Selected quad for the lemma: work_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
work_n	good_a	merit_n	merit_v	6,691	5	10.7705	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10394	Saint Pauls triumph, or cygnea illa & dulcissima cantio that swan-like and most sweet song, of that learned and faithfull seruant of God, Mr. Iohn Randall, bachelor of diuinitie: vttered by him (in an eleauen sermons, vpon the eight chapter of St. Pavl his epistle to the Romans, vers. 38.39.) lately before his death, in the time of his great and heauy affliction, and vpon the Communion-dayes, either altogether, or for the most part. And now published for the glory of God, the edification of his church and people, and the hononrable [sic] memoriall of the author, by William Holbrooke, preacher of the word of God.	Randall, John, 1570-1622.; Holbrooke, William.	1623 (1623)	STC 20678; ESTC S102568	146,192	249

are equall but here God and man must be mediated betweene the parties are very vnequall and therefore here is a further matter to be pressed If the King be displeased with the subiect he that must mediate betwixt them and makes the peace must be such an one as the King loues that so dearely as that for his sake he can be content to forgiue loue the party that hath offended him in this case the loue shewed to the offender is granted in his loue to the Mediator So it is betwixt God vs we haue displeased him therefore Christ our Mediator he must be so dearely beloued of God that for his sake God wil be reconciled to vs so that the ground of all Gods loue to vs is in Christ Iesus Yea here is yet a further matter much more enforcing this Reason Here is such a mediation as the like is not found in the world againe The Mediator is in both the parties betwixt whom he mediates and both they are in him that is God in Christ and Christ in God Christ in the faithfull and the faithfull in him and therefore there can be no loue of God to vs but it must be grounded on Christ Lastly in respect of his absolute State in himselfe for what saith the Apostle All the treasures of the wisdome and knowledge of God are hid in Christ Col. 2.2.3 If all Gods Treasure be in him then the riches and treasure of Gods loue is in him too In him dwels the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily verse 9. If the fulnesse of the Godhead then the fulnesse of Gods loue dwels in him there is the ground seate and Residence of it And therefore the ground of all the loue that God beares to vs is in Christ Iesus Vse 1 The first Vse of this point for matter of Confutation of two popish Errours at once namely concerning the mediation of Saints and the merits of man Vnderstand this one point well that Christ Iesus is the ground of all Gods loue to vs and the multitude of mediators and mans merits will fall to the ground euen as Dagon did before the Arke Christ is the ground of Gods loue to vs What neede we any other mediators he onely brings vs into Gods loue and fauour and none else can doe it so for mans merits they cannot procure Gods loue Christ merits all at Gods hand If we can merit any thing it is either grace or glory and this wee cannot merit vnlesse wee can merit Gods loue and that wee cannot doe vnlesse we can merit Christ Iesus who is the infinite treasure of God for he is the seate of it and if we will say that we can merit Christ then wee may say that we can merit Gods loue else we can neuer do it and if we cannot merit Gods loue then we can neither merit grace nor glory I do not hereby dis-hearten men from good workes but from the pride of them Doe not thinke to merit any thing at the hands of God by them all our merit is in Christ for God loues vs onely in him The second vse serues to shew vs the wofull and Vse 2 miserable estate of those that are out of Christ First shewing the wofull estate of those that are out of Christ and the blessed and happy estate of those that are in Christ First the wofull and miserable estate of those that are out of Christ all that are without Christ that is that are not regarded of God in Christ they are in a fearefull taking God loues them not they may loue themselues and the world may loue and applaud them but God doth not loue them When these prophane wretches shall come to fawne on God in their priuate houses by reading praying singing of Psalmes c. What wil God say vnto them Away get you from me you are not in Christ I loue you not If they come to Gods House to heare the word to receiue the Sacraments to call vpon God with the Assembly or the like what will God say to them Get you hence you are not in Christ I loue you not But when they shall come before Gods iudgement seate and there make profession of their almes deuotion profession formality in Religion and the like what will God say to them Depart from mee yee accursed yee are not in Christ I loue you not In that day they shall feele and finde what it is to be destitute of Gods loue and to be out of Ch●ist for the euerlasting wrath and hatred and curse of God shall be shewed vpon them to the vttermost Ioh. 3.36 Hee that beleeues in the Sonne hath euerlasting life and on the contrary hee that obeyeth not the Sonne shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him They that doe not beleeue and obey Christ they are exposed to the wrath and hatred of God it shall be their portion for euer The Apostle Eph. 2.12 speakes of the Ephesians before their calling and saith that they were without hope and without God in the world Hee that hath not his part in Christ hath no part nor portion in God but onely as the Beasts or the Diuels haue the maintaining hand of God for life and maintenance yea but there is no sauing loue of God to them that are without Christ but they are exposed to the curse and wrath of God And let vs take hold vpon one particular in that place for the present occasion It is said there That they were strangers from the Couenant c. You come heereto receiue the Sacrament the Seale of Gods Couenant see therefore that ye haue faith in Christ and be in Christ and that you be reconciled to God in him else you are strangers from this Couenant you haue nothing to doe with this Seale it concernes you not therefore if you be without Christ get you hence you are but Dogges and Swine in Gods estimation these precious p●arl●s these holy things of God are not to be communicated vnto you ye haue no part in these things Secondly Secondly shewing the blessed estate of those that be in Christ truely this shewes the happy blessed estate of all true Beleeuers that are truely in Chr●st and that desire to be ●●ke vnto him They haue a happy state they haue true right and title to that loue which God beares to his dearely beloued Sonne and to all the pledges and fruits of it If we be in Christ wee are intitled to the beginning of Gods loue his Election for in Christ we haue our Election Ephes 1.4 He hath chosen vs in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in loue Secondly in Christ we are intitled to the renewing of Gods loue to vs in our Redemption for in him we haue our Redemption Col. 1.14 In whom you haue redemption by his bloud c. Thirdly in Christ we are intitled to the application of his loue

seperaters from God and no ioyners to God therefore it must needs be loue and nothing but loue yea the infinite loue of God to vs in Christ Iesus that gathers vs and bindes vs vp within this Communion It is his loue to couer such a multitude of sinnes his loue to care for vs when wee were carelesse of our selues his loue to affect vs that hated him his loue to ouercome our monstrous euilnesse with his mercifull goodnesse his loue to rescue vs raise vs vp from the gates of Hell and to set vs in heauenly places his loue to assume vs that were cast-awayes in our selues to be associated with his blessed Maiestie this is such a loue indeed as is admirable infinite worthy of God who if he were not loue it selfe hee could not nor would not haue shewed forth such fauour vnto vs. The first Vse of this Doctrine is matter of Confutation Vse 1 against the Doctrine of Mans merits If loue be the bond of our Communion of God in Christ then there is no merit of Saints nor of Angels that could euer bee the cause of it no worke before or after Iustification doth merit this before Iustification God sets his loue vpon vs freely that is agreed vpon on both sides but after Iustification say the Papists we may deserue heauen No say we the loue of God is the bond of our Communion with God which as it brings vs to God so it tyes vs fast to him sanctifies vs and glorifies vs. Vse 2 The second Vse is for Instruction teaching vs that seeing all true beleeuers haue a true Interest in the loue of God they are all ioyned to God and the bond that tyes them to him is his Loue therefore all true beleeuers are seised and possest of the loue of God A matter worthy to be well considered of vs as that that will call vpon vs and prouoke vs to many holy Duties Fiue Duties to be learned from the loue of God to vs First therefore we must know and beleeue this that God loues vs 1 Iohn 4.16 We haue known Dutie 1 and beleeued saith the Apostle the loue that God hath in vs Let vs labour therefore to get some comfortable knowledge and perswasion in our hearts that God loues vs. Wicked men are vsually too forward and too presumptuous in this case they runne on in sinne and in their owne vilde courses not regarding Gods loue and yet they presume and and perswade themselues that God loues them and if any tell them the contrary they defie him On the other side Gods children they are too backeward They repent and pray against their sinnes and fight against them and striue after grace and yet they are hardly perswaded of Gods loue to them Therefore how shall wee know certainely that God loues vs Certaine signes marks that God loueth vs. I answere we may know it First in generall by this very point in hand if wee haue this Communion with God if wee be ingrafted into Christ if we be obedient to the Spirit if we be constant and conscionable in the vse of the Word Sacraments and prayer then certainely God loues vs and wee are within the compasse of this Bond. Secondly thou maist know it in particular by this Art thou pluckt out of thy sinnes hast thou parted with them for conscience sake hath thy master-sin receiued his deaths-wound within thee Is thy heart clensed in some true measure from thy wickednesse Oh then certainely God loues thee Psal 73.1 Surely God is good to such as are of a pure heart As it is the greatest signe that euer can be of Gods wrath vpon vs when he suffers vs to liue and to dye in our sinnes so there is no greater signe of his loue then this that our sinnes are cast out of vs and wee not suffered to liue in them Thirdly thou maist know it by thy loue to GOD if thou loue GOD it is most certaine that he loues thee and if God loues thee thou canst not but loue God But how may I know certainely that I loue God indeed for I may be deceiued in this as well as in the other I answere looke into thy Obedience if thou hast an obedient heart to God then thou louest God Iohn 14.21 where Christ expresseth both how we may know we loue God secondly how wee may know that hee loues vs If wee would know whether wee loue God looke into our obedience He that hath my Commandements and keepeth them is he that loueth mee And if we would know whether God loues vs let vs looke into our loue to him And he that loueth me shall be loued of my Father and I will loue him saith our Sauiour Fourthly wee may know Gods loue to vs by our chastisements Hebr. 12.6 Whom the Lord loueth he chasteneth but afflictions and chastisements are common to all good and bad to the wicked as well as to the godly I answere Afflictions are so indeed but chastisements are peculiar to Gods people onely But how shall I know whether mine be chastisements I answere out of the 10. verse When God chastiseth vs it is for our profit And what profit that wee might be partakers of his holinesse therefore if wee would know it to be a chastisement looke whether we profit by it to holinesse If wee grow in grace it is a certaine and most sensible yea and infallible signe of Gods loue I say both these together chastisements and profit by them is an infallible signe of Gods loue to thee If Gods hand be vpon thee in minde or body or goods any way or euery way if thou doest profit by it to holinesse and get grace thereby into thy heart then certainely God loues thee This is a sensible Argument and an infallible signe of it it must needs be much loue that turnes sower into sweet the sowernesse of thy chastisements into the sweetnesse of his grace Dutie 2 Another Dutie that we may learne hence is to bee thankefull to God for this his great loue Oh that we could in any measure worthily praise the Lord for this his great loue to vs It is worthy of more thankes then wee are able to giue wee should study therefore how to praise God for it stirre vp all the powers of thy Soule to this duty say with Dauid Psal 103.1 Oh my Soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within me praise his holy Name And that which Dauid would haue all Nations to doe that we must doe Psal 117.1 Praise the Lord Thy soule fares the better for this loue and all that is within thee fares the better for it and therefore stirre vp thy selfe and say Praise the Lord Oh my Soule for his loue towards thee and let all that is within me praise him for his loue say it with thy mouth and doe it with thy heart and let thy life say Amen to it and then this loue of God is well bestowed vpon thee Gods loue is

are Seraphims that is hot and fiery spirits burning not in fury but in zeale for the glory of the Lord of hoasts Now they know that God is wonderfully glorified in the saluation of his children and therfore they will not hinder that at any hand but zealously aduance it to the vttermost of their power Secondly their obedience to Gods will they know it is Gods will to giue his children a kingdome and will they crosse his will No they obey and doe his will Psal 103.20 they will neuer crosse it They know their fellow-Angels frustrated their estate by disobedience and will they frustrate theirs too Noe they will not Thirdly their dependance on Christ and their loue to him Ioh. 1.51 Hereafter you shall see heauen open and the Angells of God ascending and descending vpon that Sonne of man All their ministry is from God to vs as in Christ and they are vpheld by Christ or else they are as changeable as the euill Angells were by nature and they know that Christ hath redeemed vs with his pretious bloud and will they seeke to cast away the price of his bloud They know that Christ hath committed vs to God his Father and will they incense vs against God or God against vs Lastly their faithfulnesse to vs and their communion with vs they take notice of vs as their fellow-seruants and therefore they will not hurt vs hee is an euill seruant that will smite his fellow-seruants this is odious on earth how much more in heauen if euer the holy Angels should entertain any faithlesse or treacherous thought against vs their fellowes and brethren heauen they know would neuer endure them Reason 2 The second reason The Angels cannot doe it if they would this agrees more fitly with the words of the Apostle that they shall not be able to separate vs. There are two vnmoueable barres whereby they are vtterly disabled from hurting vs in estate of grace The first is the soueraign power ouer-ruling hand of God the second is the neernesse of our communion with Christ First the soueraigne power of God and his ouer-ruling hand both ouer them vs that hinders them they are Gods elect Angels and we are Gods elect children and therefore God by bis soueraigne power will neuer suffer them to seduce vs nor suffer vs to be seduced by them Gods election must stand good for euer Secondly the neerenesse of our vnion with Christ that is another bar to hinder them Christ tooke our nature vpon him not the Angels Heb. 2.16 and herein we are a degree aboue the Angels Now this assumption of our nature into the person of Christ and his participation with vs therein is so sanctified and effectually ratified by faith and by the spirit to euery true beleeuer that they are truely one with Christ himselfe and can the Angels hurt Christ or betray Christ or separate Christ from Gods loue then neither can they hurt vs nor betray vs nor separate vs from the loue of God in Christ The Vses are these First since it is so that the Vses 1 good Angels can neuer impeach the estate of Gods children therefore it shewes that whosoeuer they be that doe fall away from the estate of grace by the occasion of good Angels that certainly they were neuer true beleeuers such there were in the time of the Apostles Coloss 2.18 That vnder a colour of Religion and humblenesse of minde did worship Angels such as the Monkes and Fryars bee at this day but what saith the Apostle in the 19. verse They that teach such things hold not the head that is they hold not Christ as their head they are vtterly voyde of Christ and so liuing and dying in that sinne they are vtterly void of the state of grace and saluation This sets such a brand of reprobation on the Popish Church and Religion that they are neuer able to claw it off They hold many other grosse points which at least by consequence ouerthrow the foundation Christ Iesus But of this point the Apostle saith directly That they that hold it hold not the head Christ A man cannot be a worshipper of Angels and belong to Christ And doth not the Church of Rome greatly adore and worship Angels doe they not reuerence them and call vpon them It is their professed Doctrine and ordinary practise I would faine see how they would answere this they are cut off hereby from the head Christ I doubt not but many of them are the Elect of God but then either the Lord keepes them that they fall into this sinne or if they doe fall into it yet God giues them repentance for it before they die that lo they shall not fall by it for euer But let vs beware and take heede of this sinne in our selues and euermore let vs take heed of Popery that doth maintaine and teach this grosse errour Vses 2 Secondly this teacheth vs the vndoubted certainty of the saluation of Gods children That Gods children should euer be cast off from the estate of sauing grace It is a thing impossible there is an absolute impossibility in it nay there is more then an absolute impossbility in it for marke how the case stands It is impossible that euer the good Angels should goe about to bend their power against vs to cast vs out of the loue of God But if they should yet it were impossible they should do it so that for Gods children to be cast out of Gods loue It is a thing more impossible then that which is indeede absolutely impossible Oh blessed be God that hath setled and stablished vs in such an holy and happy estate so stedfastly Oh that all true beleeuers would lift vp themselues and know their owne happinesse Oh that they would confidently beleeue this heauenly truth touching the certainety of their saluation Oh that they would be perswaded as confidently to beleeue it as the Apostle affirmes it wee should doe so it is our failing that wee doe not so what base minded wretches are we that beleeue that God loues vs in Christ and yet wee perplexe our selues with feares and distrustfull thoughts of this nature or of that of this or that casualty as if they should seperate vs from God Our faith should lift vs vp as high as heauen yea aboue heauen yea aboue the Angels in heauen in the matter of our assurance Our faith should say as the Apostle doth here I am sure that the Angels in heauen can neuer be able to seperate me from the loue of God and therefore much lesse can any other Creature or casualty whatsoeuer can any creature doe more then the Angels in heauen can But if wee consider further that these Angels these mighty and powerfull Angels are not onely not against vs but for vs affectionately for vs wholly for vs alwayes for vs and that they bend all their power to keepe vs in the loue of God and to make good the worke of our saluation what a