Selected quad for the lemma: work_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
work_n	abraham_n	faith_n	justification_n	12,256	5	9.7440	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39163	A vindication of the ministers of Christ from the slander cast on them that they are house-creepers, because they sometimes preach in private houses : also proving by the Scripture who are house-creepers, and the evil they do where their corrupt doctrine is received / held forth in two sermons on 2 Tim. 3. 6., by W.E.	W. E.	1673 (1673)	Wing E44; ESTC R36132	30,217	55

love of the truth i.e. though they had some illuminations and some knowledge of the truth yet they had not the love of the truth in their hearts they did not receive it as from God and so subject themselves unto it but their hearts did rise against it because it crossed their lusts and wills Now God in his just judgment doth give such over to beleeve a lye This you may take notice of that where God is graciously pleased to afford means of knowledge to a people and that people do either slight it and take little notice of it or else content themselves in a bare external profession and do not receive it in love and submission God is pleased sometime to give such over to be very corrupt indeed and to embrace errours contrary to those truths that formerly they have received how many have there been in these times lately past that have lived under a profession and seemed very zealous and forward and yet some corruption swaying their hearts they have not only fallen off from that fervour in the Ordinances of God but have looked on them as below their attainments and as needless things to them and look on the vaine fancies and conceits that arise in their mindes to be the breathings and moveings of the Spirit of God and at last cast off all shew of Religion and question whether there be any Religion or God yea or no Now consider this what a sad and dreadfull thing is this to fall into such delusions and yet how many were there of those whom God was pleased thus to give over whom one would have thought should never have received such things as these in their hearts But it hath been evident by fad and wofull experience and this indeed is not to be admired at but we may rather marvel that it is not general amongst us considering how we have slighted the Gods Word and denyed the power of it in our lives God is pleased once more to give us this liberty that we should openly enjoy his Ordinances Let us remember that God will not suffer such mercys to be abused It is high time for us to look to our selves to labour to know the mind and will of God and knowing it to embrace it with affection and obedience If we know not the things that belong to our peace in the day of our visitation we cannot expect but that the issue will be sad that God may judicially give men over to a spirit of delusion that they shall run into the most dreadfull and erroneous opinions and all kind of grosse and idolatrous superstitions and wickedness And thus we have cleared the point the grounds follow 1. Because ignorant persons through the ignorance and blindness of their understandings are not able to judge and try things and to put difference between things that differ Men that know not truth from errour may be easily deceived especially when there is an outward shew and fair glosse put upon it A man may easily be overcome in Combate that is discovered or that hath no skill to use his armes Many men live without Gods Word and though they have it do not know how to manage this Sword of the Spirit as it is called by the Apostle they know not how to defend themselves nor to offend those that assault them And Satan is he is especially subtill so his 〈◊〉 have learned this policy of him when they hear men pleading Scripture and observe their unskil fullness in the Scriptures they will plead Scripture too As now for defence of the Doctrine of merit by good works that by these men might be made worthy and obtaine eternal life this Scripture will be strongly pleaded 1 Tim. 6.18.19 Look here say they it is clear and evident that we ought to lay up good works in store for our selves as a good foundation by virtue of which we may obtain eternal life But the falshood of this is easily discovered if we look to the 17. v. Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high minded nor trust in uncertain riches Charge them ●y plead th●● they are beleevers and that they be not high minded they are apt since they beleeve in God it shall be well enough with them But let them shew their faith by their fruitfullness in good works let their faith be manifested in their practice especially in their readiness to releeve the distressed members of Christ for this is that which Christ will take especiall notice of before the whole world Wherefore we must not so understand the Apostle as if by this expression Laying up in store for themselves were meant the merit of good works which give us right to eternal life but that it might be evident that they are such as have beleeved in Christ by their fruitfullness in good works for where the Spirit of God is in the heart that Spirit teacheth a beleever to manifest the efficacy of his faith in a godly life and conversation and in a readiness to distribute to the necessitous members of Christ Likewise that place Col. 1. ● That ye might walk worthy of the Lord c. Now say they how should we walk worthy and what is our worthiness but by way of reward But that which the Apostle calls worthiness is no more then suitableness and meetness as v. 12. Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be Partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Now how are we made meet and worthy surely not by any thing in us but by Christ only as the next words shew v. 13 14. So that we are not made meet by any works of our own but we come to be made meet by being clensed from our sins and clothed in the righteousness of Christ by being taken out of Adam and implanted into Christ and so having received the Spirit of Christ we are made meet to be Partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light There is a suitableness in this life to that heavenly and glorious life that we shall live with God for ever So that this is an abuse of Scripture I might shew you that life cannot be obtained by works of charity or by any thing that we can do It cannot be by works of charity for mind that which the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 13.3 Men may give all their Goods to the poor as too many ignorant souls have done amongst the Papists Nay men may give their bodies to be burned but yet if they have not Charity i. e. if the love of God be not shed abroad in their hearts and the work be not done from a principle of love it is unacceptable Mind also that which the Apostle saith Eph. 2.8 9. By grace ye are saved through faith c. That is to say works have no hand no share at all in this great work Again they abule that place Jam. 2.21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works here to

establish their Justification by works they bring the same Argument that the Apostle brought in another sense The same way that Abraham was justified the same way are all the faithful justified But Abraham was justified by works therefore by works are all the faithful justified But compare this with Pauls Epistle to the Romans chap. 4. v. 2 3. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness What was counted why that which Abraham believed in and rested on that is the righteousness of Christ but it was before men only that Abraham was justified by works for we must observe that the Apostle Paul speaketh of Justification before God and the Apostle James of Justification before men so that in confounding these lieth the subtilty of the adversary Now on this account they will bring Scripture poor people that are ignorant and unskilful in the Word of God when they hear a man bring Scripture to confirm his errors Oh say they he proved it out of Scripture though it be directly contrary to Gods Word Likewise they bring that place Mat. 25.34 For I was hungry c. But it is as clear as the Sun that that place is not to be so understood as if their works were the cause why Christ did bring them to glory but those works were mention'd as fruits and effects of faith which were evident to all faith it self is secret and discernable to none but God himself but works are discernable to all and therefore it was meet that Christ passing a sentence of Acquittance and Absolution on them should recite it to all even as a Judge doth recite all that by which the person is absolved so Christ doth here shewing that their faith is not a dead faith but a living saith that did work by love and carried them to obedience to God so that this is in respect of their Justification before the whole world Again they will urge Scripture as for the manner of Worship yea though they have no Word of God for it yet they will tell you that their Ceremonies are for the beautifying and adorning of the Church and for decency in the Worship of God that things are not to be done confusedly but in order Whereas indeed those things are most orderly that we have Christs Word for and that is most decent that Christ thinketh most fit and decent for Christ being the Lord of the House that is decent which he appointeth in the House But alas Men when they hear a Scripture produced though they do not consider the thing that is there intended yet are soon startled and hence are people driven into the most abominable opinions As for instance to receive that abhorred Doctrine of the Popish Mass Why say the Papists doth not Christ expressely say This is my Body And is not Christ the Author of truth And ought we to question any thing that Christ hath said Whenas Christ speaketh figuratively that the Bread and Wine were figures and did represent spiritually the Body and Blood of Christ Christ speaketh Sacramentally and by way of a Figure that is usual in the Scriptures as sometimes Christ calleth himself A Door and A Vine So is Circumcision called A Covenant And God saith that those that were Circumcised had broke his Covenant because Circumcision was the sign of the Covenant So that it cannot be the meaning of Christ that h● should intend that the Bread and Wine was his natural Body and Blood for he was then alive and visible before his disciples 2. Because their doctrine doth suit to the corruption that is in mens hearts Now those that we are speaking of are not able to see the evil and the strong inclinations of their h●arts to that which is evil but being that which doth suit to their corrupt hearts therefore they receive it For herein lieth the difference between the Ministers of Christ and false teachers The Ministers of Christ holding forth the truths of Christ have nothing of Man to lay hold on for corrupt doctrine doth suit with corrupt natures such a doctrine as this is to extol Justification by VVorks or at least that works have some share in it this doth exceedingly take with corrupt hearts Also to worship God after the Inventions of Men and to frame a manner of worship of our own this is that which mens hearts are in love withal they think that by this they deserve at Gods Hand and such corrupt doctrines they will drink in as sweet wine though in the end they will find it a bitter poison 3. Because they are ignorant and not able to understand the great danger that is in such corrupt doctrine how much it tendeth to the dishonour of God and how greatly it provoketh the Lord-Those that are ignorant do little think that the setting up Mans works in the point of Justification doth exceedingly affront the Divine Majesty such slight the Love of God in the Gift of his Son for if we are able to justifie our selves what need have we of Christ Christ is also exceedingly provoked by setting up the rags of their own righteousness as Co-Partners with his righteousness nay to set it above the righteousness of Christ this is that which doth exceedingly provoke him therefore the Prophet Isaiah speaketh to such in the Name of Christ This ye shall have at my hands ye shall lie down in sorrow They render the Spirit of God a Liar who when he hath declared that there is no salvation in any other but in Christ alone and that this is the great design of God that he will magnifie his own grace and abase man that no flesh shall glory in his sight I say they give a lie to the Spirit of God who assert their own righteousness for Justification Again they do not know the danger of the corrupt mixture of the devices of men with the Justitutions of Christ they know not what danger it is to oppose Christ in his own house wherof he is the Lord these men knew it not Therefore they are advised Ps 2 to kiss the Son I tell you to go to disenthrone Christ and to rule in his house is another thing then men are aware of Thus you see the reason why ignorant persons are so easily seduced and drawn into errour The Reasons why they prevail on such that are in bondage under some lust or lusts may be these 1. Because they suit their doctrines to the lusts of men that harden their hearts and strengthen their hands in their iniquities that is the reason why corrupt doctrine is embraced by such The false prophets saw well enough that Ahab had a mind to go up to Ramoth Gilead and they had a minde to please Ahab Oh say they Go up and prosper So those prophets in Jeremiah's time saw that the people had a good mind to live loosely and prophanely but they were terrified by 〈◊〉 Prophet Jeremiah see how they suit their doctrine to their lusts Peace shall be