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	life_n	lord_n	8,820	5	4.1237	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47193	The universall free grace of the Gospell asserted, or, The light of the glorious Gospell of Jesus Christ, shining forth universally, and enlightning every man that coms [sic] into the world, and therby giving unto every man, a day of visitation wherin it is possible for him to be saved, which is glad tydings unto all people, being witnessed and testifyed unto, by us the people called in derision Quakers : and in opposition to all denyers of it, of one sort and another proved by many infallible arguments, in the evidence and demonstration of the spirit of truth, according to Scripture testimonies and sound reason : with the objections of any seeming weight against it, answered it, answered / by George Keith.	Keith, George, 1639?-1716.; Furly, Benjamin, 1636-1714.	1671 (1671)	Wing K228; ESTC R13258	128,214	140

THE Universall free grace of the Gospell asserted OR THE LIGHT Of the Glorious Gospell of JESUS CHRIST Shining forth universally and enlightning every Man that coms into the World and therby giving unto every Man a day of visitation wherin it is possible for him to be saved Which is glad tydings unto all People BEING Witnessed and Testifyed unto by us the People called in derision Quakers And in opposition to all Denyers of it of one sort and another proved by many infallible arguments in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit of Truth according to Scripture Testimonies and sound Reason With the objections of any seeming weight against it answered BY GEORGE KEITH Printed in the Year 1671. THE PREFACE THER be two maine and principall things held forth by us which are as it wer the two hinges and fundamentall principles upon which all other things relating either to Doctrins or Practises affirmed by us doe hang and depend The first is that ther is no saving knowledge of God or the things of his Kingdome attainable but by the Immediate revelation of Iesus Christ who is the Image Word and Light of the invisible God in which alone he can be manifest unto the Salvation of men The second is that this Image Word and Light which is Jesus Christ the Son of the Fathers love doth shine forth in some measure universally and enlighten every man that coms into the World and therby giveth unto him a day of visitation wherin it is possible for him to be saved Both which 〈◊〉 they are indeed in the truth are generally denyed but affirmed by us which two not withstanding I may truly say as they are indeed known and witnessed in the truth ar the cheife and principall veins and arteries which convey the very Blood Life and Spirit of the Christian Religion into the true members of that body wherof Jesus Christ is the head And the Lord hath made me plainly to see why the whole body of every Sect professing the Christian Religion up and downe the world is so leane barren dead and emptie of that Life and Spirit which becoms the true Church to have and which the true Church had in the Primitive times even becaus of their ignorance of and opposition unto these two blessed testimonies of truth and I may boldly say it never any society of people did flourish or ever shall or can with excellent induements of either piety or knowledge which denyeth these two testimonies of truth seing they are the very principall means and Ordinances of God which hee hath appointed as through conduits to convey both Pi●…y and knowledge and all other hevenly gifts and blessings unto men and seeing these are denyed the blessed effect which would follow upon the using of them cannot but be much wanting as where there is an obstruction or stop in the principall veins arteries and nervs of the naturall body that body cannot flourish but must needs be a very sick Paralitick diseased body and near unto death And for this cause it is that the whole body of Christendom so called is in a most lam●…table condition and death reigns in it and a thick cloud of darknes fills it and very few there be who know by sensible experience the life kernell and substance of the Christian Religion among all the many professions in it and that small remnant who doe know any thing thereof it is very weakly and faintly and their sight of the things of God is but like the poor blind mans halfe sight after Christ had a little cured him who saw men walking as trees the Reason of all this has beene the ignorance of and opposition unto these two testimonies aforsaid for the ignorance of the true manner of receiving either Piety or pious and Godly wisedome which is by way of immediat Revelation from the Father by Jesus Christ through the holy Spirit this hath hindred and stopped the growth and encrease of holines and piety and the Wisedome and knowledge there unto appertaining as to the Intension i. e. measur or degree of it in the particular which otherwise by this time might have been like the waters of the Sanctuary at a great height and againe the ignorance of that other blessed testimony of truth concerning the universality of the Light word Grace and spirit of God towards and upon all in a day of visitation for the saving and endueing them with holines and holy knowlegd and wisedom hath been a most mischeivous hindrance and lett unto the Extension or spreading of tru piety and knowledg abroad among people in the world The ignorance of the One I say hath hindred the Intension of it and the ignorance of the other its Extension as may be manifest to any who will consider these things wer it but with halfe an eye For what can tend so much to the universall gathering of all the nations Kingdoms languages and kinreds of the earth as to hold forth this universall principle unto them all the Light which lighteth all and every one of them and to informe them that therby and therthrough salvation is attainable by every one and peace reconciliation with God in their beleife of the light and obedience therunto And what can more hinder this universall gathering then that particular narrow straitning limiting principle of men of a pettish narrow heart and spirit who say that salvation never was is nor shall be possible unto the most part of men That God by an eternall decree hath wholly passed them by and left them in darknes without any light to shine in their darknes that can possibly at any time lead them out of it Doth not this discourage people and rather lay a block in the way of their Faith then to point ordirect them unto a pillar and ground of it Yea doth not this Doctrine that other being added to it viz. that immediate Revelation is ceased lay a much more probable foundation for any mans unbeleif and distrust in the Lords mercy and willingnes to save him then for his faith therupon For when any man comes with a call unto them to beleiv that they may be saved and therwithall tells them that God hath left most men without providing them any power by which it is possible for them to beleiv may not all begin to doubt or question with more ground then to beleive whether they be the persons that are thus passed by of the Lord yea or nay When the Lord said but to his disciples one of you shall betray me they wer exceeding sorrowfull all of them and began 〈◊〉 Question Master is it I. How much more then occasion have they to be sorrowfull and to question the very mercy of God for their salvation if it be told them that this mercy is denyed not only to a few but most of men and to many under the visible profession of the Christian Religion And for asmuch as they say immediate Revelation is ceased this shuts

Brethren when I came to you came not with excellency of speech or of wisdome declaring unto you the testimony of God for I determined not to know any thing among you save Iesus Christ and him crucified but according to the Greek it is thus not to know any thing IN YOU save Iesus Christ and him crucified so Paul preached a crucified Christ both in Iewes and Gentiles when hee came among them which is understood of the seed which suffered in them by their unbelief and disobedience which is the principle in which Christ doth manifest his life and his glory as it comes to rise and spring up and in so far as IT suffers HEE is said to suffer and in so farre as it is crucified hee is said to be crucified even as what that blessed seed and body in the outward suffered is said to be his sufferings Now that was it that Paul laboured and travelled for when hee came among any people not to tickle and please their carnall ears with pleasant words and excellency of speech but in the evidence and demonstration of the spirit and of power to reach unto the suffering seed in them that it might come to be acquainted with it and with the vertue and power that is therein for the salvation of their souls But some may say what vertue or power is there unto salvation in that which is crucified Unto this Paul answers 1. Cor. 1. 22. 23. 24. 25. For the Iewes require a signe and the Greeks or Gentiles seek after wisdome But wee preach Christ crucified unto the Iewes a stumbling block and to the Gentiles foolishnes but unto them who are called both Iewes and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdome of God becaus the foolishnes of God is wiser then men and the weaknes of God is stronger then men So that Christ even inwardly crucified is both the wisdome of God and the power of God unto them who beleeve though in a weak and foolish appearance to that eye which is but naturall and therefor is called the foolishnes of God and the weaknes of God but which is wiser and stronger then men and thus it hath pleased the Lord to send his Son into the world both in the outward and inward in a low and weak appearance that hee might shew forth the more abundant glory in that which was so low and weak in appearance to prevail over the greatest power that stood in his way for thus doth the seed of the woman bruise the serpents head 2. Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himselfe not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation but according to the Greek it is and hath put in us the word of reconciliation which is understood not only in relation to the Saints but even the world for it is said God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himselfe wheras the Saints are reconciled through this Word already but the world is not yet the word is put in them wherby they may be reconciled therefor it s said God was in Christ reconciling the world but of the Saints it is said vers 18. all things are of God who hath reconciled us to himselfe so then they are reconciled Now say our adversaries these and such places are to be translated among or unto for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth signifie so at somtimes Answer though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth somtimes signifie among or unto yet the most proper and usuall signification of it is in Now wee are alwayes to take the most proper and usuall signification of the word where no cogent reason movs to the contrary as none doeth here whatever they pretend yea the very intent and scope of the places doe prove that it is to be translated in and so to be understood for Christ was not crucified outwardly either among the Galathians or Corinthians and the Riches of Christ that Paul told the Gentiles of was not any outward thing which they were to find outwardly nor did he bid them goe any where without to find these Riches but preached God and Christ and the Kingdome and the Word near even in themselvs Acts. 17. 26. 27. 28. God hath made the world all things therein c. hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation that they should seek the Lord if happily they might feel after him and find him though hee be not far from every one of us for in him wee live and move and have our being as certaine also of your owne Poets have said for wee are also his off spring Now by this speech hee calleth off the Athenians from seeking to find the Lord or to worship him in Temples made with hands or images of gold and silver to seek and find the Lord in themselvs as being the off spring of God in which hee insinuats that near relation which all men have unto God which is nearer then that of the visible Creatures who are the Creatures of God but not his offspring whereas men are not only the Creatures but the offspring of God forasmuch as man was made after the image of God which was put in him in which he was to know and find the Lord and feel after and worship him But now through the fall it is true this Heavenly and Divine image of God in man is staine yet the Lord is more to be felt and found in this slaine image of himselfe in man becaus of the breathings of his life therein then in all images that men can grave or in any of the visible Creatures yea this is the Tabernacle of David that is fallen downe which the Lord cometh to raise up in every man and will certainly raise it up in every one for a Temple for himselfe to manifest his eternall love and mercy in unto them who beleeve but his eternall wrath and displeasure in them who remaine in unbeleef and so in regard of this near relation which every man hath unto God that hee is his off-spring through his image which is in him though it doth not live in every one even as a dead Child is the offspring of his Father though hee bear not his living image thus the Apostle doth preach God near unto the Athenians even so near that they might feel after him and find him to wit in his owne image in them which though crucified and slaine in them yet as is said there is more of God to be knowne and felt even therein then in Temples made with mans bands gold and solver graven by art and mans device or in any visible creature so that it is great ignorance in them who affirm that the Apostle is here onely holding forth that knowledge of God which the Athenians might gather simply from the creatures without them for of these

and so become the Sons of God who were not Object 5. Unconverted men are said to be without God and without Christ in the World And Rom. 18. 10. It s said If Christ be in you the body is dead c. Therefore Christ is not in all nor any of the unconverted in a saving way Answ. The former answer suffices here again Christ is not in the unconverted by faith by union and enjoyment c. this being the proper state of the Saints But he is in them according to that in-being and presence which by his influence upon them prepareth for union c. For how is elce any unconverted man ever converted but by the in-being of Christ and his coming to them while unconverted he visits men while in spirituall Egypt and coms unto them in that state to lead them out of it but many do not follow him as the words of Christ do most plainly import I am the light of the world he that follows me shall not abide in darkness but c. So some follow and some follow not yea he said to the very unbeleevers while ye have the light beleve in it Jo. 12. 36. And the slothfull servant is said to have RECEIVED his Talent Though he hid it in the Earth according to which Christ said from him that hath not shall be taken away that which he hath How could he be said to have received it and how could he again be said not to have it if the words have and receive did not admit of Various significations Object 6. It s said the naturall man receivs not the things of the spirit of God c. neither can he know them Therefore c. Answ. The things which the Apostle here speaks of are relative to the things mentiond 1 Cor. 2. 9. which eye hath not seen nor eare heard neither have entred into the heart of man which God hath prepared for them that love him which things Viz. the peace and joy of the holy Ghost and sweet fellow ship of the Saints with God things thereunto pertaining the naturall man or man in his naturall state receiveth not nor can he so much as know them And what wonder while he is in a state uncapable of them But there are other things and those of God too which they may receiv and know Viz. the things of his Judgment qualified with mercy which are preparatory to their conversion and restoration which are proper to their state and condition But the conditions of the Saints and things thereunto appertaining none can know till they come to be Saints themselvs And then they will have an eye to see and heart to understand even those deep things of God Object It s said unto the Saints Heb. 10. 32. after ye were enlighted yee indured a great fight of afflictions which imports that once they were not and onely the Saints are enlightned Answ. No such matter it onely denotes a two fold enlightning and that the unconverted are not so or in that sence said to be enlightned as the Saints For there are diversity of illuminations ministrations and operations but one spirit one word one power one saving light and grace common to and working in all according to their respective states and conditions Thus the Saints are inlightned to see and know the things proper to their state and others to see and know the things proper to theirs but not the conditions attain ments and enjoyments of which at presen they are utterly uncapable being onely capable of knowing their own conditions and things that are preparatory and of tendency to their sanctification or becoming Saints Object Christ saith he prayeth not for the world therefore he doth not savingly enlighten them Answ. The word World is either understood relatively as a society and fellowship of men whose Government Dominion and course of life is directly contrary to the Government Dominion way of Christ and the course of life and conversation of his Saints And thus the world and the Church are diametrically opposit to each other So that in this sence Christ prayeth not for the world for that were to pray for the upholding and continuance of wickedness which is as it were the band which knits the World together into a body incorporate against Christ. But this nor he nor his do pray for but against Or the world is singly understood of men living in the world in a naturall condition and thus he prayeth for them that they may be converted and beleeve as John 17. 21. and he prayed for his enemies when he suffered upon the crosse But they say If he prayed for the world then the whole world should be converted for the Father heareth him alwayes Answ. He prayeth for the world in a submission to the will of God who willeth all men to be saved not absolutly but in relation to their beleeving by which will of God to save them all men are visited with such an houre and power of the love mercy and grace of God that they may beleeve And for this Christ prayed and all the Saints do pray even for all men that they may be more and more so visited for this is good and acceptable unto God 1 Tim. 2 1 2 3 4. Object 9. Christ dyed not for all men therefore c. Answ. I may well form the contrary Argument Christ dyed for all men therefore he hath savingly enlightned them For that Christ dyed for all is most expressly affirmed 2 Cor. 5. 2. Hebr. 2 9. compared with 1 Tim. 2 6. But say they the word all is here to be taken not for singula generum but genera singulorum i. e. not for every particular but for some of all sorts Answ. For the refutation of this fond fancy I refer the reader to the above Arguments espetially to Argument 1. 5. 7. Pag. 12. 31. 32. 38. 39. Where it is at large proved that by all is to be understood all particulars But they further Object If Christ had dyed for all then all should be justifyed and saved or elce his death would be in vaine and of no effect unto many And Rom. 8 34. it s said who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed Answ. We say not nor ever did that all the benefits of Christs death come upon all for the benefits of Christs death are many whereof some come onely upon some others upon all Viz. Justification and the things accompanying it do come onely upon them that beleeve but the free gift or grace is come upon all not whereby all are actually justified but whereby they might beleeve and be justified Nor doth the unbeleef of some make the death of Christ of none effect For it hath its effect to render them without excuse as guilty of the body and blood of Christ. And thus is that other cavill answered If God willed all men to besaved then his will should be ineffectuall because many are not saved For God willeth not