though after my Skin Worms destroy this Body yet in my Flesh shall I see God Whom I shall see for my self The glorious Display which Christ will make of himself in the latter Day all shall see some to their Eternal Horror and Confusion and some to their Everlasting Joy all the redeemed shall see and enjoy Christ then not one shall be disappointed or missing but those who are seal'd with the Holy Spirit of Promise they know it assuredly Whom I shall see for my self ver 27. 2. A well-grounded Assurance includes not only the Knowledge of Christs Person as God but also an Acquaintance with his Offices as Redeemer in both Natures the Lord Jesus by Eternal and Foederal Agreement with his Father is become a Redeemer Holy Job had the Knowledge and Fore-sight of this he not only acknowledgeth Christ to be a Redeemer but he confesseth him to be his living Redeemer Christ redeemeth his two ways by Price and Power by the Price of Satisfaction paid to the Honour Law and Justice of God to his Honour by the Death of one who thought it no robbery to be equal with him Phil. 2.6 To his Law by the perfect Obedience of Christs own self who was under it Gal 4.4 To his Justice by being made a Curse i. e. his induring the Substance thereof Gal. 3.13 As thus by Price so by Power the Lord Jesus Christ redeems Souls he hath already conquer'd Sin Death Hell and the Grave by his Almighty Power He is now conquering Sinners to himself by the Ministry of the Word and Spirit and yet a little while and the last Trump shall sound and the Dead in the Bowels of the Earth and in Depths of the Sea shall hear his Voice and come to Judgment John 5.28 29. They that have done good to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation then Christ will compleat the Redemption of his People their Bodies and Souls shall be reunited they shall all appear with him in Glory 3. As the Knowledge of Christs Person and Office is included in this Assurance so likewise the Knowledge of his Present and Future Glory to wit that he now liveth and shall stand upon the Earth at the latter Day he liveth there is much in that Expression it Points at the Eternity Fulness and Power of Christ as Redeemer his Eternity that as God he hath Life in and from himself his Fulness that he hath Life to give to all his Members and his Power that as he lives by his own self so he will quicken the Dead and Judge the World in Righteousness and shew that he hath the Keys of Hell and Death Rev. 1.18 But 2. In a well-grounded Assurance of an Interest in the living Redeemer the Faith of a renewed Soul must appropriate Christ