Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	darkness_n	light_n	spirit_n	4,467	5	5.4203	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60548	Light out of darkness in a sermon preached before the Right Honourable Sir Robert Clayton, Kt., Lord Mayor of the city of London, in Guild-hall Chappel, the 26th of Sept. 1680 : wherein are contained, rules how to support our selves under dark providences, when they seem to supercede divine promises : also, directions how to obtain a prospect of serene and happy times / by Samuel Smith ...	Smith, Samuel, 1620-1698.	1680 (1680)	Wing S4201; ESTC R3482	14,587	40

Duty Modesty and Safety to be devoutly blind 7 Rule Though Providences should be Gloomy and Dreadful yet be not discouraged because the most Startling Appearances of God have usually ushered in the most Remarkable Degrees of Peace and Establishment unto the Church Jer. 30.5 6 17. Jer. 33.6 10 11. Zech. 13.8 9. Psal 71.20 21. Ps 65.5 By terrible things in righteousness hast thou answered us O God of our Salvation He fulfills Prayer many times in such a strange way which will make our hearts to tremble The Lord appeared to Job in the Whirlwind when he came to comfort him and justifie his Righteous Cause against his Censorious Friends Thus the place was shaken when the Apostles were filled with the Holy Ghost Acts 4.31 So Paul was struck blind and taken up for dead when the Lord chose him to be a Vessel of Mercy and Honour to bear his Name before the Gentiles Acts 9.9 17. Fire came down from Heaven to consume the Sacrifice in Attestation of Its Acceptance The highest Joys are built on the lowest and most tried Foundation The deepest most boisterous Inundation of Calamities shall not drown us if they advance us in Heavenly-mindedness Hereby we shall gain the prospect of Gods Covenant Mercy and Fidelity as a Securing Rain-bow about the Throne of Amazing Justice 8 Rule Reserve your passing Sentence on the Darkest Dispensations until the winding up in their ultimate Scope and Tendency As we must be Witnesses of Gods Truth to the present Generation and Trustees to transmit it pure unto Posterity so when Providences are most stupendious we must treasure up Prayers and antedate Praises for those Salvations which God will work in After-ages We should rejoyce to think that the Lord will provide more Halcyon days for the Successive Generations of the World though our selves should fall in the Wilderness and never set foot on the Canaan of a Desired Rest But fearing lest this Day-star may be perverted in its benigne Influence by breeding presumption in a sinful or slothful secure state let it cast an Aspect of Caution in Conjunction with its comfortable Rays that none may be misled by the abuse thereof 1st Let not Romish Doctors expect that the Saving Light of the Knowledge of God in Christ should beam into them while they willfully yield themselves as Captives to the Power and Prince of Darkness or delight to strengthen a Combination with restless Atheistical Workers of Iniquity Such are afraid least the light of Gods Truth should disturb their Security in a Sinful Course yet there is no shadow of any pretence under which Antichrist may presume to lie safe from that Winged Desolation which watches to ensnare him As the Path of the Just is like the Morning Light which shines brighter to perfect Serenity in the Conscience so the Way and Designs of the Ungodly shall perish For these the Blackness and extremity of Darkness is reserved for ever They may sportingly presume to warm themselves with their own deceitful dying Sparks kindled out of the Grandeur of the World and a pompous False Religion yet they shall lie down in the shame of Disappointment When once an Evening of unexpected Terrors shall overtake them these shall increase to a midnight of desperate Sorrow in a perfect Desolation 2dly Let not the Enthusiast pervert this Comfortable Promise in the Text as if the Kingdom of Christ were to be promoted by the Invention of any Novel Arrogating Opinions which such Men expect should be idolized for Undubitable Maximes These can never usher In those glorious Accessions of Truth and Peace promised to the later Age of the Christian Churches Under a Pretence that In the Evening it shall be Light Scepticks irreverently pry into the Cabinet of Gods Secret Counsels Such do not with a modest safety advance in the Search of true Wisdom but rather rudely dictate Rules to the Supreme Governour of the World Proud Dogmatical Spirits exalt the Phaenomena or Mock-light of their Wanton Fancies Under pretence of illuminating others they despise the Sacred Institutions of Christ as if those were weak faint obscure Streams of Light adapted and fitted only to the Infant State of Christianity Such Deceivableness of Unrighteousness flows not from the Father of Lights but from Romish perverting Emissaries the Locusts of the Pit of Darkness 3ly There is another Caution I would give to such who expect the glorious Accession of Jewish Converts to the Christian Churches Let them not disturb Christs sweet repose among the Lillies of Evangelical Vertues by becoming Thorns and Briars to tear and rend in pieces his Seamless Coat of Unity and Concord The Divisions of Christians among themselves obstructs the Conversion of the Jews are the Engines which Rome makes use of to batter down the Bulworks of our Safety Fiery Contests among Protestants scare the Wild Savages from embracing Christs Pure Religion His Healing Influences as the Sun of Righteousness cannot spread to such Nations who still remain under the power of Pagan or Popish Blindness when they hear that Christs Doves quarrel one another with as great bitterness of spirit as That whereby Wolves designedly prey on the Lords Inheritance What a shame is it That these Lovely Twins of Truth and Peace should be divorced when as the Fruits of Righteousness can neither be sown nor reaped so advantageously in a Storm of Passion If we would have Gods Mercy and Truth meet together in fulfilling the Promise of our Establishment Let Righteousness and Peace kiss each other in our own Breasts But if a perverse spirit be mingled among us all Counsels and Means used for Safety will prove abortive Let us not by our Animosities Jealousies and Immoralities attempt that Destruction upon our selves which all our Enemies could never yet effect While the Jews severally contended in Parties they were universally overthrown Many are in expectation of Glorious Promises to be fulfilled in the Last Age of the World But we can never become terrible to Antichrist till all Antichristian Lusts be pulled down in our own hearts nor till we display the Banner and Beauty of Truth with Unanimity This will credit propagate maintain and secure the Protestant Religion and its Professors in the hearts and estimation of all Men When the Lord shall restore Sion to a more settled State the Worshippers of his Name shall see Eye to Eye they shall agree in the same Sentiments of Religion and in Candour of Affection In the mean time while it is only Twilight among the most knowing Christians let us not reproachfully stigmatize one another in those less considerable Controversies which at this day perplex the Christian Churches The Genuine Spirit and Profession of Christs Pure Religion is full of Meekness and not sowred with Envy Malice nor any proud Partiality in judging of Opinions It doth not wrangle in a Peremptory asserting the Truth lies on the side of this or that Party only Such Clashing Corruscations are Portentous Fore-runners of Destruction and not

Clayton Mayor Martis xix die Octob. 1680. Annoque Regni Regis CAROLI Secundi Angliae c. xxxii THis Court doth desire Mr. Smith to Print his Sermon lately Preached at the Guild-Hall Chappel before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen Wagstaff LIGHT out of DARKNESS IN A SERMON PREACHED before the Right Honourable Sir ROBERT CLAYTON Kt. LORD MAYOR OF THE CITY of LONDON In GVILD-HALL Chappel The 26th of Sept. 1680. On Zech. XIV 7. In the Evening it shall be Light Wherein are Contained Rules how to support our Selves under Dark Providences when they seem to supercede Divine Promises Also Directions how to obtain a Prospect of Serene and Happy Times By SAMVEL SMITH Ordinary of Newgate formerly Fellow of St. John Baptist's Colledge in Oxford Psal 9● 2 Clouds and thick Darkness are round about him yet Righteousness and Judgment are the Habitation or Stability of his Throne LONDON Printed by Tho. James for William Leach at the Crown in Cornhill M.DC.LXXX To the Right Honourable Sir ROBERT CLAYTON Kt. LORD MAYOR AND THE COURT of ALDERMEN My Lord IT is Safe and very Commendable for every Magistrate to take the prospect of his Duty from the Watch-tower of Circumspection by consulting the Infallible Oracle of the holy Scriptures Herein it is promised to such who fear the Lord that in difficult Times and in perplexing Doubts he will guide them in untrodden Paths and make the darkest Dispensations of his Providence if not plain and clear before them yet comfortable in the Issue Your Honour hath signalized your Wisdom Courage and Fidelity in the happy Conduct of this Renowned Metropolis under the Banner of Truth and Peace Yet the Jews say That God gives no man the Title of Saint until he be dead So needful is perseverance in a course of Piety and Righteousness not only to make a Magistrates Fame survive and spread unto Posterity but also to beget an universal Spring in Vertue by the impregnating influence of his good Example While Vulgar minds have turned Giddy and sordidly complied with Factious Novelty your Honour as another Aristides hath cleaved to Principles of Vprightness amidst all Commotions in Church and State As you were unanimously chosen to sit in the Pretorian Chair so you have in every respect discharged that Duty which correlates to so high and weighty a Trust Neither the Syrene Charms of Popular Applause have puft you up in your steady Impartial Administration of Justice joyned with the Amiability of Moderation Nor hath the fear of rude Clamors made any impression upon your undaunted Fidelity to slacken the Rains or betray the prudent Ends of Government May your Lordship with the rest of those Worthy Senators who influence the publick Counsels of this Metropolis as Patrons of Righteousness and Patterns of Loyalty be shielded by the Supreme Governor of the World May the present and future Generations pay due Reverence to You by a grateful remembrance of your constant Solicitude and exemplary Endeavours in promoting the Tranquillity and Felicity of this Renowned City which is and shall be the hearty Prayer of him who continues to be Your Honours most humble and devoted Servant SAMUEL SMITH ZECH. XIV 7. In the Evening it shall be Light THe infinite Wisdom of the Supreme Governor of the World hath in all Ages judged it necessary to set forth some Providences of such wonderful Intricacy as may exercise the utmost vigour of Christian Faith and Patience The most exquisite search of Humane Reason is utterly incapable of comprehending their mysterious scope and tendency Therefore the Lord to prevent all repining Prejudices against his dark Dispensations hath furnished us with this foundation of Support That in the Evening it shall be Light This Evening may partly be meant of the last Age of the Christian Church when the Jews shall be converted to their Messiah which shall be as a miraculous Restauration from the Dead This shall not be a mixt day of Brightness stained with Darkness but one Entire day in an uninterrupted flux of Grace and Mercy If it were capable of any Evening that very Declining time or Twilight shall be accounted full of Brightness This is a Truth But I rather understand this Evening to be the whole Series or Current of Divine Providence which by Intervales will be mixt with much Gloominess as to misapprehensions about the scope or tendency of Cloudy Times upon the Christian Churches gross Darkness shall cover the Earth by the Apostacy of many Professors and Debauchery shall spread as a righteous punishment on such Apostacy Hereupon the Providences of God will become dark and severely dreadful in a seeming Reduction of the Times to a Dismal Chaos of Confusion Notwithstanding in the Evening when Darkness seems to grow more and more to a perfect Midnight yet even then it shall be Light The Observation from the Text is this It is the Lord 's usual Method not to give out any comfortable prospect of the safe and happy issue of dark dismal Providences till the Case be desperate in appearance This great Truth 1. I shall demonstrate from Scripture Instances and Examples 2. I shall shew the reasons why the Lord delivers not till Distresses run out into Extremities 3. I shall set before you some Rules how to interpret Dark Providences for your Support under them 4. I shall state some Directions how we may gain a Prospect of Bright and Happy times when we are wrapt up in a Night of Trial and Distress 5. I shall make an Improvement of the whole by inferring what our Duty is upon the fulfilling of so grand a Priviledg That in the Evening it shall be Light Scripture Instances to demonstrate the truth of this comfortable Assertion 1. After Adam's grand Apostacy when he stood trembling at the Serpents doom inferring that his own should be more severe yet behold the Judg himself turns Advocate The Curse upon Satan is interwoven with the dawning of restoring Grace to rebellious man in this Fundamental Promise The Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents head 2. In that terrible Night-Vision wherein the Lord Covenanted to deliver Abraham's Seed out of Egyptian Bondage there was presented a shining Lamp in the midst of a smoaking Furnace as an assuring Pledg That though they had lain among the Pots yet they should become as the Wings of a Dove covered with Silver in an innocent speedy and beautiful Restauration from the Severity of their Servitude 3 When the Jews dry Bones were kick'd about in scorn then the Lord miraculously opened the Sepulcher of their long confirmed Captivity and restored them with splendor as laden with Treasure to rebuild the Temple Thus a Nation was born to Freedom in one day and exalted to Safety by a new Creation 4 Was there not a Midnight of Superstition and abounding Corruptions in the Jewish Church and State when the Scepter was departed from them What hope was there that ever this Cloud should be dispelled Yet even these Mists

that Divine Light which they pretend to be They are rather Wild-fire thrown into the Sanctuary of God to fill it with Smoke and Clamor We must not turbulently plead for any Truth tho clear to us and very considerable in it self This will render our Testimony to be suspected in its Validity and Sincerity We ought with serenity of Mind to wait till the Father of Lights shall clear up such Mysteries in Religion which as yet may be hid from others of Weaker Apprehensions Let none therefore out of an Impatient Curiosity presumptuously obtrude or irregularly propagate any private Conceptions as if they were Indubitable Maximes to be imbraced by the Implicite Belief of other men The Lord hath promised to spread the Revelation of Truth in his own Time and Method thereby to supersede all froward Contests and rash Forwardness in any to disseminate their own Opinions by the Disturbance of Publick Peace and Order Let this Consideration moderate all Contests about Circumstantials in Religion viz. That the Forcible Birth of Reformation is every way as perillous as the Dilatory Production of it Such who doubt not of their way must not proudly contemn Dissenters Some are to be pitied in their Errors when they are not indulged by the neglect of searching after Truth But a dissembled Compliance before thorow Conviction is an Hypocritical Flattery and will for advantage secretly undermine Foundation Principles Truth is best preserved when those who formerly opposed it are convinced of their Error and then such ought gladly to become its humble Clients yea much rather its blushing Captives With how peaceable Deportment did the very Apostles spread Evangelical Light to the Idolatrous Nations that they might win them to the Obedience of Christs Scepter This caused them to triumph in leading the captivity of the Devil captive forasmuch as they powerfully insinuated the Truth by the Conviction of an Holy Life made amiable by the Exemplarity of Meekness and Heavenly Self-denial But the separation of Peace from Holiness is a secret contempt of the God of Truth and will prove the Carcase only of Prosperity Therefore let us hold fast the Mystery of Faith in a pure Conscience as we expect that the darkest Providences should be cleared up to us in a propitious creating of serene and happy times Often times the Church of Christ which is the Darling of his Providence becomes a fiery Beacon by extremities of Affliction to warn others that if the Lord 's own People violate their Soul Chastity in not walking according to the Purity of the Christian Faith even They shall smart severely for it Let not the Romish Synagogue therefore boast of her pompous Visibility in her Prosperous Iniquities For though her outward Painting and Patching in Religion draw the Wonder of the Nations before they Wander after her Deceptions yet Heresies and Abominations will in due time undermine a Semblance of Tranquillity and Strip her bare as an Harlot of all the Ornaments which cover her obstinate Degeneracy The true Church may be Hid for a time as a Lilly among Thorns yet Rome in all her Glory is not arrayed like one of those Lillies when stained with Calumny or rather Beautified with the Blood of Martyrdom How comely and prevailing with God for Deliverance in Distress are silent Penitential Tears in the Dove-like Eyes of his People especially when they retain their Integrity in defending the Dowry of Truth and the Standard of Real Holiness Light is sown for the Righteous and Joy for the Upright in Heart This shall secretly spring up for such while dark Providences wind themselves about in rich Mines of Comfort through the Labyrinth of their perplexing Doubts and Fears Directions If we would get a Prospect of Bright Serene and Happy times observe these Directions following First Let the Eye of our Faith be cleared up from Prejudice and steadily fixt upon That vital Influx of Divine Power Wisdom and Fidelity in God which constantly takes care of his Espoused Interest under all those Convulsion-pangs which seem to dissolve the very Ligaments of Truth and Peace Faith can fetch a Desponding Soul to Life when Deadly Fears assault us Even while we are giving up the Ghost of Hope Mercy may come forth to meet us with Salvation Thus the Disciples cried out It is a Spirit when Christ walked on the Sea toward them to calm the Storm and allay the greater Tempest even Fears in their own Hearts Thus the darkest Season of the Night immediately precedes the Dawning of the Day The thickest Throws and Agonies not only contribute toward and make Way for but are the Signal of a Joyful and Speedy Birth Even Obstructions as Divine Wisdom orders them shall smooth the way to Safety A skilful Archer shuts one Eye to strengthen the Visive Spirits in the other that he may more dexterously level at the Mark. So suppress Carnal Reason as an unfit Judge of Divine Dispensations if you would gain the support of God's Propitiousness under seeming Desolations We should count our selves safe while the Helm is in God's Hand For though he suffers Storms and Difficulties to Encompass us yet no Engines shall ever gain their designed Point against the Lord's Inheritance 2. Direct Be wonderfully Affected with and Thankful for the First-fruits of Deliverance Zech. 4.10 It is very unbecoming to despise the day of small things yea it is a great sin to prejudge the Lords Work by the first view especially when it is certain that the Lord reserves his choicest Mercies as lovely Colours to be superinduced at last when he is resolved to express the Beauty of his Providence to the Life for a Confutation of our impatient Curosity A thankful Valuation of the least beam of Light when all hope of relief seemed perish'd is the only way to bring forward Deliverance to Maturity The Lord doth not undertake Works instampt with wonder to lay them aside without any care of bringing them to a Perfect Birth The widest deepest overflowing Rivers spring from a little Conduit Head So Sions Salvation goes forth at first like a Lamp only before it prove a Constellation of Brightness spreading over all the Expansions of Distress During the saddest Contexture of Providence the Spiritual Glory of Christs Evangelical Kingdom shall never set it shall spread the more by Opposition become Illustrious by those very Fogs and Mists which ascend out of the Bottomless Pit of Popish Heresie Treachery and Cruelty Those very Prayers which seemed lost shall return loaden with the Richest and Choicest Mercies The Lord will beautifie the Meek with Salvation therefore beg a Spiritual Eye to take a Prospect of Deliverance beyond the Limits of Present Sense Thus David having obtained Gods Word only for the Conquest of his Enemies triumphed before he struck a stroke so confident was he of Success He cried out Gilead is mine Manasse is mine over Edom will I cast my Shoe Which was a Sign of taking Possession of the Promise as if he