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
A67066	The leper, and the leper's house, cleansed being, an exposition upon some part of the XIVth chapter of Leviticus; the mystery of which is explained and applied to the state and condition of a sinner's becoming a saint. With profitable uses and applications. As also, what chapter may be applied to, as to the cleansing or destroying of any particular church of Christ, in and under the time of the gospel. Divided into ten parts. Written for the information of those which seldom concern themselves about the types and shadows of the Old Testament: very useful for all people. By Thomas Worden, author of, The types unvailed.	Worden, Thomas.	1695 (1695)	Wing W3578; ESTC R218033	86,936	103

there are which walk by the Rule of enthusiastical Inspirations Visions and pretended Revelations casting off the written Word of God which was formerly their Rule and Guide and now account themselves more happy in walking by these Guides though this latter Age have abounded with but too many of these filthy Dreamers as St. Jude stiles them Jude 8. Verse yet it is no new thing but a thing as ancient as the Prophet Jeremiah's Days Jer. 23. 32. I am against them that Prophesie false Dreams saith the Lord and do tell them and cause my People to Err by their Lies and by their Lightness yet I sent them not nor commanded them therefore they shall not profit this People at all It appears that the Design of these ancient enthusiastical Dreamers and Pretenders to Divine Revelations was on purpose to weaken the Authority of the Word of God in the Mouths of the Prophets of the Lord inasmuch as God doth plead the Efficacy of his Word in opposition to these chaffy Dreams and pretended Revelations so much cried up by these ancient Deluders Jer. 23. 28 29. The Prophet that hath a Dream let him tell a Dream and he that hath my Word let him speak my Word faithfully What is the Chaff to the Wheat Is not my Word like as Fire saith the Lord and like a Hammer that breaketh the Rock to pieces It is a very dangerous thing when Persons through their slighting of the written Word shall thereby provoke God to give them over to wander after these satanical Delusions because many times what Ways Men do sinfully chuse to walk in and deluded Rules to walk by the same Ways and Rules God will judicially chuse for them 2 Thess 2. 10 11 12. Because they received not the Truth in the Love of it that they might be saved for this Cause God shall send them strong Delusions to believe Lies that they might be damned Therefore have we that Rule given us in Isa 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony if any Man speak not according to this Rule it 's because there is no Light in him and saith Peter 2 Epist 1. 19. But we have a more sure Word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well to take heed as a Light that shineth in a dark place until the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in your Hearts Thus you see what the false Rules are which the most of Men do propound to themselves as their Guides to walk by which will appear at length to be nothing else but left-footed Obedience in the Eyes of God and Jesus Christ 3dly We give unto God left-footed Service when we walk not constantly with him when we are off and on with God when we play fast and loose with God some there are when affrighted by strong Convictions and grieved by and with sore Afflictions will then for a fit be Religious then they will Pray and Read good Books and frequent the Worship of God and set about the Practice of religious Duties in their Families but when the sense of the Conviction is abated and the smart of their Affliction a little worn off then like Ephraim all their Righteousness appears like the morning Cloud and all their Goodness like the early Rain that passeth away This kind of inconstant Obedience the Israelites gave unto God in the Wilderness Psal 78. 36 37. Nevertheless they flattered him with their Mouth and lied unto him with their Tongues for their Hearts were not right with him neither were they stedfast in his Covenant This inconstant Service was never yet acceptable Service with God nor will it ever be esteemed otherwise than left-footed Service offered unto him 4thly When we walk not sincerely with God then we give him left and not right-footed Service this was the Service Amazia gave to the Lord 2 Chron. 25. 2. He did that which was right in the sight of God but not with a perfect Heart All the Ways of God saith David are Mercy and Truth Good and upright is the Lord therefore will he teach Sinners his Ways Psal 25. 8. So that you see there is Truth and Uprightness in the Lord towards us and he expects to find the same in us towards himself again Truth is the Nature of God and he cannot but hate the contrary where-ever he sees it let Men clothe themselves with never so much out-side Holiness yet if Truth and Sincerity be found wanting all is but glittering Hypocrisie in the Eyes of God Rev. 3. 1. Thou hast a Name to live and art dead The Scribes and Pharisees had as much of an outward Holiness upon them as most Men living but their want of Sincerity turned all their painted shew of Holiness into perfect Rottenness in the Eyes of Christ Matt. 23. 27. It 's not the Matter of our Services only which commends us to God but the Manner of our performing of them If our Ends and Aims 〈◊〉 more for our own Praise Honour and Profit than for the Honour and Glory of God we shall never hear more of it unless it be to our Shame and Sorrow David was well instructed in this therefore prays he that God would make his Heart sound in his Statutes Psal 119. 80. Thus you have seen the Reasons why the Priest was to tip not the left but the right Ear right Thumb and the great Toe of the right Foot of the Leper with the Bloud of the Lamb and Log of Oil the Bloud to purchase the Leper for the Work and Service of the Purchaser and the Oil of Grace to make him fit for it and willing to set about it Now Soul if thou wouldst hear the Voice of Christ in a saving manner if thou wouldst hear when he speaks to thy Soul in his Works Word Ordinances and Providences if thou wouldst work the Works of Righteousness as the Work of Repentance before God Faith in God Love to God with the Works of Holiness in his sight together with the Works of Justice and Mercy towards Men and if thou wouldst Walk with God as Enoch did walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of God Blameless and without Rebuke as did Zacharias and Elizabeth then be not satisfied until thou hast gotten thy right Ear thy right Thumb and the right Foot of thy Soul tipt with the Bloud and Oil which drops out of the Palm of the Hand of the High-Priest Jesus Christ Who is willing to save to the uttermost them which come unto God by him Heb. 7. 25. PART VI. Thus after the Priest had tipt the right Ear the Thumb of the right Hand and the great Toe of the right Foot of the Cleansed Leper with the Bloud of the Lamb and the Log of Oil then as in Levit. 14. 16. the Priest was to dip his right Finger in the Oil that is in his left Hand and sprinkle of the Oil with his Finger seven times before the Lord. THis number Seven was of a sacred Use amongst the Hebrews is was used

did it by a voluntary Dedication and Consecration of himself as an unblemished Sacrifice for his People But the Scripture further tells us That Christ's being Sanctified for his People is meant his receiving a Fulness of Grace for them that with that Fulness they might be made Gracious also John 1. 14 with 16 Ver. The Word was made Flesh and dwelt amongst us and we beheld his Glory as the Glory of the only Begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth that of his Fulness we might receive and Grace for Grace Now who is it that the Scripture calls the Head of every spiritual cleansed Leper Is it not Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 11. 3. The Head of every Man is Christ. Col. 1. 18. And he is the Head of the Body the Church Ephes 5. 23. Even as Christ is the Head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the Body Now the Oil which was to be applied to the Head of the cleansed Leper that was not to be given out in a few Drops with the tip of the Priest's Finger as it was to the Leper's Ear Thumb and great Toe as before no but when the Oil comes to be applied unto the Head of him that was to be Cleansed here it was to be poured out without measure And the Remnant of the Oil in the Priest's Hand he shall pour it upon the Head of him that is to be Cleansed Ver. 18. Hence the Scripture speaking of Christ the Head of his cleansed Lepers tells you That he received not the Spirit by Measure John 3. 34. And that it pleased the Father that in him should all Fulness dwell Col. 1. 19. And that he was full of Grace and Truth John 1. 14. And he was anointed with the Oil of Gladness above his Fellows Psal 45. 7. And that Grace was poured into his Lips Ver. 2. So that this Fulness of the Oil of Grace which was poured out upon Christ the Head of Believers this dwells in Christ for them upon a double account First That the Fruit of it which was his Obedience might be imputed to them for their Justification Secondly That the Grace of it might be imparted to them for their Sanctification as far as they need it and he sees good to impart it First of all That Christ's Obedience unto Righteousness which was the Fruit of his Anointing might be imputed to Believers for their Justification Rom. 5. 18. Even so by the Righteousness of one the Free-gift came upon all Men unto Justification of Life Secondly That it might be imparted unto Believers for their Sanctification John 1. 16. Of his Fulness we have all received and Grace for Grace Both of these two Benefits Paul sums up together in one Verse 1 Cor. 1. 30. Who of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption And Paul supposing that the Colossians were invested with these two saving Benefits now saith Paul Ye are Compleat in him Col. 2. 10. Thus you see where a Believer's Perfection lieth as to his Sanctification it lieth and liveth in Christ their Head hence then when Satan shall raise Objections against thee labouring thereby to discourage thy Soul from the lowness and littleness of thy Sanctification then reply to him as a Man would do to those who upbraid him with the course Clothes which he wears on his Back he is ready to answer them O ye Despisers did you know the rich and costly Rayment which I have at Home you would never despise me as you do for the Clothes I now wear So poor drooping Soul reply to Satan in like manner What though the Sanctification which dwells in me be both low and little yet I have better Clothes than these laid up in Christ for me Look not so much upon the Habit which I wear my self but look upon the glorious Robes of Christ my Head and behold the rich Clothing he appears in at the Father's right hand for me all this is mine and for my Use to be put on by me when the fulness of Time is come for then Phil. 3. 21. He changes our vile Body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself This was it which caused the Spouse to hold up Heart and Head above Water in opposition to all the Discouragements that the Malice of Hell could cast into her about the littleness of her Sanctification Cant 1. 5. Though I am black yet comely O ye Daughters of Jerusalem as the Tents of Kedar and the Curtains of Solomon That is though she were black with Affliction and Persecution for which the World derided her and though she were black in her self with Corruption for which the Devil objected against her yet she still comforted her self with what she was in Christ there she was more comely than the Curtains of Solomon And the same Testimony Christ gives of all his cleansed Lepers Cant. 4. 7. Thou art all Fair my Love there is no Spot in thee In a word as little as that Grace is which seems to be in thee yet the Scripture calls it glorious Grace Psal 45. 13. The King's Daughter is all glorious within her Clothing is of wrought Gold PART VII Lastly when all the foregoing Particulars were applied to the Leper in order to his Cleansing then was the L●per by orders from the Priest to shave off the Hair of his Head Beard and Eye-brows Levit. 14. 9. because in the Hair of the Head Beard and Eye-brows might much of the Filth and Scurf of the Distemper lie and might prove Hiding-places to the same whcih might much anticipate and hinder the Cure and grèatly hazard the breaking out of the old Distemper upon the Leper again THerefore the Leper was to shave the Hair wholly off from his Head Beard and Eye-brows Ver. 9. the Mystery of which is to shew us what his Duty is who is Cleansed from the Guilt and Filth of Sin by Jesus Christ namely to endeavour ever afterward the Mortification of the same which is called the Cutting off or Circumcising the Fore-skin of your Hearts Deut. 30. 6. which the Apostle makes to agree with the Work of mortifying the Lusts of the Flesh Col. 3. 5. Mortifie therefore your Members which are upon the Earth Fornication Vncleanness inordinate Affection evil Concupiscence and Covetousness which is Idolatry The Words thus opened afford us this profitable Observation Doct. That as Jesus Christ in love to the Souls of his People hath washed them in his own Bloud from the Guilt of Sin and by the Oil of his Grace removed the dominion of Sin from them so it is the Duty of every Christian to endeavour ever afterwards the Mortification of the remains of Sin in their Hearts and Lives continually This is so clear a Truth that nothing shines with more brightness in all the Scripture Rom. 8. 13. If ye Sin after the Flesh ye shall Die but

which shall smart their Backs to recover their Hearts Isa 27. 9. By this therefore the Iniquity of Jacob shall he purged this shall be the Fruit thereof I will take away their Sin Oh! therefore all ye that are the Seeds of Jacob be you thankful to God that he hath given you his Word and will not suffer you to want his Rod they being both appointed in his divine Wisdom as a healing Means against your spiritual Leprosies whenever they shall break out upon you How should the thoughts of this abundant Care of God over you make you to cry out with David Psal 103. 2 3. O bless the Lord O my Soul and all within me forget not his holy Benefits who forgiveth all thy Iniquities and healeth all thy Diseases 2d Vse Let this Truth serve to perswade all the cleansed Lepers of Christ to carry the Matter as they ought to do towards the means of their Cleansing which as you have heard consists of these two things First The Word of Instruction Secondly Of the Rod of Correction First of all See to it that you carry the Matter well towards the Word of Instruction so as not to imprison it in your Heads make not your Heads as too many do a Jayl to the Word there be but too many that will hold the Truth in Unrighteousness who are unwilling that the Light of the Word which is got into their Heads should come down into their Hearts for fear lest its shining Light should become a perplexing Heat within them to prevent that they strive to hold fast the Doors against the Truth as a Man who fears an Arrest bolts fast the Doors of his House against the Bailiffs but if ever you mean co have benefit by the Word so as to be cleansed from your sinful Leprosies you must let the Truth out of Prison and give it a free Passage that it may be glorified in you Let it run from Room to Room from the Head to the Heart and from the Heart to the Will and from the Will to the Conscience and from thence to the Affections that so it might have an uninterrupted Out-let into the Conversation so to do is co carry the Matter as you ought towards the Word of Instruction Secondly Be sure you carry the Matter well towards the Rod of God's Correction when Afflictions do light upon you do not fret repine nor murmur at them as if some sore Evil had hapned to you for your Hurt but rather rejoyce under them that God by them is about to scrape and cleanse you from that Heart-naughtiness which cleaveth to you and if the Rod seems to smart do not say to God as Jonah did Jonah 4. 9. I do well to be angry to Death But rather to say with David Psal 119. 75. In faithfulness hast thou afflicted me And instead of muttering at the length or strength of your Affliction you should reason thus It seems that our Lusts are strong and our Corruptions are rooted fast in us which makes our dear Redeemer to put the greater strength into our Afflictions for where the Disease in a Body is more malignant than ordinary there the Ingredients must be the stronger in the Medicine to work it forth again Christ had rather his People should be preserved in Brine than rot in Honey and you may be sure of this that when Christ by his Rod hath done his Work upon you then may you expect the removal of it from you Isa 4. 4 5. When the Lord shall have washed away the Filth of the Daughter of Zion then will be create upon the Dwelling-places thereof a Cloud and a Smoke by Day and the shining of a flaming Fire by Night and a Glory with a Defence upon it Thus you have seen what the Priest was to do in order to the Cleansing of the Levitical leprous House and how well it shadowed out the Way Instruments and Means which our great Gospel High Priest useth in Cleansing of his Churches from their spiritual Leprosies and Defilements We now come to a second Work which the Priest was to do in order to the preserving of the Levitical House that was infected his Work was to pull out the infected Stones thereof and to put other Stones in the room of them Lev. 14. 40 with 42 Ver. Then the Priest shall command that they take away the Stones in which the Plague is and be shall take other Stones and put them in the place of those Stones and he shall take other Mortar and plaister the House Thus you see if scraping of the Walls wherein the Infection lay would not serve the turn then the infected Stones must be pulled out and cast away into an unclean Place which Action in a most lively manner leads us to behold the sacred Order which our Lord Jesus Christ observes in the Cleansing and keeping Clean of his Gospel-churches who in like manner if the Means he hath already used will not do as his scraping of them by his Word of Instruction and the smarting of them with his Rod of Correction if nothing of this Means will heal then out must the Stones be pluckt in which the Infection lay Quest. But some may ask What or who may we understand by the Stones of Christ's spiritual Houses Ans They are the visible Members of Christ's Churches 1 Yet 2. 5. Ye also as lively Stones are built up a spiritual House an holy Priest-hood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. So that the Meaning will amount to this That if any of these Stones shall be so leprous as that neither the Word nor Rod will procure their Amendment wherein they walk contrary to sound Doctrine either in Judgment or Practice then ought they to be separated from the rest of their Brethren by a Church-excommunication You see how clear this appears in the Tipe the infected Stones were to be pulled out of the House to shew us that the incurable infected Members of Christ's House which Peter calls the Stones thereof must be pulled out from thence also From whence we may observe this Note Doct. That when ordinary Means have been used to reclaim offending Church-members but all to no purpose then is the Church to cast out such corrupt Members by an Act of Excommunication This is such a necessary Rule to the keeping of the Churches clean that it is an established Rule by our Saviour himself Matt. 18. 15 16 17 18. If thy Brother shall trespass against thee go to him and tell him his Fault between thee and him alone and if he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy Brother but if he will not hear thee then take with thee one or two more that in the Mouth of two or three Witnesses every Word may be established and if he shall neglect to hear them tell it to the Church but if he shall neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an heathen Man and Publican The