Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A30920
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Sermons upon several texts of Scripture by George Barker ...
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Barker, George, B.D.
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1697
(1697)
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Wing B768; ESTC R22629
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136,325
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300
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its being and its bounds Now if Gods Love and goodness be Infinite they must be Universall because what is Infinite is as great as great can be and can have nothing greater then its self but a love and goodness which do extend to all are certainly greater then these which extend only to some few Objection But if God's Love and goodness be Universall then it must needs work towards all and if it do so then all must be benefited by it Answer 1st It s true all are benefited by it for from this love of God all receive their being and Life the conveniencies and comforts of this life more or less the meanes whereby they may be advanced to and assured of a better whatever hearts they have to make use of these means whatever Wisdom and grace and comfort any receive in the consciencious use of these means 2dly That some are not more advantaged by this Love and Goodness it is not because this Love and Goodness is a wanting to them but they are a wanting to it and their own intrests For men are not capable of the highest Communications of love and goodness till first they be fitted for them and the fitting for these being a work of Common grace is carried on by such a power in such a way as is resistible for though a Man cannot quicken and save himself yet without doubt he having free Will enough to do evill he may destroy and ruine himself he may Resist that grace which he is obliged and concerned to follow and which if he did follow so far as he may and ought it would lead him to an higher degree of grace which would lead him unto happiness Object If God love all then he must hate none yet the Scripture Declares that he hates some The covetous the Lord abhors Ps 10. 3. The wicked and him that loves Violence his Soul hates Psl 11. 5. Answ God while he hates and threatens and punishes them still loves them he loves the Person whilest he detests the vice he loves them as they are his creatures as they continue what he has made them and hates them onely as they have marred themselves and indeed it is Gods love to them which makes him hate them for he onely hates them as they are enemies to themselves as well as him and all Gods threatenings and punishments unto the worst of men during this life have a naturall Subserviency to reclaim them from those principles and practises which are opposite unto their interests and distructive unto their Souls God by his Judgments endeavours to imbitter unto them all Sinfull habitts and acts that hereby he may cause them to cast them off with detestation saying get ye hence If any thing take men off from the pleasure of Sin it must be feeling the Smart which it occasions And this Universall love and goodness is in God one of his Cheif perfections we may well count it so when the wise God who knowes how to set a due estimate upon every excellency does give the precedency to this Hence 1st He delights most in it now every one delights most in that which best suits him and he apprehends most good in If therefore the all-knowing God be not mistaken in his apprehensions that must have the greatest goodness in it the enjoyment whereof excites in him the highest pleasure Now its goodness and the exercise of it that God most delights in and he proclaims it to all that he is for this I am the Lord which exercise loving kindness c. For in these things I delight Jer. 9. 24. As if he should Say If I have any delight at all and sure we cannot suppose the ever blessed God to be without that wherein the main of a Christians happiness does consist it is in such things This is a noble pleasure which doth not the least unbecome him who is accomplished with the highest excellencies Mic. 7. 18. He delights in mercy mercy is but this love of God exercised towards a sinfull miserable creature and God delights in mercy as every thing delights in doing that which is most agreeable to its inclinations which it is most used to and does with the greatest ease with the least reluctancy what it is every way the most perfect in 2dly He glories most of it and truely he is but of a very weak Judgment who being endowed with many excellencies pitches upon one of the meanest and lowest to make his boast of and prizes himself most for that which is of the least worth When Moses had a great desire to see Gods glory and God was willing to comply with him in this desire he onely tels him I le make all my goodness pass before thee Exod. 33. 19 And God who best knew his own excellencies and the true value of each when he had a mind to display them in their greatest lustre and to become his own Herald in setting forth his most glorious titles insists upon those most which speaks love and goodness under their different habitudes and opperations Exod. 34. 6. The Lord God merciful and gracious longsuffering and abundent in goodness and truth keeping mercy for thousands forgiving c. As Musitians meeting with a pleasant note discant and quaver most on that 3dly He is most exercised in it Love and goodness runs through all Gods providences which are but a texture of Goodness Wisdom and Power But that which makes up most of the providence and is most conspicuous in it is goodness wheras the wisdom of it is not descernable but by a peircing eye and upon a close veiw Men are most exercised in that which either they take most pleasure in it best agreeing with their inclinations or they expect most glory from it serving to display their cheif excellency Now certainly what the most perfect being takes greatest pleasure in must have in it the highest perfection what the most wise being Judges matter of the highest Glory sure has the greatest worth in it All the paths as well as wayes of the Lord are mercy and truth Ps 25. 10. The Church takes notice of nothing so much in all Gods providences about her as his mercy and goodness Ps 136. 1. 26. He is good his mercy endures for ever She thought that whatever else there was in providence there was enough of this she thought also she could give no higher commendations unto providence then to say their was much of mercy in it View but all Gods works from the begining to the end his work of Creation Conservasion Gubernation Redemption Sanctification Glorification some of which all men are concerned in and better for and you shall find a continued vein of goodness run through all 4thly He does most concerne himself to promote this in the world Now every thing dos most endeavour to communicate that which it most excells in thus the fire diffuses its heat the Sun disperses its light every thing by generation multiplys its owne peculiar
themselves into any Sorrow or trouble they have no need of to run upon any snare or danger which he cannot bring them through without losse 3ly To look unto God for Counsell in the case Out of a reall sense the business we have in hand needs to be managed with wisdome especially when it is of difficulty and importance for the best wisdome of a Creature the most Improved and deliberate is not to be trusted to but shortsighted easily imposed upon subject to mistakes Be therefore often lifting up the heart to him in Sincere breathings earnest desires for his Counsell 4ly To rest quietly in a confident Expectation of seasonable directions from him notwithstanding the perplexity of the Case our own present darkness and irresolution Making it our only care and endeavour to walk before him in the uprightness of our heart and to do those things which are most pleasing in his eyes Now thus to trust in the Lord is 1st The duty of Gods people what theâ— ought to do and they safely may He is be able to counsell none like him a wonderfulâ— Counseller Es 9. 6. He is furnished with Knowledge Wisdome Faithfullness he see observes considers understands all things with their consequences and causes he is engaged to Counsell his goodness engages him this will not suffer poor ones hoodwinked to run upon their own ruine His truth engages him he must be as good as his word He has promised to guide the meek c. Psal 25. 12. To bring the Blind by a way they know not c. Es 42. 16. Thine eare shall heare a word behind the c. Es 30. 21. He has used to Counsell and help he is unto us wisdom 2ly They necessarily must he Commands them to do it If any lack wisdome let him ask it of God Jam. 5. He blames them that they will not but my People would not hearken Ps 81. 11. They would have none of my Counsell Prov. 1. 30. Wo to them that take Counsell but not of me c. Es 30. 1. 3ly Accordingly we find it has been the practice of Gods People the Children of Israel Judges 20. 18. 23. 28. Of David 1. Sam. 23. 2. 11. 4ly Nay even wicked men enquire of him as Saul 1. Sam. 28. 6. Ahab 4. Kings 22. 5. 6. 5ly Neglect of this has brought inconveniencies Joshua 9. 14. But why is it a duty 1st Every one is bound to order his affaires the best he can to the reall and eternall advantage of his Soul Which he cannot do without the Counsell of God who alone is able to discerne what makes for or against this And this he is not to expect without seeking for and none will truly seek for it that do's not trust in the Lord for it We little know how much depends upon a seeming small matter How far we may lose our selves by going a little wrong What hazards we may run not onely of our Comforts but of our happyness by a little folly a small Neglect of wisdom how deare it may cost us 2ly It is a doing God right owning his wisdome that he is the onely wise God only able throughly to direct to give us wholsome Counsell and also own his Goodness that he may be relyed upon his Advise Followed without dispute or danger obeying the call of his providence when we know not what to do yet to have our eyes towards him God oft brings his People into labyrinths where they cannot get well in or out that they may the more Earnestly apply themselves to him for direction 3ly It is following the inclination of a gracious heart which has been taught all along the desperate folly and weakness of the Creature and trained up to live upon the Wisdome and power of God It is our Concernment too for 1st Without good Counsell we shall not be able to order our affaires so as to decline those cares Troubles snares and temptations which will very much hinder us in the way to true life Righteousness peace and Joy And this is the main thing we ought to have Speciall care of we have many matters to resolve on in our lives upon which do's Exceedingly depend the comfort and welfare of our Souls Which we may easily order so out of our own ignorance or folly as to gain to our selves everlasting occasion of repentance I might instance in some particulars but I shall chuse rather to leaue it to your understanding 2ly There is no Counsell safe but what we have from God upon serious seeking to him for direction endeavouring to get our hearts brought wholly to this passe to desire nothing but what may be at least Consistent with the good of our own Souls and of our Brethrens if not subservient to it We may easily deceive our selves and may be deceived by others but God neither can nor will deceive us if we do but with honest hearts say Lord teach us to do thy will Nay it is usuall with God to bring to naught the wisdome of the wise and when they trust in their own discretion or that of others They will then play the fool egregiously 3ly However none are like to be so every way advantageous as those that ask Counsell of God men may stumble upon such Advice as possibly may do no great harm But is an hundred to one whether it may do any great good they think it is Fair if they secure the Main their narrow eye can but fix upon one or two particulars cannot survey alltogether cannot see so far as the tendencies of matters with clearness much less foresee the results and Consequences But Gods allseeing eye throughly discernes all Circumstances all that are all that will be his Searchingmind enquires and considers what is not only for the main chance but what for each ones interest not onely what is safe what good but what is best Not onely what is best for those primarily and principally concerned but even for all others who should be considered As this is our duty and Concernment at all times so most of all in some Particular cases as 1st In matters of difficulty where conveniencies and Inconveniencies on either side are apparent enough But what is the most Considerable it is not so easy to resolve no not when we have most seriously debated in our own thoughts deliberately consulted with others 2ly In matters of consequence 1st When many are concerned not onely we our selves but others and that no few and those whom our Affections and duties incline and oblige us to consider 2ly And that nearely when not onely the Cheif comforts of this life come under debate which are not altogether inconsiderable and those concerned not at a distance neither But also the everlasting Joyes of Heaven 3ly Lastingly when whatever is done be it Advantageous or prejudiciall cannot be mended but must continue Vse 1st Then they do not onely sinfully but foolishly Who do not wholly Trust in the Lord for direction in