Selected quad for the lemma: blood_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
blood_n	body_n	bread_n	receive_v	24,239	5	6.4071	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39163	A vindication of the ministers of Christ from the slander cast on them that they are house-creepers, because they sometimes preach in private houses : also proving by the Scripture who are house-creepers, and the evil they do where their corrupt doctrine is received / held forth in two sermons on 2 Tim. 3. 6., by W.E.	W. E.	1673 (1673)	Wing E44; ESTC R36132	30,217	55

aside from the truth Let us then bring the Doctrines we hear to the touch-stone of Gods Word and not to reject them because publique neither applaud them meerly because private and so on the other hand Those that are so rigorous against private places what would they have done if they had lived in the dayes of Christ they would have rejected Christ and his Doctrine because he preached on a Mountaine and in a Ship and if they had lived in the dayes of the Apostles they would have done the like A faithfull Minister of Christ whether private or publick will endeavour to approve himself to God by holding forth such things as are consonant and agreeable to the Word of God Truth may be private when errour may be publick as in the dayes of Ahab when some of the Prophets were imprisoned and some put to death and Jezeebel had four hundred Prophets of Baal that fed daily at her table these at that time had the publick places and so in the dayes of Christ and his Apostles I proceed now to the second observation OB. That such persons usually effect their design on such as are either weak and ignorant not able to discern their corrupt and unsound Doctrine or such as are under the power of some base lust or lusts be they men or women for it may be understood of both sexes such being by the just judgment of God left to themselves and so they easily prevail on them Observe what Solomon telleth Prov. 14.15 The simple beleeveth every thing but the prudent looketh well to his goings What doth he mean in that but this A man that is simple and void of understanding you may make him beleeve any thing if you put a fair glosse and colour upon it but a man of understanding will lift and try and examine and see what grounds there are for the Doctrine that is delivered Of such deceivers the Apostle speaketh 2. Pet. 2.14 Now here 1. I shall shew you that they usually effect their designed on persons that are ignorant 2. That they also effect their design on those that are under the power of some lust or lusts that are in bondage to some base lusts 3. That God in his just judgment is pleased sometimes to give over such to be seduced 1. That their design is usually effected on those that are ignorant of Gods Word This you may see if you look into the Scripture Who were they among the Children of Israel that the false Prophets did so easily draw aside you may see they were any such that did not know the Lord. Jer. 5.3.4 5. Now how came this to pass They were led aside and seduced by those false Prophets that Jeremiah complaineth of that did deceive them and speaking smooth things to them did harden and confirm them in their evil wayes Again you may see how they were drawn in Jeroboams time to that grosse and abominable Idolatry they willingly walked after the Commandment Hos 5.11 Now what people were these the Prophet telleth us Hos 4.1 they were such as were without the knowledge of God where there is no knowledge of God in a Land people are easily crawn aside into the most pernicious errours And what was the reason that the Scribes and Pharisees had so many followers and so few followed Christ Why the people were ignorant of the Law and the Pharisees by their grosse and corrupt interpretations did deceive them They were a people that did not know the Law if they had known the Word of God Christ and the truths of Christ would have been very precious to them And what was the cause in this Nation in former dayes and with other Nations that remain under Ponery they are drawn aside to embrace the most-abominable errours to beleeve things that are so grossely corrupt It is because they are without the Word the Scriptures are locked up in an unknown language and people without the Word do beleeve any thing though never so grosse Do you think that absurd and abominable opinion of the Popish Masse would be received viz. That the Bread and Wine is the very Body and Blood of Christ Also that Crossing themselves with their Fingers is that which will defend them from evil and many the like foolish opinions if people were not ignorant of the Word of God 2. That which I am to shew you further is this That as ignorant persons are apt to be drawn aside to errours so likewise those that live under the power of some lust or lusts Consider that Jer. 5. The time that the Prophet Jeremiah speaketh of was a time of loosness and prophaneness They did whatsoever was good in their own eyes v 5. The great men had some knowledge of God but notwithstanding they had burst the yoke and broken the bonds they would not be under the power of Gods Word but would walk according to their own lusts pleasures Likewise that in Jer. 44.16 When the Word that Jere. had spoken in the name of the Lord crossed their lusts see how stubbornly they answer As for the VVord which thou hast spoken to us in the Name of the Lord we will not hearken to thee VVhen persons are under the power of any lust they are in a ready way to be seduced to any thing though never so corrupt VVhen men are in love with any sin and do wilfully retain any lust they are fit persons for seducers to work upon And usually such persons with whom the flesh and their own carnal interest prevailes have been drawn away from following the truth though they have lived some time under a profession of it and have had some knowledge of it I say such persons being overswayed by their lusts have been turned aside from the truths which they formerly embraced into the most corrupt and abominable ways We have had experience of it in this our Nation when God was pleased to give us peace and plenty and all that our hearts could desire how many were there that lived under a Profession of Religion when Religion was in credit yet the World having the Mastery of their hearts how suddenly did those persons miscarry and turn aside some to one opinion and some to another And surely those who lie in wait to deceive observe the frame and temper of mens spirits and order their deceits accordingly 3. That God in his just judgment giveth such over to be deceived VVhen once men will indulge themselves in any way of sin when once they wilfully take up their resolutions that they will do so and so though it be expressely contrary to the VVord of God God is pleased to give such over to delusions 2 Thes 2.10 11. For this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a Lie For what cause because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved Observe that he doth not say that they did not receive the truth but they received not the

establish their Justification by works they bring the same Argument that the Apostle brought in another sense The same way that Abraham was justified the same way are all the faithful justified But Abraham was justified by works therefore by works are all the faithful justified But compare this with Pauls Epistle to the Romans chap. 4. v. 2 3. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness What was counted why that which Abraham believed in and rested on that is the righteousness of Christ but it was before men only that Abraham was justified by works for we must observe that the Apostle Paul speaketh of Justification before God and the Apostle James of Justification before men so that in confounding these lieth the subtilty of the adversary Now on this account they will bring Scripture poor people that are ignorant and unskilful in the Word of God when they hear a man bring Scripture to confirm his errors Oh say they he proved it out of Scripture though it be directly contrary to Gods Word Likewise they bring that place Mat. 25.34 For I was hungry c. But it is as clear as the Sun that that place is not to be so understood as if their works were the cause why Christ did bring them to glory but those works were mention'd as fruits and effects of faith which were evident to all faith it self is secret and discernable to none but God himself but works are discernable to all and therefore it was meet that Christ passing a sentence of Acquittance and Absolution on them should recite it to all even as a Judge doth recite all that by which the person is absolved so Christ doth here shewing that their faith is not a dead faith but a living saith that did work by love and carried them to obedience to God so that this is in respect of their Justification before the whole world Again they will urge Scripture as for the manner of Worship yea though they have no Word of God for it yet they will tell you that their Ceremonies are for the beautifying and adorning of the Church and for decency in the Worship of God that things are not to be done confusedly but in order Whereas indeed those things are most orderly that we have Christs Word for and that is most decent that Christ thinketh most fit and decent for Christ being the Lord of the House that is decent which he appointeth in the House But alas Men when they hear a Scripture produced though they do not consider the thing that is there intended yet are soon startled and hence are people driven into the most abominable opinions As for instance to receive that abhorred Doctrine of the Popish Mass Why say the Papists doth not Christ expressely say This is my Body And is not Christ the Author of truth And ought we to question any thing that Christ hath said Whenas Christ speaketh figuratively that the Bread and Wine were figures and did represent spiritually the Body and Blood of Christ Christ speaketh Sacramentally and by way of a Figure that is usual in the Scriptures as sometimes Christ calleth himself A Door and A Vine So is Circumcision called A Covenant And God saith that those that were Circumcised had broke his Covenant because Circumcision was the sign of the Covenant So that it cannot be the meaning of Christ that h● should intend that the Bread and Wine was his natural Body and Blood for he was then alive and visible before his disciples 2. Because their doctrine doth suit to the corruption that is in mens hearts Now those that we are speaking of are not able to see the evil and the strong inclinations of their h●arts to that which is evil but being that which doth suit to their corrupt hearts therefore they receive it For herein lieth the difference between the Ministers of Christ and false teachers The Ministers of Christ holding forth the truths of Christ have nothing of Man to lay hold on for corrupt doctrine doth suit with corrupt natures such a doctrine as this is to extol Justification by VVorks or at least that works have some share in it this doth exceedingly take with corrupt hearts Also to worship God after the Inventions of Men and to frame a manner of worship of our own this is that which mens hearts are in love withal they think that by this they deserve at Gods Hand and such corrupt doctrines they will drink in as sweet wine though in the end they will find it a bitter poison 3. Because they are ignorant and not able to understand the great danger that is in such corrupt doctrine how much it tendeth to the dishonour of God and how greatly it provoketh the Lord-Those that are ignorant do little think that the setting up Mans works in the point of Justification doth exceedingly affront the Divine Majesty such slight the Love of God in the Gift of his Son for if we are able to justifie our selves what need have we of Christ Christ is also exceedingly provoked by setting up the rags of their own righteousness as Co-Partners with his righteousness nay to set it above the righteousness of Christ this is that which doth exceedingly provoke him therefore the Prophet Isaiah speaketh to such in the Name of Christ This ye shall have at my hands ye shall lie down in sorrow They render the Spirit of God a Liar who when he hath declared that there is no salvation in any other but in Christ alone and that this is the great design of God that he will magnifie his own grace and abase man that no flesh shall glory in his sight I say they give a lie to the Spirit of God who assert their own righteousness for Justification Again they do not know the danger of the corrupt mixture of the devices of men with the Justitutions of Christ they know not what danger it is to oppose Christ in his own house wherof he is the Lord these men knew it not Therefore they are advised Ps 2 to kiss the Son I tell you to go to disenthrone Christ and to rule in his house is another thing then men are aware of Thus you see the reason why ignorant persons are so easily seduced and drawn into errour The Reasons why they prevail on such that are in bondage under some lust or lusts may be these 1. Because they suit their doctrines to the lusts of men that harden their hearts and strengthen their hands in their iniquities that is the reason why corrupt doctrine is embraced by such The false prophets saw well enough that Ahab had a mind to go up to Ramoth Gilead and they had a minde to please Ahab Oh say they Go up and prosper So those prophets in Jeremiah's time saw that the people had a good mind to live loosely and prophanely but they were terrified by 〈◊〉 Prophet Jeremiah see how they suit their doctrine to their lusts Peace shall be