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	scripture_n	word_n	9,016	5	4.5069	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30128	Christian behaviour, or, The fruits of true Christianity shewing the ground from whence they flow in their godlike order in the duty of relations, as husbands, wives, parents, children, masters, servants &c. : with a word of direction to all backsliders / by John Bunyan.	Bunyan, John, 1628-1688.	1663 (1663)	Wing B5492; ESTC R14817	52,342	160

14 15 16 17 18 Instead of which thou feelest darkness hardness of heart and the thoughts o● God are terrible to thee Psal. 77. 3 now God never visits thee or if h● doth it is but as a wayfaring-man th● tarryeth but for a night Jer. 14 8 9. This also brings to mind how the case 〈◊〉 altered with thee touching thy confidence in God for thy future happiness ●ow uncertain thou now art of thy hopes for Heaven how much this life doth ●ang in doubt before thee Deut. 28. 65 66. 2. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent These are words well put together for a solid considering of what I have lost in my declining will provoke in my heart a sorrow and godly heaviness whereby I shall be forced to bemoan my condition and say I will go and return to my first Husband for then it was better with me than now Hos. 2. 7. And beleive it the reason of God's standing off from giving thee comfortable communion with himself it is that thou mightest first see the difference between sticking close to God and forsaking of him and next that thou mightest indeed acknowledge thy offence and seek his face Hos. 5. 15. he taketh no pleasure in thy forlorn condition he had rather thou shouldst have Him in thy bosome only he will have it i● his own Way He looketh down upon men and if any say I have sinned and perverted that which is right and i● profiteth me not then he will deliver his soul from going down into the Pit and his life shall see the Light Job 33. 27 28. 3. Remember from whence thou art fallen and repent and do thy first Works As there should be a remembring and a repenting so there should be a hearty doing our first Works a believing as before a laying hold of the things of Heaven and Glory as at the first for now is God returned to thee as before Zech. 1. 16. and though thou mayest through the loss of thy locks with Sampson be weak at the first yet in short time thy hair will grow again that is thy former experience will in short space be as long large and strong as in the former times indeed at the first thou wilt find all the wheels of thy soul rusty and all the strings of thy heart out 〈◊〉 tune as also when thou first beginnest to stir the dust and filth of thy ●art will like smoak trouble thee ●m that clear beholding the Grace of thy God and his Love to thy Soul ●t yet wait and go on and though you findest thy self as unable to do ●y thing as thou formerly couldst ●t I say up and be doing and the ●ord will be with thee for he hath ●t despised the day of thy small things 〈◊〉 Chron. 22. 16. Zech. 4. 10. I know thou wilt be afflicted with a thousand temptations to drive thee to despair that thy Faith may be faint c. ●t against all them set thou the Word 〈◊〉 God the Promise of Grace the blood of Christ and the Examples of God's Goodness to the great Back●●ders that are for thy encouragement ●corded in the Scriptures of Truth ●d remember that turning to God ●er back-sliding is the greatest piece 〈◊〉 service thou canst do for him and 〈◊〉 greatest honour thou canst bring to 〈◊〉 Blood of Christ and know further that God to shew his willing re●ception of so unworthy a creature saith There shall be joy in Heaven at thy Co●●version to him again Luke 15. 7 10. To Conclude If thou yet notwistanding wh● hath been said dost remain a Bac●●slider First Then remember that tho● must die and remember also th● when the Terrours of God ● Death and a Backslidden hear● meet together there will be s● work in that Soul this is the m● who hangeth tilting over the mou● of Hell while Death is cutting t● thred of his life Secondly Remember that thou● God doth sometimes yea ofte● receive Backsliders yet it is n● alwayes so Some draw back 〈◊〉 ●erdition for because they have ●ung up God and would none of ●im he in Justice flings up them ●nd their Souls for ever Prov. 1. 24 ●5 26 27 28. I have observed that sometimes God as it were in revenge for in●ry done him doth snatch away ●oules in the very nick of their ●acksliding as he served Lot's ●ife when he turned her into a Pil●r of Salt even while she was ●oking over her shoulder to So●om Gen. 19. 26. an example that ●very Backslider should remember ●ith astonishment Luke 17. 32. Thus have I in few words writ●en to you before I die a word 〈◊〉 provoke you to Faith and Holi●ess because I desire that you may ●ave the Life that is laid up for all them that believe in the Lord Jesus and love one anothe● when I am deceased though ther● I shall rest from my labours an● be in Paradise as through Grac● I comfortably believe yet it is no● there but here I must do yo● good wherefore I not knowin● the shortness of my life nor th● hinderance that hereafter I ma● have of serving my God and you● I have taken this opportunity t● present these few lines unto you fo● your edification Farewel From my place of Confineme● in Bedford this 17th the 4th Month 1663. THE END Prison-Meditations Directed to the Heart of SUFFERING SAINTS And REIGNING SINNERS By JOHN BUNYAN a Prisoner 〈◊〉 FRiends I salute you in the Lord and wish you may abound 〈◊〉 faith and love that you may ward your selves from Satans wound 〈◊〉 Friends write to me that I would hold my Head above the Flood ●nd I do wish you also bold in holding fast the good 〈◊〉 I am indeed in Prison now in Body but my Mind 〈◊〉 free to study Christ and how unto me he is kind 4. For though men keep my outward man within their locks and bars Yet by the Faith of Christ I can mount higher than the 〈◊〉 5. Their Fetters cannot Spirits tame nor tie up God from me My Faith and Hope they cannot lame above them I shall be 6. I here am very much refresht to think when I was out I preached Life and Peace and Rest to Sinners round about 7. My business then was souls to save by preaching Grace and Faith Of which the comfort now I have and have it shall till death 8. They were no Fables that I taught devil'd by cunning men But God's own Word by which were caught some sinners how and then 9. Whose souls by it were made to see the evil of their sin And need of Christ to make them free from death which they were in 10. And now those very hearts that then were foes unto the Lord Embrace his Christ and Truth like men conquered by his Word 11. I hear them sigh and groan and cry for grace to God above They loath their sin and to it die t is holiness they love 12. This was the work I was about when hands on me

shal hear of all these statut● and say This great Nation is a wise 〈◊〉 understanding People Deut. 4. 6. The Third Observation Every Believer should not only take ●●ed that their works be good and so for 〈◊〉 present do them but should careful●● study to maintain them that is to ●●ep in a continual exercise of them It is an easier matter to begin to do ●od than it is to continue therein and 〈◊〉 reason is there is not so much of 〈◊〉 Christians cross in the beginning of a ●ork as there is in a continual hearty ●●nscientious practice thereof There●●●e Christians have need as to be pres●●● to do good so to continue the work ●an by nature is rather a hearer than a ●er Athenian like continually listing after some new thing seeing ma●y things but observing nothing Acts 〈◊〉 20 Isa. 42. 20. It is observable that ●er Christ had divided his hearers into ●●u parts he condemned three of them 〈◊〉 fruitless hearers Luke 8. 5 6 7 8. ●h it is hard continuing believing con●●nuing loving continuing resisting all that opposeth we are subject to be we●ry of well-doing Gal. 6. 9. to pluck o● right eyes to cut of right hands 〈◊〉 right feet is no pleasant thing to fle●● and blood and yet none but these sh●● have the Promise of Life because no● but these will be found to have the effectual work of God's Grace in their soul● If ye continue in my Word then are you 〈◊〉 Disciples indeed Mat. 18. 8 9. 24. 〈◊〉 John 8. 31. And hence it is that you 〈◊〉 so many ifs in the Scripture about me● happiness as if you be Sons then He●● and if you continue in the Faith and we hold the beginning of our confiden● stedfast to the end Rom. 8. 17. Col. 1. 2● Heb. 3. 14. not that their continuing the way of God is the cause of the 〈◊〉 being right but the work being right ca●seth the continuance therein As 〈◊〉 saith in another place They went out 〈◊〉 us because they were not of us for had 〈◊〉 been of us no doubt saith he they 〈◊〉 have continued with us 1 John 2. 19. But I say where the work of God 〈◊〉 deed is savingly begun even there 〈◊〉 corruption and the body of death ●oppose it Therefore should Christi●●s take heed and look that against these ●●posites they maintain a continual ●●urse of Good Works among men Besides as there is that in our own ●●wels that opposeth goodness so there is 〈◊〉 Tempter the wicked one both to ●●imate these lusts and to joyn with ●●em in every assault against every ap●●rance of God in our souls And hence ●is that he is called the Devil the Ene●● the Destroyer and him that seeks con●●nually to devour us 1 Pet. 5. 8. I need say no more but this He that ●ill walk like a Christian indeed as he ●all find it is requisit that he continue 〈◊〉 Good Works so his continuing there●● will be opposed if therefore he will ●●ntinue therein he must make it his ●●finess to study how to oppose those ●at oppose such a life that he may con●●nue therein Now then to help in this here fitly ●●mes in the last Observation to wit 〈◊〉 That the best way both to provoke our selves and others to Good Works it 〈◊〉 be often affirming to others The Doc●●● of Justification by Grace and to believ● our selves This is a faithful Saying 〈◊〉 these things I will that thou affirm const●●●ly that those which have believed in 〈◊〉 might be careful to maintain Good Work●● I told you before that Good Works 〈◊〉 flow from Faith and now I tell 〈◊〉 that the best way to be fruitful in th●● is to be much in the exercise of the ●●●ctrine of Justification by Grace and 〈◊〉 both agree for as Faith animate● Good Works so the Doctrine of Grace ●●●mates Faith Wherefore the way t● rich in Good Works it is to be ric● Faith and the way to be rich in Fa●● is to be conscientiously affirming the ●●●ctrine of Grace to others and believing 〈◊〉 our selves First To be constantly affirming i● others Thus Paul tells Timothy th●● he put the Brethren in mind of the Tr●● of the Gospel he himself should not ●●●ly be a good Minister of Christ but sh●●● be nourished up in the words of Faith 〈◊〉 of good Doctrine 1 Tim. 4. 6. It is the Ordinance of God that Chri●●●ans should be often asserting the things 〈◊〉 God each to others and that by their 〈◊〉 doing they should edifie one ano●●●r Heb. 10. 24 25. 1 Thes. 5. 11. The Doctrine of the Gospel is like the 〈◊〉 and the small Rain that distilleth ●n the tender grass wherewith it doth ●rish and is kept green Deut. 32. 1● Christians are like the several flowers 〈◊〉 Garden that have upon each of them 〈◊〉 Dew of Heaven which being sha●● with the Wind they let fall their 〈◊〉 at each others roots whereby they 〈◊〉 joyntly nourished and become nou●ers of one another For Christians to commune savorily of 〈◊〉 's matters one with another it is as ●hey opened to each others Nostrils ●●es of perfume Saith Paul to the ●●rch at Rome I long to see you that I 〈◊〉 impart unto you some spiritual Gift to ●nd you may be established that is that 〈◊〉 be comforted together with you by the ●●al Faith both of you and me Rom 1. ●●2 Christians should be often affirm●●● the Doctrine of Grace and Justification 〈◊〉 it one to another Secondly As they should be thus do●ing so they should live in the power of i● themselves they should by Faith suc● and drink in this Doctrine as the goo● ground receiveth the Rain which bein● done forthwith there is proclaimed G●● Works Paul to the Colossians saith th●● We give thanks to God and the Father our Lord Jesus Christ praying alwayes f●● you since we heard of your Faith in the L●● Jesus and love to all the Saints 〈◊〉 the hope which is laid up in Heaven for y●● whereof ye heard before in the Word of 〈◊〉 Truth of the Gospel which is come un●● you as it is also in all the World and brin●●eth forth fruit as it doth also in you 〈◊〉 how long ago Why since the day ye h●● it saith he and knew the Grace of God Truth Col. 1. 3 4 5 6. Aples and Flowers are not made the Gardner but are an effect of 〈◊〉 planting and watering plant in the ●●●ner good Doctrine and let it be wa●●●d with the Word of Grace and as the effect of that there is the fruits of Holiness and the end everlasting Life Rom. 6. 22. Good Doctrine is the Doctrine of the Gospel which sheweth to men that God cloatheth them with the * Righteousness of his Son freely and maketh him with ●ll his benefits over to them by which free gift the sinner is made righteous be●ore God and because he is so there●ore there is infused a principle of Grace * ●nto the heart whereby

was Israels Idolatry of old and the original of all her idolatrous practices Hos. 2. 5. For their Mother hath played the Harlot that is committed idolatry she that conceived them hath done shamefully for she said I will go after my lovers that gave me my bread and my waters my wool and my flax my oyl and my drink 3. It disalloweth of God's way of disposing his Creatures and would have them ordered and disposed of otherwise then his heavenly Wisdom seeth meet and hence ariseth all those discontents about God's dealing with us Covetousness never yet said It is the lord let him do what he pleaseth but is ever objecting like God against every thing that goeth against it and it is that which like a god draweth away the heart and soul from the true God and his Son Jesus Christ And he went away sorrowful for he had great possessions Mat. 19. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22. Now then that which engageth the heart that rejecteth the providence of God and that is for ordering and disposing of things contrary to God and for breaking with God upon these terms is Idolatry and all these do Covetousness The wicked boasteth of his hearts desire and blesseth the covetous whom the Lord abhorreth Psal. 10. 3. Now the way to remedy this disease it is to learn the lesson which Paul had got by heart to wit In whatsoever state you are therewith to be content Phil. 4. 11 12 13. I come in the second place to speak a word of Pride and loftiness of heart and life Of Pride 1. Pride in general it is That which causeth a man to think of man and his things above what is written 1 Cor. 4. 6. 2. It hath its seat in the heart among these inormities Fornications Adulteries Lasciviousness Murders Deceit c. Mark 7. 21 22 23. and sheweth it self in these following particulars First When you slight this or that person though gracious that is look over them and shun them for their poverty in this world and chuse rather to have converse with others that possibly are less gracious because of their greatness in this World This the Apostle James writes against Jam. 2. 1 2 3. under the name of partiality for indeed the fruits of a puffed-up heart is to deal in this manner with Christians 1 Cor. 4. 6 7. Now this branch of Pride floweth from ignorance of the vanity of the creature and of the worth of a gracious heart Wherefore get more of the knowledge of these two and this sprig will be nipt in the head and you will learn to condescend to men of low degree Rom. 12. 16. Secondly It argueth pride of heart when men will not deny themselves in things that they may for the good and profit of their Neighbours And it argueth now that pride is got so much up into self-love and self-pleasing that they little care who they grieve or offend so they may have their way Obad. 12. 13 14 15. Thirdly It argueth pride of heart when sober reproofs for sin and unbeseeming carriages will not down with thee but that rather thou snuffest and givest way to thy spirit to be peevish and to retain prejudice against those that thus reprove thee Saith the Prophet hear ye and give ear be not proud for the Lord hath spoken that is hear the reproofs of God for your sins and break them off by repentance But if ye will not hear my soul shall weep in secret for your Pride c. Jer. 13. 15 16 17. So also in Hosea They will not frame their doing to turn unto their God for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them they have not known the Lord and the pride of Israel doth testifie to his face c. Hos. 5. 4 5. This argueth great senslesness of God and a heart greatly out of frame Fourthly It argueth Pride also when a reproof or admonition will not down aswell from the poorest Saint as from the greatest Doctor and it argueth a glorying in men 1 Cor. 3. 21. and that they would that their faith should stand in their wisdom and not in the Power of God that is of naked Truth 1 Cor. 2. 5. Fifthly It argueth pride of heart when a man that hath this or that in his heart to do in reference to God but yet will slight a sober asking counsel and direction of God in this matter The wicked through the pride of his countenance will not seek after God saith David Psal. 10. 4. Sixthly It argueth pride of heart when persons are tickled with the thoughts of their own praise and that secretly lust after it that think of themselves and others above what is written which those do who do not acknowledge that man in his best estate is altogether vanity But such kind of people have forgot the Exhortation Be not high minded but fear Rom. 11. 20. And also that there is a knowledge that puffeth up and edifieth neither themselves nor others 1 Cor. 8. 1 2. Wherefore to such the Apostle saith Be not desirous of vain glory but in holiness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves Phil. 2. 3. Gal. 5. 26. Pride also there is in the outward carriage behaviour and Gesture which is odious for Christians to be tainted with and this pride is discovered by mincing words a made carriage and an affecting the toyes and baubles that Satan and every light-headed fool bringeth into the world As God speaketh of the Daughters of Zion They walk with stretched-out necks wanton eyes mincing as they go and making a tinckling with their feet Isa. 3. 16. A very unhansome carriage for a people that profess Godliness and that use to come before God to confess their sins and to bemove themselves for what they have done How can a sence of thy own baseness of the vileness of thy heart and of the holiness of God stand with such a carriage dost thou see the vileness of thy heart the fruit of sin and art thou afflicted with that disagreement that is between God and thy heart that layest the reins on the neck of thy lusts and letest them run whither they will Be not deceived Pride ariseth from ignorance of these things 1 Tim. 6. 3 4. A sense of my vileness of what I have deserved and of what continually in my heart opposeth God cannot stand with a foolish light and wanton carriage thou wilt then see there is other things to mind than to imitate the Butter-fly alas all these kind of things are but a painting the Devil and a setting a carnal gloss upon a Castle of his thou art but making gay the spider is thy heart ever the sounder for thy fine gate thy mincing words and thy lofty looks nay doth not this argue that thy heart is a rotten cankered and besotted heart Oh! that God would but let thee see a little of thy own inside as thou hast others to behold thy outside thou painted Sepulchre thou