Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	light_n	light_v	shine_v	1,811	5	9.0754	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91366	The way step by step to sound and saving conversion, with a clear discovery of the two states, viz: nature, & grace: and how to know in which state one is, and the way to come out of the one into the other. Or, The ready and right path-way for the first Adams posterity to get out of their fallen estate accompanied with sin and misery, into the relation and family of the last Adam, which estate is attended with grace and glory, &c. With many weighty questions answered, and cases of conscience resolved, for the clearing and confirming the truths asserted. / By Robert Purnell.	Purnell, Robert, d. 1666.	1659 (1659)	Wing P4241; Thomason E1800_1; ESTC R209703	66,581	144

himself out c. Of the preparations or qualifications that we are to find in our selves before we lay hold on Christ and the promise Conversion and Regeneration Vocation and Repentance are but four words to hold forth as it were one and the self same thing Of the way step by step how the Lord in his ordinary dispensation in these Gospel-dayes doth lead a soul as it were by the hand out of a state of nature into a state of grace First by enlightning the soul Secondly by calling him effectually Thirdly by enabling him to believe Fourthly by giving him the spirit of prayer by which he prayes for more light to see his sins and then for pardoning mercy and for purging mercy Fifthly the Lord doth cause the soul secretly to give it self up to God and so he comes to surrender all its own supposed interest that he had in himself unto God that made it and unto Christ that hath dearly purchased it then there follweth the mean● to be used to breed and beget grace and to convert the soul First to keep close to grace-begetting Ordinances viz. hearing the Word preached reading the Scriptures and frequent and earnest prayer Secondly to dwell much upon grace-begetting promises Thirdly to frequent the company of grace-begetting and soul-converting companions Fourthly to call to mind and meditate upon grace-begetting considerations Fisthly to gather and to treasure up grace-begetting and soul-converting experiences and so to be diligent in the use of many other means for the confirming sealing and assuring the soul of salvation these and many other subordinate branches thou hast here presented in a little room and a few words c. Now to proceed a little farther in this great work and so to draw towards a close let the Reader consider these things following viz. 1. If we remain in an unconverted estate let us blame our selves only for the want of conversion is not in God for he makes use of all means and wayes to convert us 2. We shall present the Reader with some of the principal hinderances of Conversion 3. Consider the sad and miserable condition of the unconverted 4. The trials of conversion by which a man may know whether he be converted yea or no 5. The priviledges and benefits of all that are converted 6. Certain Objections answered which some out of weakness and others out of prejudice may be apt to make against the foregoing discourse and so I shall close up this Book The want of Conversion i● not in God but in our selves he makes use of all means and waies to convert us 1. Our conversion and salvation is not a thing impossible for a new and living way is consecrated for us by Christ through the vail his flesh and by his blood we may have boldness to enter into the Holiest he hath borne our burthen he hath removed the impossibilities and nailed to his Cross the hand-writing that was against us Coll. 2. 14 15. So that if any of us perish it is for want of grace in us not for want of satisfaction by the Redeemer salvation is brought even to our doors and thrust in as it were into our hands we have Christ himself offered us and pardon life and salvation with him we have God himself waiting to be gracious and beseeching us to be reconciled to him 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. We have the Lords Embassadors intreating us in his Name and stead the Lord hath provided excellent and plentiful means with promise upon promise of his presence with and blessing upon us in the use of them and if the Spirit make not these means effectual it will not be long of him but of our selves God himself presents and offereth us mercy Prov. 1. 23. and continues his Ordinance● the Angels waits for the joy that is due to them upon our conversion Ministers are preaching and praying for our conversion godly friends and neighbours are praying and longing to see this work wrought in us See Mr. Bax●ers Call to the unconverted in the Preface We study plainness of speach to make them understand we come with serious piercing words to make them feel but they will neither understand nor feel if the greatest matters would work with them we should awake them if the sweetest things would work we should intice them if the most dreadful things would work we should affright them if truth and certainty would take with them we should soon convince them if the God that made them and the Christ that bought them might be heard the case would soon be altered with them if Scripture might be heard we should soon prevail if the best and strongest reason might be heard we should speedily convince them if experience might be heard even their own experience the matter would soon be mended yea if the conscience within them might be heard the case would soon be better with them than it is but if the dreadful God of Heaven be slighted who then shall be regarded If the blood of a Redeemer be made slight of what then shall be valued If the joyes of Heaven is not worth the desiring and the torments of Hell the avoiding what shall we do for such souls as these c Now if after all these and the like means Man will not turn it is not long of God that they are not converted but of themselves so that Mans destruction is of himself James 1. 15. So earnest is God for the conversion of sinners that he doubleth his commands and exhortations Turn ye turn ye why will ye dy Ezek. 33. 11. Again it is the promise of God that the wicked shall live if they will but turn nay the Lord hath confirmed it to us by an oath That he hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked See the forementioned place Ezek. 33. 11. Nay farther the Lord condescendeth to reason the cause with all unconverted sinners as to ask them why they will dy in their sinnes See the forementioned place Ezek. 33. 11. Compared with 2 Pet. 3. 9. The Lord is long-suffering not willing that any should perish c. Some of the principal hinderances of Conversion 1. The first Hindrance is ignorance both of their own misery and Gods mercy the kingdome of Satan is a kingdome of darkness and himself the ruler of darkness and the mist and blackness of darkness is reserved to him and his servants for ever Jude 6 13. compared with John 3. 19. this is condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light So that if the Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not lest the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them but those that are converted can truly say we were once darkness but now we are light in the Lord Ephes 5. 8. 2. Hindrance of conversion is men think it to be either an easie work or a

it is a great incouragement to one Christian to see the forwardness of another in the waies of well doing 3. To win others to the imbracing of the gospol 1 Pet. 3. 1 2. that they may be won by the conversation whilst they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear c. A man doth teach by his conversation as well as by his doctrine 4. Good works and an holy conversation are good in respect of others for an example of Vertue Joh. 13. 15. I have done this good work to give you an example said our Lord Christ Again we read Thes 1. 7. So that ye were examples to all that believe And indeed each Officer in the Church should walk so as to be a good example to the Flock there is ateaching by Example as well as by Doctrine See Phil. 3. 17. By all which we may see that good works are necessary in respect of the Lord which doth command them and of our selves that doth them and of others that behold them although there is no man saved for his good works yet there is none saved without them Many other Arguments might begiven to engage us to be rich in good works to instance in few and so to close this Answer to this Question consider then 1. That all the commands of God to walk holy are but as so many perswasions to perswade us to be happy Deut. 5. 29. That it might go well with us and our Children 2. Because Christians are the salt of the Earth the light of the world a City set upon a Hill that cannot be hid Mat. 5. 13 14. 3. Seeing that death and judgement and the end of this life and world is at hand 2 Pet. 3. 11 c. 4. There is no condemnation to those that walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 8. 1. 5. This is the way to have Gods blessing upon all we set our hand unto Psal 1. 3. Qu. You have here presented us with our Duty and the benefits and privileges that will redound to us if we obey but how shall we be enabled to do these things Jer. 10. 23. the way of man is not in himself it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps and Saint Paul tells us from the Lord that we are not sufficient as of our selves to think so much as one good thought and that it is God that worketh both to will and to do c. Answ Strength to perform any duty to exercise any Grace to subdue any Lust or resist any Temptation to bear any Affliction c. is derived only from the Lord one of these three wayes to the Soul 1. Consider That either he hath already before hand as it were enabled us to do the thing commanded by giving us a Talent or Talents 1 Cor. 12. 8 9 10. Rom. 12. 6 Mat. 25. 15. to 28. 2. Let us consider That many times the Lord conveys a power together with the command to enable us to do the thing commanded So when he bid Lazarus come forth of the Grave so when he commanded the man that was sick of the palsi● to take up his Bed and walk Lu. 5. 24 25. So again Ezek. 2. 1 2. And he said unto me Son of Man stand upon thy feet and I will speak unto thee and the spirit entred into me when he spake and set me upon my feet and I heard him speak unto me 3. If we find no power already given us before the command neither any power conveyed to us together with the command then in the next place we are to bring the command to the Promise and so to seek for by Prayer the blessing of the Promise that we may be enabled to do the Duty of the Precept To instance in a few cases for all the rest It is mans duty to believe Mar. 1. 15. Precept Promise Prayer Believing is Gods free gift Ephes 2. 8. This puts the Soul upon praying for it I believe help my unbelief Mar. 9. 24. It is mans duty to wash and be clean Is 1. Precept It is Gods promise to sanctifie and cleanse Promise us Ezek. 36. 25. The Soul seeing its duty and Gods promise Prayer prayes Wash me and I shall be clean Psal 51. 2. It is mans duty to repent Acts 17. 30. Precept Promise The promise holds forth repentance as the gift of God Acts 5. 31. 2 Tim. 2. 25. Prayer sues it out Turn thou me and I shall Prayer be turned Jer. 31. 18. It is required of man as his duty to make him Precept anew heart Ezek. 18. 31. It is Gods promise to give a new heart Ezec. Promise 36 26. Create in me a new heart O God and renew Prayer a right Spirit within me Ps 51. 10. It is mans duty to love God Mat. 22. 37. Precept Promise It is Gods promise to circumcise the heart to love him Deut. 30. 6. The Lord direct your hearts into the love Prayer of God 2 Thes 3. 5. It is mans duty to fear God Deut. 10. 12. Precept Promise It is Gods promise to put his fear into our Precept Promise hearts Ier. 32. 40. Prayer seeks for it Psal 86. 11. Unite my Prayer heart to fear thy name It is mans duty to draw near to God Iawes Precept 4. 8. It is Christs promise to draw men unto him Promise Iohn 12. 32. Prayer falls in sutable herunto Can. 1. 4. Draw Prayer me we will run after thee It is mans dutie to walk in Gods Statutes Precept Psal 119. 4 It is Gods promise to inable men so to do Promise Ezek. 36. 27. O that my ways were directed to keep thy Prayer statutes Psa● 119. 5. It is mans duty to be strong in the Lord Precept Ephes 6. 10. It is Gods promise to make him strong Psal Promise 29. 11. Prayer falls in O give thy strength to thy Prayer Servant Psal 86. 16. It is mans duty to draw near to but not to Precept depart from God Heb. 3 12. It is Gods promise to his people that they Promise shall not depart from him Jer. 32 40. O let me not wander from thy commandements Prayer Ps 119. 10. Let the Reader consider that to each precept there is a promise and to some precepts there are two or three promises the one to enable us the other to reward us and all to encourage us to do our duty the commands in Scripture doth not so much shew what the Creature can do but what he should do yet not by his own natural power but by his assisting and enabling grace In a word Duty is the matter of Gods Promise as well as Gods Mercy as doth most clearly appear by these Scriptures Ephes 2. 8. Phil. 1. 29. Acts 5. 31. John 8. 32. Quest What is the best way to mortifie sin that is so prevailing in us