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	scripture_n	spirit_n	3,143	5	5.2045	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A35943	A brief explication of the last fifty Psalmes from Ps. 100 to the end / by David Dickson ...	Dickson, David, 1583?-1663.	1654 (1654)	Wing D1394A; ESTC R31324	283,150	402

after the imagination of their own heart and make their own conceits their Oracle their fancie their faith and their lusts their God or will by opposing one or other of the Persons of the Godhead deny and separate the indivisible Essence of one God in three Persons or by receiving the doctrine of some of those many lesser antichrists which are in the world will incorporate themselves in the great mystical body of that one Antichrist spoken of in Scripture or in a word will by rejecting the truth and not receiving of it in love when it is offered bring in upon themselves strong delusions and give a powerful possession of themselves to the devil whereby he may so rule in them as to make them vent whatsoever hell can devise to the dishonour of God and Christian Religion that all such may be damned as for their not receiving the truth in love so also for their taking pleasure in unrighteousnesse according as the Apostle did prophecie should come to passe 2 Thess. 2.11 12. In such a time therefore as this is wherein the Lord is manifesting who are of God and who not who do know God and who not who do follow the Spirit of truth and who are led by the spirit of errour and is deciphering them by this infallible mark which the Apostle giveth 1 John 4.6 that the one giveth a beleeving and obediential eare to the Penmen of holy Scripture the other doth not so what a mercie yea what an honour and happinesse is it for the Lords children to make such use of a setled Ministry which is the great gift of Christ bestowed upon his Church as not to be carried about with every winde of doctrine Eph. 4.11 12 13 14. not to be led away with the errour of the wicked nor fall from their own stedfastnesse but to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3.17 18. Which grace and honour and happinesse that it may not only continue with your Lordship but also be granted to all those that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity is the prayer of Your Lordships ready Servant in the Gospel DAVID DICKSON THE EPISTLE TO THE Reader CHRISTIAN READER IN the two former parts of this work I have spoken my minde to thee in relation to this brief Explication of the Psalmes I will not here keep thee up in the entry of this last part nor say any more unto thee save this It is our bound duty to bless him that inhabiteth the praises of Israel who will have all the Mourners in Sion to be comforted and who as he hath prepared in this mountain unto all people Isa. 25.6 a feast of fat things a feast of wines on the lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the lees well refined by bestowing Christ and the unsearchable riches of his grace upon every Penitent who fleeth to him for delivery from sin and wrath so hath he also prepared to every such soul the excellent songs of Sion to encrease their festival gladness and for evidencing of his purpose to give unto them everlasting joy after this life is ended hath put in their hands for their comfort in every condition wherein they can be in this present life and valley of tears this sweet-smelled bundle of Psalmes wherein he hath made his works of mercy and of judgement the pawnes of his promises for compleat happiness unto them and also of the utter overthrow and perdition of all their enemies and hath appointed both mercy and judgement to be the matter as of their joy so of his owne glory in the Church to be lifted up as a sacrifice upon the Altar Christ Iesus by the voice of his people singing with grace to him both alone and in company and making melody in their hearts therefore as in the changes of our own particular private condition we have liberty to choose for our use such parts of the Psalmes as do speak most near to our present case So let us be bound in publick meetings of the Church to joyne with the Congregation in singing every truth uttered by Gods Spirit in the Psalmes as we are directed by the Minister and mouth of the meeting for glorifying of him who hath done promised threatened and taught whatsoever is therin expressed Remembring that his Praises are the pillars of our faith and that his joy is our strength and that those calves of our lips are acceptable sacrifices to God through Iesus Christ in and for whom I am thy Servant in the Work of the Gospel DAVID DICKSON A BRIEF EXPLICATION Upon the last Fifty Psalmes PSALM CI. DAvid not being as yet entered in possession of his Kingdome doth by direction of the holy Spirit fall upon a consideration of the duties of a righteous Prince which he setteth down as a rule to be followed by himself and all Magistrates obliging himself to endeavour to conforme his Government thereto wherein he is but a type and shadow of Christ in whom alone the perfect performance of the duties here promised are to be found The principal duties which David undertaketh to discharge may be for orders sake reduced to the number of eight according to the number of the verses Ver. 1. I Will sing of mercy and judgement unto thee O LORD will I sing The first duty which he undertaketh is to delight himself in all royal vertues required for the Government of good or bad subjects and to make those duties his Song and to approve himself to God for the sincerity of his intention in this undertaking Whence learn 1. All the duties of righteous Government may be comprehended under these two heads mercy and judgement for mercy taketh in the care of the poor needy oppressed or injured and judgement taketh in the care of equity and righteous dealing among the subjects with the rewarding of the good and punishing of evil doers mercy provideth for all good things which the subject needeth and judgement provideth for their security and for removing whatsoever evill may trouble them I will sing saith he of mercy and judgement 2. Such as are designed unto any calling especially any publick charge should prepare themselves for it partly by laying before themselves the duties belonging to the right discharge of such a calling and partly by bending of their hearts and laying engagements on their spirits for the faithful discharge thereof for so much doth Davids example here teach us 3 Duties of a mans calling should both be studied unto and discharged with some chearfulnesse and readinesse of minde for I will sing of mercy and judgement importeth so much 4. As it is expedient for the peoples better acceptance of a man to a publike charge that his purpose to discharge his duty therein be published so also it is expedient for the mans stirring up and fastening to his duty that he engage his heart unto God for so doth Davids example teach us Unto thee

for pleasure and that man for riches and he for honour and he for preferment the Lords children should be seeking grace to serve God as the Psalmist did I cried with my whole heart hear me O Lord and I will keep thy statutes 2. When the conscience can bear witnesse of hearty seeking of grace to serve God the Supplicant may confidently call for and expect comfortable quickening of his spirit unto Gods service as the comparison of this verse with the 149. verse doth shew 3. Whatsoever spiritual grace we seek of God we should seek it earnestly for if we seek it so as if we did not regard whether we obtained our request or not such seeking should under-value the grace which we seek I cried with my whole heart Vers. 146. I cried unto thee save me and I shall keep thy testimonies Another branch of the argument is because he did not pray for delivery out of his trouble for satisfaction of his natural desire but that he might give further proof of his purpose to obey Gods Word Whencee learn The conscience of a sincere purpose to seek God may encourage us to seek both consolation and lively ability to serve him I cried unto thee save me and I shall keep thy testimonies Vers. 147. I prevented the dawning of the morning and cried I hoped in thy word A third branch of the argument is because out of hope to finde the fruit of Gods promises he had been early about the duty of prayer Whence learn 1. Prayer should be earnestly followed and with no small diligence in using of the meanes specially of prayer so the Lords children come by their holy desires as here we see I prevented the dawning of the morning and cried 2. Looking unto the Word doth furnish faith and hope and faith and hope do furnish prayer or else the Supplicant might soon faint I cried I hoped in thy Word Ver. 148. Mine eyes prevent the night-watches that I might meditate in thy word A fourth branch of the argument is because when his nights rest was broken by troubles he did meditate on Gods Word when his persecutors were securely sleeping Whence learn 1. The difficultie wherein the Lords children are cast many times doth bereave them of their nights rest Mine eyes prevent the night-watches 2. The time which solicitude doth take from our sleep is to be spent upon prayer and meditation of Gods Word and not upon perplexing thoughts Mine eyes prevent the night-watches that I might meditate in thy VVord Vers. 149. Heare my voice according unto thy loving kindnesse O LORD quicken me according to thy judgement This is the main petition in this section put up for renewing and encreasing in him the vigour of spiritual life by faith in the Word wherein he giveth a second reason of this his prayer taken from Gods kindnesse expressed in his promises Whence learne 1. Albeit a man had no special promise of help in a particular exercise of trouble yet the consideration of Gods mercy and loving kindnesse manifested in general in his Word is a sufficient ground to strengthen his hope to be helped Hear my voice according to thy loving kindnesse O quicken me according to thy judgements 2. As the feeling of spiritual deadnesse doth argue life and sense in Gods children so doth it fit a man for renewed influence and sense of spiritual life O Lord qu●cken me according to thy testimonies Vers. 150. They draw nigh that follow after mischief they are far from thy law 151. Thou art near and all thy Commandments are truth The third reason of his petition is because his enemies were ready to do him a mischief and were far from regarding Gods law but he believed God was the more n●ar to deliver him and that his Word was true and therefore he desireth renewed vigour of spiritual life Whence learn 1. The more near that danger is the more ground of confidence have Gods children in their danger to call and hope for the influence of his Spirit They draw near that follow after mischief 2. The further the enemies of the godly are from Gods law and the nearer they are to do a mischief the nearer are Gods children to finde the communion of the life of God They draw near that follow after mischief they are far from thy law 3. For the consolation of a sufferer for righteousnesse it is necessary to believe Gods readiness to deliver him and to believe the truth of Gods Word whereby his cause is justified for the following of Gods command is a pledge of Gods assisting of him and delivery also no lesse then a promise Thou art near and all thy Commandments are Vers. 12. Concerning thy Testimonies I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever A fourth reason of the petition is because he had long since experience of the everlasting stability of Gods testimonies and therfore craveth to be quickned according to them Whence learn 1. The faith of the stability unchangablenes of Gods Word in general is a good meanes of applying and making use of the passages thereof in particular Concerning thy testimonies I know that thou hast founded them for ever 2. By-past experience of the truth of Gods VVord is an encouragement to hope for help in like trials afterward Concerning thy testimonies I know of old that thou hast founded them for ever RESH Vers. 153. Consider mine affliction and deliver me for I do not forget thy law In this section he prayeth for delivery out of his affliction and for quickening of him by consolation and spiritual ability to serve God till the delive●y came and to strengthen himself in the hope of obtaining this he bringeth forth eight reasons of his petition The first is the conscience of his adherence unto and endeavour to obey the Lords Word Whence learn 1. Albeit the Lord cannot but see and consider our trouble yet we can hardly rest satisfied till he by real effect make it evident that he piti●th us in our affliction and delivereth us out of it Consider mine affliction and deliver me 2. As no trouble or tentation should drive us from the obedience of Gods Word so the more closely we adhere to the Word in the obedience of faith the more may we be assured to be delivered Deliver me for I do not forget thy law Ver. 154. Plead my cause and deliver me quicken me according to thy Word He urgeth the same petition and insinuateth a second reason for it from the Lords engagement by his Word to be Advocate for him to deliver him and to quicken him Whence learne 1 Albeit the godly under persecution have a good cause yet they cannot plead it except God their Redeemer shew himself as Advocate for them therefore prayeth the Psalmist Plead my cause 2. When God the Redeemer pleadeth a mans cause he doth it to purpose really and effectually Plead my cause and deliver me 3. Except the Lords Clients shall finde new influence from