Selected quad for the lemma: sin_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
sin_n	condemn_v	flesh_n	likeness_n	3,708	5	10.8945	5	false

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

therefore with this Assertion That if Justification be an immanent Act of God as God absolutely considered it is an Act of Eternity But if a transient Act of God considered as Judge and an Act of his revealed Will 't is an Act of Sin The Law doth not prepare for Conversion The Spirit of God doth not make use of the Law for Conversion I Answer The Law or the Covenant of Works doth not prepare for Conversion That the Spirit of God doth not make use of the Law in Conversion is an addition of their own Mr. Davis objected in his Sermon But the Law is said to convert To this he answered That it is the Law of the Gospel which is this I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy c. The Law cannot convert because the works of the Law are under a curse to the Soul To the best of my remembrance I framed my Objection thus It is written Psal 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul Answer By this Law is meant the Doctrine of the Gospel or the great Law of distinguishing Grace held forth in the Gospel puts forth converting power which was proved by comparing this with Gal. 2. 19. Rom. 8. 2. together with Rom. 9. 15 16 and 18 as also with 2 Tim. 1. 9. lastly with Rom. 3. 27. from all which places 't is evident the Gospel converts a Soul Rom. 1. 16. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth So 1 Cor. 4. 15. For in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel 'T is also evident from the holy Scriptures That as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse Gal. 3. 10. How then can the works of the Law convert a Soul The Law giveth an impious sight of Sin My judgment is That Convictions of the Law in a state of Nature are impure because the state is so and the effect thereof in such a state are impure also Rom. 7. 5 7 8. see more under Head 14. All the Law doth is to drive persons farther off from Christ and make some go away and hang themselves This is put with a false grain too This I preached That the Law convincing and condemning a Man for Sin in a state of Nature hath a tendency to drive Souls to despair and that is far enough from Christ And some forced with the terrors thereof have executed themselves witness Judas Mr. Davis preached Believe not others who prophesie Lyes in the Name of the Lord. Whosoever weareth a rough garment to deceive and tells them of John Baptist ' s preparing the way and preaching up his roughness his preparatory works and that you must bring these qualifications they prophesie Lyes in the Name of the Lord. Persons misery is their qualification I am not concerned how they wrest matters But this I affirm That they that preach up the preparatory works as qualifications that must recommend persons to Christ so far they depart from their Commission and so far they prophesie Lyes in the Name of the Lord. And if there be any thing that makes persons the Subjects of God's free mercy it is misery The Physician is not for the whole but the sick Such as preach up Preparatory Works are Legal Preachers hinder Peoples Comfort and keep them under Bondage We should begin with high Confidence and hold it fast unto the end Such as are afore-mentioned are Legal Preachers hinder Peoples Comfort and keep them under Bondage The Gospel commands Sinners to believe and to be strong in Faith whether they attain to it or no. The Gospel hath no Degrees of Commands As first commanding a more imperfect Faith mix'd with a great deal of Unbelief and then a more perfect Faith and less Unbelief The Imperfections of our Obedience must not be the Measures of Gospel-Commands I never said Sinners must arrive to such a degree of Faith before it can be saving But this I do affirm That the Gospel doth require of Sinners to believe in Hope against all Hope And there are several Instances in the New Testament of such great Faith at first And the Word of God commands us to hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast to the end Heb. 3. 6 14. chap. 10. 19 22. and likewise ver 35. There is the Redeemer Ay saith the Soul but I must be humbled more and pray more I say you may repent and be damn'd for this is slighting the Gospel Do you know how much you would have afore you come to Christ I Answer I shall not mind their wrested Sentences But this I have preach'd and this I will stand by That Souls that delay their Obedience to the Gospel-Command of believing on the Lord Jesus Christ under pretence that they are not humbled enough and qualified enough for Christ do slight the Gospel I also say further That there are many that have had legal Repentance enough that are now in Hell It is said Judas repented and yet he perished ☞ Sinners must come to Christ immediately and be united to him in all their Sins and Filth This I know I have preached as my Judgment That Sinners must come to Christ as Sinners and not as made Saints first And the Gospel biddeth them come immediately To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts Heb. 1. 3 7 8. Nor do I know where they must leave their Sins afore they come to Christ In that moment they are United to Christ is the Change made they do not continue in a filthy State any longer Yet I do not see how their State is changed or they can leave their Sins before an actual Union with Christ Some hold There must be Preparatory Works Which is a Stumbling-block I Answer That such as do preach up Preparatory Works as afore-mention'd do lay Stumbling-blocks in the way of Sinners A Person may sincerely desire after Holiness and yet be nothing Nay he may desire Christ to reign over him and yet not be savingly convinced Answ I do think it is possible a Person may have sincere desires after that which the New-coin'd Divinity calls the Lesser Holiness afore Faith as Conditional of their Justification and yet be nothing because they seek to be Justified by the Works of the Law And so it was with the Jews Rom. 9. 31 32. Rom. 10. 20 21. And it is possible they may desire Christ to reign over them to subdue many of their Iniquities to this intent that for their subdued Iniquities they might be Justified When then are you savingly convinced You are savingly convinced when you can believe Christ died for you Robert Page attested as affectionately in this as when he witnessed Mr. Bear was one of us when he is not But to the Matter in hand I judge then a Soul savingly convinced when he is so convinced of Sin and Misery that he sees nothing but the Righteousness