Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
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A19285
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The Christians daily sacrifice containing a daily direction for a setled course of sanctification : diuided into three bookes / by Th. Cooper.
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Cooper, John, fl. 1626.
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1615
(1615)
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STC 5695; ESTC S1680
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138,332
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492
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the Vnitie and Trinitie he deserueth to bee worshipped in many respects As First As he is Iehoua our Lord so he requireth worship of vs as his seruants Malach. 1.7 So we are his creatures and owe him all homage SecoÌ„dly as he is God our Father so are we his children and therefore owe him all spirituall loue and holy reuerence 3 As he is Redeemer so he hath both deserued our worship enableth vs hereunto and therfore wee cannot but worship him the Restorer of our life and Recouerer of our happinesse 4 As he is God the holy Ghost sanctifying and preseruing of vs so are we bound to worship him in Spirit and Truth So can we not but glorifie him in our bodies spirits because they are his wee we must needes being led by the Spirit abound in well-doing to the praise of our glorious God And therefore 1 This condemneth all Athiests and prophane beasts that make no conscience of this worship of the Lord seeing the Gentiles the Diuels shall one day condemne them 2 As also this reproueth all Ignorant and idle persons that worship they know not what nor how seeing none can worshippe whom they know not they cannot worship him aright whoÌ„ they cannot discerne by the Vnitie in Trinitie and Trinitie in Vnitie 3 And so it vtterly condemnes all Popish worships which is ignorance and voluntary deuotions not onely not from any sound knowledge but euen in defiance and detraction of it as if it were the greatest enemy to deuotion 2 This instructeth that wee â—â—â—hould labour after this knowledge of God as he is reuealed in the word not contenting our selues with generall notions and Traditions concerning the diuine nature 3. And so commendeth and enioyneth that most excellent and necessary dutie of Catechizing wherby we attaine to this particular knowledge 4 And withall condemneth the neglect and contempt of this dutie especially in the elder sort laying it onely on Children which can yet make little vse thereof and accounting it their shame to bee taught the grounds of religion so dwelling and dying in palpable and obstinate ignorance 5 And comforteth vs that wee haue both a certaine rule to worship by to preuent distraction so worthie a God to worship as that we need not bee a shamed nor repent of his seruice Thus it appeareth That God is to be worshipped Let vs now further consider Of whom hee is principally to be worshipped CHAP. VII Of whom God is to worshipped Howsoeuer the Lord created all things for himselfe so that euery inferiour Creature in it place and nature yeeldeth homage vnto the Creator in doing his will and by the same attaineth his preseruation and perfection yet neither is this seruice competent to the nature of God as being carnall and vnreasonable neither can it bee accepted of him as being without Christ without faith in his blood Onely man is that Creature who as he was 1. Created of God fit to performe this acceptable worship so was he 2. restored by Christ to renue and continue the same and so is 3. kept by the mightie power of God to saluation that so hee may attaine the benefite of his true and constant seruice And therefore Howsoeuer the Angels behold alwaies the face of God and do perform acceptable seruice vnto him in Iesus Christ by whom thogh they are not redeemed froÌ„ sin into which they neuer fell yet are they preserued through Christ in their happy estate and by him are gathered together and vnited to their head yet seeing these haue already attained their perfection therefore as they are aboue the compasse of our direction so are wee rather to admire and propose them as pictures for imitation then any way to admit them in comparison herein Onely man is that Creature who being redeemed by Christ Iesus from the guilt power and punishmeÌ„t of sinne hath yet the tainture and corruption of sin remaining in him 1 That the vertue of his sauiour might dayly appeare in the healing thereof 2 And the free mercy of his God might be aduanced in the pardon thereof 3 That the might be dayly exercised in the worke of repentance and so haue truely experience of the true worke of grace 4 That hee might maintain the fellowship in hauing more compassion of others out of the sence of his owne infirmities so make sure encrease his consolation in plucking others out of the fire 5 That his corruptions may be a means to quicken and prouoke to the performance of faith patience humility many excelleÌ„t graces which heerby are maruellously exercised and increased 6 That hee might haue experience of the admirable wisedom of God in turning about al to his good bringing light out of darknesse Rom. 8.29 2. Cor. 4.6 7 That the power of God may be manifested and perfited in his infirmities as preseruing so wonderfully contraries by contraries 8 And vsing some corruptions to preuent or purge out others 2. Cor. 12.7.8 9 That the Lord might haue the onely glory of all his meanes in the experience of our owne inability and disproportion ence whereby our growing in grace and following hard after the marke and thereby hunger more earnestly after perfection 11 And seeing in this life wee cannot be perfect therefore wee might by the dayly sence of corruption be weaned from the loue hereof and so 12 Prouoked to hunger after our dissolution 13 To looke vp still to that Citie which is aboue 14 And to prepare therto 15 And in all these performe a constant and spirituall worship vnto our God 16 Vsing the holy means of the word and to discouer conquer such corruptions And so 17 Approue our hearty obedience to our God who hates iniquitie that we serue him of loue because wee would not displease him subduing and weakning sin that wee might in all things bee conformable to him then either for feare of any punishment due to or any benefite may redound vnto vs for the same aboue this that wee endeauour to obey our God in all things 18 And so might haue herein experience not onely of the admirable bountie and wisedome of our God in accepting our willing mind euen aboue our outward abilitie 2. Cor. 8.12 but also might haue triall of the sinceritie of our obedience as being rather inward and spirituall in our purpose and striuing against sin then any glorious outward shew of perfection which we can attaine vnto Thus hath the Lord disposed of the manner of our sanctificatioÌ„ and to this ende haue I framed this daily direction that wee may the better be led forward in the worke of grace And seeing to this end the Lord created man euen for his glory Therefore now in the next place let vs consider of This Creation CHAP. VIII Of the Creation of Man AS the Lord created al things for his glory so especially to this end created hee man as to manifest in him 1. His free Election and absolute power and
the same by the former rules of humiliation and such as hereafter shall bee laid downe 8 And so being wise to feare our selues in regard of the said tentation we shal happily get the conquest of it Pro. 14. 9 We must daily recount how wee haue profited in godlinesse Psal. 119. 10 We must prepare our selues continually to afflictions Luk. 9.23 11 Wee must bee plentifull in good workes 2. Pet. 1.9 12 In all our actions specially extraordinary we must not trust to that soundnesse of heart which hath beene but try them by that which is that so from the sense of the purenesse of the fountaine the streames may flow more certainly and purely Luk. 6.43 Matthew 13. 13 Though the heart may appeare to bee sound yet the goodnesse of the action must not so much depend vpon the soundnesse of the heart appearing as vpon the free mercies of God accepting the same 14 Wee must prouide a compleat Armour for the heart being prepared to preserue it Ephes 6.13 CHAP. IIII. Of the spirituall Armour and arming of the Heart ANd this is the fourth duty of necessity to bee performed daily by vs Namely to arme our hearts against all tentations And that 1 Because such an Armour is commended vnto vs in the word Ephes. 6. 2 Our enemies are mighty princes and armed wickednesses Ephes 6.16 3 The heart without it lies open to all tentations 4 By it wee shall bee able to cast downe all strong holds 2. Cor. 10.4 which stand in our way to happinesse 1. Tim. 6.11 5 And so shall lay hold on eternall life and finish our course with ioy 2. Tim. 4.6 Here consider these three poynts 1 What this Armour is 2 How it is to be put on 3 How to be kept on Thus Armour hath many peeces Fist the Girdle of Truth Sincerity Ephes. 6.14 And this consisteth of these parts The first is a rectified Iudgement proceeding from an illightned and sanctified vnderstanding wrought by a liuely Faith through the Word of God Eph. 4.13 And it hath these properties 1 Is is sound in what it knowes Coloss. 1.6.9 2 It retaineth safely what it knowes Psa. 119.11 3 It is wise to distinguish betweene things that differ Phillip 1. And so to try the Spirits 1. Iohn 4.1 4 It discernes all things 1. Cor. 2.15 5 It comprehends the height and bredth and depth and length Ephes. 3. 6 It knowes no man after the flesh 2.5.16 7 It knowes but in part and so is subiect to errour 1. Cor. 13. 8 It is not obstinate in errour but willing to bee reformed in what it hath beene mis-informed 2. Tim. 2.16 9 It is apt and desirous to receiue further illumination Col. 1.10 2. Tim. 3.7 10 And daily increaseth in this sauing knowledge Heb. 5.12 11 It maintaines perfection of godlinesse and resolues that we cannot be too righteous 12 In our failings of practise it remaines sound and giues no warrant to any decay 13 And cleaues to the word for it further establishing howsoeuer wee may bee humbled in our contrary practise 14 Yea it iustifies God and the truth though it bee to the temporall confusion of our present practise 15 It laboureth to enlighten and informe others Helpes to put on this Armour are 1 A discerning of our owne inward blindnesse Psal. 119.28 2 A daily meditation in the word and workes of God Psalm 1. 3 A faithfull recording and comparing of things past with things present and so collecting for the time to come Luke 2.51 And this part of the Girdle serueth 1 To condemne the blindenesse of nature 1. Cor. 2.14 Matth. 16.17 2 To discerne between the light of nature and grace the illightning and sanctifying Spirit Col. 1.9 Eph. 5.8 3 To direct all our actions for as wee know so wee doe Rom. 14.5.23 4 To make triall of them for if they haue not the light it is because there is no truth in them Ioh. 3.21 5 To informe and instruct others Psal. 34. The second part of this Girdle is a sanctified conscience and it is discerned 1 By this that it excuseth for all sinnes as our persons are accepted in Christ 1. Cor. 4.4 2 It checkes for the least sinne before actuall repentance be performed 1. Ioh. 5.17 3 It feares falling in regard of the weaknesse of the flesh though repentance be performed 4 It endeuours in all things to please God Act. 20. Heb. 13.18 5 It is not suspicious but iudgeth charitably where it knowes not the contrary 6 It stands only bound by Gods word and to his glory 7 It so stands vpon it cleering that it relies wholly on Christ. 8 It applies particular chasticements to particular and secret sins 9 It approues our vpright walking in the whole course of our life Act 23.1 Psa. 26.1 10 It procures vs peace with God Rom. 5.1 and with men so farre as it is possible and expedient Rom. 12.18 11 It breedes contentment in the life and all occasions Phil. 4.12 12 It procures cheerfulnesse in the countenance and readinesse in all our businesse Pro. 28.1 13 It makes vs couragious for the truth and willing by all meanes to defend the same Act. 4.13 Act. 6.15 Act. 18.26 14 It makes vs victorious in troubles and 15 Ready to yeeld vp our liues to the hands of God Act. 21.23 And it is put on and preserued 1 By making conscience of all things commanded Psa. 119.6 2 By keeping it tender and sensible of the least euill Hebr. 13.18 3 To this end view wee it daily in the glasse of the world that so the iudgement may bee kept cleere to preuent security 4 Examine we and censure the daily errors thereof by calling it before the Lord to auoid spirituall blindnesse 5 Auoid wee aboue all things doubtfulnesse and distraction in our actions Rom. 14.5 6 Especially keepe wee our selues from wilfull fighting against the light thereof in committing grosse and presumptuous sinnes Psa. 19.12 7 Haue wee alwayes more regard of it in the sight of God then of our owne credit with men 1. Cor. 4.4 Rom. 2.29 8 Flye wee into the bosome thereof when outward things crosse vs Act. 23.1 9 Rest we not so vpon the iustification thereof but that we referre it â—â—â—o the mercie of God 1. Cor. 4.4 The measure of this sincerity is 1 Because we know but in part therefore either wee may not make conscience of some things which others are bound to and so not only dissent from them for a time but euen afflict them Or else 2 We may through ignorance bee scrupulous and suspicious in some things wherein others hauing knowledge are free and so afflict our selues vnnecessarily in not taking our Christian liberty 3 Or because wee know but in part therefore make we account to be subiect to error and so to distraction and anguish of spirit 4 As also to curiousity and searching after speculations 5 And so to pride and negligence in well-doing 6 And so to