Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	deed_n	light_n	manifest_a	2,272	5	9.7572	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17389	An exposition vpon the Epistle to the Colossians Wherein, not onely the text is methodically analysed, and the sence of the words, by the help of vvriters, both ancient and moderne is explayned: but also, by doctrine and vse, the intent of the holy Ghost is in euery place more fully vnfolded and vrged. ... Being, the substance of neare seauen yeeres vveeke-dayes sermons, of N. Byfield, late one of the preachers for the citie of Chester.	Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622.	1615 (1615)	STC 4216; ESTC S120678	703,664	509

our soules haue peace we must seeke the rest of our hearts in Gods fauour in Christ for hee is the Prince of Peace 3. The loue of Gods Law for great peace and rest haue they that loue Gods Law yea it is added and nothing shall offend them 4. Diligence and constancy in the vse of Gods ordinances it is a secret ioy to the heart of euery one that is a friend to the Bridegroome to heare the Bridegroomes voyce and to be much in prayers is a way to be much in ioy 5. Meekenesse while angry and wrathfull persons fret themselues to their owne singular euill meeke men shall delight themselues in abundance of peace 6. Iust dealing in all businesses with all men for the worke of righteousnesse is peace and the effect of righteousnesse is quietnesse and assurance for euer Lastly would wee attaine that peace and pleasing contentment that passeth all the vnderstanding of the carnall man we must take heede of worldly cares In nothing be carefull Obiect But wee haue so many crosses how can wee but care Sol. Let your request be knowne to God Obiect Wee haue prayed and are not rid out of them Sol. Adde supplication to your prayers Obiect We haue prayed and that earnestly and daily and with much importunitie and yet are disquieted still Sol. Be thankefull for the mercies thou hast vnthankefulnesse hinders the restfull successe of prayer Fruitfull in all good workes The Sonne of man is ascended and hath giuen authority and gifts vnto men and vnto euery Seruant his worke hee cals for obedience and detests sleeping and requires all watchfulnesse to the speeding of all his workes and what hee saith to one hee saith to all Watch This is shewed vnto all that turne vnto God that they must doe workes meete for repentance considering the season that it is now high time to awake out of sleepe the night is farre spent and the day at hand and therefore wee should arme and addresse our selues to cast away the workes of darknesse and to labour in the light Good workes are the best apparrell of Christians professing godlinesse and their most durable riches and treasures To this end hath the light of the gracious and sauing Doctrine of God shined that men might be familiarly instructed to conceiue the necessitie of doing all the workes both of pietie righteousnesse and sobrietie Yea to this end did Christ giue himselfe for vs and redeeme vs at so high a rate that hee might purifie a peculiar people to himselfe zealous of good workes Wee are the workemanship of God created in Christ Iesus vnto good workes which God hath ordayned that we should walke in them and it shall be to vs according to our workes and therefore it should be our Wisedome to shew by good conuersation our workes and our Loue to prouoke others vnto good workes Concerning good Workes I propound three things 1 What workes are not good workes 2 What rules must be obserued to make our workes good workes 3 What workes are good in particular For the first the workes that are done to be seene of men are not good works The workes of persecutors are all nought all workes are nought that haue not repentance going before for good workes are the workes of the penitent all the workes that are done too late are thrust out of the Catalogue of good workes as to cry to God after a man hath stood out all the opportunities and seasons of grace It is a signe mens workes are not good when they hate the light and cannot abide to be reproued And of the like nature are those workes that are guided after the example of the multitude of which men say they doe as the most doe Lastly doth not the world hate them then suspect thy workes For the second that wee may haue comfort that God will account our workes good workes 1. They must be warranted by the word of God if wee doe truth wee must goe to the light that our deedes may be manifest that they are wrought in God 2. Our persons must be made good by Iustification we must be created in Christ Iesus Would wee worke the workes of God we must beleeue in him that God hath sent 3. Our workes must be finished 4. By mortification wee must purge ourselues that we may be mee●e for the Masters vse and prepared for euery worke wee would haue accepted as good Lastly the ends must be good and the ends of all good workes are 1. The glory of God 2. The discharge of our obedience 3. The edification of our neighbours 4. The testification of our Faith and Thankefulnesse 5. The escaping of the punishment of sinne and the destruction of the wicked 6. The answering of our high calling in Iesus Christ 7. The obtayning of the glory of Heauen For the third in our conuersation with men there are diuers kindes of good workes some spirituall some corporall they are good workes to instruct admonish incourage reproue and pray for others to pull an infant or weake man out of a flaming fire is a good worke and such is it to recouer a sinner by admonition counsell c. It is a good worke to couer infirmities yea a multitude of them and to forgiue trespasses and to ouercome euill with goodnes so also they are good workes to grieue with them that grieue in giuing honour to goe one before another to lift vp the iust praises of others to lend to the needy and to giue liberally and chearefully towards the relieuing of the necessities of the poore especially them of the houshold of Faith To conclude from the manner of phrase bearing fruit in euery good worke these things may be obserued First that good workes are fruits for they are such things as shew our Faith proue our planting and yeeld vs comfort in Gods acceptation of them Secondly that a religious minde will labour to get fruit of euery sort hee will not know a good worke but hee will desire to carry some fruit of it Thirdly a Christian man carries his fruit both because hee carries the blessing of his well-doing and because he is neuer without some fruit as also he shall be sure his workes will goe with him when all things else shall leaue him Thus farre of the eminencie of Christians in holy conuersation Increasing in the knowledge of God Whereas a Question might be asked what should wee doe that wee might attaine to the holinesse of life before described These words containe an answere to it that they must increase in the knowledge of God The words in themselues stand of three parts First the Grace Knowledge Secondly the Measure of it increase Thirdly the Obiect of God Of the Grace it selfe I haue intreated before onely from the repetition

flesh Thirdly by the contentment men place in knowen euills Fourthly by customary practise And lastly if this monster by the deceitfull working of Sathan should liue still for a time as many times it doth euen in the worst men yet there is a way to trie whether it be a liue or no. For bring it to the law and it will presently reuiue If it be pricked and pearced with the terrors and reproofes of a sound application it will shew it selfe by vnquietnesse and vnruly distempers And on the other side it is certaine sinne is dead if thy flaming desires to euill be quenched Secondly if the command ouer the faculties of the soule be ceased Thirdly if a man seeke and place his chiefe contentment in spirituall things Fourthly if the customarie practise of euill be broken of and dissolued and lastly if the hart will abide the searching and sound application of the law In them So wretchedly is the vnregenerate heart of man composed that he doth not only liue and sinne but he liues in sinne and with sinne and by sinne too He liues in sinne because he is drowned vnder the power and guilt of sinne He liues with sinne because he is not a guest only but a soiourner also with his sinne Sinne keepes the house and the ●inne is at bed and boord there And he liues by sinne to for most sinners cannot contriue how to liue without them The letcher cannot liue without his mistris the vsurer cannot liue without his gaine and so of the rest All these are wofull circumstances of euill and doe maruellously decipher out a soule that feeles not the life of Iesus Christ in him and they impart also a further misery It is easie to commit sinne but it is not easie to be rid of sinne a man may also quickly forget his sinne but he shall not so quickely forgoe his sinne for howsoeuer by Gods singular patience he liues for all his sinne yet by the singular wretchednesse of his condition all his sinnes will liue with him they are not transient but so long as he liues his sinne will liue with him yea it will goe with him too when hee dies if it be not preuented with speedy repentance The vse also of all this may be to teach conuerted Christians that are deliuered from this wofull misery to walke as children of the light hauing their fruit in all goodnesse and righteousnesse and truth hauing no further fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse seeing all is now made manifest by the light yea they should striue to expresse as much life of contentment in the works of new life and light as before they euer felt in the pathes of sinne and darkenesse and if wicked men walke on with such vnwearied resolutions and endeauours in such a dangerous estate how should Christians bee stird to all possible constancy in weldoing seeing they are sure that all that walke vprightly walke safely Thus of the seuenth verse Ver. 8. But now put ye away euen all these things anger wrath malice cursed speaking filthy speaking out of your mouth Hitherto of the mortification of vices especially against a mans selfe Now followes the mortification of Iniuries And therein I consider first the exhortation it selfe in the eighth verse and a part of the ninth Secondly the reasons ver 9.10.11 in the exhortation I consider first the charge put away euen all these things secondly the catalogue of iniuries to be put away and mortified anger wrath malice c. From the coherence in that the Apostle fastens this branch of the exhortation vpon the remembrance of their misery in the former verse it shewes that the meditation of our misery is as good to kill or beat downe the power of rage and strong passions and distempers as it hath beene shewed to bee good to kill lust and couetousnesse When you see men or women of heedy passions and violent affections fall into affliction of conscience then imagine they will hurle off their natures and grow more calme and me●ke but till then seldome doe any mend or not for any long time Now That is in the time of grace and so it giues vs occasion to consider that grace yeelds no liberty to sinne Now that thou hast receiued the true grace of God there is no time left for passion fretting cursed speaking or filthy speaking or lying or any such iniurious euills Grace enioines vs to take leaue of our old affections and our owne peruerse courses Many such things as before thy conuersion might in some respects beene more borne withall must now be left for the conuerted Christian must liue circumspectly precisely watching in all things and walking wisely both at home and abroad he must part with his old humours and peruerse qualities and therefore their condemnation sleepeth not that turne the grace of God into wantonnesse Put away Sinne is not truely repented of till it be put away Now sinne is put away two wayes First by Iustification and so God puts away our sinnes for when God pardoneth iniquity he casteth it away and neuer sees it or remembers it more Secondly by sanctification and so we must put away our sinnes We must put away or pull downe sinne as the rebell puts downe his weapons when he seekes the seruice of his Prince or we must deale with our sinnes as God deales with the mighty that is we must put them downe from their seats if we cannot destroy them from liuing yet we may disturbe them sitting or raigning or resting in vs or we must put them away as the wronged husband doth his filthy wife We must diuorce our sinnes that by couenant they should neuer be ours more We will neuer loue them and let them sleep in our bosome and dwell with vs and be familiar with our natures as they haue beene Now we put away sinne three wayes First by confessing them to God Secondly by godly sorrow washing the stain and filth of them from off our hearts Thirdly by renouncing and forsaking the practise of them all are here intended but the last principally and this we must know will not be done with ease if it be truely and soundly done The Prophet Micah meanes something when he sayth of the Lord he will subdue our iniquities and then after sayth he will cast them away into the depthes of the sea Must God subdue if he cast away then man must bee sure of it that hee must labour seriously the subduing of h●s sinne before hee can haue any comfort or successe in putting them away Sinnes are like an army of rebels that will not be vanquished without some adoe All these things In the originall it may be read all things it is true that God many times puts his seruants to it euen to deny and put away all things they must deny themselues and their credits yea and their liues too if need bee they must deny the world

Sacraments The holy Apostle Saint Paul blesseth GOD for the Philippians that they did not onely make conscience of receiuing the Gospell but also of fellowship in the gospell and that from the very first beginning of their entrance into Religion This was the comfort of their loue and fellowship of the Spirit The last duty of loue is Clemencie and this stands in the right framing of our selues in respect of others and vnto the practise of clemency diuers things are required of vs. First to couer the faults of others Loue couereth the multitude of sinnes Secondly to auoyde the occasions of stirring the infirmities of others And heere we are bound to forbeare our liberty in indifferent things rather than we should offend our brother If thy brother be grieued for thy meate now walkest thou not charitably It is to be obserued that he saith thy brother for it matters not for the cauells and reproaches of idolatrous and superstitious persons that neuer regarded the sincerity of the gospell Thirdly to take things in the best part Loue belieueth all things it hopeth all things Fourthly in our anger both to be short Let not the Sunne goe downe vpon your wrath and also to be more grieued for their sinne with whom we are angry than kindled against their persons as it is said of our Sauiour Hee looked round about vpon them angerly mourning for the hardnesse of their hearts Fiftly to appease the anger of others and that eyther by soft answeres or by parting with our owne right or by ouercomming euill with goodnesse Lastly clemency stands in the forgiuing of trespasses done against vs Be tender hearted forgiuing one another euen as God for Christ his sake forgaue you So that vnto Christian loue is requisit a peaceable curteous and tender carriage hospitality and a liberall distributing to their wants both in temporall and spirituall things a couering of their faults auoyding of occasions of scandall a louing composing of our selues in matters of wrong and a daily and cheerefull association with them Thus farre of the gratious branches of Christian Loue. Now the manner how wee should loue Gods children is to be considered first in generall we should loue them as our selues and therefore in all our dealings to doe as we would be done by we are to loue man in measure viz. as our selues but God aboue measure But to consider of the manner of our loue more specially the particulars may be referred to the foure heads mentioned 1 Pet. 2.22 First we must loue brotherly that is not as we loue our beasts or as wee loue strangers or as we loue our enemies but as we would loue our dearest naturall brother with all tendernesse and naturalnesse of our affection Secondly wee must loue without fayning without hypocrisie and this is explicated to be not in word and tongue out in deedes and in the truth not onely truely for it cannot be a true loue vnlesse it arise from a holy agreement in the trueth Thirdly it must be with a pure heart and then we loue with a pure heart first when our affection is grounded vpon knowledge and iudgement secondly when it is expressed in a Spirit of meekenesse Thirdly when it is free from wrath or aptnesse to be offended from enuie from pride and swelling and boasting from selfe-loue when men seeke not their owne things and from euill suspicions Fourthly when it is exercised in holy things so as no affection can make vs reioyce in the wickednesse of them wee loue Fiftly when it is manifested in long-suffering and all-suffering when wee beleeue all things and hope all things Lastly wee must loue feruently and this hath in it Speedinesse Dilligence called Labour in loue Cheerefulnesse Earnestnesse and heate of affection and this is to follow after Loue and to the end it is without interruption Now because these are the last dayes wherein the most haue no Christian Loue at all and many haue lost the affection they had so as their Loue is growne colde and the most euen of the children of GOD in all places are exceedingly wanting to their owne comfort and spirituall content in the neglect of the duties of Loue one to another but especially in the duties of a holy fellowship and mutuall societie in the GOSPEL and the rules of Clemencie and that men might be kindled with some sparkes of desire to redeeme the time and gaine the comforts they haue lost and seeke the blessings of GOD in a holy Societie I haue thought good in the second place to propound out of the Scriptures Motiues as they lie heere and there scattered in the holy Writings to incite and perswade all sorts of men especially Professours to a more conscionable respect of this mutuall loue The first Motiue may be taken from Example and that both of God and CHRIST God made his infinite Loue apparant to vs in that hee sent his onely begotten Sonne into the world that wee might beleeue in him and hee might be a reconciliation for our sinnes and therefore ought wee to loue one another yea so to loue one another Shall the most high GOD fasten his loue vpon vs that are so many thousand degrees below him and shall not wee loue them that are our equalls both in Creation and Regeneration Shall the Lord be contented to respect with an appearing loue and shall we think it enough to carry good affections to our brethren without manifestation of the outward signes and pledges of it Was there nothing so deare vnto GOD as his Sonne and did hee giue vs his Sonne also to assure vs of his loue and shall the loue of the Saints be euer by vs any more accounted a burthensome and costly loue Hath God sent his Sonne out of heauen into the world and shall we stie our selues vp and not daily runne into the company of the members of CHRIST Was CHRIST sent that we might haue the life of grace in holy and heauenly and mysticall vnion and shall not we as fellow-members in all the duties of a Christian societie stirre vp nourish and increase that life so giuen As Sincerity is the life of Religion so Societie is the life of Sincerity Was Christ giuen a reconciliation for our sinnes and shall not wee striue to ouercome one another in the religious temper of our affections and the free and willing couering or forgiuing of trespasses and wrongs Our Head our Sauiour our Lord our Prophet our Priest our King that wee might perceiue his loue layd downe his life for vs and should not wee immitate so incomparable an example though it were to lay downe our liues one for another The second Motiue is from Commandement it is not a thing arbitrary for vs to loue our brethren as is before expressed Curtesie peaceablenes liberality society and clemency are not things we may shew or not

this is to bee shodde with the preparation of the Gospell of peace Secondly that all be done in the name that is by the authority of Christ and his warrant in his word not in the name of Moses for Ceremonie or in the name of Angels or Saints for intercession nay in all wee doe our conscience should be tied onely properly by the command of Christ not because such great men would haue it so or I did it to please my parents or kindred c for then thou dost it in the name of men and not of Christ. Thirdly that all be done with inuocation or calling vpon God in the name of Christ all should be consecrate and begunne with praier Fourthly and principally that all bee done to the glorie of God in Christ this should be the scope of all our actions all should breath and sauour of Christ. In word d God requires to be glorified by the very words of Christians and contrariwise holds himselfe many times dishonoured by their words he that keepeth his tongue keepeth his life the honour and dishonour of the tongue is largely explicated Iam. 3. but the vse is for instruction to teach vs 1. to take heed of dishonouring Christ by our words but in speciall we should take heed of words of disgrace and slander to the members of Christ of vaine words that boulster men vp in presumption against repentance and faith in Christ of passionate and bitter words of words of deceit of the words that come from or tend to the strange woman filthy words yea take heed of high words for high talke or the lippes of excellency becomes not a foole for euill wordes greatly prouoke God and call for stripes bring many a crosse vpon a man and are snares to mens soules Secondly it should teach vs to indeuour to bring glory to God by our words to this end we should for matter learne to speake the words of clemency words of wisedome words of sobriety and truth words of righteousnesse wholesom words words of eternall life and to this end we should obserue diuers rules 1 That our words be not many for in a multitude of words cannot but be sinne we are not able to weld aright many words 2 That wee know and not forget Gods tenne words the ignorance of Gods tenne lawes causeth that men know not how they offend in their tongues but in the tenne words of God is an absolute patern of all vprightnesse both of heart speech and life 3 That we be much and often in taking vnto vs the words of confession and praier our speech is purified and God much glorified by often confession and prayer this is to speake a pure language 4 Our eare must seeke learning we must be swift to heare and slow to speake and bee contented to bee taught as well how to speake as how to liue Lastly we must tame our tongues make conscience of mortification for our sinnes in word as well as for euill deed set a watch before the doore of our lippes and pray God to open them Or deedes d God will haue deeds as well as words our hands must bee bound to good behauiour and that our labours and workes may be done to Gods glory they must be done 1. with prayer Psalm 9. last 2. with warrant from the word 3. with faith in Gods promise for the successe For whatsoeuer is not of Faith is sinne 4. With perseuerance they are not good works till they be finished and accomplished Whatsoeuer this worde is a note eyther of vniuersality or perfection Of perfection I say in this sence Whatsoeuer ye doe or settle about doe it all that is let it be compleat and perfectly done but I take it heere as a note of vniuersality d We are bound to glorifie God not onely in word and deed but in al our words and all our deeds wee are tied to euery good worke to respect all Gods commandements wee are bound to glorifie God not onely in actions of worship but of righteousnesse too Not onely in religious businesses but in ciuill offices not onely in our generall calling but in our particular Not onely abroad but at home making conscience not onely of filthy deedes but of filthy speaking not onely of great and crying sinnes but of lesser sins not onely of our open deeds but of our carriage in secret Vse is for reproofe men discouer their vnsoundnesse of heart in this respect exceedingly many will not forsweare that will sweare at euery worde at least by lesse oathes as by the masse faith troth truth c. many shop-keepers will not beare false witnesse in a Court that will lye daily in selling their wares Many will looke to their carriage abroad that care not how to order themselues at home Many will not do their owne worke by keeping shoppe or trauelling on the Sabbath that neuer sticke at it to speake their owne words on the Sabbath but if the case of such like men as these be to be suspected how fearefully bad is their case that are so farre from making conscience of euery worde and deede as they are to euery good Woorke reprobate that are neither good at home nor abroad neither in worship nor life neither to others nor to themselues Tit. 1. vlt. Yee d They that haue comfort in their election and Gods loue they that haue begunne to make Conscience of their waies and to loue the worde they that make a profession of the name of Christ aboue all others are exactly to looke to themselues to euery word and euery deede 1. Because they are neerer the courts of the great King they liue alwaies in the presence chamber 2. Because God hath bestowed vpon them more blessings and therefore as he giues more wages requires more worke 3. Because they are more obserued then any other A loose word is more noted in them then execrable blasphemy in others they are more talked of for seeing a vaine sight then others for haunting of leud playes 4. Because their hearts are made pure by the bloud of Christ and fine white linnen is sooner and deeper stained then course ragges 5. They are trusted with more glorious riches A little sinne in them much greeues Gods spirit whereas a great sinne troubles not a wicked man that hath no spirit of God in him 6. They are sure to haue a recompence of reward for euery good worde and worke and therefore to further their owne reckoning and glory should bee aboundant in the worke of the Lord. Vse therefore to quicken vs to a desire to walke precisely circumspectly exactly Eph. 5.15 striuing to redeeme the time that hath been lost in the seruice of sinne and the world Giuing thanks to God euen the Father by him These words are diuersly considered Some thinke the former words are an explication of these as if hee should say bee carefull in all