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	spirit_n	word_n	8,255	5	4.2520	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B00698	A fountain sealed: or, The duty of the sealed to the Spirit, and the worke of the Spirit in sealing. Wherein many things are handled about the Holy Spirit, and grieving of it: as also of assurance and sealing what it is, the priviledges and degrees of it, with the signes to discerne, and means to preserve it. : Being the substance of divers sermons preached at Grayes Inne. / By that Reverend Divine, Richard Sibbes D.D. and sometimes preacher to that honourable society.	Sibbes, Richard, 1577-1635.; Goodwin, Thomas, 1600-1680.; Nye, Philip, 1596?-1672.; Marshall, William, fl. 1617-1650.	1638 (1638)	STC 22496; ESTC S123290	62,552	276

left studies to maintaine Though corrupt nature hath no good in it for we deserved to bee like divels yet God intending to have civill society out of which he usually gathers his Church preserveth in mans nature an hatred of sinnes that overthrow society such sins therefore being committed against more light wound more as in case of murther notorious perjury theft c. Gods method in dealing with sinners Therefore God oft gives up men upon breach of the first Table to breaches of the second that so they may come to more griefe and shame as being the breakers of both Tables Men never fall into the breach of the second Table but upon breach of the first No man despiseth mans Law but he despiseth Gods law first No man breake● the law of nature but he despiseth the God of nature Prophane Atheisticall persons that glory in the breach of the third Commandement by swearing GOD meets with them by giving them over to grosse abhominable sinnes of the second Table which vexeth them more though they should no● than sins against the first Table exposing them besides inward griefe to open shame then God opens Conscience to tell them not onely that they are too blame for their grosse sinnes but for the root of them Atheisme prophanenesse loosenesse which are sinnes against the first Table This is an aggravation of sinnes against knowledge when our knowledge hath beene holpen and strengthened by education by example of others running into our eyes which is a more familiar teaching than that of Rule and strengthened also by observation and experience of our selves and the former strength wee have had against the sinne wee now commit and sweetnesse we have found in the resisting of it None are worse than those that have been good and are naught and might be good and will be naught When there is more deliberation and fore-knowledge of the dangerous issue and this also joyned with the warning of others As Reuben said unto the rest of hi● brethren Spake I not un● you c So may Gods Spirit and conscience say t● men Did not I acquai● you with the danger of sin● You are now in misery an● terrours of conscience bu● did you not sleight forme● admonitions and helps and meanes Conscience is a●● inferiour light of the Spirit to doe things against conscience is to doe them against the Spirit God spake to me and I heeded him not how doth God speake When conscience speakes and saith this is good this is bad then God speakes conscience hath somewhat divine in it it is a petty god it speakes from God especially when the Spirit joynes with conscience then God speakes indeed then there is light upon light Some sins grieve more than other Vpon divers respects some sinne may grieve more or lesse than another As the holy Ghost is a Spirit so spirituall sinnes grieve most as pride envy imprinting upon the soule as it were a character of the contrary ill spirit Carnall sinnes whereby the soule is drowned in delight of the body may more grieve the spirit in another respect as defiling his Temple and as taking away so much of the soule love and delight carry the soule with them and the more deeply such sinnes enter into the creature besides the defilement the lesse strength it hath to spirituall duties grace is seated in the powers of nature now carnall sinnes disable nature and so sets us in a greater distance from grace as taking away the heart Hos 4. Hereupon the Apostle sets being filled with wine contrary to being filled with the Spirit Eph. 5.18 And hence it is the Apostle forbids in the former words uncleane communication the holy Spirit is a Spirit of truth hates hypocrites being painted sepulchers but as a spirit of purity hates soule livers and soule-mouth'd speakers as open sepulchers They cannot therefore but much grieve the spirit that feed corrupt lusts and studie to give contentment and pay tribute to the flesh to which they owe no service and are no debters and by sowing to the flesh from which wee can reape nothing but corruption Gal. 6. When our thoughts are exercised to content the outward man to contrive for the things of the world onely this is to pay tribute of the strength and vigour of our affections to the utter enemy of Gods Spirit and our owne soules when our thoughts runne deeply into earthly things we become one with them Who will think himselfe well entertained into an house when there shall be entertainement given to his greatest enemy with him and shall see more regard had and better countenance shewed to his enemy than to him when the motions of corrupt nature are more regarded then the motions of the Spirit The wisedom● of the Spirit which is from above is first pure and maketh us so and rayseth the soule upward to things above Christians indeed have their failings but if true Christian examine himselfe his heart will say that every day hee intends the glory of God and the good of the state hee lives in hee hath a larger hear● than a base worldling that keepes within the sphere o● himselfe spending all his thoughts there and consults onely with flesh and bloud with profit and pleasure to heare what they say Such basenesse cannot but grieve the Spirit as contrary to our hopes and heavenly calling which are glorious It is a dangerous grieving of the Spirit when instead of drawing our selves to the spirit we will labour to draw the spirit to us and study the Scriptures to countenance us in some corrupt course and labour to make God of our minde that wee may goe on with the greater libertie When men get to themselves teachers after their owne ●●sts as many doe especial●y if they be in place Ahab ●hall not want his 400 false Prophets When men cut ●he rule and standard to fit ●hemselves and not fit themselves to it You have some that are resolved wha● to do and yet will be askin● counsell and if they hav● an answer to their minde● then they rest if not the● their answer is This is you● judgement but others a●● of a contrary opinion an● thus they labour to mak● the Spirit of God in his M●nisters to serve their turne so did the Iewes in Ierem●●● time Jer. 42. Some will father tho●● sinfull affections that ari●● from the flesh and a●● strengthened by Sathan● upon the holy Spirit counting wrath that is kindle● from hell to be fire of hol● zeale comming from heaven Thus the enemies 〈◊〉 Religion thinke they do● God service in their massacres such are those that wickedly oppose the wayes of God and yet are ready to say Glory be to the Lord such men study holinessen in the shew that they may overthrow it in the power and will countenance an ill course by Religion Such also are faulty who lay the blame of an uncomfortable life upon Religion when men are therefore uncomfortable because

indeavours with increase of comfort A Christian that takes paines with his heart and will not serve God with that which cost him nothing enjoyes that which the spirituall sluggard wishes for and goes without God is so just that those men which have striven to live according to principles of nature have found contentment proportionable to their indeavours some degree of pleasure attends every good action as a reward before a reward 2 What accompanieth c. Besides these things that goe before this joy and testimony there are secondly some things that doe accompany it if it bee right as 1 This spirituall comfort inlargeth our hearts to a desire after an high prizing the ordinances so farre is it from taking us off from a dependance upon them In the Word and other meanes it found comfort from GOD therefore delights to be meeting GOD still in his owne wayes The eye of the soule is strengthened to see further into truths and is inabled more spiritually to understand the things it knew before as in many of the same truths that wise men understand they understood them when they were young as when they were old but then more clearely So all truths are more clearely knowne by this the Spirit by which wee are sealed is the Spirit of illumination not that it reveales any thing different from the Word but giveth a more large understanding and inward knowledge of the same truths as were knowne before 2 A libertie and boldnesse with GOD for where the Spirit is there is a gracious liberty that is further inlargements from the law guilt of sinne and the feare of the wrath of GOD that wee can come with so me boldnesse to his throne and to him as our Father a freedome to open our soules in prayer before him This stands not so much in multitude of words or formes of expressions but a sonne-like boldnesse in our approaches in prayer The Hypocrite especially in extremity cannot pray his Conscience stoppes his mouth but where the Spirit sealeth it giveth this liberty freely to open and spread our case before him and call upon him yea under the evidence of some displeasure 3 There doth likewise ordinarily accompany this sealing of the Spirit Sathans malice and opposition who being cast from heaven himselfe envies this H●aven upon earth in a creature of meaner ranke by crea ion then himselfe wee must not thinke to enjoy pure joy here without molestation If there bee danger of exalting above measure wee must looke for some messenger of Sathan 3 What followeth after th●s witnessing of the Spirit After this witnesse it leaves the soule more humble none more abased in themselves then those that have neerest communion with God as wee see in the Angels that stand before God and cover their faces so Isa 6. Iob after God had manifested himselfe unto him abhorred himselfe in dust and ashes It brings with it a greater desire of sanctification and heavenly-mindednesse As Elias ascended up into heaven his cloake fell by degrees from him the higher our spirits are raised the more wee put off affections to earthly things 2 Againe the end of this further manifestation of the Spirit being incouragement to dutie or suffering in a good cause the soule by this witnesse of the Spirit findes increase of spirituall mettle it findes it selfe steeled against opposition Whilest this winde filleth their sayles they are carried on a maine and are frighted with nothing that stands in their way See how the beleevers triumph upon the Spirits witnessing to their spirits that they are the sonnes of God Rom. 8. GOD usually reserveth such comforts for the worst times Pro. 32.6 Give wine to those that be of heavy hearts Proverbs 31. The sence of this love of Christ is better then wine This refreshing Paul had in the dungeon and he sung at mid-night After this witnessing therefore looke for some piece of service to doe or tryall to undergoe Much must bee left to GODS fatherly wisedome in this who knowes whom to cheare up and when and in what degree and to what purpose and service and remember alwayes that these inlargements of spirit are as occasionall refreshings in the way not daily food to live upon we maintaine our life by faith not by sight or feeling Feasting is not for every day except that Feast of a good conscience which is continuall but I speake of grand dayes and high feasts these are disposed as GOD seeth cause 3 Where this sealing of the Spirit is there followeth also upon it a lifting up of the head in thinking of our latter end it makes one thinke of the times to come with joy as the holy Ghost here mentioneth the day of redemption as a motive to them to take heed that they did not grieve the Spirit intimating they should thinke of the day of redemption with a great deale of joy and comfort The Saints are described in Scripture to be those that looke for the appearing of Christ they are Christs and in him their reckonings and accounts are even And therefore with delight they can often think and meditate upon the blessed times that are to come There be divers degrees of sealing arising from divers degrees of revelation God first reveales his good will in his promises to all beleevers this is the priviledge of the Church especially in these latter times then by his Spirit reveales those saving truths to those that are his by a divine light So that by argument drawne from the power they feele from truths in searching secrets in casting downe in raising up in staying the soule they can seale to them that they are divine The same Spirit that reveales the power of the Word to mee reveales in particular mine owne interest in all those truths upon hearing them Whereupon they are written in my heart as if they had beene made in particular to me the comfortable truths in the Word are transcribed into my heart answerable to the Word as that GOD in Christ is mine forgivenesse mine grace mine whereupon adoption in Christ is sealed which God still sealeth further to my soule by increase of comfort as hee seeth cause for incouragement The same Spirit that manifesteth in me the word I heare and reade to bee the truth of God from the power and efficacie of it the same Spirit teacheth to apply it and in applying of it sealeth me Therefore wee ought to desire to bee sealed by the Spirit in regard of an holy impression and then that the holy Spirit would shine upon his owne graces so as wee may clearly see what is wrought in us above nature and because this is furthered by revealing his love in Christ in adoption to us wee must desire of GOD to vouchsafe the Spirit of Revelation to reveale the mysteries of his truth unto us and our portion in them in particular and so our adoption and in the meane time to wait and attend his good pleasure in the use of

they are not religious enough The wayes of wisedome are the wayes of pleasure The Spirit is grieved by sinnes against the Gospell In these times being the second spring of the Gospell wee must take heed of sinnes against the Gospell Benefits the greater they are being neglected or abused bring the greater judgement The office of the holy Spirit is by the Ministery to lay open the riches of Christ and the glory of Gods grace in him by neglecting so great salvation and by thinking this favour of God to be a common favour wee sinne against both Father Sonne and holy Ghost and in that they desire most to be glorified Such therefore as say to the clouds Drop not and to the winds blow not and to the Prophets prophesie not that study to keepe out the light and sin against it as discovering them and awakening them and hindering them from taking that solace in carnall courses of the world as opening the eyes of others to know them further than they would be knowne and so to lose that respect they would have in the hearts of men This cannot but grieve the Spirit of God and move him to take away that truth that wee are so farre from thinking a blessing that wee are weary of it and fret against it The office of the Spirit is to set out Christ and the favour and mercy of God in Christ Slighting ordinances when wee slight Christ in the Gospell the ordinance organ of working good in us the holy Ghost is slighted and grieved Bad is our condition by nature and what a deale of misery doe wee adde to this bad condition Are we not all the children of wrath And have we not since wee were borne added sinne unto sinne Doe we not grow in sinne as we do in yeares Is not God just and hell terrible Now God out of infinite mercy having provided a way to free us from the danger of sinne and not onely so but to advance us to life everlasting and that wee should not be ignorant of that he hath done for us he hath set up an ordinance wherin the holy Ghost discovers his love When wee sleight this and account it but an ordinary favour nay rather a burthen and thinke the opening of divine mysteries things that may be spared that there is too much preaching and what needs all this adoe This grieves the Spirit whose office is to lay open the unsearchable riches of Christ thé infinite and glorious mercy and goodnesse of God in Christ wherein God hath set himselfe in all his attributes to triumph and be glorified We grieve all the sacred Trinity God the Father is grieved to see his mercy slighted God the Sonne to see his bloud accounted common and God the holy Ghost whose office it is to discover these things The sinne of these times This is the common sinne of the times and kingdome which threatneth judgement more than any thing else When the Gospell the blessed truth of salvation is published The axe is layd to the root of the tree the instrument of destruction if men slight the mercies of God entertaine not Christ walke not worthy of the Gospell they shall feele the stroke of his sharpe anger The bloud-red horse followeth the white horse Revel 6.4 The white horse is the publishing of the Gospell when God sets himselfe to glorifie himselfe in mercy in the greatest benefits and wee account them nothing or but common favours God removes the Candlesticke the red horse of bloud and destruction followes And indeed what man will endure his greatest favours and kindnesses to be sleighted Now a degree in grieving the Spirit this way is when men will not be thorowly conceived of their owne sinfull condition and of the infinite love and mercy of God in Christ in the pardoning of them If God by his Spirit in the Ministery or in a particular reproofe come to men and discover their naturall condition and tell them they are worse than they take themselves to be they will oppose it and study revenge as Saint Paul saith Am I become your enemie because I tell you the truth this must needs grieve the Spirit By false judgement of things Againe the holy Spirit is grieved when yee have a corrupt judgement of things not weighing them in the right ballance nor value them according to their worth When wee esteeme any knowledge rather than divine knowledge any truths but truths that concerne Christ when men looke upon grace as contemptible and prefer other things above it make a tush at holinesse give us say they gifts and parts Alas what are all gifts and parts without a gracious heart Have not the divels greater parts then any man Are they not called Daemones from the largenesse of their understanding If parts and gifts were best the divels were better than wee What an indignity is this to the holy Spirit to thinke it better to be accounted witty and politicke then to be holy and gracious When we plot and contrive sinne the Spirit is grieved Again those sins wherein there is plotting and contriving exceedingly grieve the Spirit because they are done in cold bloud David deeply wounded his conscience and grieved the Spirit in plotting the death of Vriah which was the diminution of the credit of David that the Scripture saith he was good in all things except in the matter of Vriah why because therein he grieved the Spirit most in plotting and contriving the cruell murther of so good a man How can they thinke they have the Spirit of God that plot and undermine mens estates to have their wils in unjust courses or if they have the spirit can this be without grieving it for the Spirit will perpetually suggest the contrary And sinne having helps to doe the contrary Againe we grieve the holy Spirit when we commit such sinnes as we might avoid such sinnes as we have some helps against and least provocation unto It is a generall rule Quanto major facilitas c. The more the facility of not sinning the greater the sinne Therefore when we are tempted to sin consider what conscience saith I have beene an hearer of the word what hath the Spirit of God revealed and discovered unto mee He hath shewed that this is a sinne whom do I grieve by the commission of it The Spirit of God and wound my owne conscience and then consider will that that I sin for countervaile this Doe I not buy my sinne too deare Sinnes are dearely bought with the grieving of the Spirit of God therefore wisely thinke before hand what sinne will cost By caveling against the truth Men grieve the Spirit by cavelling against the truth The heathen mā could say It is an ill custome to be cavelling against Religion whether in good earnest or in jest yet wee have a sect a generation of men that are of all religions of no religion men of a contradictory spirit that alwayes take the

Answ a comfortable sweet life indeed it requires the most care and watchfulnesse of any life in the world being the best life it is begun here and accomplished in an everlasting life in heaven Nothing in this world neither our estates nor our favour with great persons can be preserved without watchfulnesse and shall wee thinke to preserve the chiefe happinesse of our soules without it having so many enemies without and within that labour to draw us into a cursed condition Motives not to grieve the Spirit Therefore to stirre us up to the practise of these duties that wee may give contentment to so sweet a guest consider what reason we have to regard the Spirit and his motions from the good we have by them The holy Spirit of God is our guide who will displease his guide A sweet comfortable guide that leades us through the wildernesse of this world as the cloud before the Israelites by day and the pillar of fire by night so hee conducts us to the heavenly Canaan if wee grieve our guide we cause him to leave us to our selves The Israelites would not goe a steppe further then GOD by his Angell went before them It is in vaine for us to make toward heaven without our blessed guide wee cannot doe nor speake nor thinke any thing that is holy and good without him whatsoever is holy and pious it growes not in our garden in our nature but it is planted by the Spirit There is nothing in the world so great and sweet a friend that will doe us so much good as the Spirit if we give him entertainment Indeed he must rule he will have the keyes delivered to him we must submit to his government And when he is in the heart hee will subdue by little and little all high thoughts rebellious risings and despairing fears This shall be our happinesse in heaven when we shall be wholly spirituall that God shall be all in all wee shall be perfectly obedient to the Spirit in our understandings wils and affections The Spirit will then dwell largely in us and will make the roome where hee dwelleth sweet and lightsome and free subduing whatsoever is contrary and bring fulnesse of peace and joy and comfort And in the meane time in what condition soever wee are wee shall have suteable helpe from the Spirit Wee are partly flesh and partly spirit God is not all in all the flesh hath a part in us wee are often in afflictions and under clouds Let us therefore prize our fellowship with the Spirit For are we in darkenesse he is a Spirit of light Are wee in deadnesse of spirit he is a Spirit of life Are wee in a disconsolate estate hee is a Spirit of consolation Are we in perplexity and know not what to do he is a Spirit of wisedome Are wee troubled with corruptions Hee is a sanctifying a subduing a mortifying Spirit in what condition soever we are hee will never leave us till hee hath raised us from the grave and taken full possession of body and soule in heaven hee will prove a comforter when neither friends nor riches nor any thing in the world can comfort us How carefull should wee be to give contentment to this sweet Spirit of Gods No Christian is so happy as the watchfull Christian that is carefull of his duty and to preserve his communion with the holy Spirit of God for by entertaining him hee is sure to have communion with the Father and the Sonne It is the happiest condition in the world when the soule is the Temple of the holy Spirit when the heart is as The holy of holies where there be prayers and prayses offered to GOD. The soule is as it were an holy Arke the memory like the pot of Mannah preserving heavenly truths It is an heavenly condition a man prospers to heavenward when the Spirit of God is with him You know Obed-Edom when the Arke was in his house all thrived with him so while the Spirit and his motions are entertained by us wee shall bee happy in life happy in death happy to eternity For it is he By which you are sealed to the day of redemption The Apostle sealeth this grave admonition by an atgument taken from the Spirits sealing of them to the day of redemption Wee are all by nature in bondage to sinne and corruption we are all redeemed from sinne by the first comming of Christ and are to be redeemed from corruption by the second There is a day appointed for this glorious worke In the meane time God would have us assured of it aforehand This assurance is by sealing And this sealing is by the Spirit none esleneed doe it no meaner person can doe it And what respect is due to the Spirit for doing so gracious a worke that wee grieve him not and not onely so but that wee indevour so to please him as hee may with delight goe on with this blessed worke that it hath pleased him to take upon him As the duty is spirituall so the arguments that inforce it are spirtuall and the argument here is fetched from that which hath a most constraining force love expressed in the sweetest fruit of it and the stability of it sealing and sealing to the day of redemption as if the Apostle should reason thus God the Father hath ordained you to salvation by the redemption of Christ his Sonne and that you might have the comfort of it in the way to it against all discouragements you may meet with the holy Ghost hath assured you of it and set his seale upon you as those that are set apart for so great salvation that the sence of this love might breed love in you againe and love breed a care out of ingenuity not to offend so gracious a Spirit The holy Spirit by which you are sealed THe holy Ghost delighteth to speake in our owne language we cannot rise to him therfore he stoopeth to us This sealing is either sealing of persons or of good things intended to the persons Sealing is not onely a witnessing to us but a worke upon us and in us carrying the Image of him that sealeth us whereby we are not onely assured of the good promised to us but fitted for the receiving of it God prepareth no good for any but whom hee prepares and fits for that good There is not only an outward authorising of the great grants we have by promise oath and Sacrament but an inward by the spirit perswading of our interest in them and working that which doth authorise us to lay claime unto them after the use of a seale both in confirmation and representation and resemblance of him that sealed The persons sealed are first Christ and then those that are given to Christ Christ is sealed The sealing of Christ 1 By the Father Chris● was ordained by him to be● a Saviour in our nature predestinate to be the head of the Church Wherefore he often saith hee came to doe