Selected quad for the lemma: soul_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
soul_n	death_n	sin_n	wage_n	4,853	5	11.4614	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B03494	Great and precious promises; or, Some sermons concerning the promises, and the right application thereof whereunto are added some other concerning the usefulness of faith in advancing sanctification. As also, three more concerning the faith of assurance. / By Mr. Andrew Gray, late minister of the Gospel in Glasgow. All being revised since his death by some friends.	Gray, Andrew, 1633-1656.; Traill, Robert, 1642-1716.; Stirling, John, b. 1621?	1663 (1663)	Wing G1608A; ESTC R177624	115,304	218

the fulness that is in Christ Faith is that noble correspondent between that weaknesse that is in us and that e●erlasting strength that is in him Therefore there are two noble and excellent counsels of Faith First It counsels us not to lean to our own strength And secondly to have our recourse unto him whose Name is Jehovah that everlasting strength An●● doubt if we were more taken up in imp●●ing Christ by faith that prophesie should accomplished I will make the feeble one David and David as the Angel of God 〈◊〉 when a Christiian is most diffident in him●● then God should prove himself to be Almi●●ty and All-sufficient And 4. Faiths influence may be clea●● in this that it layeth hold upon the p●●mises and doth believe them and believ●ing of the promise bringeth forth that no●●● birth conformity to God according to th● word upon which we were speaking 2 P●● 1.4 by believing the promises that is the advantage of it We are by them made part●kers of the divine nature 5. Faith also believeth the threatnings that are past in Scripture against sin and the believing them hath an undoubted and strong influence upon the attaining and growth of Sanctification Faith strengtheneth a Christian against the committing of iniquity with these two words that word Rom. 6.20 O soul saith faith commit not iniquity for the wages of sin is death and that word Rev. 21. last There shall in no way enter into that City any thing that is unclean or that committeth iniquity And be perswaded of it that the faith of the threatnings and of the promises that are in Scripture would be as a threefold cord not easily broken to restra●● you from the acting of iniquity And shall I sell you briefly the ground why these curs● hearts of ours doth commit iniquity wi●● so little fear and with so much delight it is even this because we believe not the threatnings of God which shall be accomplished in their own season for is it possible that if ye believed that word Rev. 21. last That nothing shall enter into the New Jerusalem that defileth or worketh abominations or that maketh a lie that ye durst for a world adventure upon the committing of iniquity as ye do And I shall onely say to such that do undervalue the threatnings of God the day is coming when they shall be constrained to cry out He hath spoken it and he hath done it and faithfull is he there is not one jot nor title in the Word of the Lord that shall fal to the ground And believe it God will be faithfull in the accomplishment of his threatnings as he is faithfull in the accomplishment of his promises 6. Faith discovereth unto a Christian the noble excellencies and those spiritual dignities that are in that everlasting estate that is provided for the Saints in light Faith as it were carrieth up the soul to the top of Pisgah off which it is admitted to behold the promised land and truely the seeing of these noble things that are provided for the Saints cannot but make them study holinesse since they know that there is an impossibility for one to attain to that estate without holinesse because he had said it Without holinesse no man shall see God O then if once ye saw heaven ye would be constrained to walk in that path of Sanctification since it is the glorious way by which ye must walk in through the gates of that blessed City Bu● ye know not the excellency that is there i● is a fancy and notion unto you and that 〈◊〉 the ground that ye do not study to conform your selves unto that blessed image of God And I would only ask you this one question Is it possible that such a delusion as this can overtake you as to think that ye who never studied holinesse on earth shall yet enter in to heavens gates I know there are some that say in their hearts I shall have peace though I walk in the imaginations of my own heart and many more that suppose that they might fight and overcome that they may quite the estate of nature and be compleat in the estate of grace all in one day But why will ye deceive your selves Can a nation be born in one day Or is there but one step between hell and heaven O remember though nothing be impossible with God yet there was but one thief saved upon the crosse 7. Faith hath influence upon the attaining of holinesse in this respect That it believeth the exceeding great advantages that are promised unto the person that studieth holiness Faith believeth that word Matth. 5.8 Blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall see God Paith it layeth hold upon the truth of the excellent sayings and maketh the Christia● endeavour to attain unto a likenesse and conformity with him that so he may be admitted to behold his face for all eternity and to be made like unto him 8. Faith discovereth unto Christians th● sinfulnesse of sin this is never done till once they be in the lively exercise of the grace of Faith And I will give you these three grounds why faith compleatly discovereth the sinfulnesse of sin 1. Faith letteth us see the Person against whom we commit this sin and that doth exceedingly aggrege sin for when the Christian is admitted to behold God and to see that matchlesse excellency that is in him then saith he what a beast was I to offend such a glorious Majesty as He What a fool was I to kick against the pricks or to enter in the lists with such an infinite God 2. Faith letteth a Christian see these excellent obligations of love that Christ hath imposed upon us Faith letteth us see the ancient and everlasting love of Christ Faith is that grace that letteth us see his sufferings Faith letteth us see all that he hath done for us and this maketh the Christian to cry out Do I thus requite the Lord O foolish one and unwise And no doubt if a Christian were more taken up in the study of this duty he would be lesse in contracting debt and were you but seriously taken up in the study of these two great Registers 1. The Register in which all the infinit acts of love are recorded And 2. That Register in which all your acts of offending precious Christ are written ye would be astonished and ashamed to see so much forgiven you and durst not sin any more there ye would see infinite ●ency desiring to rejoyce over judgement and ●here ye would see the spotlesse riches of ●hat transcendent grace that is in Christ 3. Faith letteth a Christian see the disadv● tages of sin and what wofull effects doth 〈◊〉 low upon it and this doth exceedingly ho● forth the sinfulnesse of sin The second thing that we shall speak concerning Faiths influence in the attain●● Sanctification shall be to enquire a little 〈◊〉 to these things that hinder even Believ● from attaining this blessed effect of th● Faith for

make the smell of Christs Garments pleasant to the soul and it will make the kisses of His Mouth pleasant to the soul O saith the assured Christian there is nothing of Ch●ist but it is most pleasant and is all desires 〈◊〉 His Threatnings are pleasant they are the wounds of a friend and His kisses are pleasant they are better then wine His Name i● is pleasant it is as precious ointment powred Forth His smellings are most delightsome● wh●se countenance is as Lebanon excellent 〈◊〉 the cedars O to imbrace a married Christ how pleasant is it to the soul What make●●● you to have so low thoughts of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this the want of assurance that He 〈◊〉 your Husband Thirdly Assurance will make the Christian patiently to submit to every crosse and sad dispensation he meeteth with this is clear Heb. 10.34 They took with joy the spoiling of their goods and what made them do so They hoped for a better inheritance and a more induring substance I tell you● assurance it will answer all crosses with this Christ is mine when they are afflicted assurance will lift up its face and cry out Christ it mine and when they are reproached they will comfort themselves with this Christ i● mine I can put on the Lord Jesus Fourthly Assurance will keep you from apostacy and defection from Christ 2 Pet. 1.10 Make your calling and election sure and if ye do this saith he ye shall never fall Heb. 3.11 12. It is there set down as a fruit of the evil heart of misbelief it maketh us depart from the living God but on the contrary assurance knitteth the soul to Christ by a threefold cord which is not easily broken Believe it the assured Christian can cry out with much confidence of faith My moutain standeth strong I shall never be moved the assured Christian 〈…〉 out with much chearfulnesse In God 〈◊〉 I praise his word in God have I put my trust I will not be afraid what flesh can do unto me yea he can sweetly sing in the very mouth of danger The Lord is my light 〈◊〉 salvation Whom shall I fear the Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid Psal 27.1 Fifthly Assurance keepeth all the 〈◊〉 of the spirit green and flourishing it is 〈◊〉 refreshing dew upon our branches whi●● maketh every grace sweetly to blossome 〈◊〉 its season 1. It stirreth up the exerci● of love O how vigorous are the actings 〈◊〉 love when a Christian can cry out My 〈◊〉 loved is m●ne and I am his Song 1.13 M●beloved there is her assurance He is a bund 〈◊〉 of myrrhe and shall lye all night between 〈◊〉 breasts that is as long as time shall last I shall never have Christ out of my heart there is love 1 Joh 4.19 We loved him because he loved us first our hearts are naturally cold but love kindleth love the sense of his love to us putteth our hearts into a heavenly flame towards him again 2. Assurance keepeth up the exercise of prayer it is the assured Christian that can pray best and to best advantage and in these three things especially is prayer helped by assurance First It helpeth in the point of boldnesse O but the assured Christian can go boldly to the Throne of grace Crying Abba father and my Lord and my God Secondly It helpeth our diligence in prayer Psa● 63.1 O my God there is assurance early will I seek thee there is his diligence as the fruit thereof Thirdly It helpeth the fervency of prayer as in that same place my soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee there is his fervency as another fruit of his assurance 3. Assurance keepeth In exercise and life the grace of mortification as is clear by comparing 2 Cor. 4. verse last with 2 Cor. 5.1 We look not after the things that are seen O Paul what aileth you may ye not take a look of the world O saith Paul and would ye know the ground of it We know if this house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a house not made with hands eternally in the heavens my house and my treasure is in heaven I must have my heart there and my eyes also Would ye know what would stay your pursuit after the world study to have the assurance of your interest in Christ continually with you And 4. It keepeth in exercise the grace of humility there is nothing will keep a Christian so humble as assurance Gal. 2.20 I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me Eph. 3.8 there he is all in exalting grace and debasing himself It is the misbeliever and discouraged person that dwelleth nearest pride Believe it misbelief is big with childe of pride and apostacy these are the two children which that fruitful mother will bring forth And 5. it will help the grace of Repentance Would ye know what would make the Christian to repent it is even this to take Christ in our arms and call him ours Zech. 12.10 They shall look unto him that is there faith and they shall mourn as one mourneth for his only son I think it is known by experience the soul never weeps more tenderly under the conviction of sin then when he hath Christ in his arms and can say He is 〈◊〉 O how sweetly doth they 〈◊〉 complain there is not a fight of Chri●● their own when they have offended b●● breaketh all their heart in pieces and i● as a sword piercing into the bones w●●●ey cry out O what a fool was ● to offe●●uch a precious One in whom I had so mu●●●terest Was it not sense of interest th● made Mary wash the feet of Christ with h●●ears Lastly It will keep in exercise th● grace of Joy 1 Pet. 1.8 It is faith wh●t ●●keth one to rejoyce with joy unspeakab●●●●d full of glory Would ye know w●●●our graces are withered would ye kno●●hy all the pleasant plants of God with● 〈◊〉 soul are decayed It is this ye live with 〈◊〉 sight of your interest in Christ believe i● 〈◊〉 so I may speak assurance will be a w●● tering to your graces every morning and r● fresh them every hour it being as a chan●● through which divine influence is conveig●● 〈◊〉 to the increase of grace and especiall● 〈◊〉 joy ●he sixth advantage that cometh in to th● 〈◊〉 ●ian by assurance of his interest i● Christ is That it maketh death exceedi●● pleasant and comfortable to the soul wh●●● 〈◊〉 ●●th douth the king of terrours and wh● 〈…〉 unto us Is it not this we 〈◊〉 〈…〉 under a cloud the assured 〈…〉 take death in his arms and cry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 come O friend the assured Christi●● 〈◊〉 he seeth the chariots his father 〈◊〉 doth with old Jacob rejoyce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 23 When I walk through the valley of ●●e shadd●w of death I will fear no evil ●hat brought you that length David I tell ●on why saith he for God is with me ver 4. 〈◊〉 think I need not fear any thing when I ●ave God in my company It is the assured ●hristian that can cry out Why should I fea●●eath should I not laugh at destruction I ●●ink indeed the assured Christian neede●h ●ot fear death because death to him is the ●eath of all his lusts the funerall of all his ●orrows and is not the day of death his co●onation day his marriage day the day of ●is triumph and of his entering into rest and why then should he fear it The seventh advantage is That a Christi●n being in the state of assurance can put the ●ighest account upon the smallest mercy that ●e meets with from God the assured Chri●ian look●th upon every mercy as a wonder 〈◊〉 is the assured Christian that cryeth out I 〈◊〉 lesse then the least of all thy mercies there 〈◊〉 not a mercy he meets with were it but a ●●op of cold water but if he can read this ●n it that it came from my Husband and from ●y Father it will be better to him then the weerest wine Lastly Assurance doth exceedingly help 〈◊〉 to chearfulnesse in obedience O that is ●●ema●kable connexion that Paul hath Act. ● 23 The Lord whose I am and whom I ●●ve That pass●ge also 2 Cor. 5.14 is ve● observable The love of Christ constraineth ● c. Why art ●hou so painfull a Minister Paul Why Knowest thou no man after th flesh are not led by carnal interests nor at sections art so busie and diligent as all the world counteth thee mad Why saith he love will not l●t me rest if I would be l●●e or carnal or fold my hands to sleep the love of Christ doth alwayes sound that in my ears that I was dead and he hath died for me that henceforth I should not live unto my self but to Him who died for me Now to him who is the first and the last wh● was dead and is alive for evermore We give praise FINIS