Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	believe_v	faith_n	grace_n	8,077	5	5.8830	4	false

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A73612	The spiritval tovchstone: or, The signes of a godly man drawne in so plaine and profitable a maner, as all sorts of Christians may trie themselues thereby. Together with directions, how the weake Christian, by the vse of these signes may establish his assurance. By. N. Bifield preacher of Gods word at Isteworth in Middlesex.	Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622.	1619 (1619)	STC 4236.8; ESTC S124755	25,453	144

it when he is deliuered He is not like the Israelites mentioned Psal 78. 36. 37. 22. He makes a supernaturall 22. He accounts of spirituall things as the best things valuation of spirituall things accounting them as pearles of the best price not too deare bought if he purchased them with all the worldly things he hath and contrariwise accouÌ„ting himselfe exceeding poore if he want them or the meanes of them Math. 13. 45. 46. Psal 42. 63. 1. 3. 23. He hath lost his 23. He doth not sauour the things of the flesh and the world wonted taste in earthly things his heart is not transported with the admiration of them or the inordinate desires after worldly things He loues not the world this life as he was wont to do Though hee vse the world yet he easily confesseth himselfe to be a stranger and pilgrime here He giues ouer the vnnecessary pleasures profits of this life Heb. 11. 13. 1. Ioh. 2. 14. 15. Rom. 8. 6. He is wearie of the world and willing to forgo societie with the men of this world the workers of iniquitie Psalm 6. 8. 9. and 39. 12. and 26. 1 2 3 4. 24. If the Lord be silent 24. He is much grieued if God hide himselfe and answer not his desires but hides his face his spirit faileth and he is as one that goeth downe into the pit it troubles him as a sore crosse and so contrariwise Psal 26. 1 and 88. 13 14 15 and 143. 7. Ioh. 16. 23. 28. 25. If he hath bene 25. Of a lioÌ„ he becoms a lambe a man subiect to boisterous violent and hurtful affections he is now become tame of a Lion he is become a lambe a litle child may leade him Esay 11. 9. 26. He hath a spirit 26. His spirit is without guile without guile Psal 32. 2. He is more desirous to be good then to be thought to be so and more seekes the power of godlinesse then the shew of it Iob. 1. 1. Prou. 20. 6. 7. His praise is of God and not of men Rom. 2. 26. And thus much of the triall of his humiliation The signes of his faith follow CHAP. IIII. The triall of a godly man by his Faith FAith is the next thing to be tried in a childe of God And in as much as there are diuers kinds of faith Why we should trie our faith and experience shewes in many that giue no signes of repentance that they wil not be beaten froÌ„ a confident presumption that Christ died for them euen for them in particular it stands vs in hand to trie our perswasion by true rules of Scripture that so if it will abide the trial of the touchstone we may lay it vp as an hid treasure and a wonderfull grace of God and if otherwise we may repent vs of presumption as a deceiueable sinne But before I open the signes of this signe the Reader must be admonished of three things First that I intend not The drift is to shew how faith may be proued not how it may be bred by these signes to shew how faith may be bred or begotten in vs but how faith may be proued and declared to be in vs. For it is the promises of God in the Scripture that breed faith nor can humane reason beleeue such great things from God for any thing that is in vs but onely because we see the word of God assuring such happinesse vnto such as lay hold vpon them So that that which breeds faith is the reuelation of Gods promises by his word and Spirit Yet notwithstanding the assurance of faith is much increased and confirmed by the sight of those signes of the truth of our faith and other graces of God in vs. Secondly that I stand A second caueat not precisely vpon the order of these graces of God in vs nor determine that question which graces are first wrought in the heart of a man but that which I haue specially aimed at in the order of setting them downe is to begin at those that either first appeare in a Christian or are easiest as I conceiue to be discerned in him Thirdly that I intend The 3. note by way of preface especially the triall of such Christians as agree in this that they are perswaded that Christ died for them that so the true Christian may see reason to comfort himself that his perswasion is no presumption as is the perswasion of the most It is true that diuers of the signes of faith here to be handled will shew faith in the weakest Christian though he will not yet be brought to acknowledge any perswasion For this perswasion may be secretly wrought vpon the hart as it is when it relieth vpoÌ„ the merits of Christ onely for saluation though the iudgement of the Christian be not resolued against his doubts The question then is how a Christian may trie his perswasion of Gods mercie and his interest in Christs merits whether it be right or no. For answer thereunto I say that the true Christian doth proue his faith and perswasion The true faith to be right by those signes following First his faithor perswasion 1. Was wrought by the word preached was wrought by the hearing of the word preached therfore thou must first aske thy selfe how thou commest by thy perswasion For if thou say thou wast alwayes so perswaded or didst attain it by meere naturall meanes or helpes thou art deceiued For faith is first wrought by the holy Ghost in the preaching of the Gospell as it is most cleer by the words of the Apostle How shall they beleeue in him of whoÌ„ they haue not heard and how shall they heare without a preacher Rom. 10. 14. And whereas it may be that many ChristiaÌ„s haue not obserued the workings of their faith and haue forgotten the time of their conuersion and haue not iudgement to discerne how the Lord by the ministerie of his seruants did change their hearts and leade them to Christ Therefore when this first signe cannot comfort they must trie themselues by the rest that follow Secondly he hath an 2. Esteems Christ aboue all things high estimation of Iesus Christ For the man that hath true faith accounts all things most base in coÌ„parison of the knowledge of Christ and the loue of God in him He had rather be sure of Christ then to gaine the whole world Christ is more precious then all the world yea is the only thing in request in the desires of the Christian Now Christ is precious onely to them that beleeue 1. Pet. 2. 6. and by this signe Paul knew that he was growne far beyond himselfe in his former life and beyond all the Pharises in the world Phil. 3. 9. Thirdly he readily 3. Receiues the testimony of Gods ministers before all the world receiues the testimonie of Gods ministers speaking out of the word sticks to it against all the contradictions

of the world The Apostle Paul 2. Thessal 1. 10. shewes that this signe will be pleaded and acknowledged in the day of Christ Christ saith he will be made admirable in them that beleeue Now some may say But how shall we know that we do beleeue Why saith he you are true beleeuers because ye receiued our testimonie and this shall be to your praise in that day Fourthly he cannot 4. Casts out hypocrisie abide counterfetting hypocrisy If it be a right perswasion it is a faith vnfained Vnfained I say as in other respects so in affects because it cannot abide fainings but with speciall hatred purgeth out hypocrisie which the perswasion of hypocrites neuer doth 2. Tim. 1. 5. Fiftly this perswasion 5. Will abide triall is permanent it will endure triall it will hold out in the euill day it inclines the heart to cleaue to Iesus Christ euen in the fire of tribulation in the midst of manifold afflictions and disgraces and temptations It is like the gold in the fornace that perisheth not nor will it barely hold out but a ChristiaÌ„ by his faith comforts supports himselfe in affliction so as his faith becomes to him both a breast-plate an helmet whereas the best faith that is not the faith of Gods elect will proue but drosse if it be cast into the fornace of temptation further then it is supported by carnall meanes and helps 1. Pet. 1. 6 7. 2. Tim. 1. 12. 1. Thess 5. 8. Eph. 6. Luke 8. 13. Sixtly he will beleeue 6. It beleeues all things all things I say all things that he apprehendeth to be required threatned or promised in the word To beleeue some things onely may be in any other kind of faith especially when they are such things as stand with their owne reasons or wils or affections or the common opinion of other men But this is the glorie of a liuely instifying faith it will giue glorie to God in all things What God can speake it can beleeue so soone as it knowes it is spoken of God though it be neuer so contrary to the iudgment of flesh and bloud Act. 14. 14. Seuenthly he will not 7. Will not make haste make haste This was the signe giuen in the Prophet Esays time He that beleeueth will not make haste He had prophesied of hard times to fall vpoÌ„ all the people now this wold shew amongst them who were true beleeuers For those that trusted in God would not make haste to vse ill meanes to helpe themselues they would stay their hearts in rest and quietnes and they would stay their feete too from running to Aegypt or to Asshur which God had forbidden Isai 28. 16. If faith be right and thy perswasion a sound perswasion and well grounded there are ioyned with it these things following Eightly his perswasioÌ„ 8. Is accoÌ„panied with a pure conscience is ioyned with a good and pure conscience a conscience I say that makes him carefull to auoid sinne and do good duties and to serue God in sinceritie whereas the perswasioÌ„ that is in wicked men is not accompanied with a good conscience they do not make coÌ„science of their wayes Now this is a cleare rule of difference 1. Tim. 1. 5. 19. and 3. 9. Heb. 10. 22. Ninthly he hath a spirit 9. And a spirit of discerning of discerning There is a great deale of light comes into the heart with faith A man cannot beleeue and be ignorant still The Christian that is endued with faith from aboue is endued with wisedome from aboue so as he can conceiue of the things of God that concerne saluation which the naturall man perceiueth not Though he may want still in many knowledges yet he hath skill in some measure to learne how to be saued The doctrine of saluation he can now vnderstand which is taught in the ministerie of the word and he now can make some good vse of reading the Scriptures that before discerned litle or nothing in them The veile that lieth vpon the hearts of all flesh is now taken from his eyes yea the very entrance into Gods word giueth light to the simplest beleeuer He that was stupid and vnteachable before doth now heare as the learned with a holy kind of insight and iudgement 2. Tim. 3. 15. Psal 119. 130. Prou. 1. 4. 8. 5. 9. Tenthly he hath a 10. And the witnesse of the Spirit of adoptioÌ„ witnesse within himself He that beleeueth hath a witnesse in himselfe 1. Ioh. 5. 10. For he hath the Spirit of adoption to certifie him infallibly of Gods loue to him that he is the child of God Rom. 8. 15. 16 and thus the beleeuers are said to be sealed by the Spirit of promise Ephes 1. 13. 14. God leaues a pawne a pledge with euery Christian that shal be saued to be as the earnest of his saluation and this pledge and earnest is Gods Spirit And the Spirit testifies to the beleeuer partly by reuealing to him the certaintie truth of Gods promises in his word partly by printing vpon his hart these sauing graces which distinguish him from all others and partly by powring vpon him the ioyes which are called the ioyes of the holy Ghost in the vse of Gods ordinances as the inward ratificatioÌ„ of the assurance of Gods loue and goodnes to the beleeuer Of which after Lastly Faith may be 11. Beareth those fruits following discerned by many things it worketh which are the fruits of it and by the fruits of faith we may know faith it selfe Faith is like the roote of a tree that lyeth vnder ground and cannot be seen without much digging but by the fruit the tree beareth we may know what kind of root it hath and of what sort it is Now the fruits of faith are these that follow and such like as 1. Loue to God and 1. Loue. the godly for Faith worketh by loue Gal. 5. 6. 2. Cleannesse of the 2. Puritie of heart thoughts and affections For Faith purifieth the heart It makes a man striue after inward puritie as well as outward to get a cleane heart as well as cleane hands It worketh humiliation for inward sinnes as well as outward Act. 15. 9. and driues a man to seeke pardon in the name of Christ for all sorts of inward perturbations and secret euils 3. Victorie ouer the 3. Victorie ouer the world world Faith ouercommeth the world 1. Iob. 5. 4. 5 and so it doth when it maketh a man so rest vpon God and his truth and promise as if he be put to it to deny the respect of his owne credit or profit or pleasures or the displeasure of carnal friends or his hopes in matters of the world resting satisfied with the expectation of the treasures and pleasures of a better world yeelding himselfe ouer to be guided by Christ and his truth vnto the death Psal 48. 14. He liues by his faith Gal. 2. 20. 4. Humilitie For

that diuers haue accounted the manner of setting the signes downe somewhat obscure in diuers parts of the booke I will now by Gods assistance for the helping of the weakest Christians in this Treatise endeuour to expresse my selfe in this doctrine of the triall of a true Christians estate in a more plaine and easie course of examination and leaue both the former treatise and his new Catalogue vnto the blessing of God and the free choice of the godly reader of vse which he findeth most agreeable to his owne taste being both such as are warranted founded vpon the infallible euidence of Gods vnchangeable truth In this proiect then I consider of the triall of The signes referred to sixe heads a true Christian sixe wayes First in his humiliation Secondly in his faith Thirdly in the gifts of his mind with which he is qualified Fourthly in the workes of his obedience Fiftly in the entertainment he hath from God Sixtly in the manner of his receiuing of the Sacraments In all which he differs from all the wicked men in the world so as neuer any wicked man could find these things in his condition which are true of the weakest Christian in each of these signes And that the true Christian may not doubt of his estate hauing found these signes The infallibilitie of the signes in himselfe let him consider the proofes annexed to each signe that nothing may be wanting to his aboundant consolation I will tell him how I found out those signes and by what grounds I proceeded There are three sorts 3. Wayes to find out the signes of a godly man in Scripture of places in Scripture as I coÌ„ceiue which do point out the grounds of infallible assurance in those that can attaine vnto them as first such places as expresly do affirme that such and such things are signes As for example 1. Iohn 3. 14. Hereby we know that we are translated from death to life because we loue the brethren Here the holy Ghost shews vs expresly that the loue of the brethren is a signe by which a Christian may know that he is translated from death to life so the Apostle Paul giues signes to know whether their sorrow were after God or no. 2. Cor. 7. 11. So doth the Prophet Dauid Psal 15. giue diuers signes by which the man that shal dwell in Gods holy hill may be knowne So the Apostle Iames tels vs how we may know the wisedome from aboue by reckning the fruites and effects of it Iam. 3. 17. So doth the Apostle Paul tell vs how we may know whether we haue the Spirit of Christ in vs or no Rom. 8. 9. 15. c. Gal. 5. 22. 4. 6. 7. Secondly I find out signes by marking what graces in man the promises of God are made vnto for thus I reason Whatsoeuer gifts of God in man brings him within the compasse of Gods promises of eternall mercie that gift must be an infallible signe of saluation But such are such and such gifts as the instances in diuers Scriptures shew And therefore the man that can find those gifts in himselfe shall be certainly saued As for example The kingdome of heauen is promised to such as are poore in spirit Math. 5. 4. From thence then I gather that pouertie of spirit is an infallible signe The like I may say of the loue of the word and of vprightnesse of heart and of the loue of God and the loue of the appearing of Christ c. Thirdly I find out other signes by obseruing what godly men in Scripture haue said for themselues when they haue pleaded their owne euidence for their interest in Gods loue or their hope of a better life For look how godly men in Scripture haue proued that they were not hypocrites euen so may any ChristiaÌ„ proue that he is not an hypocrite neither As for example Iob being charged to be an hypocrite and lying vnder the heauy hand of God pleades his cause and proues that he was not an hypocrite by his constancie in Gods wayes and by his constant estimation of Gods word and desire after it as after his appointed food Iob 23. 10. 11. 12. More of this kind thou maist find in the proofes of particular signes Now whereas some signes are generall and thou mightst doubt of the exposition namely how that signe is infallible in such such sences For thy establishment herein thou mayst obserue that I expouÌ„d the signe as it is expounded in other seuerall Scriptures As for example The loue of the brethren is a generall signe Now how shall I know that I haue the right loue of the brethren This I explane by flying to diuers other Scriptures wherein the particular explications of this signe are pleaded CHAP. III. The triall of a Christian by the signes of true humiliation THe first way then by which a Christian may trie himselfe is to examine himselfe about his humiliation for sinne whether it be right or no. For vnder this head is comprehended the explication of the doctrine of pouertie of spirit and godly sorrow and so in generall of repentance for sinnes Now the true Christian in this matter of humiliation shews himselfe to haue attained 26. Signes of true humiliation that which no reprobate could euer attaine and that in diuers particulars as First he hath a true 1. He sees his sinnes sight and sence of his sins He discernes his sinfulnesse of life both past and present and is affected and pained vnder the burthen of his daily wants and corruptions and sees his miserie in respect of his sinnes Ierem 3. 12. Math. 11. 29. Math. 5. 4. Secondly he trembles 2. He feares Gods displeasure at Gods word and feares his displeasure while it yet hangs in the threatnings Esa 66. 1. 2. Thirdly he renounceth 3. He trusts not vpon the merit of his own workes his owne merits and disclaimeth all opinion of true happinesse in himselfe or in any thing vnder the Sunne as being fully perswaded that he cannot be saued by any works of his owne or be happie in enioying any worldly things and therefore is fully resolued to seeke for the chiefe good in Gods fauour in Iesus Christ onely Fourthly he mournes 4. He mournes heartily and secretly for his sins and so he doth 1. For all sorts of sins For all sorts of sinne for secret sinnes as well as knowne sinnes for lesser sinnes as well as greater for the present euils of his nature and life as well as sinnes past yea for the sins he hath loued or haue bene gainfull and pleasing to him Yea he grieues for the euill that cleaues to his best workes as well as for euill workes Esa 6. 5. Rom. 7. Esa 1. 16. Math. 5. 6. 2. For sinne as it is sin For sinne as it is sin and not as it doth or might bring him shame or punishments in this life or in hell 3. He is as much troubled

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