Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A94063
|
Lydia's heart opened: or, divine mercy magnified in the conversion of a sinner by the Gospel Being the sum of several sermons preaced lately by James Strong, M.A. and Minister of the Gospel.
|
Strong, James, 1618 or 19-1694.
|
1675
(1675)
|
Wing S5993; ESTC R232916
|
38,722
|
113
|
mans son the son of a Wheeler afterward Bishop of Mentz when he was advanced to the honour of that Bishoprick to suppress that pride which the greatness of his place exposed him to that he caused several Wheels to be hung up about his Chamber with this inscription Memento Willigis unde eras Remember Willigis from whence thou art Oh that we could look back to the rock from whence we were hewnl c. we should find that we are but the sinful slime of rebellious Parents loyns Thus God pricks that swelling tumor of pride in Israel to which she was subject by her advancement and bids her remember that a poor Syrian ready to perish was her father Deut. 26.5 Whatever honours or excellencies we have received by Christ yet the Apostle tells us 't is our duty to remember that by nature we were children of wrath even as others Eph. 2.3 Here 's a holy art to make the elder brother Corruption to serve the younger Grace a serious remembrance of our natural vileness may keep the soul humble in our greatest attainments Vse 3. It informs us of the piercing power of Gods Word however weak and contemptible in the eyes of carnal reason It s sound is heard in the ear but its force is felt in the heart Paul preaches and Felix trembles Peters Sermon prickt the Jews to the heart Act. 2.37 This was the fruit of Christs dealing with his Church Cant. 5.4 as soon as she felt his hand in the hole of the door her very heart was affectioned toward him justly therefore 't is called a sharp two-edged sword c. Heb. 4.12 Elisha had his sword as well as Jehu And God hews his enemies by his Prophets and slays them by the words of their mouth This sword is like Saul's it never returns empty if it doth not destroy our sins it will destroy our souls Vse 4. It cautions us against a mistake When we hear that 't is Gods work to open mans heart we are apt to conclude that God expect nothing from us Take we heed we do not thus abuse the grace of the Gospel God delights to improve his own gifts he hath endowed man with the gift of Reason and saves him as a Reasonable Creature And therefore though all means of Grace have their virtue and efficacy from God and he alone is the principal cause and author of our Salvation Yet God expects when he perswades that we consent when he wooes by his Word that we yield lest striving with our Maker we provoke him to deal with us as he did with the old World when for their contumacy and impenitency he resolved that his Spirit should no longer strive with man Gen. 6.3 Vse 5. The next Use therefore shall be of Counsel or rather Command in the name of the great God of Heaven and Earth that when God by his Word calls to us from Heaven and bids us open that with a holy readiness we open those everlasting doors To provoke you to which duty I shall add these Considerations Arg. 1. So long as our hearts are shut against God we our selves are shut out of all comfortable communion with God God delights in none but where he is entertained mark that Scripture Rev. 3.20 If any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and sup with him I 'le feast that man with my Presence my Grace my Comforts this man only shall know indeed what is that plenty rarity and variety which is in that feast of fat things that I have made in my holy mountain To such I will make known my self I 'le take them into my imbraces feed and feast them with my Promises they shall see my face and know by experience what 't is to have fellowship with the Father and with his Son Now pray consider could you be content to live a few years in the World and to hear only what a blessed thing it is to enjoy the love of God and the light of his Countenance the sweet and soul-ravishing Comforts of his spirit and yet to live and die and go to your graves and never know nor taste any of this spiritual sweetness this must be your case if your hearts be not opened Arg. 2. Consider that God yet offers to open your hearts though we perhaps have stopt our ears thousands of times yet he once more stands at the door and knocks and cries open open And I make my appeal to your own Consciences if there be any life or tenderness in them whether you find not God striving to come in while by the hammer of his Word he knocks and begs you by his Messenger to give your hearts to him Is not God at this instant convincing some that he is a lost perishing creature in himself is he not shewing you the incomparable excellency of Christ and his al-sufficiency to save Sinners Oh how think you to escape if you neglect so great Salvation you have heard of that fearful resolution of God against the impenitent old World when by the preaching of Noah a hundred years together God had perswaded them to repent yet all to no purpose what says God at last My spirit shall not alway strive with man Oh when God strives with us in mercy and we strive with God by impenitency 't is sad Wo to him that thus strives with his maker Well whatsoever was written aforetime was written for our instruction If we will not take example from the old world that is past be sure we shall make example to the new World that is to come Isa 45.9 Arg. 3. Consider to whom 't is we are to open why 't is to Christ Open to me my sister c. an Emphatick word and as Ezekiel's Wheels were full of eyes so is this word full of motives To me that am thy Saviour thy King thy Priest thy Prophet thy Bridegroom thy Beloved thy Brother Ah who would not open to such a one As Laban said to Abrahams servant Come in thou blessed of the Lord why standest thou without Gen. 24.31 so should we say when he comes to our door yea as Lot pressed the two Angels greatly when they seemed strange and overcame them with his importunity that they came in Gen. 19.3 so should we Arg. 4. Consider Gods end in opening of the heart 't is to dwell there God dwelleth not in Temples made with hands but as he hath chosen Heaven for his glorious Presence so he hath chosen the heart for his gracious Presence Isa 57.16 Neither will God come in empty he brings Salvation and all other blessings with him thus Christ told Zacheus Luk. 19.9 This day is salvation come to thy house There 's nothing lost by entertaining this guest where he comes his reward is with him if Obed Edom's house were blessed for entertaining Gods Ark how blessed is that heart that opens and entertains God himself 2. But some may object that Believers have opened already and