Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	apostle_n	church_n	rome_n	2,013	5	6.8164	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86532	The saints guide, in three treatises; I. The mirror of mercie, on Gen. 6.13. II. The carnall mans condition, on Rom. 1.18. III. The plantation of the righteous, on Psa. l.3 / By Thomas Hooker minister in New-England.	Hooker, Thomas, 1586-1647.	1645 (1645)	Wing H2655; Thomason E1160_1; ESTC R11339	43,446	180

either the meanes from them or them from the meanes or his blessing from both God hath bounds of his bounty and patience hitherto and no further he will strive but not alwaies when his time is expired not a jot or minute is further to be expected As with the Sun it hath its time of increasing and so there is the spring and harvest it hath its time of decreasing and then blasting and winter there is also a time of consuming the store as of bringing it in so it is with the Son of Righteousnesse who hath a time to receive quicken and ripen the graces of his people and a time to leave men to hardnesse of their hearts in the darkenesse of Aegipt He will ridde them of his word or in hearing they shall not heare Gods season of mercie doth not allwaies last there is a Terme time and a vacation the sun-shine of Gods goodnes now comforts and makes grace to grow the Gospell is gon and all mercie and comfort is gon when Ephraim was gon to Idolatrie Hos 4.17 God was also gon nay Let him alone saith God he is joyned to Idols let him make up his match with mischiefe let him have his belly full of sinning I will now no more strive with him The Lord make us wise to know the day of our visitation least he remove his Candlesticke from us and he be seene no more least he in his wrath goe away and leave us to die and perish in our sinnes FINIS THE CARNALL MANS CONDITION Set forth in a Sermon on Rom. 1.18 By THOMAS HOOKER late of CHELMSFORD in Essex now Minister of the Gospell in New ENGLAND LONDON Printed for John Stafford dwelling in the Alley against Brides Church 1645. THE CARNALL MANS CONDITION ROM 1.18 The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungoodlinesse and unrighteousnesse of men who hold the truth in unrighteousnesse IN the beginning of this Chapter the Apostle Paul by way of Preface prepareth way for those many excellent truths that the Spirit of God had furnished him withall to send to the Saints that were at Rome And that those Heavenly Mysteries might take the deeper roote in their hearts and find the better acceptance with them In the first place he cleareth the Authority of his Calling and that he came not before he was sent of God ver 1. Paul a Servant of Jesus Christ called to be an Apostle separated unto the Gospell of God And therefore being thus called it became them to receive his doctrine not as the notions of his owne braine but as the Word of the immortall God Secondly by way of insinuation he prayseth them for that good progresse that they had made in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ verse 8. Thirdly He discovers the tendernes of his love and affection towards them and his uncessant and unwearied desire to doe them good from the ninth to the sixteenth verse Fourthly He laieth downe the maine point the Criticall point the hinge upon which all the rest of his glorious building should move viz. That a man is justifyed in the Sight of God by faith and not by workes which Proposition he proveth first by Scripture ver 17. The just shall live by faith Secondly by force of Argument in the words of the text shewing that no man can stand righteous before God by workes because the best workes that a man can doe of himselfe are wicked and unjust and therefore punished of God for all men out of Christ stand guilty both of ungodlinesse and unrighteousnes so are subject to condemnation therefore they must needs seek righteousnesse in some other his Argument runneth thus If no man by the workes of the Law can appease the Wrath of God then by the workes of the Law no man can be saved but by the workes of the law no man can appease the Wrath of God therefore by the workes of the Law no man can be saved this he propounds in the text and prosecutes in the Chapter following In the words of the text we may observe in the generall these two parts First that carriage and disposition of heart that is in wicked men towards the Truth of God Secondly Gods dealing with them in requitall of that their carriage they stand in opposition to the truth Holding it in unrighteousnesse God stands against them in a way of Wrath and Vengeance they deale roughly with the truth and God deales as rigorously with them More particularly here is first the subject The Wrath of God secondly the object Ungodly and unrighteous men Thirdly The Universality of it in this word al God doth not deal partially but all be they what they may be that Hold the truth in unrighteousnesse shall feele the Wrath of God no sinne how little soever it seemeth to a carnall eye shall escape it Fourthly The place from whence this Wrath shall come that is from Heaven Obser 1 From the Method that the Holy Ghost useth in placing ungodlinesse before unrighteousnesse we may learne That Sinnes against the first table are sinnes of a deeper dye of a sadder nature then Sinnes against the second table Obser 2 Secondly in that it is said against ungodlinesse and not ungodly men we learne That Gods Wrath is not primarily not principally intended against mens persons but against their sinnes and wicked wayes Obser 3 Thirdly in that it is said they hold the truth in unrighteousnesse we learne That the Gentiles naturally had that ingrafted in them whereby they might come in some degree to the Knowledge of God of the Almighty Power greatnesse goodnesse and everlasting Nature of God even by looking upon his Creatures so that their own reason might condemn them of their wickednesse both towards God and men For the clearer understanding of the words wee are to consider First What is ment by the wrath of God The wrath of God is an act of Gods Justice punishing wicked men sometimes it is put for the judgements themselves as plague sword famine and such like It is here set down in opposition to the Righteousnesse of God spoken of ver 17. which is Gods mercifull goodnesse and gratious dispensations towards poore lost men Secondly what is meant by truth by truth here is ment the remainder of light that was left in Man kinde after the fall that rubbish that was left upon the fall of that first glorious building that Common light that is in every mans conscience since the fall of Adam that serves to shew him what God is in His Power Glory Majesty and Bounty and that he is to be worshipped by adoring and fearing of him above all somtime truth is put for the efficacy and power of truth Gal. 2.14 Paul reproveth Peter and the rest for not walking according to the truth of the Gospell because the truth had not beene so efficatious with them as to drive them from those beggerly elements of the Ceremoniall Law but they would have had the Gentiles

cleare it in these three particulars 1. What is the Power of truth 2. How wicked men hinder it 3. The reason why they doe so hinder it Quest 1. First What is the power of truth or what would it worke upon the soule that wicked men oppose it Answ The worke and power of it will appeare in soure particulars .. 1. First it is a word of information discovering things in their native and proper collours pulling off that vizard that carnall reason hath put upon them Prov. 6.23 For the Commandement is a Lanthorn an instruction a light A Light is usefull in a darke and narrow way so is the word of God to direct us and informe us how to walke in the narrow path that leadeth unto life by this a man is informed what is to be shunned what to be followed what is to be loved what to be hated A man cannot miscarrie nor loose his way so long as he is directed by the Light of the truth as the Sun sheweth all the moates that be in the house so this discovers all the corrupt corners that be in the soule all that envie pride hypocrisie blasphemy that lodgeth in the heart Ephes 5.13 But all things when they are reproved of the light are manifest for it is light that maketh all things manifest A man may there be resolved in everie doubtfull case of conscience the ballance of the Sanctuarie is that wherein we should weigh our thoughts words and workes Secondly as it is a word of information so it is a word of quickening a vigorous powerfull word which not onely sheweth the way and pointeth to the right path but enableth a man to walke in that path in the strength thereof so that he walketh on cheerefully in Heaven way notwithstanding all the rubs and oppositions that he meeteth withall in the world It is not onely as the Sun to shew us the right way but as a strong streame to carrie us on in that way David Psal 119.50 speaking of the word of God saith It is my comfort in my trouble for thy promise hath quickened mee Thirdly The word hath a drawing power in it saith the Church Cant. 1.3 Draw mee and I will run after thee The Church confesseth that shee cannot come to Christ except shee be drawne now the word of God hath such a drawing power in it though corruption be strong and the Outward man heavy yet it will lead a man on in the right way that he should walke 4. Fourthly it is a word of conviction it is powerfull to overthrow all the gainsayings of man it hath a soveraigne supreame Authority in it to beare downe all carnall reasonings when the Lord is pleased to accompanie it 2. Cor. 10.4 The weapons of our warefare are not carnall feeble and weake but mighty thorough God to the pulling downe of strong holds There is a mighty operation in the truth hence saith the Apostle 2. Cor. 13.8 We cannot doe anie thing against the truth but for the truth So that truth is powerfull and though corruption be strong the world inticing and the Divell ensnaring yet if the Lord be pleased to set the truth home upon the soule either to informe it or to quicken it or to draw it on in Heaven waies or to convince it all these avocations and pull backs shall not hinder it thus we see the truth wil work Quest Secondly How doth a carnall man hinder the powerfull working of this word that is may not prevaile with his soule the word would have the Soule but the Soule will have its sinnes And its opposition against the truth doth appeare in these foure particulars Answ 1. First a carnall heart is marvellous unwilling and altogether indisposed to listen to the Truth of God so as to be instructed therein and examine himselfe thereby it is tendious to flesh and blood to waite upon the truth it is not willing to know its duty to know what the word saith in such and such cases least it should pull some of his sweete morsells from betwixt his teeth cut off his right hand pull out his right eye some bosome sinnes that are as neere and deare unto him as either of them therefore he is willing to be a stranger to the Truth of God and though Manna from Heaven lyeth at his doore yet he will not step out to gather it in men naturally stop their eares agaainst the truth Esay 30.10 They say to the Seers see not and to the Prophets prophesie not right things speake to us smooth things prophesie deceits Get thee out of the way turne aside out of the path cause the holy one of Israel to cease from before us So Job 21.14 They say also unto God depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes They desire nothing more then to be exempt from all subjection unto God that in Acts. 28.27 is likewise here considerable For the heart of this people is waxed fat and their cares are dull of hearing and with their eyes have they winked least they should see with their eyes and heare with their cares and understand with their hearts and should returne that I might heale them Winked with their eyes that is they made as though they saw not that which they did see against their wills carnall men are loath to know the truth if they doe search for it it is onely as a Coward doth for his Enemy with a hope not to finde him yea with a feare lest he should find him So a naturall man is fearefull to search and loath to find the truth but if the truth doe glanse in and conscience begin to recoile then he seekes out for some merry company that may help him to smother these motions of the Spirit as Saul sent for David to play before him when the evill Spirit came upon him We use to draw a Curtaine before the Sun when it shineth too bright in our eyes so saith every carnall heart when the word shineth in his soule Oh draw a Curtaine before it let me heare no more of this least it drive me out of wits I would have Christ but I would have the world also if God would but allow me such a finne meaning his bosome corrruption I would willingly come up unto him in every thing else that he should require at my hands thus conscience puts them to doe somthing and the word hath some slightly worke upon them like the seede that fell in the stonie ground but yet they will not part with their Dalilah Corruptions but when it toucheth the covetous mans gaine the voluptuous mans pleasure then they crie out draw a Curtaine before it Secondly A carnall heart is alwayes ready to raise an evill report of the blessed truth of God that so it may appear deformed to the eyes of them that begin to expresse some desire after it they deal with it as the spies did with the Land of Canaan Num. 13.32 So they brought up an evill

Consolation to all those who finde that their hearts be levell to the rule of the word who are willing to let goe all beloved finnes though never so pleasant and profitable and worldly ends whatsoever yea to give up their all yea their life it selfe when God shall call for it this may be a ground of unspeakable comfort unto them for they finde that distinguishing Caracter in their soules which cannot be found in the hearts of any hypocrites in the world Consider therefore with thy selfe how thou canst stoope as well to the Commands as to the Promises of the word canst submit to every blessed truth art willing both to know it and to practise it and to delight thy selfe in it day and night Is there any soule here whose Conscience beares him witnesse that it is thus with him that he is willing not onely to heare but likewise to entertaine every Truth of God even those that are most contrary to flesh and bloud and that he can say in the uprightnesse of his spirit as before the Lord be there any more Truths of the Lord to be discovered Oh! that I might heare them and come to understand them how willingly would I come up unto them and put them in practice that can say with the holy man Job Surely it is meet● to be sayd unto God I have borne chastisement and I will not offend any more that which I see not teach thou mee and if I have done Iniquitie I will doe so no more Such a man as can thus love and thus entertaine the truth he is a Free-man of Heaven one of the blessed Company of Saints and Angells John 8.32 And yee shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free This was the joy of the Apostle 3. Epist John 4. I have no greater joy then to heave that my Children walke in the truth If it was so great a matter of joy to him that he had beene an Instrument to worke this blessed worke upon other mens soules how much greater cause of joy hast thou that it is wrought upon thy soule God himselfe loveth the truth and requireth truth in the inward parts He delighteth also to reward the lovers of it Dost thou love the Truth of Christ then it will give the same testimonie of thee as it did to Demetrius 3. Epist of Joh. 12. Demetrius hath a good report of the truth it self And if the Truth report well of thee Fear not what the world what thy freinds or enemies say of thee for the testimony of the truth will be a comfort unto thee when all false witnesses shall stand aside and thou shalt be able to lift up thine head when those that have derided the truth and thee for the truths sake shall hang downe their heads and have their hearts to faile within them Then this shall be a comfort to a poore soule when his conscience shall beare him witnesse that although he hath had manie weaknesses yet there was never any truth made knowne unto his soule but he was willing to entertaine it never any sinne was discovered to his soule to be a sinne but instantly he loathed it then the Truth shall stand up and say I beare witnesse Lord that he loved mee entertained mee and delighted in mee though he indured bitter persecutions for my sake and so the truth shall make him free the devill shall not have any thing to lay to his charge and God the Father God the Sonne and God the blessed Spirit shall be ready to imbrace such a Soule for God is a God of Truth Christ is the Word of Truth and the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Truth Therefore labour after the Truth let not your hearts any longer oppose its efficatious working upon your soules but uncessantly intreat the God of Truth to set every truth that you shall heare home upon your hearts FINIS THE PLANTATION OF THE RIGHTEOUS Set forth in a Sermon on Psalme 1.3 BY THOMAS HOOKER late of Chelmesford in Essex Now Minister of the Gospell in NEW-ENGLAND LONDON Printed for John Stafford dwelling in the Alley against Brides Church 1646. THE PLANTATION OF The RIGHTEOVS PSAL. 1.3 But he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in due season his leafe also shall not wither and what soever he doth shall prosper IN the begining of this Psalme the Prophet David giveth somewhat a generall and confused veiw of blessednesse which is the desire of all our hearts the end of all our hopes and travails and then he first pointeth out the by-paths in which those that walke shall be sure never to attain unto this blessednesse 2. He setteth out the true and ready way to happinesse and the severall stations therein which are but two delighting and meditating in the word of God 3. In the words of the text he doth more particularly and distinkely discover this happinesse that so he might win upon mens affections and make their soules be enamored therwith 4. He sheweth the woefull estate and condition of those that doe not walke in this way that leadeth to happinesse they are not so but the winde of Gods Wrath shall drive them away like chaffe Lastly he giveth the reasons of it for the Lord knoweth that is doth approve and prosper the way of the righteous but the way of the wicked shall perish Now in the third verse here is first a familiar Similitude of a Tree and this tree is further discovered 1. By the nature of it it is a planted tree not a wild tree 2. By the place where it groweth and that is by the rivers of waters 3. By the property of it it bringeth forth his fruite in due season 4. By some effects 1. A perpetuall flourishing his leafe shall not fade 2. A good issue to every undertaking what soever he doth shall prosper As it is with a Tree digged out of a barren land and transplanted into a fruitfull Soyle and set by a river of water it bringeth forth much fruite and remaineth in a flourishing estate So it is with those who having bin rooted out of the drie wildernesse of sin and are by the great Husbandman God the Father transported into the true Vine Jesus Christ and set by the Rivers of his word and Ordinances they grow fruitfull in grace and goodnesse bringing forth flourishing fruite and that in due season when it may make most for the Glorie of God and the good of his people and their fruit shall neither fade nor perish untill they attaine unto perfection and a full fruition of Happinesse with Christ in Glorie So that this third verse doth in particular discover the difference betwixt a godly and godlesse man They are contrary in their principalls and wayes They are contrary in their fruites and they shall be contrary in their accounts at the last Day Now for the present I shall wave all the other Characters of a godly man and treat