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	profession_n	visible_a	2,188	5	9.1158	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80141	A discourse of the true gospel blessedness in the New Covenant, or The distinction of the two Covenants, new and old, first and second. With the doing away of the first, and the establishment of the second, and likewise the mediatorship of Christ in the New Covenant, with some principles, duties, promises, and priviledges of the New Covenant. A useful companion for all saints at all times. / Written by Tho. Collier.	Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691.	1659 (1659)	Wing C5277; Thomason E1801_2; ESTC R35633	88,221	142

in the new Covenant in which the fleshly seed of believers are included as well as the fleshly seed under the law else how comes it to pass that there may be in the purest Church here on earth Hypocrites and such as are not in the covenant of grace on the most spiritual account Answ Doubtless the new Covenant is one and the same and none should be owned in the visible profession but such as have in deed and truth the grace of the covenant There is no outward part in the covenant but an outward profession of the invisible grace Hence it is that persons must believe and that with all their heart before they are by the new covenant called to the outward profession and the Church is to judge of their faith and if any profess it and not in the truth they must give account for it in the Day of Accounts and that the Church may be kept pure from the fleshly seed and be acquitted of unprofitable branches which the Heavenly Father Planted not Christ hath left a rule for excluding such when manifest in the Church so that in sum the truth stands clear that the new covenant knows not nor owns the fleshly seed though it hath left a room to the Lords servants for the exercise of charity in receiving members into the visible Church-fellowship because they are failable and imperfect yet not without a rule and so a ground for their charity in reception viz. the declaration of true repentance and the work of faith in power and also a rule for rejection in case of sinful and disorderly walking either in principle or practice impenitently persisted in Quest 8. But lastly if the old Covenant be done away of what use then are the Old Testament Scriptures to us seeing the Apostle saith Rom. 15. 4. That whatsoever was written aforetime was written for our learning c. Answ 1. We are to understand that all that is usually called the Old Testament is not so but there is very much Gospel in Types Prophecies and Promises There is the Birth Death and resurrection of Christ held forth in the Law Psalms and Prophets and the glory that should follow Luke 24. 44. John 5. 39. 46. 1 Pet. 1. 10 11. 2. The types and prophecies of Christ in the writings of that usually called the Old Testament are useful 1. To shew the way of Gods opening the Gospel to them 2. To discover the abounding riches of Gods grace to us that we should have the substance of what they enjoyed in types and promises I mean as to the covenant and ministration as stated in Christ who is come c. But as to the glory we have it in promise likewise Col. 2. 16 17. 1 Pet. 1. 12. 3. The precepts of that covenant are useful to us First to shew that God in all Ages condemned sin and required duty therefore was the covenant given that Sin might become exceeding sinful so that God did never own sin nor had any fellowship with it in any Age or People And secondly as they are brought forth in the new covenant of the Gospel so they are duties to believers and no otherwise And note this that the old Covenant in the substance was commands and duties the new absolute promises of grace ●●d blessedness the New Testament grace was couched in the Old Testament duties and the Old Testament duties as far as they are required in the New are couched in the New Testament grace and so are become Rulers to us as stated there and so are useful 4. The promises of that covenant are useful as typical presenting us with spiritual things viz. Eternal life Spiritual riches a Heavenly Land c. And secondly to discover to us clearly the excellency of the Gospel state beyond that of the Law of the new covenant beyond the old 5. The judgements of God on the breach of that covenant are written for our learning 1 Cor. 10 11. now all these things happened to them for examples are written for our admonition on whom the ends of the world are come Thus is the old covenant useful to believers yea very useful and in the whole its all useful as it leads to the new and as without which the new could not so appear in its clearness and beauty as now it doth the new being the unvailing revealing and fulfilling of the old the new being that without which there could be no eternal life in the old Now I come to Application Use 1. This truth serves for a word of information and that on several accounts not onely to inform us 1 That there are indeed and in truth two covenants old and new first and sccond which hath been clearly proved And 2 That the old is done away and the new remains the first is abolished the second established But also thirdly It may fully inform us of the great mistakes that have been in the world and are at this day amongst most about the covenants judging them to be but one and the same differing onely in manner of administring And doubtless this grand mistake hath been an in let to many dangerous mistakes in matters of Religion and the things of God but you will say Quest What are the mistakes that have been and yet remain in this matter Answ The first I shall mention is about the seed of the covenant from the mistake about the covenant taking the new to be the same with the old men have brought in the old Testament seed viz. The seed of the flesh the natural seed of supposed Believers into as they call it the Church So that here hath been a very great mistake and errour in this very thing Quest What is the danger of this mistake and errour Answ 1. It altogether makes void the new covenant and the Gospel keeps up the old in stead of the new It s a principle and practise that doth as much as in men lies in act flatly deny the new covenant and bids defiance to it for that is with the spiritual seed See what Paul saith in this matter and let him that hears or reads lay it to heart Rom. 4. 14. For if they which are of the law be heirs faith is made void and the Promise made of none effect Hear and tremble ye that fear God that have through mistake made the seed of the law to be heirs viz. the fleshly seed that is the seed of the law It is to make saith void and the promise of none effect It makes void faith and the covenant for it brings into the covenant by natural generation that is the seed of the law of the flesh and the way of coming into that covenant and who ever pretends to bring into the new covenant by natural generation destroys faith and the covenant for the new covenant owns not the natural seed Jew or Gentile but the spiritual and they enter into it by faith viz. as to the right of claiming interest this the

A DISCOURSE Of the true Gospel Blessedness IN THE NEW COVENANT OR The distinction of the two Covenants New and Old First and Second With the doing away of the first and the establishment of the second and likewise the Mediatorship of Christ in the New Covenant with some Principles Duties Promises and Priviledges of the New Covenant A useful companion for all Saints at all times Written by Tho. Collier Gen. 22. 18. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed Gal. 3. 29. And if ye be Christs then are ye Abrahams seed and heirs according to the promise 2 Cor. 1. 20. For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God LONDON Printed by H. Hills for the Author and are to be so 〈…〉 by Giles Calvert at the Black-spread-eagle at the west end of Pauls and Tho. Brewster at the sign of the Three Bibles in Pauls Church-yard 1659. The Preface To the Churches of Christ and to all that call on the name of the Lord in truth and sincerity in all places grace and peace be multiplyed through the knowledge of God our father and our Lord Jesus in the New Covenant of his Grace HOly brethren partakers of the heavenly calling whose hearts are Sion-ward how much doth it concern us in this our day to be much inquiring into and after the things that belong to our Peace and the peace of Sion e. i. of all the Churches of Christ my brethren to whom these may come I intend not to retain you long in this Preface but to minde you with some necessary things relating to the ensuing discourse that you may read it with the more profit and advantage to your souls I can say it was of weight upon my heart and now at last it is burst out I have been for sometime of late prevented having been fighting and contending with beasts after the manner of men e. i. men of beastly principles and spirits not at Ephesus but in England but now I do perceive their resolutions are to continue so and grow worse and worse deceiving being deceived 2 Tim. 3. 13. I am therefore turned from them according to the word of Christ Matth. 7. 6. as from dogs that trample all under feet and turn again and rent and tear and have been redeeming and improving time in winters cold for the bringing forth this small Treatise and probably it may and likely it must expect to meet with some judgings and contradictions from men it may be from some Saints at first sight before consideration but I trust that the heavenly hand hath been so made manifest in assisting and guiding the heart and hand in this work that it will pass the scorns censures and contradictions of this world without just cause of fear or shame My friends I can truly say I have aimed chiefly at the good of Saints believers not onely in but out of the Churches likewise for I doubt not but that there are many that are precious that are not yet come to walk in the way of the New Covenant e. i. in the order and ordinances thereof I desire the Reader to read with patience and suspend judging that so he may be kept from sinning in stead of profitting until he is passed through the work I have here presented you having nothing at present that I could think better with the Covenants First and Second with their distinctions and administrations the taking away of the first and establishing of the second with the Mediatorship of Christ in the New Covenant and many Principles of the faith and the Duties of the New Covenant particularly stated with the Promises and Priviledges in which is wrapt up the sum of the Gospel and marrow of Christianity My method in the stating and distinctions of the Covenants is first to prove the distinction and that they are two distinctly stating them and wherein they differ and after by it self I have endeavoured to answer such Queries and objections as are or may be made against the truth herein presented Therefore my desire is that the Reader would suspend judging till he come to the end and probably he may finde his objections answered and his scruples removed and as I can say that for Saints for Sions sake I have written it so my desire and prayer is that it may come to you in the blessing of the Lord that you would read and desire the Lord to help you to understand that you would take heed of your own wisdom and submit your selves to the wisdom that is from above see James 3. 14 15 16 17 18. I do judge the things contained in this discourse to be so necessary and useful for all Saints of all states and cises and of all Nations that it would be a meet companion at all times If you desire information in the Covenant of Gods grace in Christ the true life of Saints something you may finde of this nature here and likewise of Christ the Mediator of the New Covenant or if you would acquaint your selves with the Principles of the faith and the Duties and the great and precious Promises and Priviledges of the New Covenant something of light and direction may you find herein although much weakness and imperfection may appear in the writer in this great mystery for we know but in part and he acknowledgeth that he sees so much of wonder in this dispensation of grace in the New Covenant that he rather admires then expects to bring it forth in its own glory yet something is done though brief though short of the matter in every particular yet he hath made an Essay an entrance If God please to help any of his servants to make a further progress herein I shall rejoyce or help his people to imbrace and profit by this mite I have my desire and this is the prayer of him who is the Lord and his peoples in the service of the New Covenant Tho. Collier Of the Covenants A Discourse of the true Gospel blessedness in the New Covenant or the distinction of the two Covenants Text. HEB. 10. 9. The latter part of the Verse He taketh away the first that he may establish the second THe Apostle or Author of this Epistle mainly and chiefly treats of the excellency of Christ and the Gospel Covenant or ministration above that of the Law 1. Of the excellencie of Jesus a truth of very great concernment and as it is the duty so it should be the care of every Gospel Minister and Christian to keep up the dignity and excellency of Jesus Christ in his person work and offices I mean the true Messiah Jesus that was born of Mary the Virgin according to promise Matth. 1. 20 21. Luke 1. 31. and 2. 7. Isay 7. 14. Behold a Virgin shall conceive c. Who was and is truly the the Son of God and the Son of man Of the seed of David according to the flesh Rom. 1. 3