Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	goodness_n	lord_n	mercy_n	3,985	5	6.6454	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A11604	The sick souls salue. By William Sclater. Batchelar of Diuinity and minister of the word of God at Pitmister in Somerset	Sclater, William, 1575-1626.	1612 (1612)	STC 21845; ESTC S116861	21,761	40

of his own sonnes blood is not so prodigally bestowed Now this first distresse is vsually strengthned by three other particulars 1. Greatnesse of transgressions 2. Long continuance in a course of sinning 3. Our own indisposition to partake forgiuenesse For greatnesse of sinne we haue n Gen. 4.13 Cains instance And though the issue be better in Gods children then in the brood of Cain yet the distresse it selfe is incident to Gods dearest servants And herein alas how wittie and even Rhetoricall are Gods children to aggravate theire infirmities still they will be finding out somewhat wherein their sinnes haue exceeded the sinnes of others to which the Lord hath granted pardon It is true they confesse o 1. Tim. 1.13 Paule a blaspheamer a persecutour was receaued to mercy but what he did be did ignorantly through vnbeleefe I against my knowledge and conscience Peter sinned grievously p Mat. 26.75 but wept bitterly my heart is so hardned that not one teare can be wrung out for my many sinnes Manasses shed much blood but in his tribulation q Par. 33.12.13 he prayed earnestly and humbled himselfe greatly before the Lord God of his Fathers I besides a few cold wishes and a little hanging downe the head after the guise of those Hypocrites Isa 58. find no such thing in my selfe The sinne which the Lord would hereby chasten and prevent is our former extenuations and sleight esteeme of the offence of God we were wont to say of our sins as Lot of Zoar r Gen. 19.20 are they not little ones and our soule may liue Oathes say profane men perhaps we haue said too what are they but words and words but winde Scoffing and fabling wanton speech but merry talke Profane sports honest recreations grosser enormities humane frailties The Lord would now teach thee otherwise to esteeme sins to weigh them in the ballance of the sanctuary not of thine owne fancy and perhaps the sins thou formerlie thoughtest little are nowe felt as a burthen too heavy for thee to beare The remedies are these First humble thy selfe before the great God whose offence thou hast so lightly esteemed pray God to forgiue this thought of thy hart that ever thou hast thought any sin little and resolue hereafter to make conscience as well of smaller as of greater sins knowing that thou art ſ Mat. 12.36 countable for the least even to an idle word When thou hast this done consider then the endlesnes of Gods mercy in Christ Iesus view the t Eph 3.18 height and depth and length and breadth those immense dimensions of Gods grace and loue in Christ Heare the Lord himselfe describing himselfe to Moses u Ex. 34 6 7. The Lord the Lord strong mercifull and gracious slow to anger abundant in goodnesse and truth reseruing mercy for thousands forgiuing iniquitie and sin c. So many attributes of mercy and grace so few of power and iustice what argue they but almost a greater propension to shew mercy then to execute iudgement Heare the Apostle * 2. Cor 1.3 God the father of mercies againe God which is rich in mercy Heare Isay x Isai 55.7 He is very readie to forgiue heare S. Iames y Iac. 5.11 of much bowels and tender commiseratiō And reiect that saying of Cain z Gen. 4 13. my sin is greater then can be forgiven Mentiris Cain saith S. Augustin thou lyest Caine for greater is Gods mercy then al mās iniquitie When thou hast thus dwelt a while vpon meditation of the endlesse mercy of God see then the a 1. Pet. 1.18 19. price paide to expiate not only little but even greatest sins Is there any thinkest thou so great which the b Heb. 9.14 1. Ioh. 1.7 blood of the sonne of God a person so excellent cannot expiate Nimirum Deus meus saith Augustine si aequa lance delicta peccantis hominis redimentis gratiâ librentur Authoris non tantum oriens ab occidente sed inferior separatur infernus à summo Coeli cardine Now surely my God saith S. Augustine if the offences of man sinning and the grace of God redeeming be piezed in even ballance the East hath not so far difference frō the West nor the lowest hell from the highest heaven c. Ad vnto these those sweete promises propounded in the word of God c Isai 1.17 89 Cease to doe evill learne to do well c. Though thy sins were red as scarlet they shal be white as wooll And out of them frame this comfortable sound conclusion There is no sinne capable of repentance but the same is also capable of pardon Lastly consider examples of great sinners received to mercy d 2. Par. 33.12 13. Manasseh Peter e 1. Tim. 1.13 16. Paul c. and know Gods dealings are exemplary in them the Lord sheweth what al might expect that by their example shoulde in after times beleeue and repent A seconde particular strengthening this distresse is long continued practise of sin with contempt of grace offered This is that that more exasperates the wound and makes it bleed a fresh I know saith the distressed soule Gods mercies are infinite Christs merit endlesse but I haue long dwelt in practise of sin neglected many a gracious invitation foreslowed repentance that now I am perswaded the iudgement threatned by the Prophet hath seized on me f Ezec. 24.13 because the Lord would haue purged me and I was not purged therefore I shall never bee purged The sin the Lord would hereby chasten and prevent is procrastination those prophane resolutions time enough yet repent when we are old and those hellish speeches young Saints old Devils youth must haue his swinge and let vs be merry we can neuer do it younger The Lord would by this distresse teach thee that it is g Lam. 3.27 good to beare the yoake in youth that repentance the sooner it is performed the more comfortable and that grace must be accepted when the Lord offers it not when we shal be at leasure And now I dare say thou wishest thou hadst bin sooner wise for thy soule and even in youth laid the foundation of thine endles comfort For remedy this doe first bewaile delaies now so discomfortable in sense pray God to pardon that presumptuous neglect of his gracious invitations And now purpose to h Ephe. 5.16 redeeme the time and i 1. Pet. 4.2.3 as much time as remaines in the flesh consecrate wholly to the service of God This done build thy selfe vpon perswasion of this truth that promise of pardon is made without limitation to any time person or nūber of offences repentance being once performed Ierusalem had long weltered in the blood of the saints yet heare our Saviour k Luk. 19.42 oh if thou hadst known but in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace that is to say notwithstāding all the blood of the Prophets and