Selected quad for the lemma: reason_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
reason_n	divine_a	faith_n	revelation_n	3,413	5	9.3938	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

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

him such gracious Thoughts of him as will beget and kindle in it both Love and Hope as Mic. 7. 18 20. Psal. 85. 8. 1 Tim. 1. 15. 4. A Steady Continuance in the Approbation of Gods way of Salvation on the Reason mentioned will lead the Mind into that Exercise of Faith which both declares its Nature and is the Spring of all the saving Benefits which we receive by it Now this is such a Spiritual Light into and Discovery of the Revelation and Declaration made in the Gospel of the Wisdom Love Grace and Mercy of God in Christ Jesus and the way of the Communication of the Effect of them unto Sinners by him as that the Soul finds them suited unto and able for the pardon of its own sins its Righteousness and Salvation so as that it placeth its whole Trust and Confidence for these Ends therein THIS being the very Life of Faith that Act and Exercise of it whereby we are justified and saved and whereby it evidenceth its truth and sincerity against all Temptations I shall insist a little on the Explanation of the Description of it now given And there are three things in it or required unto it 1. A Spiritual Light into and Discovery of the Revelation and Declaration made in the Gospel of the Wisdom Love Grace and Mercy of God in Christ Jesus It is not a meer Assent unto the Truth of the Revelation or the Authority of the Revealer this indeed is supposed and included in it but it adds thereunto a spiritual Discerning Perception and Understanding of the things themselves revealed and declared without which a bare Assent unto the Truth of the Revelation is of no Advantage This is called the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4. 6. The Encrease whereof in all Believers the Apostle doth earnestly pray for Eph. 1 16 17 18 19 20. So we discern spiritual Things in a spiritual manner and hence ariseth the full Assurance of Understanding to the Acknowledgement of the Mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ Col. 2. 2. Or a spiritual Sense of the Power Glory and Beauty of the Things contained in this Mystery So to know Christ as to know the Power of his Resurrection and the Fellowship of his Sufferings Phil. 3. 10. FAITH affects the mind with an ineffable Sense Taste Experience and Acknowledgment of the Greatness the Glory the Power the Beauty of the Things revealed and proposed in this way of Salvation The Soul in it is enabled to see and understand that all the things belonging unto it are such as become God his Wisdom Goodness and Love as was before declared And a spiritual Light enabling hereunto is of the Essence of saving Faith unless this be in us we do not we cannot give Glory to God in any Assent unto the Truth And Faith is that Grace which God hath prepared sitted and suited to give unto him the Glory that is his Due in the Work of our Redemption and Salvation 2. UPON this spiritual Light into this Revelation of God and his Glory in this way of saving Sinners the Mind by Faith finds and sees that all things in it are suited unto its own Justification and Salvation in particular and that the Power of God is in them to make them effectual unto that End This is that Act and Work of Faith whereon the whole blessed Event doth depend it will not avail a man to see all sorts of Viands and Provisions if they be no way suited unto his Appetite nor meet for his Nourishment Nor will it be unto a Man's spiritual Advantage to take a View of the Excellency of the Gospel unless he find them suited unto his Condition And this is the hardest Task and Work that Faith hath to go through with FAITH is not an especial Assurance of a Man 's own Justification and Salvation by Christ that it will produce but not until another step or two in its Progress be over but Faith is a satisfactory Perswasion that the way of God proposed in the Gospel is fitted suited and able to save the Soul in particular that doth believe not only that it is a blessed way to save Sinners in general but that it is such a way to save him in particular So is this matter stated by the Apostle 1 Tim. 1. 15. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all Acceptation or Approbation that Christ Jesus came into the World to save sinners whereof I am chief His Faith doth nor abide here nor confine it self unto this that Christ Jesus came into the World to save sinners that this is the holy and blessed way of God for the Salvation of Sinners in general but he puts in for his own particular Interest in that way it is God's way fitted and suited and able to save me who am the chiefest of Sinners AND this as was said is the greatest and the most difficult Work of Faith For we suppose concerning the Person who is to believe 1. THAT he is really and effectually convinced of the Sin of Nature of our Apostasie from God therein the Loss of his Image and the direful Effects that ensue thereon 2. That he hath due Apprehensions of the Holiness and Severity of God of the Sanction and Curse of the Law with a right understanding of the Nature of Sin and its Demerit 3. That he have a full Conviction of his own actual sins with all their Aggravations from their Greatness their Number and all sorts of Circumstances 4. That he hath a Sense of the Guilt of secret or unknown sins which have been multiplied by that continual proneness unto sin which he finds working in him 5. That he seriously consider what it is to appear before the Judgment Seat of God to receive a Sentence for Eternity with all other things of the like nature inseparable from him as a Sinner WHEN it is really thus with any man he shall find it the hardest in the World and clogged with the most Difficulties for him to believe that the way of Salvation proposed unto him is suited fitted and every way able to save him in particular to apprehend it such as none of his Objections can rise up against or stand before But this is that in the second place that the Faith of God's Elect will do It will enable the Soul to discern and satisfie it self that there is in this way of God every thing that is needful unto its own Salvation And this it will do on a spiritual Understanding and due Consideration of 1. The Infiniteness of that Wisdom Love Grace and Mercy which is the Original of Soveraign Cause of the whole way with the ample Declaration and Confirmation made of them in the Gospel 2. Of the unspeakable glorious way and means for the procuring and communicating unto us of all the Effects of that Wisdom Grace and Mercy namely the Incarnation and Mediation of the Son

of God in his Oblation and Intercession 3. Of the great Multitude and Variety of precious Promises engaging the Truth Faithfulness and Power of God for the Communication of Righteousness and Salvation from those Springs by that means I say on the just Consideration of these things with all other Encouragements wherewith they are accompanied the Soul concludes by Faith that there is Salvation for it self in particular to be attained in that way 3. THE last Act of Faith in the order of Nature is the Souls Acquiescency in and trust unto this way of Salvation for its self and its own Eternal Condition with a Renuntiation of all other ways and means for that End And because Jesus Christ in his Person Mediation and Righteousness is the Life and Center of this way as he in whom alone God will glorifie his Wisdom Love Grace and Mercy as he who hath purchased procured and wrought all this Salvation for us whose Righteousness is imputed unto us for our Justification and who in the Discharge of his Office doth actually bestow it upon us he is the proper and immediate Object of Faith in this Act of Trust and Affiance This is that which is called in the Scripture believing in Christ namely the trusting unto him alone for Life and Salvation as the whole of Divine Wisdom and Grace is administred by him unto those Ends. For this we come unto him we receive him we beleive in him we trust him we abide in him with all those other ways whereby our Faith in him is expressed AND this is the second Ground or Reason whereon Faith doth close with embrace and approve of God's way of saving Sinners whereby it will evidence it self unto the Comfort of them in whom it is in the midst of all their Trials and Temptations Thirdly FAITH approves of this way as that which makes the Glory of God in the giving and the Sanction of the Law to be as eminently conspicuous as if it had been perfectly fulfilled by every one of us in our own Persons The Law was a just Representation of the Righteousness and Holiness of God and the End for which it was given was that it might be the means and Instrument of the Eternal Exaltation of his Glory in those holy Properties of his Nature Let no man imagine that God hath laid aside this Law as a thing of no more use or that he will bear a Diminution of that Glory or any part of it which he designed in the giving of it Heaven and Earth shall pass away but no Jot or Little of the Law shall do so No Believer can desire or be pleased with his own Salvation unless the Glory of God designed by the Law be secured He cannot desire that God should forgo any part of his Glory that he might be saved Yea this is that on the Account whereof he principally rejoyceth in his own Salvation namely that it is that wherein God will be absolutely universally and eternally glorified NOW in this way of saving Sinners by Jesus Christ by Mercy Pardon and the Righteousness of at other of all which the Law knows nothing Faith doth see and understand how all that Glory which God designed in the giving of the Law is eternally secured and preserved entire without Eclipse or Diminution The way whereby this is done is declared in the Gospel See Rom. ● 24 25 26. Chap. 8. 2 3 4. Chap. 10. 3 4. Hereby Faith is enabled to answer all the Challenges and Charges of the Law with all its Pleas for the Vindication of divine Justice Truth and Holiness It hath that to offer which gives it the utmost Satisfaction in all its Pleas for God So is this Answer managed Rom. 8. 32 33 34. AND this is the first way whereby the Faith of Gods Elect doth evidence it self in the minds and Consciences of them that do believe in the midst of all their Contests with Sin their Trials and Temptations to their Relief and Comfort namely the closing with and Approbation of Gods way of saving Sinners by Jesus Christ on the Grounds and Reasons which have been declared The Second Evidence of the Faith of God's Elect. THE second way whereby true Faith doth evidence it self in the Souls and Consciences of Beleivers unto their Supportment and Comfort under all their Conflicts with sin in all their Trials and Temptations is by a constant Approbation of the Revelation of the Will of God in the Scripture concerning our Holiness and the Obedience unto himself which he requireth of us This Faith will never forgo whatever Trials it may undergo whatever Darkness the mind may fall into This it will abide by in all Extremities And that it may appear to be a peculiar Effect or work of saving Faith some things are to be premised and considered 1. THERE is in all men by Nature a Light enabling them to judge of the Difference that is between what is morally good and what is evil especially in things of more than ordinary Importance This Light is not attained or acquired by us we are not taught it we do not learn it It is born with us and inseparable from us It prevents Consideration and Reflection working naturally and in a sort necessarily in the first Actings of our Souls AND the discerning Power of this Light as to the Moral Nature of Mens Actions is accompanied inseparably with a Judgment that they make concerning themselves as unto what they do of the one kind or other and that with respect unto the superiour Judgment of God about the same things This the Apostle expresly ascribes unto the Gentiles who had not the Law Rom. 2. 14 15. The Gentiles which have not the Law do by Nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shew the Work of the Law written in their Hearts their Consciences also bearing Witness and their Thoughts the mean while accusing or excusing one another This is a most exact Description of a natural Conscience in both the Powers of it it discerns that good and evil which is commanded and forbidden in the Law and it passeth an acquiting or condemning Judgment and Sentence according to what Men have done WHEREFORE this Approbation of Duties in things moral is common unto all Men. The Light whereby it is guided may be variously improved as it was in some of the Gentiles And it may bestisled in some until it seem to be quite extinguished until they become like the Beasts that perish And where the discerning power of this Light remains yet through a continual Practice of sin and obduracy therein the judging power of it as unto all its Efficacy may be lost So the Apostle declares concerning them who are judicially hardened and given up unto sin Rom. 1. 32. These knowing the Judgment of God that they which commit such things are worthy of Death not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them

and Ceremonies wherein it consists For Men having lost the Exercise of Faith in the Ordinances of Worship that are of Divine Institution they found the whole of it to be useless and burthensome unto them For without this constant Exercise of Faith there is no Life in it nor Satisfaction to be obtained by it they must therefore have something in it or accompanying of it which may entertain their Minds and engage their Affections unto it If this had not been done it would have been utterly deserted by the most Hereon were invented Forms of Prayer in great Diversity with continual Diversions and Avocations of the Mind from what is proposed Because it cannot abide in the pursuit of any thing spiritual without the Exercise of Faith This gives it some Entertainment by the meer Performance and makes it think there is something where indeed is nothing hereunto are added outward Ceremonies of Vestments Postures and Gestures of Veneration unto the same end there is no other Design in them all but to entertain the Mind and Affections with some Complacency and Satisfaction in outward Worship upon the loss or want of that Exercise of Faith which is the Life and Soul of it in Believers And as any Persons do decay herein they shall find themselves insensibly sinking down into the use of these lifeless Forms or that Exercise of their natural Faculties and Memory which is not one Jot better Yea by this means some from an Eminency in Spiritual Gifts and the performance of Duties by vertue of them have sunk into an Ave-Mary or a Credo as the best of their Devotion 2. THIS hath caused many to turn aside to fall off from and forsake the solemn Ordinances of Divine Worship and to betake themselves unto vain Imaginations for Relief in Trembling Enthusiastical Singing and seigned Raptures from hence have so many forsaked their own Mercies to follow after lying Vanities they kept for a while unto the Observance of the divine Institutions of Worship but not having Faith to exercise in them by which alone they are Life and Power they became useless and burthensome unto them they could find neither Sweetness Satisfaction nor Benefit in them It is not possible that so many in our days if ever they had tasted of the old Wine should so go after new if ever they had Experience of that Savour Power and Life which is in the Ordinances of Divine Worship when acted and enlivened by the Exercise of Faith should forsake them for that which is nothing They went out from us but they were not of us for had they been of us they would have continued with us Had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory This therefore is the true Reason why so many in our days after they have for a season abode under and in the Observation of the Gospel-Ordinances of Worship have fallen off from them namely not having Faith to exercise in them nor endeavouring after it they did really find no Life in them nor Benefit by them SOME on the same Ground fall into Prophaneness pretending to take up with a natural Religion without any instituted Worship at all Of this sort of Persons we have multitudes in the days wherein we live having nothing of the Light of Faith they can see no Form or Comeliness in Christ nor any thing that belongs unto him by these means are Souls every day precipitated into ruine HEREIN therefore I say true Faith will evidence it self in all Darknesses and Distress whatsoever It will always endeavour to keep it self and all other Graces in a due and constant Exercise in all Duties of Worship private and publick it may soemtimes be weakened in its Actings and Operations it may be under Decays it may be as a Sleep and that not only as unto particular Duties and Seasons but as unto the inward habitual frame of the Mind but where it is true and genuine it will shake it self out of this dust cast off the sin that doth so easily beset us and stir up it self with all Might and Contention unto its Duty And there is no more dangerous State for a Soul than when it is sinking down into Formality and neglect of the Exercise of Faith in a multitude of Duties then is it assuredly ready to dye if it be not dead already IF we are Wise therefore we will watch and take care that we lose not this Evidence of Faith it will stand us in stead when it may be all other things seem to be against us some have been relieved by the Remembrance of this Exercise of Faith when they have been at the door of Desperation such or such a Season they had Experience of the work of Faith in Prayer hath been their Relief an Experience hereof is a Jewel which it may be of no great use whilst it lies by you locked up in a Cabinet but which you will know the worth of if ever you come to need Bread for your Lives IT is therefore worth while to enquire what we ought to do or what means we ought to use that we may keep up Faith unto its due Exercise in all the parts of Divine Worship so as that it may give us a comforting Evidence of it self in times of Temptation and Darkness And unto this End the ensuing Directions may be of use 1. LABOUR to have your Hearts always affected with a due Sense of the infinite Perfections of the Divine Nature in all our Approaches unto him especially of his Sovereign Power Holiness Immensity and Omnipresence and this will produce in us also a Sense of infinite Distance from him As this is necessary from the Nature of the things themselves so the Scripture gives us such Descriptions of God as are suited to ingenerate this frame in us this is that which Joshuae aimed to bring the People unto when he designed to engage them in the Service of God in a due manner Josh. 24. 19 20 21 22. That which the Apostle requireth in us Heb. 12. 28 29. And unto the same End glorious Descriptions and Appearances of God are multiplied in Scripture If we fail herein if we do not on all Occasions fill our Minds with reverential Thoughts of God his Greatness and his Holiness Faith hath no foundation to stand upon in its Exercise in the Duties of Worship This is the only inlet into the due Exercise of Grace where it is wanting all holy Thoughts and Affections are shut out of our minds and where it is present it is impossible but that there will be some gracious working of Heart in all our Duties if we are empty hereof in our Entrance of Duties we shall be sure to be filled with other things which will be cloggs and hindrances unto us But Reverential Thoughts of God in our Approaches unto him will cast out all superfluity of Naughtiness and dissipate all carnal formal frames which will vitiate all our Duties Keep your Hearts therefore

eminent as that it might appear unto all Men that is who are concerned in us as Relations Families and other Societies this is that which principally renders us useful and exemplary in this World and for the want whereof many Professors fill themselves and others with Disquietments and give Offence unto the World it self This is required of all Believers but they will be eminent in it in whom Faith works this Weanedness from the World in order unto a peculiar Exercise of Repentance 3. THERE is required hereunto an Unsollicitousness about present Affairs and future Events There is nothing given us in more strict Charge in the Scripture than that we should be careful in nothing sollicitous about nothing take no thought for to morrow but to commit all things unto the sovereign Disposal of our God and Father who hath taken all these things into his own Care But so it is come to pass through the Vanity of the minds of Men that what should be nothing unto them is almost their all Care about things present and Sollicitousness about things to come in private and publick Concerns take up most of their Thoughts and Contrivances But this also will Faith subdue on this Occasion where it tends unto the Promotion of Repentance by weanedness from the World It will bring the Soul into a constant steady universal Resignation of it self unto the Pleasure of God and Satisfaction in his Will Hereon it will use the World as if it used it not with an absolute Inconcernment in it as unto what shall fall out This is that which our Saviour presseth so at large and with so many divine Reasonings Mat. 6. 25 to the 34. 4. A constant Preferrence of the Duties of Religion before and above the Duties and Occasions of Life These things will continually interfere if a diligent Watch be not kept over them and they will contend for preferrence and their Success is acording to the Interest and Estimation which the things themselves have in our Minds If the Interest of the World be there prevalent the Occasions of it will be preferred before Religious Duties and they shall for the most part be put off unto such Seasons wherein we have nothing else to do and it may be sit for little else But where the Interest of spiritual Things prevails it will be otherwise according to the Rule given us by our Blessed Saviour Seek first the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof c. Mat. 6. 33. I confess this Rule is not absolute as unto all Seasons and Occasions there may be a Time wherein the Observation of the Sabbath must give place to the pulling an Ox or an Ass out of a Pit and on all such Occasions the Rule is that Mercy is to be preferred before Sacrifice But in the ordinary Course of our Walking before God Faith will take Care that a due Attendance unto all Duties of Religion be preferred to all the Occasions of this Life they shall not be shuffled off on trifling Pretences nor cast into such unseasonable seasons as otherwise they will be There also belongs unto that Weanedness from this World which is necessary unto an Eminency in degrees of Humiliation and Repentance Watching unto Prayer 5. WILLINGNESS and Readiness to part with all for Christ and the Gospel this is the animating Principle of the great Duty of taking up the Cross and Self-denial therein Without some measure of it in Sincerity we cannot be Christ's Disciples But in the present Case there is an Eminent Degree which Christ calls the hating of all things in comparison of him that is required such a Readiness as rejects with Contempt all arguing against it such as renders the World no Burthen unto it in any part of our Race such as establisheth a determinate Resolution in the Mind that as God calls the World and all the Concernments of it should be forsaken for Christ and the Gospel Our Countenances and Discourses on Difficulties do not argue that this Resolution is prevalent in us but so it is required in that work of Faith which we are in the Consideration of 2. A second thing that belongs hereunto is a peculiar Remembrance of Sin and Converse about it in our Minds with Self-displicency and Abhorrency God hath promised in his Covenant that he will remember our Sins no more that is to punish them but it doth not thence follow that we should no more remember them to be humbled for them Repentance respects Sin always wherever therefore that is there will be a continual calling Sin to remembrance saith the Psalmist My Sin is ever before me THERE is a threefold Calling our past Sins unto remembrance 1. WITH Delight and Contentment thus is it with proffligate Sinners whose Bodies are grown unserviceable unto their youthful Lusts they call over their former Sins roll them over in their Minds express their Delight in them by their Words and have no greater Trouble but that for the want of Strength or Opportunity they cannot still live in the Practise of them this is to be old in Wickedness and to have their Bones filled with the Sins of their Youth So do many in this Age delight in filthy Communication unclean Society and all Incentives of Lust A fearful Sign of being given over unto a Reprobate Mind an Heart that cannot repent 2. THERE is a remembrance of Sin unto Disquietment Terror and Despair Where Mens Consciences are not seared with an hot Iron Sin will visit their Minds ever and anon with a troublesome remembrance of it self with its Aggravating Circumstances For the most part Men hide themselves from this Visitor they are not at home not at leisure to converse with it but shift it off like insolvent Debtors from day to day with a few transient Thoughts and Words But sometimes it will not be so put off it will come with an Arrest or a Warrant from the Law of God that shall make them stand and give an Account of themselves Hereon they are filled with Disquietments and some with Horror and Despair which they seek to pacify and divert themselves from by farther emerging themselves in the Pursuit of their Lusts the Case of Cain Gen. 4. 13 16 17. 3. THERE is a calling former Sins to remembrance as a Furtherance of Repentance and so they are a threefold Glass unto the Soul wherein it hath a trebble Object 1. IT sees in them the depravation of its Nature the evil Quality of that Root which hath brought forth such Fruit And they see in it their own Folly how they were cheated by Sin and Sathan they see the Unthankfulness and Unkindness towards God wherewith they were accompanied This fills them with holy Shame Rom. 6. 21. This is useful and necessary unto Repentance Perhaps if Men did more call over their former Sins and Miscarriages than they do they would walk more humbly and warily than they do for the most part So David in his Age prays for