Selected quad for the lemma: sin_n
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A64966
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Odos gath operbochēns the more excellent way to edifie the Church of Christ, or, A discourse concerning love : the design of which is to revive that grace (now under such decays) among Protestants of all perswasions / by Nathanael Vincent ...
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Vincent, Nathanael, 1639?-1697.
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1684
(1684)
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Wing V415; ESTC R1364
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76,586
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160
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Light in his Strength and according to his will and fulfill ye not the lusts of the flesh Without this walking 't is a vain thing to pretend to be in Christ or to hope for Justification by his Righteousness for the Son of God was made a Sacrifice for sin that the Righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in them who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8. 4. What kind of Saints would there be What exemplary Members What illustrious Assemblies if every one had in a greater measure crucified the flesh with its lusts and affections and had a more attentive and obedient ear to hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches You see the Resemblance between the Church of Christ and a Body In the Second place I am to tell you what kind of body the Church of Christ is 1. The Church is a Body of Men. Ezek. 34. 31. And ye my flock the flock of my pasture are men and I am your God saith the Lord God I grant the Elect Angels have Christ to be their Head but all the Apostate Ones were left in that misery into which by sin they brought themselves And though the Son of God be the Lord and Keeper of the Holy Angels yet he is not their Redeemer as he is of his Church for whom he died When this Saviour was born the Tongues of Angels proclaimed peace on earth good will towards men Luk. 2. 14. Though the World lye in wickedness yet the Church is gathered out of the World The Saints themselves were sometimes dead in sins and trespasses and walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the power of the air fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature the Children of wrath even as others Eph. 1. 1 2 3. All the stones of Gods spiritual Temple are dug out of the common Quarry of Mankind and to keep them humble they should often look to the rock from whence they were hewen All the Sons and Daughters of the Lord Almighty are of Adams lapsed race without exception The Grace of God is admirable in making a Church of such as these The Body of the first Adam was formed out of the dust but the Mystical body of the second Adam was formed out of that which is a great deal worse a meer masse of corruption And as there is not a Saint but was once a Sinner so those Sinners who are chosen and called and made faithful they are not of the wise commonly or of the mighty or noble of the World But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the World to confound the things that are mighty and base things of the world and things despised yea and things that are nor to bring to nought things that are that no flesh should glory in his presence but according as it is written He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord 1 Cor. 1. 27. 31. 2. The Church is a Body governed by the best Laws The Lord himself is their Law-giver and he is holy and just and good and his Commands are like himself holy just and good also Rom. 7. 12. There is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Law of sin which the men of the world obey This Law commands what the Law of God forbids forbids what the Law of God commands Darkness and light are not more contrary than these two Laws are But this Law of Sin is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Law of Death Obedience is destructive to him that yields it The Law of the Lord is quite of another nature there is life and peace in the doing of it Prov. 7. 2. Keep my Commandments and live and my Law as the apple of thine eye Psal 119. 165. Great peace have they that love thy Law and nothing shall offend them The more the Church conforms to the Laws of her Lord and Head she recovers the more of the Image of God which was lost by the Fall and partakes the more of the Divine Nature escaping that corruption that lust causes in the World This Law is written in the Heart which is changed and renewed and the Heart being suited to the Commandment delights in obedience Psal 40. 8. I delight to do thy will O my God yea thy law is within my heart This Law is of the highest authority therefore the Saints should endeavour to keep it without spot and whatever penalties they suffer they will never have reason to repent of their faithfulness to their Lord or their obedience to his Precepts 3. The Church is the wisest Body and Society in the World Indeed all the World besides are a company of meer Fools and mad-men Are not they fools that hate knowledge are not they fools that joyn with Satan to undo themselves are not they fools who venture for a meer trifle a little sinful gain or pleasure to lose their precious Souls which are of more value than the whole World put together are not they fools who have Salvation Life and Immortality offered to them and neglect the offer who are warned to flee from future Wrath and the vengeance of eternal Fire and yet will needs run thither and are angry with any that endeavour to stop them Oh how has sin bereaved men of their Wits and Understandings But the Church of Christ is sayingly enlightened all her true members made wise unto Salvation They are so wise as to make their peace with God believing in Jesus and relying on his blood for Reconciliation they are so wise as to follow the Lamb and that path must needs be best and safest wherein he leads them They are so wise as to make timely provision for eternity and to commit the keeping of their Souls into a strong hand which never lost any that it undertook to keep and to secure Therefore the Apostle speaks with so much confidence 2 Tim. 12. I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day What is the wisdom of this World compared with the Churches wisdom which is spiritual the Apostle undervalues the policy of Princes in comparison of the Gospel that policy comes to nothing this Gospel guides to glory 1 Cor. 2. 6 7. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect yet not the wisdom of this world nor of the Princes of this world who yet get most by their wisdom that come to nothing but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory 4. The Church is a Body of great beauty and excellency called therefore in the Song of Solomon the fairest among women Cant. 5. 1. Sion is affirmed to be the perfection of beauty Psal 50. 2. The Church is excellent in regard of her Original for she is of Heavenly
they fall and notoriously discover their unsoundness they wound the reputation of Religion unto the Churches grief and disadvantage and the hardning of the Ungodly in their wickedness their Convictions hereby being quite and clean extinguished 3. The Churches increase is likewise hindred by imprudent Members Such are not so careful to avoid appearances of evil themselves and they blaze abroad the Infirmities of others which love should find a Mantle to cover nay many times they hear and report the most errant lies and slanders whereby not only the Person slandered but likewise Religion and the Church suffers These fools deserve to be lash'd severely for their inconsiderate talkativeness and uncircumspect walking And they should remember that the Disciples of Christ are to be wise as Serpents and harmless as Doves Mat. 10. 16. 4. Erroneous Members and Church-dividers are deeply guilty of hindring the increase of the Church Errour has a natural tendency to division for they that speak perverse things endeavour to draw away Disciples after them Act. 20. 30. And Division is a grand Impediment to edification The Church of Christ after the giving of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost did grow exceedingly and one reason was because the Multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul Act. 4. 32. But division weakens the Churches strength and turns her own Members against her by turning them one against another The Apostle severely rebukes the Corinthians upon this score 1 Cor. 3. 3. For ye are yet carnal for whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions are ye not carnal and walk as men q. d. This unpeaceable and dividing temper makes you act not not like Members of Christ but like Men of the World whom Christ bids his Disciples to beware of as Enemies to his Interest and Kingdom Indeed the Corruptions of others are not to be approved yet what is good and sound is to be own'd and we are to be taken with the Image of Christ in whomsoever we see it shining 5. Slothful unfaithful proud and selfish Paâ—tours deserve as sharp a rebuke as any because the Churches increase is hindred by these with a witness Such seek their own things not the things of Christ their own profit not the profit of many that they may be saved 'T is ordinary with them to make the heart of the righteoâ—â— sad whom God has not made sad and to strengthen the hands of the wicked that he should not return from his wicked way by promising him life Ezek. 13. 22. The Prophet prophesies sharply against the Shepherds of Israel Ezek. 34. 2 3. 4. Woe to the Shepherds of Israel who feed themselves not the flock The diseased have ye noâ— strengthened neither have ye healed that which was sick neither have ye bound up that which was broken neither have ye brought again that which was driven away neither have ye sought that which was lost but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them Now if the flock be thus neglected 't is likely to be lessen'd and the Church to be brought very low Oh dreadful account that such Pastours have to give both of themselves and of the flock unto the Great Shepherd at the last day USE II. Of encouragement unto the Church of Christ notwithstanding her Imperfection Her Spirit should not sink into despondency because perfection is not yet attained to but several truths may be offer'd as grounds of support 1. That Righteousness which is imputed to the Church of Christ is perfect Though their Faith though their evangelical obedience be imperfect yet the Righteousness of Christ which their faith layes hold on is every way compleat The obedience of one that is the Son of God is sufficient to make many righteous though never so many do believe Rom. 5. 19. By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. The Apostle indeed is ashamed of his own Righteousness and afraid to be found in it and desires to be found in Christ and that he might have on that Righteousness which is of God by faith The obedience and sufferings of Christ are the Righteousness imputed to them that believe and 't is called the Righteousness of God because God contrived it and accepts it and Christ who obeyed and suffered is not only man but over all God blessed for ever Christ has done and suffered enough to satisfie divine justice to ransom and save souls and to obtain eternal Redemption for us and here is a firm ground for the Churches consolation 2. The Sins of the Churches Members are all pardon'd not so much as one is unforgiven Col. 2. 13. Having forgiven you all trespasses Psal 103. 12. As far as the East is from the West so far hath he removed all our transgressions from us Vxori lis non intenditur The Church is espoused to Christ and he has satisfied the Law and Justice for all her offences it may joyfully be said therefore There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8. 1. Her Head and Husband having paid the Churches debts payment from her is not expected shall not be demanded 3. Though the Churches members are imperfect yet the least degree of true grace shall be owned The smallest Stars are Stars and are fixt in Heaven as well as the greatest The weakest Saints are Saints and as such shall be regarded 'T is said of Christ He shall feed his flock like a Shepherd he shall gather the Lambs with his Arm and carry them in his bosom Isa 40. 11. The feeblest of Christians stanâ— in need of cherishing and they shall have â—hat they need Our Lord will not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoaking flax untill he sends forth judgment unto victory Mat. 12. 20. 4. The Church of Christ notwithstanding her imperfection is in a safer state than Adam was in Innocency The Union between his Creator and Him was not so indissoluble as the Union between Christ and true Believers Life was promised to him upon condition of his perseverance in obedience but he had not a Promise of Grace to make him persevere But the Saints have such a Promise God has said He will put his fear in their Hearts that they shall not depart from him Jer. 32. 40. That he will strengthen and uphold them with the right hand of his righteousness Isa 41. 10. That none shall pluck them out of the hand of Christ nor out of the Fathers hand who is greater than all Joh. 10. 28 29. That nothing shall be able to separate them from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus their Lord Rom. 8. ult Adam was intrusted with a Treasure in his own keeping but he lost it and beggar'd himself and his whole Progeny Believers therefore are not thus trusted both themselves and their Treasure are in the hands of him that is able to save to the uttermost and so both are secured Their life