Selected quad for the lemma: water_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
water_n	cause_v	dry_a	great_a	300	4	2.1418	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53707	Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applyed unto unconverted sinners, and saints under spiritual decayes : in two chapters, from John XVII, xxiv / by the late Reverend John Owen ...	Owen, John, 1616-1683.	1691 (1691)	Wing O769; ESTC R13776	183,162	300

not change it into a thing Divine and Spiritual but preserved it entire in all its Essential Properties and Actings Hence it really did and suffered was tried tempted and forsaken as the same Nature in any other Man might do and be That Nature as it was peculiarly his and therefore he or his Person therein was exposed unto all the temporary Evils which the same Nature is subject unto in any other Person THIS is a short general View of this incomprehensible Condescention of the Son of God as it is described by the Apostle Pil. 2. 5 6 7 8. And this is that wherein in an especial manner we are to behold the Glory of Christ by Faith whilst we are in this World BUT had we the Tongue of Men and Angles we were not able in just measure to express the Glory of this Condescention For it is the most ineffable Effect of the Divine Wisdom of the Father and of the Love of the Son the highest Evidence of the Care of God towards Mankind What can be equal unto it What can be like it It is the Glory of Christian Religion and the animating Soul of all Evangelical Truth This carryeth the Mystery of the Wisdom of God above the Reason or Understanding of Men and Angels to be the Object of Faith and Admiration only A Mystery it is that becomes the Greatness of God with his Infinite Distance form the whole Creation which renders it unbecoming him that all his Ways and Works should be comprehensible by any of his Creatures Job 11. 4 5 9. Rom. 11. 34 35 36. HE who was eternally in the Form of God that is was essentially so God by Nature equally participant of the same Divine Nature with God the Father God over all blessed for ever who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in Heaven and Earth he takes on him the Nature of Man takes it to be his own whereby he was no less truly a Man in time than he was truly God from Eternity And to encrease the Wonder of this Mystery because it was necessary unto the end the designed he so humbled himself in this Assumption of our Nature as to make himself of no Reputation in this World yea unto that Degree that he said of himself that he was a Worm and no Man in comparison of them who were of any Esteem WE speak of these things in a poor low broken manner We teach them as they are revealed in the Scripture We labour by Faith to adhere unto them as revealed But when we come into a steady direct View and Consideration of the thing it self our Minds fail our Hearts tremble and we can find no rest but in an Holy Admiration of what we cannot comprehend Here we are at a loss and know that we shall be so whilst we are in this World But all the ineffable Fruits and Benefits of this Truth are communicated unto them that do believe IT is with reference hereunto that that great Promise concerning him is given unto the Church Isa. 8. 14. He shall be for a Sanctuary namely unto all that believe as it is expounded 1 Pet. 2. 8. but for a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence even to them that stumble at the Word being disobedient whereunto also they were appointed HE is herein a Sanctuary an assured Refuge unto all that betake themselves unto him What is it that any Man in distress who flies thereunto may look for in a Sanctuary A Supply of all his Wants a Deliverance from all his Fears a Defence against all his Dangers is proposed unto him therein Such is the Lord Christ herein unto sin-distressed Souls he is a Refuge unto us in all spiritual Distresses and Disconsolations Heb. 6. 18. See the Exposition of the Place Are we or any of us burdened with a Sense of Sin Are we perplexed with Temptations Are we bowed down under the Oppression of any Spiritual Adversary Do we on any of these accounts walk in Darkness and have no Light One View of the Glory of Christ herein is able to support us and relieve us UNTO whom we betake our selves for Relief in any case we have regard to nothing but their Will and their Power If they have both we are sure of Relief And what shall we fear in the Will of Christ as unto this end What will he not do for us He who thus emptied and humbled himself who so infinitely condescended from the Prerogative of his Glory in his Being and Self-sufficiency in the Susception of our Nature for the Discharge of the Office of a Mediator on our Behalf will he not relieve us in all our Distresses Will he not do all for us we stand in need of that we may be eternally saved Will he not be a Sanctuary unto us NOR have we hereon any Ground to fear his Power For by this infinite Condescention to be a suffering Man he lost nothing of his Power as God Omnipotent nothing of his Infinite Wisdom or glorious Grace He could still do all that he could do as God from Eternity If there be any thing therefore in a Coalescency of Infinite Power with Infinite Condescention to constitute a Sanctuary for distressed Sinners it is all in Christ Jesus And if we see him not glorious herein it is because there is no Light of Faith in us THIS then is the Rest wherewith we may cause the weary to rest and this is the Refreshment Herein is he an hiding place from the Wind and a Covert from the Tempest as Rivers of Water in a dry place and as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land Hereon he says I have satiated the weary soul and have refreshed every sorrowful soul. Under this Consideration it is that in all Evangelical Promises and Invitations for coming to him he is proposed unto distressed Sinners as their only Sanctuary HEREIN he is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence unto the unbelieving and disobedient who stumble at the Word They cannot they will not see the Glory of this Condescention they neither desire nor labour so to do yea they hate it and despise it Christ in it is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence unto them Wherefore they chuse rather utterly to deny his Divine Person than allow that he did thus abase himself for our Sakes Rather than they will own this Glory they will allow him no Glory A Man they say he was and no more and this was his Glory This is that Principle of Darkness and Unbelief which works effectually at this day in the Minds of many They think it an absurd thing as the Jews did of old that he being a man should be God also or on the other hand that the Son of God should thus condescend to take our Nature on him This they can see no Glory in no Relief no Refuge no Refreshment unto their souls in any of their Distresses Therefore do they deny his Divine

belongs properly to the Times of the Gospel when the Righteous were to flourish and it is a Promise of the New Covenant as is manifest in that it is not only given unto Believers but is also extended unto their Seed and Off-spring which is an assured Signature of New Covenant Promises And here is 1. A supposition of what we are in our selves both before and after our Conversion unto God namely as thirsty dry and barren Ground We have nothing in our selves no radical moisture to make us flourishing and fruitful And as it is before so it is after Conversion We are not sufficient of our selves our sufficiency is of God 2 Cor. 3. 5. Being left to our selves we should utterly wither and perish But 2. Here is the blessed Relief which God in this Case hath provided he will pour the sanctifying Water of his Spirit and the Blessing of his Grace upon us And this he will so do as to cause us to spring up as among the Grass as Willows by the water courses There is nothing of a more eminent and almost visible growth than Willows by the water courses Such shall be the Spiritual growth of Believers under the Influences of these Promises that is they shall be fat and flourishing and still bring forth fruit And other Promises of the same Nature there are many but we must observe two things concerning them that we may be satisfied in their Accomplishment As 1. THE Promises of the New Covenant as unto the first Communication of Grace unto the Elect are absolute and inconditional they are the executive conveyances of Gods immutable Purposes and Decrees And what should be the condition of the Communication of the first Grace unto us Nothing that is not Grace can be so If it be said that this also is of God in us which is the Condition of the Communication of the first Saving Grace unto us then I would know whether that be bestowed on us without any Condition if it be then that is the first Grace as being absolutely free if it be not then what is the Condition whereon it is bestowed concerning which the same Enquiry must be made and so for ever But this is the Glory of Convenant Promises that as unto the Communication of the Grace of Conversion and Sanctification unto the Elect they are absolutely free and inconditionnate But 2. THE Promises which respect the Growth Degrees and Measures of this Grace in Believers are not so There are many Duties required of us that these Promises may be accomplished towards us and in us yea watchful Diligence in Universal Gospel Obedience is expected from us unto this end See 2 Pet. 1. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. This is the ordinary Method of the Communication of all supplies of Grace to make us spiritually flourish and be fruitful namely that we be found in the diligent exercise of what we have received God doth sometimes deal otherwise in a way of Soveraignty and surprizeth men with healing Grace in the midst of their Decays and Backslidings as Isaiah 57. 17 18. So hath many a poor Soul been delivered from going down into the Pit The good Shepherd will go out of his way to save a wandring sheep but this is the ordinary method 3. NOTWITHSTANDING these blessed Promises of Growth Flourishing and Fruitfulness if we are negligent in the due Improvment of the Grace which we have received and the discharge of the Duties required of us we may fall into Decays and be kept in a low unthrifty state all our days And this is the principal ground of the Discrepancy between the Glory and Beauty of the Church as represented in the Promises of the Gospel and as exemplified in the Lives and walking of Professors they do not live up unto the Condition of their accomplishment in them howbeit in Gods way and time they shall be all fulfilled We have therefore innumerable blessed Promises concerning the thriving growing and flourishing of the Principle of Spiritual Life in us even in old Age and until Death But the Grace promised unto this end will not befall us whilst we are asleep in Spiritual Sloth and Security Fervent Prayer the exercise of all Grace received with Watchfulness unto all holy Duties are required hereunto 3. GOD hath secured the Growth of this Spiritual Life by the provision of Food for it whereby it may be strengthened and increased for Life must be preserved by Food And this in our Case is the Word of God with all other Ordinances of Divine Worship which depend thereon 1 Pet. 2. 2 3. Whatever the state of this Life be whether in it's Beginning it 's Progress its Decays there is suitable nourishment provided for it in the good Word of Gods Grace If Men will neglect their daily Food that is provided for them it is no wonder if they be weak and thriftless And if Believers are not earnest in their desires after this Food if they are not diligent in providing of it attending unto it much more if through Corruptions and Temptations they count it in the preaching of it light and common Food which they do not value it is no wonder if they fall into Spiritual Decays but God hath herein provided for our growth even unto old Age. AND this is the first thing which was proposed unto Confirmation namely that the Constitution and Nature of Spiritual Life is such as to be indeficient so as to thrive and grow even in old Age and unto the end THE Second thing proposed is That notwithall this provision for the Growth of Spiritual Life in us Believers especially in a long course of Profession are subject to Decays such as may cast them into great Perplexities and endanger their Eternal Ruine AND these Spiritual Decays are of two sorts 1. Such as are gradual and universal in the loss of the vigour and Life of Grace both in it's Principle and in it's Exercise 2. Such as are occasioned by Surprizal into Sin through the Power of Temptation I mean such Sins as do waste the Spiritual Powers of the Soul and deprive it of all solid peace AS for Temporary Believers give them but time enough in this World especially if it be accompanied with outward Prosperity or Persecution and for the most part their Decays of one sort or another will make a discovery of their Hypocrisie Though they retain a Form of Godliness they deny the Power of it Prov. 1. 31. And if they do not openly relinquish all Duties of Religion yet they will grow so Lifeless and favourless in them as shall evidence their Condition for so it is with them who are lukewarm who are neither hot nor cold who have a Name to live but are dead AND herein lyeth a signal difference in this matter between sincere Believers and those who believe only for a time for those of the latter sort do either not perceive their Sickness and Decays their Minds being taken up and possessed with