Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	kindness_n	lord_n	love_a	1,686	5	9.5041	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A37208	The saints anchor-hold, in all storms and tempests preached in sundry sermons, and published for the support and comfort of Gods people, in all times of tryal / by John Davenport ...	Davenport, John, 1597-1670.	1661 (1661)	Wing D366; ESTC R7130	85,681	240

sigh and groan secretly This is the time when God promiseth to rise up and to give salvation to them And to shew that this is Gods constant way in performing his promise the Psalmist addeth his probatum est to it in the next verse the sayings of Jehovah that is his promises and in particular those that are of this import and concernment are pure sayings as silver tried in a subliming furnace of earth fined seven times that is the Saints have by constant experience found the truth and faithfulnesse of God in performing them 4. That thus God may raise and heighten the esteem of his favours in the hearts of his people when they are beyond and above their expectation This effect followed the return of the people of God from their Captivity in Babylon Psal 126. 1 2 3. When Jehovah returned the Captivity of Sion we were like them that dream that is it was so far above our thoughts that we questioned whether it was true or no as Peter did in Acts 12. 9. Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with joyful-shouting This did so raise their joy and thanksgiving to God that it brake forth into shooting The very heathens admired and said God hath done great things for them Much more were themselves affected and therefore they added Jehovah hath done very great things for us we are joyful 5. That by such dispensations their faith and obedience may be more fully tryed and perfected It is said of Christ that though he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered Heb. 5. 8. that is by his sufferings he had the experimental knowledge of that mediatourly obedience which he as our surety was to perform which is noted in Phil. 2. 8. So the Churches of Christ are brought low that they may learn experimentally suffering obedience which is the highest obedience of faith They are brought into a widdow-like condition that as she that is a widdow indeed and desolate trusteth in God and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day 1 Tim. 5. 5. so they may be disposed suitably to Gods end in afflicting them who saith I will leave in the middest of thee an afflicted and poor people and they shall trust in the Name of the Lord Zeph. 3. 12. 6. That they may be more fervent in prayer this operation hope had in David when he was brought so low that he said I looked on the right hand and beheld and no man acknowledged me refuge is perished from me no man seeketh for my soul This quickned and intended his fervency in prayer I cryed unto thee Jehovah and said Thou art my refuge my portion in the land of the living Psal 142. 4 5. Despaire in the creatures help is oftentimes the ground of hope in God for help For infinite goodnesse accompanied with infinite wisdom and power can never be at a losse nor can faith and hope which look at them ever be at a stand As God knows our souls in adversity Psal 31. 7. so we know God best in adversity God is best seen in the Mount To the second objection and where be all his Miracles which our Fathers told us of I shall speak briefly It hath been sometimes that which hath troubled the Saints That they see not such great things done for the Church in our dayes as we read of in former times But there is no cause for it For the hand of the Lord is not shortened nor is his Church lower in his esteem than formerly When the Lord had said by his Prophet The People which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness Jerem. 31. 2. the people answered Jehovah hath appeared of old as if they should say Truth he did so in time past those were good dayes indeed but now those dayes are gone we must look for no more of them The Lord replyed Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindnesse have I drawn thee Vers 3. teaching us thereby to improve former Experiences to the strengthening of our Faith for the present and our hope for the future Experience is a multiplyed remembrance of former favours and Blessings which will help to multiply our Hope For Experience worketh Hope Rom. 5. 4. Hope encouraged by Experience will encourage unto Prayer Psal 22. 4. Hence arose that pleading of Believers with God in Prayer in Isa 51. 9. Awake Awake put on strength O arm of the Lord awake as in the ancient dayes in the Generations of old Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab and wounded the Dragon of the Sea Art thou not it which hath dryed the Sea V. 10. And fervent Prayer encreaseth and strengtheneth this Hope Thus Christ teacheth us in the Parable of the Widdow importuning the Unjust Judg Luke 18. 6 7 8. Joab never put up a more acceptable Request unto David than when he interceded for his banished Absalon God is much more pleased to be petitioned for his afflicted Church Psal 122. 6. He is very ready to answer such Prayers with good Returns For he saith Ask me of things to come concerning my Sons and concerning the work of my hands command ye me Isa 45. 11. 3. Exercise this Hope in its strengthening work In every Degree of the Exercise of this Hope there is an answerable Degree of Joy We rejoyce in tribulation under the hope of glory Rom. 5. 2 3. and answerable to our joy in God will be our strength in God Neh. 8. 10. Therefore let this Hope strengthen you 1. To cleave unto God with purpose of heart Acts 11. 23. It is good cleaving to him who will never leave nor forsake his People in their distress Heb. 13. 5 6. They that forsake God to cleave to other helpers will finde their Hopes disappointed when they have most need of help Then God will say Where are their Gods their rock in whom they trusted Deut. 32. 37. And they shall not know what to answer but be ashamed of that which cannot profit nor deliver for they are vain When the People of God are in distress wicked men will insult against them and say Where is now their God Psal 115. 2. But their answer is ready Our God is in the Heavens he hath done whatsoever he pleased Vers 3. They will be ready to say Where are your Fastings your Prayers your confidence in God The Answer is easie they are with God in his Book of Remembrance they are as seed sown in Heaven whence we shall reap a plentifull crop of mercy in due time But how easily may that be retorted upon them in reference to God and his People which Zebul replyed unto Gaal in reference to Abimelech in Judg. 9. 38. Where is now thy mouth which said who is the Lord that we should serve him Is not this the People whom thou hast despised Only be sure if you would cleave to God that you cleave to his Word and every truth in it when it is opposed by a sinfull and unbelieving Generation Contend for the Faith which was once given to the Saints Jude 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies not simply to contend but with all our might and more if it were possible The thing to be contended for is the Faith not a Fancy but the Truths received with Faith upon Gods Authority in his Word the least jot and tittle whereof God values at a higher rate than Heaven and Earth Matth. 5. 18. and the Martyrs of Jesus esteemed it above all worldly things and above their Lives And so should we 3. This Faith was once delivered once for all If it be lost or exchanged for errour there is danger that it will be lost for ever as we might prove by many examples of Apostates who have become Infidels and Atheists 4. This Faith was delivered deposited committed to our trust of which a strict Account must be given how we have kept and used it There are three things which above all others God expects we should keep most carefully and faithfully from being wronged 1. His own Name which is put upon us 2. His Church 3. His Truths contained in Scripture 2 Tim. 1. 14. 5. This Depositum is committed to the Saints in common not only to Ministers or Magistrates but also to all Believers It is the common Faith wherein every Believer hath his interest in common with the rest as all Planters or Inhabitants have in the Commons that belong to a Town for which they will contend with any man that shall wrong them in that their Interest 6. Salvation and this Faith are joyned to teach us to provide for our Salvation by keeping the Faith Faith and Salvation are kept or lost together 2. To wait patiently and constantly upon God in doing and suffering his will For God sometimes puts a long Date to the performance of his Promises But Gods deferring is no empty space but a time of fitting his Church and People for the good things promised Whiles Physick is working the time is not lost though health be not yet recovered For when the sick humor is purged out then comes health see Isaiah 30. 18. only be carefull that whilest you wait you do not cross your Hope by sinning against him upon whom you wait True waiting is not a meer staying Gods leasure but a continuing in a gracious inoffensive course till the good waited for be attained FINIS Valdè sunt cognatae Sorores Fides Spes Dr. Par. in Heb. 6. * Mr. Broughton See the story at large in Jer. 36. Quosdam deserit quosdam deserere videtur Amb. in Psal 118. Mr. Duries Representation of the state of the Protestant Churches in Europe Bern. de cons ad Eugen. lib. 4. August de Verb. Dom.