Selected quad for the lemma: work_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
work_n	dead_a	faith_n	lively_a	5,187	5	10.6802	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53307	The race set before us, shewing the necessity laid upon gospel-believers, to run with diligence thorow all gospel-duties. A sermon preached in London, May 11. 1665. at Mercers-Chappel, unto that most eminent company, the Company of the Mercers. By Giles Oldisworth, Master of Arts, and rector of Burton on the Hill, in Gloucester-shire.	Oldisworth, Giles, 1619-1678.	1666 (1666)	Wing O254; ESTC R214468	20,280	47

we v 4 have not Barnabas and I as lawful power to eate and drink things sacrificed to idols as have any of you Hath not he Have not I v 5 as much right to lead about a Wife for mine own enjoyment as have James and John yea as Peter himself hath We labour with our hands for our livelyhoods v 6 but have not we a power to forbear working Verily as it is v 7 unjust that one should war for another at his own charge as it is v 9 unreasonable to muzzle the Oxe which treadeth out the Corne so v 14 the Lord hath ordained that they and therefore I which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel yet v 15 I have used none of these liberties In short my business is not to please my self in whatsoever I may but to edifie others wherein soever I can and this I doe v 23 that I may with you partake not of destructive libertie but of a Gospel-reward A tacite Objection Quest How falleth in this v 24th Answ While our Authour hitherto gave him-self for an example carnal hearts would quickly object What is St. Pauls example unto us His self-denyal is no tye upon other persons he because a grand Apostle preferreth severity of life before either freedome or profit but they who abide private Christians they who minde not high things they who affect no such popularity may even leave St. Paul to His strictness while they for their parts stand fast in that liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free Removed Thus thus men of corrupt mindes would be apt to argue but this tacite objection our v. 24th preventeth this sort of gain-sayers our Apostle undeceiveth saith he Never mistake your selves this strictness of mine is no more then what is necessary Know ye not that many profess the Gospel but few obey it as they ought So run thorow every Gospel-duty that ye may at last obtain the hope which is set before you Ye see now we can none of us be followers of St. Paul as he here giveth himself for an example unless we more earnestly strive to perform our duties then they strive who run to win a race That my first proof Proof 2 viz. From the present verse But wherefore should we dwell upon the Context since the Text it self so plainly confirmeth this truth Know ye not that they which run in a race run all but one onely receiveth the prize Beloved that race was a vain sport that prize a corruptible crown but the race set before us is spiritual and the crown after which we press is eternal Now if none could receive that corruptible crown but he and he onely which out-ran all others neither can we receive the high prize of our calling in Christ Jesus unless we strive more earnestly to obtain it then they did strive who ran that race Application By this time these sayings have sunk deep into your ears For who can call this Precept unto his remembrance and not understand for time to come or Who can wisely understand these saving Truths and neglect to work out that salvation which is in Christ Jesus Nevertheless that each of you may not onely be but continue wise unto salvation that all of you may not onely run but so run that ye may obtain unto me it will not be grievous to press forward unto Application Reproof 1 Christians Ought we to perform all Gospel-duties with so great a watchfulness Must we so run as if we were running a race yea and so run this race too as they who are running for a prize Doth the Holy Ghost command us to run and to run so Then is this commandment a Reproof unto those inconsiderate careless stupid Creatures who heed not whether there be any such race set before us or no Alas although truth be the adequate object of the understanding yea although the more considerable any truth is the more in reason it should work upon the understanding yet by some idle-minded persons the weightiest points are lightest set by Death Judgement Hell Eternity how unquestionable these Yet the Lord forgive us seldom do we meditate upon these things Know we not that we have every one of us as well a soul to be saved as a body yet to their shame 〈◊〉 speak it some among us more frequently cleanse from filthiness the nails of our fingers or the hair of our head I had almost said the hair of our Pery-wigs then these precious these immortal souls of oures If with fear and trembling we must strive to run and so to run that we may obtain blame worthy are all such and such are most among us that neither care to obtain nor strive to run That is the first Reproof 2 Secondly seeing we should all of us run and run to obtain This reproveth presumptions Reprobates who instead of running from the torments of hell unto the pleasures of heaven that is instead of running from a state of nature to a state of grace from a heart of unbeleif to a lively faith from a dung-hill of dead works unto fruits of righteousness doe run from bad to worse Such harden themselves in their own naturall corruptions Such give themselves over unto a perpetual backsliding whatsoever looketh toward godliness and true holiness that they despise wicked miscreants but desperately wicked Is it not enough that you neglect to run unless instead of running forward ye lye down in your shame Can you not be content that ye desert the race unless you trample under foot the prize which is set before you Our gracious and mercifull God desireth that even you would obtain an inheritance with the Saints in light and doe you take a vain glory in selling your selves unto the Prince of darkness O ye fooles when will ye understand Reproof 3 Thirdly Since there is no obtaining salvation in Christ Jesus unless we so run as we ought inexcusable are multitudes who although they doe not deliberately harden themselvess in running contrary to God yet if they doe but run at all heed not whether they so run that they may obtain You luke-warm Professors will you accompt that a good fight which is only a beating the aire will you esteem that a well running which is only a running in vain He is more then stupid who slumbereth in the midst of his race As good never a whit as never the better Know ye not that they which run in a race run all but one only receiveth the prize No affections no feet if ye cut off the feet of your affections be ye sure ye shall reap damage It is said of Idolls leggs have they and walk not will you be such Run not like them whose feet are out of joynt but so run that ye may obtain And if obtain you would receive these instructions Instruction 1 First Let every man discharge the duty of his own calling Cor. 7.24 Our conversation can never be as becometh the Gospel except every man

him trust in him make him your stay your strength and your good speed Yet this ye cannot do until ye first stir up your selves to lay hold on him I exhort therefore Exhortation 1 Since we should so run that we may obtain Let your loins be girt Every one of us have at the best bin ill-advised we have started too late we have run too slowly we have fallen too often Yet yet the prize abideth before us as yet the Crown is within veiw Oh while we have yet day-light let us work-out our salvation let us not fail of obtaining let us lay hold of eternal life even of that salvation which is in Christ Jesus Let every one of us redeem the time let us all run and so run as knowing the terrors of the Lord If we press not forward to apprehend that for which also we are apprehend the terrors of the Lord they set themselves in array against us For Terrour 1 First It is a Duty incumbent upon us that we run this race Other races are left unto the spectators liberty spare the prize and spare to run This not so This so run is not a permission but a command We are brought into this world not to be by-standers not to be gazers or lookers on that is the the Angels lot that but to be runners We are enjoyned we are commanded to run Terrour 2 Next Were there no command yet there is a necessity laid upon us Of them that doe run others if they so run that they doe not obtain they have their labour for their pains or if suffer they doe yet is it at most but some small loss some corruptible crown some little shame which will soon over With us not so To turn back is death behind us is hell to stand still is death beneath us is hell If we will not lay it to heart to give glory to Gods name Mal. 2.3 God will even bring a curse upon us Heb. 2.3 It is not how shall we obtain but how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation It is with us as 1 Sam. 14.13 it was with Ionathan climbing the rock with his hands if we get not up we fall and perish if we reach not the height of Sion we are cast out into the Valley of Hinnom It is with us as with pretenders unto supremacy if not a Throne a Scaffold if not a Crown a block if we obtain not the salvation which is in Christ Iesus we shall everlastingly abide under the condemnation of the Devil Terrour 3 Thirdly Consider the quality of the race here set before us It is another kind of task to run thorow all Gospel-duties then it was to run over the race at Isthmos 2 Pet. 3.11 What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness So much adoe to cleanse from vain thoughts from evil intaginations from all filthiness of the Spirit To watch against every idle word which we sure to answer for to lay aside every sin to put away the evil of our doings to purge our selves from dead works to put off the old man For a mind naturally alienated from God to acquaint it self spiritually with God to bring every thought into the captivity of Jesus Christ to be renewed in the spirit of our mind to have our speech seasoned with Salt good for edifying setting forth the praises of our God! To bring forth much fruit not to lose our first love to grow in grace to be perfect as our heavenly father is perfect multū fecitque tulitque Horat. sudavit alsit who is sufficient for these things To make what is for continuance a walk for swiftness a race to walk with God to follow God fully nay to run after him till we overtake him hic labor hoc opus est He that would at all times deny himself and at all times exercise himself in godliness must strive more vehemently then they strive who run a race Terrour 4 Fourthly View the trouble some place wherein we run Other races are run upon chosen hills upon champian plains upon carpetground but this is run Gal. 1.4 in this present evil world Whether we regard prosperity or adversity we have little good turfe here Every one of us as well as Magor-missabib Ier. 20.3 may be named Fearround-about If adversity make the world go heavy with us we are then apt to slip and fall like Abraham who Gen. 20.2 stumbled and equivocated like David who 1 Sam. 21.5 stumbled and lyed down-rightly like Iob Iob 3.1 stumbled and fell a cursing If prosperity heap worldly blessings though blessings they be they cumber the new man Hezekiah stuck presently when 2 Chro. 32.25 the world went well with him when Dives fared deliciously every day Luke 16 Dives forgot that there was a hell In stead of making friends by it many stumble at Mammon and Prov. 30.9 deny God Most how uncertain soever riches are set their hearts more upon wealth then upon their God who gave it In short dust would to dust and the more it is watered the more dirt it maketh Now to tread well in ill ground to run among thorns and not tear the feet to run wayes of holiness in a world of wickedness In disadvantagions groung to run at all yea so to run as to obtain this is more difficult then to run a race Terrour 5 Fiftly Cast up how small a pittance of time is here allowed us for the obtaining of this prize To one running for a prize what space of time is allotted Answ Not a minut to spare Span the length of our daies 60 70 80 years are soon passed over yea none can assure to himself so many houres of life no not so many minutes and yet if during life obtain we can well after death there is no further running Look we for and hasten to the prize what we are able if if we run not the faster our grave preventeth us Sirs were Methusalem now alive to work out his salvation were a project which would cost him every hour of his long life As for many of us we have scarcely found time enough to set our houses in order much less our hearts To perfect holiness is a task for Paul the aged David as he was full of grace so was he full of daies but none among us can boast himself of to morrow Up let us be running the day is farr spent Terrour 6 Sixthly Examine well thine insufficiencies and thou mayest be a terrour to thy self In other trials the racers singled out are men naturally agile and active men breathed and exercised men as light of foot as a wild Roe but we like Mephibosheth are lame of both our feet Psal 19.5 It is for a strong man to run a race but we are weak our souls are aguish made up of infirmities Impar congressus Our performances are as nothing if compared with our duties Look on the things behind on that part of