Selected quad for the lemma: evil_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
evil_n	evil_a	heart_n	thought_n	2,080	5	8.0009	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A76707	The copy of the covenant of grace With a true discovery of several false pretenders to that eternal inheritance, and of the right heir thereunto. Together with such safe instructions as will inable him to clear his title, and to make it unquestionable. Exactly evidenced by many perspicuous and unconstrained testimonies of scripture. Penned, and published upon mature deliberation, and good advise. / By Robert Bidwel, a servant, and minister of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.	Bidwell, Robert.	1657 (1657)	Wing B2886; Thomason E2117_1; ESTC R212678	175,027	429

instructeth disposeth removeth reneweth and receiveth First it instructs the new-inlightened soul in those hereditary imperfections which pride would never suffer her to look on so as to own them with a free consent as the onely off-spring of her cursed nature But being humbled she can plainly see sin and corruption in every corner defiling all her thoughts and words and deeds And thereupon she willingly confesseth That every imagination of the thoughts of her heart is onely evill continually as Gen. 6. 5. That her tongue is an unruly evill full of deadly poyson as James 3. 8. Insomuch that she hath wearied the Lord with her words as Mala. 2. 17. And that she loveth darknesse rather then light because her deeds are evil as John 3. 19. And looking back upon her sinfull courses she feelingly complaineth with St. Paul what fruit had I then in those things whereof I am now ashamed for the end of those things is death Rom. 6. 21. Again humility instructeth her in her own wants her spiritual poverty for whereas pride endeavours to perswade her That she is rich and increased in goods and hath need of nothing humility informs her That she is wretched and miserable and poor and blinde and naked as Revel 3. 17. So that in her there dwelleth no good thing Rom. 7. 18. And having shown her that she is full of evil and void or empty of all grace and goodness humility proceedeth to instruct her in her own weakness which is so extream that she hath neither power to suppress her wickedness nor to supply her wants we are not sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God saith Paul 2 Cor. 3. 5. Thus the poor soul learns to be sensible of her own wickedness and wants and weakness And from this feeling sense humility disPoseth her to seek relief whereby her sins may be supprest her wants supply'd and her much weakness pitied and supported O how she struggles in this three-fold snare how she endeavous to release her self But all in vain until a voice from heaven directeth her to take the little book out of the great and mighty angels hand Rev. 10. The Gospel in the hand of Jesus Christ wherein by his directon she findeth That he is that Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world John 1. 19. That the bloud of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1. 7. And that He hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood Revel 1. 5. Here she sees how her sins are washt away and how she is so clearly cleansed from them that she is freed for ever from that bondage Again she reads That in him dwelleth all the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily Colo. 2. 9. And that of his fulnesse we have all received and grace for grace John 1. 16. Here she perceives her wants are all supplyed and that in him she 's fully furnished And to sustain her in her present weakness she hears him say to her as to St. Paul My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weaknesse 2 Cor. 12. 9. Until she comes experimentally to triumph with that mighty man of God I can do all things through Christ which strengheneth me Phil. 4. 13. And having tasted of these heavenly comforts she ruminates upon this little book from whence she sucketh such exceeding sweetness that now she singeth with the Prophet David How sweet are thy words unto my taste yea sweeter then hony to my mouth Psal 119. 103. But yet before she fully can disgest this book she findes it bitter in her belly For looking back upon her sinfull wayes she sees how ill she hath requited these incomparable favours How she hath grieved the Spirit of her Lord and crucified the Son of God a fresh And looking upon him whom she hath pierced she mourneth for him as one mourneth for his onely son and as is bitternesse for him as one that is in bitternesse for his first born According to that of the Prophet Zechar. 12. 10. Now sin appeareth in its proper colours foul filthy beastly and abominable So that the soul begins to hate her self for loving such a base deformed monster so spightfull treacherous and damnable that nothing can be more pernitious And being thus incensed against sin there 's nothing can content her but her Saviour She doth not cry with Rachel give me children but give ne Jesus Christ or else I die She is extreamly sick of her corruptions and none but Jesus must be her Physitian she seeks no other Physick but his favour no antidote but his affection no balsom but his blood and therefore she will entertain him upon any tearms though never so offensive to the flesh for she hath found that There is none other name under heaven whereby we must be saved Acts 4. 12. And now by vertue of humility that most obedient child of Faith and Love the careful soul endeavours to remove all such impediments as may obstruct the sweet approach of her beloved Lord. And knowing sin to be the onely thing that causeth their unhappy separation as Isa 59. 2. She cries unto her strength and her Redeemer for help against that false infernal foe that seeks to keep her still in his displeasure And being ayded by her Saviour and armed with his well approved armour Ephes 6. 13 c. She setteth first upon those crying sins that are of greatest obloquie and scandal and having routed those prodigions rebels she ransacks every corner of her conscience and haling forth her more concealed crimes she sends them packing she condemns her self of sloath self-saving and hypocrisie she crucifies her own corrupted nature and mortifies her most beloved lusts she suffers not a peevish thought to pass without a serious examination and a severe impartial reproof For the weapons of her warfare are not carnall but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ According to that of the Apostle 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. But for as much as pride rebellious pride is evermore her mortal enemy The child of ignorance the Divels darling the soul of schism the strength of heresie the food of spight the fuell of contention the fools affiance and the wise mans fear the bane of godliness the death of grace hateful to Christ and hurtful to his members Therefore this humble soul constrains her self to cast out this destructive adversary and hold him in perpetual defiance And thus that she may gain her gracious Lord she labours mightily to take away the evil of her doings from his eyes To which she cannot yet conceive her self to be a pleasing Object For though she could cleanse her self from all filthiness of flesh and spirit according to Saint Pauls incouragement 2 Cor. 7. 1.

ye believed in Christ saith Paul ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance untill the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glorie Eph. 1. 13 14. And thirdly he hath it in Christ by possession Christ hath taken possession of it and prepared it for all believers I go to prepare a place for you saith he And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also Joh. 14. 2 3. And whither I go ye know saith he verse 4. For that Kingdom which was prepared for you from the foundation of the world upon promise of satisfaction I go to prepare for you after performance of satisfaction Where it shall be said unto you Come ye blessed of my father inher●t the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world as Math. 25. 34. What Soul can wish a more compleat assurance But haply you will say we do not doubt but every true believer is sure enough to have eternal life by Jesus Christ But what assurance have we of those good things that do concern this life Indeed the Prophet David telleth us There be many that say who will shew us any good Psal 4. 6. But in this case also we have both promise example and experience for our assurance For matter of promise God hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13. 5. But what is it poor Soul thou art afraid of Art thou afraid of poverty or want Why a little that a righteous man hath is better then the riches of many wicked For the arms of the wicked shall be broken but the Lord upholdeth the righteous The Lord knoweth the dayes of the upright and their inheritance shall be for ever They shall not be ashamed in the evil time in the dayes of famine they shall be satisfied Ps 37. 16 17. 18 19. Trust therefore in the living God who giveth us richly all things to injoy 1 Tim. 6. 17. Art thou afraid of discredit afraid to lose thy good name and reputation Why the Lord is able to make thee a name and a praise among all people of the earth as Zepha 3. 20. Admit that thy good name be reproched by the mouth of a scorner here upon the earth yet thou hast cause to rejoyce for that thy name is registred in heaven as Luke 10. 20. Art thou afraid of thine enemies Consider that of the Prophet David The Lord saith he is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid When the wicked even mine enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh they stumbled and fell Psal 27. 1 2. And the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand saying unto thee fear not I will help thee as in Isa 41. 13. Art thou afraid of death Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him that hope in his mercie to deliver their Soul from death and to keep them alive in famine Psal 33. 18 19. But why should any man be such a coward as to fear an enemy that is already conquered Yea abolished or destroyed 2 Tim. 1. 10. Swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15. 54. Truely dear Christian thou hast cause to triumph over these enemies after this manner O death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victorie The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law But thanks be to God which giveth us the victorie through our Lord Jesus Christ as at 1 Cor. 15. 55 56 57. In a word whatsoever thou fearest or whatsoever thou feelest Thou shall finde God thy refuge and strength a very present help in trouble as well as David did Psalm 46. 1. Onely be carefull That thou suffer not as a Murderer or as a Thief or as an evil doer or as a busie-bodie in other mens matters And then assure thy self That the Lord is faithfull who shall stablish thee and keep thee from evil According unto St. Pauls confidence 2 Thes 3. 3. Again consider What doest thou desire Doest thou desire safety preservation deliverance victory wealth honour long-life or salvation after a moderate and godly manner Acquaint thy self with the substance of the 91 Psalm And with the 3 first verses of the 112 Psal In these words Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord that delighteth greatly in his Commandments his seed shall be mighty upon earth the generation of the upright shall be blessed wealth and riches shall be in his house and his righteousnesse endureth for ever And to confirm thee in thy confidence peruse the 6. 7. and 8. verses of the same Psalm Surely he shall not be moved for ever the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance He shall not be afraid of evil tidings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. His heart is established he shall not be afraid untill he see his desire upon his enemies Thus of the promises If thou desirest yet further to establish thine assurance In the next place see and observe the stories of Abraham Isaac Jacob of Joseph Moses Mordecay David and Hezekiah And consider how the Lord guided and governed preserved and prospered exalted and incouraged them together with all his Prophets and Apostles and all the godly every where and in all ages And verily thou shalt finde sufficient cause to say with that discerning Prophet David The Lord hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servants Psal 35. 27. And lastly recollect thine own experience and meditate how graciously the Lord thy God hath dealt by thee in his outwad blessings and inward consolations his tender mercies and fatherly loving-kindnesses his patience and long-sufferings supplying thy severall necessities with sutable comforts preservations and deliverances wherein he hath prevented not onely thy deserts but often times thy desires also And when thou shalt thus walk with thy God in wisdom and singlenesse of heart Thou shalt finde sufficient in him and from him to say with that holy Prophet Return unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Psal 116. 7. And furthermore to make thee confident That he shall deliver thee in six troubles yea in seven there shall no evill touch thee In famine he shall redeem thee from death and in war from the power of the sword c. Job 5. 19. to 27. Thus through ou● own discreet experience the saints exemplary prosperity And our dear Saviours never-failing promises as well spiritual as temporal we shall be sure to meet the full assurance of all or every kinde of happinesse Provided still that Christ be with or in us For where the true Christ is there is assurance And this assurance always brings in peace This is the fifth attendant that still waits upon the person of our royal Bridegroom And where