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	life_n	word_n	4,700	5	4.1090	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93755	A sermon on I Chron. 29, 18 and now published, because of the exceeding usefulness of this subject, unto all Christians of every perswasion or denomination whatsoever ... : wherein also is shewed what it is to teach for hire, and divine for money, and that objection is answered, which some do frame ... against that maintenance ... which true gospel ministers ought to have in these dayes under that dispensation / by Richard Stafford.	Stafford, Richard, 1663-1703.	1697 (1697)	Wing S5132; ESTC R42863	20,007	24

dwelling in the City of Coloss and the adjacent Villages did not hear Paul Nevertheless seeing that every man thereabout might have heard him Preach if they would and all had a Rumour and Report thereof though they would not hear him themselves therefore according to the method Interpretation accou●● of God according to which he will judge and proceed at the last day He did Warn and teach every man that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Whereunto I and so should all ye that hear me this day also labour striving according to his Working which worketh in m● mightily Col. 1. 29. And so ye also are to labour according to the Working of God which worketh in ye mightily Do ye not Perceive at my speaking this unto ye some Groaning of Spirit and Intercessions and desires after the same which cannot be uttered That ye may be meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light We know sensibly what is the misery and vexation of worldly disapointments and there is no disapoinment like that of Heaven which indeed is a Thing possible and to be feared and the utmost care is to be taken against it all our Life long Israel hath not obtained that which He seeketh for but the Election hath obtained it and the rest were blinded Rom. 11. 7. Let us therfore fear lest a promise being left us of entring into his Rest any of you should seem to come short of it Heb. 4. 1. There is no Preaching like unto that of Experimental Preaching and pray ●et your hearts go along with me and confer Notes and compare Experiences By Examining and Communing with your own Spirits whilst I declare how it is with mine own Soul As it is written For the Lord hath called thee as a Woman forsaken and grieved in Spirit Isa 54. 6. This last Thing of grieved in Spirit is Exactly mine own condition I find nothing in me but I am also shewed the Reason thereof And this Grief of Spirit in me doth not so much arise from wordly or outward Things because I know the utmost of them that they are but little and soon pass away and seem afterwards just all one as a dream when one awaketh But as it is elsewhere written I Remembred God and was troubled I complained and my Spirit was overwhelmed Selah Psal 77. 3. So as I think of God and of the other World for the Powers of the world to come do shake my Soul thence does arise all my Trouble Grief and Fear Why so O Man It is because I have not that degree of Assurance and well Grounded Hope which I would have and do Press after still Pray Think upon and Observe this It is a Secret Anguish and Vexation of Spirit that I am growing in years and Gray hairs do here and there appear upon me That the Morning of Youth is over and past and will never return again in this State and I haste to that where I seem no more to be and yet I have not laid in a Better and more assured Foundation against the time to come which I would still seek to make it yet more and more sure Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk for I lift up my Soul to thee Psal 143 8. That doubt and Jealousy and misgiving of heart Least I neglect or am afraid to do the Will of God doth cause no little Vexation of Spirit in me Cause me to hear thy Loving Kindness early in the Morning for in thee do I trust c. Herein I speak of those Extraordnary Works and Tryals which God is sometimes pleased to call such and such of his Servants out unto as Abraham to Offer up his Son Isaac and to Try that Precious Faith of his own Elect whereby like as Zebulun Naphtali were People that jeparded their lives unto the death Judges 5. 18. And hazarded their Lives for the Word of his Testimony for his Truth and Righteousness as some of his People and Servants have done in former Generations But Christian People Take this Counsel as from me who have been somewhat Experienced in the wayes of God whensoever ye perceive fears within you as those same fears do Relate to God or your own Future State and Condition for from hence doth usually arise all the fear and all the Great Thought and Searching of Heart whither this shall be indeed Happy or Miserable There learn to know the true cause of that fear and then labour to Remove it Now all fear doth usually arise from Sin and Guilt and therfore take away the Sin and Guilt and the fear also will cease So that the Result of the whole is this If thou Man or Woman wouldst be indeed led in the way Everlasting thou must be sure that there be no wicked way in thee Psal 134. Thou must both Pray Search me O God and know my heart try me and know my Thoughts And thou must Endeavour the same thy self even to Search thy self and know thy heart to try thy self and know thy thoughts that there be no wicked way in thee that thou livest in no known Sin not reserved Iniquity whatever and thou leavest no Duty undone And that thou dost not Omit or slip any Opp 〈…〉 nities of doing good For to him that knoweth to do good 〈◊〉 doeth it not to him it is Sin Jam. 4. 17. Finally Breth 〈…〉 Whatsoever Things are True whatsoever Things are Ho 〈…〉 est whatsoever Things are Just whatsoever Things 〈◊〉 Pure whatsoever Things are Lovely whatsoever Thin●● are of Good Report if there be any Vertue and if there be any Praise Think on these Things O my Fellow Christians Think often Yea think alwayes on the Words of the Text I have Chosen this Day If you do not Remember and carry away any thing of the Sermon besides 〈◊〉 sure to Remember and carry away the Words of 〈◊〉 present Text for that will be enough●nd sufficient If when any Good Thought or true Thoughts 〈◊〉 in your Soul when you like the Patriark Jacob Vo 〈…〉 unto him the Lord shall be my God Gen. 28. 21. And P 〈…〉 thy Vows unto the most High Psal 50. 14. When any 〈◊〉 his Truths comes into thy Mind which either make the I●visible God more known unto thee or the things of h●● Kingdom or concerning the World to come even our Futu●● State and Condition therein which same truth or truth● do stir up or Quicken Exhort and Actually Perswade do all the Words of his Law to keep his Commandmen●● his Testimonies and his Statutes in all these and such 〈◊〉 Things Be sure to lift up thy heart towards God in 〈◊〉 Words of my Text O Lord God of Abraham Isaac and 〈◊〉 Israel our F●thers kept this for ever in the Imagination of 〈◊〉 Thoughts of the Heart of thy People and prepare their hea 〈…〉 unto thee I say again for thy more Remembrance and O 〈…〉 servance thereof in all these and such like good cases 〈◊〉 Instances Pray without ceasing and endeavour the s 〈…〉 without ceasing O Lord God of Abraham Isaac and of 〈◊〉 rael our Fathers keep this for ●ver in the Imagination of 〈◊〉 Thoughts of the Hearts of thy People and prepare their 〈◊〉 unto thee Amen So be it FINIS

ever two or three are Gathered together in his Name God is the midst of them and he is served acceptably equally and all one upon the Sea-shore or in an open Field or in the Room of an House as what is called Churches or Steeple-Houses notwithstanding the contradiction of Ignorant Zealots herein who in this retain that relick and remainder of that Popish Maxim Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion for they doe not love that whom they Ignorantly Worship should be declared unto them nor what they are Ignorantly zealous for That the Truth hereof should be laid open and Manifest unto them For as Christ according to the Flesh was laid in the Manger of a Stable so his Word is often more Simply and Purely Preached in places that seem mean to the outward Eye then in finer Buildings Though here to pursue the like Reasoning with that of David Lo I dwell in an House of Ceder but the Ark of God dwelleth with in Curtains 2. Sam. 7. v. 2. So I can in no wise approve of in my Mind I speak here after my judgment and also I think according to the Spirit of God That where some of the Substantial and Rich People have dwelling House and Rooms of their own altogether or Sufficiently large for the number of People that they should save and prefer the●● it may be for Entertainments and making provision for the flesh and in the mean while suffer the Word of the Mi●● High God to be Preached in an Old and Rotten Barn 〈◊〉 profess seriously that when I have seen this it hath been matter of secret Indignation and vexation to me for 〈◊〉 would have nothing done on this Earth by the Inhebitants thereof which should in the least savour or make shew of Enmity against or despising of the Great and I●●●sible God whose Word is there Preached and whose Worship is there used I do again speak after my Judgment i● would seem better if the Members of the Respectve Congregations did offer willingly to make the place just decen● without Sumptuousness on the one hand or Sordid meaness on the other It was a good Mind and Resolution when David said unto Araunah Nay but I will surely it buy of thee at a pria neither will I offer burnt-offerings unto the Lord my God 〈◊〉 that which hath cost me nothing 2. Sam. 24. v. 24. A● the same should be drawn forth into Example and Imitatio● by the other Saints and Servants of God they should in 〈◊〉 wise content themselves to serve God with a Religion which hath cost them nothing I say and I will prove it 〈◊〉 our of the Scriptures of Truth that even day labourers 〈◊〉 Vine-dressers yea the poorest and meanest of the People should no wise content themselves to serve God with a Rel●gion which cost them nothing Let him that stole steal no more but rather let him labour working with his hands the thing which is good that he may have to give to him that needeth Eph. 4. 28. From hence it appears that those in the Ordinary and most mean Employments are to dispose and Give in Alms what is more then satisfieth themselves Even this Command extends to those who were so Poor as they before were forced to steal to serve their own necessities And so from the Reason of that General and Indefinite Command to all People Thou shalt not appear Empty before the Lord thy God and in their Offerings every one was to do according to their several Ability They that could not goe to the Price of a Lamb were to give a Turtle or two young Pigeons and by what is said in the Gospel of her that cast in two mites into the Treasury which makes a farthing from the like and same proportion and Analogy of things It may be surely gathered That the Lord doth require and Expect that All High and Low Rich and Poor who serve him should Minister somewhat unto him of their Substance and should serve him with that which costs them something whither it be a farthing Penny twelve pence or more Each Person according to his Ability Whatever is more then the necessity and conveniency of his Family should be cast into the Offerings of God to be distributed or expended towards the Place where his Worship is called on for the maintenance of his Ministers for the relief of his Poor Saints and Servants for Good works as is the Publishing or Propogation of his Eternal Truth or such like It is Observable that though the Apostle Paul did Breach the Gospel freely in divers places and he saith himself He robbed other Churches taking wages of them to do you service 2. Cor. 11. 8. Yet he all a long speaks and pleads for the lawfulness and justifiableness to accept of and receive the free Offerings of Christian People for his Preaching and Ministery of the Gospel Who goeth to Warfare any tims at his own charges Who planteth a Vineyard and eateth not of the fruit thereof or who feedeth a Flock and eateth not of the milk of the Flock If we have sown unto you Spiritual things is it a great matter that we shall reap your carnal things If others be partakers of this Power o-over you Are we not rather Nevertheless we have not used this Power but suffer all things lest we should hinder the Gospel of Christ Do ye not know that they which Minister about Holy things live of the things of the Temple and they which wait at the Altar are partakers at the Altar Even so hath the Lord Ordained that they which Preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel But I have used none of these things 1. Cor. 9. 11 12 13 14. By which last Speech and his aforesaying we have not used this Power but suffer all thinge lest we should hinder the Gospel of Christ is shewed forth his own good mind that he sought the furtherance of the Gospel and the good of souls more then his own private Ends or Gain And so where any one will not forbear Preaching though nothing be ministered to him for the same and they that are taught is the Word do not communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things Gal. 6. 6. Which would be according to the Apostolical Rule nevertheless he doth not matter or regard or at least not so much as desist refrain or be less diligent in that God Duty whither he hath any thing for it or not this is a certain sign and Evidence that such a one doth not Teach 〈◊〉 hire nor Divine for Money Micah 3 11. That is he doth 〈◊〉 make it his Principal Ultimate or only End for this is the thing here Reproved it being no sin as appears from the afore quoted place out of the Corinthians if it be not necessarily required but only freely offered and willingly contributed by the People He that doth put a difference and shew a difference Eze● 22. 26. Or doth well distinguish he doth rightly Teach i● the

of the heart of thy People that it might be well with them and with their Children for ever This is also brought in upon a good Mood and Temper of the People when they were in an Obedient frame of Spirit unto the Lord God When they had said unto Moses Speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee and we will hear it and do it and the Lord hereupon answered They have well said in all that they have spoken A very good Commendation of our God unto his Creatures But the cream of the matter is They have well said if they will hold unto it and thereupon God himself Wishes and desires for it is expressed after the manner of Men O that there were such a Heart in them that they would fear me and keep all my Commandments alwayes By which kind of Speech and Expression he doth foresee and mistrust That that Good Resolution of theirs which was in them would be Temporary sudden Goe off and pass away again as truly so it did And truly it is so whither we Preach or Pray never so much That all good things the Great Truths of God all Faith and all Knowledge the sence of his Name and Obedience to all the Words of his Law may be kept for ever in the Imagination of the Thoughts of our Hearts that in the day of tryal and hour of temptation we may have all along at the very same Time a Divine Overruling Thought which may resist the Temptation and keep and determine unto God and Duty Yet still nevertheless it is sensible and Experienced that these things are not kept for ever in the Imagination of the thoughts of our hearts I have often wished and desired for my self Pray Let your hearts also go along with me herein O that I were alwayes and for ever such towards God as I am sometimes in my most Devout and Solemn Approaches unto him in Prayer or 〈◊〉 his Ordinance of Hearing his Word that I had alwayes the same Reverence Godly fear and Horrour and Dre●● of the Deity when I am walking about or sitting still a I have sometimes upon my bended knees That I had the some constant Gravity seriousness and trembling of Spirit in the midst of Life Health and Prosperity and when thing go most according to wish as I have upon the apprehension of any great danger or under affliction or as I shall have when I come to lye upon the Bed of last sickness and dying It is Impossible to recall or vain to wish for as to what is past But O that I might for all the few and Evil dayes remaining of my Pilgrimage throughout all my succeeding Life have that constant Universal Obedience Honor and Preferring of God above things as I shall indeed desire that I had had when I come to think my last just as whe● I shall perceive that I am yeilding up the Ghost and surrendring up my Spirit to the God that gave it O that my Spirit may now henceforth and for ever so Obey and be give up unto the Father of the Spirits of all flesh as she will reflect and wish she had done when she shall be Summoned to appear before him And she is to take her flight into the Invisible World O that I did so want on God all 〈◊〉 day Psal 25. 3. And was in the fear of Lord all 〈◊〉 long Prov 23. 17. As I have sometimes for two or three Hours together in a Morning As it is written in Jude 19. These be sensual having not the Spirit So I have too often observed and experienced that after my too full Meals I have been damped and for a time lost that sence of God and Spiritual Things which before I had O that I might therefore so Eat Drink to his Glory that I might be near the same in the midst of or immediately after receiving of my necessary and moderate Food as I was before And so It should hold in the other circumstances and Conditions of Life to keep this for ever in the Imagination of the Thoughts of our heart whither Sleeping or Waking in labour or Idle when we sit in our House or when we walk and journey in the way and when we lye down or rise up in a Word whatever our hand findeth to doe or whatever we are Imployed about I say again This still is to be kept for ever in the Imagination of the Thoughts of our hearts even to keep the Commandments the Testimonies and the Statutes of the Lord God David here rightly Prays that the Lord would keep this in the Imagination of the Thoughts of our hearts for as it is written Except the Lord keep the City the Watch and watcheth but in vain Psal 127. 〈◊〉 So except the Lord keep our heart all our keeping of them is in vain notwithstanding it is commanded keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the Issues of Life The Scripture is no where not in the least inconsistent with it self but the Truth of the Matter seems to stand on this wise we are first to Pray unto God Immediately to keep our hearts and having so done we are to endeavour after the same as much as ever we can our selves For we learn evidently from what is written We then as Workers together with him beseech you also that yo receive not the Grace of God in vain 2. Cor. 〈◊〉 1. Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his Good pleasure Phil. 2. 12 13 Whereunto I also labour striving according to his Working which worketh in me mightily Col. 1. 29. That there is a Power and Ability implanted in and given unto man by God the Creator to Work together with his Grace It should be a constant rule that whatsoever we are commanded or directed to pray for or whatever we do pray for we should indeavour after it our selves Whereunto I also labour striving according to his working which worketh in me mightily Even so we should labour and strive after the same thing And so to our present case we should pray unto God in the first place to keep this still in the Imagination of the thoughts of our hearts and then indeavour labour and strive according to whatever we can to do so our selves That it is the Particular Province and Prerogative of Almighty God to keep the hearts of the children of Men We have the Scriptures affirming in divers places for the Lords Vineyard is the hearts of Men For the Vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the House of Israel Isa 5. 7. And we Read there how he Fenced it and Gathered out the Stems thereof and planted it with the choicest Vine and built a Tower in the midst of it and also made a Wine-press therein In that day Sing ye unto her A Vineyard of Red Wine I the Lord do keep it I will