Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	heart_n	lord_n	sincerity_n	1,662	5	9.7763	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53702	An humble testimony unto the goodness and severity of God in his dealing with sinful churches and nations, or, The only way to deliver a sinful nation from utter ruine by impendent judgments, in a discourse on the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, Luk. 13, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 / by John Owen.	Owen, John, 1616-1683.	1681 (1681)	Wing O762; ESTC R17781	63,319	169

And unto this Humiliation it is required 1. That it be internal and sincere There is an Humiliation commonly expressing it self in the Observation of Days of Fasting and Prayer which oftentimes is but the Hanging down of the Head like a Bulrush for a Day However it may be so carried sometimes as to divert or prolong the Execution of threatned Judgments But that which God requireth of us is to be in the fixed Affections of the Heart VVhen the Lord Christ comes to enjoyn Repentance and Reformation he gives himself that Title I am he that searcheth the Reins and Hearts Rev. 2. 23. It is an internal hidden work which he looks after in our Humiliation for Sin So saith David in the same Case Thou requirest Truth in the inward parts Psal. 51. Truth or Sincerity in the Affections is that which God regards in our Humiliation which answers the Charge in the Prophet Rend your Hearts and not your Garments Inward Power not outward Signs are accepted with God in this Matter Let us every one take it on our own Souls every one charge his own Conscience in private with the performance of this Duty God will bear no longer with Pretences no outward Appearances or evanid Affections in a temporary Humiliation for a Day though in the Observation of the most solemn Duties required on such a Day will answer the Mind of God herein For 2. It must be extraordinary Humiliation for our own Sins is a Duty constantly incumbent on us To walk humbly with God is the principal thing that he requires of us in this world Micah 6. 9. Hereof Self-Abasement in a sence of Sin is the Life and Soul the Principle of all other Acts and Duties belonging thereunto But when the Calls of God are extraordinary as they are at this day it is necessary that we attend hereunto in an extraordinary manner Failing in the necessary degrees of a Duty renders it ineffectual and unacceptable If as unto Times and Seasons VVays Means and Manner of this Duty we do not apply our selves unto it with more than ordinary diligence and with great intention of Mind we sail in what is expected from us To deal with God on extraordinary Occasions in an ordinary frame of Spirit is to despise him or argues at least no due Reverence of him in his Judgments nor a due apprehensions of our own Concerns in them 3. It is required that Humiliation for Sin be accompanied with a Relinquishment of Sin He that confesseth his Sins and forsaketh them shall find Mercy Confession is grown a cheap and easie Labour whether it be read out of a Book or discharged by vertue of Spiritual Gifts Humiliation may be pretended when it is not and expressed when it is transitory no way answering the Mind and Will of God But the real Relinquishment of sinful frames sinful ways sinful neglects can neither be pretended nor represented better than it is He that thinks he hath nothing to forsake no evil way no sinfull negligence no frame of Heart will be awakened to a better kowledge of himself when it is too late This we may therefore evidently try our selves by what real Change hath there been in us in compliance with the Calls of God what have we relinquished in our ways frames or actings what vain thoughts are utterly excluded whereunto we have given entertainment what Passions or Affections have been reduced into Order which have exceeded their due Bounds and Measures what vain Communication formerly accustomed unto hath been watched against and prevented what Dissimulation in Love hath been cured or cast out what irregular actings in our Persons Families or Occasions of Life have been forsaken An Enquiry into these things will give us real sensible Evidence whether our Humillation for our own Sins be compliant with the present Calls of God 6. Another Duty of the Season is That we mourn for the Sins of others of those especially in whom we are Providentially concerned as Relations Churches the whole People of the Land of our Nativity with whom we are engaged by manifold Bonds and Means of Conjunction It is well known that this sincere Mourning for the Sins of the Places and Times wherein we live of the People and Churches whereunto we do belong is eminently approved of God and a Token unto themselves in whom that sence is of Deliverance in a Day of Calamity Ezek. 9. 4. 5 6. To have Minds careless and regardless of the Sins of other Men is a great Evidence of want of Sincerity in our Profession of the Detestation of Sin Many Pretences there are of it as that they will not hear us we are not concerned in them That they are wicked Enemies of God and the worse they are the more will their Destruction be hastened By such Pretences do men deceive their Souls into a neglect of this Duty yea unto provoking Sin such as this is It is a Matter of Sorrow unto them that truly fear God and have any Concernment in his Glory or the Honour of Christ that the whole VVorld so far as we know is filled with all abominable provoking Sins it lies under a Deluge of Sin as it lay of old under a Flood of Waters only here and there appeareth an Ark that is carried above it Atheism Anti Scripturism Disbelief of Gospel-Mysteries Contempt of the Religion which they themselves profess amongst all sorts of Christians the Loss of all Publick Faith and Trust with a Litter of unclean Lusts Ambition Pride Covetousness in many who have the outward Conduct of the Church have spread themselves over the face of the Earth VVhen God thus deals with the World when he gives it up unto this open profligate Excess which now abounds in it it becomes unto all that truly fear him a Place of Darkness and Sorrow which calls for a mourning Frame of Heart It is so much more as unto the Land of our Nativity From a Conjunction with this People in Blood Language Manners Laws Civil Interests Relations arising form the common Law of Nativity in a Place limited and bounded by Providence unto especial Ends we cannot but have a great concernment in their Good or Evil. It is greater from hence that the same true Religion hath been professed in the whole Nation with innumerable Priviledges accompanying it On these and the like Considerations the whole Nation is laid under the same Law of Providence for Good or evil In the Sin therefore of this People we are in a peculiar manner concerned and shall be so in their Sufferings Whether Sin abound in the Land at present we have already made Enquiry and nothing spoken before shall be repeated If we have not a sense of these Provocations if we endeavour not to affect our Hearts with them and mourn over them we are very remote from that frame which God calls unto And this Mourning for the Sins of others from a double Spring Zeal for the Glory of God 2. Compassion for the Souls