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	holy_a	speak_v	2,197	5	4.5369	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A40686	A sermon of reformation preached at the Church of the Savoy, last fast day, July 27, 1643 / by Thomas Fuller ...	Fuller, Thomas, 1608-1661.	1643 (1643)	Wing F2461; ESTC R21908	11,914	24

A SERMON OF Reformation Preached at the Church of the SAVOY last Fast day July 27 1643. By Thomas Fuller B. D. and Minister there LONDON Printed in the yeare of our Lord 1643. A SERMON OF REFORMATION HEB. 9.10 Vntill the time of Reformation THose who live beyond the Polar circles are called Periscii because they have shadows round aboue them In a more mysticall meaning the Jewes before Christ may be so called living in constant Umbrages of Types and Ceremonies which were taken away when the Sunne of Righteousnesse did arise Their sacrificing of Lambes and Rammes and Kids and Goats and Calves and Kine and Turtle-doves with their observing of Meates and Drinkes and Dayes whereas the Apostle saith Colos. 2.17 A shadow of things to come but the body is of Christ Yea in some sense I may safely say that the very Sanctum and Sanctum Sanctorum was still but the outward Atrium as containing therein such Types as related to a higher and holier truth To instance only in the Holy of Holies herein were seven sacred Utensils all full fraught with Heavenly Mysteries First the Golden Censor signifying our prayers mingled with Christs merits woefull for us if he did not give better Incense then we bring which he offers up for us to his Father Secondly The Arke of the Covenant overlaid round about with gold whilest Shittim wood was in the middest thereof to Typifie Christs humanity decked and adorned with his Godhead Thirdly the Pot of Manna looking backwards in memoriall of the miraculous meat of the Israelites in the Wildernesse And forwards to set forth Angels food in Heaven which is neither to eat nor to drinke but to doe Gods will and to see Gods glory Fourthly Aarons Rod which budded and besides the History contained therein alluded to Christs Resurrection that Branch of Iesse cut downe and cast out amongst the dead which yet afterwards did revive flourish and fructifie Fifthly The Tables of the Covenant wherein the Commandements were written by Gods finger to intimate that only an infinite power can effectually print Gods Lawes in our hard and obdurate hearts Sixthly the golden Cherubims overshadowing the Mercy-Seat with their wings and looking towards it to shew that the mystery of Gods mercy is to be covered from the curiosity of prophane eyes whilest the pious may with comfort behold it Seventhly and lastly the Mercy-Seat it selfe the Embleme of that Mercy-Seat in Heaven to which poore penitents being cast at the Barre of Gods justice have a free and open appeale All these were of gold and pure gold and yet Saint Paul Gal. 4.9 calleth all legall ceremonies beggarly Elements in comparison of Christ the Truth in whom these did determine and expire As the rude lines of Black-Lead wherwith the Picture is first drawne vanish away when the curious Limner layeth on the lively colours so that all these outward Ordinances had an end at the comming of Christ being only to last Vntill the time of Reformation The Text is so short it needs not to be divided only the word REFORMATION must bee expounded a word long in pronouncing and longer in performing as generally signifying the bettering and amending of what is amisse In Greeke {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} A Through Rectifying However sometimes the word Reformation is not opposed to things bad in their owne nature but to things that are lesse perfect and may be more perfected as in the Text For the Ceremoniall law of the Jewes was compleat in its kinde as given of God and every thing made by Him must be like Him that made it very good Yet comparatively that law was imperfect and needed a Reformation which was performed at Christs comming Besides though the Ceremoniall Law was good in it selfe yet it was bad as it was abused by the ignorant Jewes For though the knowing Patriarks looked through and beyond the Types to the Messias himselfe yet the dull People mistaking the Shell for the Kernell and the Casket for the Jewell lodged their soules where they should only have bayted and did dote on the shadowes as on the substance it selfe in which respect the Peoples judgements as well as those Ceremonies needed a Reformation The maine point we shall insist on is this That Christians living under the Gospel live in a time of Reformation which will appeare in severall particulars For besides Ceremonies removed according to the principall intent of the Text Manners are now reformed and Doctrine refined Poligamy connived at in the Patriarks now generally condemned the Bill of Divorce cancelled by Christianity which was permitted to the Jewes not because that was good but because they were bad and by this Tolleration were kept from being worse The second Table abused by the restrictive Comments of the Pharisees confining those Lawes which were made to confine them onely to the outward Act are now according to our Saviour interpretation extended to their true demention The mistery of the Trinity clouded in the old Testament is cleered in the New The Doctrine of Gods righteousnesse by faith of the merrit of Christ of the spirit of Adoption of the Resurrection of the Body darkly delivered under the Law are manifested in the Gospel with many other heavenly Revelations Let us be hartily thankfull to God who gave us to be borne since the comming of Christ in the time of Reformation Our Twi-light is cleerer then the Jewish Noon-day The men of China use to brag that they because of their ingenious civility have two Eyes the Europaeans one and that all the World besides are starke blinde more truely it may be said that the Christans had two Eyes the Law and Gospell the Jewes but one the Law alone and all people and Pagans besides sit in darknesse and the shadow of death The Jewes indeed saw Christ presented in a land-scept and beheld him through the Perspective of faith seeing the promises a farre off But at this day a Dwarfe-Christian is an overmatch for a gyant Jew in knowledge as appeareth by our Saviours Riddle Mat. 11.11 Among them that are borne of women there hath not risen a greater then John the Baptist Notwithstanding he that is least in the Kingdome of Heaven is greater then he Which Riddle is thus untyed Iohn Baptist was the greatest amongst the Children of Women because other Prophets foresaw Christ He saw him others spake of Christ He spake to him and had the high honour to baptize him with water by whose spirit he himselfe was baptized Yet was he the least in the Kingdome of Heaven which properly began after Cerists Ascention because though perchance acquainted with the generals thereof the particulars of the time place meanes and manner were as much conceal'd from him as cleerly revealed unto us He never knew that Iudas should betray Christ Caiphas accuse him Peter deny him Pilate condeme him Souldiers crucifie him Nicodemus embalme him Ioseph bury him These and many more Circumstances of our Saviours passion

the Jewish Church from Idolatry as a Taske belonging to the Supreme power placed over them Meane time meere private men must not be idle but move in their Spheare till the Supreme power doth Reforme First they are dayly to pray to God to inspire those who have power and place with Will and Skill couragiously to begin constantly to continue and happily to conclude such a Reformation Secondly they are seriously to reforme themselves He needs not to complaine of too little worke who hath a little world in himselfe to amend A good man in Scripture is never called Gods Church because that is a collective terme belonging to many but is often termed Gods Temple such a Temple it is lawfull for every private man to Reforme He must see that the foundation of faith be firme the Pillars of Patience be strong the windowes of Knowledge be cleere the roofe of Perseverance be perfected Thirdly he may Reforme the Church in his house Philemon 2 carefully looking to his owne Family Ioshua 24.15 that he and his house may serve the Lord But as for the publique Reforming of the Church in generall he must let it alone as belonging to the Supreme power to whom it is appropriated But seeing wee have occasion to speake of lawfull Callings what Calling may some say have you to meddle with this point above your reach and without your Compasse Who penned your Commission to take such matters in hand Leave the describing of Reformers Characters to such who have more age experience and ability to performe it I am or should be most sensible of mine owne weakenesse being {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the least of those that dispence the Word and Sacraments Yet have I a calling as good as the Church of England could give me And if she be not ashamed of such a Sonne I count my selfe honoured with such a Mother And though meere private Christians may not intermeddle with publick Reforming of a Church Gods Prophets have in all Ages challenged the priviledge to tell necessary Truths unto the greatest The Tongue used to be cut out of the Roman Sacrifices and given unto their Heraulds to shew that freedome of language was allowed them We are Christs Ambassadours 2 Corinthians 5.20 and claime the leave to speak Truth with sobernesse And though I cannot expect my words should be like Nailes fastened by the Masters of the Assemblies Eccl. 12.11 Yet I hope they may prove as Tacks entred by him that desires to be faithfull and peaceable in Israel The second Requisite in Reformers is Piety The very Snuffers in the Tabernacle were made of pure Gold Exodus 37.23 They ought to be good themselves who are to amend others least that reproofe fall heavie on them Psalme 50.16 But unto the ungodly saith God Why doest thou preach my lawes and takest my Covenant in thy mouth whereas thou hatest to bee Reformed and hast cast my words behinde thee And though sometimes bad men may Reforme others by vertue of their Office Yet when it is done by the Office of their Vertue and efficacy of their goodnesse it is more gracefull in it selfe more acceptable to God and more comfortable to the Doer Thirdly Knowledge in a competent yea plentifull measure Dangerous was the mistake committed by Sir Francis Drake in Eighty Eight when neglecting to carry the Lanthorne as he was commanded in the darke night chased five Hulkes of the Dutch Merchants supposing them to have been his Enemies of the Spaniards Such and worse Errors may be committed in the Reforming of a Church good mistaken for bad and bad mistaken for good where the light of knowledge is wanting for direction Fourthly true courage and magnanimity Reformers need to be armed with a stout spirit Cap à Pee which are to breake through the front of bad customes long received Such Customes as they are bad are Vsurpers as they are Customes are Tyrants and will stickle stoutly to stand in their old place Saint Matthew saith 27.15 At the feast the Governour was wont to release unto the people a Prisoner Saint Luke saith 23.17 Of necessity he must release one unto them at the Feast What was but a Curtesie at the first grew in processe of time to bee a custome and at last became a necessity Such customes made necessary by continuance must Reformers expect to encounter and resolve to remove O Coward-lines in a Magistrate is a great sinne Who would thinke to finde the fearfull marching in the fore-front and yet in that forlorne hope which goeth to Hell Revelations 21.8 see them first named but the fearfull the unbeleeving and abominable c. so necessary is Christian courage especially in a Reformer Fifthly and lastly they must be endued with Christian discretion a grace that none ever speak against but those that wanted it A good man will guide his affaires with discretion Psalme 112.5 I must confesse there is a discretion falsely so called both carnall in it selfe and inconsistent with true Zeale yea distructive of it Christ had two Disciples of the same name the one a true man the other a Traytor both Iudasses Wherefore to prevent mistakes the former is never cited in Scriptures but with an addition Iudas saith unto him not Iscariot Lord c. Iohn 14.22 Iudas the servant of JESVS CHRIST and Brother of Iames Iude 1. In like manner wee here mentioning Discretion call it Christian Discretion for difference thereof that all may know we meane not that which destroyes Zeale but that which directs it not that which quencheth Zeale but which keepes it in the Chimney the proper place thereof not that which makes it lesse lively but what makes it more lasting This Discretion though last named is not least needfull in the Reformers of a Church and must principally appeare in two things First the not sparing of the Tares for the Wheats sake Secondly the not spoyling the Wheat for the Tares sake The not sparing the Tares for the Wheats sake By Tares we understand not only things unlawfull in a Church but things unexpedient and unprofitable which also must be removed The barren Fig-tree Luke 13.17 was condemned not for bearing deadly or dangerous fruit but none at all Cut it downe why cumbereth it the ground Gods Garden ought to bee so well dressed as to have nothing superfluous that doth harme that doth no good therein Hee that will not worke neither shall hee eate 2 Thessalonians 3.10 If such Ceremonies are to be found in our Church which will not labour neither needfull in themselves nor conducing to decency let them no longer have countenance in the Church nor maintenance from it The not spoyling the Wheat for the Tares sake and letting those things alone which are well ordered already Yet is there a generation of Anabaptists in number fewer I hope then are reported yet more I fear then are discovered people too turbulent to obey and too tyrannicall to command If it should