Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	holy_a	spirit_n	worship_v	3,077	5	9.0447	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91363	A little cabinet richly stored with all sorts of heavenly varieties, and soul-reviving influences. Wherein there is a remedy for every malady, viz. milk for babes, and meat for strong men, and the ready way for both to obtain and retain assurance of salvation: being an abridgement of the sum and substance of the true Christian religion; wherein the cause of our salvation, the way, the guide, the rule, the evidence, the seals, &c. and the connection of these points together, and dependancy of them one upon another: this I have endeavoured to do orderly, exactly, methodically, with much plainness and clearness. / By Robert Purnell.	Purnell, Robert, d. 1666.	1657 (1657)	Wing P4237; Thomason E1575_1; ESTC R209217	254,040	517

to them in a powerful conviction conversion and regeneration or something equivolent thereunto and if they give such an account of the work of grace upon their hearts as doth satisfie the brethren that the Lord hath begun a work in this creature that he hath promised to finish as in Phil. 1. 6. Then you are to proceed to a second question being as before satisfied in the first that the party is a hewed and squared stone and a living stone fit for the spiritual building in the next place enquire of the said party that desires to joyn with you what is his or her grounds and ends in desiring fellowship with you and if you find that their grounds be in obedience to the command of God 2 Cor. 6. 17 18. Rev. 18. 4. and their ends be that they might enjoy God in all his ordinances and have a fellowship with those that have fellowship with the Father and the Son as in 1 John 1. 3. that is being united by Faith to Christ and his members he may pertake of his grace and spiritual life from him and by him be united to God the Father and have communion with him Joh. 17. 21. compared with Heb. 2. 11. All that are admitted must put themselves upon the rest and be received by consent for the Church is Christs kingdom now the matter or subjects of Christs kingdom they are believers gathered out of the world by the preaching of the Gospel and the powerful Ministry of the Spirit Mark 1. 15. and Mar. 16. 15 16. Act. 2. 44. hence it is that the Church in Scripture are frequently called Saints and holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling the house of God and Temple of the holy Ghost the houshold of Faith born from above of the Spirit that they might worship God in Spirit and in truth they were darkness but now are light Ephes 5. 8. They were lost but now found were dead but now are alive they before had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy were not a people but now are a people of the living God the Father disdains not to count them his sons and daughters the Son is not ashamed to call them brethren the Holy Ghost is pleased to make them his temple to dwell in all which discovers and confirms that the Church of Christ are and ought to be a spiriritual building made up of spiritual stones 1 Pet. 2. 5. Now if any professor hang back and seek not to joyn with the Church of Christ only because he will not be examined before the Church in the particulars before mentioned then let me ask that man or woman child or servant how it is that you are unwilling to venture your estate in this world without first advising with a Lawyer and thou wilt advise with Physitians about thy bodily health but will adventure their souls upon their own judgement and tryal without taking the advice of the Church of Christ is thy soul less precious to thee then thy body or thy estate if thou hast truth of grace why wilt thou not bring it to the touchstone and come to examination if no grace why wilt thou refuse the way and means to get it surely thou dost neglect this way either 1. Our of ignorance and pride because thou wilt not have thy ignorance discovered 2. Or else it is from a prophane spirit of opposition against all the wayes of Christ held forth in the Gospel See thy doom Luk. 19. 14 27. 4. The Church being thus planted and the number thereof increased If you find some qualified you ought to proceed to elect your Officers the Church being a most free Corporation under Christ the Lord Ephes 2. 19. She is in all reason and equity to chuse her Officers and Ministers 1 Cor. 12. 27 28 c. Unto whom also she is to give assistance obedience and maintainance 1 Tim. 5. 17 18. 1 Cor. 9. 7 9. compared with Heb. 5. 4 5. 2 Cor. 4. 5. Now that these Officers of the Church appointed by Christ are to have their outward calling from the Church whereof they are members for the present and unto whom they are to adminster will fully appear by these few reasons 1. Because the Apostles who taught only Christs commandments so directed the Churches Act. 1. 23. Act. 6. 1 2 3 5. Act. 14. 23. 2. Because the people amongst whom they have been conversant can best judge of their fitness both in respect of their gifts and graces 3. Because it furthereth much the diligence and faithfulness of the Minister that they whose Minister he is have freely chosen him as unto whom under Christ they commit the most precious treasure of their soul Heb. 13. 17. Also it binds the people to greater love and obedience to him or them whom themselves have made choice of But if any of the officers so elected by the Church be found unfaithful in his place he is by the Church to be warned to take heed to his Ministry he hath received Col. 4. 17. to fulfil it which if he neglect to do by the same power which set him up he is to be put down and deposed Now if any ask how many are the officers or offices in the Church I answer there are five besides the extraordinary offices of Apostles Prophets and Evangelists for the first planting of the Churches which are ceased with their extraordinary gifts c. 1. First there is or ought to be the Pastor to whom is given the gift of wisdom for exhortation Ephes 4. 11. 2. The teacher to whom is given the gift of knowledge for Doctrine Rom. 12. 8. 1 Cor. 12. 8. 3. The governing Elder who is to Rule with diligence Rom. 12. 8. 1 Tim. 5. 17. 4. The Deacon who is to receive and distribute the holy treasure with simplicity and sincerity 1 Tim. 3. 10. Act. 6. 1 3. 5. The widdow or Deaconess who is to attend the sick and impotent with compassion and chearfulness 1 Tim. 5. 3 9 10. Rom. 16. 1. All these are useful and necessary and these alone sufficient for the Church as being the most perfect society and body of Christ which neither faileth in that which is necessary nor exceedeth in any thing superfluous so they are united and compacted together by that one Spirit to the Lord and each to other to the edifying of its self in love Ephesians 4. 3 4. and 16. In the want or in the absence of any of these servants of the Church the Church hath power to appoint any one or more of her members for the present necessity to supply the room or absence of her officer or officers 2. But then in the next place for those that are united to a Church of Christ let them beware that they forsake not the assembling of themselves together as the manner of some is Hebrews 10. 25. And again consider the danger of drawing back Hebrews 10. 38. Now if any man draw back my soul shall have

love thereof they willingly parted with much of their earthly goods and possessions to lay up treasure in heaven Abraham and Sarah left their own country and possessions to look for a City whose maker and builder is God Heb. 11. 10 15 16. David preferreth one day in this place before a thousand elsewhere Psal 84. 10. Elias earnestly besought the Lord to receive his soul into his Kingdom and went willingly though in a fiery Chariot King 19. 4. Saint Paul having once seen heaven continually desi●eth to be dissolved that he might be with Christ Phil. 1. 23. Saint Peter having espyed but a glimpse of eternal glory in the mount wished that he might dwel there all the dayes of his life Mat. 17. 4. saying Master it is good for us to be here c. Christ a little before his death prayeth his Father to receive him into that excellent glory Joh. 17. 5. And the Apostle witnesseth Heb. 11. 2. that for the joy which was set before them they endured the cross and despised the shame 1 Pet. 5. 4. and when the chief Shepheard shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away c. this eternal condition admits of no change or alteration decay or consumption waste or diminution mans eternal condition admits of no comparison revocation or conclusion c. What use we may make of all these precious things 1. EXcellent arguments may be drawn to pres-Christians to a holy life 2 Pet. 3. 11. see ing then that all these things must be dissolved what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness and ver 14. Wherefore seeing ye look for such things give diligence that ye may be found in him in peace It is our duty to live in a continual expectation of the coming of the Lord Jesus with our loins girt and our lamps burning for blessed is that servant whom his master when he cometh shall find so doing 2. Consider that here is a fountain opened for Christian comfort and ground for patience in all troubles that there shall be an end a Christians hope shall not be cut off if in this life only we had hope we were of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 19. But here lyes the comfort and patience of true Christians theywait for another world and they know it is a just thing with God to give them rest after their labours 2 Thes 1. 9. and a crown after their combate 2 Tim. 4. 8. and after their long Pilgrimage an everlasting habitation 2 Cor. 5. 1. Be patient saith the Apostle and settle your hearts for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh James 5. 8. 2 Pet. 2. 9. When they that have sown in tear shall reap in joy Psal 126. 5. 3. Consider that assurance of that blessed state may be attained in this life we know faith Paul 2 Cor. 5. 1. That if our earthly house of this tabernacle be destroyed we have a building not made with hands eternal in the heavens these things saith John I have written unto you that ye may know that ye have eternal life 1 John 5. 13. I am sure saith Job 19. 25 26 27. that my Redeemer liveth and he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin worms destroy this body yet shall I see God in my flesh whom I my self shall see and mine eyes shall behold when I awake saith David I shall be satisfied with thy Image Psal 17. 15. 4. The consideration of this should provoke us to be such as may be made meet for this inheritance of the Saints in light and to endeavour to attain and retain the earnest of the Spirit whence we may be alwaies able to say we are confident and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 8. and to fill the soul with strong consolation against the sufferings of life and the fear of death and to work an answerable conversation that whether absent or present we may so walk as we may be accepted of him 5. The consideration of this should put us upon a patient waiting for and a longing expectation of our change which draweth on a pace and not to put that off as most do to the last year and when that is come to the last moneth of that year and then to the last week of that moneth and then to the last day of that week and then to the last hour of that day and then to the last minute of that hour and so time shall be no more and we shall not find repentance although we seek it with tears 6. Consider that the cause of our salvation and so of our glorious condition is Gods meer love and favour without any merit of ours Luke 12. 32. It is our Fathers good pleasure to give us a Kingdom Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son Ephes 2. 8. By grace we are saved through faith and not of our selves it is the gift of God Rom. 6. 23. everlasting life is the gift of God and though eternal life be called a reward yet it is not of merit but of mercy let this be grounded in our hearts that the Kingdom of heaven is not a stipend of servants but an inheritance of Sons which they only obtain that lay hold on his mercy Romans 5. 8. compared with 1 Tim. 6. 12. and 19. 2. Now as hath been said as the love of God is the cause of our salvation fo Jesus Christ is the way Joh. 10. 9. Joh 14. 6. 3 The holy Spirit is the guide in that way as in Joh. 16. 13. 4. The Scriptures of truth is the rule Gal. 6. 16. Isa 8. 20. 5. The evidence of this salvation is faith Heb. 11. 1. It is true the instrumental cause offering and proclaiming salvation is the Gospel but the instrumental receiving and applying it is faith and the cause sealing it inwardly to our souls is the Spirit of God the external and instrumental seals thereof are the two confirming Ordinances Baptism and the Lords Supper 6. The anchor of this salvation is hope Heb. 6. 19. 7. The effects of this salvation is love to God because he loved us first and a holy conversation if ye love me saith Christ keep my commandments and they that have believed in Christ must be careful to maintain good works which are found and required in the way to the Kingdom but they are not the cause of reigning Of the end of the world THE consequents of the last judgement is life eternal in heaven or hell and the end of the world having finished the former let me point to the latter and I have finished what I intended we read Mat. 24. 3. that Peter James John and Andrew Mark 13. 3. came to Christ and desired him to satisfie them in these three questions 1. Concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple 2. Concerning

4. Consider the nature and cause of justification more particularly viz. Justification is when God meerly of his own grace and free will forgiveth our sins and pronounceth us just and innocent Though Gods Law was by us violated we are absolved from sin and punishment by the grace of God and merits of Christ apprehended by faith and so by him all that believe are justified in all things in which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Act. 13. 39. Justification is an act undivided and all at once and so it differs from sanctification which is done by degrees all different eminent acts as justification sanctification renovation are but one act in God I shall close up what I have to say to this thing by desiring the reader seriously to consider these precious Scriptures all speaking to the same thing Rom. 4. 5. Now to him that workoth not but beleiveth on him that justifies the ungodly his faith is accounted for righteousness Tit. 3. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us Rom. 11. 6. And if By grace then it is no more of works otherwise grace is no more grace So having spoken to the nature of justification give me leave also to lay down the usefulness of it as to us and the benefits every beleiver have by it the greatest thing that we can desire next the glory of God is our own salvation and the sweetest thing we can here obtain is the assurance of our salvation In this life we cannot get higher then to be assured of that which in the next life is to be enjoyed all godly people shall enjoy a Heaven when they leave this earth some enjoy a Heaven whilst they are here on earth that Christians may enjoy two Heavens let them enquire after diligently seek for and cheerfully embrace this Doctrine of justification freely and only by the grace of God as the cause through Christ as the way the Holy-Ghost as the worker and evidencer 1. This Doctrine is as the foundation and basis of all Christian Religion 2. This Doctrine is the inlet of all spirituall divine peace and consolation 3. This is the root and spring of all Gospel obedience 4. This Doctrine is the great stop and bar to keep out all floods of errour 5. This Doctrine is the main support of a soul under all trialls 6. This is the great Doctrine by which Satans kingdom is undermined and overthrown 7. This is the Doctrine that Satan doth most war against either to pervert or corrupt 8. This Doctrine is the most hardest piece to be learned it being wholly supernaturall in every part of it above the reach of nature and all things in us do oppose it 1. This Doctrine is the foundation and basis of all Christian Religion as doth clearly appear by these severall instances 1. To begin at the bottom our Election is the Election of grace and according to the good pleasure of his will Ephes 2. 4 5. 2. Our Vocation is according to his grace 2 Tim. 1. 9. who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace given us in Christ before the world began 3. Regeneration is of Gods own will Jam. 1. 18. Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth 4. Faith it self is the gift of God Philippians 1. 29. Ephes 2. 28. 5. Justification is freely by his grace Rom. 3. 24. and a free gift Rom. 5. 15. 6. Forgiveness of sins is according to the riches of his grace Ephes 1. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace 7. Eternall life is the gift of God Act. 15. 11. But we believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they Rom. 6. 23. The gift of God is eternall life through Jesus Christ our Lord. If any ask what is the nature of this free grace I answer grace in its proper notion signifies that free goodness favour or good will whereby God is moved to open the eyes of the blind mind and to let him know the love of God that passeth knowledge If any ask why the Doctrine of the Gospel is called by the name of grace I answer because it was only Gods free good will to bestow it upon those that did most want it If any ask farther why this free grace was ever bestowed at all or why one age or place of the world should receive is rather then another or why God should discover this great misterie was kept secret since the world began to those who were sinners of the Gentiles who served dumb Idols or why God should be found of them that sought him not or be made manifest to those that asked not after him I can give no other answer then that 1 Cor. 1. 29. that no flesh should glory in his presence or that in Mat. 11. 35 26. Even so Father because it seemeth good in thy sight Whoever builds and builds not upon this foundation doth build upon the sand and his house in a storm and tempest will fall Mat. 7. 27. or if any man build upon this foundation gold silver precious stones wood hay stubble the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is see 1 Cor. 3. 10 11 12 13 14 15. 2. This Doctrine is the inlet of all spirituall divine peace to the soul There is a vein through which this peace that passeth understanding is conveyed to the soul which the men and women of the world know not Isa 59. 8. The way of peace they know not they have made to themselves crooked paths whosoever goeth therein shall not find peace Rom. 3. 17. the way of peace have they not known in a word no man or woman under heaven can know the way to this peace untill the Lord give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide their feet into the way of peace Luk. 1. 79. No man can receive retain and enjoy this peace of God unless he wait on God at the springs of peace 1. The first spring of peace is faith Rom. 5. 1. being justified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ faith seeth Christ to be our peace Ephes 2. 14. and from him freely given to us John 14. 27. and the vein through which it runs to the soul is the vein of faith laying hold on and applying of the free grace of God to the soul Rom. 15. 13. 2. The second way of peace is this a man must not only know it where it is and believe it but he must stay himself wholly upon God in the constant expectation of the increase and supply of it Isa 26. 3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose heart is stayed on thee 3. The next vein or spring

2. He gives repentance which is a flower that grows not in natures garden Jer. 13. 23. The Ethiopian cannot change his skin nor the Leopard his spots and that he doth give repentance as a gift to his doth appear by these Scriptures Acts 5. 31. 2 Tim. 2. 25. 3. He gives his Spirit Rom. 5. 5. 1. John 3. See Iohn 14. 26. 4. 13. 4. He gives a soul skill to lay hold upon and sweetly to apply the precious promises to himself 5. He gives peace Iohn 14. 27. My peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you 6. He doth give pardon of sins and that pardon of sins is a gift will appear Acts 5. 31. Acts 26. 18. compared with Psal 32. 1 2. 7. He doth give grace Iohn 1. 16. of his fulness we shall receive grace for grace 8. And lastly He gives himself Rom. 8. 32. he that hath given us his son how shall he not with him also give us all things In a word the Lord doth give his people spiritual and heavenly gifts pure gifts wine without water light without darkness gold without dross See Rev. 22. 1. James 3. 17. He gives soul-satisfying gifts most permanent and lasting and most useful gifts I had intended to have written something of the difference between Common and Special gifts and of the vast difference between the gifts that Christ gives and those the world gives But my Book I see would then swell too big c. I shall to this add but this word Christ doth voluntarily and freely give these gifts and graces never did a mother more willingly give her child suck then Jesus Christ bestows grace upon his people Isa 55. 1. Rev. 22. 17. So much of the graces gifts and vertues of the Spirit we shall now come to speak of the Ordinances of the Gospel in which these gifts and graces must and ought to be exercised I shall speak of ten or eleven of them which are standing Ordinances remaining to this day in full force and vertue Of the several Ordinances of the Gospel 1. OF the Assembling of our selves together 2. Of preaching and prophecying and attentive hearing 3. Of joynt prayer and supplication 4. Of singing and praising God together 5. Of the Ordinance of Baptism 6. Of the Lords Supper or breaking of bread 7. Of Collections for the poor 8. Of Reading the Scriptures 9. Of Admonition private and publick 10. Of Suspention 11. Of Excommunication First of the Ordinance of Assembling our selves together THE Church of God is in Scripture resembled to a natural body wherein are many members united to each other and to one head by one Spirit now in order to this union we are to assemble our selves together in obedience to that great command Heb. 10. 25. Not for saking the assembling of your selves together as the manner of some is Psal 122. 1. I was glad when they said unto me Let us go unto the house of the Lord. Those Saints that are assembled together according to a Gospel institution are a communion of Saints arising from a clea● apprehension of their union with Christ and his members 1 Cor. 12. 13 14. For by one Spirit we a●e all Baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit for the body is not one member but many members Ver. 20. For now are they many members but one body Now when a man comes to see that every one in whom the Lord Jesus appeareth is a member together with him in the same body whereof Christ is the head then his heart longeth to joyn himself in fellowship with such who have fellowship with the Father and the Son 1 John 1. 3. And so goes out by the foot-steps of the flock and propounds himself to the Church and puts himself upon the tryal of the truth of that work of grace in his heart So that a Church is at first gathered by the word preached and faith received of them that hear it Mat. 28. 19 20. but to come to particulars I shall according to my measure speak or write of the Ordinance of assembling under these two heads 1. As it relates to those that are converted but never as yet joyned to any Church of Christ 2. As it relates to those that are converted and joyned to the Church of Christ 1. As it relates to those that are converted but never as yet joyned to any Church of Christ in order let them consider that it is their duty to propound themselves to and endeavour to joyn with the Church For first the Lord in his Word doth command it And secondly the example of the primitive Saints whose foot-steps we are to follow doth call for it and therefore you no sooner read of a people converted but the next news they were baptized and added to the Churches and good reason why because God commands us not to forsake the assembling of our selves together And secondly although our being depends not upon our joyning with a Church of Saints yet our well-being doth much depend upon it If any ask how or by what means is a Church at first gathered I would say to them again What is written how readest thou you are to observe no other Rule means or way then what is either exprest implyed or included in the holy Scriptures of truth where we may find out the right Ordinan●es Ministry and Government The right Constitution of a Church of Christ or the way at first to gather a Church 1. LET seven eight nine or ten or more of those men that are most sound in the Faith and most unblamable in their lives and conversation appoint one day to fast and pray together and earnestly seek unto God for his direction herein and toward the end of the day let them one by one give an account of the work of grace upon their hearts and of the hope that is in them and then give your selves up to the Lord and one to another by the will of God with no other Covenant then this to endeavour as God shall enlighten and enable you to walk together in the appointments Ordinances and institutions of Christ the head of the Church exprest implyed and contained in the Scriptures of truth which you take to be your rule c. 2. In the end of this meeting appoint your next meeting both time and place expecting the presence of Christ with you to assist and teach you according to his promise Mat. 18. 20. See the assemblies Annotations on this verse 3. You having proceeded thus far you may look upon your selves as a Church of Christ in its infancy and when other Christians by the word preached and Faith received desire to joyn with you in this or the next meeting let their names be propounded which being done let the brethren appoint a meeting to confer with them about the time when the place where the manner how the Lord did first appear

saith O help help Lord for thine honour sake for thy Sons sake for thy promise sake for thy mercies sake then the evill that he tempts us to shall be put down only to his account what shall I say more those that be the objects of Gods dearest love are many times the subjects of the Devils deepest rage Satan watcheth all opportunities to break our peace to wound our consciences to lessen our comfort to impair our graces and to slur our evidences it is as easie to compass the heavens with a span and to contein the sea in a nut-shell as to relate fully Christs goodness and Satans devices for he aims principally to make us walk sinfully that so we might live uncomfortably and die miserably and be tormented with him eternally Of afflictions why God doth afflict his own people and how to know what Sin God aims at in affliction and when a man may be said to suffer for wel-doing and when for evil doing VVE read in Scripture that man is born to trouble as the sparks flie upward and although his dayes be few yet they are full of trouble nay we may find in the Scriptures of truth that the Lords own dearest ones have been exceedingly exercised this way Job 6. 4. Job the justest man alive was fought against by the terrors of the Lord and David a man after Gods own heart had no rest in his bones because of his sin and was so wasted with the grief of his heart that his moisture was turned int h the drought of summer Ps 32. 3 4. and Hezekiah who walked in the truth and with a perfect heart had the anger of the Almighty to break his bones like a lyon Isa 28. 13. Was not Abel murthered by his brother Noah mocked by his Son Job scoffed by his wife Jacob threatned by his brother banished from his Father abused by his uncle in the day consumed with heat in the night with frost Gen. 31. 4. Did not the son of God himself lie bleeding upon the cross and cry out in the bitterness of his spirit my God my God why hast thou forsaken me Isa 53. 5. But he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities persecuted in his child hood by Herod Mat. 2. 16. tempted by the Devil reviled by the High-priests branded for a babler wine-bibber blasphemer mocked by the Jews stript of his garments crowned with thorns the first fruits of the curse he was hanged between two thieves and nailed his hands to the cross and pierced his side with a spear c. Some reasons why the Lord doth afflict his own people 1 Cor. 11. 32. VVE are chastned of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world sometimes he doth afflict a few that the rest might beware Luke 13. 5. And sometimes he doth afflict his people for the tryal of the truth and strength of their graces Job 1. 21. Again sometimes he brings his own dear ones into misery that he might magnifie the attributes of his mercy in healing them so it was with him that was born blind and sometimes he doth afflict them to keep them humble and low in their own eyes and to put them upon the use of means whereby sin may be subdued Sometimes the Lord doth afflict for the prevention of sin for time to come he doth punish those that serve him and lets the world go free this was Davids temptation Psalm 73. 13. Affliction is a seal of adoption no sign of reprobation for the purest corn is cleanest fanned the fine●t gold oftest tryed and the sweetest grape hardest pressed and the truest Christian heaviest crossed affliction doth many times make a bad man good but it doth alwayes make a good man better nay God can look sowrly and chide bitterly and strike heavily even where and when he loves dearly it is a common thing for all men to be afflicted but it is an extraordinary thing to be bettered by it in all afflictions consider three things 1. The fountain from whence it comes and that is from Gods love Eccles 7. 14. 2. The end whither it ayms our good It was good for me that I was afflicted Psalm 119. 3. Consider our punishment is less then our desert the consideration of this made Aaron to hold his peace Lev. 10. 3. and Hezekiah to wait for deliverance Isa 38. 13 14. This made David to be dumb Psal 39. 9. This made Ely to say it is the Lord let him do as seemeth him good 1 Sam. 13. 18. yea this made Job to say blessed be the name of the Lord. The Lord doth try the truth and strength of his own people to the highest and yet layeth no more upon the weakest then he doth enable him to bear IF Job do exceed all others in patience as he did Job 5. 11. then the truth and strength of this patience shall be tryed to the uttermost 1. The Sabeans take away his Oxen and his Asses Job 1. 15. 2. A fire from heaven came down and burnt up his sheep Job 1. 16. 3. The Chaldeans came and stole away all his cammels Job 1. 17. 4. His servants that were plowing and keeping the sheep were all slain by the edge of the sword fire from heaven 5. His sons and daughters were all at once slain by the fall of an house Job 1. 18 19. 6. Then his body was smote and became full of boyls from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot Job 2. 7. 7. Then his wife that lay in his bosom tempts him to curse God and dye Job 2. 9. 8. His three near and dear friends came to him and stayed with him seven dayes and seven nights and spake not one word of comfort to him Job 2. 13. 9. The presence and favour of God was hid from his soul Job 19. 8. and all this to try the truth and strength of Jobs patience If Peter will boast of a greater love to Christ then the rest saying though I should dye with thee I will never deny thee Mat. 26. 35. And when this love came to the tryal instead of dying he came to denying of Christ So again although Peters love made him to go out of the ship to meet Christ upon the sea I say although his love was strong yet his faith was weak and he began to sink here his truth and strength was tryed to the highest If Moses will exceed all the men upon the face of the earth in meekness Num. 12. 3. the truth and strength of that meekness must be tryed first in his absence the people make a calf and worshipped it Exod. 32. 19. After this the people speak against Moses Numb 21. 5. A little after this when they wanted water the people chide with Moses saying would God we had dyed in the wilderness Numb 20. 3 4. So he was continually vexed with a perverse and crooked generation Deut. 32. 5. And at last so provoked by them that he spake unadvisedly

but not such Spots as wicked men 2. Whereas it is said they had no spot or wrinkle in them it was as they were made comely by the comeliness that he had put upon them Ezek. 16. 14. And as they were covered with the robe of his own Righteousness Isa 61. 10. And so their Holiness and Righteousness was of the Lord Isa 57. 17. Hence he is in Jer. 23. 6. Called the Lord our Righteousness the nature of Grace and Sanctification in this life is but imperfect and growing unto perfection 1 Cor. 13. 9 10. Phil. 3. 12 13. Some Canaanites are still in the Land although we are entered into Canaan there is a Remnant of flesh as well as a Principle of the Spirit Gal. 5. 17. In this sense the Church is not actually purged but in purging from all defilements and at last there shall be no spot nor wrinkle nor any such thing Ephes 5. 26 27. So that compleat purity from sin and perfection is to be desired on earth yet reserved for heaven Rom. 6. 7. Ephes 5. 27. Heb. 12. 23. Rev. 21. 27. I have dwelt longer then I intended upon this question I must get it up again in being brief in the next We read Mat. 12. 31 32. The Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven in this world nor in the world to come Quest What that sin against the Holy Ghost is Answ The sin against the Holy Ghost doth comprehend and take in three things Knowledge in the mind Malice in the heart persecuting some known Truths and persevering therein for the proof of this let me instance in three Scriptures first Paul was filled with malice in his heart but although a scholar he had no knowledge in his mind as the text saith he had mercy on me because I did it ignorantly now Peter he had much knowledge in his mind but no malice in his heart and so although he sinned out of knowledge yet he sined not this sin but upon the crowing of the cock and Christs looking on him he repenteth now take the knowledge that was in Peter and joyn it with the malice that was in Paul and in both these persecute the truth and persevere therein this is that grand sin for that grand sin hath these three properties 1. Knowledge 2. Malice 3. Perseverance in a way of wickedness for finalness maliciousness and universalness must be taken joyntly together not severally one from another if by them we would describe the sin against the Holy Ghost for a man may fall knowingly and maliciously yet unless he fall finally and so make a defection from the truth not through fear or infirmity but out of hatred blasphemy and persecution if he come not up to this he hath not committed this sin for we find all the former sins to be pardonable It is reported of Julian that committed this sin that he was from his child-hood trained up in piety and attained to great knowledge and when he came to the Empire he carryed himself with much clemency but after this he came to deny Christ in France and turned a most bloody butcher and barbarous persecutor to poor Christians after this being either wounded in a battle or a blow from heaven he took a handfull of his blood and flung it up into the air and burst out into a most wicked experssion against Christ and said thou man of Galilee thou hast overcome me and so miserably dyed Quest Is not Election the cause of salvation and Reprobation the cause of damnation Answ Election and Reprobation are not in any sense the causes of salvation and damnation but Christ is the proper and meritorious cause of salvation and sin the proper and meritorious cause of damnation Election and Reprobation they are but precedent and precurrent acts or decrees and the causes of salvation and damnation they come in between the decrees and the execution thereof Quest How could Christ being but one make satisfaction for the sins of so many Answ How could father Adam being but one infect so many with original sin I hope you will grant that the second Adam was as well able to sanctifie as the first was to putrifie for though Christ was but one yet he was such a one as was greater and better then all and so able and sufficient to satisfie for all and to redeem all as well as he made all and the blood of such a one as Christ the son of God was of such an infinite value and price that it did surmount and surpass in dignity and worth all the souls in the world and his sufferings and merits were a sufficient satisfaction if intended and applyed to that end for to save so many worlds of men as there is men in the world Quest Did Christ fulfil the moral Law or ten commandments by his death Answ He did satisfie and perform for his people what the Law could require and exact from them and so became the end of the Law for righteousness or Justification to every one that believeth Rom. 10. 4. And so redeemed and freed them from the Curse of the Law Gal. 3. 13. By being made a Curse for them c. but it still remains in full force and vertue as a Rule of life as it is opened by Christ Mat. 5. There is some difference in the administration of it since Christs coming from the administration of it before his coming Quest Hath not Christ dyed for all men and tasted death for every man 2 Cor. 5. 15. 1 Tim. 2. 6. Answ The word All is not to be alwaies taken for every one for the word All hath many restrictions for this word All is very often taken in Scripture for all kinds as Paul exhorteth that supplication be made for all men that is some of all sorts and degrees as well Rulers as others 1 Tim. 2. 1. So it is said that Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Aegyptians that is in all kind of wisdom so we read that Christ healed all diseases that is all manner of diseases All is sometimes restrained in Scripture to Gods peculiar people Christ saith I will draw all men to me John 12. 32. That is all men that the Father gave him John 6. 4 5. See Isa 54. 13. Again we read they shall be all taught of God not all the world sure but all Gods people Again I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh Acts 2. 7. These cannot be meant of all the wicked Again we read 1 Thess 2. 15. They please not God and are contrary to all men that is all good men Again we read Mat. 10. 22. Ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake that is of all wicked men by which we may see how the word All is taken variously and therefore it is to be limited and determined to persons and things according as the text will bear and no otherwise and when as it is said he tasted death for every