Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	faith_n	grace_n	spirit_n	4,029	5	5.0239	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17416	The signes or An essay concerning the assurance of Gods loue, and mans saluation gathered out of the holy Scriptures. By Nicholas Byfield, one of the preachers for the citty of Chester.	Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622.	1614 (1614)	STC 4236; ESTC S118320	26,778	156

rest we must labour after and without which we can hardlie haue true assistance that our sorrowes are right First it is inquisitiue it is a hard thing to make sorrow silent and hee that is truelie pricked in his heart cannot with contentment smother his doubts hee will aske the way to Sion and cannot rest till he haue knowne what to doe to be saued those that finde so little to aske and can be so silent in the presence of Gods seruaunts by whom they might bee directed may suspect their sorrowes Secondlie it must not rest in the beginnings or probabilities or hopes or others good opinions or the mending of manie things but a Christian that is truelie humbled will repent stil though he haue turned that is he is so fearefull of being deceiued through the corruption of his owne heart and the wils of Sathan that he will constantlie hold on to confesse and bewaile his sinnes till he may finde assured rest vnto his soule Thirdlie it will admit nothing against God but it makes a man condemne himselfe rather then God when Dauid lay in that mournfull plight that he could finde no comfort night nor daie for a long season and that the question was to be debated whether God had forgotten to bee mercifull c. Hee resolues the fault was in himselfe that it was his infirmitie and that his soule refused comfort Fourthlie it will not rest without cleanenesse godlie sorrow is not water but washing nor euery washing but such as maketh cleane worldlie sorrow may haue much water but cleanseth nothing but godlie sorrow greatlie desireth and loueth puritie Thus of the causes and properties concerning the concomitants there are diuerse things doe accompanie godlie sorrow by which it is discerned for First it is ioyned with a secret trust in the ac-acceptation of God so as no miserie can beate them from the consideration and inward affiance of hope of mercie in the verie disquietnesse of the heart the desire of the soule is to the Lord before his presence though a childe of God be neuer so much cast downe yet hee waits vpon God for the helpe of his countenaunce and in some measure condemnes the vnbeliefe of his owne heart and supporteth himselfe with the hope of the neuer failing compassions of God thus it differs from the sorrowes of Caine and Iudas Secondlie it is ioined with a wonderfull loue of God for hearing of praier it is most deepelie affected with euerie mercie of God felt in praier Dauid loues the Lord because he hath heard his praier at that time when his sorrowes was as the paines of hell Thirdlie it is ioined with a longing after the word Fourthlie it is ioined with a constant desire to glorifie God by a fruitefull profession euerie one that truelie mourneth in Sion is a tree of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord that he may bee glorified Fifthlie it is ioined with a spirit of supplications sorrow that is after God will teach a Christian to pray that could neuer praie before the spirit of compassion is a spirit of supplication Lastlie our sorrowes must be tried by their effects for godlie sorrow First driues vs to a dailie and serious confession of sinne in particular without hiding anie sinne Secondlie it breedes a tender sence of the burthen of sinne neuer doth a Christian feele the heauie loade of sinne as it is sinne till God hath softned his heart by his spirit Thirdlie It workes a mindefulnesse of God and his presence and a deepe impression and thought of good things Fourthlie it causeth a man to sacrifice and deuote himselfe to God Fifthlie it breedes sensiblenesse thankfulnesse for all sorts of mercie Lastlie the Apostle notes seuen effects of Godlie sorrow care apologie indignation feare vehement desire zeale and reueuge 3. Loue to the word IN so much as wicked men especiallie such as are indued with a temporary faith may haue some kinde of affections to the word we must carefullie trie our selues and examine our selues seriously 1. Whether we desire it as our appointed foode constantlie 2. Whether wee loue them that loue the word 3. Whether the loue of the word seperates vs from the wicked 4. Whether we can mourn because others keepe not the word 5. Whether wee loue it aboue all riches and could esteeme it as our heritage 6. Whether it bee our chiefe comfort in affliction 7. Whether in hearing wee receiue it as the word of God and not of men 8. Whether we receiue it in power and much assurance 9. Whether it worke effectually in vs theredresse of our waies and freedome from the bondage of sinne 10. Whether wee loue all the words of God euen the law that with threatning shews vs our sinnes as well as the gospell desiring to hide the word in our hearts that wee might not sinne 11. Whether it be our desire and delight to exercise our selues in it day and night 12. Whether wee can accompt and feele the famine of the word to bee a most bitter crosse 13. Whether wee could bee contented constantlie to labour for it as men doe for the foode that perisheth 14. Whether wee finde a constant sweete taste in it especially in the powerfull preaching of it 15. Whether for the gospell sake we can bee content to denie our reasons affections credits carnall friends pleasures and profits 4. The loue of Gods children OVr loue to the Saints may be tried First by the cause Secondly by the extent Thirdly the manner Fourthly by the effects For the first to loue Gods children because they are begotten of God and for the grace of Gods spirit by which they resemble God or rather for the Lord himselfe desiring to expresse our affections to them because wee doe no good to God himselfe is not found in anie reprobate and so to loue them simplie for the truths sake whereas to loue them for beautie profit companie sake or any naturall or carnall reasons or ends in no signe at all Secondlie hee that truely loues the brethren loues all the brethren hee that loues not all the Saints loues no Saint aright a true Christian hath not the glorious faith of Christ in respect of persons he loues the poorest if he haue true grace aswell as the richest yea he loues the absent aswell as the present yea he loues for the truths sake those he neuer saw yet this hinders not the difference of degrees of loue so as some may be more beloued then others and that by reason of the greater measure of Gods gifts and graces or els by the speciall prouidence of God when the Lord linketh the affection of some Christians in some speciall eminencie of respects and so it is not alwaie needefull that the persons most loued bee most

It workes an effectuall loue of God and Gods children sheweth it selfe by the fruites of loue 6. It will maintaine a Christian in some measure of sufficiencie and contentment in all estates the iust liues by faith not by friends mony earthly hopes or helpes c. for it will make a man to lay houlde vpon Gods promise and workes an inward trust in Gods neuer failing prouidence so as hee will leaue the successe of all his labours or meanes to God 7. It excludes boasting of our owne labours praises gifts or workes and in the same measure workes humilitie that it maketh any other grace 8. It ouercommeth the world so as profits credit pleasures carnal friends or hopes doe not sway and rule the beleeuer but hee willinglie and patientlie rests in the treasures and pleasures of a better world yeelding himselfe ouer to bee guided by Christ and his truth to the death 9. It purifieth the heart from ignorance wicked imaginations carnall desires sinfull perturbations and all sorts of secret and inward sinnes And this it doth by causing a man dailie to seeke pardon for them in Christ and by casting them out by confession and sorrow in the same measure desiring inward puritie that it reioyeeth in Gods loue 10. There is a spring of grace in the heart of euery beleeuer whence followes daily the exercise of sundrie sauing graces which can neuer bee vtterly dried vp in the heart of a Christian and that is it our sauiour Christ meaneth when hee saith out of his bellie shall flow riuers of liuing water 6. The spirit of Adoption THe spirit of adoption in the hearts of Gods Children may bee discerned First by the fire of zeale and holie affections with which it fils the harts of Gods children especially in the vse of Gods ordinances to the information reformation of their liues Secondly by the much assurance which especially at som●times worketh in the heart Thirdly by a daily holy strife to preserue grace giuen vs and to preuent falling away Fourthly by secret suggestion or direction by which Gods seruants are reclaimed when they goe out of the way either on the right hand or on the left Fifthly by the assise it keepes in the heart of a christian as a spirit of iudgement by which he is made to watch arrest accuse condemn and restraine himselfe from euerie euill way according to the rules of the word before Gods holy presence Sixthly by libertie from the power of raigning and presumptuous sinnes where the spirit of God is there is libertie Seuenthly by the groath and florishing of true grace Eighthly by vnspeakable ioies felt in the presence of God in the due vse of his ordinance by which a christian is enflamed to the loue of God and all holy duties and abased to the dust in the sence of his owne vilenesse called therefore the ioies of the holy ghost For as for carnall ioyes or illusions either they are not felt in the vse of Gods ordinances or els they breede pride and conceited security Ninthly by requests and supplications affectionable and with confidence powered out vnto God as a father 7. Vprightnesse of heart IF thou wouldest make triall of the truth and vprighnesse of thy heart thou must seriously examine thy selfe First whether thy spirit be without guile more desirous to be good then to bee thought to be so and seeking more the power of godlinesse then the shew of it Secondly whether thou loue all good things aswell as one and hate all things as well as one Thirdly whether that thou canst loue and forgiue thy enemies that hate and disgrace and wrong thee aswell as thy friends that either wrong thee not or but by infirmity Fourthly whether thou canst bee content to receiue euil at Gods hands as well as good without murmuring or letting goe thy integrity being carefull to approue thy selfe to God without respect of reward yea though trouble did befall thee Fiftly whether thou dislike sinne in all euen in those that are most neere and deere vnto thee Sixtly whether thou finde in thy heart a resolution to turne from nothing that God commaundeth thee all the daies of thy life Seauenthly whether thou be innocent from the great transgression Eightly whether thou finde an inward combate and striffe against secret sinnes aswell as open sinnes bewailing the transgressions against the inward worship of God aswell as against the ontward Ninthly whether thy heart bee humble patient teachable and tractable in some holy measure increasing herein by the vse of Gods ord●niance an vpright heart is a willing heart 10 Whether thy desire bee to walke as in Gods presence 11 Whether thou finde a desire to be rid of sinne and to humble thy selfe for it in prosperitie aswell as aduersitie and in the beginning of afflictions aswell as in the extremities of them 12 Whether in wrongs and disgraces when thou art innocent thou canst in the sence of thine owne vnworthinesse of Gods loue make God thy defence resting in his fauour and acceptance 13 Whether thou dost endeauour to glorifie God aswell by giuing thankes for blessings and graces as for praying for supplie of wants or pardon of ●innes 14 Whether thy heart be stedfast and setled without lying flattering or dissembling so seeking and praying for pardon and deliuerance in aduersit●e that thou wouldest practise it after release this was a signe the Israelites were not vpright in that they would crie to God in their distresse but care not for their vowes and promises so soone as they were deliuered 15 Whether the word of God doe thee good aboue all things 16 Whether thy praise be of God and not of men 17 Whether thou dost serue God with thy whole heart not hauing a heart and a heart either waiuering or deuided for vnlesse the whole resolution of thy soule with the vtmost of thy desires bee to walke in Gods waies thy heart is not vpright 18 Whether there be in thee a faithfull heart to deale faithfullie in the charge and calling in which thou art and to discharge it in the conscionable feare of God 19 Whether there be any sinne thou couldest not willinglie iudg thy selfe for it without hiding it so soone as thou knowest it to be a sinne This is the ioy of a Christian in the sense of his owne wants and weakenesses that though he haue manie sinnes yet there is no sinne but hee willing lie acknowledgeth it vnto God 20 Whether thou be good at home as well as abroade 21 Whether thou canst be contented to make the Law of God thy onelie direction in all things 22 Whether thou canst bee as carefull to preseuere in grace as once to be good 23 Whether thou keepe thy selfe from thine owne iniquitie 1. Whether thou dost