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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

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B20532	Five lessons for a Christian to learne, or, The summe of severall sermons setting out 1. the state of the elect by nature, 2. the way of their restauration and redemption by Jesus Christ, 3. the great duty of the saints, to leane upon Christ by faith in every condition, 4. the saints duty of self-denyall, or the way to desirable beauty, 5. the right way to true peace, discovering where the troubled Christian may find peace, and the nature of true peace / by John Collings ...	Collinges, John, 1623-1690.	1650 (1650)	Wing C5317; ESTC R23459	197,792	578

painted hand reacheth nothing the hand must be a reall hand that plucketh the Apple-tree There is a great deale of drossy counterfeit faith in the world The Devils have some graines of faith amongst them the Apostle sayes They beloeve and tremble Wicked and prophane wretches have their degrees of faith too they will at least tell you they beleeve that Christ came into the world and dyed they give credence to the story c. But this faith is no true hand it will plucke never an apple of Life 2. As the hand must be true so it must be perfect it must have fingers enough to doe it It must be perfect justifying faith though it reach not the perfection of faith that a justified person may have There are severall acts of faith some will have knowledge to be an act of it others and the most say that knowledge is supposed to faith but Assent is the first and lowest act Many goe hither and no further they goe away not justified but the perfection of that faith which justifies lyeth in a trusting too and a relyance upon the Lord Jesus Christ To this faith are all the promises pronounced Blessed is that man that puts his trust in the Lord And who is he that sits in darknesse and seeth no light Let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God I say this is the perfection of that faith which must be de necessitate necessarily required to justification It is not the reflection of faith that is in a justified person Try thy selfe O Christian dost thou truly beleeve then not barely assenting and giving credence to the word of God as a word of truth but being sensible of thy owne vilenesse and the insufficiency that is in thy selfe for any salvation dost thou truly relye upon Jesus Christ and this will be tryed by the third particular necessary to the hand that reacheth 3 The hand that reacheth must be lively It must have a principle of life in it selfe and must act in lively operations The dead hand let it be never so true flesh and bloud it reacheth nothing it hath no internall principle of life in it selfe to carry it out in externall operations of Life so must it be with the souls hands that reach and plucke the Apples of free grace of the Tree of Life mentioned Rev. 22. 1. It must have an internall principle of Life The hypocrites faith hath no internall principle of life in it the soule is not quickned neither hath it any power to act externall operations Viva fides est operosa is a knowne maxime Faith in the Saints is powerfull 2 Thes 1. 11. The worke of faith with power Jam. 2. 17. Faith without works is dead Now it 's lively 1. Internally purging the heart It purifieth the heart 2. Externally it worketh by love it worketh as a loving heart towards God so in acts of love Faith if it be true hath not only a perswading and comforting quality to perswade the soule of God and the faithfulnesse of him that hath promised and to refresh the soule by staying upon God but it hath a quickning quality to enliven the soule and quicken it to an holy close walking with God The same faith that saith to the soule this promise is the truth of God stay thy selfe upon it saith also to the soule this precept is the rule of God walke according to it Now Christian try thy selfe whether thou hast tasted of the fruit of the Apple-tree whether thou hast a portion in Jesus Christ yea or no If thou hast reached to thy soule an Apple of free grace thou hast an hand by which thou didst it it must be a true hand Faith is the hand Hast thou not the painted faith of the hypocrite but the true faith of the Saints called by a distinguishing character The faith of Gods Elect Titus 1. v. 1. Hast thou not a finger only but the perfect hand that faith which truly justifieth thy soule which doth not consist in a bare notion and knowledge nor yet in a bare assent but in a fiduciall cleaving to the Lord Jesus Christ Is it lively as living in respect of the inward principle so lively in respect of the outward operations If so then it may be a true faith and thy hand with which thou hast reacht the fruit of the Apple-tree for the comfort of thy soule may be such a one as will doe it and thy hope may be upon good and justifiable grounds but if not deceive not thy owne soule Christ and you are strangers yet and thou art out of Christ I shall adde but one Note more which shall be yet further for the clearing of this Lastly therefore know Thou canst have no such hand unlesse it be given thee from above The hand of Faith is none of Natures products Alas how many cheat themselves with Faith when the Devill hath indeed as much true faith as they have There is a naturall perswasion and there is a morall perswasion and there is a traditionall perswasion and a diabolicall perswasion all these differ from the worke of Faith which is true and that hand which must reach Jesus Christ to my soule 1. There is a naturall perswasion Nature hath principles to perswade the soule by to some Assent Nature perswades us there is a God and he must be worshipped Looke upon me saith Nature Praesentemque refert quaelibet herba Deum I have not a spire of grasse but tels thee there is a God See the variety greatnesse beauty of my work Read a great God in a great Whale or Elephant a beauteous God in a glorious flower A wise God in my choice of works Behold a God in the order thou hast seen in me See him in my Law written in thy heart Rom. 2. 15. From these and such like things Nature bequeathes a faith to the soule and learnes it credere Deum to beleeve a God But this is far from faith not only from justifying faith but also from faith as to that point It wants that steadinesse of assent which must be in assent when an act of faith A Roman writ to Tully to write him something concerning the immortality of the soule Tully writ back againe to him Evolve libr●m Platonis nihil amplius est quod desideres Read saith he Plato's Book over concerning it and you will desire no more The Roman returnes him answer Evolvi iterum atque iterum evolvi c. I have read it over saith he againe and againe but I know not whence it is when I reade it I assent to it but I have no sooner laid the book out of my hand but I begin to doubt againe whether the soule be immortall yea or no. So it is with all perswasion from natural principles as to that extent of Doctrine it would perswade us of the perswasion that ariseth from them is faint and weake one while we thinke it is true another while we question

where is thy victory When the Prisoner is freed it is a signe the debt is paid or the Gaoler beaten It was a signe of both in Christ as that the debt was paid due to his Fathers justice so also that death and hell were beaten 2. Christs Resurrection had an influence upon our raising by quickning us Col. 2. 12. Buried with him in Baptisme wherein you are also risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead And being dead in your sinnes hath be quickned together with him c. Col. 3. 1. If then ye be risen with Christ seeke those things which are above and ver 2. Set your affections on things which are above c. We are risen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with him and this should quicken us and strength derived from Christs Resurrection by faith doth quicken the Saints of God to live to God as becomes the redeemed ones of the Lord. 3. It hath an influence upon our raising by being a pledge to us of our owne rising unto everlasting glorie to live with that Christ who was dead and is alive againe This the Apostle fully proves in that fifteenth Chapter of the first Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians from the thirteenth Verse to the five and twentieth Now I take by raising I raised thee not onely to be understoed of the work of Redemption but also all the privileges that from that worke of Redemption flow out of course to the servants of God being but as severall steps from one of which to another the Saint is raised till hee bee got to the toppe staire of glory Christ hath raised us by his owne rising from the pit of the grave 5. He hath raised us by his Ascension and sitting at the right hand of his Father Now Christs Ascension and sitting at the right hand of the Father hath an influence upon our raising these wayes 1. In going before hee provides a place for us Take this out of his owne mouth John 14. 2. I goe to prepare a place for you And if I goe and prepare a place for you I will come againe and receive you unto my selfe that where I am there you may be also Christ is now preparing Mansions for his redeemed ones for in his Fathers house are many Mansions never a Saint of his shall want a seat or a roome in glory 2. In going he hath raised us in being our Way He being ascended and with the Father wee have through him a way unto the Father John 14. verse 6. I am the way hee was the way by which the Father came to us he communicated himselfe unto us in and by and through the Lord Jesus Christ and hee is our way by which wee goe to God whatsoever we aske in his Name if we believe we shall receive it we shall receive it The Saint could not pray with comfort if he did not remember that Rev. 13. 8. There is an Angell that stands before the Throne to whom much Incense is given to offer up the prayers of his people unto God But knowing we have a friend in the Court we offer up our prayers with boldnes and a great confidence in his goodnesse 3. His Ascension hath an influence upon our raising in that wee know now we have an Advocate with the Father even Christ Alas with what comfort can the child of God whose conscience the Lord hath awakened to consider his daily sinnes and corruptions thinke upon God or look up unto God if he did not know Christ were with him But now that Christ is with his Father wee know 1 Joh. 2. 1. That if any man sinne wee have an Advocate with the Father even Christ the righteous Hebr. 7. 25. He is therefore able to save them to the utmost that come unto God through him because he ever liveth to make Intercession for them Rom. 8 27. yea and verse 34. Now Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen againe who is even at the right hand who also maketh Intercession for us Observe there how the Apostle gives Christ ascension and sitting at the hand of God as the proximate cause of our Intercessor his Death and Resurrection made him not our Intercessor his Death made him our Saviour his Resurrection our Conqueror but his Ascension and sitting at the right hand of God hath ultimately made him in a capacity to bee our Advocate and Intercessor Thus he hath raised us by Ascension Yea 4. His Ascension and sitting at the right hand of the Father hath an influence upon our raising in that now from thence he giveth gifts unto men Ephes 4. 8. When hee ascended up on high he led Captivity Captive and gave gifts unto men The Psalmist Psalme 68. 18. from whence that passage is taken saith he received gifts for men he received them from his Father Now saith the Apostle when hee led Captivity Captive he distributed these to men As Conquerors use when they have taken the spoile to deale it out in gifts What gifts The Apostle expounds it in part ver 11. He gave some to be Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists In short I take to be meant by it all the gifts of Gods Spirit whether of common or speciall grace whether externall or internall gifts for the benefit of the Church and gifts for the benefit of our soules Nay the descending of the Spirit was a fruit of Christs Ascension See it Joh. 14. 16. John 16. 7. I tell you the truth it is expedient for you that I goe away for if I goe not away the comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you Now it is plaine that the internall gifts of the Spirit and workes of it are fruits of Christs Ascension as well as the more common and externall gifts given in the dayes of Pentecost from the 14. of Joh. ver 16. where Christ promiseth them that the comforter which upon his departure he would send to them should abide with them for ever And thus I have shewed you now what course the Lord Jesus Christ hath taken to raise his redeemed ones that had lost all their life and strength and comfort in Adam out of this their lost condition thus he did it meritoriously These were his acts for us But now to what purpose is all this for any soules wounds that there is Balme in Gilead that there is a Phisitian there without the Balme bee applyed to its soul 6. Lastly therefore as Christ hath meritoriously thus raised the whole number of the Elect ones so he Particularly and Actually raiseth each one of those whom hee hath purchased by his bloud by applying himselfe unto each of their soules Now for the manner of this Application the blessed Apostle describes it Rom. 8. 30. Moreover whom hee did predestinate them he also called and whom hee called them he also justified and

thee 2. Thee that wert as low as others Adam left thee as deep in hell as any reprobate there Loe here the infinitenesse of free grace Two were in the same house yea grinding at the same mill of iniquity and thou art taken and the other is left possibly thou wert in thy wildest youth seeming to ride faster to hell than the other were that were thy brethren friends and acquaintance yet the Lord hath raised thee and let the others lye wallowing in their bloud he hath not said to them live 3. Thee that wert his Enemy Was ever dying love yea love in dying extended to an enemy before You have heard of two stories one of a Grecian the other of a Roman paire Theseus and Perithous Pilades and Orestes that would have dyed for their friends each for another but hath any offered to dye for his Enemy Moses would offer to have his name blotted out for his people that were Gods people and which he loved but would Moses have done it for a Philistine yet this hath Christ done O love ye the Lord all his Saints 4. Thee that never askt it He was found of them that sought it not Alas mankind lay as well without a tongue to aske as an hand to help themselves and behold Christ pitied them and amongst them thee his love declared from Eternity towards thee had not so much cause in thee as a poore prayer would have amounted to he was not moved by thy sighs and teares but by his owne infinite love 5. Lastly thee that hast still Rebellion in thee Christ said within himselfe when he dyed upon the Crosse Now is my heart-bloud powred out for as vile wretches as any are and for those that I know will requite my bleeding wounds my dying love with new speares and thornes thus he knew that thou wouldst doe in the time of thy unregeneracie yea and after thou shouldst be called too Who lives and sinnes not Now Christian lay these things to thy heart meditate of study out this love and see if thou hast not cause to say My soule and all that is within me my tongue and all that is without me praise the Lord. But O remember Christian Remember Burnt offering and sacrifice he doth not require but this he requires that thou shouldst doe his will O say Loe I come I am ready to do it But more particularly let me point thee out some particular duties that the Lord requires of thee in a poor answer to his rich Acts of eternall love First hath not he thought his glory too deare to lay aside for a while for thee nor his Word and Truth too dear to pawne for thee nor his bloud too deare to spill for thee hath he valued nothing in comparison of thee O doe thou value nothing in an equall ballance with him be willing to deny thy selfe for him who in every thing hath denyed himselfe for thee Thy Lusts cannot be so pleasing to thee as Christs glory was to him Be content to leave them Thy Honour cannot be so great as his was which he left for thee and became ignoble in our eyes Surely when wee saw him we esteemed him despised smitten of God and afflicted Isa 53. 4. But it was when hee was wounded for our Transgressions and bruised for our Iniquities when the chastisement of our peace was upon him and that by his stripes we might be healed Thy Riches cannot be greater than his yet remember him O remember the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who though he was rich yet for your sake became poore that you through his Povertie might be made rich 2 Cor. 7. Thy life cannot be more deare than his yet he valued not his life for thee but powred out his bloud his precious bloud upon the Crosse that through his bloud thou mightest have remission purchased Learne hence Christian a lesson of self-deniall Be content to suffer for him who was content to suffer that he might raise thee value nothing in comparison of him This Lesson had Saint Paul learned Phil. 3. v. 7 8. What things were gaine to me I counted losse for Christ yea doubtlesse and I count all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the losse of all things and doe count them but dung that I may win Christ c. ver 10. That I may know him and the power of his Resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death Looke upon nothing in an equall ballance with him 1 Cor. 2. 2. I determined not to know any thing amongst you save Jesus Christ and him crucified Secondly hath Christ entred into a Covenant and given his word to his Father and kept his word with his Father for you O then learne of him Vow your selves to him and keep the vowes of your lips Say with David Psal 116. ver 16. Ah Lord truly we are thy servants we are thy servants and the sons of thy handmaids for thou hast loosed our bonds Say with David Psal 40. Mine eares hast thou opened and bored them Say Ah Lord we come to doe thy will Christ kept his word with his Father for you Ah keep your word with him pay him the vowes which you have made Thirdly Hath Christ to raise you taken upon him your flesh O then Take ye upon your selves his spirit He hath become for you the childe of man doe you become for him the children of God Be made partakers of the divine Nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust 2 Pet. 1. 4. Your Nature was full of imperfection and weaknesse the divine Nature is full of perfection and glory He hath raised you be raised put off your filthy rags and put on change of Raiment Fourthly Hath Christ died that he might raise you from the death of Sinne and from the power of the Second death O then dye to sinne Col. 3. 5. Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth fornication uncleannesse inordinate affection evill concupiscence and covetousnesse which is idolatry for which things c. The Apostle Saint Paul presseth the great duty of mortification from this very principle Likewise reckon yee also your selves to be dead to sinne but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6. 11. and so on ver 12 13. Let not sinne therefore reigne in your mortall bodies c. Ah throw away the nailes that pierced your Christ Fifthly Did Christ rise from the dead that he might raise you from the death of sinne O then rise to newnesse of life The Apostle Saint Paul presseth this worke of Vivification also from Christs Resurrection Rom. 6. ver 4. We are buried with him by Baptisme into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father euen so we also should walke in newnesse of life and so all along that Chapter Sixthly Hath he