Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	church_n	militant_a	triumphant_a	2,228	5	11.7299	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64995	The true Christians love of the unseen Christ, or, A discourse chiefly tending to excite and promote the decaying love of Christ in the hearts of Christians with an appendix concerning Christs manifestation of himself to them that love him / by Thomas Vincent.	Vincent, Thomas, 1634-1678.	1677 (1677)	Wing V447; ESTC R235433	94,936	230

with infinite Might and Power the beauty of thy face is most wonderfull the smiles of thy countenance are most sweet and delightful and doth this lovely fair One this fairest of ten thousand this most excellent and alltogether lovely Person bear a particular love to me to such a vile worm as me to such a dead Dog as me to such an undeserving ill-deserving hell-deserving sinner as me O what marvellous kindness is this what infi●i●e Riches of Free Grace doth he know me by name hath he given himself for me and given himself to me and shall not I give him my heart am I written in his book● Redeemed with his blood clothed with his Righteousness beautified with his Image hath he put the dignity of a Child of God upon me and prepared a place in the Fathers house for me O wonderful O admirable what shall I render what returns shall I make had I a thousand tongues should I not employ them all in speaking his praise had I a thousand Hearts should I not present them all as too mean to thank-offering unto him And yet am I slow slow of Heart to love this dear and sweet Iesus awake O my Soul awake from thy dulness and stupidity shake off thy sleep which glues thine eye-lids so close together shake out the dust of the Earth which hath got into thine eyes and keeps thee from the view of thy beloved Arise O my Soul and lift up thy self unfetter thy feet un●log thy self take the wing and mount up above the sky and visible Heavens even to the place where the lovely and dear Iesus is Take thy leave of the world and all things therein Bid farewel to the flattering honours the deceitful Riches the glozing Pleasures that are here below bid adieu to them and leave them to those that place their chiefest happiness in them if Earth hath thy body for a while yet let it have thy heart and chiefest affections no more come O my Soul ascend and soar alo●t unto the Heaven of Heavens the way unto the Holy of Holies is accessible the vail is rent the fore-runner is entred and thou mayest have entrance too with thy Thoughts and Desires and Loves and Hopes and Ioyes there thou mayst see and veiw and admire and embrace thy dearest Lord there thy Hea●t may find a fit object for it's Love even thy dearest Lord Iesus who wil not reject despise thee but give kind entertainment unto thy love and withall give the fullest sweetest returns there thy Heart may find a room to dispose of it self and not only a lodging like that of a wayfaring man for a night but an habitation wherein to dwell and to take up it's Eternal abode let thy Heart be thy fore-runner that when thy body drops off from thee thou mayst know where to betake thy se●f and find ready entertainment there where thy Heart hath been long before Why dost thou hang downwards O my Soul why dost thou bend so much to the Earth and Earthly things what is there here below that is not beneath thee and altogether unworthy of thy Love how empty and vain and thorny are these things don 't wast thy time weary thy self for very vanity don't prick and wound thy self with these things any more What aileth thee O my Soul that thou art so backward to the Love of Christ is it because thou canst not see Christ with the Eyes of thy Body thou shalt see him with those Eyes hereafter when he comes in his Glory thy body is raised and repaired and sitted to bear such a sight thou can'st not see the Wind but thou hearest it's noise and feelest it's blasts and dost thou not hear Christ's voice in his Word dost thou not feel the breathings of his Spirit in his Ordinances Thou art invisible thy self O my Soul and art thou so drenched in flesh that visible objects shall have more Power to draw down thy heart than this most glorious object though now invisible shall have power to draw up thy Heart dost thou question and doubt of his love to thee and doth this damp and discourage thy Affection whose Image is this which is engraven upon thee is it not the Image of Christ what writing is that upon thy Heart is it not Gods Law written by Christs Spirit whose deckings and adornings hast thou got about thee what Beauty is this which is put upon thee is it not Christs comeliness where hadst thou those Bracelets that Ring those Iewels that chain of Graces are they not Christ's love-tokens which he hath given thee and yet wilt thou doubt of his love if thou feelest corruption strong yet dost thou not perceive some Grace although it be weak hast thou not some love to Christ although it be low are not thy desires chiefly after him which evidence that thy chief love is to him and is it so with any but such whom Christ doth love doth not Christ love first and yet wilt thou question his love banish then thy fears silence thy doubts O my Soul rouze up thy self and climb ●p by the Iacobs ladder which is let down to thee from Heaven and settle thy love upon Iesus Christ and those things which are above where Christ sits at the Right hand of God Such retired Contemplations of Christ and Soliloquies and pleadings with your own Souls when alone by your selves will tend exceedingly to the promotion of your love unto Christ. 2. Would you have much love to Christ Be much in Reading and Studying the Scriptures The Scriptures are a Glasse in which Christ may be seen he cannot be seen Face to Face in this World this is the happiness of the Triumphant Church in Heaven not of the Militant Church upon the Earth what may here be discerned of Christ it is in the glass of the Scriptures and Gospel-Ordinances this is that glass spoken of 2 Cor. 3. 18. We all with open face beholding as ●n a glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from Glory to Glory Christ is the Glory of the Lord the brightness of his Fathers Glory would you have much love to him be often looking veiwing and beholding of him in the glass of the Scriptures by much beholding of him you may be transformed more and more into the likeness of his Holiness and into the likeness of his Love which is Glory begun The Scriptures have the Image of Christ engraven upon them the Image of the Father is upon the Son and the Image of the Son is upon the Scriptures there you may see the Picture of Christ the Beauty of Christ at least some lineaments are there drawn by the hand of God although not fully and to the life I mean such you will see in him when you come to behold him face to face in Heaven yet his Beauty is drawn in such proportions and with such shadows as you are now capable of beholding Would you have much love unto Christ whom

in your understandings but get them fastened and fixed and close girt about the loins of your mindes hold the truths of Christ fast prize them above all jewels don't part with them upon any terms let all go estate liberty and life it self rather than any of this rich treasure which Christ hath entrusted you withal 3. Assert the truths of Christ be not ashamed or afraid to own any truths of Christ in the most adulterous gainsaying generation profess your belief of Christ and of the truths of Christ endeavour that the light of these truths may shine abroad and cast forth such bright beams in the dark world where you live that others may be brought hereby unto the knowledge of the Truth 4. Endeavour to maintain Christ's truths earnestly contend for the Doctrine of Faith once delivered to the Saints endeavour to convince gainsayers and to defend Christ's truths against those corrupt and erroneous opinions and Doctrins which like leaven is very apt to spread and infect the mindes of men 2. Shew your love to Christ in your publick spiritedness and zeal for Christ's honour and interest let your affections be publick not private narrow contracted and centring in self let your love be a publick and general love Love not only Relations but love all Christ's disciples though of different Perswasions and interests because of the image of Christ love not only your Friends that love you but also your Enemies that hate you because of the command of Christ. Let your desires be publick desires desire the welfare of the univeral Church and of all Gods people throughout the world and accordingly Pray for their Peace and Prosperity and endeavour as you have opportunity to promote the publick good more than your own private advantage seek not your own things but the things of Jesus Christ. Let your griefs be publick griefs grieve not only for your own sins but also for the sins of others whereby Christ is dishonoured in the world grieve not only for your own afflictions but also for the afflictions of Ioseph Heb. 13 3. Remember them that are in bonds as bound with them and them which suffer adversity as being your selvs also in the body You are in the same mystical body with all Christ's afflicted members and when some members suffer the rest should suffer too by way of sympathy Bleeding in their wounds and grieving in their sorrows be ready also to relieve any especially Christ's disciples when they are in distresse and want according to your capacity and as you have opportunity Employ all your Talents for your Masters glory and endeavour to promote the interest of the Lord Jesus unto the utmost of your abilities 1. In reference to those which are without If you are called your selves labour to call others unto Christ as Andrew called Peter Phillip called Nathaniel unto the Messias Iohn 1. 40 41. 44 45. If you have found the Messias or rather have been found of him let your love to Christ and love to Souls prompt you to endeavour the Conversion of others that are your Relations your Friends and Acquaintances Put your unconverted Friends in mind of their miserable Estates whilst under the guilt and reigning power of sin whil'st slaves to the Devil and their own lusts mind them of Death and the fearful consequences thereof to all unpardoned sinners tell them of Christ that he is the only Saviour and Redeemer of Mankind How able and willing he is to save them if they seek after him and apply themselves unto him tell them that not long since you were in the same estate with themselves living in the practice of the same sins and going on in the same way to destruction and that the Lord hath shewed mercy unto you in your Conversion and bringing you into a state of Salvation tell them that there is mercy also for them if they look after it that Gods Grace is most free his mercy most plentiful that Christ is most Gracious and casteth out none that come unto him tell them of the amiablenesse of Christ's Person of the surpassing love which he hath shewn to fallen mankind in his dying for them and that though he were dead yet he is alive and lives for evermore to intercede for all them that make choice of him make use of him for their Advocate Therefore perswade them that they would break off their sins by Repentance which otherwise will be the ruine both of their bodies and of their Souls in Hell and without delay that they would come unto Christ and accept of him upon Gospel-terms If any of you cannot manage these arguments well your selves perswade them if you can to hear such Ministers and Sermons as through Gods blessing have been effectual for your Conversion and thus you may be instrumental to augment the Kingdom of Christ which is one of the best ways of expressing your love unto Christ. 2. In reference to them which are within labour to promote the interest of Christ amongst them that are truly Gracious by vigorous endeavors to strengthen and establish them to quicken and encourage them in the wayes of the Lord Communicate the experiences which you have had as you see there is real need and it may tend not so much to your praise as your Masters honour Labour in your places to be both shineing and burning lights be forward to every good word and work Look upon your selves as the devoted Servants of Christ and that you are not your own and therefore lay out your selves to the utmost for him and give all diligence to glorifie him with your bodies and spirits with your Estates and interests with your gifts and talents all which are his and ought to be at his devotion 3. Shew your love to Christ in your vigorous resistance and opposition of Christ's Enemies There are three grand Enemies of Christ which you are by your Baptisme engaged to fight against namely the Devil the Flesh and the World which war both against Christ and against your Souls This Trinity of Adversaries agree in one and combine together against his anointed doing their utmost endeavour to break his bands to untye his cords and to unhinge his Government they would pluck the Crown off of Christ's head could they reach it and the Scepter out of his hand they would devest Christ if they could of all his power here on Earth and confine him to his territories in Heaven but all their attempts in this kind have been and will be in vain Christ hath tryed the strength of these Enemies and hath vanquished them but still some life and power is left with them to war against the holy seed you are Christs Souldiers listed under his banner shew your fidelity and your love to your Captain and General in manfully maintaining the spiritual combat against his and your spiritual En●mies fight the good fight of Faith resist unto blood don't yeild upon any account disdainfully turn away