Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	john_n	light_n	light_v	5,547	5	10.5293	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51252	A treatise shewing the liberty and bondage of the will of man, or, A treatise shewing the bondage of the will of man by nature, and the liberty thereof by grace	Moore, Thomas, Senior.	1652 (1652)	Wing M2594A; ESTC R41715	32,714	48

him and so challenge and hope for heaven thereby agrievous and dangerous deceit and of as wofull an issue Prov. 14.12 and 16.25 and 21.2 and 30.12 And this reproved in Gods people Zach. 7.5 6. 3. Some through folly setting the servant to rule suffering their appetite and sense to command their will do freely chuse those worst things and ways by which they lay Bars and Blocks in the way of their own conversion and so fore-stall themselves from hearkning to better offers when tendered and so provoke God to leave them to such folly as is folly in the eyes of natural men as to hire or buy a farm before they see it Luke 14.18 Yet this freedom of will given by Christ will serve to leave men that so abuse it without excuse seeing they were not necessitated to chuse the worst but did it freely without constraint and such as use it but as they may do avoid many rubs and blocks from being in the way of their conversion and yet in all this is no free will to that which is spiritually good nor any exalting of the nature of man but the grace of God for that freedom that is given 4. But to proceed farther to consider man according to the fourth consideration viz. As by virtue of the death sacrifice and mediation of Jesus Christ there is by him some light understanding and disposition given into the soul the minde will and affections of man yea every man that cometh into the world But because this will not be believed by some but is questioned and denyed it is much to produce some instances of Scripture where the Spirit of truth affirmeth the same that it may appear unquestionably true John 1.4 5 9. Jesus Christ is said to have life in him and that life in him to be the light of men that whence issues that discoverie of the knowledge of the goodness of God and that life mercy c. which men have and might further enjoy and the light shineth note it not onely to but in darkness in the blind understandings and mindes of men and their ways and the darkness comprehendeth it not but then it follows that more means is used and then vers 9. He was the true light namely from the beginning as still he is the light of the world John 8.12 which lighteth every man that cometh into the world and what this light is see Prov. 20.27 The spirit of man is the candle or lamp of the Lord which he hath given him and set up and lighted in his heart searching and so discovering all the inward parts of the belly this also is avouched by good Elihu Job 32.8 there is a spirit in man and the in spiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding and that this spirit or light and inclination though in the soul is neither the soul nor the body of man as from Adam but some infusion by the means of Christ appeareth in that it is said to be given of God that men by it might inquire after and discern the goodness of God their maker Job 35.10 11. and also that it is exprest as a third thing distinct from soul and body Luke 1.46 47. 1 Thes 5.23 And let men call this what they please it is such a light understanding and disposition as in which men are said to have eyes to see and ears to hear so as they might discern between that which is morally good and morally evil and discern many of the attributes of God and much of his minde in his works and word yea and that testimony of his Son being the Saviour of the world when it is brought to them if they close not the eyes eares given them and refuse to use them to the end for which they were given them and that is it they are reproved for as is clear Gal. 3.1 Acts 28 27 Jer. 5.21 Ezek. 22.26 And hereby it is that many natural men have so discerned the being and attributes of God in his works and have been so inclined to many moral good things and disapproved moral evils which though some of good esteem calls the Reliques of Gods Image left in Adam after the fall and therein unwittingly magnifie nature and asscribe some light and freedom of will to it and deny man to be dead in sin by the fall yet the truth is those things are the fruit of that life in Christ for men and by him given in to them John 1.3 4 5 8 9 10. So that as man is thus considered he hath from Christ such light or spirit as if heeded and suffered would make his will free to moral good things Exod. 35.5 21 26. So as in this respect there is given by Christ so much freedom as the will is not constrained but might chuse the best in respect of moral good or evil presented unto it and in respect of attending to or withdrawing from the Gospel which attended to would work a better freedom whence in their not so chusing they are charged not with a necessitous turning aside but to have chosen their own ways and that which God delighted not in and 65.12 and 66.3 4. Prov. 1.29 31. And all this is no affirmation of free will in man by nature to that which is supernaturally and spiritually good for that it yet is not nor of it self can be without some farther grace than here mentioned though in right use of this shewn even that might be met withall Prov. 8.32 36. But this serveth still to abase mans nature as fallen and to magnifie the grace of God in Christ and to aggravate the finfulness of evil chusers of their own ways yet this freedom of will though graciously given by Christ to men for their good is by many divers ways abused to their greater harm for 1. Some even when God appears and the knowledge of God is tendered and they discern the same right and good and might chuse to behold the light and attend the means of knowledge tendered in which they should meet with blessing yet because it reproveth and calleth off from some Idolatry or uncleanness or worldly lusts which they exceedingly love they without constraint do freely refuse to hearken to such instructions and yield to such acts of worship and justice mercy and sobriety as would hinder the satisfying of those lusts and as freely chuse the contrary which they might have refused but would not and in this their evil choise they say to the Almighty Depart from us we will not the knowledge of thy ways whence these are said to be the wicked indeed Phil. 3.18 19. 2 Tim. 3 4. Job 21.14 15. 2. Some when light and truth is extended discovering the vanity of Idols and false worship and mens doctrines and ways and the goodness of truth so as they begin to see what is right and good and like it as good to be followed yet because they love peace to the flesh and the approbation of man in authority and