Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n
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A51257
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A lamentation over the dead in Christ, not as those without hope; with instruction, admonition, and encouragement to the survivers As it should have been delivered to the people (had not Satan hindered) at the funeral of Mr. Henry Rix of Cambridge, Jan. 19. 1656--7. in pursuance of his earnest request on his deathbed. Now published for the benefit of those that will hear. By Thomas Moore junior.
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Moore, Thomas, Junior.
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1657
(1657)
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Wing M2604; ESTC R216352
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46,108
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56
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being found in him and so it is upon all them that beleeve for there is no difference for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus That vers 24. answers to and shews the reason of both the former branches viz. That the righteousness of God is unto all and upon all them that beleeve though all have sinned c. and so is to be understood in a two-fold sence 1 The whole Nature is justified in the second man Christ Jesus that stood for all to bear their sins in which all have already sinned and with which the whole Nature is thence polluted in that he is justified for them from the sins imputed to him in his Resurrection and this is freely by his grace through the Redemption in Jesus 2. All that beleeve every one of them beleeving what he hath done and is become for sinners and so through his Name beleeving on him are in their particular persons justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in him God accepts them in his Son and remembers not nor doth impute to them their former wickedness or present unprofitableness but imputeth to them righteousness without works as in Acts 10. 35. 43. that saying That in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with him vers 35. is thus explicated as fulfilled among those where the Gospel comes That through his name whosoever beleeveth on him shall receive the forgiveness of sins vers 43. So Acts 13. 39. By him all that beleeve are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses they are delivered from under the condemnation of the wrath which in respect of the execution of it is yet to come under which they all abide that on hearing beleeve not on the Son of God 1 Thes 1. 10. Joh. 3. 18. 36. He justifieth even the ungodly beleeving and so coming to and being found in the righteous one that being justified freely by his grace they might be more and more made heirs according to the hope of eternal life given us in Christ that through the righteousness of God and our Saviour they might be made to be meet partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Rom. 3. 20-22-24 25 26. 4. 3 4 5. Tit. 3. 4-7 And so 3 Therefore also are such beleevers on his name called The righteous because the end and fruit of this righteousness of God and our Saviour in which beleeving they are accepted is also that through the knowledge and faith thereof the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in them even the righteous affections and services the Law required but gave no strength to bring forth as well as the life and peace it was ordained to but could not give that the beleever might bee filled with the fruits of righteousness by Jesus Christ Rom. 8. 2 3 4. Phil. 1. 10 11. even the fruites of the Spirit whose evidence and demonstration is of Christ in his testimony bringing forth in the beleeving receiver love joy peace long suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance And they that are Christs have in the light and strength of the Lord crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts That henceforth they should not serve sin Rom. 6. Gal. 5. They beleeving with the heart that God hath raised Christ from the dead doe through the grace and power of that beleeved and beleeved in receive in a first fruits of the Spirit the end of their faith even the salvation of their souls for with the heart man beleeveth unto righteousness in this sence also Giving all diligence through the knowledge of him they adde to or in their faith vertue his goodnesse compassions holinesse c. as manifested in Christ frames to some likenesse or conformity to him in like love bowels mercies holinesse c. And so in their vertue they adde or proceed to further knowledge tastes and proof of his graciousnesse and therein temperance and so godlinesse brotherly kindness charity Hence it is the Apostles would have these things namely the righteousnesse of God and our Saviour through which they were made partakers of such precious and operative faith to bee always bad in remembrance seeing hereby they were saved if they kept in memory 1 Cor. 15. 1-4 2 Pet. 1. 1-12 c. this word of faith and so this faith that is of the operation of God is not without its works It works through love as from the consideration of Gods love in Christ as the foundation and fountaine of it whence it hath all its fresh Springs so in a channel of love towards God and man It favours therefore of ignorance of the righteousness of God and our Saviour and of the preciousnesse of this faith of Gods operation through it when any say to us That it is not enough for us with the heart to beleeve and close with Gods testimony concerning Christ but we must also look for the work of the Spirit inwardly to quicken save and sanctifie us such sayings at least signifie that the work of the Spirit for quickning saving and sanctifying the soul is another thing besides and divided from this testimony and not certainly met with in this way of beleeving and having the heart and minde exercised and stayed on that name and grace of his beleeved so that a man may with his heart beleeve and confesse that God hath raised Christ from the dead and yet not therein experiment the quickning and saving work of the Spirit contrary to Rom. 10. 9 10. 1 Cor. 15. and so doe indeed lead beleevers having begun in the Spirit to seek to bee made perfect by the flesh True it is a man may say he hath faith when yet his faith hath no works nor spirit left in it only an empty and idle opinionating such a thing or professing to beleeve it as true without any hearty mindfulnesse of the importance or grace of the truth he pretends to cleeve And of such a faith James saith Can it save faith if it have no works is dead a spiritlesse and unprofitable thing being alone yea even that faith is signified by him to be nothing else but a dead Carcasse pretence outside profession or shew of that which indeed is not or not with the heart not kept in beleeving remembrance and mindfulnesse for even there he signifies that if it were unfeigned or with the heart according to the discoveries given lesse or more it would work savingly like as the same Propositions beleeved to be true by the Devils works horror because they speak as much against them as they doe for man even so man any of mankind beleeving with the heart it would be unto righteousnesse Let God bee true and every man a lyar if any say hee stedfastly and with his heart beleeves the truth and greatnesse of Gods love to man ward as
rich men and Rulers of the people see at large Micha 6. declaring the procuring cause of that Judgement of the good man perishing out of the earth such they were as that the good man being perished or taken away from among them the best of them was a Bryar and the most upright as a Thorn-hedge see Chap. 7. 3. 4 5. yea in Ezekiels time many of them did shew much love and respect to the Prophet while hee was among them and he was to them as a pleasant Song yet they would not regard his words to doe them or to suffer their saving operation in them for their heart went after their covetousnes and that is there given as the reason of the Judgement threatned in which they should know that a Prophet had been among them Ezek. 33. 30 33. 3 Others there are that through the knowledge of God in Christ have made some escape from them that live in errour and from the pollutions that are in the world through Lust and some of them have stood against many strong temptations and have tried those that say they are Apostles and are not and found them Lyars and yet after all this turn again with the Dogge to his vomit and with the Sow to her wallowing in the mire leaving their first love to that person and to the excellent knowledge of him Some with a more high hand then others turn from the holy Commandement after knowledge of the truth received and turning away their ears from the truth are turned aside to Fables even to such damnable Heresies as in which privily under pretence of magnifying him the Lord that bought them is denied by them others cleaving to and embracing this present world not continuing in but forsaking the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship not discerning or considering and remembring the excellency grace and vertue of the Lords Body that was broken for us and for such like iniquity God threatens the removing of their Candlestick Revel 2. 1 5. Now if yet we would judge our selves we should not be further judged of the Lord if when his hand is lifted up even to destroy and make an utter desolation yet if any take notice of it and say I have sinned and perverted that which was right and it profited mee not then he is gracious and saith Deliver him from going down to the pit for I have found a ransome If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and the bloud of Jesus cleanseth us from all sin but he that hideth his sin shall not prosper hee that being often reproved hardneth his neck shall suddenly fall and that without remedy and this leads us to the next Branch of instruction namely 2 That when God so strikes and yet none lay to heart or consider it it s an evidence of great hardnesse and wilful blindnesse in such a people and a sign and fore-runner of greater judgements The truth of this is evidenced in the fore-mentioned Scriptures yet for farther and more particular demonstration of it See also Isa 26. 9. Oh Lord when thine hand is lifted up they will not see it but they shall see and be ashamed c. Jer. 5. When God hath threatned and begun to make desolations as chap. â— Then he saith Run to and fro through the streets and broad places And see now if yee can finde a man if there be any that executeth judgement that seeketh the truth and I will pardon it And though they say The Lord liveth and swear by his Name surely they swear falsly O Lord are not thine eyes upon the truth thou hast stricken them but they have not grieved thou hast consumed them but they have refused to receive correction they have made their faces harder than a rock they have refused to return and in this also the poor and rich did agree to break the yoke and burst the bands as Psal 2. Therefore a Lion out of the Forrest shall slay them A Wolf of the Evenings that comes privily to devour like that spirit of Antichrist and ministers of Satan Prophesied of to abound in the last days that come with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish privily bringing in damnable Heresies denying the Lord that bought them such an enemy shall spoyl and destroy them God shall send them strong delusions by giving permissive commission to Satan aâ— in the case of Ahah 1 King 22. 19 22. that they should beleeve a lye that they all might bee damned who beleeved not the truth but bad pleasure in unrighteousnesse Surely his soul shall be avenged on such a Nation as this See also Psal 78 64 65 c. What then shall wee say when in stead of laying it to heart and considering it and being grieved many rejoyce and sport themselves at such judgements as Micah 7. 8. Isa 57. 3 4. imagining they shall now have their desire and that the Righteous being taken away their name even the good name of God that was upon them shall perish as Psal 41. 5 6 7. and therefore encourage themselves in their evil wayes doctrines and practises faithful reprovers that were a terrour to them being ceased from them now they say as Psal 12. our tongues are our own who is Lord over us And now aâ— men delivered to do such abominations they speak vanity every one with his neighbour with a flattering lip and double heart thinking to prevail with their lip or doctrine now to root out the lip of knowledge encouraging themselves as if the foundations of the righteous were destroyed and therefore reproachfully saying to the poor that hath no helper but God and yet puts his trust in him where is now thy God thy hope thy confidence what can the righteous do Mic. 7. 10. Psal 11. But our God who is our rock and foundation is in his holy Temple in his Son our very present help and strong Tower of defence to save us The Lords throne is in Heaven from whence his eyes behold his eye lids trye the children of men hee is a God by whom actions are weighed in an even ballance and though hee do not speedily execute judgement against evil works because hee delights in mercy and would not that any should perish but that all should come to repentance such his gracious affection towards sinners even rebellious ones in this day of his grace and patience yet all these things are laid up in store with him sealed up among his treasures and shall be brought forth when every secret thing shall bee brought to light and God shall manifest the counsels of the heart then no more patience or forbearance to bee exercised towards rebels the Lord shall laugh then at their calamity and mock when their fear commeth yea the Lord himself shall come and ten thousands of his Saints to execute judgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly amongst them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed