Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	according_a	know_v	word_n	2,143	5	3.8658	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56307	A serious exhortation to an holy life, or conversation With a clear discovery of the nature of it, what it is. The means of attaining it. The trials of it, how it may be known. The motives, or inducements to it. Or, a profitable companion for conversion. Confirmation. Illumination. Consolation. By Robert Purnell.	Purnell, Robert, d. 1666.	1663 (1663)	Wing P4240; ESTC R222001	22,777	109

endeavour to abstain from all appearance of evil watch what comes in and what goes out and trust no member without its guard as we said before Psalm 119. 9. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy word The Tryals of it how it may be known and that I shall reduce to these two general heads viz. 1. How he that hath or pretends to it may clearly discern the truth of it 2. How others that observe him and behold him may judge aright of him Of the first how he that hath it may clearly see it viz. True obedience hath two companions universality and sincerity that is he hath a respect to all Gods Commandments Psal 119. 6. and doth endeavour to keep them at least purposingly and endeavouringly a will to obey the Lord is all that a blessed Paul can sometimes finde Rom. 7. 18. Now are there any seeds of true life begun is there any spark of conviction or motion of repentance will thy pulse of remorse beat a little hast thou a touch of remorse and sorrow a spark of Contrition a grain of Faith a drop of self-denial doth thy spirit long and breathe although faintly doth thy pulse beat although feebly doth thy heart pant after Christ although but weakly dost thou endeavour to receive Christ and his Free Grace though with a shaking hand well take thy Evidences from the carriage of thy spirit neither at the best nor at the worst but the middle way which is most thy frame for if thou judge of thy self at the worst thou mayest be discouraged and if at the best thou mayest be deceived for if we take a prophane man at the best and a good man at the worst we shall finde but little difference viz. we read of Davids murdering we read of Josephs swearing Jobs cursing the day of his birth of Jonah vexing Peter denying Thomas not believing Again on the contrary we read of Pharaoh desiring the Prayer of Moses Balaam desiring to dye the death of the righteous Saul condemning of himself Ahab humbling himself Nineveh repenting Felix trembling if we now judge by these particular actions we should justifie those whom the Lord doth condemn and condemn those whom the Lord doth justifie Therefore we are not to judge our selves by some particular acts but by the constant frame and bent of our spirits A true Christian can say though I am not what I would be yet I would be what I should be there is much blindness with our light much enmity with our love much pride with our humility so that the best Christian may say Lord I see and yet am blinde I hate and yet I love I follow and yet I fall I press forward and yet I faint How others that behold him may and ought to judge of him viz. He that is a servant of God will let us know it by his obedience to him Rom. 6. 16. He that is a servant of Christ will let us know it by his love to his people John 13. 35. He that saith he liveth in the Spirit will let us know it by his walking in the Spirit Gal. 5. 25. He that abideth in the Vine will let us see it by his fruitfulness John 15. 5. He that hath faith will shew it us by his works Jam. 2. 18. He that is indeed a wise man will let us see it by his good conversation James 3. 13. He that hath an interest in the promises will let us know it by his cleansing himself from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit 2 Cor. 7. 1. A man must not dance and dine with the Devil and yet think to lye down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven most men walk in the broad way and yet every one thinks to enter in at the strait gate Mat. 7. 13. Prov. 16. 25. It is true the best Gold hath some dross the fairest day hath its clouds the finest linnen hath its spots and the fairest Garden hath its weeds and the best Fields hath its Tares as well as Wheat and the sweetest fruit some worms so have the most exact Christians their failings Wherfore beware of judging men and women according to some particular actions but judge according to the constant tenor of their conversation for as we said before if we take a good man at the worst a wicked man at the best we shall finde but little difference therefore let us beware of condemning those whom the Lord doth justifie and of justifying those whom the Lord does condemn for both these are an abomination to the Lord. The motives to it or powerful prevailing arguments to engage us to it which I shall reduce to these two heads viz. 1. The benefits that we shall gain by it 2. The sad condition of all that want it The benefits which do redound to an holy Life viz. He hath the promises of this life and that which is to come He hath a blessing upon his basket and store and whatsoever he puts his hand unto all things work together for his good at the present fitting him for salvation hereafter yea whatsoever losses crosses troubles and trials persecutions and afflictions befal him it shall redound to the glory of God and his his own good and if all this be too little the Lord is teaching him or her that endeavours to order their conversation aright to take the glory of his most Holy Name to be their aim his Word their rule the Spirit of Truth to be their guide the Angels to be their guard the precious Promises to be their support and his Sons and Daughters to be their companions here and company of innumerable Saints and Angels hereafter Heb. 12. Yea the Lord shall in the sight and hearing of all the world call his sanctified ones as Mat. 25. 34. Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Come ye my friends my brethren my people my undefiled ones Blessed Here is our absolution from all sins Of my Father Here is the Authour from whom proceeds our blessedness Inherit Here is our Faith ending in fruition and the promises in possession The Kingdom Behold our birth-right according to Grace 2 Tim. 1. 9. Prepared See Gods fatherly care for his chosen John 14. 2. From the Foundation of the world Oh! the free and eternal love of God to poor miserable man In a word there is no place so glorious by creation so beautiful for delectation so rich in possession so comfortable in habitation there is joy without sorrow and pleasure without pain there is light without darkness mirth without sadness health without sickness wealth without want credit without disgrace beauty without blemish c. all tears shall be done away all evils removed all sinnes abolished all wants supplied see Rev. 22. 3. and 21. 4. Heaven is a City whose Maker and Builder is God the City of the living God

4. 5. But to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness Titus 3. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us Rom. 11. 6. And if it be by grace then it is no more of works otherwise grace is no more grace so that the righteousness whereby we are justified before God is a perfect righteousness which is the righteousnesse of Christ alone Heb. 1. 8 Mat. 6. 33. Rom. 4. 6. So again Psal 71. 15 16 19 24. and Isa 45. 24. Surely shall one say in the Lord have I righteousness and strength I will saith David make mention of thy righteousness even of thine onely So that in this Justice and Mercy as Psal 85. 10. both meet together Justice in that God will not justifie a sinner without a perfect righteousness and yet Mercy in that he will accept such a righteousness that is neither in him nor done by him but by his surety for him There are these eight points or heads in this Doctrine of Free Grace This Doctrine is the Foundation and Basis of all Christian Religion This Doctrine is the inlet of all Divine peace and consolation This is the root and spring of all Gospel obedience This is the great stop and bar to keep out all floods of error This Doctrine is the main support of the Soul under all trials This is the great Doctrine by which Arminianisme and Popery is overthrown This is the Doctrine against which Satan doth most War endeavouring either to pervert or to corrupt it This Doctrine is one of the hardest to be learned it being above the reach of nature To begin with the first of these This Doctrine is the foundation and basis of the true Christian Religion as doth appear by these few instances Our Election is the Election of Grace and according to the good pleasure of his will Ephes 1. 4 5. Our Vocation is according to his Grace 2 Tim. 1. 9. Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace c. Regeneration is of Gods own will Jam. 1. 18. Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth Faith it self is the gift of God Philip. 1. 29 Ephes 2. 8. Our justification is freely by his Grace Rom. 3. 24. and a free gift Romans 5. 15. Forgiveness of all our sinnes is according to the riches of his Grace Ephes 1. 7. In whom we have redemption through his Blood even the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace Eternal life is the gift of God Rom. 6. 23. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord see Acts 15. 11. Now if any shall ask why God should discover this great mystery which was kept secret since the world began to us who are sinners of the Gentiles who in time past served dumb idols or why God should be found of them that sought him not or made manifest to them that asked not after him I can give no other answer then that 1 Cor. 1. 29. That no flesh should glory in his presence or that Mat. 11. 25 26. Even so Father because it seemed good in thy sight As this Doctrine is the foundation and basis of the true Religion so in the second place it is the root and spring of all Divine peace and consolation Now peace and joy comes into the soul by these veins By the vein of our acquainting our selves with him Job 22. 21. By the vein of believing in him Romans 5. 1. Rom. 15. 13. By the vein of staying our selves upon him Isaiah 26. 3. And so much for the second head This Doctrine is the root and spring of all Gospel obedience how do men write of a serious exhortation to an holy life and conversation if they discover not the way to it Our Saviour saith the tree must be made good before the fruit can be good The Branch cannot bear fruit except it abide in the vine Joh. 15. 4. so that this Doctrine is the root and spring of all true obedience for this Doctrine being received and retained works these five things in the heart and soul viz. Faith Love Fear Willingness and Chearfulness and from these as from five springs doth Gospel-obedience flow True obedience doth flow from faith whence it is called the obedience of faith Rom. 16. 26. So also love constrains them in whom it is to walk holily John 14. 23. If a man love me he will keep my words Psalm 26. 3 4. For thy loving kindness is before mine eyes and I have walked in thy truth True obedience doth spring from an holy fear Psal 119. 161. My heart doth stand in awe of thy words so Noah being warned of God was moved with fear and prepared an Ark Heb. 11. 7. As it springs from Faith Love and Fear so it ariseth from a willing minde Psal 27. 8. When thou saidest seek ye my face my heart answered Lord thy face will I seek Gospel-obedience is or ought to be performed chearfully or delightfully Psalm 40. 8. Thy Law is in my heart as well as in thy book I delight to do thy will O God By all which it doth appear that this Doctrine of Grace is the root and spring of an holy Conversation seeing in God are all our springs and from him are all our supplies to enable us to perform any duty to exercise any grace to subdue any lust to resist any temptation to bear any affliction In a word the Lord tells us without him we can do nothing This Doctrine of Free Grace is the great stop and barre to keep out all false Doctrines and floods of Errors The floods of all Error flow in at the door of ignorance and specially ignorance of this very thing viz. the Error of the Papist the Quaker the Arminian together with all the instability formality legallity that more or less is found amongst people of all perswasions or at least most of them springs into them at the door of the ignorance of this precious Doctrine of Free Grace Now for a remedy herein let every Christian study pray enquire for and stand fast in the Free Grace of God see that blessed place 1 Pet. 5. 12. Exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein you stand Rom. 5. 2. By whom we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand so that it is most clear and plain that their standing in this grace did fence them from all false Doctrines and erroneous Opinions whilst others that were ignorant of this Doctrine remain seeking their salvation partly by Grace and partly by Works as Rom. 9. 32. Wherefore because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the works of the Law for they stumbled at the stumbling-stone c. This Doctrine is a main support of a soul under all