Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	faith_n	word_n	write_a	3,171	5	10.6412	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64572	A preservative of piety in a quiet reasoning for those duties of religion, that are the means and helps appointed of God for the preserving and promoting of godliness. Namely, I. Of four Christian-duties, viz. 1. Reading the Scriptures. 2. Preparation for the Lords Supper. 3. Estimation of the ministry. 4. Sanctification of the Lords-day-Sabbath. II. Of four family-duties, viz. 1. Houshold-catechising. 2. Family-prayer. 3. Repeating of sermons. 4. Singing of Psalms. With an epistle prefixt, to inform and satisfie the Christian reader, concerning the whole treatise. By William Thomas, rector of the church at Ubley in the county of Somerset.	Thomas, William, 1593-1667.	1662 (1662)	Wing T988; ESTC R37887	203,614	274

Body doth And are you further perswaded that where this never-dying Soul lodgeth and lyeth the first night after your death whe●her it be in Heaven or in Hell there it and you must lodge for ever I say Do you think all these things to be true Let me then beseech you to shew your selves Christians or to shew your selves Men and live not securely in that loose course walk not stubbornly in that wide way which will certainly bring to the worse place but on the contrary Strive to enter in at the straight-gate and go in that narrow way though it be against the hair I mean your own corrupt and undoing hearts by walking wherein you shall assuredly come at last to the better place and possess that everlasting life which is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. For this purpose I have written these following Directions and Admonitions as not knowing what Guides or Goads you will have unto that which is good when I am gone but the better you observe these and all other godly Instructions the more hope you may have to have more of them mean-while I leave these with you which if you have not other helps will be the more needful and if you have other helps will make them the more useful That I might be more profitable to you I have endeavoured plainness yet I confess there is not so much of it as I intended or desired for all men have not that gift of making known their mind to others in a plain and familiar way And besides that something must be yielded to more ripe Readers and in divers things the matter hath carryed me above the capacity of many of you but the better use you make of that which you do understand the sooner you will understand the rest and you being acquainted so long with my way of teaching and manner of speaking may know and find out better then others what my meaning is To conclude Remember that what our Saviour long since said to prove himself the Messiah is fulfilled to you which is this The poor have the Gospel preached to them or they are the persons that are Gospel-lized that is the Gospel is theirs with all the comforts of it but know also that this is not meant of the poor in state only but which a poor state oft is and ever should be an help unto of those that are poor in spirit that though they have lived honestly among their neighbours see themselves undone without a Saviour and therefore when they have little or nothing else or whether they have or no make sure to have Him labour you to be in the number of those that are thus spiritually poor as by the providence of God many of you are outwardly low It 's a lamentable thing when they that have little in this world shall have nothing in the world to come not so much as a drop of water to cool their tongue in that place of torment That it may not be so with you Let me beseech you to study your Souls to esteem the words of Gods mouth whether you read them or hear them more then your necessary food to account one thing necessary which is to sit at Jesus feet and hear his Word from those whom he sends to speak to you This will not hinder you from labouring for your living for the Word of Christ binds you to it but it 's necessary to know there is a more necessary labour that is to know what God would have done first and to do it after For your assistance wherein I desire you to make conscience of the holy Exercises of Religion which are here commended unto you that so you may be furnished for bringing forth the fruits of godliness in your whole conversation Consider what I have said and the Lord give you understanding in all things and so bless unto you these and all other Instructions that you may thrive in knowledge grow in grace and persevere in faith and obedience that I may rejoyce in you and you in me in the day of the Lord Jesus Unto whom I commend you and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an Inheritance among all them that are sanctified And so remain Your intirely-well-wishing Pastor willing to spend and be spent and now almost spent with and for you William Thomas The EPISTLE TO THE CHRISTIAN READER Dear Christians ALbeit the ensuing Instructions were purposely framed for my own Charge yet finding them to grow under my hand to a more full Treatise then was at first in my thoughts and that now they are like to come into many hands I conceive it needful to say something by way of Preface that what I have written may be more useful to any that shall think fit to read it That which I have to say concerneth the matter handled and the manner of writing The matter is wholly practical save that necessity hath compelled me for the establishing of practical Truths to mixe here and there that which is something controversal All as you may see is referred unto two heads that is Christian and Family-duties Of each sort there are four I shall before-hand give you a tast of them all The first of the first sort is the reading of the Scriptures which may well be put in the first place because the written Word is not only the Foundation of our Faith and the well-spring of saving wisdom but also the ground of Godliness the guide of Practise and a divine Directory for the performance of every good duty whereby not only the Minister and Man of God but the People of God the Sons and Daughters of the Lord God Almighty are educated unto and throughly furnished for every good work For the Scriptures are composed not as the writings of Heathens for vain-glory but for mens Salvation and the Spirit of God hath written them in a plain language that all may easily see what is said at least as far as sufficeth for the guiding of their faith and carriage and the safety of their souls and that no simple men as Chrysostom speaks might make this excuse that the Scriptures are hard for though there be difficulties therein to take down mens pride yet there is enough so plain that not only Gods workman that is the Minister but any workman may see the way to Heaven if he have eyes to see it for to see requires sight as well as light In the next place there is more particular Instructions given concerning the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and that not without need For where Salvation lies at the one end and Damnation at the other there 's great need of Direction that where we seek for the better of these we may not find the worse In the handling of this Subject I have been constrained unto a

Admonition that is not to content themselves with those outward exercises of Religion that they shall here find urged but to study and by these helps to strive after the power of Godliness For though a man cannot be Pious and Religious without observing the external means of Godliness the p●in●ipal whereof was the Sanctification of the Sabbath as one that was not so good a friend to the Sabbath as he should have been notes well yet all outward duties lose their end and their estimation yea they serve as sad witnesses against them that use them most if the reality of Religion and the power and exercise of grace doth not appear in their conversation for The exercises of Religion are for the exercise and are not to be performed much less to be rested on in stead of Godliness but to nourish Godliness and to stead us in the way of Holiness When Paul plants and Apollo waters the Lord give the increase And so sanctifie unto you these poor labours that thereby one cubit may be added to your spiritual stature May I attain that end and obtain your earnest prayers for the passing of the little remainder of my pilgrimage here in fear and faith and faithfulness you will abundantly recompence him who is and shall remain Yours sincerely in the service of the Gospel as long as God shall think fit to imploy so unworthy a servant William Thomas The Contents of the several Parts and Chapters of this Treatise The First Part. Of Christian-Duties CHAP. I. A Call to Reading of Scripture Which is urged 1. FRom Scripture-Commands pag. 1. 2. From Scripture-Reasons drawn from the end nature use and profit of the written Word of God pag. 5. 3. From Scripture-examples and the efficacy of that duty pag. 8 4. From that blessedness whereunto the Reading of Gods Word is Gods way pag. 11. 5. By answering Objections made against it pag. 11. to 16. 6. By two motives provoking to it pag. 18. CHAP. II. Instructions about the Lords Supper Wherein 1. Reasons of sollicitousness for Sacrament-Preparation are rendred viz 1. Imitation of the antient Church pag. 21. 2. Christs strict command for it pag. ibid. 3. The distinction of that Sacrament from other Ordinances pag. 23. 4. The judgement of the Church of God pag. 26. 2. A short Catechism followeth of the general grounds of Religion pag. 32 3. A larger Catechism is added concerning the Lords Supper pag. 37. CHAP. III. Of the Estimation of Ministers Where the Scripture on which it is grounded to wit 1 Thess. 5.12 13 is 1. Recited and explained briefly 2. More largely insisted on by declaring how Ministers are 1. To be known in their places viz. by a knowledge 1. Of Observation pag. 48. to 52. 2. Of Approbation pag. 48. to 52. 3 Of Imitation pag. 48. to 52. 2. To be esteemed viz. 1. For the degree very highly set forth in seven Evidences of it pag. 53. to 56. 2. For the nature and quality of it in love pag. 57. 3. For the ground of it for their works sake Where is shewed 1. That men seem to esteem Ministers when it is neither in love nor for their works sake pag. 59. 2. What reason there is why they should be esteemed for their works sake pag. 60. 3. The grounds and motives to this estimation pag. 63. to 68. CHAP. IV. Of the Lords-day Sabbath Where pag. 68. 1. The Scripture chosen to treat upon viz. Neb. 13.17 18. is 1. Vindicated pag. 69. 2. Explained pag. 69. 2. The Sabbath-subject is treated on in general And therein three things handled 1. The Rest required on the Sabbath and why and with what allowances pag. 72. 2. The thing intended in that Rest viz Holiness both in publike and private duties pag. 75. 3. The extent of the Rest and Holiness viz. for a whole day notwithstanding Objections pag. 81. 3. How the fourth Commandement is in force for observing one day in seven for ever is declared with objections answered pag. 85. to 92. 4. The Lords day is proved to be of Divine Institution pag. 92. to 97. 5. An Exhortation is annexed for the due esteeming and observing of the Lords-day-Sabbath urged From 1. The necessity of it pag. 97. 2. The commodity pag. 100. 3. The commendation pag. 102. to 105. 4. The judgements of God on Sabbath-profaners pag. 105. to 108. 5. The blessing of God on Observers pag. 108. to 118. 6. A conclusion inciting to Lords-day-love pag. 118. to 131. The Second Part. Of Family-duties CHAP. I. Of Family-Catechising And therein pag. 133. 1. Several Texts of Scripture in the Old and New Testament are brought to prove it And the common objection of taking Gods Name in vain by Catechising little Children is answered pag. 137 2. Arguments are added to confirm it As 1. The necessity of it pag. 144. 2. The profit both in regard of 1. Children pag. 146. 2. The Church of God pag. 148. 3. And the motives to perswade to it viz. 1. Examples of godly Parents in Scripture pag. 149. 2. The benefit of children pag. 152. 153. 3. The profit of Parents themselves pag. 152. 153. CHAP. II. Of Family-Prayer Where there is p. 155. 1. Proofs for it and the establishing of it 1. On Scripture-grounds in four Propositions viz. 1. The general doctrine of Scripture binds in all particulars rightly deduced from it Which Proposition is 1. Confirmed by divers instances p. 157. to 160. 2. Made use of by reciting general Scripture-grounds for Family-Prayer viz. 1. Gods greater glorry p. 161. 2. Our greater good p. 162. Wherein an Objection is answered drawn from the incapacity of several Members of Family for that duty p. 163 164. 2. Approved examples of Scripture are binding in those things wherein the case is alike whereof use is made by reciting and illustrating divers Scripture-examples tending to the confirmation of Family-Prayer p. 165. to 168. 3. Every Promise of Scripture contains in it a virtual command p. 168. 4. And every Threatning a real prohibition of the thing threatned which is made use of by opening that Scripture-threat Jer. 10.25 p. 169. 2. On Scripture-reasonings viz. Because 1. God requires Society-service as well as single p. 172. 2. There are many common concernments of Families that require joynt Prayer p. 173. 3. The persons neglecting and causes of the neglect of this duty are both sad p. 174. to 177. 2. A declaring of the time to be allotted to it Where is shewed that it should be 1. Every day p. 177. 2. More particularly Morning and Evening p. 179. CHAP. III. Of Family-Repetition of Sermons Where are laid down pag. 182. 1. Grounds of Scripture for Sermon-Repetition The first Scripture Jer. 36.2 6. where writing Sermons as an help to Repetition is argued for pag. 182. to 187. The second Scripture Col. 4.6 pag. 187. 2. Reasons thereof 1. In General pag. 188. 2. More Particularly in regard of our selves and others pag. 189. CHAP. IV. Of Singing Psalms namely

wisely considering gives this account of it Even ignorant and profane till convicted and excommunicate not only de jure but de facto have a right for that not keeping company with fornicators covetous c. 1 Cor. 5.11 is intended no otherwise but upon a sentence and judgement fore-going afore which they might for its unreasonable a punishment should be inflicted before a judgment Thus he 3. Neither is he that hath committed a notorious act before the Sacrament excommunicate de jure for it is not just to put him under so dreadful a sentence before tryal be made whether he will obstinately persist in his sin or no which there is no time for supposing the crime to be committed but a little before the Sacrament Now if this be not justly fastened upon scandalous offenders that they are presently excommunciate de jure then so much is yielded as that some Church-members may be secluded at this or that time from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper which serves to confirm what I intended to shew which is that it is agreed upon on all hands that there may be a restraint in Sacrament-admission notwithstanding Church-membership in case of gross ignorance and notorious scandal And that 's all I aim at it being not in my thoughts to press such a strictness as will hinder access to the Sacrament in its just extent but only to repress such profuse concessions as tend to the abuse of that Ordinance and the danger and discomfort both of Receivers and Admitters I have enlarged thus far much beyond my first purpose partly to clear my way to that which followeth and partly to make tryal being necessitated thereunto by the process of this discourse whether my weak thoughts might contribute any thing to a right sense in this much-debated argument It 's high time now to mind my intended business which is to apply my self to those that are babes in Christ unto whom I shall offer in the most plain way that is in a way of Catechism some Sacrament-instructions And therein shall speak something more generally to acquaint them with the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ and then proceed to such things as do more particularly and immediately concern the Sacrament of the Lords Supper General Questions and Answers for the acquainting of the unlearned with the Foundations of Religion 1. Question What is the first thing in Religion needful to be known by every Christian and especially by every Commmunicant Answer That the holy Scriptures contained in the Old and New Testament are the Word of God and a perfect rule of faith and life necessary to be known and believed of all that will be saved 1 Tim. 2.4 Joh. 5.39 20.31 2. Quest. What do the Scriptures principally teach us as more neerly concerning our Salvation Answ. Something concerning God and something concerning our selves 3. Quest. What are we to know concerning God Answ. That there is one only true and everliving God who hath made and doth govern all things in heaven and in earth 4. Quest. Is there nothing else necessary to be known concerning God Answ. Yes we are to know also that though there be but one God yet in this one God-head there are three distinct Persons the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost each of which is God and yet they are not three Gods but one God of one Substance Power and Eternity 5. Quest. What are we to know concerning our selves Answ. Something is to be known concerning our condition whilest we live in this present world and something concerning our state after death 6. Quest. Concerning our state here and namely the estate of our souls What is there more especially to be observed Answ. We should especially know and consider of our good creation miserable fall and gracious redemption 7. Quest. How was man at first created Answ. Very good for he was made after the Image of God in knowledge righteousness and true holiness 8. Quest. How comes it to pass then that men are so bad now or Whence ariseth our miserable fall Answ. From Adam's disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit whereby he cast himself and all his posterity into a state of sin and death both temporal and eternal inasmuch as in him all men sinned 9. Quest. How could they that were un-born and far from any being when Adam sinned be guilty of his sin and fall with him into so sad a state Answ. Even as Levi is said to pay Tithes in Abraham to Melchisede●k though he were not born when Abraham paid them but long after because he was in the loyns of Abraham when Melchisedeck met him so may all man-kind be said to sin in Adam because they were all in his loyns when he sinned 10. Quest. But what reason can be given why it should be so Answ. Because the Covenant which God made with Adam was made with him as a common person and so it bound not him alone but took in all his posterity who being rooted and reckoned in him did therefore fall in and with him 1 Cor. 15.21 22. with Rom. 5.12 11. Quest. Man being thus faln Shew now what is to be known concerning his Redemp●ion and restoring Answ. That when in regard of th● frailty of faln man Life could not be obtained by the righteousness of Works God did not leave him to perish but entred into a new Covenant of Grace for the restoring of him into an estate of righteousness and salvation by a Redeemer Rom. 3.23 24. 12. Quest. Who is the Redeemer Answ. The Lord Jesus Christ God and Man in one Person Isa. 59 20 21. Luk. 1.35 1 Tim. 2.5 3.16 13. Quest. Why must Christ our Redeemer and Mediator be Man Answ. That he might in the nature of man that had offended being himself without sin do and suffer whatsoever was necessary for the satisfaction of Gods justice and the salvation of sinful and lost man 14. Quest. Why must he be God Answ. That he might stand under the infinite wrath of God overcome death with all other enemies of our salvation and that he might give worth and efficacy to his satisfaction and obedience for the perfect purchasing and redeeming of us to himself 15. Quest. What is more particularly to be known concerning Jesus Christ our Redeemer Answ. We are to know that for the performance of the work of our Redemption he was in the fulness of time conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary that he dyed for our sins rose again for our justification that he ascended into heaven and there sitteth at the right hand of God to make intercession for us from whence he shall come at the day appointed of God to judge both the quick and the dead 16. Quest. Are all men made partakers of the saving

prepossessed with the Word of Christ dwelling ri●hly in you in all wisdom that is not only richly but rightly and in the true sense and meaning of it there may be no room for the contradictions of subtile and seducing men but such a resolute retaining of the Truth of God as may render you capable however it go with us in this Land or in this World of that heart-securing promise Because thou hast kept the Word of my patience I will keep thee from the hour of tentation that is either from being in it or from being hurt by it unto which I add that which followeth Behold I come quickly hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy Crown Revel 3.10 11. Finally Remember that the Word of God is the food wherewith all Saints are fed both Men and Angels for even the Angels desire and stoop low to look into it 1 Pet. 1.12 and a Table is as it were spread for them in the Church by which the manifold wisdom of God is known unto them Take therefore every day some part of this heavenly Manna this Angels food to support you in the Wilderness of this World till you come to eat it new as our Saviour saith of the Sacrament that is in a new and glorious manner to partake in the life that is held out in it in the heavenly Canaan CHAP. II. Instructions for a profitable Receiving of the Lords Supper I Now come to the second thing that is Plain Instructions for a reverent and profitable receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper It may perhaps seem much to some that I should be so sollicitous about this Ordinance and therefore for their satisfaction and the confirmation of the duty of Sacrament-preparation I shall give account of it in the ensuing reasons First Preparation to the Lords Supper is to be stood upon because it is very needful and suitable to the care of the Church of God in ancient and purer times that they who have not at all as yet received that Sacrament should give an account of their knowledge and faith before they receive it for though a necessary fundamental and more remote right thereunto be presupposed in their Baptism yet because they themselves were then uncapable of making any promise and profession in their own persons therefore their clear full and next right to partake in the Lords Supper ariseth from their declaration with their own mouths of their knowledge of consent unto and true purpose to perform what their Baptism bindeth them unto or was then promised by others in their behalf Without this though I grant it may be in several wayes required and performed how shall their fitness for this Ordinance we speak of be discerned or the Church whereof they are Members and with which they are to communicate be so well satisfied But in this it being learnedly and largely spoken to by others I shall not need to move any further This only I add that for the help of the weaker sort of those of whom I here speak to give a reason of their faith and fitness for the Lord Table I have composed these ensuing Directions Secondly Another reason may be taken from the weight that the Scripture lays on this work of Sacrament-preparation in 1 Cor. 11.27 28 29 30. Where may be noted first a precise Precept for Examination Let a man examine and so and not otherwise let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup which shews that a special distinct Preparation is required for that Bread and that Cup that is that distinct Ordinance Secondly This command is charged upon the Conscience by laying before the Unworthy Communicant two heart-affecting and affrighting things 1. On the one side the greatest sin and the most horrible guilt For whosoever shall eat this Bread and drink this Cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the Body and Bloud of the Lord. How high is that Lord How dreadful therefore is that Guilt 2. On the other side there 's the greatest danger and saddest doom For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords Body that is eternal damnation without repentance and temporal judgement though that be prevented For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep Thus is that great Precept of Examination before Sacrament-participation environed as it were on both hands that it may be more effectually guarded against all gain-sayers urged on all Communicants and observed by all Christians to strike into their hearts a reverence of that Ordinance Here I do not deny but there are the same things for substance set before us in regard of the hearing of the Word whilest it is said He that believeth not shall be damned Mar. 16.16 and he that heareth and lets it slip shall not escape Heb. 2.1 2 3. and therefore People had need not only to hear but to take heed how they hear and prepare for it Eccles 5.1 But yet I do not find that so much is spoken all at once and so fully spoken and so fearfully spoken concerning mis-hearing only as concerning this mis-receiving the reason whereof may be as I humbly conceive because in unworthy partaking of the Lords Supper there is a cumulative abuse or a double sin that is not only the Sacrament is abused but that Word of God also is contemned which makes it a Sacrament as also because the Body and Bloud of Christ though offered also in the Word yet are not in such a manner presented as in the Lords Supper as will further appear in the next reason Mean while to close up this Christians may consider that when God is pleas'd to speak more plainly precisely distinctly more fully and dreadfully then he justly expects that what he saith should affect us more and be of more effect with us Read Jer. 25.30 Amos 3.6.8 Deut. 1.42 43. with Numb 14.41 to the end Thirdly A serious Preparation proper to the Sacrament of the Body and Bloud of our Lord Jesus Christ is the rather urged because the same thing that is Christ with all his benefits is offered unto us in a different way in the Word and Sacrament which makes it a distinct Ordinance and so imposeth a peculiar preparation for it which I do not at all speak to set one Ordinance of God against another or to lessen the reverence of the Word Preached which is that great Ordinance of God whereby men are converted and sayed or to give way to an unprepared coming to the Word which I fear is the fault of many who seem to come with high reverence to the Sacrament but what I say is only to put Christians in mind that every distinct Ordinance of God is to have its due and distinct respect and therefore that there is some other and further good frame of heart to be endeavoured when the Sacrament is to