Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	abundant_a	gracious_a	lord_n	1,650	5	4.2037	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56447	Christs gracious intentions of peace and mercy towards sinners, freely tendred together with the necessity of observing the season, and accepting the offer of peace and reconciliation while it may be attained : evidenced in a sermon at St. Pauls, London, Martii 3, 1661 : from Luke 19 verse 41,42 / by Rich. Parr ...	Parr, Richard, 1617-1691.	1661 (1661)	Wing P546; ESTC R32209	25,708	88

out his hands in mercy then the in day of Retribution and account they shall not have one word to say either by way of excuse for themselves or blame on God they shall not be able to say they would but God would not but this they shall be forc't to confesse God would Christ would his Ministers would but alas I would not Quest And hence you have an answer ready to that question Quest How comes it to passe if God be so desirous of mans conversion and salvation that so many are damned 'T is easily resolved that is Answ 't is long of themselves they do not come unto Christ they will not come to me Jo. 5.40 they did not they do not they will not believe repent and obey the Gospel in time they either refuse the offer lose their day or perform not the conditions in the Covenant of mercy and grace indispenfibly required to salvation the means are comprehended and conditions on mans part established by Gods will as the end is If sinners will decline the way or go contrary to the rule they may not in reason expect the end Men would be saved by grace but men will not be ruled by graces Tit. 2.11 12. there is the summe of all Gods free grace and mans whole duty must go together 'T is true works perfect in defective and intire as under the first demands of God are not now our conditions here is our cannot Indeed but what the Gospel requires and grace effects this is your Condition And if we believe not repent not effectually and live not a sanctified life holy just sober chast charitable we act against Gods will and forfeit our interest in Christ purchase and redemption and wilfully and foolishly throw away our souls and so perish eternally for God hath said Ezek. 18.21 Ezek. 18.21.30.32 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed and keep all my statutes he shall surely live he shall not dye he shall save his soul alive because he considereth ver 30. Repent and turn your selves so iniquity shall not be your ruine for ver 32. I have no pleasure in the death of him that Dieth that is damned saith the Lord God wherefore turn ye and live There is a quaint distinction found out by some body I cannot well tell any use there is of it unless it be to reconcile some mens Doctrines and their Applications while they tell them in Thesi one thing and in Hypothesi another and if the distinction had never been it had never been wanted 't is this That according to Gods declared will God would have sinners come to repentance and faith and holinesse and be saved but he hath a secret will by which he would not have them either do so or be saved Though he speaks sinners fairly and presseth them earnestly yet he wills no such matter but their damnation and decreed this without respect to sin ere the men had sinned Alas what a fine representation doth this make of the t●ue God How much is God and man beholding to this distinction Why what is it lesse then to render the glorious God so to be as no honest fair dealing man would be accounted i. e. to speak one thing and mean another to shew much love yet intend much hatred No certainly God means what he speaks and if any man perish as thousands do ●is not because they were forc't to damnation but because they chose it that is they will not be saved in Gods own way and God hath decreed for he hath declared that no man shall be saved but he that believeth in his Son and obeyeth him in his heart and life 1 Jo. 5.11 Mark 16.16 Jo. 3. ult Mark 16.16 And methinks this plain dealing with men answers best the glory of Gods power and justice grace and mercy And if any will say that the glory of Gods justice is seen in the damnation of sinners I say so too and of that glory God will have a great deal for there are but a few will be saved and what will become of the rest then Well let alone let secret things belong to God 't is his Prerogative to reserve that to Himself Deut. 29. which we are not fit to know but those things that are revealed belong to us and this that we speak of is such and then we may safely conclude what we have in the doctrine delivered But would you know the REASONS why God is so abundantly gracious to poor sinners that deserve no such things from him The Reason of this a founded in Gods own nature and will Reason the foundation is in Himself the motive from himself his free and liberal grace we are only the subjects of misery and objects of pity no worth or comelinesse in us that wallow in our blood and filth Ezek 16. Ps 145.8 9 he will shew himself first th●s way in mercy because he will shew mercy he is good to all his mercy is over all his works and you may spell the reason from the Text-Letters of his name Exod 34.6 The Lord the Lord God mercifull and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodnesse and truth keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity transgression and sin And now who shall ask again why doth God do thus seeing God is not bound to give a reason of his doings is it not enough for us poor worthlesse dust that God hath revealed himself to be thus Yet secondly 2. Reas you shall find the fountain of this stream of love pity and mercy in Christ Jesus Eph. 3.11 12. 2 Tit. 1.15 Heb. 2.9 Jo. 3.16 Eph. 3.11 12. according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord and 2 Tim. 1.9 10. according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began and his coming into the world was to execute this purpose 1 Tim. 2.15 he tasted death for every man Heb. 2.9 God so loved the world that he sent his own Son into the world that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life Jo. 3.10 Christ the foundation of this love and grace and the executioner of this purpose and decree For the Sonne of man is come to save that which was lost that is Mankinde Matth. 18.11 Matth. 18.11 And he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 2 Pet. 3.9 2 Pet. 3.9 this is reason enough aske no farther So that now Sirs you have the first point proved make no question of it but believe it assuredly and give God the praise of his free grace and admire the greatnesse of his goodnesse toward the children of men And consider withall the great patience and long-sufferance and forbearance of our gracious God flowing from this his rich goodesse to thee poor sinner in Christ as the Emanations from that fountain Rom 2.4 which on

unto them his Servants the Prophets formerly to treat with them about the things of their Peace and Eternall happiness things of the greatest concernment imaginable but all is one to them they were taken up with other imployments And because the servants of the high God were so Importunate these were violent they did not only slight the message but they beat the Prophets and abused them and killed them 'T is often the lot of those who come in the name of the Lord on Heavenly Errands to be most slighted and most abused so then so now Now Christ himself appears the Saviour of the World in Person from the bosome of Glory and Hee comes with tenders of the riche'st mercies and dearest love that ever was heard of draws neer bespeaks their acceptance but alas the saddest story that ever was told Hee the King of Glory is rejected too His offers slighted as wel as his servants The Jews will be Jews still they 'l have none of Christ neither no peace from him no redemption nor reconciliation by him We will not say they have this man to reign over us Vers 14. Poor wretches Did you know whom did you know what yee refused You will not have Christ and with him Grace and Salvation Why you shall not then Heaven shall not be forced upon you against your wills remember that I would but you would not Here is the price of your Redemption and Salvation brought home and laid at your doors freely and fully but if you will not open and stretch forth your hand to lay hold on it while 't is here at hand some others will hereafter be glad of what you refuse you shall go without it and when I am gone and the door of mercy and grace is shut against you you may knock but in vain You will then wish Oh that we could but see one of the daies of the Son of man Luk. 17.22 and ye shall not see it For now they are hid from thine eyes This is the cutting Sentence this is the saddest part of the story for the hardness of their hearts Christ was grieved knowing well enough what would come of it And when he saw them so indeed Hee wept and said If thou had'st known even thou in this thy day the things which belong unto thy peace but now they are hid Now though there be a winning oratory in every accent of this Text in every motion and in every expression and Oh how powerfull was it and lively when Christ himself acted and said it who did as never man did and spake as never man spake Yet because these things were done and spoken at a distance from us a good while agoe in the Letter of the Text Dum narrat Scriptura gestum prodit Mysteriū c. I shall let that alone and consider it in the mystery of this Text and so much as belongs to us I shall apply These outward actions of Christs Body and words of his mouth are but so many expressions and notices by which men might perceive the heart of Christ towards sinners all as well as those us as well as them for Christ hath the same heart still in Heaven that he had on Earth He is brim-full of love pitty and compassion and men on earth have the same disposition still as they had alwaies sinning alwaies resisting and except the Lord prevail with us by his Word and Spirit in the day of his mercy we shall miss our happiness as they did theirs Do not say or think that then was then and now is now as though there were and are severall Dispensations and severall Administrations touching the means and manner of Conversion No Christ was then and Christ is now then in in the flesh now in the Spirit and Ministery Christ spake to them himself He speaks to you by us See 2 Cor. 5.20 Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be yereconciled unto God Which is the very same thing the Text imports that as Christ did treat with them about their Reconciliation and Salvation So we with you in his Name beseech and intreat you in this your day to lay to heart to know the things of your peace And if you do not hear us and yeild but do as they did Slight Resist and Disobey it will be your sad case as it was theirs Mercy will be hid from your eyes and Salvation from your souls as much as if Christ himself were now speaking to you and weeping over you and bleeding before your eyes Luk. 10.16 He that heareth you heareth me he that despiseth you despiseth me By this time Sirs you easily perceive what the design of your Monitor is this day with you from this deportment and this saying of our Saviour recorded in the Text. 'T is to let you know that you may in time consider how gracious the Lord Jesus is toward sinners and how ill he takes it if this mercy be despised when offered And to give you warning from the Lord that you let not slip the opportunity for then it must go ill with your souls you will be the loosers Christ may loose the Honor of your Conversion but you will loose the happiness of Reconciliation and Salvation The business we have in hand is of highest concernment life and death are laid before us this day Oh that you would in this your day consider the things which belong unto your peace before they be hid from your eyes I have two Doctrines ready from this Text to serve up this design unto you The first to evidence Christs reall and gracious intentions towards sinners The second to evidence the Necessity of Improving the mercy in due time by accepting the offer and complying with Christs demands on the day of grace as it is the greatest concernment in the world to us Then next and what we have else to do is to comply with grace and mercy and reduce all to practice this very day without any more delay or Procrastination and this wil be urged in the Application And that we may with lesse difficulty believe th truths propounded and without haesitation consent and imbrace the mercy offered Let us together review the expressions in the text and then we may perceive the mind and meaning of our blessed Lord by what he hath done and by what he hath said to evidence to us what desire he hath that poor sinners should partake of that he graciously offereth and so make peace and so make happy And while we descant upon the words think with your selves they are as much to you as any others Jerusalem the City then London now as great as rich as sinfull as wicked Christ in person there in Spirit here Christ was near to them as near to us he beheld that City and beholds this he sought them and intreated them and he seeks us and beseecheth us They had an

much pity and commiseration when lost and undone This first OBSERVATION is most evident and shall be resolved into this infallible doctrine of saving truth most certain and most acceptable That God who is the lover of soules and the giver of grace doth really in and by Christ wish the conversion and salvation of sinful men and doth not design nor delight in their sinning nor destruction This truth is a genuine deduction from the text and needs no further proof then it s own Evidence 't is as certain as good and as true as the goodnesse faithfulnesse and gracious nature of God can make it and that is Eternally true no man need doubt of this who will believe any thing worthy of God Yet for further Evidence that no poor soul among you may retain any hard or unkind thoughts of God or reserve your sins and neglect your endeavours upon any suspition of an Invincible necessity of continuing in a state of sinning by a secret decree Inferring an inevitable obligation to Sinne and Damnation but rather conclude not against the holy and gracious God but your selves that if you continue in your Rebellion and Sin and be at last cast into hell that 't is long of your selves your own wilfulnesse doth procure it Because you refuse the grace offered and to obey when called and denied subjection unto the Lord Jesus and resisted the motions of Gods Spirit and despised admonition and slighted the means God hath appointed for thy Instruction Conviction and Conversion Hence conclude a sinners destruction is from Himself God disclaimes it he is full of mercy and he is ready to shew his good will to pardon poor sinners when penitent and to receive them when they come and to go forth to meet the vilest prodigal at the first step homeward See how God hath declared himself this way so plainly and so freely and so fully to guard this truth in the doctrine from the least Imputation and to open a Door of hope for poor sinking despondent penitents to relieve them and incourage them in their returning to him homeward Ezek. 33.11 say unto them As I live saith the Lord I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live turn ye turn ye from your evill wayes why will ye dye and if God doth not mean in good earnest and design the conversion and salvation of poor sinners What mean those so often and serious invitations Matth. 11.28 why doth Christ say he that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out John 6.37 and why doth he upbraid them Ye will not come to me that ye might have life Joh. 5.40 and Jerusalem Matth. 23.37 How often would I have gathered you and Isai 1.2 3. why doth he wish sinners had harkned to his voyce Psal 81.13 14. If God did not desire it why doth he lay such strict commands upon pain of his high displeasure To believe and Repent and turn that they may live What means Gods pleading and arguing with sinners but to convince them What was the end of hrists undertaking for the world but that by him men might be saved he tasted death for every man Jo. 3.16 17. Heb. 2.9 and to convince all men throughly of Gods good will and pleasure and that there is no dissimulation in the Lord as touching this matter He hath converted and saved some of every nation of every sort of every degree as great sinners as was to shew that he excludes none from mercy that come unto Christ and believe and turn from sinning to holy living And consider how the Lord fits all means and useth all expressions to effect what he really intends trying with their hearts informing their mindes inclineing their wills stirring up their affections to reform their lives that they may be saved And if God did not in good earnest intend that men should be left without excuse why did he send his Son into the world but to save sinners to call them to repentance and to save them that were lost and his Spirit to raise those fallen and his word to guide unto Salvation why doth he continue the Means why doth he send forth his Ministers and servants to Invite to the supper of the Lamb why doth he furnish them with severall gifts and put such arguments into their mouthes to convince and perswarde and such zeal and fervency into their Prayers and power and life into their Sermons and Indefatigablenesse into their studies and Labours and such Courage into their Spirits that no reproaches nor menaces nor denials makes them give out Line upon Line Sermon on Sermon and though they often times see little successe in all their labours and pains with sinners yet again and again cast their net and sow their good seed doth not all this shew that God would lose none of your precious souls but that you should all come to the knowledge of the truth that you might be saved Why doth he in his gracious providence open the doores of the Sanctuary for all comers and send labourers into his harvest and gives us dayes of meeting to consult with God and treat about the great affairs of our soules and here to woo us with the cords of a man the bands of love if he did not love us what need all this adoe to prevaile with men even by dispensations so suitable to Rationall soules were it not that God doth delight in and desire the conversion of poor sinners and would not have us misse our Day of acceptation with the Lord Again can you tell what is the meaning of all those secret convictions and touches of conscience all those crosses and afflictions and a thousand divine Arts God useth but that God doth leave no way untryed to weane and to tame worldlings and refractory sinners to bring them home what could I have done for my vine-yard Isai 5. So that 't is beyond all dispute that God is serious and willing and that he is not the cause of any mans sin or perdition or doth he desire it either through want of love pity or supply of grace or that any secret Decree doth put any barre to mans Conversion primarily and of absolute Determination untill all means and mercies be contemned and all motions and touches of heart be stifled and resisted surely if God meant to damn men within the call and line of the Gospel upon the account meerly of absolute Dominion he need not he would not deal as he doth in this gracious manner no God hath determined in his word that if sinners will stand out and go on in a way of contradiction to his Lawes and will they shall fall upon the edge and be cut asunder with their own weapon and perish by their own iniquity and after all God will be justified in their destruction and sinners that will not lay to heart the things of their peace in the day wherein God is stretching