Selected quad for the lemma: saint_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
saint_n	body_n	glorious_a	vile_a	1,567	5	10.2595	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A49291	Personal reprobation reprobated being a plain exposition upon the nineth chapter to the Romans, shewing, that there is neither little nor much of any such doctrine as personal election or reprobations, asserted by the apostle in that chapter : but that his great designe is to maintain justification by faith in Jesus Christ, without the works of the law / humbly offered to serious consideration, by Samuel Loveday.	Loveday, Samuel, 1619-1677.	1676 (1676)	Wing L3235; ESTC R39683	197,425	354

in time is the effect of a decree of God afore-time and that upon a meer personal account they were such before they were born To this I answer that this word afore or before is of late foisted in and is not in many approved copies neither Tindal nor the Vulgar Latin nor the translation of the Church of England against the Colledge of Rhems and it will better sute with the Original to leave it out and ●ade only which he hath prepared 2ly Had it been the Apostles designe to assert their eternal predestination to this mercy upon a personal account doubtlesse he would have rendred it in a word which signifieth to ordain or decree and not render it prepare which word signifieth another thing to form make fit and ready gradually as appears in these Scriptures Matt. 22.14 chap. 26.17.19 Luke 1.17 Luke 9.52 chap. 12.47 2 Timo. 2.21 Revela 19. Heb. 11. Noah prepared an ark wrought it with pains and art with many a stroke but suppose it should have signified to ordain it could not have crost the text nor Scriptures in general for it is granted that God did predestinate and unalterably decree that all believers in Christ so persevering shall be vessels of glory but what need we depart from the grammatical sence of the word prepare the prepared ones are the vessels of merey 7. When is this preparation accomplished I answer in general that it is the work of a Christian all his days to prepare and it is Gods work also to make him meet for the inheritance of glory to come Col. 1.12 it was Pauls labour ver 28. that he present every man perfect in Christ Jesus it must suppose a holding without cracking till they are finished as the potters vessel for a person is not accounted meet by God for a translation into celestial glory immediatly upon repentance faith and obedience though they may then be termed vessels of mercy but there is a great deal of sanctifying and preparing work to be accomplished before we be meet for Communion with God in glory Heb. 10. ye had need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye may inherit the promise glory is to be sought for by patient continuance in well-doing 1 Tim. 6.17,18,19 there are good works to be found in order to laying hold of eternal life Having thus opened the words that which now remains is to give you those Doctrines that doth arise from them I shall sum up the whole into seven Doctrins 1. Doctrine That Gods present bounty goodness and mercy extended to very high hardened provoking disobedient sinners and very rebellious persons doth exhibit● a sufficient ground of knowledge of Gods unconceiveable grace and mercy towards those who by the help of his grace repent believe and obey the Gospel God who is regular and uniform in all his proceedings must needs love his freinds dearly if he so love his enemies this doctrine I shall but touch only I would leave two words of inference upon it 1. Study the dimension of Gods grace to the world to enemies to such as walk contrary to him he causeth the sun to shine upon the good and bad gives rain and fruitful seasons to the worst of sinner● nay he gave Christ for the worst of sinners 2ly Study the immense and unconceivable love that God bears to the vessels of mercy O what great goodnesse hath God laid up for them that love him 2. Doctrine That the portion of believing obedient holy persons is a state of unconceivable glory The saints and people of God are designed for glory How often is the future state of the saints stiled glory Ps 68.13 Mat. 13.43 they shal shine like the sun in the kingdome of their father they shall be equal to the Angels those glorious creatures it is called Ephes 1.18 the riches of the glory of the inheritance they shall be glorious within glorious without Phil. 3. last who shall change our vile bodies and make them like his glorious body a great change shall be on the saints in that day 3. Doctrine It is one peice of the great condescending grace of God to mankinde to declare and make known beforehand for encouragement what rich glory and favour they shall enjoy who for the present are tractable and conformable to his will even to all eternity How full of precious promises are the Scriptures throughout to such of which promises one saith they are 1. The breathings of divine love and affection 2. The life and soul of faith 3. The anchor of hope 4. The wings of prayer 5. The true foundation of industry 6. The rays and beams of the son of righteousnesse God hath given us great and precious promises that we may have strong consolation From the Apostles variation in his terms honour mercy 4. Doctrine That to contain the saving mercy and grace of God is a state of great honour To be vessels of mercy is honourable to be vessels of honour according this Text supposeth three things 1. That there is or hath been an act of formation passed upon them to make them such 2. They are supposed to stand upon terms of mercy in opposition to works for these two are opposed all along 3. It supposeth such as enjoy the mercy of pardoning grace and gloryfying to all eternity 5. Doctrine That the present state of saints in this world is a state of preparation not of perfection All men in this world are upon their making or marring in this world they are all like the potters vessel upon the wheel we are at present shaping and forming in order to what we shall contain hereafter 6. Doctrine That it is altogether necessary for the advancing Gods glory that persons be compleatly fitttd and perfectly prepared before they be glorified It is altogether needful that persons be here moulded and shaped and made fit and meet for the inheritance we reade of working out or working through our salvation that is our meetness for salvation this preparation doth consist much in purification and in subduing corruption 2 Timo. 2.20 if a man purge himself he shall be prepared for the masters use 2 Cor. 7.1 Heb. 12.14 thus we cannot see God without holynesse 7. Doctrine That the spiritual work and work manship in new creating and forming and preparing persons for glory to come is and may fitly be ascribed to God and the effectaal workings of his grace To this the Scriptures are very full I need not stand to speak to them Ephes 2.1 Cor. 2.11 Phil. 2.13 2 Corinth 5.5 but how comes it to be ascribed to God 1. The whole means by which it is effected is of him from first to last 2. It can arise from no other but of him not of themselves not of the world not of the devil These are all against this formation Use how should this teach us humility see what a spirit our Apostle had in Timothy and Titus as to this God who was rich in

separation is not limited Fourthly Such a state was worse then the state of the Jews themselves they are not abd●cated eternally from God so that we cannot rationall● think that Paul should wish himself accursed as t● his in word state and spiritual condition therefore something else must be enquired after 2. Others understand the Apostles anathama to be only excluded the society and assemblyes 〈◊〉 the saints to be excommunicated the Gospel Church because sometimes and generally that i● rendred by the name of anathama as if the Apostle should have said I could wish my self excomm●nicated from the Gospel Church for their sakes not only to be deprived of the honour of an Apostle but of membership in the Church Obj. But some may say our text saith separate from Christ I answer the Church is called Christ 1 Corinth 12.12 So likewise is Christ that is the body of Christ and our last expositors do so render it and understand it that the Church is called Christ so Doctor Hammond Paul did prize at a very high rate the Communion and fellowship of Saints yet for the Jews sakes he could have been content to have been excluded that sweet and happy estate But 3dly Others understand and they are the most and best approved interpreters that the Apostle doth wish not only a privation of good and all his high priviledges but a dreadful infliction of much sufferings and corporal punishments which amongst the Jews did follow their anathama they were delivered up to Sathan they were exposed to open shame and ignominy and detestation they were anathamized were disdain'd of all abhorr'd of all so that according to that interpretation this was the sence of the Apostles words I could wish my self the veryest abject and object of shame and spite let me be as thus exposed to the worst of ruines yea the most cursed death it self this interpretation seems to agree most currantly with the Scriptures not that this anathama must intend the vengance of eternal fire but present rejection with detestation so must we understand that word Gal. 1.8.9 If I or an An gel from heaven preach any other Gospels let him be anathama twice exprest that is let him be rejected as an accursed thing let him be detested and abominated and withstood to the highest and thus it must be understood Gal. 3.13 Christ was made a curse for us which being made a curse takes in all Christs sufferings and humiliation from the begining to the end all his contempt and shame and spirting on and crucifixion all his abhorrency of man Esa 49. and this an athama the ultimate of it was death and this understanding doth in some measure answer to Moses his wish Exo. 32.32 Blot me out of thy book or as Ainsworth reads it let me dye for so the book of life is understood sometimes Psal 69. let me saith Moses bear thy displeasure that thou hast against they people and whereas now I am highly in thy favour I am willing to bear thy displeasure and death from that thy displeasure rather then Israel should be cut off So here th●… much the Apostles words amounts unto that where as now he was set by and esteemed of his friends and all the faithful Churches of Christ throughout the world yet he could be content for his brethrens sakes to be looked upon as a person not only at the greatest distance from his brethren but from Christ himself and to be judged worthy of the worst of deaths for his brethrens sakes thus as in a glasse you see the most worthy and excellent spirit of the Apostle Paul who before his conversion was a cruel and bloody persecutor yet now why like Paul who so like Christ in his spirit as he this deep sorrow in him was the fruit and effect of his tender love to them Paul is willing to haza● much for the soul-good of many such a spirit 〈◊〉 manifested in his Ministry he was willing to spend and be spent for poor souls 2 Corinth 1.12 The soul-good of many should be a strong engagement upon our hearts to expose our selves to loss and sufferings this was an engagement upon Christ many were concerned the world were concerned this may be of great use to be considered by those intrusted with the work of the minisity especially consider this example of Paul to beget a spirit for publique good if many are concerned as to their inward state venture far We now proceed to the second head which contains a description of the people and persons over whom the Apostle Paul thus cordially mourns and sorrows they are described by a double character 1. The relation they stood unto Paul they were his brethren and kinsmen according to the flesh 2. They for whom Paul thus mourned are a people greatly dignifyed and distinguisht with very high priviledges above all people in the world besides which priviledges and immunities the Apostle doth enumerate verses 4. and 5. under nine heads 1. They were Israelites 2. They had the Adoption 3. The glory 4. The Covenants 5. The giving of the law 6. The service of God 7. The promises 8. Theirs were the fathers 9. Christ came of that line A short word by way of explication to each of these 1. That which heightened the Apostles sorrow for these people was the near relation they stood to him they were his brethren his kinsmen according to the flesh brethren is a word of general signification and applicable to all men without exceptions yet here it is restrained he doth not only call them brethren as they were from Adam but as they sprung from the loyns of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and he adds here according to the flesh because notwithstanding they were the seed of Abraham yet they wanted the spirituall character the faith of Abraham yet Paul owns them as his brethren as he and they were of the natural seed of Abraham the Apostle doth fully own the brotherhood upon this account are they the seed of Abraham and more particularly Phil. ● of the stock of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin or hebrew of the hebrews S. Paul had a dear love for the people as they descended from the same Jacob and Israel according to the flesh though as yet enemies to the faith of Abraham who foresaw Christ day and rejoyced in it Note this Doctrine by the way Doct. That Christians stand engaged much to mourn for their unconverted kindred according to the flesh and to take all possible means to convert them Though it be a duty for Christians to do good to all in this respect yet more especially for kindre● and relations to do much and suffer much for the salvation of our kindred it is observed by the learned that Christ as to his Ministry began at Nazareth whereas he had been brought up to instruct them see Luke 4. and doubtless if outward suplie● are to begin there much more spirituals he is worse then an Infidel that provides not for