Selected quad for the lemma: evil_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
evil_n	darkness_n	good_a	sweet_a	3,257	5	8.2420	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33947	A second generall epistle to all the saints wherein is unfolded the covenant of grace, as its a law in the spirit, of light, liberty, righteousness, holinesse, power and glory : as likewise as it is a law of peace, love and edification : published for the good of those who love peace and holinesse / written by T. Collier.	Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691.	1649 (1649)	Wing C5297; ESTC R12986	48,646	138

Father manifesting love grace to them in them 8. They living in this light seeing al conditions to be good through the appearance of the good God in it can now see and say thar it 's not the least part of their happinesse while they are here to live fully and compleatly in the will of their Father Oh saith the soul that I could attain to this but to live satisfiedly and contentedly in the will of God what a transcendent excellency doth the enlightned soul see in this one thing how would this quiet and silence all fleshly and carnall risings dislikings and quarrelings against the divine providence it can say Good is the Word of the Lord and good is the will of the Lord and good is this condition to me because it s my Fathers good pleasure so to have it who knows best what is good for me an excellent discovery but more excellent when living in the power in the glory of it 9. This Law of light discovers the vanity and folly of all fleshly wisdome in the things of God this Law of light makes that soul truly sensible in whom its manifest of the difference betweene the wisdome of the first and second Adam and so that word is fulfilled in him if any man will be wise let him be a fool that he may be wise he shall be a fool that is made truly sensible of the folly of all fleshly wisdome the insufficiency of the light of nature and wisdome of the flesh to attain the knowledge of God or the things of God For in him are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge and its a gift of the Spirit to those whose eyes are enlightned to see into this mystery To you its given to know the mystery or secrets of the Kingdome when it s hid from others they are strangers to it though never so much indued with fleshly wisdome 10. And finally This Law of life is a light and lamp unto the feet and paths of those in whom its manifest to lead and direct them into its waies it is that voyce behind them saying This is the way walke in it when they turn to the right or left hand it 's that light which guides them into all their undertakings whether civil or spirituall it is their great comforter without whose direction they cannot comfortably act in any of their undertakings in a word it 's that Spirit of light and life that occasions motion action sutable to its owne nature and sets the soule upon that worke which is higher then it selfe that way which is a way of light and truth Thus the Law in the Spirit is a Law of light giving understanding unto the simple enlightning the minde it is the true light that lighteneth the darknesse of every Sunne and daughter of Sion Chap. II. Shewing nine false Lights flowing from the Law in the flesh BUT there is a false Light as well as a true Light there is a Law in the flesh as well as in the Spirit although its true that all false Light is indeed darknes though men call it light If the light that is in thee be darknesse how great is that darknesse therefore I shal speak somthing by way of discovery of this principle this power of darknesse under the nominall tearme of light this false Christ or rather this Antichrist which if it were possible would deceive the very elect Now this false light or rather delusion of this law in the flesh may be considered under these following considerations First false light 1. It presents low carnall and fleshly excellencies unto the creature as its chiefest good it gives a false representation of things it cals evil good and good evill it puts light for darknes and darknes for light it judgeth sweetnes to be bitter and bitter to be sweet and thus it represents the worst things with the greatest excellency in more particular First it discovers not sinne and fleshly motions and fleshly actings as the greatest evil but as the greatest good thus the soule is deluded with a false light when it looks upon the deeds of darknes as deeds of pleasure and the waies and paths of darknes to be waies and paths of pleasantnes and peace and thus it becomes a pleasure and pastime to a fool to commit folly this is the universall spirit of Satan and law of darknes that rules in the world even in the hearts of the children of disobedience so that in a word the worlds way is a way of darknes and they delight to have it so It s true sometimes they hear of Christ and grace by the hearing of the eare but the use they make of it through the deceivablenes of this false and dark light is to sinne the more freely to give up themselues to the service of the flesh with the less trouble thus are the most the greatest part of the world blinded to their own ruine and yet think they see Second false light Secondly this Law in the flesh presents the world as an excellent thing as the chiefest good to many a soul who will shew us any good saith the worldly creature who thinks the world best hence it is so many and that under the form and notion of godlines to hunt so earnestly after worldly honors profits pleasures doe not such through that false glass that thus represents things apprehend the chiefest good the chiefest exellency to be in the world when alas those poor deluded souls see no excellency no preciousnes in God the fountain it forsakes him and runs to streams not but that every creature of God is good the soule beholding and enjoying the good God in it but without God there is nothing good no man good no creature good nothing good God is the goodnes of all things unto an enlightened renewed minde now this love of the world and being taken up with and living in the worlds excellencie the worlds glory is not only the sinne and will be the shame of men of the earth who have their portion in this life but it s a temptation that lights many times very heavy upon those who are Christians Saints indeed Christ himselfe was set upon by this temptation and I believe Christians who have experience within themselves of that new birth which is from above walking the way of true holinesse can bear witnes to this truth amongst all their fiery tryalsand temptations this is one to imbrace this present evil world not evil in it selfe but evill to him who hath an evil heart to depart from the living God making the world its dead Idol this is that with which the world is overcome mad they are in the imbracing the honours profits and pleasures of this present world this is that which overcomes the heart of many a Judas what will ye give me of many a Demas who after much profession forsake the Lord imbracing this present world be yee therefore watchfull for your adversary the Devil goeth

light of this Law is a transforming light I saith Christ am come a light into the world he that believeth on me shall not abide in darknesse John 12. 46. and we all with one face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image or likenesse that as we have borne the image of the earthly so now we shall bear the image of the heavenly being delivered out of that Kingdome of darknesse into the Kingdome of his dear Son which is a Kingdome of light light being sown for the righteous and gladnes for the upright in heart 4. Souls delivered into or participating of this law of light are able in this light to judge of things that differ Light is that which makes true discoveries of things in their colours darknesse either wholly hides the appearance of a thing or else presents it at the best as in a false glasse but light is that which makes all things manifest so this light in the Spirit expels that darknes within by which the understanding was either wholly blinded or else had things presented in another shape then what they are in themselves but now the new man in this light is able to judge according to the measure of light received it now no longer cals evil good and good evil it puts not light for darknes and darknes for light it cals not every thing good though it sees God working good out of every things it sees and is able to say that that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit it justifieth not the wicked thing nor taketh away the righteousnesse of the righteous from him in a word the soul in whom this glorious light of God is manifest is able in a measure to judge between flesh and spirit fancy and reality shadow and substance form and power notions and true discoveries delusions and true enjoyments The SPIRITVALL MAN judgeth all things yet hee himselfe is judged of no man that is according to the measure of light received he judgeth not but that it is possible for a spirituall man who is in part renewed to be under a temptation a cloude of darknes for a time although the Sun be there yet that dark and black cloude prevents the shining of it But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousnesse arise with healing in his wings the winde of the Spirit shall disperse those clouds and mists of thick darknesse and the glorious light shall again appear to the chearing and comforting of the weary soul causing the shadowes to fly away in his holy mountain and then the soul comes againe clearly to see wherein it was mistaken and then he can say with the Prophet so foolish was I and ignorant I was even a beast before thee thus light appearing they no more justify flesh and darknesse but justify God in every thing they no more lay their temptations to lust and fleshlynesse upon God but upon themselves having a true discovery made within themselves by the light of this Law of the righteousnes holines and glory of the Father they cannot but cry out Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty Heaven and Earth is filled with thy glory and now they are abased with Jobe I have heard of thee by the hearing of the eare but now mine eyes have seen thee wherefore I abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes Oh my beloved ones when once the soul hath seen the Lord then it laies downe the justification of flesh then and never till then it truly it savingly abhors it self layeth it self low and the Lord alone is exalted in that soul when the Prophet Isayah had seen the Lord Chap. 6. Then Wo is me I am undone I am a man of poluted lips for mine eyes have seen the King even the Lord of hosts this glorious and pure vision of the Almighty within us will be not only a light discovering but a fire burning up all things below and contrary to it selfe 5. This Light of the Spirit causeth the soul to see more excellency in God in Heaven in spirituall things then in all other things in the world besides nay it now sees all other things below to be but dung and drosse in comparison of of Christ when men of the earth are taken up with earthly excellencies this soul can say Lord lift up the light of thy countenance upon me that ' s light will fill me with more joy then those whose corne and wine and oyle abounds the soule sees a goodnes a lovelines in God in Christ in the Spirit by way of excellency it doth not only say that God is good but he is most good his love is better then wine better then life his countenance causeth more joy then corn and wine and oyle Oh this is sweet when experimentally enjoyed then the soule can say Thy word is sweet unto my mouth yea sweeter then hony to my tast sweeter then hony and the hony comb better then thousands of gold and silver now the soule eyes to worldly and fleshly excellencies as it is gathered up more and more into the glorious excellency of the Spirit it hath a propriety in God by way of excellency and hence it comes to pass that no propriety below this without this is of any value to a renewed a changed minde 6. This Law of light causeth those inwhom it is according the measure of its manifestation to see God in every thing to see him and enjoy communion with him in all conditions and this is a sweet discovery a heavenly light which produceth a heavenly life when the soul sees enjoyes God in all things when it sees God to lye as it were at the bottom of every creature of every mercy sees him to be the life the fountain the glory of all streaming light love communion to the soul through al now it can say God is to me the life the power the excellency of creatures by which I live and so I live not by bread only but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God it sees a stream of life and power from the Father in the use of them it now in that light sees God in wicked mens actings to them sees him in every dispensation whether more pleasing or more frowning to a fleshly apprehension whether it be in prosperity or adversity in prison or liberty poverty or riches in light or darknes it can say truly God is good to Israel to such as are upright in heart all things shal work together for good to such as love God 7. This Law of light causeth the soul not only to see God in all things but it presents matter of rejoycing in all conditions souls thus enlightned can sing in prison enjoying communion with God there they can see it to be good being where their Father will have them to be much more where they enjoy the presence of their

the same Kingdome of the same glory in a measure they have it already and the fulnesse is reserved in heaven for them Fifthly And till this glory be compleated in them they have liberty upon all occasions to have free accesse into the presence of their Father to make known al their wants al their wrongs free accesse to the throne of grace there obtaining mercy and finding grace a a great helpe a great comfort in time of need that which the world is ignorant of and goes without when the prayers of unbelievers are turned into sin yet the prayers of his people are his delight a great encouragement to the Saints in all their troubles to make knowne their wants to their Father Thus my dear ones have I given you a briefe hint of the sons liberty and spirituall freedome if the same spirit hints it to your enjoyments then it wil be glorious if the Son shall make you free then are you free indeed then stand fast and be not entangled with any yoke of bondage for freedome is glorious its glorious in possession more glorious in expectation when you shall be delivered from every thing wherein is but the least appearance of bondage and be compleated in perfect freedome which will be your glory Chap. IV. Of false Liberty I shall now descend to speake something very briefly of that false liberty and law in the flesh flowing from that spirit of Antichrist now reigning and ruling in the hearts of the children of disobedience for as there is a law in the spirit so there is a law in the flesh rebelling against this law in the minde and leading captive to the law of sinne this law or power of darknesse working in the flesh I shall discover briefly under these following considerations 1. The more common and carnall sort of people who account themselves Christians too they have a liberty but it s a false liberty a liberty to doe evill to fulfill the lusts of the flesh and the desires of the fleshly minde Now this fleshly liberty in the hearts of the more naturall and carnall minded flow from one or both of these two principles First From a blinde misunderstanding of the good of the pleasure and satisfaction the soule apprehends in those fleshly things for alwaies false liberty flowes from false light and true liberty succeeds true light now the minde being naturall and the light which is in it indeed but fleshly and darknesse it selfe now in this false light the soule mis-judging and so cals evill good and good evill it takes a false liberty sutable to its light the soul seeing a good a pleasantnesse a sweetnesse as it imagines in sinne and the world in the service of Satan it takes its liberty to act in it a false liberty flowing from a false light for the actings of al men are sutable to what they see unless given up to a spirit of slumber so as to quench the true discoveries that sometimes God makes forth to them and they cannot but owne it therefore all you carnall Libertines had need to looke about your selves for at present you seem to be given up to a great judgement blindnesse of minde not to see good when it cometh but to cal evill good and darknesse light to hardnesse of heart to sin and follow the lusts of the flesh with liberty of minde thinking God to be like your-selvs but he will reprove you and set your sins in order before you 2. Or from a mis-apprehension and application of Gods gracious love in giving Christ hence the natural creature hearing of free mercy grace and love to sinners drawes this conclusion That now it may take liberty to sinne the more freely Why Because God is mercifull and Christ died for sinners And thus creatures abuse mercy trampling under foot as much as in them lyeth the grace of God a high delusion and a body requitall of grace and love to offend grace because it is grace to sinne because God is mercifull Oh horrid wickednesse What shall we sinne because grace abounds God forbid But this false liberty in and after the flesh will produce a bad requitall if grace prevent not See Rom. 2. 4 5. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodnesse and forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that the goodnesse of God leadeth thee to repentance but after thine hardnesse and impenitent heart treasurest up to thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God 3. Come to the more zealous and their liberty is in the flesh likewise a liberty to be servants of men a liberty to serve God as they thinke and themselves too in a fleshly way of obedience And to but hear of this liberty in spirit is bondage unto them and thus it seems to be their liberty to be slaves to others Lords to other lawes then this law of true liberty in the spirit to fulfil a fleshly righteousnesse seemes to be their liberty to be subject to the wils of men and so to become the servants of men seemes to be their liberty a liberty which truly is and will end in bondage and this false liberty flows likewise from false light 4. Come to others who have pass't through this life of zeale to the wils of men and to their owne wils they having gotten a notion not only of grace and love but of this spirit of liberty and onely a notion they presently apprehending as they thinke that all is now good they seeing no actions to be differing to them but all seemes to be alike they freely take a liberty from this false light to act after the flesh it is their liberty to be prophane carnall loose unprofitable and so indeed they make use of their liberty which is a carnall one as an occasion to the flesh they sinne as they say not only because grace abounds but because the spirit teacheth them so to doe which is a spirit of liberty and indeed it s to be doubted that they are possest with such a spirit of liberty after the flesh that all bonds of righteousnesse and true liberty are broken and in this I may speak in the Apostles words Phil. 3. 18. For many walke of whom I have told you often and now tell you weeping that are enemies to the crosse of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is their belly whose glory is their shame who minde earthly things And thus poore creaturs being given up to work al wickednesse with greedinesse doe not only act those things themselves but have pleasure in them that doe them so that to walke humbly with God is become in their eyes not onely a bondage but a scorne and those who talk of it barbarous a thing so low as not to be understood Thus whereas Saints have a liberty from sinne these have a liberty in sinne Saints have a liberty to be the Sons of God these have a liberty to be the sons of Satan of darknesse