Selected quad for the lemma: work_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
work_n	faith_n	fruit_n	justification_n	5,104	5	9.2286	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56582	The path of life and the way that leadeth down to the chambers of death, or, The steps to hell and the steps to heaven in which all men may see their ways, how far they have gone downwards to destruction, that they may make hast to recover themselves, least by taking the next step downwards to their everlasting misery they be not necessitated to take the 7, 8, and 9, and then there be no remedy ... : set forth in copper prints that by the outward and visible we may the easier see that which is inward and invisible.	Jenner, Thomas, fl. 1631-1656.	1656 (1656)	Wing P715; ESTC R217054	26,570	62

consists in them both I say Faith as St. Peter speaketh doth make us partakers of the divine nature in both though the conceiving of such a mystery exce●ds us The Lord offers to a lost soul this word of promise I will that thou O dead soul shalt live in my Son I being satisfied by his death am content that thy soul receive again this life of mine again I have no pleasure in the death of a sinner wherefore turn ye your selves and live yea awake thou that sleepest and stand up from the dead and Christ shall give you life the dead shall hear the voyce of the Son of God and they ●hat hear it shall live these and the like promises do offer life to all dead souls that need it both life here and hereafter glory Conception the least step of this life by which the soul retains and keeps this seed of life suffers it not to passe away and be spilt as an hypocrites but digests and holds the Promise to its s●lf till it have bred it longing of the appetite lustings af●er a kinde of alterations of spirituall appetite and a desire after this life this is that Isaiah means Chap. 55. 4. Incline your hearts and he●rken unto me that is be so affected with this p●omise of life that you do incline towards it and make to it that we walk in Gods way appointed to bring you to it be aff●cted seriously with the excellency of this life● and the happy change that God offers you that your souls do diligently ensue it in the means so that in this first work is contained the whole work of the Lords preparing the soul for the receiving of this life standing in those many affections created in the same by the glad tidings of this word of life that is it stirs the soul to mourn for so long living a dead life and resi●●ing the offers of life and resting in the shew of a false conception it doth long after this exceeding great priviledge to be partaker of the nature and life of God it doth prize it above the most excellent inferiour life of this world though it were Solomons felicity in comparison of it it empties it selfe and is voyded from all other hopes and desires of life even as the womb that conceives must be clear from all former conceptions it useth all means which God hath appoynted with all eagernesse of soul restles till it obtaines it The quickning power of the spirit of Promise whereby the Lord infuseth this life of God into the soul which is nothing else save the souls breaking through the manifold struggles and strifes which selfe and unbeliefe doe work within her self doth obey the voyce and command of the Promise that so it may live as we see the nature of all fruits hath many changes pangs and strives within the womb ere it come to the birth So here the soul hath manifold resistance and oppositions in her selfe against the Promise but cannot tell what to say of her self whether she should live or no often gives over the Promise as to good discourageth her self by the presence of a body of death which still abides and a weak base heart chusing to lye stinking in her grave of death and sottish ease and lusts that so she may turn back to her old vomit and avoyd the trouble and difficulty of this new birth when the soul comes out of the womb into the light that is discovers her self to be alive and apprehends as I may say her own life that God hath begotten her unto himself which is the highest step and degree of life which is bred in her for as the fruit in the womb being quickned yet wanteth the full proportion of its parts till the forming power of generation do by weeks and months more and more perfect and fashon them all to a comely being and creature which at last is brought forth so here the poor soul having received the life of God into her by her weak and poor Faith scarce felt and perceived yet by the secret power of the spirit goeth from degree to degree that although she hath no other life at the birth then in the quickning yet this life is more apparent and visible every day then other till at last the spirit fall in travel and bringing forth Christ formed in the soul so that the soul appears unto her self and not others to live and to beleive because now she is in the light perfect and brought forth so that the infant that is bo●n doth not more beray the naturall life by weeping laughing breathing feeding sleeping stirring feeling growing then the life of a believing soule once brought forth appears in the operations and works of the new creature and this is the effect of the sealing spirit of Baptism added to the Promise and stablishing the weak Faith of this poor infant till it know it selfe to live and declare it to others by the fruits of Regeneration IV. IVSTIFICATION WHich is contrary to the estate of guilt and curse by sin and by this benefit the soul obtains an earnest of quietnesse and peace towards God and that by clearing him and acquitting him at his Tribunall as if she had never offended fully and perfectly A most peculiar bl●ssing contrary to those garboyls and horrors which conscience felt being under wrath as also to that rotten peace which he walked with through error either one or other of these is the state of all justified ones but when as once the soul is set at liberty and discharged by proclamation from these there being no enemy to accuse neither will the Lord hold thy soul gilty but speaks peace to it so that by this means it draws new breth and lives at other tearms of content and complacency then before look what peace and welfare Adams innocency reflected upon him before he sinned that doth Justification cast upon the soul by forgivenes fears are all scattered by this perfect love of God received by Faith no guilt or accusation by sin or any enemies without or within can now take place look how different the sta●e of poor man is when he is molested with suites and put in fear of loosing his whole estate by the wrong of an adversary from that which he feels after he hath got the day and is past all former fears such is the odds between the sinfull and the Justified soul she turns unto her rest as David speaks● and eats drinks sleeps and works in peace that her flesh which was withered and her bones consumed with the scorching h●at of conscience the wound whereof who can bear now returns as the flesh of a little childe hence the holy Ghost never ceaseth to magnifie this benifit as Isa. 57. I create the fruite of the lips peace to him that is neare and afar off it s a work onely belonging to God and above the first creation for the Lord is the onely former of the conscience and therefore its a

THE Path of Life And the way that leadeth down to the Chambers of Death OR The steps to Hell And the steps to Heaven In which all men may see their ways how far they have gone downwards to destruction that they may make hast to recover themselves least by taking the next step downwards to their everlasting misery they be not necessitated to take the 7 8 9 and then there be no remedy So seeing themselves having ascended towards Heaven they may not be sloathfull but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the Promises Set forth in Copper Prints that by the outward and visible we may the easier see that which is inward and invisible LONDON Printed by M. S. for Thomas Ienner at the South-entrance of the Royall EXCHANGE 1656. Vocation Calling is a worke of ye spirit wherby whom he hath chosen to be his he bringes to know it and by the call of the outw●rd word inward spi●●● he is brought to such a hoppe as workes ye harte to morning and brokennes and is turned from darknes to light and from the power of Saton to God ● 26 Actes 18 I. VOCATION CAlling is a work of the Spirit by the voyce and call of the outward word and inward spi●it crying to their soules thus Come out of her my people and return to me come out of thy former corrupt estate of sin subjection to Satan curse misery leud customes error of the wicked hell return to the blessednes wch thou hast lost Calling is that whole workmanship of God whereby he pulls the soule from a bad estate to a good be it longer in working or shorter dark●r or clearer easier or harder it s the drawing it from da●knesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God Acts 26.18 that from whence it s drawn is an unregenerate estate that whereto is faith It may be conceived to stand in these two parts either the preparing work of calling or the finishing The former is that by which the Lord finding the heart uncapable of a promise brings it and prepares it to be such a one as may see it self capable and under a condition of beleiving for it succeeds the condition of the Law and instead of doe this saith believe this and live it is partly legall and partly evangellicall when the Spirit of God by both leaves such an impression in a troubled soule under the Spirit of bondage to so much hope as works the heart to mourning and brokennes to desire of mercy to esteem it and to be nothing in its own eyes in comparison of it together with unweariednesse till it hath obtained it all which are the preventions and assistance of the Spirit of calling drawing the soule home to God by such steps and degrees as the soule is capable of for when the soule thus prepared sees that the promises belong to her and that she may and must believe it then the Spirit stamps this gift of faith to receive it If the Law hath thus setled a load upon conscience then she may conclude that she is under a condition of ease and hope of pardon if thou feel then that the Lord hath thee at his infinite advantage thou mayst conceive some comfort in the midst of thy frights and allthough thou mayst finde it hard to graple with the promise as thou wouldst yet as one who is under an exactor would chose to put himselfe upon the mercy of his adversary rather then be quite undone if he will not shew him favour yet he is but as he was an undone man but perhaps his enemy may be moved with compassion towards him so here a poor soule may and ought to choose the hazard of a promise allthough hard to believe rather then be desperate and disdaine to come in to seek reconciliation Let all then who would be under hope prove themselves to be under streights for no other a●e under a posibility of mercy but lie under the absolute condition of wrath when they see the season let them ply fittest medisons as a word in season is as apples of gold sure it is that for lack of Counsell Gods people doe miscarry often times as appears in their agonies and f●ars that when their spirit is unable to sustaine it selfe they are ready to faint and give over yea sometimes lay violent hands upon themselves oh in such a state discern the state of such a poor soule and pitty it Be ye oh Priests of the Lord cloathed with sackcloath 2 Chron. 6. 41. Doe not apply your selves harshly to a heart overloaden allready rather give wine to snch that they may forget their sorrow Prov. 31. 6. Blessed is he that considereth wisely of such a condition let terror serve for the desperate and refractory sinners that they may come under Gods chain but such as are bound in it already must not be oppressed more as if there were no succour for them no balme in Gilead but let this door of hope stand upon the latch ready to open unto them for God will not be angry for ever least flesh should faile Although our hope be small yet because our strength is great con●ider whether it is not better to venture upon uncerstain hopes then upon assured woe thy case is as the four leapers 2 Kings 7. 4. If we say we enter into the City then the famine is in the City and we shall dye there and if we sit here we dye also now therefore come and let us fall in●o the host of the Syrians if they save us alive we shall live and if they kill us we shall but dye so they ventred and the Lord was with their resolutions doe thou so in the strength of God and prosper It is a sweet signe that the Promise is digested by the soul and not suffered to passe away as a sound of waters when thou canst not chose but fasten upon it in some confused measure yet thou seest not any certain escape as a man in the waters strugling for life though he be not sure to avoyd drowning yet in his coufusion is able to lay both his hazards in the ballance and resolves upon the lesse on the one side he knowes that the mercy of water is cruell drowned he must without helpe on the other side he sees a reed put towards him which he cannot tell whether he shall be able to reach or whether that will save him what doth he he chuseth an uncertain hope before a certain death here I dye here I may live if I might escape how happy were I the reed is offered me to save me I can but perish if I perish I perish but I will surely make towards it I will not perish wilfully wait upon the Lord let there be no crevis of light but thou mayst spy it for as the Lord would have loos hearts to be beaten from their holds so he studies how to speak to fainting hearts least they fail Isa. 57.18 God

hath comfort for thee and thy mourners yea for them afar off as well as nere if thou seek not thy own ends abhorring to think themselves well because the Law hath them under bondage till the Gospel have comforted them II. VNION Vnion The sole can no more reciue ought from God tell it be maried vnto Christ and be on with him by faith than bodey soule can imparte or reciue to or fro tell on hence issueth all ve●tew vigor and power into vs that is meate for our support either earthley or Sprituall tell our Vniō be pefected in glorey 4. Ru●h 11.12 Union is the first priviledge of the condition of a man called issuing from hence being indeed the complement of faith for fai●h determines calling and begins union whereby the beleiving soul is so brought home and knit to God in Christ that it loses her former corrupt estate of cutting off from God and puts on a new of being one with the Lord and he with it that so that soul may be fraight with true titles and intrest to all good things which either the Lord can convey or the soul receive and that in a farre better kinde and measure then ever Adam was Union with God is necessary to all that would partake of his grace for as it was in the Creation till the Lord had breathd the spirit of life and himselfe in him Adam could have no communion with God so it is in the second creation no benefit no fruit thereof can come to the soule till this second creation and union be but this as by a channel the rest follow reconciliation with amity adoption with worship and liberty c. hence it is that our Saviour presseth this He that abides not in me is as a branch cut from the vine which withers contrarily he that abides in me draweth life from me and nourishment he liveth in me as the living arme receiveth vertue of motion and strength to be useful to the body from the head The union of Grace is not like that of creation neither in the measure nor in the instrument of it not in the measure for in the creation there was a total and imediat union in that kinde and it was a perfect one having Gods image in it without let or impeachment but this union of Grace is an imperfect union for measure in this life because the reliques of corruption and the old Adam as drosse mix themselves with the soul suffers not God and it to knit fully but as it is with the science put into the clift of a stock if there be any drosse in the clift between the stock and the science it cannot be close and grow perfectly so here the Lord and the soul cannot be so nere in this life because there is fo much scurf within us that God and we cannot close God being contrary or disagreeing with Baal and this appears further in this that the estate that answers Paradice is not of Grace but that to come in glory when corruption and sin and death shall be swallowed up in corruption full righteousnesse and life not that there is not even here a true and reall union but not a full and intire one The instruments of unions are unlike for that of creation needed no other tie or bond save the immediate presence of God in his image which had then no sin nor let to divide it but the union that is now is incumbred with lets and enimies must needs be maintained by a band of greater perfection then any is in us the nearer infused grace of light and holinesse joyned Adam and God and that free will in his nature upheld that Image of God in her exercise and action but it is otherwise now in this decay of nature there must be wrought in the soule another instrument to knit us to God and hold his grace in continuall exercise Fai●h must needs be the knitter of this union because it resists that perfectly which cuts us off from God I mean guilt and curse I say it selfe is imperfect yet it resists perfectly because it is given by God to this purpose to receive a perfect discharge in Christ from all that sin which cuts us off and from that excommunication and seperation from God which came there by faith then is that which eff●cts this union in this life absolutely that holinesse which is infused here into us is imperfect and therefore cannot fully knit us to a perfect God faith onely can hold Christ to the soul who is this life of union and so keep us close and knit to God even when our image of God in holiness is weak by this means so soon as faith hath abolished that which formerly cut off union it sets the soul in state of union as before and so breeds in it the true life of grace through pardon and forgivenesse and coming to God Faith rests not in this her uniting quality true it is she holds this her work through the whole life of believers to cover the defects of Gods image and to help true and full union on foot supplying all wants but she still strives to settle the b●ginning of holinesse also in the soul and an union thereby also it applies it weakly and in part yet it truely applies it and even here infuseth by the Spirit a most true being of Gods image and makes the soul partaker of the divine nature thereby even that partisipation which in glory shall be one and the same for kinde though fuller for measure The Spirit effects this union by the word of Promise and the Seal according as Christ was given by God to bring all unto him and to present them unto him spotlesse and unblameable so doth the word convey this Promise of Christ to the soul as by Christ it comes to passe that those who are cut off were afar off aliens from the community of Israel and the life of God were made near and one Ephes. 4. 16. The effect of this union inhabiting and indwelling of the spirit in that soul which is become one with himselfe that so it may injoy communio● and f●llowship with him in that Intercourse of all graces protection upholding and rule as seem best to himselfe so that now God in Christ by the spirit is that to the so●l which before her lusts were all in all Lord and K●ng light and defence Heaven and happinesse as we see that the owner dwells in his house the King in his Kingdome and the soul in the body both for the welfare of the posessed and the honour of the posessor the same house of the soul the same seat which was before is still but new rule and law much adoe there is between Christ and old usurping inmates lust world selfelove pride and revenge yet the soule gives that presidency to her Lord and resignes up keys posessions to him she is under his authority she swayes here by this kingdome set up in her defends