Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	believe_v	faith_n	justification_n	3,844	5	9.3520	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A74987	The glory of Christ set forth in several sermons from John III.34, 35, 36 and V.25 : and The necessity of faith in order to pleasing God, from Hebrews XI.6 / by Mr. Thomas Allen, late pastor of a church in the city of Norwich.	Allen, Thomas, 1608-1673.; Finch, Martin, 1628?-1698.	1683 (1683)	Wing A1046; ESTC R43595	136,370	269

Truth and what he speaks is Truth God is a God of Truth that cannot lye it 's impossible for God to Lye Use 2. It 's a word of encouragement to every one of us this day that are before the Lord to receive the Testimony that God gives us to beleive what Jesus Christ doth speak because what he speaks is the Word of the Father the Word of the God of Truth and is that whereby you do exceedingly Honour and Glorify God It 's said of Abraham He believed and gave glory unto God Who is there that would not say he is willing to glorify God Honour him you would be willing to testifie to this truth that God is truth and if you had a Hundred Seals or if it were to set a Thousand seals to it that God is Truth you would do it O receive the Gospel in its tenders you that have not yet received it and lay the weight of your Souls your everlasting hopes upon Christ and his Righteousness and expect Salvation and Righteousness and Life meerly for that the Lord hath called you hereunto and here is encouragement because you cannot Honour and Glorifie God more than in believing SERMON IV. Hebrews XI 6. The beginning of the Verse But without Faith it is Impossible to please him HAving spoken somewhat largely concerning the Doctrine of Faith from another Scripture I shall desire a little to go on to back it And Oh that the Lord would back it by his Spirit and therefore I have chosen this portion of Scripture Briefly a little for the Coherence The Apostle Paul for most probably he was the Pen-man of this Epistle having in the former Chapter exhorted these Jews or Hebrews to whom he wrote to persevere and to be constant in the Faith taking an Argument from the danger of the contrary in the latter end of the Chapter If any man draw back or do not persevere my Soul shall have no pleasure in him Now I say having exhorted them to persevere in the Faith both in the Doctrine of Faith and in the Grace of Faith he comes in this Chapter to commend the Grace of Faith to them And that First By laying down a description of it for says he This grace of Faith doth make those things that are absent whether past or future as if they were present if we look by faith back upon the creation of the World and see how the World was made out of nothing Faith will help us to look upon it as present and so we may look upon those things that are to come and faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen whether past or to come But then Secondly he commends Faith by the excellent effects of it that have been found in the Faithful in all Ages from the beginning of the World until the coming of Christ for if you observe it look upon the Chapter and you will find that he gives instances and examples both of those faithful that were before the Flood and also of such as were after the Flood to the giving of the Law and then also of those faithful ones that lived after the Law until the Capivity and then of those that lived after the Captivity until the coming of Christ all these he instances in this Chapter Now first for these Faithful ones that lived before the Flood and the effects of Faith in them here he does lay down and mention three examples especially First He does instance in the example of Abel and of the effects of Faith in him Secondly He doth instance also in faithful Enoch and the Effects of his Faith And Thirdly The example of Noah and the effects of his Faith And what was the general effect of their Faith Why the great and General effect of all their Faith was that by their Faith they pleased God Says he first for Abel at the 4th Verse Abel he offered up a Sacrifice by Faith that pleased God by Faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain or a more pleasing Sacrifice than Cain it was by Faith that his offering was pleasing unto God And again he instances in Enoch By Faith Enoch walked with God and pleased God for so he says expresly at the latter end of the 5th Verse that he had this Testimony that he pleased God And then for Noah he also by his Faith pleased God How does that appear why he found Grace and Favour with God God instructed him to build an Ark whereby he and his Family might be preserved in the time of the General Flood He found Favour with God and that was by Faith for so the Apostle expresses it verse 7. By faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with fear prepared an Ark c. But now this Scripture that I have read unto you it is from the commendation of the Faith of Enoch Enoch by Faith he pleased God for so saies the Apostle at the latter end of the 5. Verse just before the Text before his translation he had this Testimony that he pleased God He had this Testimony where had he this Testimony And where shall we find this Testimony concerning Enoch The place to which the Apostle does here refer and relate to is that in the 5 of Genesis the 22 23 24. Verses If you consult the place you will find never a word spoken that Enoch pleased God not expresly it is said Enoch walked with God after he begat Methusalah three Hundred Years and begat Sons and Daughters and all the days of Enoch were three hundred Sixty and Five Years and Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him Where is here any word expressed that Enoch pleased God Yet saies the Apostle in this place He had this Testimony that he pleased God why it must be in this place or no where therefore it is no where expresly said that he pleased God How then could the Apostle say here that he had a Testimony that he pleased God For answer though it be not said in express terms that Enoch pleased God yet here is that spoken for the substance of it that is equivolent to it for in that it is said He walked with God it holds forth that he pleased God for can two walk together if they be not agreed if they be not pleasing one to another can Enoch walk with God if God was not pleased with him the very expressing of it again and again that Enoch walked with God it holds forth this Testimony that Enoch pleased God And again the Lords taking of him to himself in a more than ordinary way and manner is a plain Testimony that he pleased God Now saies the Apostle He had this Testimony before his Translation that he pleased God he walked with God and God took him Here was a plain Testimony that he pleased God Now this was by Faith that Enoch pleased God so the Apostle says By

that give Alms they perform the very same Duty the one gives as much alms as the other and yet what the one doth may be accepted with God and pleasing to him and the other not whence comes the difference One doth it in Faith and the other not Abel and Cain brought their offerings to God God had respect to Abel and his Offering and God had not respect to Cain and his Offering what was the ground of the difference saies the Apostle By Faith Abel offered a more acceptable Sacrifice than Cain Well but what Faith is it then whereby a Soul and his Duties and Services come to be pleasing unto God Answ Brethren do not mistake your selves it is not that Faith whereby a man or Woman gives his consent to and believes all that is written in the Scriptures all that is revealed in the Gospel concerning Christ a man or woman may believe all this and yet this is not the Faith whereby he comes to be accepted as you know the Devils believe all this and yet are not accepted So a man or Woman may believe all that is revealed in the Gospel and yet never please God But what Faith is it whereby a Man and his Duties and performances come to please God and without which it is impossible to please God Briefly there is a three-fold Faith required for the acceptance of a mans services and performances with God that God may be pleased with them Mind it I pray for it is a thing of great concernment and possibly that which very few have considered 1st There is required saving Faith in Christ that which we call justifying Faith such a believing in Christ whereby a Soul comes to be in Christ and Christ in the Soul whereby Christ becomes the life of the Soul the very principle of Life in the Soul a justifying saving Faith in the habit the principle of Faith the grace of Faith infused into the heart whereby a Soul comes really to be united to Christ and have an Interest in him to be in Christ as you know the Scripture frequently speaks I shall not stand to give you Scriptures for that you see Brethren here how Abel and how Enoch came to please God it was by Faith What Faith It was this true Justifying Faith this Faith in Christ that was to come for it was by their Faith in Christ that they came to be accepted and their Offering was accepted and pleasing unto God by Faith Abel was accepted and his Offering and Sacrifice was accepted Cain he offered his Sacrifice but it was not accepted because he had not this justifying Faith Enoch he pleased God and whence was it It was by his Faith and saies the Apostle thereupon he had his Testimony that he pleased God it was by his Faith his justifying Faith in Christ whereby he came to be accepted his person was accepted of God and consequently his services came to be accepted of God a man or woman must first have a principle of Life before he can live a Spiritual Life now Christ is a Christians life and how comes Christ to be the Life of a Christian Namely by his Faith when he comes to believe in Christ then Christ is his Life the principle of his life the Spirit of Christ now is in the Soul that is a plain word which the Apostle hath in Rom. 8.9 If any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his And saies Christ in John 15.5 As the branch cannot bring forth Fruit of it self except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me And without me mark without me ye can do nothing Nothing that is pleasing to God the word without me holds forth not so much without Strength from Christ though that is true too but the word signifies properly in the Original without me that is separated from me not united to me that is the word in the Greek just as when a Branch is cut off from the Vine the Branch cannot bring forth Fruit without ful disputations for one believeth that he may eat all things another who is weak eateth Herbs Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth for God hath received him And again at verse 5. One man esteemeth one day above another another esteemeth every day alike What then Let every Man be fully perswaded in his own mind if he do venture to eat any kind of Meats let him be fully and clearly perswaded in his own mind that he may do it and then he eats in Faith and if he do not observe those days if he be fully perswaded in his own mind then he doth it in Faith in the two last Verses he calls this Faith Hast thou Faith Have it to thy self before God Hast thou Faith that is hast thou a perswasion that it is lawful for thee to eat any kind of meats or it is Lawful for thee to forbear the Observation of those Days Hast thou Faith have it to thy self But mark Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing that he alloweth and he that doubteth is damned if he eat because he eateth not of Faith He that doubteth that is he that questioneth whether it be lawful for him to eat this kind of meat or no he that doubteth whether he shall do well to observe this day or no He that doubteth is damned if he eat because he eateth not of Faith That is he is not fully perswaded in his own mind for whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin whatsoever is not of that perswasio● that it is according to the Will of God o● not contrary to the Will of God if he do it without that perswasion then it is not of Faith and so is a damnable sin though the thing be Lawful in it self yet if he doth the same thing doubtingly it is a damnable sin that he commits without this Faith this perswasion in his Mind that what he doth is according to the Will of God and this Faith is requisite to the pleasing of God So here in the instance before us in Abel and also in Enoch Abel pleased God by offering up a Sacrifice he had this Faith not only a Justifying Faith but he had this Faith he was perswaded that what he did offer up in Sacrifice was according to the Will of God and so Enoch he walked with God and had this Testimony that he pleased God that in the course of his Lise the steps of his Life was according to the Will of God he walked with God the actions that he did he was perswaded was according to the Will of God and thus he pleased God and this is a Second Faith that is required to the pleasing of God 3dly There is another Faith that is required further to the pleasing of God without which though I be a Believer and have a justifying Faith and though I be perswaded that what

Abraham still So by Faith Sarah conceived it pleased God to give her conception when she was 90 Years old she had her infirmities and weaknesses she told a Lye in the hearing of the Angel but yet for all that she pleased God and so I might instance in others David pleased God by Faith David had his failings and did sometimes displease God but yet by his Faith he did please God And so look upon all those that have been believers by their acting and exercising of of Faith they have all of them come to please God and therefore we may take it up for a general conclusion and may be confident of it that by Faith we shall please God 2. The Holy-Ghost doth testifie in the Scripture again and again that a man or woman by Faith doth live What Life not a natural but a Spiritual life Now to live is not only to have the life of Justification and the life of Sanctification but to live is to have the favour of God to have God pleased with a person that is to live saies Abraham to God in the 17th of Genesis Oh that Ishmael might live in thy Sight what did he mean by that what that his Life might be lengthned out No but that he might find favour in thy Sight and saies the Prophet in Psal 30.5 In thy favour is life And so in Isaiah 6.55 Hearken unto me and your Soul shall live that is you shall please God and be accepted of God Now then this is frequent in Scripture that all that are Believers do live The just shall live by Faith both the Old Testament and New-Testament bear witness to it the same thing is in the Old-Testament Habakkuk 2.4 and repeated again in the new Hebrews 10.38 The just shall live by Faith therefore it is out of doubt and Question 3dly By Faith a Soul comes to have the guilt of sin taken away I pray what is that whereby a Man or Woman doth displease God Namely by his Sin guilt doth displease God Now then Faith is a means and instrument to take away that which is displeasing to God to take away the guilt of Sin In Acts 10.43 saies Peter there to Cornelius To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever beleiveth on him shall receive remission of sins And so in Chapter 13.38 39. Be it known unto you therefore men and Brethren that through this man is preached unto you forgiveness of sins and by him all that beleived are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses By believing on him we come to receive remission of sins And so in Acts 26.18 That they might receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among them which are sanctified through Faith which is in me Now then if so be that all believers all that have Faith in Christ and do exercise their Faith in Christ be justified from the guilt of sin then they are freed from all that makes them displeasing to God then by Faith they come to please God because by Faith the guilt of sin is removed which is the matter of Gods displeasure 4thly and Lastly to have done By Faith a Man or Woman comes to please God because by Faith now the very heart which is a fountain of uncleanness comes to be made clean this is the only way to have our hearts purified and cleansed Purifying their hearts by Faith saies the Apostle Acts 15.9 so in 1 Timothy 1.5 saies the Apostle there Out of a pure Heart and a good Conscience and Faith unfeigned Faith unfeigned is the means whereby the Conscience and the Heart is purified and truly hence it is that believers are called clean all that have Faith in Christ and do exercise their Faith in Christ they are all pure and every thing is clean to them Titus 1.15 To the pure all things are pure Who doth he mean by pure mark now by the contrary But unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but their very conscince is defiled By Faith now a mans heart comes to be pure which is the Fountain of all his actions all that he performs and does it must come from the Heart if the heart be clean if the Fountain be clean then the water that flows from the Fountain is clean so now the Heart being purified by Faith now the Actions come to be pure in the sight of God through Christ To a believer every thing is pure all that he meddles with and undertakes if he doth act Faith in it he pleaseth God So now you have seen the 4th thing opened how we may be sure that by Faith we come to please God Now there is a further question remaining But may not a Man or Woman please God without Faith by doing the thing that God hath commanded as now to pray and perform duties to walk uprightly c As the generality of the World do think that this is the way and means to please God I do not deny but we should do those things and the things themselves as to the substance of them are pleasing to God but yet still without Faith it is impossible to please God How that appears follows to be spoken to in the next place and then come to the Application But thus much shall suffice for the present SERMON V. Hebrews XI 6. But without Faith it is impossible to please Him YOU have heard the dependance of these Words upon the foregoing we came directly to open the Proposition as it lay before us in the Words Doct. That without Faith it is impossible for any Man or Woman alive ever to please God We have shewn you first what it is for a Man or Woman to please God Secondly we have proved to you that this pleasing of God is a matter of very great concernment it is a thing very desirable for a Man or Woman to be found pleasing God And then in the third place we came to enquire what Faith that is without which it is impossible to please God And then fourthly we came to clear it up to you that by Faith a Soul doth please God Thus far we have gone 5. Now we come in the fifth place to give you some demonstrations to make it evident to you if the Lord please to set in with it that it is impossible for any Man or Woman ever to please God without Faith It is not only said here that without Faith a man hath not pleased God or without Faith no man ever shall please God but he speaks a greater word without faith it is impossible to please God This is such a thing that it will hardly enter into the hearts of men and women to be perswaded of it What! not please God by doing what God requires why if I be diligent and faithful in my calling doth not that please God! if I perform the Duties that God requires doth not that please God! if I give