Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	know_v	speak_v	word_n	9,131	5	4.2861	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A48438	A funeral sermon after the interment of Mrs. Sarah Lye. The late wife of Mr. Thomas Lye of Clapham. By Phil. Lamb, minister of the Word. Together with the scriptual evidence and experiences of the grace of God towards, and in her, left under her own hand	Lamb, Philip, d. 1689.; Lye, Sarah, d. 1678.	1679 (1679)	Wing L206; ESTC R213605	35,653	142

A FUNERAL SERMON AFTER THE INTERMENT OF Mrs. SARAH LYE The late WIFE of Mr. Thomas Lye of Clapham By PHIL. LAMB Minister of the WORD Together with the Scriptural Evidence and Experiences of the Grace of God towards and in her left under her own hand LONDON Printed in the Year 1679. PROV VIII 17. I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find me OUR dear deceased Friend whose death occasioned this diversion from our wonted course as often as she thought as indeed she did often think of her great change approaching and as she was going to her Fathers House where doubtless she is now in glory desired her dearest friends that these words might be the Text or Theme of her Funeral Sermon being as we may very well conceive willing to tell her surviving friends o● that Love of God of which she had tasted in her wilderness state and of which she hath now undoubtedly her fill we enjoy few drops but she is got to th● Fountain-head She desired tha● all hers and all you might know the way to the enjoyment of this Love as well as her self The Text she chose is a worthy Text Perhaps you may think 't is not so suitable to a Funeral occasion but let me tell you Funeral Sermons are not Subsidia mortuorun● sed solatia vivorum they are not they cannot be for the help of dead Saints they need no such little things but they are for the comfort and solace of living Saints The words are the words of Wisdom they are I say the words of Wisdom it self I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find me In which I shall only take notice of these two parts or branches 1. In the first part there is a most glorious display of Divine Grace And Love in an act of wonderful condescension enough to astonish Men and Angels I love them that love me 2. Here is a most gracious promise the product of that glorious infinite Love And those that seek me early shall find me The first part of the Text is a fair Preface and Introduction to a most excellent Promise The second part is a Promise every way suited to the glory and excellency of such a Preface 'T is true indeed it begins with some kind of limitation and straitness Those that love me Those that seek me early But then it hath a most pleasant and desired Exit with abundant satisfaction They shall find me There is your glory your heaven your eternal happiness here is the work of your lives I beseech you remember it and let not this Text or Sermon be ever forgotten by you Here I say is the work of your lives to seek early The happiness of Eternity to find God and to enjoy him for ever Before I come to the Observations give me leave to speak a little to these two things 1. To the Author of these words that I may not leave one Soul here at an uncertainty And 2. I would speak a little to the Form of the words that I may leave none of you under any mistakes 1. The Author of this great and glorious Text if you look into the beginning of the Chapter is Wisdom uttering her voice Vers. 1 Doth not wisdom cry and understanding put forth her voice vers 2 She standeth in the top of high places by the way in the places of the paths Vers. 3 She crieth at the gates at the entry of the city at the coming in at the doors Behold I stand at the door and knock Rev. 3. 20. Wisdom knocks Wisdom calls Wisdom cries and uttereth her voice The Acceptations of Wisdom in the Holy Scriptures in the Word of God are various 'T is sometimes taken for the God of Wisdom himself Sometimes for the Son of God the wisdom of the Father Sometimes for the Spirit of Christ who reveals wisdom to the Saints of God the Spirit of wisdom and illumination Sometimes for the grace of wisdom and spiritual knowledg And sometimes for the Word of Wisdom the Gospel of Christ as he says himself Matt. 11. 19 Wisdom is justified of her Children That is the Gospel of Jesus Christ wherein the wonderful Wisdom of God is displayed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes. 3. 10. But to wave the rest as having many things to speak to you this day that concern the happiness of your precious and immortal souls to Eternity and therefore I hope that you will not only bear with me but also bear me up by your prayers Doubtless by Wisdom here in this Text is meant the Interna sapientia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Filius Dei and we are to understand the Internal Eternal Wisdom of God that is called in Scripture The Word of God the Word that was made Flesh Wisdom speaking the speaking Wisdom the Son of God the Son of God In quo a quo omnis sapientia in whom and from whom is all wisdom all counsel and spiritual understanding without whom we cannot know God the Father or the Truth as we should do and by whom we know the Truth as it is in Jesus In the first Verse of this Chapter Wisdom is intituled to this great Speech and indeed in the whole Chapter if you will but take the pains when you are gone from hence to read it seriously before you come to the end thereof you will be convinced as well as I that this Wisdom is the Son of God the Lord Jesus Christ making this great Proclamation to all the World I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find me 2. I told you that I would shew you somewhat concerning the form or manner of this expression I love them that love me to prevent the mistakes and errors as we have need to do especially in this Age wherein the minds and hearts of men like Spiders suck poyson from the most precious and most glorious Truths of the Gospel I love them that love me doth not in the least 1. Intimate that our love or the love of the creature is the cause of the love of God to our souls nor doth it in the least imply that our love is antecedaneous the least moment of time to the love of God which will the more clearly appear if we curiously observe the manner of expressing it 'T is not said I will love them that will love me but I love them that love me Besides the Apostle John clears the Text and puts all out of doubt in 1 John 4. 10 Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us And vers 19 We love him because he first loved us 2. As it doth not at all any way intimate or suggest the precedency of our love to God before he loved us so in the next place I must tell you that it is a most excellent Truth a golden Maxime fit to be written on your Door-posts yea on your very hearts Wisdoms thus

saying to you I love them that love me And it may serve especially for these four great ends 1. For the support and comfort of poor doubting souls that now lye very low in a dark day in a time of sickness under great afflictions perhaps God hath come and snatcht away a dear Wife out of an Husbands bosom or hath taken away the Child of his delight it may be many and long continued afflictions lye on him and he looks upon these bitter and severe providences and begins to question now whether God doth love him Time was when all things went well with me and I had peace within and comfort without a House full of enjoyments but now 't is a dark day God hath smitten me with the strokes of an enemy the chastisements of a cruel one are upon me so that I doubt whether God loves me Thus the poor doubting soul is apt to reason But says God look not at my providences on thine own losses crosses troubles and on these outward dispensations look rather into thy own heart and if thou canst read there but one line of love to my name if thou canst read there any true love to Jesus Christ then thou maist conclude with thy self that whatever Providences thou hast met or maist yet meet with shall be for thy good I love them that love me And these Providences are not the fruits of wrath but rather the effects of pure love Rom. 8. 28 And we know says the Apostle that all things work together for good to them that love God I can chastise correct smite but cannot hate my Sons and Daughters says God Whom the Lord loveth he chastneth and scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth Heb. 12. 6. I love them that love me 2. For the Relief of despairing souls that are affected deeply affected with their sinning against God and their utter unworthiness by reason thereof of any smile from Heaven but are ready to reason against their own souls and to say that surely God can never love such a treacherous Apostate and backsliding sinner as I have been and am it 's in vain for me to expect any love from Heaven but rather in fury to be turned into Hell and to be for ever rejected my case and condition is worse than that of Cain But for the relief of such God reasons thus Didst ever love me Didst ever love Jesus Christ and the Children of God If so take comfort to thy soul for certainly I love them that love me Though it be so low as it is though thou canst see nothing but wrath and vengeance and hell yet if thou hast any love to me to Jesus Christ and the Saints thou maist be assured that I love thee I love them that love me 3. For the help wonderful help and encouragement of poor sinners to duty How is this glorious proclamation of Love and Grace accommodated for the help of poor souls through their whole lives Have you any true love for God You say you have no strength no might so that you are not able to do any thing to please God Why what is the matter You cannot see that you have any share of the Love of God Look into the transcript look into the Copy in your hearts and if you can see any true love to God there go and pray and hear and suffer what 's alotted for you and you shall find all sweet and easie to you 4. And Lastly and that undoubtedly this great truth from the mouth of Wisdom I love them that love me is intended for a general proclamation of sovereign grace and mercy to all the Sons and Daughters of men and a sweet invitation to all persons to perform the duty contain'd in the next words namely to seek early after God Here is wonderful freeness and fulness of Divine Grace large enough for all men and 't is enough to encourage those persons that are naturally haters of God in their minds to return and enquire after him because God is ready to meet them and requite them with reciprocal love Do your duty and if you love me and seek me be sure I have a love for you But I will detain you no longer among the terms and words of the Text though to keep my usual ●ont and method I must always endeavour to make the way plain before you The Text I told you had two branches and ' it s my purpose if the Lord enable me to gather some fruit from each of them From the first part I love them that love me I would offer this to you Doct. 1. That there is a mutual and reciprocal love between Christ and his Saints I told you that it was a Proclamation of the love of Christ and where he loves he begets love so that whensover a Saint truly loves Christ he may be sure that Christ doth intirely love him I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine The believing soul says so And who can but live and dye on such a word as this is especially when Christ says as in the Text I love them that love me I love this Saint and he loves me That is the first Observation The second is much like it and that is Doct. 2. That they that seek the Lord early shall certainly find him shall certainly enjoy eternally enjoy him shall find him a God of Grace and Mercy and shall enjoy him for ever But first of the first of these That there is a mutual and a reciprocal love between Christ and his Saints To dispatch this and yet not ●o make more haste than good speed that you may understand it shall endeavour to shew you here 1. That Christ loves his Saints 2. How he discovers and manifests his love to them 3. That the Saints of God do love the Lord Jesus 4. How they do express and manifest their love to him That by all this put together you may easily conclude that there is a mutual and reciprocal love between Christ and the Saints 1. First of all That Jesus Christ hath a peculiar a special dea● love to his Saints Jer. 31. 3 ● have loved thee with an everlasting love Ephes. 5. 25 26 27 Wh● loved his Church and gave himself for it that is evidence enough 〈◊〉 that he might sanctifie and clean 〈◊〉 it with the washing of water 〈◊〉 the word That he might prese●● it to himself a glorious Church 〈◊〉 having spot or wrinkle or any su●● thing but that it should be 〈◊〉 and without blemish And this Text I mention the rather because it is one of the last Scriptures that our Deceased Friend insisted on when she took her last farwel of me Who loved his Church said she and gave himself for it c. 2. For the manner how the Lord Jesus Christ doth express and discover his love to his Saints Though I might instance in many methods and ways of his discovering his love to them yet I shall confine my self to these three

saw more of value than in any injoyments whatever it was what did concern my spiritual estate I begun to be much troubled about how such a poor sinful creature that was by natnre under the wrath and curse of God should escape this I did believe as I had been taught it was by a Redeemer I did also believe that there was no name given under Heaven by which I must be saved but the Lord Christ Jesus I did also much hearken to the tenders of Christ in the Gospel and how he invited sinners to himself and that he offered himself freely this gave me encouragement But as I had read and heard it was a strait gate and a narrow way few that find it this made me very careful lest I should be deceived And here came in the great question But how shall I know that God in Christ will accept me For many are called but few chosen God hath mercy on whom he will and it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy This made me very diligent to hearken to marks and signs of grace The first that I remember troubled me was this understanding it was the common lot of all Gods People through many afflictions to enter into heaven This did much trouble me at that time and I was apt to think I should be able to bear any thing that God would lay on me so it might evidence to me the love of God to my soul but fool that I was I judged too soon for when it pleased the All-wise God to try me I quickly saw that my strength was but small by my fainting so much as I did in a day of adversity which by many sad experiences I can shew how unable to bear any thing when tryed However then I thought I could bear any thing from with out so all might be well within After this by a Providence I came to hear Mr. V. at St. Olaves the first Sermon that I heard him was on these words And all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her Prov. 3. 15. Wherein was set out the value of Jesus Christ above all that the world afforded which very much wrought on my heart with great longing after this Christ but still came this question How shall you know your interest However it pleased God so to bless his Ministry to me that usually I found my doubts so resolved and my heart so opened that I went away with great joy and comfort but for all this I was perplexed with dreadful thoughts after I had such peace and joy then Satan begun to work indeed I but is there such a God and such a Christ to be believed in How to answer this temptation I was at a great loss and would tell none what did ail me I mourned much under it and thought I questioned whether there was a God or no yet then I did not neglect praying and did as it were pour out my soul daily unto God for victory that he would not give me up to an unbelieving heart and of his free-grace who knew my soul in adversity by his word to send me relief Going to hear on a Lecture-day he then Preached on these words Hos. 2. 7. I will go and return to my first husband for then was it better with me than now It pleased God so to order it that he gave great caution against such thoughts saying Take heed poor soul when the Devil casteth in such thoughts Is there a God or a Christ Take heed for then Satan will have you in his snare This with many other things was set home on my heart then he did convince me by appealing to the Saints experience Is it not better to entertain good thoughts of God and of Christ was it not better with you then than now The Lord gave me so to close in with the truth of that word that I had great joy and peace through believing and went home full of comfort that God had so met me with a word By that means it pleased the Lord to give check to those unbelieving thoughts that so overcame me And yet to this day I have great cause to mourn for that unbelief I find in my heart notwithstanding all the experiences that God hath given me that Scripture doth often reprove me Heb. 3. 12. Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God After this I kept waiting at the posts of Wisdoms gate that I might understand the state of my soul which was the one thing necessary that I desired to look after and finding by the word Preached that the usual way and method of God was to strike the soul down as he did them in the second of the Acts and the Jaylor and the like this did raise in me great doubts what to think of my self because I could not find in my self such convictions of and humiliation for sin as was pressed and as to Original sin it did not seem much to affect me this did bring me into great fears However I took that way I had found comfort in which was by prayer to the Lord to bless his word to me Mr. V. was then on this Text Ephes. 2. 8. By grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God To this I diligently hearken'd and received great support for all my objections seemed to be answered yet for all this I did as it were refuse to be comforted he being on signs of grace closed the Text with these two marks 1. A souls going on in a way of duty was a very hopeful sign 2. But the Spirit of God was the only infallible witness the spirit it self beareth witness with our spirit that we are the Children of God The first did comfort me the second did very much trouble me for I could not understand the meaning of the spirits witness which fearing lest I should be deceived in a matter of so great a concern made me give all diligence in reading and hearing that my doubts might be resolved but as yet no rest in my spirit and the more increased being the time to go into the Country where usually our family was this added much to my grief to be taken off from hearing Mr. V. I began to look more into the Scriptures and to pick up whatever did come suddenly into my mind and it pleased God to cast in many that seemed to comfort me which I wrote down in that year But then came this question These are marks and signs that belong to such and such Saints in Scripture But what is this to thee These thoughts much cast me down what to do I knew not but kept still praying and waiting on God and I found speedy relief when I least thought of it My Father being at Hammersmith I went constantly to hear there and that Summer several City-Ministers