Selected quad for the lemma: sin_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
sin_n	apostle_n	law_n	transgression_n	5,619	5	10.4785	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A37263	Truth and innocency vindicated against falshood & malice exprest in a late virulent pamphlet intituled, (A true account of a most horrid and dismal plague began at Rothwell, &c.) without printer's licenser's or author's name thereunto) : together with an account of the Kettering visitation / by R. Davis ... ; to which is added, Mr. Rob. Betson's answer to so much as concerns him in the said libel.	Davis, Richard, 1658-1714.; Betson, Robert. Answer to some part of that pamphlet called, A plain and just account of a plague being at Rothwell.	1692 (1692)	Wing D435; ESTC R10047	98,027	94

the Soul and antecedent to this Divine supernatural Power which is no other than Arminianism And to allow it one minute before Christ's uniting himself to the Soul is all one as to allow it him from his Cradle or all three together 12. A Man may simply without Self-design or Self-Interest aim at the Glory of God and yet be an Hypocrite still Answ This is attested by judicious or rather malicious N. A. All the occasion that he had for his false Testimony was that there was something spoke to this purpose That some may possibly perform some obedience to the Law not to get worldly advantage thereby or to gain the applause of Men but because God commands it yet seeking to be justified thereby it is not right but hypocritical because it is not done in Faith in the manner that the Lord requireth it and because it is seeking to be justified by the works of the Law The Apostle testifies for his Countrymen That they had a zeal for God viz. in obeying his Law but notwithstanding it was not according to knowledge because thereby they went about to establish their own righteousness and did not submit themselves unto the righteousness of God Rom. 10. 23. 13. The Law giveth 1. A little sight of Sin 2. A killing sight of Sin 3. An impious sight of Sin Answ Here also is a little mistake in the Information for it was not said an impious but an impure sight of Sin Thus I explained these three Heads 1. The Law abstractedly consider'd gives to the Sinner in a state of Nature in meer legal Convictions a short sight of Sin Reason Because they never seek out under the greatest conviction of Sin for any Righteousness better than their own to be justified by whereas if the Law abstractedly consider'd did give to a Sinner in a state of Nature a thorow-sight of Sin he would never so often as he doth lean upon a Justification by his own works nor pacify the rage of his Conscience with his own doings This the Law of God tho' perfect in itself cannot do to a Man in an unregenerate state in that it is weak through the flesh therefore God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for Sin condemned Sin in the flesh Rom. 8. 3. 2 dly It is but a killing sight of Sin Reason This is plain from Scripture for to this the Apostle witnesseth when he says expresly the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life 2 Cor. 3. 6. which killing Letter he calls ver 7. The ministration of death ver 9. The ministration of Righteousness to which may be added as further proof Rom. 7. 9. 3 dly The Law in meer legal Convictions gives an impure sight of Sin First Reason The state is impure therefore all things in that state are impure too For Illustration thereof I may at least safely allude to those passages Haggai 2. 11 12 13 14. but more plainly proved from that as well as other places of Scripture Tit. 1. 15. Vnto the pure all things are pure but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their mind and conscience is defiled Second Reason A Conviction of Sin in a state of Nature hath a tendency to irritate Sin the more proved from Rom. 7. 5. For when we were in the flesh i. e. in a natural state the motions of Sin or the passions or ferment of Sin which were by the Law viz. convincing or restraining did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death Whence it is evident 1. That the Law in a state of Nature by its Convictions doth ferment and irritate Sin 2. That Sin thus irritated doth work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death To which agreeth what is experimentally recorded ver 7 8. says the Apostle there For I had not known Lust except the Law had said Thou shalt not covet But did this Conviction diminish or extinguish his Concupiscence No but rather encreased it for it instantly follows ver 8. But Sin taking occasion by the Commandment wrought in me all manner of Concupiscence Yet it is true the Law by God's Ordination oftentimes restrains the outward Acts of Sin even then when Sin defiles the Conscience most with monstrous Unbelief and a violent establishment of a Man 's own Righteousness Now considering all this it is undeniably plain to me that the Law abstractedly consider'd in meer legal Convictions giveth to the Sinner an impure sight of Sin whether we consider the impurity of that state that defileth all things or the effects of such Convictions WE whose Names are under-written being constant Hearers of Mr. Davis in and about Kimbolton do testify and affirm That his Accusers have dealt injuriously with him in wresting his Words and perverting his Sentences that his Account is according to Truth and that the tenor of his Preaching amongst us has been to advance the Free-grace of God in Christ and to promote Gospel-holiness upon Evangelical Principles Witness our Hands Edward Marlin Stephen Richards William Custance John Conquest Samuel Gurrey Thomas Woodham Robert Elum John Wollaston George Hull These are said to be preached at Wellemborough 14. Such as preach up Qualifications are legal Preachers keep People in Bondage and are Enemies to their comfort Answ There has been and is too much preaching of such and such legal Qualifications not only antecedent to but abstracted from Faith Nay Faith itself is made no more of by them than a work of the Law and as for such I continue to maintain they are legal Preachers 15. People must beware of three sorts of Preachers Babylonish Graceless and such as mix the Law with the Gospel Answ Suppose it true I do not see how it can be charged as a Crime nor how can any understand my thoughts so as to know whom I mean But if Mr. King takes it to himself I shall heartily consent thereunto 16. Saints under the Old Testament had no spiritual life but in doing Answ This I asserted viz. That Saints since the giving forth of the Law at Mount Sinai had most of their spiritual life from their obedience thereunto And now I shall give my Reasons for my Assertion 1. Tho' I grant that all before the coming of Christ that were saved were saved the same way that the Saints now are viz. by the blood of Christ the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world yet whether they knew that way of salvation as well as Saints now is to me a Question especially when I weigh these Scriptures 1 Pet. 10. 11 12. Ephes 3. 8 9 10 11. 1 Cor. 2. 9 10. From which Scriptures with divers others well consider'd 't is evident to me there is a far greater discovery made now to the Saints in Gospel-days than to them before 2 dly I query whether they had not much of their Peace of Conscience from their Obedience and Sacrifices And this to me is undeniably proved from

testified against such notorious Forgeries some whereof were pretended to be delivered publickly others in private discourse accordingly therefore I shall divide them The first were alledged to be spoke more publickly 21. To preach Marks of Sanctification is a Doctrine of an old Covenant strain Answ If they had added legal Marks I would have stood by it and so I believe I expressed it But saving Faith has its saving Effects inseparably attending it which I often preach all Scriptures quoted to that purpose are expressive of the inseparable Effects of saving Faith 22. Sanctification is no Evidence of our Justification Answ I have often expressed it that some may mistake a legal Holiness for an evangelical one i. e. They are apt to conclude as I once my self was that when they have such a Catalogue of meer legal Qualifications to boast of then they think they may believe which I apprehend to be a seeking to be justified by the works of the Law But as for excluding Faith and its Effects from being Evidences I never did nor is it my judgment 23. Disciples grieve Christ when they mourn for Sin Answ But the truth of the matter is this I was thus glossing on that passage John 14. 1. Let not your heart be troubled That Christ seemed to be concerned that his Disciples were so grieved at the news of his departure And see good Reader how Malice has perverted it There needs no proof of so plain a matter therefore their ridiculous Confutation fights against a Man of Straw of their own setting up 24. God is the ultimate Object of a strong justifying Faith and Jesus of Nazareth the mediate Object of a weak Faith Answ I never used to separate the Godhead from the humane Nature What then I laboured to make out was this That weak Believers have not so full and distinct a view of the blessed Object of Faith as they that are more clear and strong in Faith This I think is so undeniable that it needs no further Proof than the stating of it thus 25. Christ and Believers are One in Intercession Answ That which was expressed in Prayer was this We are One with him viz. united to him who is our Intercessor This I think will appear afalse Doctrin to none but such as deny a Believer's Union to Christ 26. Believers dishonour Christ by relying on Promises Answ I then spake to this effect 'T is possible some may rely on the Letter of the Promise and not regard Christ in the Promise and they that do so do disrespect and dishonour Christ. Which Truth if these Libellers dare deny they are not fit to be talked with Thus far concerning the Charges of a publick Nature in Cambridge Now follows the Testimony of the Hearers concerning them WE whose Names are here under-written being present when Mr. Davis preached that Sermon in Cambridge when those erronious Doctrines were pretended to be delivered and hearing instantly of the misconstruction of his words through Ignorance and Malice did then while it was fresh in our memories bear our Testimonies against such notorious Falshoods and now testify the whole was false as charged and the matters true as stated in these Papers Jo. Craske James Toolidge Jo. Burges Thomas Greene James Speckman Andrew Craske Stephen Taylor George Godfrey Edward Rogers Joseph Juit William Bentchy Nicholas Spillman Henry Ellis Nathaniel Tench The three following false Charges were words wrested in private discourse which they put upon the Rack to make them confess what they please 27. To believe our Sins are pardoned is justifying Faith Answ To this purpose I have preached often To believe on Jesus for the pardon of Sin is justifying Faith And it was further added to this purpose That saving Faith doth accept of and rely on the pardong Grace that Christ hath already purchased Luke 14. 17. For all things are now ready The Apostle declareth that the first thing he preached to the Corinthians as the foundation of their Faith was That Christ diedfor their Sins according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15. 3. And this they had been commanded to believe I never said that nothing was true Faith but what amounted to that degree of positive unwavering and sensible believing that our Sins are pardoned But this is certain that God giveth to many of his Children great persuasion of the pardon of their Sins and who dare deny that to be justifying Faith I do grant that Formalists and wicked persons may have a false presumption of the pardon of their Sin but this doth not impeach the Faith of God's Elect at all I only contend for that Faith that is of the operation of the Holy Ghost which purifies the heart lip and life I think it hath not been so well done of our latter Divines to depart from that definition of Faith given always by our first Reformers who as they lead the Van so no doubt they had most of the Spirit of Christ I judge it a safe way to form a definition of Faith from the holy Scriptures of Truth rather than from the dark low Experiences of weak Believers This may be explained as low as is consistent with Truth for the comforting of doubting Souls See the Apostles definition of Faith Hebr. 11. 1. with many other places and this Faith the Scripture presses us to Hebr. 3. 6. 10 22 35 c. and this was the Apostles Faith Gal. 2. 20. 28. Faith is nothing but a Persuasion that my Sins are pardoned Answ This hath been answered already and so I pass it by 29. Believers may not take Comfort in the actings of their Graces Answ This I do not remember but believe it to be an untruth For no doubt persons have peace and joy in believing and that is the acting of grace The exercise of Faith and other graces as flowing from it is very comfortable But this I have opposed and others contend for that inherent qualifications without Faith can be the actings of grace or bring any true comfort to the Soul WE whose Names are under written being then present at the discourse between Mr Hunt and Mr. Davis in Cambridge did hear Mr. Hunt with great prejudice wrest Mr. Davis ' s Words and ' Sentences and did then oppose and contradict him in so doing And we do protest the Particulars are true as Mr. Davis stateth them and false as the Informers do Jo. Craske Thomas Greene James Coolidge Henry Ellis The following Charges are miscellaneous being chiefly Sentences dropt in private discourse miserably rackt and tortured by the Libeller and not so affixed to places 30 Charge Whatever is supernatural is saving Grace Answ That that was said was this All saving Grace is supernatural And the Bedford Gentleman was then contradicted when he wrested it 31. Zeal is to be preferred before Judgment Answ This also was a wresting of words in private discourse and the occasion was this One in discourse with me at Kimbolton who it seems was highly conceited

Rom. 9. 30 nor as much as to seek and ask after it Rom. 10. 20. But Isaias is very bold and saith I was found of them that sought me not I was made manifest to them that asked not after me Whilst the Jews were rejected with all their Qualifications Rom. 9. 31 32 chap. 10. 31. Therefore this Consideration destroys all such antecedent Qualifications Arg. 7. The holy Scriptures of Truth declare That Christ must first come to the Soul before the Soul can move to Christ For the Soul is dead in Sin before the first moment of Spiritual Life and the first moment of spiritual Life is when Christ actually uniteth himself to the Soul And how can they that are dead prepare themselves for Life before Life comes Arg. 8. The Word of God says That the Law cannot give Life For if there had been a Law given which could have given Life to the Apostate Race of Adam verily Righteousness should have been by the Law And if the Works of the Law cannot give Life they cannot prepare for Christ Arg. 9. The Gospel invites Sinners as Sinners and not as qualified Sinners to come to Christ If the Heavy-laden be called Mat. 11. the Lame Blind Hault and Maim'd are invited also Luke 14. 21. Mat. 22. So also the Highway-Sinners are compell'd to come in as they are Mat. 22. Luke 14. 28. Arg. 10. Lastly This Doctrine of previous Qualification contradicts not only the Doctrine of the Bible and of the first Reformers but also the Twelfth ond Thirteenth Article of the Church of England If any would be further satisfied in this Point let them consult Mr. Bridge of Evangelical Repentance And a Book lately Printed styl'd The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification which is a very solid and substantial Piece And now I shall proceed to the remaining Charges Faith is a Perswasion that our Sins are Pardoned I am almost perswaded Mr. Chandler never heard it But my Judgement is Faith is a Perswasion of the Pardon of Sin and Acquitment by the Lord Jesus Why should the word be offensive since it is Scriptural 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it self comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to perswade In that Prophetick Description of New Testament-Faith it is God shall persuade Japhet c. Abraham's Faith is defined by the same word Rom. 4. 21. The Apostle expresses his own Faith and the Faith of the Elect in the same words Rom. 8. 38. Gal. 5. 8. 2 Tim. 1. 12. To believe a Man's Sins are Pardon'd is Justifying Faith Answ 1. Their racking of Sentences I mind not But this I do affirm That Justifying Faith is to Believe on Christ for the Pardon of Sin which he has purchased and not a blind Consent of the Will to I know not what 2. That every Act of True Faith hath particular Application in it My Act of Faith relateth not to Sin in general but my Sin 3. Faith looks to Christ for what he hath already done for a Pardon already purchasad and an Acquitment already obtained Mat. 22. 4. Luk. 14. 17. 4. The least degree of True Faith hath some Assurance in it tho' not so much as extinguisheth nor yet so much as keepeth under but always so much as doth oppose and disapprove of unbelieving Doubts and Fears 5. Stronger Faith carries stronger Assurance with it The more clearly and strongly I rely on the Righteousness and Strength that are in Christ for me the more firmly I can conclude I am made Righteous in his Righteousness The Argument is Mr. Pemble's against Bellarmine which Mr. B in vain attempts to overthrow 6. Lastly The Spirit often-times cometh in a sealing Promise with irresistible Light assuring the Conscience of a Believer that his Sins are Pardoned and he is Justified so that during this time of Sealing all Doubts Fears and Questionings are silenc'd though when this is past they may revive again And who dare exclude this from relating to Justifying Faith Let 's have a care of contradicting and blaspheming the Operations of the Holy Ghost and offending against the Generation of the Just who have more or less met with such Promises Some will put you upon trying your State by such Marks of Sincerity Love to the Brethren Universal Obedience and Love to God and Christ But this way he denied and said Men make Idols of them and worship'd Stones and Stocks And such as put them on such ways of Tryal are like Baal ' s Priests It is to no purpose for me to fight with their wrested words I shall only therefore deliver my Judgment plainly as to Marks and Signs 1. I judge there is no Holiness or gracious Qualifications preceding Faith 2. To set up these as the Marks and Signs of our being Justified is 1. The greatest Cheat put upon the Soul in the World 2. It is the greatest Affront put upon the Spirit and Blood of Christ For thereby they thrust these that are Nothing into the Room and Throne of the Mediator and Comforter and they that do so are guilty of Spiritual and Mental Idolatry as if they worshiped Stocks and Stones As to that of Baal's Priests I remember nothing of But let the Coiners of this New Gospel that preach such Doctrines look to it lest they justly deserve the Name Some will tell you You must examine your selves whether you be in the Faith or no But I say Look for no Marks and Signs but a risen Jesus seek for no other I affirm That Faith is a great Evidence yea and Self-Evidence too Heb. 11. 1. The great Evidence of Faith is the once Crucified but now Risen Jesus It is Jesus that died is risen again and is set down at the Right-Hand of the Father and ever liveth to intercede They that look off of him to look within seek for a living Christ in a dead Frame I never was against Self-Examination performed in the Light of Faith acting directly toward the Object At Willingham he preached That Christians must not try themselves by Marks and Signs of Grace This is as if a Person should shut the Doors and Windows of his House to let in more Light And produced Mat. 12. 38 39. to reprove this way of Heart-Examination which he said lay with Awe upon his Spirit and he could not but mention it viz. An evil and adulterous Generation seeketh after a Sign And added O Generation of Professors I may say of Preachers that seek after a Sign c. 1. This is further my Judgment That the Scriptural Marks and Signs which are the inseparable Effects and Concomitants of Faith are one way or other some Evidence of our Justification 2. That they do also as Dr. Goodwin phraseth it eek out encourage and strengthen our Faith in a certain way and measure 3. That Souls are more prone to look to them than to Christ and his Grace the Object of Faith and that is very dangerous Spiritual Sense and Enjoyments though given us is something within us But Faith

dependeth wholly upon our Obedience as the condition to which it is promised and therefore it puts us into a condition or State of Life Imperfect and subject to Change as Obedience it self is that we are not perfectly justified till Obedience be perfected 7. That by their Obedience Believers serve God and are fitted for Heaven and their Afflictions are Paternal Corrections to quicken them and to purge them but not inflicted as effects of the Curse 7. That Believers by their Obedience obtain continue and perfect their Right to Heaven and that their Afflictions are Fruits of the Curse of the Law Christ having purchased only that it should not Damn us but left it to the Father to Punish us for Sins in this Life as he shall think fit 8. We are made partakers of Christ's Righteousness and the Benefits thereof by Faith and that Faith is a trusting in the Promise of Life for the sake of Christ's Righteousness 8. That Faith in its whole Latitude is believing and obeying the Gospel that by this we are made partakers of the Benefits of Christ he having only purchased this Grant or Law that they which Obey him shall be Saved not that his Obedience should Save them 9. That Justification is the acceptance of a Sinner with God as Righteous through the Righteousness of Christ imputed to him whereby he hath a full right to Eternal Life 9. Justification is nothing else but the Pardon of Sin i. e. the not exacting the punishment of Sin due by the Law of Works and an acceptance of Man so far and so long as he performeth the Conditions of sincere Obedience These I unfeignedly Assent and Consent to These I Declare and protest against Rich. Davis Richard Davis BEhold the present controversie rightly Stated and tho many of the present Adversaries seem to approve of the Old Protestant Scheme and to be shie of the other yet let their Principles Doctrins and Expressions be persued close and you will catch them in the Neonomian Scheme and many of those they call Anti-Nomian flow genuinely from the Old Protestant Scheme I shall add no more but heartily Pray that the Spirit of Truth would guide us into all Truth as it is in Jesus Amen And that the World may know what my Judgment is in Matters of Faith I do heartily declare my Assent unto and Approbation of these following Articles I. Of the Scripture THE Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testament are the Word of God and the only Rule of Faith and Life II. Of God There is but one only the living and true God who is a Spirit Infinite Eternal and unchangeable in his Being Wisdom Power Holiness Goodness and Truth There are three Persons in the God-head the Father eternally begetting the Son eternally begotten of the Father and the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son the same in Essence equal in all the incommunicable and communicable Attributes of the Divine Nature III. Of God's Decree The Decrees of God are his Eternal Purpose according to the Council of his Will whereby for his own Glory he hath fore-ordain'd whatsoever comes to pass which Decrees he executes in the Works of Creation and Providence IV. Of Creation The work of Creation is God's making all things of nothing by the word of his Power in the space of six Days and all very good and after other Creatures he Created Man Male and Female after his own Image in Knowledge Righteousness Holiness with Dominion over the Creatures V. Of Providence God's Works of Providence are his most Holy Wise and Powerful Preserving and Governing all his Creatures and all their Actions VI. The Covenant of Works When God Created Man he entred into a Covenant of Life with him as the common Head and Representative of all Mankind upon condition of perfect Obedience forbidding him to Eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil upon pain of Death which Covenant our first Parents being left to the freedom of their own Will broke and so fell from the Estate wherein they were Created by sinning against God and all Mankind descending from Adam by ordinary Generation sinn edwith him and Fell with him in his first Transgression VII Of Sin by the Fall The Sinfulness of every Man descending from Adam by an ordinary Generation consists in the Guilt of Adam's first Sin the want of Original Righteousness and the Corruption of his whole Nature which is commonly call'd Original Sin together with all Actual Sins whereby he is opposite to all Good and bent to all Evil and liable to God's Wrath the Curse of the Law Death and all Miseries Spiritual Temporal and Eternal The remainders of this Original sinful Nature acts even in the Saints when their State is changed through Grace VIII Of Christ Christ Jesus the Eternal Son of God became Man being conceived in the Womb of the Virgin Mary by the Holy-Ghost and thereby taking our Nature upon him continueth to be God and Man in two distinct Natures and one Person for ever IX Our Lord Jesus Christ both in his humbled and exalted state executeth the Office of a Prophet of a Priest and of a King to his Church X. Of the Prophetical Office of Christ Christ executes the Office of a Prophet in the times both of the Old and New Testament in revealing by his Word and Spirit the whole Mind and Will of God for Man's Salvation XI Of the Priesthood of Christ Christ executeth the Office of a Priest in once offering up himself a Sacrifice without Spot to God to be a Reconciliation for the Sins of all them that shall be Saved and in making continual Intercession for them at the Right Hand of the Majesty on High XII Of the Kingly Office of Christ Christ as our Redeemer executeth the Office of a King in calling out of the World a People to himself in Ruling and Defending them and in restraining and conquering all his and their Enemies XIII Of the Covenant of Grace The Covenant of Grace was made with Christ as the second Adam and in him with all the Elect as his Seed and was made manifest by freely providing and offering to Sinners a Mediator and Life and Salvation through him XIV Of Iustification Those whom God effectually Calleth he also freely Justifieth not by infusing Righteousness into them but by pardoning their Sins and by accounting and accepting their Persons as Righteous not for any thing wrought in them or done by them but for Christ's sake alone not by imputing Faith it self nor any other Evangelical Obedience unto them as their Righteousness but by imputing the Obedience and Satisfaction of Christ unto them They receiving and resting on him and his Righteousness by Faith which Faith they have not of themselves it is the Gift of God And this Faith is not a dead Faith but worketh by Love and is accompanied with all other saving Graces XV. Of Faith Faith in the General is a giving credit