Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	divine_a	faith_n	infallible_a	2,020	5	9.1150	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29912	Twenty five sermons. The second volume by the Right Reverend Father in God, Ralph Brownrig, late Lord Bishop of Exeter ; published by William Martyn, M.A., sometimes preacher at the Rolls.; Sermons. Selections	Brownrig, Ralph, 1592-1659.; Martyn, William.; Faithorne, William, 1616-1691.	1664 (1664)	Wing B5212; ESTC R36389	357,894	454

Divine revelation is the stay and establishment of Faith Truths that are more obscurely delivered are liable to question and controversie but this Truth that Iesus is the Messias and the Authour of Salvation it is with all evidence propounded to us When God speaks clearly Faith believes firmly Credendum est Deo vel semel loquenti 2. This Truth 't is an immediate and first principle of Religion the grand Maxim and Oracle of Divinity Now in all professions Principles are unquestionable admit no gain-saying He that comes to God must believe 3. 'T is a fundamental Truth the first Stone that is laid in the building of the Church the main Rock upon which the whole Building rests See when Christ builds his Church he chooses this Confession Thou art the Son of the living God he layes that in the foundation Now in all buildings the foundation must be sure and immovable Here Agrippa's almost 't is too weak no here What we have heard and seen and felt 4. Errors in this are most dangerous As errors in the conception are hardly corrected so errors in this first conception of Faith Oh! these prime Truths must be firmly and strongly embraced Other consequential and secondary Truths of less evidence and necessity may admit of discussion In some Truths we may differ Salva compage fidei but in this every error is deadly In some Truths S. Paul's moderation is sweet If any man think otherwise God will reveal it to him account him as a brother But in this he that errs S. Paul's threatning is seasonable You are fallen from grace you are cut off from Christ you must dye in your sins There is a necessary Truth Maria virgo in partu There is a decent Truth Maria virgo post partum Faith puts these Truths without question 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. This is the defiance Faith gives to all the objections and cavils of nature How can God become a man the Creator a creature a Virgin conceive Get thee behind me Satan 't is without all controversie 2. By this it answers and represses the contradictions of infidelity a man's heart is hardly drawn to assent and give credit to these mysteries No Faith tramples all contradictions under foot 't is without all controversie 3. By this it overcomes the weaknesses and infirmities of Faith Faith at first hath many doubts and fears But why do thoughts rise in my heart I know he is a faithful and true witness no word is impossible to him 'T is the victory and triumph that Faith gets over all doubtings it believes stedfastly without all controversie ON CHRIST-MAS DAY The Second Sermon GALAT. iv 4 5. When the fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law that we might receive the adoption of Sons WHich words set out unto us the great and gracious work of our Redemption A work undertaken and wrought by the Incarnation of our blessed Saviour The remembrance of which the Church of God doth this day joyfully Celebrate An high Festival it is and to be honoured by us whether we respect Christ and in him the mysterie of the day or respect our selves and in us the mercy and benefit which as on this day was vouchsafed to us 1. Look upon Christ and the mysterie of his Incarnation so 't is a Birth-day Feast the Feast of his Nativity And the feast of the Birth-day especially of some extraordinary and eminent person and such an one above all was the Birth of this day Pharaoh's birth-day and Herod's were nothing to it is kept and celebrated with all joyful solemnity That is the mysterie of the Text Christ made and born of a woman so it is a day of joyfulness 2. Look upon our selves and the mercy and benefit of this day that redounded to us and so it is a Feast of deliverance out of Captivity This day Christ came to redeem us that lay under the Law cast and condemned men And a day of enlargement out of Captivity that is a Feast of Iubile Such was this day No Captivity like that of ours neither the Egyptian when they were born slaves nor that of Babylon when carried away to be slaves both of them fall short of this the bondage of our birth and the slavery of our life none like to it and so no redemption to be compared to it 'T is a day much to be remembred in our generations 1. It is the day of Christ's Nativity keep it with joyfulness 2. It is a day of our enlargement out of Captivity keep it with thankfulness The Apostle then sets out unto us the happy condition that hath betided the Church of God by the coming of Christ in his Incarnation And he expresses it two ways 1. By a comparative opposition to the state of the Church before Christ's coming 2. By a positive or rather superlative illustration of the happy condition of the Church by his coming among us 1. The Church of the Jews before Christ the low condition of that is set out by three steps of depression and inferiority in respect of our state of advancement that Christ's Birth brings to us 1. Respectu Aetatis for its Age it was a Child or an Infant vers 1. A child in knowledge in growth of grace in affections a child weak imperfect unskilful 2. Respectu Conditionis for the usage and condition in which it was it was Servilis it differ'd nothing from a servant under a yoke of servitude kept in more servile fear and subjection then Christians Their spirit was the spirit of fear and bondage our spirit is the spirit of love and liberty 3. Respectu Educationis for its breeding and education it was at the command and under the institution of a curst Schoolmaster the Law and but meanly instructed acquainted onely with the first elements and rudiments of our Religion the high mysteries of our Faith not manifested to them And this threefold depression of the Jewish Church should make us look three steps lower into the sad and forlorn estate of us Gentiles and heathen for such was our original 1. Were they babes and children we far worse dead in our sins not begot again to God by any spiritual Regeneration not so much as in the womb of conception out of the Church uncircumcised Infidels 2. Were they in the condition of servants We not so much as servants strangers rebels cast-aways enemies in a forlorn condition 3. Were they kept under inferiour Tutors and Governours We far worse untaught ignorant foolish like the wild Ass without understanding without God in the world 2. The estate of the Christian Church is illustrated by a superlative eminency and advancement it hath gained by Christ's Incarnation And this benefit we gain by him is expressed in three remarkable particulars 1. The first thing remarkable in this great benefit is the Time when it was performed When the fulness

and diligence much exercise and experience to attain unto it Those Arts that have in them many abstruse mysteries are long a learning Oh! the Art of godliness the Trade of piety the Skill of living holily 't is no small matter but very mysterious The Philosopher could say of his Art Ars longa Vita brevis a mans life was too short to attain to the perfection of it How much more is this high Art of Religion the mysterie of godliness It makes David for all his learning to cry out still Teach me Instruct me Make me to understand the way of godliness S. Paul that great Proficient yet professes he fell short Phil. iii. 11 12 13. Brethren I count not my self to have apprehended I have not already attained I am not already perfect but I follow after and press forward if by any means I might attain words of striving and contention How hard a thing is it to attain even to the knowledge of godliness Then how difficult must it be to mortifie thy lusts to subdue thine appetite 'T is call'd a Crucifying Consider it you who think seven years little enough to learn any Trade of life but any little time any poor pains sufficient to learn that which the Saints were practising all their dayes Try thy strength but with one Act but with one Duty of godliness and then tell me If slubbering over a few prayers or coming to Church and yawning out an Amen half asleep half awake be likely to make thee a skilful man in this Trade of piety That 's the first Religion is the mysterie of godliness 2. The second Truth is The Mysterie and the Piety of Religion must go both together We must take both to us not onely content our selves with the mysterie of Christianity but be sure we acquaint our selves with the piety True Religion joyns both together Thus S. Paul describes Christian Religion ' T is a Doctrine according to godliness 1 Tim. vi 3. And Tit. i. 1. it is called the Knowledge of the Truth according unto godliness We may as well separate light from heat in the fire as the mysterie and knowledge of it from the piety Indeed first we must get the mysterie then labour for the piety of it First God created light so it is in mans soul. A man is sooner enlightned then sanctified The Sun enlightens in an instant but it begets heat in the Ayr by length of time but they must never be a sunder Blind Devotion would have the piety without the mysterie Oh! Zealous it would be but not with knowledge Oh! A good heart to God-wards no matter for knowledge And prophane Curiosity that would have the mysterie without the piety understand all secrets and mysteries comprehend all Truths but for the holiness of Christianity they have no list to it True Christianity joyns both together True Religion is not like the tree of Knowledge onely pleasant to the eye and a tree to be desired to make one wise Gen. iii. 6. but it must be to us as the tree of Life for Devotion and Practice Religion is not placed in the upper region of the Brain but in the Heart the seat of affection the fountain of action 'T is a sanctifying Truth Holy Father sanctifie them through thy Truth not enlighten them onely Ioh. xvii 17. There is not any Truth so mystical and contemplative but must be drawn into practice There is no mysterie in Scripture but hath its piety As there is not any creature but it is for some use it is not onely beautiful but useful Non tantum visu delectat sed usu prodest so there 's no Truth in Religion but we may and must extract from it Piety Some Truths at first sight seem but dry as to this but as the Licorish stick at first looks like any weed but chew it and you suck sweetness so those mysteries that seem to be most remote from practice have a juice and sap of piety to be suck'd out of them If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them Joh. xiii 17. This man shall be blessed in his deed Iam. i. 25. See how Christ checks Curiosity and turns all to Practice Lord are there few that be saved And he said unto them Strive to enter in at the strait gate Luk. xiii 23 24. 1. Piety 't is the end of Christianity 'T is mysterium practicum Not a Science in contemplation but an Art of doing not to make us the wiser but the holier 2. Piety 't is the best keeper of this mysterie The knowledge of Religion 't is a precious Jewel see the Cabinet S. Paul tells us of wherein it must be kept Holding the mysterie of Faith in a pure Conscience 1 Tim. iii. 9. Wouldst thou not erre concerning the Faith Take heed of making shipwrack of a good Conscience Knowledge in this vessel is like the Manna in the golden-pot it is kept sweet In a prophane heart it is like Manna in other vessels that stank and putrified God takes away natural knowledge if we abuse it and live not accordingly When they knew God and glorified him not as God God gave them over to errour and never would call them to the knowledge of the Gospel Rom. i. 21 c. As we try vessels first with water if they will hold and keep it sweet then we pour wine into them They who corrupt natural knowledge God will not trust them with this mysterie Take heed thou divide not the piety from the mysterie In all Truths labour to be better In any mysterie make S. Peter's collection If these things are so What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness We have seen the quality and condition of this mysterie It is a mysterie of godliness Now follows IV. The infallible undoubted certainty of this mysterie It is beyond without all controversie There is a double Certainty 1. A certainty in the thing it self 'T is a most grounded Truth Heaven and earth may sooner fail then the least particle of this Truth It hath the Power and the Truth and the Faithfulness of God nay his Oath to establish it 2. A certainty of perswasion at this the Text ayms See with what confidence and assurance S. Paul seals up this great Truth ' T is without controversie Observe True Faith embraceth these heavenly Truths with all assurance and strength of adhesion and fulness of perswasion 'T is the nature and office of true Faith in matters of God to breed all possible assurance 'T is a Seal He who receives God's testimony of his Son hath set to his Seal that God is true Ioh. iii. 33. Philip shews the assurance of Faith which he requires of the Eunuch Acts viii 37. If thou believest with all thine heart that Iesus is the Son of God Especially in this Truth Iesus God-Incarnate Faith breaks through all controversies and unquestionably must believe 1. This Truth is clearly revealed in Scripture And

the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted c. Isa. lxi 1. This Christ applies to himself Luk. iv 21. So Ioh. xviii 37. To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness unto the Truth Warranted 2. By his Fathers publick Inauguration at his Baptisme and now on Mount Tabor This honour God put upon him and hath now set him on Mount Zion to preach the Law whereof God spake unto him 3. By Signs and Wonders Rabbi we know that thou art a Teacher sent from God for no man can do these miracles that thou d●…est except God be with him Ioh. iii. 2. As Moses was sent and authorized by a wonder-working Power so Christ had his Commission seal'd up by mighty Works Miracles are the ratification of his Doctrine We must have Sigillum Ecclesiae in ordinary Calling or miraculous in extraordinary 2. For his Sufficiency Whom God sends he fits and enables But Christ hath an All-sufficiency for an absolute Discharge of this great work He had 1. The enablement of Knowledge He is richly furnished with all kind of Knowledge In him are all the Treasures of Wisdome and Knowledge Colos. ii 3. 1. Treasures of Knowledge i. e. Precious Knowledge Saving Knowledge 2. Treasures of Knowledge i. e. Plentiful Knowledge We know but in part but all the Counsel of God is made open to him Solomon who could speak of every creature was but ignorant if compar'd with Christ. A greater Wisdome then that of Solomon was in him 3. Treasures i. e. Hidden and Stored Knowledge was in him those Secret mysteries that were laid up in the bosom of Eternity he had the Knowledge of Now this Knowledge is communicated to him not as to us Studio Industria not as to the Prophets by Dreams or Visions or Revelations of Angels but by a clear full intimate view and beholding of the God-Head the Fountain of all sacred Knowledge Christ had 2. The enablement of all other gracious endowments the full assistance of the Spirit All other Saints were limited and imperfect in these gifts Moses was slow of speech but his lips were full of grace Paul was learned but not eloquent Apollos eloquent but not so profound But Christ had all His lips drop down myrrh Then this assistance was continued and constant Those gratiae that are gratis datae are sometimes more full sometimes more sparing Sometimes the dore of Utterance is opened to us sometimes it is shut Sometimes we have more assistance sometimes less But Christ had it alwayes in a full measure As light is alwayes in the Sun but the Ayr receives it per modum coruscationis unevenly uncertainly 3. For his Priviledges These were far above all Prophets Doctours Instructers Four main Priviledges he had 1. Universality He had an unlimited and unbounded Commission not onely to one Nation but to the whole Church Nay not so onely to the present Church but to the Church present past and to come All Prophecies were inspired by him All the Prophets borrowed their light from him All sate at the feet of this Gamaleel The Spirit that spake in the Prophets 't is called 1 Pet. i. 11. The Spirit of Christ. By this Spirit Christ preach'd in Noah to the old world 1 Pet. iii. 19. 2. He is Infallibilis Doctor an unerring and infallible Doctour and Teacher He is not only wise but Wisdome it self not only true but Truth it self We have an Infallibility of Rule and Direction the Scripture The Apostles had a further Infallibility of Assistance and Inspiration but Christ was most naturally and of himself Infallible He is the faithful and true Witness Rev. iii. 14. 3. He had Excellentiam Doctrinae above all before him Moses and his followers they were but Doctours of the Law the Ministery of Condemnation The Prophets they were Ministers of the Promises all De bonis futuris But Christ came with Performances He brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. i. 10. Tidings and intimations are good but real evidences and performances they are far more welcome 4. He is Efficax a most Effectual and Prevailing Doctour He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword Isa. xlix 2. So S. Iohn Rev. xix 15. Out of his mouth goes a sharp sword Not in ore gladii but in gladio oris His Teaching is inward and spiritual Cathedram habet in coelo qui docet cor All others affect the ear He onely speaks to the heart He opens our understandings that we may understand the Scriptures He writes his Laws in our hearts Lastly 4. For his Discharge it is with absolute Fidelity without concealing any portion of Gods Truth He gives up an exact account Ioh. xvii 8. I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me and they have received them and have known surely that I came out from thee and they have believed that thou didst send me Moses was faithful Christ was as nay above Moses in all Fidelity He lost none of his Sheep whom the Father had committed to him He preferred the preaching of his Father's Will before his Food more then his appointed Food Moses he took the account of the people and again when he dyed the people accounted to shew his Fidelity So Christ Not one whom thou gavest me is lost Ioh. xvii 12. More particularly This Designation of the Person it may be considered in these five distinguishing Respects 1. Respectively to the Father Hear Him He sends us to his Son We have no voyce from the Father but this bidding us to look for no voyce but from Christ. Pharaoh sends all for corn to Ioseph Thus he discharges them from any more Visions and Revelations there is now no other Urim and Thummim but this lively Oracle 2. Respectively to Moses and Elias Peter would gladly listen to them that heavenly Conference much affected him No God discharges Moses and Elias their Ministration is out of date They have served their time now he speaks to us by his Son They were all like Ushers in the School Christ is the grand-Teacher These Stars must set now this Sun arises They are compared to under-Tutours and Governours till the time came that we must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Before he spake Ut Iosephus per Interpretem now we see the face of Christ and hear him speaking unto us 3. Respectively to the subordinate Ministers and means of salvation in their preaching still we must hear Him What the Jews did blasphemously we must devoutly we must cry out The voyce of God and not of man He that receives you receives me Thus the Galathians receiv'd S. Paul as an Angel of God even as Christ Iesus Gal. iv 14. He who spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets speaks still He who seeks a proof of Christs speaking in his Ministers let him know he despises not man but God