Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	pure_a	religion_n	undefiled_a	1,985	5	11.7434	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61378	Sober singularity, or, An antidote against infection by the example of a multitude being practical meditations on Exod. 23, vers. 2 : wherein is opened the influence of the practise of a multitude, to draw men to sin, the special cases, wherein it concerns us to be most cautious, reasons why we must not follow them, together with the application of the whole : and therein, besides the general improvement of the point, an instance given of nineteen practises of the multitude to be avoided, seven of their grand principles to be rejc̈ted [sic] : sundry particulars concerning peace and unity, and the sanctification of the Lords Day, useful for these times / by R. Stedman ...	Stedman, Rowland, 1630?-1673.	1660 (1660)	Wing S5376; ESTC R38303	146,089	254

be a good measure of resolvedness in the spirit to stand fast against the enticements and provocations of some particular sinners much more when a Christian is to walk in a contrariety to the most and hath a multitude to contest and encounter with Ezra 10.4 Be of good courage and do it Josh 1.7 Only be thou strong and very couragious that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee That 's the first deduction from the point 2. If a believer must not act after the pattern of the multitude then hence I gather that such as will approve themselves unto God and not deal falsly and unfaithfully in the covenant of God they must be men of singularity As they must walk regularly so they must walk singularly in a way by themselves in respect to abstinence from sin in regard of purity of heart and holiness of life and conversation They are not permitted a compliance with the greatest number of men in any indirect course As in respect to the grace of conversion and sanctification though the servants of God are in the world yet they are not of the world but gathered and cull'd and chosen out of it Jo. 15.19 Jo. 17.16 So must it be in relation to their practise also though they abide in the world yet they must not be conformed unto the world but keep themselves unspotted from the pollutions of it This is pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father Jam. 1.27 Some there are that plead against holiness and for the countenancing of their corruptions What would you have us to be singular Must we be more precise than others and take a course by our selves Why Sirs If you will be Christians in good earnest and follow the Lord fully it is the very thing which God requires and expects at your hands that you be men of singularity For the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself Ps 4.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 segregavit divisit signo aliquo excellenti separavit He hath put a remarkeable difference betwixt his own people and others in respect of his blessings upon them and therefore may justly expect that they should be singular in their carriage and demeanour towards him I would not be mistaken in this point and therefore must take liberty to distinguish of a threefold singularity There is a 1. Fantastical Singularity 2. Affected Singularity 3. Sober Singularity 1. There is a Fantastical singularity in respect of opinion When persons have odde crotchets and fancies of their own wherein they differ from serious and sober Christians in all ages and in the maintaining of which opinions they sometimes excessively pride themselves as if they had gotten some higher attainments than the rest This is an evil to which professours of godliness amongst us have been hugely addicted in these latter dayes When they have gotten some uncouth notion or expression by the end they espouse its interest and think they are some body more than ordinary in the matters of religion When they have entertained a peculiar fancy of their own contrary to the sentiments of all sober-minded believers hereof they will boast as of an higher degree of perfection This sort of singularity commonly proceeds from a mixture of pride and ignorance When persons have high conceits of themselves and in the mean time have little clear and distinct knowledg of the principles of godliness possibly they have some loose and broken insight into divine truths but do not understand the misteries of religion in their combination as they are connected and knit together In such case they are exceeding apt to run into these by-waies of their own The Apostle seemeth to reduce it unto these two heads viz. ignorance and self conceitedness 1 Tim. 6.3 4. If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godliness He is proud knowing nothing but doting about questions and strifes of words c. In reference hereunto the faith of believers is the common faith Tit. 1.4 Which was once delivered unto the Saints Jude 3. Upon this account we should labour to be of one judgment That with one mind and one mouth we may glorifie God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 15.5 6. We should be very cautious of espousing any singular notion without clear warrant from the word and consulting the apprehensions of godly ministers and serious Christians And for prevention of this singularity let every man study his own weakness and think soberly of himself least instead of Juno he embrace a cloud least in the place of a more spiritual and refined truth he fall into some dangerous and soul-destructive errour And the rather ought we in this case to give the more earnest heed because when weak Christians are inconsiderately caught in this snare it is a difficult thing to be delivered out of it They think it concerns them in point of honour and as they tender their reputation to justifie and maintain the notions which they have avowedly held and professed And this is a strong temptation to a setled continuance therein And therefore I say through the grace given unto me to every man that is among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith Rom. 12.3 2. There is an affected singularity as to a mans outward garb and ornaments of the body as to civil salutations and courteous demeanour and the like When persons make it a part of their Religion to abstain from that decency of habit or gesture or civility of expression which is commonly used and delight in this regard to act in a mode by themselves And on the other hand when others place Religion in using such habits and gestures and the like fooleries which God hath not required This is that which renders Religion contemptible and ridiculous in the eyes of carnal people and makes them think it is nothing but a kind of niceness as to such toyes and trifles So the Pharisees of old neglected the power of godliness judgment mercy and faith and kept a great ado about washing of pots and cups and making broad their phylacteries and many other things which they had received to hold They left the commandments of God to follow the devices and imaginations of their own hearts Mar. 7.4 Col. 2.20 21 23. These things may have a shew of wisdom in will-worship at least in the fancies of some they appear to have it Here is a fair pretence of greater strictness than the rest whereas true wisdom consists in fearing the Lord and doing his commandments Psal 111.10 That wherein the Saints of God differ from the rest of men is in the hidden man of the heart in the unblameableness and holiness of the life from whence will flow

compliance with the multitude in their wickedness Shalt thou be thereby freed from persecutions without But what if God send trouble and horrour upon the conscience within That will be an heavier and a more insupportable burden than all external calamities whatsoever It is not the favour and friendship of all the men in the world that can minister support and comfort against the clamours of an evil conscience when it is throughly a wakened by the spirit of God Prov. 18.14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity but a wounded spirit who can bear 3. When God doth suffer his people to fall into persecutions for their righteousness sake He doth not leave them alone but hath promised himself to be graciously present with them He will minister strength to inable them to bear their burdens and will dart comfort into their souls that shall sweeten the most bitter cup of tribulation He will restrain the rage and fury of their oppressours that they shall not lay upon them more than is conducible unto their spiritual good For although God doth sometimes let his children fall into the hands of the ungodly yet he never delivereth them over to the will of the ungodly At length he will make a way for them to escape and cause all their sufferings to work together for their good and give them an ample recompence that shall make a plentiful amends for whatever cost they have been at in his service Isa 43.1 2. When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and thorow the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest thorow the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee For I am the Lord thy God the holy one of Israel thy Saviour And are the consolations of God small unto you Is it a light thing to be under the promise of his special presence and providence Wo be to sinners when trouble comes from the hand of God and there is no ministration of support from the gracious assistance of God What will they then do in the day of tribulation But the Lord will not leave his own people comfortless but will come himself and minister unto them This made the Apostle Paul that he could rejoyce in his sufferings 2 Cor. 12.10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake for when I am weak then am I strong i. e. when I am at the lowest ebb of outward enjoyments then is the Lord pleased to communicate the greatest spiritual vigour and consolation unto my heart When my body is at the lowest and my outward man at the weakest then is my soul filled with special refreshments from above God doth make up the oppressions of my outward man by imparting grace unto and lifting up the light of his countenance upon my inward man so that I have no cause to complain This shall suffice to be spoken unto the sixth way how this temptation worketh 7. And lastly There is a secret inclination in mens spirits to follow the example of a multitude in sin Because it is a pleasant thing to walk with company and in competition therewith the wayes of holiness and the fear of the Lord seem to be sad melancholly and tedious wayes It is a kind of irksome and unpleasant thing for a man to go alone in any course but to walk with company is delightsome and suitable to a mans heart and spirit Now therefore to avoid the loneliness of the service of God people are ready to comply with the multitude of the ungodly As the Israelites argued the case with Samuel in respect of a King 1 Sam. 8.5 20. We will be like all the nations and that our King may judge us So are sinners apt to plead themselves into wickedness We cannot endure to be solitary and in a path by our selves but let us doe as others doe You have a particular caution from S. Paul to take heed of this reasoning 1 Thes 5.6 Therefore let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and beasober intimating that there is a great proness in mens spirits to do as others do and to travel in that road where they may have much company with them Now to shew you the folly and weakness of this kind of argumentation I will only subjoyn these two considerations 1. That a sound believer that liveth by faith in Christ and in the exercise of repentance and purifieth himself as Christ is pure hath the infinitely blessed God for the man of his counsel and to bear him fellowship in his way And is not he Sirs the best companion in the world that can give you the best help and succour upon every occasion and bring the greatest and most heart-warming joy and gladness into the soul As the glory of God is a believers ultimate end at which he aimeth and as the spirit of God is his principal guide by whom he is conducted and as the word of the Lord is the high-way wherein he travels So the Lord of hosts himself is his constant companion 'T is said of Enoch He walked with God three hundred years Gen. 5.22 And Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God Gen. 6.9 And my brethren can that be a tedious and melancholy way where the God of consolations is ever at hand he that dwelleth in the souls of his children that he may revive their spirits The truth is most mens hearts are carnal and sensual and they cannot tast the sweetness of communion with God or else they would not complain for want of society and fellowship The Apostle speaks of it as the highest priviledg under the sun and that in a way of gloriation and boasting 1 Jo. 1.3 4. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ And these things write we unto you that your joy may be ful q. d. Here is the well-spring of joy here is a sovereign antidote against sadness and disconsolatness of spirit this will cause you to abound in joy above the joy of harvest above what will arise from the increase of corn and wine and oyle if you will have your vessels filled come unto these waters secure your interest in this blessed fellowship 2. If you would have the society of men your fellow creatures to go along with you Why the wisest course to be taken for the attainment of that is not to comply with the wicked but to labour what in you lieth to turn them from their wickedness So that be much in prayer for them that God would open their eyes and shew them the way of truth that he would sanctifie their hearts and turn them unto the truth Set a good example before them that they may be won over by the loveliness of your

that are of absolute necessity to eternal life 1 The whole nature must be cleansed from the power of sin and every corruption mortified and brought into subjection Rom. 6.6 14. 2 Cor. 5.17 2 The whole person must be devoted and consecrated unto the Lord and surrendred into his hands to be at Gods disposal and to follow him at his feet without reservation and exception of any part or faculty Isa 44.5 2 Cor. 8.5 3 All the time of a mans life must be dedicated to the service of the most high and to the imployment of holiness Luk. 1.75 1 Pet. 1.17 4 Every known sin must be actually abandoned and forsaken they must be utterly abandoned and cast off never to be followed any more Ezek. 18.21 Galat. 5.19 21. 5 All the commandments of the Lord must be respected and a conscientious regard must be had unto the due performance of every known duty Psal 119.6 6 The whole flock of our outward enjoyments must be managed in a subordination to the glory of God and eternal concernments and be readily abandoned and rejected even the dearest of them when they come in competition with close walking with God and the forest tortures and afflictions willingly submitted to rather than be driven back into the wayes of sin Mat. 16.24 25 26. Heb. 11.35 Now let us cast our eyes back on these things and see whether they can be done with a wet finger The reason why carnal people imagine that they may come to heaven without much circumspection and strictness is because they know not what reall holiness is nor wherein it doth consist which is the only way that leadeth to heaven 3. Let this principle also be erected and set up in your souls that although no Christian doth attain to an absolute perfection of grace or holiness in this life yet the meanest sincere Christian every true believer is still pressing after perfection He doth not allow himself in the least iniquity but is still cleansing himself further every day and pressing forward in godliness till he hath gotten to the Mark He doth not content himself with any attainments received but is ever labouring after more intimate acquaintance with God and a closer fellowship and communion with him Phil. 3.13 14. Every sound Christian takes the life of Christ for his pattern And though sometimes it falleth out that he maketh blots and blurres in transcribing yet he studieth to write as neer as may be according to that copy 1 Jo. 3.3 Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure So much for the raising of that fourth cursed and corrupt Principle of the Multitude 5. The next Principle of the multitude is touching the accomodations of this life the good things of this world That it is a point of the greatest wisdom to make sure of all that can be gotten here and let us trust God with our souls for they cannot be left in better hands They think Gold and silver are sure friends upon all occasions and make way for a man in any business whatsoever And therefore they count such men fools and idiots that know not their own concerns who will part with these things upon the niceties of conscience and will lose their worldly advantages upon any ground whatsoever For themselves they had rather trust God with their souls than men with their bodies and estates So that whatever cometh of it they will be sure to get what they can that they may have somewhat to rely upon in the time of need Prov. 18.11 The rich mans wealth is his strong City and an high wall in his own conceit For the prevention of the workings of this soul-destructive principle let these ensuing lessons be well imprinted on your spirits and frequently weighed and pondered in your thoughts 1. The God of holiness hath threatned to blast the indeavours and bring the labours to nought of such as eagerly and obstinately pursue the things of this life and neglect to be diligent in laying up a good foundation for eternity When they are earnestly set upon getting riches and care not to keep undefiled consciences the Lord is wont to send a curse upon their blessings and to shrivel their gains into a very narrow compass So that what profit hath a man in such a case of all his pains and labour whereby his heart hath been disquieted Why Sirs it is the blessing of God that maketh rich Prov. 10.22 And what if that blessing be withholden from you Then all your enjoyments will wither and crumble into dust even as flowers fade at the departure of the Sun And this is none other than you may well expect if you follow this world to the neglect of the other world This he is wont to execute upon the children of men when they wound their souls and consciences to get the trash and dung of the earth when they follow after this world and take no heed to walk in the steps of his precepts Sometimes God bloweth upon their labour and travel that they weary themselves as in thefire for very vanity Hag. 1.9 Ye looked for much and lo it came to little and when ye brought it home I did blow upon it Why saith the Lord of hosts Because of mine house that is waste and ye run every man to his own house Sometimes he suffers them to have much but doth not give them an heart to enjoy what they have They have no profit nor can suck any sweetness or comfort out of their greatest abundance Eccles 6.1 2. Sometimes he leaveth them to the swing of their lusts to spend what they got for their bodies to the ruine and destruction of their souls So that all they have is too little to satisfie those unsatiable and untamed lusts Eccl. 5.13 14. Prov. 1.32 2. It is but yet a little while and all the good things of this world shall not in the least be able to do you good They cannot support under the terrours of conscience in this life much less can they prevent the stroke of death or allay the bitterness of that passage They may adde to the tortures of conscience because of their evil getting and misemployment but cannot minister a dram of consolation to the departing spirit Prov. 10.2 They may increase the punishment assigned in the day of judgment but no way prevail to the alteration or revocation of the sentence of the Judg. he will not regard thy riches nor thousands of gold and silver When a rich man dieth he shall carry nothing away His glory shall not descend after him Though whiles he lived he blessed his Soul and men will praise thee when thou dost well to thy self He shall go to the generation of his fathers they shall never see light Psal 49.17 18 19. Now it is accounted a piece of the chiefest wisdom to get much in this world however it be gotten But in the end the worldling shall be a fool Jer. 17.11 i.