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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
work_n	evil_a	good_a	tree_n	33,809	5	11.7409	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57373	Believers evidences for eternall life collected out of the first epistle of John which is catholique : explained and confirmed by very many subservient signes, or undernotes grounded upon Scriptures and illustrated by testimonies both of ancient fathers and modern writers whereby persons truly regenerate may divers wayes discover their present state of grace and title unto glory / by Francis Roberts.	Roberts, Francis, 1609-1675.	1655 (1655)	Wing R1579; ESTC R29322	150,624	294

Lord Pro. 15. 26. Yea every imagination of the thoughts of his heart are onely evil continually Gen. 6. 5. How emphaticallyl 1. not the thought but thoughts 2. not only the thoughts but if there be any thing before or beyond the thoughts the imagination of the thoughts of his heart 3. not onely some or many but every imagination of the thoughts 4. is not evill in the concrete but malice or evilness it selfe in the abstract as the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may import 5. Nor evilnesse in some respect as if there were some mixture or relique of goodnesse remaining but only evil meer malice 6. Nor all this only for some season in fit of temptation c but continually all the day long and every day so that carnal men so remaining can do nothing but sin in all they act speak or think 2. Their persons and all their inward principles are meerly carnal corrupt and odious to God not only sinners but dead in trespasses and sinnes Eph. 2. 1. Not only dark but darknesse it selfe Eph. 5. 8. Not only carnal or fleshly but flesh it self Iohn 3. 6. And in the flesh dwells no good thing Rom. 7. 18. Now such as are the persons of carnal men such are all their actions meerely carnal and sinful So is this people and so is every work of their hands and that which they offer there is unclean Hagg. 2. 14. A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit How can ye being evil speak good things An evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things Matth. 12. 33 34 35. To them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their minde and conscience is defiled being abominable and disobedient and to every good work reprobate Tit. 1. 15 16. Thus farre of the difference betwixt the sinning of the regenerate and unregenerate and how they that are borne of God sinne not nor can sinne Whereof I have treated the more largely that in this note which is of no small consequence the Conscience of the regenerate may be satisfied the more fully A Case of Conscience touching the Sinne against the Holy Ghost what it is and whether they that are born of God fall into it But before we passe from this Character of them that are borne of God viz. That they do not commit sinne nor can sinne to another it may be very usefull to lend a little help to the weake timerous and trembling Christian against that perplexing temptation that would perswade him that he hath sinned against the Holy Ghost Alas saith he If they that are borne of God commit not sinne as the unregenerate do if this be a signe of Regeneration what may I thinke of my selfe I am greatly afraid that I have sinned that very unpardonable Sinne against the Holy Ghost For 1. I have sined against my light and the checks of my Conscience 2. I have sinned against the experimentall tastes of spirituall things 3. I have crucified Christ afresh 4. I have bad many blasphemous thoughts in mine heart 5. I have fearefully fallen away from my first love and which kils my soule 6. under all this I find my heart as hard and obdurate as an Adamant without all Repentance or remorse for all this Have not I just cause to conclude that doubtlesse I am an unregenerate Person Answ. Poor soul forbear a little thy hard conceits of thy self and suspend thy censures They that have worst thoughts of themselves are not always in the worst conditiō towards God Every one that feares he hath sinned against the H. Ghost must not presently be concluded to have committed that horrid sin of sinnes All this may arise 1. partly from thy weaknesse not knowing either thy owne spirituall estate or the nature of this sinne truely and distinctly And 2. partly from Satans wickednesse abusing thy weaknesse to make thee believe this of thy self that so if it were possible he might drive thee to despaire But credit neither thine owne weaknesse nor Satans wickednesse to the ruine of thy precious soule For a more cleare and satisfactory resolution in this case consider these particulars 1. Who or what kind of persons are they that are in danger of sinning this sin against the Holy Ghost 2. What this sin against the Holy Ghost is and wherein it consists 3. What a vast difference there is betwixt the sinnes or falls of a regenerate person yea though against knowledge and their sinnes that sinne against the H. Ghost Take this in three several Sections SECT I. I. Who or what kinde of persons they are that are in danger of sinning this sin against the Holy Ghost Answ. This may be resolved Negatively and Affirmatively Negatively Who they are not So we shall more distinctly see who they are Take this in these few Positions 1. Doubtlesse those persons who are truly regenerate and borne of God they never any of them sin the sin against the Holy Ghost nor can so sin True 1. They may commit such sins against light of minde and checks of conscience sometimes Rom. 7. 15 19. They may possibly have such blasphemous and wicked suggestions darted and injected into their thoughts Matth. 4. 3 6 9. They may perhaps fal from their first love Rev 2. 4. Yea fall so fearfully as David and Peter did Yea it may be they may perceive such hard-heartednesse and impenitency upon their soules notwithstanding all this for a season that from all these Satan also subtilly taking advantage thereby they may have sad apprehensions and feares that they have fallen into the very sin against the Holy Ghost 2. They also that are borne of God as they have the root of all actual sin still in them viz. Original corruption dwelling in them Psalm 51. 5. Rom. 7. 17 18 21 23 24 so they have the very roote of this sin against the H. Ghost in particular in them originall sin being the proper seed spawne and fountaine of this sin as well as of any other whatsoever How humbly vigilantly and cautiously therefore should all Gods people walke before God seeing this dangerous principle of originall corruption still sticks in their hearts Yet notwithstanding persons truly borne of God never actually fall into this sin against the Holy Ghost nor all things well considered can do For 1. The Holy Ghost himselfe in Scripture plainly testifies that the regenerate sin not this great sin There is a sin unto death I do not say that he shall pray for it All unrighteousnesse is sin and there is a sin not unto death We know that whosoever is borne of God sinneth not viz as Tertullian notes not this sin unto death but he that is begotten of God keepeth himselfe and that wicked one toucheth him not 1 Iohn 5. 16 17 18. In these and the two precedent verses the Apostle asserts more generally the priviledge of believers in the point of prayer viz. confidence in Christ that they shall have whatsoever they

great variety of sufferings thus comforts them against their bonds fetters c. These are not Bonds but Ornaments they tie not Christians feet to infamy but fit them for the Crown O feet happily bound which not the Smith but the Lord shall unbinde Oh feel happily bound which are directed by a saving journey to Paradise Oh feet bound for present in this world that they may be at liberty with the Lord for evermore All this deformity ugly and detestable to the Gentiles with what splendour shall it be recompensed This short and secular pain how shall it be changed for the reward of bright eternall honour 4. Hence Faith prevailes with them to rejoyce in their sufferings and take with joy the spoiling of their goods knowing in themselves that they have in heaven a better and more enduring substance Heb. 10. ●…4 Hence that cruel Bishop Bonner observing how comfortably the Martyrs suffered oft-times speaking to John Willes he would say they call me bloody Bonner A vengeance on you all I would fain be rid of you But you have a delight in burning But if I might have my will I would sew your mouthes and put you in sacks and drown you 5. Hence in a word Faith so elevates their spirits above their troubles That having hope of the glory of God they even glory in Tribulation Rom. 5. 2 3. Hence Alice Driver Martyr having at the Stake the Iron-chaine put about her neck said O Here 's a goodly neckerchief blessed be God for it Hence Dr. Taylor Martyr drawing towards the place of execution leapt as men do in dancing whereupon being asked by the Sheriffe how he did now He answered Well God be praised good Mr. Sheriffe Never better for now I know I am almost at home I lack not past two Stiles to go over and I am even at my Fathers house Hence Cicely Ormes Martyr when she was brought to the Stake laid her hand on it and said Welc●…me the crosse of Christ. Then after she had touched it with her hand she came and kissed it and said Welcome the sweet crosse of Christ and when the fire was kindled to her she said My soule doth magnifie the Lord and my Spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour Hence Mr. Iohn Bradford at the Stake took up a Faggot and kissed it and turned his head to the young man that suffered with him said Be of good comfort brother for we shall have a merry Supper with the Lord this night And embracing the Reeds said Straite is the way and narrow is the gate that leadeth to eternall Salvation few there be that find it Hence also That Blessed Ignatius for gaining Christ in glory which is the highest reward thus expresseth himselfe to the Romans 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. O that I were with the wild beasts prepared for me which I wish may be a compendium to me And I would allure them speedily to eate me up and not as with others be terrifyed so as not to touch them and if they would not I would provoke them Pardon me I know what is expedient for me I now begin to be a Disciple I am solicitous for neither visibles nor invisibles so I may obtaine Iesus Christ. Let fire Crosse and the concourse of wild beasts the cutting separating and breaking of my bones the dissipation of my members the destruction of my whole body and the torments of the Devil come upon me only that I may obtain Iesus Christ. Thus they that are borne of God overcome the world Fawning and Frowning and their victory is Faith in Jesus Christ. Christian canst thou thus conquer the world canst thou deny the world Though perhaps thou canst not dispute for Christ yet canst thou dye for Christ VI. Doing or practising of Righteousnesse may be a sixth Evidence of Regeneration If ye know that he is righteous ye know that every one that doth righteousnesse is borne of him 1 Joh. 2. 29. And in another chapter In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the Devil whosoever doth not righteousnesse is not of God 1 Joh. 3. 10. In these two places consider 1. The Evidence or Signe of Regeneration laid down Posively He that doth righteousnesse is borne of God Negatively He that doth not righteousnesse is not of God 2. The amplification of this Evidence 1. By the universality of it Every one that doth righteousnesse Whosoever doth not righteousnesse 2. By the perspicuity of it In this the children of God are manifest ane the children of the Devil 3. By the ground of it God regenerating is Righteous therefore they that are regenerated of God must needs be righteous the child like the father New-created according to his image in righteousnesse c. Eph. 4. 24. Now in this 1 Ioh. 3. 10 compared with v. 9. Righteousnesse as Calvin well observeth is opposed to sinne and doing or practising of righteousnesse to committing of sinne And therefore in this place to do righteousnesse is nothing else but from the heart to feare God and so far as humane frailty will permit to walk in his precepts not in a Legal exactnesse which man cannot reach unto but in an Evangelical uprightnesse which God will accept So that every one that leads a truly godly and righteous life is borne of God He that lives contrary is the child of the Devil For 1. Gods children are predestinate to be conform to the image of Christ Rom. 8. 29 30. being elect through sanctification of the Spirit to obedience 1 Pet. 1 2. 2. Gods children are redeemed from their vain conversation by the precious blood of Christ that they might glory fie God both in their body and spirit which are Gods 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. Luk. 1. 74 75. 3. They are called unto holinesse 1 Thess. 4. 7. 2 Tim. 1. 9. And created in Christ Iesus unto good works Eph. 2. 10. 4. Such as are mens persons good or bad such will be their works and conversations Like tree like fruit Carnall men will walk carnally Spiritual spiritually Mat. 7. 16 17 18 19 20. 12. 33 34 35. Rom. 8. 1 5. 5. All pretences of Faith without good works are vain and such faith dead Jam. 2. 20 26. All such mens religion is but abominable hypocrisie Tit. 1. 16. But how may I know that I truly practise Righteousnesse as becomes one that is borne of God Answ. They act or practise Righteousnesse truly who walk in paths of piety and righteousnesse for 1. Matter 2. Ground 3. Form and 4. End as Scripture requires of them I. Who act or practise things for substance matter righteous Possibly the matter may be sometimes good when the manner and circumstances are naught but nothing can be good if the matter be naught Matters practised are in their own nature either 1. Good as things prescribed Exod. 20. 2. Evil as things prohibited Exod. 20. 3.