Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	church_n	error_n	pillar_n	1,714	5	9.9916	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50251	The summe of certain sermons upon Genes. 15.6 vvherein not only the doctrine of justification by faith is asserted and cleared, and sundry arguments for justification before faith, discussed and answered : but also the nature and the meanes of faith, with the imputation of our sins to Christ, and of Christs righteousness to us are briefly explained and confirmed / preached at Dorchester in New-England by Richard Mather ... ; and now by him published at the earnest request of sundry well-affected and Godly Christians.	Mather, Richard, 1596-1669.	1652 (1652)	Wing M1276; ESTC W18271	50,747	60

have truths of God revealed to them which are hid from the wise and prudent Math 11. 25. And the reason is because humble souls are afraid of themselves dare not trust to their own understanding and strength but depend upon God Christ to preserve and teach them in the truth Wheras othe●…s trusting on themselves are therfore neer unto a fall even because they are proud and self-confident Pro. 16. 18. 28. 14. 4 It is needfull for to keep a good conscience by walking in obedience to the truth and will of God so far as a man doth know already for to such there is a promise that they shall know what doctrine is of God and what is otherwise John 7. 17. Wheras they that take pleasure in unrighteousness are in danger to be given up to believe lyes and so to be damned 2 Thes. 2. 11 12. and therfore it is said the wise shall understand but none of the wicked shall understand Dan: 12. 10. As there are few errours in opinion b●…t they bring forth sins in practise so sins in practise will bring errour in principles through the judgment of the Lord upon men for those their sinns They that were led captive of errours were 〈◊〉 with divers lust●… 2 Tim: 3. 6 7. men that will not do what they know it is just if they be left in blindness and not know what to do When a master gives light to his servants and they do no good therewith but abuse it to cards dice drinking drunkenness c it is just if he come and take away the light from them and so they be left in darkness In like sort it is a righteous thing with God to plague the poluted lives consciences of men with giving them up to the darkness delusions of errour Oh let all them tremble at this that have much knowledg in their heads but little power of grace in their hearts to walk accordingly but by the power of unmortified lusts are so carryed away as to sin wickedly against the light of their own knowledg consciēce in one kind or in another for besides the great wrath and many stripes that such may expect in another world they may also fear that the Lord may leave them to some pernicious errour or other even in this life and thereby their damnation be the more dreadfull A pure conscience is a good cask or vessell wherin to preserve and keep the mystery of faith 1 Tim: 3. 9. 5 It was desire of noveltie that overthrew our first parents Gen. 3. for they were well if they could have been so content but having an itching desire to know more then God saw meet for them hence they were overthrown And men that have itching ears 〈◊〉 apt to be turned from the truth and to be turned unto fables 2 Tim: 4. 3 4. It argues an ill stomack and a weak unhealthfull constitution of body when a man can not disgest good and wholsom food without curious sauce In like sort it is an ill sign of a distempered soul when the good old way of the doctrine of faith and repentance and the like is not savory to a mans spirit but he must have new notions and quaint unquoth matter or else it will not go down Therfore beware of curiosity The old way is the good way let a man seek that and walk in it and he shall find rest for his soul Jer 6. 16. 6 Let a man beware of his company He that delights to walk talk with them that have the plague it is no marvell if he catch infection Therfore we are bidden to shun the society of corrupt erroneous persons to avoid them and have no familiarity of converse with them Rom 16. 17. 2 Joh. 10. and to cease to hear the instruction that causeth to erre from the words of knowledg Pro. 19. 27. we●…k christians should not be admitted to doubtfull disputations least they be staggered Rom 14. 1. and therfore they must not go to them of their own accord and the reason is plain viz because we must avoid temptations as much as lyes in us and therfore not lead our selves into temptation for then it may be just with God to leave us to our selves And therfore it is not safe especially for weak christians to be familiarly conversant with corrupt persōs or corrupt books which do frequently come abroad in these dayes 7 Lastly It is specially usefull in this case to keep close to the Scriptures and to the means appointed of God for our right understanding of the Scriptures Therfore we are bidden Go to the Law to the Testimony Isai 8. 20. as on the contrary the ignorance of the Scriptures is noted in the Sadducees as a mayn cause of their errour 22. 29. If a mans adversary enemy can perswade him to throw away his weapons he may then conceive hope of prevailing against him with more ease and therfore it is no wonder if Satan in these dayes do breed questions against the Divine authority and necessary profitable use of the Scriptures as heretofore he was wont to do amongst the Papists for he knowes it will bee for his advantage against poor souls if he can by any meanes perswade them to lay aside the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God Ephe. 6. 17. but he that loves his soul must be more wise then to harken to the counsel of Satan herin And for means for the right understanding of the Scripture one is the Church of God and holy cōmunion therewith another is the Officers ministers of Christ therin In respect of the former it is said that the Law should go forth of S●…on and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem Isai 2. 3. that is to say from the church And there it was even in the Sanctuary that the Psalmist came to understand that which otherwise was too hard painfull for him Psal. 73. 16 17. For which cause it is that he that hath an ear to hear must hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches Rev 2. And even to the Angels themselves much of the manifold wisdom of God is made known by the church Ephe. 3. 10. If therfore a man hang loose from the love of Church-society and the cōmunion of saints therin it is no marvell if such an one be drawn away with errours becaus the Curch is the pillar ground of truth 1 Tim: 3. 15. The Apostle exhorting not to forsake the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some was presently addeth what a dangerous thing it is to sinn willfully after wee have received the knowledg of the truth that is to becom Apostates Heb 10. 25 26. intimating therby that where there is the former there men are in danger of the latter that is to say where the hearts of men draw back from Church-society there they are in danger of Apostacy And for the ministers of Christ in his church