Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	work_n	world_n	worthy_a	116	3	5.9909	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A43586	A new creature: or, A short discourse, opening the nature, properties, and necessity of the great work of the new creation upon the souls of men Being some plain discourses on Galatians vi. 15. By O. H. an unworthy minister of the Gospel.	Heywood, Oliver, 1629-1702.	1695 (1695)	Wing H1774; ESTC R221314	109,851	208

you all yet he 's a damned Fiend in Hell Gifts come upon another Errand than Grace 1 Cor. 12.7 Gifts are given to profit others Grace for a man's own Soul 19th Plea I am verily perswaded I am sound at Heart my Conscience flyes not in my Face yea I have great Peace Joy and Comfort within Answ God knows whether your Peace be of the right Stamp or no I have told you there 's a Peace of the Devil 's speaking and that may arise from Conscience's Sleep Security I now tell you of a Joy rising from the common workings of the Spirit the stony Ground hearers anon with Joy received the Word Mat. 13.20 but had no Root Luk. 8.13 It 's not to tell what Joy and Triumph some may conceive upon a Mistake Some taste of the good Word yea of the heavenly Gift Gal. 6.3 James 1.22 Yet fall away totally and finally Heb. 6.4 5 6. Look to your selves thousands deceive themselves in this weighty Affair 20th Plea You are seeking to drive us to despair but that I will never do I will hope well still say what you will Answ There 's a double despair 1st Good and Necessary a despair of ever being saved in the state of Nature wherein we are born and this God brings the Sinner to in order to planting sound Hope and sincere Faith in the Soul 2dly There 's an Evil sinful despair of obtaining Mercy at God's hands through Christ God forbid we should drive Sinners to this despair no no it s the former we aim at Such as Paul felt Rom 7.9 I was alive without the Law once but when the Commandment came sin revived and I dyed ie I saw my self in a damnable state no hopes of Salvation while I continued in the state of Nature we are sure till Souls see themselves condemned they will never look after a Pardon it 's this we drive men to Therefore 2dly there 's a twofold Hope 1. A bad a false rotten Hope that 's built upon mens Fansie and Imagination Job 8.14 11.20 This will be swept away like a Spiders-Web give up the Ghost what hath the Hypocrite gained by his hope when God taketh away his Soul ch 27.8 It 's the best Office we can do the Sinner to break the Heart of this groundless Hope that we might bring in a better Hope Hence 2. There 's a good Hope through Grace an Hope that will not make ashamed 2 Thes 2.17 Rom. 5.5 An Hope that rests upon the Promises of Grace in the Gospel it s this that will do Men good at the last but men must be sure to observe and comply with the terms of the Promise else it is groundless presumption A Prince hath as much reason to be offended with him that keeps not close to his Commission as with another that acts without a Commission The Israelites of Old saith one durst make God and his Promise a Leaning-stock for their foul Elbows to rest on Isa 48.2 They call themselves the holy City and stay themselves upon the God of Israel See also Micah 3.11 Nothing more common yet nothing more dangerous for such are more bold then welcome for though a Prince may be so condescending as to let a poor Sick or Wounded Man especially in his Service fainting and unable to go alone upon his humble request make use of his Arm rather then perish in the Street yet would reject a reeling Drunkard if he desired to lean on him thus a poor bleeding humble Penitent is entertained when a presumptuous Rebel is kickt off with infinite abhorrency we must incourage the former and convince the latter that their Hope may be dasht and another Hope begot again a lively hope 1 Pet. 1.3.1 John 3.3 that teacheth Persons to cleanse themselves be planted in the Soul For the wicked is driven away in his wickedness but the righteous hath hope in his Death Prov-14 32. Chap. VII An Use of Correction for Reforming Sinners Mistakes MY third Use is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Correction or Castigation of what is amiss in order to a Restitution of the Souls of Sinners to their pristin rectitude for that 's the notion of this Word for it signifies not only Correction of Manners but rectifying of inward Faculties as Criticks observe I must confess the Work is arduous and indeed 't is impossible for a finite Creature to work this New Creature the best Ministers are but Instruments and what can the Ax do without the Hand to move it or the Sword without the Hand to wield it Who then is Paul and who is Apollos but Ministers by whom ye believed 1 Cor. 3.5 I am said worthy Mr. Baxter but a Pe● for God to write with Well then shall we do nothing because we cannot do all He tha● set us a work is able to second our Work with his Benediction the World hath been form'● new by this blessed Word of Truth I shall therefore make one Experiment more to see what the great God will do for a New Creation upon the Souls of Men humbly imploring the Blessing of Heaven upon my poor Endeavours In prosecuting this Point I shall use some perswasive Arguments to prevail with poo● Sinners to look after it in due time 2. Answer what Objections Sinners can make against it and so make way for the next Use of Instruction 7. For Motives Arguments I shall not repeat any thing drawn ab utili the advantages thereof used in the Doctrinal part as 1. Rectifying the Souls Faculties 2. Evidencing Electing Love 3. Consecrating the Soul for God 4. Fitting it for Communion with God 5. Entituling to Christ 6. Producing true Joy 7. Intailing all things profitable 8. Putting the Soul into a safe State 9. As rendring them useful 10. Fitting them for Gospel-Privileges 11. Preparing them for Death and Heaven 12. Yea is an Heaven begun All these might be improved as strong Arguments to perswade Sinners to press after it But I shall further draw some Arguments à periculo from the danger Sinners are in till they become New Creatures 1. If you are not New Creatures you are not true Christians For if any man be in Christ he is a New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 i.e. Whoever is worthy the Name of Christian fit for so high a Character he must necessarily be a New Creature or else he arrogates to himself an high Title not belonging to him And alas what will a bare Name signifie nomen inane crimen immane arrogating such an high Title is a piece of high Presumption nay it s no less then Blasphemy when men call themselves Jews or Chri●tians and are not Rev. 2.9 Even as it is Treason against the rightful Soveraign for any Sub●ect to intitle himself King what horrid Presumption are graceless Sinners guilty of for whatever you may account your selves God accounts you no better then Heathens uncircumcised Judah is ranked with Aegypt Edom Ammon Moab in Scripture Jer. 9.26 Are ye not as children of

Nature of this New Creature take this Description of it The New Creature is a supernaturl Work of Gospel-Grace wrought in the Soul of a Sinner by the Word and Spirit of God changing the whole Man from an old state and course into a new thereby transforming it into the Divine Likeness and turning the Heart and Life to the rule of the Word in order to the glory of God and the Souls present and everlasting communion with him This is the New Creature I confess this Description is long but I cannot leave out any of the parts thereof I shall very briefly open the Branches of this description 1. For the general Nature of it I call it a Supernatural Work for it is above the power of nature to produce it it comes from above so he that 's born again John 3.3 Is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from above This perfect Gift comes down from the Father of Lights James 1.17 That Jerusalem that 's above is the Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 This New Creature is no Herb that grows in Nature's Garden it s a Plant of Paradise Flesh and Blood cannot so much as reveal this to the sons of men Matth. 16.17 Therefore it s no wonder if learned Doctors such as Nicodemus laugh at such Doctrine as Fantastical Fancies and say How can these things be John 3.4 Or like Ezekiel's hearers who saith Ah Lord God they say of me Doth he not speak Parables Ezek. 20.49 For such wisdom is too high for a Fool. Psal 56.9 In God's light only must we see light Experience is the best Mistriss in these Cases We speak wisdom saith the Apostle among them that are perfect But the natural man receives not the things of the spirit of God 1 Cor. 2 6 14. This New Crerture is of a Coelestial Original and must have an heavenly Interpreter 2. In this Description we have the particular Nature of this New Creature I call it a Gospel-Grace it is no branch or fruit of the Old Covenant of Works for the Law maketh nothing perfect There was no Law which could give Life Gal. 3.2 21 28. But the New-Testament Dispensation called the Promise this only produceth the New Creation Objection You 'l say Had not Old-Testament Saints this New Creature Doth not David say Create in me a clean heart Psal 51.10 I Answer Old-Testament-Saints had a New-Testament-Spirit for they without us could not be made perfect Heb. 11.40 The same Gospel belonged to them and us and was preached to both Heb. 4.2 Abraham saw Christ's Day they all partaked of Gospel Grace John 8.56 both in Justification and Sanctification they were but different Editions of the same Gospel-Covenant they were as Children in Minority under Tutors and Governours Gal. 4.1 2 25. Gospel-Saints as Children at Age their state was under the Bond woman in Mount Sinai Ours is of Jerusalem which is free However that Gospel-Promise made known in the Old Testament belongs both to them and us Ezek. 36.26 A new Heart also will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you This is the proper Gospel-Work in both Dispensations and sincere Believers of Old had experience of it tho' the Veil was upon the Face of Moses 2 Cor. 3.14 15. and the Hearts of Carnal Jews as it is on all Unbelievers to this day but Gospel-Grace renews Souls 3. Here 's the subject in which this New Creature is and that is in the Soul or Heart of a sinner There 's the Seat and Centre of this New Creation it s not meerly external in the Eye or Foot or Hand or Tongue but it s an internal work in the Soul the Christian is renewed in the Spirit of his Mind Ephes 4.23 Behold saith David thou desirest Truth in the inward parts in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know Wisdom Psal 51.6 It s called the hidden man of the heart 1 Pet. 3.4 Not but that it breaks out in Lip and Life but the Root and Spring lies under Ground out of the view of the world as the best Treasures are lock'd up the best Goods are under Deck or as Merchants Wares lie in a back Shop not exposed to the open view of the World A Christians Life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 Hence they are called God's hidden Ones Psal 83.3 And the King's Daughter is all glorious within Psal 45.13 These gracious Souls are like Kings in disguise and it doth not yet appear what they shall be 1 John 3.2 But when the Shell is broken the Pearl will appear all external Changes in men are but the change of the Clothes this the change of the Man and his Manners For he is not a Jew that is one outwardly but inwardly Right Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit not in the Letter whose praise is not of men but of God Rom. 2.20 30. It is wrought by God and known to God who alone searcheth and sees the Heart 4. The Instrumental or Organical Cause of this New Man which is the Word of God Rom. 1.16 This is the power of God to Salvation James 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us by the Word of Truth 1 Pet. 1.23 Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth for ever The Word is the Seed which being ingrafted in the Heart springeth up in obedience which is the Flower and visible product of the New Creature yea 't is properly the Gospel-Word Moses or the Law may bring us to the Borders but Joshua leads us into Canaan the terrors of the Law prepare the way as John Baptist but the Word of the Gospel is the door of Faith that takes Souls by the hand and leads them into the Chamber of Presence this is God's method to work this New Man by a powerful Gospel-Sermon so saith blessed Paul 1 Cor. 4.15 I have begotten you in Jesus Christ through the gospel there 's the Instrument Paul I have begotten you the means by the gospel the author in Jesus Christ faith comes by hearing Rom. 10.14 Prov. 8.34 Therefore let all lie at the Gates of Wisdom Expect not this New Creation if you turn your backs on God's Institutions 5. The Efficient Cause is the Holy Ghost The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us Rom. 5.5 Oh what a gracious Tincture doth the Spirit leave upon Hearts what a sweet Breath doth it breath into them which breaths out Love to God and Men How is this New Creature diffused into all the Faculties of the Soul by the Spirit This is both a Seal and an Earnest who hath also sealed us Eph. 6.13 14. and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts 2 Cor. 1.22 All good is conveyed to us by the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son especially this Saving Good of Conversion we are born again of Water and of the Spirit John 3.3 8.