Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	wonderful_a	work_n	work_v	62	3	6.5200	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A00972	The historie of the perfect-cursed-blessed man setting forth mans excellency by his generation, miserie [by his] degeneration, felicitie [by his] regeneration. By I.F. Master of Arts, preacher of Gods word, and rector of Wilbie in Suff.	Fletcher, Joseph, 1577?-1637.; Cecil, Thomas, fl. 1630, engraver.	1628 (1628)	STC 11078; ESTC S105608	35,115	104

Life and Grace from God not for him-self only but for all that should come of him so likewise by his transgression he made all his whole Posterity liable to Gods wrath as well as himselfe so that all were alike changed with him into the same state of corruption and all were fallen alike with Him into the same pit of perdition There being no difference nor degrees at all as if his Posteritie were some of them less some more or deeper plunged ther-in than other For the same Death that by Sin entred upon the first Offender I say the same Death both in measure and degree went-over all Mankinde alike because all had in Adam alike offended all were alike deprived of the Glory of God Thus all Mankinde was by Creation perfect by Sinne corrupted and by the guilt of Sinne accursed Now then for Mans Redemption as God at first consulted with Him-selfe how and after what manner Hee might make Man and at last resolved to make Him in his owne Image after his likeness so here againe finding Man to be thus fallen from that happy state into this wofull plight surely much more did Hee now consult with Himselfe how and by what meanes Hee might set Man on his feet againe and so restore Him and his whole Race into their former state and happy being This being a work if we may compare Gods workes one with another of greater glorie difficultie and labour humano more loquor than that of Creation Which Consultation I mention not here for that I imagine that God did not thinke nor provide for Mans Redemption before He was fallen for I beleeve as Gods all-seeing eye did fore-see the fall so his insearchable Wisedome did provide for the same even from all eternitie Yet seeing I have taken-in hand to speake of this Consultation it falleth best into our order and method to speake of it here in this place Here then to express and set-forth this wonderfull work of God for the Redemption of Mankinde wee imagine him first to be moved ther-to by his Compassion or Pitie his Pitie to stir up his Mercy his Mercy for Truth and Iustice sake to submit her selfe to his Wrath his Wrath to be asswaged by his Peace and so one Grace to advise deale with another till at last they sweetly agree and joyne all in one how to perfect and effect a worke for the deliverance of all Man-kinde out of its misery Which work was put upon Christ the anointed Messias who chearfully undertooke it and for his part effectually performed it And as many of all Man kinde as according to Gods purpose doe receive this blessed and gratious Mediatour apprehending Him by Faith cleaving unto Him by Hope giving obedience unto Him through Charity so many are freed from their thraldome and miserie are restored to the inheritance and participation of life and felicity Those againe that either carelesly neglect or wilfully reject this great love of God in Christ they not only still remaine over-whelmed in the same pit of perdition into which they were plunged by the sin of the first Father but they also provoke God againe unto further wrath for so lightly respecting his love and casting his Mercy behinde them For Grace not offered will it-selfe plead mercy for the offender but offered contemned justly cals for more wrath and severity of punishment But for those that thirst for deliverance and embrace that meanes which is offered to them in Christ Iesus they are borne-anew they are inspired with good Graces they are freely justified sanctified and assured of Salvation and shall at last attaine eternall Happiness Now for the further divulging of this happy meanes to the encrease of Gods glorie as also for the better winning and alluring of moe to embrace the same for the saving of their Soules did I take-in hand to compose this Subject into a Historie and to set it out in a familiar verse that so the yonger who are more ready to reade Poetry than Prose may as in a Mappe or Glass behold one personating them selves and chalking out the way or treading as it were those very steps whereby them-selves have departed from that Excellency and Perfection they were created in and runne headlong into most cursed miserie and thraldome and yet againe how by new means offered and by circumspect walking therein they may come to the fruition of eternall Life and Felicitie These together are the scope of my intendment which if in any measure I shall further and promote I trust it shall repent neither mee to have spent some houres stollen from my ordinary studies for the worke of the Ministerie in my Pastorall charge upon this kinde of writing nor any other of their paines in reading but shall occasion us all more seriously to praise the Lord for whose sake I desire to become all unto all to winne some TO THE COVRTEOVS READER Kinde Friend IN friendly kindness I thee send This little Book which I have penn'd A Book unworthy yet doth bring Of what is penn'd the worthiest thing Thy Life or Death it doth thee shew In matter old in methode new The matter then doe not reject Sith Life or Death it doth reflect And if the methode thee distast My good-will for amends thou hast Yet reade it not for ought that 's mine But 'cause the subject is divine Stirpe sacrâ morsu scelerato sanguine Divo Integer infoelix benedictus Homo THE PERFECT-CVRSED-BLESSED MAN The Argument In h's form in h's fault through Christs peace-making blood Man's Perfect Cursed and again made Good The Argument enlarged WHen-as by cursed Disobedience Man first did fall from perfect Innocence He purchas'd to Him-selfe and his whole Race The gain of endless Pain the loss of Grace Heav'n Hell Earth Sea Wife Children all maintain His wofull gain of Loss his sense of Pain Whose cursed state by blessed Consultation Is blessed made through perfect Consolation So loss of Pain at last he findes in this That Life must die that Death may bring him Bliss The Authors Preamble upon it THou Infinite that canst in every place Breathe into poor yea dead Soules Life and Grace And them indow with rich gifts from thy treasure O powre into my barren heart such measure Of wisdome knowledge truth humility Faith holinesse grace and ability That I may after serious meditation Commend unto the world a true relation How thou didst frame Man in his excellence A curious Modell of thy glorious Essence How Him again having Him-selfe defac'd Thou didst vouchsafe thy Son should be abas'd By humane Life by Death by h's unknown Passion To re-invest in Grace and glorious station A work of no less wonderment I ween Than that which was in his Creation seen Both infinite in Goodness Love and Glory Not what but that they are shall be my story In which discourse I shun industriously All idle vernish of quaint Poētrie In speaking of Gods simple veritie Naught more beseems

than true simplicitie Then what I know of his all-knowing worth With single heart I simply thus set-forth THE PERFECT MAN Setting-forth MANS EXCELLENCIE By His GENERATION Dum stetit innocuus stetit Omnipotentis Image Viva Dei primâ sorte statutus Homo MANS EXCELLENCIE BY HIS GENERATION The Argument Whiles Man once plac'd in Innocence so stood He bare the stamp of all th' All-Mighties Good ANd this I know and firmly doe beleeve That by his Word who made both morn eeve The spangled Heav'ns with Lights the great'st least The Ayre Sea Earth peopled with fowle fish beast Man and his wife 'bove earthly creatures blest Six daies for work the Sev'nth for holy rest That He I say which thus did ordinate All things of Nought and reall them create Must needs be God a Spirit all-sufficient All-knowing all-procuring all-efficient Vp-holding all things by his Word and Will Before and after Time enduring still Not subject unto change all chance disposing Maintaining Truth and Errours all opposing Rewarding right Avenger of all wrong Most wise most just most good to whom belong These and all Attributes of good pretence As well in abstract as in concreet sense As good as Goodness as just as Iustice So Infinite in all as that He is As able to reduce as earst to frame All reall things into the state and name Of Nothing late their prime originall So great He was He is and ever shall To us made knowne by th'Pers'nall Trinitie Of Father Son and Spirit of Vnitie This infinite Creator this was He That made and placed Man in that degree That he did shine with perfect glorie dight Having no spot in his Creators sight Framed of earthly mould a heav'nly creature Bearing the stamp of his Creators feature Beyond all earthly creatures having might To know to will to doe ev'n all things right With sov'raign pow'r th' whole World to over-sway Having like pow'r his Sov'raign to obey Free from all Ill to all Good likewise free To will or nill at perfect libertie Nor could have bin of these by Time bereav'd For into him Eternitie was breath'd Thus was he made of his Creators Deitie A living Image a quick Anatomie This is a truth which few conceive aright How Man was made in th' Image of th'Al-might Which only thus they labour to express In that he bare his Makers Holiness Set in the state of perfect puritie Without all blemish and infirmitie And this is all some care to understand Of that likeness Man had from h's Sov'raigns hand But as for Gods Essentialitie Exprest by personall proprietie This is a Truth acknowledg'd so transcendent As that of this they think no sparks resplendent In that likness wher-in Man was created Nor that thereto he was assimilated Wher-as I think and so dare here avouch As fair a spark ther-of in Man doth couch As of Gods other Pow'rs Essentiall Though made a Person individuall Which lest I seem to talk-of all in vaine Thou great Inspirer help me to explain The Dust once form'd the Spirit of Life was breath'd Both which to both by God were so bequeath'd That instantly one Person they became A Reasonable Creature Man by name And thus the Man was made Spirituall By reason of his Soule coelestiall Which doth enable him to represent Th'Essentiall Spirit of th' Omnipotent This Soule like Gods Essentialitie Containeth in 't a threefold facultie Whereby the Trinitie is figured That God-like Man might be more honoured First is the Minde which giveth pow'r and skill Wher-by we know we judge what 's good what 's ill Next is the Will begotten of the Minde For till we know to will we 'r not enclinde Then from the Mindes conceipt and Wills affection Proceeds an active Pow'r of Operation This Intellect or Minde conceiving rather Deriv'd from none resembles God the Father The Will Childe-like the Mindes election Doth rightly personate ev'n God the Son From Minde and Will proceeds apparant most A Pow'r to doe like God the Holy Ghost And as we know those glorious Persons three Essentially but one God only be So for undoubted truth we may it take These faculties but one Soule only make But as the Holy Father worketh not Without the Son who was of Him begot Nor yet the Son without the Fathers Minde The Holy-Ghost neither but all conjoin'd So neither doth the Minde nor yet the Will Nor yet the working-Pow'r seek to fulfill And bring to act the easiest work alone Till all agree ev'n joyntly all in one Yet as we attribute the great Creation To God the Father to the Son Redemption And to the blessed Sp'rit the sweet effect Of working holiness in Gods Elect So we refer to th' Minde all understanding Election to the Will to th' Pow'r of working The work that 's done and so these faculties Are all employ'd in sev'rall offices Besides as in that glorious Deitie Of sacred Persons there 's a Trinitie And yet in time or any kinde of worth No inequalitie's in them set-forth If any seem it only seems we know By order of some sweet externall show To us who only judge things outwardly Not able to discerne them inwardly So in the Soule the sev'rall Faculties Admit not of any priorities Among themselves for Soule no sooner 's nam'd But Minde and Will and Pow'r to doe are fram'd Withouten which or all or any one Man is not Reasonable Soule is none And further yet touching the Deitie Who doth create redeem and sanctifie We answer God at every demand When we not three but one God understand So touching Man if any would perceive What Pow'r it is that makes the Minde conceive Or what wher-by the Will to Choosing's led Or what wher-by to doe He 's enabled To all of these one answer we doe make It is the Soule whence they their Powers take And yet in Man one Soule not three exist In which one Soule all Faculties subsist There 's yet one knot in this Divinitie How Man resembles Gods Infinitie In h's little Soule so great varietie's That in it 's stampt all Gods Proprieties As God is Infinite all-comprehending Both past and present and without ending So doth the Soule of Man in ample sort Discern all these and of them make report His Memory retaineth things of old Things present Vnderstanding doth behold And things to come by th' eye of Providence He doth fore-see so clear's his inward Sense Thus as in these so great is Gods Goodness So in all else Man bears the Lords likness Which rests not barely in the qualitie Of outward or of inward sanctitie Though this be all that usually is said T' express the Image in which Man was made But in those reall Faculties of his Wher-by He rightly works in Holiness Ruling all things with supreme Domination That are within this sublunary Nation Enjoying eke to bring full joy to h's Life The joyfull consort of

thus sundry parts were taken As some would have Him sav'd so some forsaken Pitie 'gan first with tender-hearted speech For grace the God of all Grace to beseech On Mans behalfe repeating all the story Of his Creation how that He for Glory Everlasting not for everlasting Shame and woe was made in the beginning Albeit then He fell from that estate Yet sith O God thou diddest Him create After the likeness of thy selfe to be A living Image of Eternitie O then let not the Power of Sin disgrace This some-time glorious Man But show thy face Of Mercy unto Him and to his Wife And to their Progenie O grant them life Life of Glory But first the life of Grace So shall not Sin nor Death nor Hell deface Nor blot-out of thy Book of Blessedness Their silly Soules now drown'd with cursedness O hear ô help the glory will be thine All hearts will praise thy Mercy so divine Pitie had thus her speech no sooner ended But Mercy mov'd with Pitie condescended And urg'd the same before th' Eternals throne That favour might for Pities sake be showne Which Iustice swolne with angry discontent Oppos'd forthwith saying reconcilement Twixt God and Man without due recompence Were wrong to God to Me'twere just offence And therefore Sister Mercy said Iustice Before you plead for Man take good advice Enquire of Truth to know how the case stands If pardon may be had and at whose hands For take this as an Oracle most true Where wrong 's not satisfi'd no favour 's due Doe you forbear than Mercy straight repli'd To speak of Oracles let them abide In Truths all-knowing brest them to declare For resolution when Suiters repaire Nor think not Iustice think not that I fear That this my suit before Truth should appear For I to Truth to any or to all For their consent will give consent to call Hear then ô Truth to thee we doe appeal Doe thou to us this mystery reveal And say if not in me the power lies To work Man into Grace in h's Makers eies Or if that Iustice in it have a share Resolve us this speak Truth and doe not spare But sparingly did Truth begin to speak Pretending she for such task was too weak When she indeed to meddle in 't was loath Because shew knew she could not please them both O this desire to please doth often hide The secret truth when Right and Wrong are try'd But she nathles because they both desir'd her Spake to the point that Heav'n and Earth admir'd her I doe confess said she great pitie 't was That 'gainst his Maker Man did so trespass As that thereby deprived of all Good And with all Evill He depraved stood But for that fact that He Gods vengeance bear Eternally certes no pitty t' were For better t' were that Men that Angels all Should aye be damn'd than Gods decree should fall But Gods decree will constant stand for ever And Sin and Death will alwaies goe together To plead Mans pardon then sweet Mercy Dear Till Iustice be aveng'd doe you forbear For God did say to Man in that same day Thou dost transgress thou dost thy selfe betray To Death and all th'extremities of Hell Which to endure in wrath I 'le thee compell But God did jest the Devill Man perswaded Who from obedience was soon disswaded In earnest then that vengeance God inflict Vpon the Man it stands with Iustice strict For his Decrees God never will dissolve But aye fulfils what once He did resolve Nor can Man for his fault make God amends Since by his fault his Powers all He spends Nor is 't in you kinde Sister to releeve Him From all or any one of h's pains which grieve Him For it directly makes both against Me And 'gainst our Sister Iustice-Equitie Wherefore dear Sister Iustice stoutly stand Maintain thy right in this cause now in hand See thou yeeld not without due satisfaction To free the Man guilty of so foule action Which if you should you God dishonoured And cruelly your Selfe abolished And Me you banish from Gods Heav'nly throne From whence the beams of Truth have ever shone And then forth-with will lies and errours vile Gods glorious Chair eternally defile The summe of all dear Sisters then is this That either Man for what He did amiss Must satisfie which He can never doe Or else must suffer pain of endless woe This is the state which now doth best beseem Him You Mercy may bemone but not redeem Him The case once thus by sacred Truth made plain Made tender-hearted Mercy to complain That she her selfe if she be thus restrain'd From pardoning was needlesly ordain'd For only Man said Mercie needs me most VVhom since I may not help my pow'r is lost VVhat loss therefore to Heaven can acrue If all the Heav'nly Powr's I bid adue Or if likewise those glorious Angels all VVho glory in 't that they them-selves may call The Messengers and Ministers of Mercy Be banished from their society VVith other Angels who from Heav'n dismist May from their due attendance then desist O Heav'ns In all the works of Gods Creation To his great glorie his great Mercie shone And over all in all He doth preserve Mercie doth never from his Goodness swerve And when likewise He ought doth sanctifie Mercie doth still that blessing beautifie And shall not Mercy Mans Redemption move VVhen to have-mercy Mercy most doth love Creation chiefly power doth require And Preservation wisdome doth desire Sanctification Holiness respects Yet Mercie on all these her beams reflects And shall no Mercy in that office shine Which so restrictively I challenge mine Namely to pardon to remit forgive Oh! this is that which makes Mercy to live Which if in Iustice Heav'ns will take-away Mercy must dye and Mankinde must decay Father of Sp'rits ô doe as well delight Of Mercie to be God as God of Right This Sin faln Man raise-up t'integrity Or rase Me out from Heav'ns society What though He sinn'd alas He was but Earth Though dead in Sin thy Grace can give new birth Thogh griev'd w th pains O thou canst ' ford him ease Though Hell gape for Him thou canst Hell appease Thou mad'st Him Thee to bless eternally But damned Soules curse everlastingly What glory will from Him to Thee arise When He in burning Hell blaspheming lies Restore Him gentle God! Restore Him then Thou shalt be prais'd of Angels and of Men. And Me thou crown'st with glory and renowne When over all Wher-at Wrath 'gan to frowne And ere that she could end her supplication Thus cut her off with this sharp replication Our Sister Truth did tell you truth of late In saving Man Iustice you ruinate But though for Man so earnestly you crave Yet 't is a Crown belike that you would have Which so you get you nought at all regard Though Truth and Iustice have no honour spar'd Who notwithstanding are to God as dear As