Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	believe_v	damn_v	delusion_n	1,893	5	11.0930	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A67066	The leper, and the leper's house, cleansed being, an exposition upon some part of the XIVth chapter of Leviticus; the mystery of which is explained and applied to the state and condition of a sinner's becoming a saint. With profitable uses and applications. As also, what chapter may be applied to, as to the cleansing or destroying of any particular church of Christ, in and under the time of the gospel. Divided into ten parts. Written for the information of those which seldom concern themselves about the types and shadows of the Old Testament: very useful for all people. By Thomas Worden, author of, The types unvailed.	Worden, Thomas.	1695 (1695)	Wing W3578; ESTC R218033	86,936	103

there are which walk by the Rule of enthusiastical Inspirations Visions and pretended Revelations casting off the written Word of God which was formerly their Rule and Guide and now account themselves more happy in walking by these Guides though this latter Age have abounded with but too many of these filthy Dreamers as St. Jude stiles them Jude 8. Verse yet it is no new thing but a thing as ancient as the Prophet Jeremiah's Days Jer. 23. 32. I am against them that Prophesie false Dreams saith the Lord and do tell them and cause my People to Err by their Lies and by their Lightness yet I sent them not nor commanded them therefore they shall not profit this People at all It appears that the Design of these ancient enthusiastical Dreamers and Pretenders to Divine Revelations was on purpose to weaken the Authority of the Word of God in the Mouths of the Prophets of the Lord inasmuch as God doth plead the Efficacy of his Word in opposition to these chaffy Dreams and pretended Revelations so much cried up by these ancient Deluders Jer. 23. 28 29. The Prophet that hath a Dream let him tell a Dream and he that hath my Word let him speak my Word faithfully What is the Chaff to the Wheat Is not my Word like as Fire saith the Lord and like a Hammer that breaketh the Rock to pieces It is a very dangerous thing when Persons through their slighting of the written Word shall thereby provoke God to give them over to wander after these satanical Delusions because many times what Ways Men do sinfully chuse to walk in and deluded Rules to walk by the same Ways and Rules God will judicially chuse for them 2 Thess 2. 10 11 12. Because they received not the Truth in the Love of it that they might be saved for this Cause God shall send them strong Delusions to believe Lies that they might be damned Therefore have we that Rule given us in Isa 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony if any Man speak not according to this Rule it 's because there is no Light in him and saith Peter 2 Epist 1. 19. But we have a more sure Word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well to take heed as a Light that shineth in a dark place until the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in your Hearts Thus you see what the false Rules are which the most of Men do propound to themselves as their Guides to walk by which will appear at length to be nothing else but left-footed Obedience in the Eyes of God and Jesus Christ 3dly We give unto God left-footed Service when we walk not constantly with him when we are off and on with God when we play fast and loose with God some there are when affrighted by strong Convictions and grieved by and with sore Afflictions will then for a fit be Religious then they will Pray and Read good Books and frequent the Worship of God and set about the Practice of religious Duties in their Families but when the sense of the Conviction is abated and the smart of their Affliction a little worn off then like Ephraim all their Righteousness appears like the morning Cloud and all their Goodness like the early Rain that passeth away This kind of inconstant Obedience the Israelites gave unto God in the Wilderness Psal 78. 36 37. Nevertheless they flattered him with their Mouth and lied unto him with their Tongues for their Hearts were not right with him neither were they stedfast in his Covenant This inconstant Service was never yet acceptable Service with God nor will it ever be esteemed otherwise than left-footed Service offered unto him 4thly When we walk not sincerely with God then we give him left and not right-footed Service this was the Service Amazia gave to the Lord 2 Chron. 25. 2. He did that which was right in the sight of God but not with a perfect Heart All the Ways of God saith David are Mercy and Truth Good and upright is the Lord therefore will he teach Sinners his Ways Psal 25. 8. So that you see there is Truth and Uprightness in the Lord towards us and he expects to find the same in us towards himself again Truth is the Nature of God and he cannot but hate the contrary where-ever he sees it let Men clothe themselves with never so much out-side Holiness yet if Truth and Sincerity be found wanting all is but glittering Hypocrisie in the Eyes of God Rev. 3. 1. Thou hast a Name to live and art dead The Scribes and Pharisees had as much of an outward Holiness upon them as most Men living but their want of Sincerity turned all their painted shew of Holiness into perfect Rottenness in the Eyes of Christ Matt. 23. 27. It 's not the Matter of our Services only which commends us to God but the Manner of our performing of them If our Ends and Aims 〈◊〉 more for our own Praise Honour and Profit than for the Honour and Glory of God we shall never hear more of it unless it be to our Shame and Sorrow David was well instructed in this therefore prays he that God would make his Heart sound in his Statutes Psal 119. 80. Thus you have seen the Reasons why the Priest was to tip not the left but the right Ear right Thumb and the great Toe of the right Foot of the Leper with the Bloud of the Lamb and Log of Oil the Bloud to purchase the Leper for the Work and Service of the Purchaser and the Oil of Grace to make him fit for it and willing to set about it Now Soul if thou wouldst hear the Voice of Christ in a saving manner if thou wouldst hear when he speaks to thy Soul in his Works Word Ordinances and Providences if thou wouldst work the Works of Righteousness as the Work of Repentance before God Faith in God Love to God with the Works of Holiness in his sight together with the Works of Justice and Mercy towards Men and if thou wouldst Walk with God as Enoch did walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of God Blameless and without Rebuke as did Zacharias and Elizabeth then be not satisfied until thou hast gotten thy right Ear thy right Thumb and the right Foot of thy Soul tipt with the Bloud and Oil which drops out of the Palm of the Hand of the High-Priest Jesus Christ Who is willing to save to the uttermost them which come unto God by him Heb. 7. 25. PART VI. Thus after the Priest had tipt the right Ear the Thumb of the right Hand and the great Toe of the right Foot of the Cleansed Leper with the Bloud of the Lamb and the Log of Oil then as in Levit. 14. 16. the Priest was to dip his right Finger in the Oil that is in his left Hand and sprinkle of the Oil with his Finger seven times before the Lord. THis number Seven was of a sacred Use amongst the Hebrews is was used

own way every one for his Gain from his quarter Hence it is that though we read of so much Corruption breaking forth upon the Seven Churches of Asia yet the Ground and Cause of it in some Measure was charged upon the Ministers of those Churches which were called the Angels of the same when Ministers are given up to an idle lazy Life to be remiss in nothing more than in and about their Duty to God and the Souls of their People no wonder if their Hearers do decline and wither as to the Spirit Life and Power of Godliness under their Hands Ministers are called Physicians and you know when a Physician grows careless and negligent in his Office towards his Patient no wonder if the Body of such a Patient abounds with corrupting Humours and the Malignity of their old Distempers returns back upon them again He that reads the Conversation of Israel's Pastors Isa 56. 10 11 12. need not wonder at Israel's Corruption which is exprest in Isa 1. 4 5 6. Secondly A second Ground of the Churches Corruption ariseth from the earthly-mindedness of their Ministers when Ministers through Covetousness shall make Merchandize of the Souls of their Hearers and set their everlasting Happiness to sale to fill their Treasures with worldly Gain I mean when they shall mind more their own worldly Wealth than their Peoples spiritual Health this opens a Door to let in bad Diseases upon their People it is a very rare thing to find a Minister greedy of the Churches Wealth in worldly things and the People to grow spiritually Wealthy under such a Minister Thirdly A third Ground ariseth from the Debauchery and bad Lives of Ministers this excludes the Presence of God and his Blessing from their Labours and leaves a Curse in the room of it such a Minister may Preach until he hath preach'd out his Heart before he shall do any good upon his People Jer. 23. 14 32. I have seen also in the Prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing they commit Adultery and walk in Lies they strengthen also the Hands of Evil-doers that none doth return from his Wickedness they are all unto me as Sodom and the Inhabitants of Gomorrah Ver. 32. They cause my People to err by their Lies and by their Lightness yet I sent them not nor commanded them therefore they shall not profit this People at all saith the Lord. Fourthly A fourth Ground ariseth from the Superstitiousness of a Minister when the blind Zeal of a Minister shall incline him to a greater eagerness to promote the Superstition of the Church than faithfully to promote the pure Institutions of Christ woe to that People which lives under the Charge of such a Man Matt. 15. 8 9. Ye Hypocrites well did Esaias Prophesie of you saying This People draweth nigh unto me with their Mouth and honour me with their Lips but their Heart is far from me but in vain they do Worship me teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men. Secondly The Reasons are also drawn from the Churches themselves that there is so much Corruption amongst them First of all It ariseth from their Negligence in not exercising of their Faith in the hearing of the Word Heb. 4. 2. For unto us the Gospel was preached as well as unto them but the Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it Secondly It ariseth from a Peoples not receiving the Truth in the Love of it when a People shall rather hear the Word to please their Fancy than to feed their Faith when they shall hear more to get Head-notions than warm Affections or to grow in Gifts rather than to grow in Grace let such beware of that fearful Judgment spoken of in 2 Thess 2. 10 11 12. Because they received not the Love of the Truth that they might be saved and for this cause God shall send them strong Delusions that they should believe a Lie that they all might be damned who believe not the Truth but had pleasure in Vnrighteousness Mark There was a receiving of the Truth but not to a right end many there are and but too too many which are sick of this Disease viz. To hear much and read much to increase their Parts but not their Piety to be admired of Men rather than to be approved of God but when Men from a Spirit of Vain-glory attend the Ministry of the Word but not aiming at the Glory of God wonder not if such Mens Knowledge prove at last like the Wilderness-manna to the Israelites when ●athered and unlawfully kept Exod. 16. 20. It bred Worms and stank So woful have been the Effects of an unsanctifying hearing of the Word upon some Men. Thirdly It ariseth from the Peoples Unfruitfulness under the Word which they hear this was Israel's Sin which greatly increased their Corruption even the same Means which was sent to soften them turned to their hardning through their unfruitfulness under it Isa 5. 1 2. My Beloved had a Vineyard in a very fruitful Hill and he looked for Grapes and it brought forth wild Grapes But what was the Issue of this Read Isa 6. 9 10. Go and tell this People hear ye indeed but understand not and see ye indeed but perceive not make the Heart of this People fat and their Ears heavy shut their Eyes lest they should see with their Eyes and hear with their Ears and understand with their Hearts and convert and be healed Thus having given you the Grounds and Reasons whence it is that the spiritual Houses of Christ are so subject to their Defilement and Corruption in this Life we next come to the Application of the Point 1st Vse This serves then in the first place to inform us of the Duty both of the Ministers and Hearers First Of the Ministers who under Christ are the Owners of his spiritual Houses or Churches Would you know what his Duty was that was the Owner of the Levitical House when the Plague of Leprosie broke forth in it Read Lev. 14. 35. He was to go to the Priest and tell the Priest that it seemed to him that there is as it were a Plague in the House so in like manner ought every Pastor or Minister to do even by Prayer Fasting and true Humiliation to acquaint Jesus Christ the great High-Priest with the leprous Distemper which is broken forth in his Churches This is the Advice which the Spirit of God gave the Old Testament-churches as a means to cure them of their Pollution and Defilement Joel 2. 16 17 18. Gather the People sanctifie the Congregation assemble the Elders gather the Children and those that suck the Breast let the Bridegroom go forth of his Chamber and the Bride out of her Closet let the Priests and Ministers of the Lord weep between the Porch and the Altar and let them say Spare thy People O Lord and give not thy Heritage to reproach then will the Lord be jealous for his Land and pity his