Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	devil_n	father_n	lie_n	3,415	5	9.0726	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64833	Venning's remains, or, Christ's school consisting of four classes of Christians, I. babes, II. little children, III. young men, IV. fathers : with their several characteristical differences and attainments, also the doctrines proper to be taught to each of them : being the substance of many sermons / preached by Ralph Venning and fitted by him for the press before his death.	Venning, Ralph, 1621?-1674.	1675 (1675)	Wing V225; ESTC R27039	205,701	393

and I think most properly of that which is witnessed which is that God hath given us Eternal Life and that by and in his Son Vers 11. And accordingly he that believeth hath both the Son and Eternal Life in himself Vers 12. 'T is already begun in every Believer though every one hath not the assurance of it as is implyed in the thirteenth Verse Therefore 2. I infer that this witness of the Spirit is not barely or only the working of Grace by the Spirit in our hearts but something added thereunto and superadded thereupon beyond the gracious qualifications which are called The fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 23. Whether it be a light shining upon their graces and making them clear or whether it be the Application of some one or other promise made to such graces or whether it be some immediate eradiation and beaming forth of love from God upon the soul it matters not it may be by any or all of these waies Let me a little illustrate it by the heat and light of the Sun The working of the Spirit is like to the heat and influence of the Sun which reacheth all things but the witness of the Spirit is like the light of the San which shines not on all places at once the work and influence of the Spirit reacheth all Saints but the witness of the Spirit doth not shine upon all Saints at once nor upon all in the same degree Yea I am apt to believe that assurance is a very great rarity and not so much enjoyed as talked of or pretended to I have read of one Island of which it is said that the Sun shines on it more or less every day of the year it may be there are some such Island-Saints but I am inclinable to think there are not many of them because as I have somewhere hinted before in the Treatise of Babes the greater part of Gods Children have not I fear yet attained to be little Children to know and have assurance of the Fathers Love 'T is true the Fathers have but how few are they and that the conquering young men have but how few are they yea that the little Children have but how few are they There was but one John among the many Disciples However this is clear that they who are of this Classis be they few or many have attained to assurance and it may be said of them as Psal 89.15 16 17. Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound they shall walk O Lord in the light of thy countenance in thy name which is gracious Exod. 34.6 named upon them shall they rejoyce all the day and in thy righteousness the Lord our righteousness i. e. Christ Jer. 23.6 shall they be exalted for thou art the glory of their strength and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted And now this gives me occasion to consider 1 What this witness is 2. How it may be discerned from illusions of Satan or the pretensions and presumptions of our own hearts SECT 2. Shewing what this witness is in three things it is clear sure and powerful THis witness of the Spirit by which we know the Father as ours and that we are the Children of God is 1. Clear and perspicuous 't is no dark cloudy discovery of a thing but bright and illustrious this brings evidence and demonstration with it Like him who at first saw men walking as Trees but at the second touch saw all things clearly Mark 8.23 25. This is not like the Oracles of the Heathen a Trumpet which gives an uncertain and dubious sound nor like that of our own hearts which though ●t often excuse yet it often accuseth and leaves us doubtful which to take for truth no this watness is not perplexed nor tells either false or feigned dark or dubious stories He that runs may read it 't is written in so fair and legible in such Text-hand and Capital and Golden Letters 'T is that we may know 1 Cor. 2.12 Vt ecrto noscamus non fluctuante conjectura 't is not a conjecture a perhaps or it may be but as clear as the Sun in its Meridian brightness and strength This witness doth not leave the soul under disputings and fluctuations it takes off all Scepticisme the thing is past dispute 'T is not like the Spirit of the world which is ambiguous as the Oracles newly mentioned that may be interpreted pro and con for or against like Aio te Aeacida Romanos vincere posse but like the Oracles of God of a clear and certain and of an ascertaining and assuring sound For 2. As 't is clear 't is a sure Testimony 't is true and faithful and infallible what the Spirit of God saith is as true as that God is and that God is true This witness can be no otherwise for 1. The Spirit which beareth testimony is the Spirit of truth and therefore a Spirit of consolation the Comforter He cannot lie he cannot deceive 't is not only against his name but his nature which is contained in his name The Spirit of truth in opposition to the Devil the deceiving spirit and father of lyes No lye is of the truth nor of the Spirit of truth this Spirit guides into all truth and nothing but the truth he never bears witness to Hypocrites or Formalists but only to new born ones that they are the Children of God 2. As the Spirit of truth cannot deceive so he cannot be deceived for he knows the deep things of God and men what is in Gods heart to us 1 Cor. 2.10 11. and what is in our hearts towards God Rom. 8.26 27. 'T is a vanity as well or ill as Villany to lie to the Holy Ghost Acts 5.3 for he cannot be deceived nor will be mocked no nor can he be mistaken for he knows the deep things of God and of man though a mans heart be a great deep also This witness of God is true and sure if we receve the witness of men the witness of God is greater 'T was Pauls great comfort that God was his witness Rom. 1.9 1 Thes 2.4 5. he would not satisfie himself with this that he knew nothing by himself but as he was approved of God so he expected his Justification 1 Cor. 4.3 5. 2 Cor. 10.17 18. This witness is clear true and sure And therefore 3. 'T is a powerful witness for it satisfies and settles the Spirit of a man in a quiet serene peaceable and assured frame the soul is carried by it above bondage and fear 2 Tim. 1.7 't is like an oath that puts an end to strife and Controversie Heb. 6.16 and so affords strong Consolation Vers 18. The soul injoys God and it self in Halcyon-daies and in an undisturbed calm of assurance the soul retires into rest because the Lord hath dealt bountifully with it and it is upheld by his free and freeing Spirit which hath set it at liberty and fi●led it with Glory 2 Cor. 3.17 18.

't is so sure that they shall overcome that 't is said they have overcome But though this be often true and may be admitted as a truth here yet I doubt not but there is a reality and not only a figure in the speech they have overcome they are conquerors and have obtained victory already I shall therefore shew how they may be said to have overcome the wicked one in the Scripture sense as to what is past the incounters that have hitherto been between them When the Devil is resisted he flees and so is for the present conquered as he fled from Christ and was conquered as so that battel Jam. 4.7 1 Pet. 5.9 He who attains to do that which he is exhorted to attains that for which he exhorted to it so that being exhorted to resist the Devil that he may flee they find that when he is resisted he doth flee and so is conquered for that season Beside they stand and keep their ground which is a further expression of victory they not only withstand but stand Ephes 6.11 13. Ephes 4.27 and that this resistance and standing is by Faith being strong in Faith is clear from 1 Pet. 5.9 Ephes 6.16 and thus by resisting standing firm and maintaining their ground they have hitherto overcome the wicked one The summ of it amounts to this q. d. I write to you Young men because ye are strong and have overcome the wicked one i. e. you have thus far hitherto to this day resisted and kept your ground and have not given place to the Devil you have stood it out against all his wiles and subtleties you have made him flee by the power of the Word of God which made you strong in Faith the grace which is in Christ Jesus and this your strength abides with you as it did with Caleb Josh 14.11 So that if the Devil set on you any more you know how to conquer by the same Word again Go on thou mighty man in this thy might for the Lord of Hosts is with thee go on conquering and to conquer go and prosper Keep on your Armour lay not aside your Sword nor your Shield for perhaps the Devil will rally his scattered forces and fall on again Or he is it may be preparing other kind of temptations for you viz. sufferings and death as he did for Christ but you as he shall rise again and live for ever and be where Satan hath had no place for some thousands of years nor never shall any more viz. in Heaven and by not loving your lives to the death you conquer the Devil again as Christ also did Rev. 12.11 Heb. 2.14 15. And thus I have evinced that the Young men have overcome the wicked one and shall for ever I now pass on to the other things which relate to this victory and then shall the Young men triumph CHAP. VII and VIII How the Word of God strengthens you and how strength conduceth to the Victory HAving already clear'd the Young mans victory to be by strength and his strength to be from the Word of God abiding in him I shall joyn these two Chapters or Heads together and shew therein how the Word of God conduceth to their strength and how their strength conduceth to the victory As we should faint if we did not believe Psal 27.13 and that fainting would prove our strength of Faith to be but small Prov. 24.10 So our Faith would faint were it not upheld and quickened by the Word of God this I might evince from the several accounts I gave of the Word of God and how it might be understood in the Text in relation to the Young mens strength and victory but I shall now consider it only in the general which will be applicable enough to each particular acceptation of it instanced in before To this purpose 't is not a little observable how David who was one of Gods Worthies doth celebrate the Word of God in relation to this very thing especially in Psal 119. he tells us Vers 9. that the Young-man clears and cleanseth his way by taking heed thereto according to Gods Word and therefore Ver. 11. he hid Gods Word in his heart that he might not sin against him v. 25. he begs for quickening according to his Word so again Ver. 107. and 154. this was his comfort in his affliction that Gods Word had quickened him Ver. 50. and when his soul melted for heaviness he prays to be strengthened according to Gods Word Ver. 28. His Word was a light unto his path and a lamp to his feet Ver. 105. And he had wherewith to answer him that reproach'd him the accuser of the Brethren because he trusted in his Word Vers 41 42. God was his hiding-place and Shield for he hoped in his Word Vers 114. and prays that his steps may be ordered in his Word to this end that not any iniquity might have dominion over him Ver. 133. with many other passages to this effect to declare the usefulness of the Word of God for the strengthening of him The Word of God is true yea 't is truth and magna est veritas praevalebit truth is strong stronger than the Devil who is a lyar and a lie is weak 1 Joh. 4.4 now this Word of truth discovers the Devils devices falsehoods sophistries methods stratagems and all his deceits thus the Word of God strengthens removend● prohibens by taking away lets impediments and hindrances such as are doubts and fears distrusts and jealousies that the soul is no longer under a Spirit of Bondage again to fear Rom 8.15 2 Tim. 1.7 and withall it comes in with counsels comforts and quickenings as in the forequoted Psalm all which are strengthening things Thus their eyes being opened and inlightened as Jonathan's were by tasting this honey they are strong for the battel and by Faith they see as the Prophet's man did more for them than there are against them and therefore faint not especially while they look as Moses did to invisible things 2 Cor. 4 16 18. and see a great recompence of reward and all things co-working for their good and glory As the sight and speech of a General doth often quicken and animate his Souldiers so doth a believing sight of Jesus Heb. 12.2 and his Word puts life and courage into them Act. 27.23 2 Tim. 4.16 17. And Christ as he did cast out so doth he conquer the Devil by his Word Our own sayings an dreasonings are weak will not do it as 't was in the case of the Sons of Sceva Act. 19.13 16. but when the Word of God speaks 't is effectual and the Devil cannot stand before it Again 2. As the Word strengthens Faith so strength of Faith conduceth to and obtains the victory the reason is because where Faith is God is and where God is there is strength and such as against which none can prevail Hence had the Heroes and Martyrs mentioned Heb. 11. all their success and victory

wisdom c. they must have line on line now and then a little Isa 28.9 11. they must have the same things over and over as little-ones when they go to School are a great while a learning their Alphabet and must be shewn again and again which is A and which is B c. a man must lisp and stammer and tone it to them in their way Many a young Student takes a great deal of pains is ever reading but is not Master of what he reads and the fault is not so much in the memory or the Will as in the understanding so 't is with these Babes they hear and read much but cannot digest and concoct it no though they remember it but strong men love to make their meals of strong meat Heb. 5.14 Again 4. Babes are defective in this that they have not attained to use or an habit as they of full age or the perfect have as much difference as there is between habit and disposition so much there is between Babes and grown Saints for so the distinction is Heb. 5.14 Habits are full of skill and strength and make operation easie whereas dispositions are faint and weak meer essays and attempts such as are in Babes to speak and go They have not like David as to his Armour been used nor habited to such things and cannot go nor walk in them as others can that have try'd again and again we easily do things we have been used or wont to do but we are bunglers at things for want of use and habit which is the case of Babes so that the difference between these and grown Saints is as much as between manhood and infancy the strength and weakness of the one and other as between an habit of perfection and an imperfect disposition and inclination 5. Babes are defective in this that they have not the senses exercised the taste they have as before but not all the senses exercised to discern both good and evil Heb. 5.14 that which strong men have Babes want viz. discerning faculties and an ability to distinguish things that differ that they may approve of the things which are most excellent as Paul prayed that the Philippians might be able to do Chap. 1.10 compared with the Margent and not only hold fast that which is good For want of this skill of discerning 6. The Babes are apt to be tossed to and fro with every fair wind of Doctrine and to be abused by crafty mates and false teachers that can make and fit as well as feign words on purpose this is hinted in Ephes 4.14 That we henceforth be no more Children gr Babes ussed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive And of all them to whom Epistles were written the people that are called Babes were in most danger as the Corinthians 1 Cor. 4.15 21. which is the occasion of his putting them upon watching standing fast in the Faith to quit themselves like men and to be strong 1 Cor. 16.13 And again tells them his fears of them lest as the Serpent beguiled Eve in her infancy through his subtlety so their minds should be corrupted by false teachers from the simplicity that is in Christ 2 Cor. 11.1 5. and again Vers 12 15. so the Hebrews the Babe Christian Jews in Judea were in great danger of being turned aside by false teachers which occasioned that Epistle to them and the Jews dispersed also were in the like danger as appears by a Pet. 2.1 3. and 3.17 and the Galatians also as is evident from Chap. 1.6 9. and the scope of the whole Epistle but the little Children are more fixed and firm 1 Job 2.18 27. 7. The Babes defectiveness is seen in this that they serve God rather after the manner of Servants than as Children they are as the Prodigal did at first wish to be as hired Servants This is clear from Gal. 4. the Heir Vers 1. as long as he is a Child gr a Babe differeth nothing from a Servant but is Vers 2. under Tutors and Governours a Schoolmaster the Law Chap. 3.24 and while they are Children gr Babes are in bondage under the Elements or rudiments of the world Vers 3. which be calls beggarly Vers 7. and tells them 't is though they desire it to be in bondage Vers 7. and opposeth the Son and Servant Vers 6. But now the grown Saints stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ had made them free as Paul exhorts Gal. 5.1 and will not be again intangled with this yoke of bondage but worship God in Spirit and in Truth Thus have I shewn wherein Babes are defective in comparison of other Saints and now I must shew worse things than these viz. their carnality wherein they are as carnal II. Of their being as Carnal and walking as men THese poor Babes are but a degree above Carnal men though they be not carnal yet as carnal Many of them are so for as I have once and again hinted there are degrees among them and they are not acted nor do act all alike some of the Babes are less defective and less carnal than others Of the Corinthians the Apostle speaks not only that they were Babes and not spiritual but that they were as carnal and walkt as men there was but little difference in many things between them and meer carnal men men in and walking in and after the flesh 1 Cor. 3.1 3. This will appear in alas but too many particulars and instances As 1. They were as carnal in this that there was among them envy strife and division or faction Vers 3. and because of this which was undeniable the Apostle appeals to them and makes them Judges whether they were not carnal and walked as men viz. in the flesh or according to men and not according to God as Grotius expresseth it Are ye not carnal ye cannot deny it 't is undeniable You cannot deny that ye are envious c. it witnesseth and is not only witnessed by others to your faces and therefore you cannot deny but you are carnal for such things are the works of the flesh Gal. 5.19 21. and it comes from below not only from earth and men but from Hell and the Devil who worketh these things in the children of disobedience and in you who are herein disobedient children if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts glory not and lie not against the truth for this wisdom descendeth not from above but is sensual earthly and devilish Jam. 3.14 15. 'T is such as a spiritually and heavenly wise man would be ashamed of Whoever then be found such as these Corinthians are but Babes and as carnal how high soever they may carry it and how great soever their name may be the same thing that denominates them Babes will denominate any or all others so where ever 't is found Only this is to be

through Jesus Christ our Lord with the mind I my self do serve the Law of God Rom. 7.25 There is therefore no condemnation to me who am in Christ Jesus and walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.8 Though I wretch that I am may be sins Captive yet not ●●s Subject that I should obey it in the lusts thereof sin may domineer but hath no dominion over me because I am not under the Law but under Grace Rom. 6.1 18. thou Satan knowest that I am none of sins Servants Beside 5. I confess my sin and have my pardon and what dost thou Satan say to this or what canst thou say against it that God should forgive my sin according to what is said in 1 Joh. 1.8 9. have I not reason to be of good cheer though by reason of thee my warfare is not accomplished yet God hath spoken to mine heart and said Son be of good cheer thy sins are forgiven thee 'T is not against thee that I have sinned but against God which goes most to my heart and if God pardon me what 's that to thee is thine eye evil because God is good and gracious may he not do without thy leave what he will with his own Lastly 6. Satan to stop thy mouth I have an Advocate with the Father both his and mine Jesus Christ the righteous who is the Propitiation for my sin 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Thou hast nothing to lay to the charge of Gods Elect for he justifies Rom. 8.33 Canst thou condemn seeing Christ hath died yea and is risen again he died for our sin and is risen for our Justification Rom. 4.25 yea he is at the right hand of God and appears in Heaven for us and ever liveth to make Intercession for them that come to God by him and so saves perfectly and to the utmost what hast thou to say to this away Satan for I have heard a voice a loud voice saying from Heaven Now is Salvation and strength and the Kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ for the accuser of the Brethren is cast out which accused them before our God day and night but they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their Testimony and loved not their lives unto the Death Rev. 12.10 11. This shall suffice to have spoken to this thing from whence a fair way is open to proceed in to shew what is meant by their having overcome the wicked one where I am to shew what the notion of overcoming doth import and in what sense and how far they have overcome the wicked one CHAP. VI. What is meant by their overcoming the wicked one TO their being strong and the Word of God abiding in them this is added that they have overcome the wicked one viz. the Devil That it is so needs no proof for St. John's saying so is witness enough And we know that his witness is true Joh. 21.24 That therefore which we have to do is 1. To shew in what sense they have And 2. how and how far they have overcome the wicked one To overcome is a word that is used in a Forensick and in a Military sense as it refers to the Court and to the Camp 't is a Law term and a term of War in a legal or Court sense 't is to overcome by right and justification to be cleared and justified as to any charge and indictment laid against them to overcome in a Military sense is to conquer by might by dint of Sword which in the School sense is to overcome by force of Argument In the first sense to be cleared and justified is to overcome as appears by comparing Psal 51.4 with Rom. 3.4 in the Psalm 't is that thou maist be justified and cleared in the Romans 't is that thou maist be justified and overcome now in this sense not only the Young men but all the Saints are conquerors and do overcome that is there is no condemnation but justification to and for them Rom. 8.1 with 33 34 38 39. though they are condemned by men yet justified by God as Christ was put to death in the flesh but justified in and by the Spirit Though the Devil accuse yet Christ their Advocate pleads for and to their justification and they are freed in foro Dei in Gods Court which is a relieving Chancery against the cruel Sentences of Common Law so that nothing separates them from the Love of God in Christ To this sense speaks also the 1 Cor. 15.57 1 Joh. 5.18 But in the Military sense 't is that we are most specially to understand the conquest and overcoming spoken of these Young men in our Text they have overcome by meer strength of the word and Faith so that they not only overcome him as justified from his charge and indictment but overcome his temptations by dint of Sword i. e. by strength of Argument from the Word abiding in them If the Devil plead sin and guilt they plead Christ and his satisfaction if the Devil witness against them that they are not they produce the witness of the Spirit that they are the Children of God and so overcome him So that the Young-man is a double conqueror by right and might by Word and Sword at the Bar and in the Field they overcome by strength of Faith or believing in Christ or rather by the strength of Christ believed in But then How and how far have they overcome the Devil is not slain he is in being still and hath a power of tempting still how then is it said that they have overcome the wicked one may not the Devil rally and recruit again may he make no more onsets on the Young men To this some make Answer thus that the Praeter Tense is put for the Future q.d. you shall as certainly overcome as if you had overcome while the Word of God abideth in you you shall never be overcome and so do overcome and may be said to have overcome So the called of God are said to be saved because they shall be saved 1 Cor. 1.18 with 2 Tim. 1.9 So Christ is said to have yea saith that he hath overcome the world Joh. 16.33 when yet his conquest was not compleat till his Resurrection and Ascension nor is fully and wholly so till all his enemies be made his Footstool So he saith Joh. 17.4 I have finished the work thou hast given me to do when as yet he had not died which command he was to obey having received it from his Father Joh. 10.18 Many other places are spoken at this rate to denote the certainty of what shall be 't is said to be done because it shall be done So say they here the Young men have overcome the wicked one i. e. they are to fight and though the dispute be so hot and fierce as that to a stander by it may be doubtful whether the Young men will overcome the Devil or the Devil them yet