Selected quad for the lemma: grace_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
grace_n	church_n	fullness_n	result_v	48	3	16.6894	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86340	Glory sometimes afar off, now stepping in; or, The great gospel-mysterie of spirit, or Divine nature in saints: not in that philosophical and humane sense, by effects and habits of grace, but after a more evangelical, divine, and mysterious manner of in-being. Opened, affirmed and cleared, and gloriously breaking forth through a cloud of subtil pervertings, carnal objections, and dreadful condemnings cast upon it; and closed up with an account of some principles, practises and wayes which have sealed up this mysterie, and thereby held down the saints in weakness, and shut up the world in darkness for so long a time.	Higgenson, Thomas.	1653 (1653)	Wing H1948; Thomason E687_9; ESTC R206885	45,476	57

that the flesh of Christ was capable of or was advanced unto was not to become God but to be glorified in God and God to be glorified in him Christ is both God and son of man both Lord and son of David 3. So God dwels in all Saints God in Saints yet Saints are not God but his Temple who being fitly joyned and compacted together do grow up into one living Temple for the Lord which is that beautiful Sion that Mountain of the House of the Lord the Lambs Wife that near City Jerusalem above that Tabernacle of God with men wherein God himself dwels and the Father and Lamb himself will be the light and glory in it and the Tree of Life and the pure River of the water of Life in the midst of her and the glory of God himself in her shall be joy and praise the terrour and astonishment of all Nations Thus God is in Saints and will glorifie himself in Saints yet they are not God even as he is in Christ yet the flesh of Christ is not God SECT XIV THE union of God and Man in Christ gives this honour to Christ to be called God Second reason against the spirit in Saints If Saints partake in this union to have God dwelling in them why do they not partake in the honour to be called God Answered 1. The flesh of Christ neither is called God nor is God but he is and is called the true God who was manifest in that flesh So that if it be asked who is Christ or what is his name he is Immanuel the Anoynted or God manifest in the flesh In like manner Saints are not God nor are called God but he who is in Saints is and is called the true God So that if it be asked who is a Saint or what is his name he is an inspired man an anoynted one or Christ or the spirit in man 2. Christ so perfectly denied himself of all that was man and resigned it up to the Divine Nature that of himself he did nothing but the Father did work all his works in him and by him The several actings motions and performings of Christ were not from the will of man but were the streams and flowings forth of the Eternal Fulness in him so that God became manifest through Christ the ways and works of Christ as through a Chrystal or transparent glass and therefore came it to pass that God alone was and did all in Christ because he would be known worshipped and approached unto only in Christ and no man should seek or find or come near unto any God but that God which is in Christ Under the Law God filled Heaven and Earth yet he would be known and worshipped only in the Temple at Jerusalem Under the Gospel he dwels in all Saints yet he is with open face beheld and will be worshipped as the true God only in his living Temple or Sanctuary the flesh of Christ so because we come to God and the Father by Christ and worship God in faith and hope through Christ and not through Saints therefore is Christ called God the Saints not SECT XV. Third reason against the spirit in Saints IF Saints partake with Christ in union with God so that the same Divine Nature which dwels in Christ dwels also in Saints then what preheminence hath Christ above Saints Much every way chiefly in these things Answered 1. That it pleased the Father by him to finish the transgression to make an end of sins to make reconciliation for iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousness and to seal up the vision and prophesy of the Law and Prophets And that as through one man sin death and wrath entred into the world so he must be that son of man by whom God would put away sin abolish the flesh and death judge the Prince of this world spoyl and triumph over all the Principalities and Powers of darkness and vanquish all the Enemies of man out of the world again and so by him to reconcile all things to himself and in the fulness of time to gather together into one in him all things Dan. 9.25 Heb. 2.10 Col. 1.18 in Heaven and in Earth in him And in this work he hath the honour above Saints of being Messiah the Prince the High Priest and Captain of our salvation the beginning and first-born from the dead who was the Head of the Heasts of the living God and the only Instrument in the everlasting hand and arm of God to cut off the Dragons head to slay the Leviathan in the deeps in his death and drive all the enemies of man out of the world 2. All those things and all that Love that God hath prepared for them whom he loves he hath laid it up in Christ in the Eternal Fulness of the blessed Godhead and to him alone hath committed the administration of all things that the Father hath given unto him for us All things that the Father hath are ours but they are first Christs and given unto him the Father loves the Son and hath given all things into his hand he loves Saints through and for the Son with the same love wherewith he loves the Son Joh. 17.26 and so he gives them the same glory in himself which he gave the Son yet by and for the Son Joh. 17.22 The Father as himself without Christ judgeth no man saveth no man does nothing in the world but hath committed all judgement to the Son and hath committed the authority of executing all judgement both of life and death unto the Son of man God doth all and all things are of God Joh. 5.22.27 yet so as by Christ nothing at all without him The glory fulness light and power of God comes forth upon Saints yet so as through the hands scepter and face of Jesus Christ And in this work he hath honour above Saints to be the Head of the Body the Church the fulness of grace and truth the Mediator of the New Testament the King upon the holy hill of Sion anoynted by the Father Therefore this preheminence and honour of Christ above Saints Preheminence of Christ above Saints destroyes not but confirms spirits in-being in Saints that he hath received the fulness of all the wisdom and power of God that all dominion power and authority is given into his hand and that not for himself alone for his own private and singular enjoyment but to be all administred and shed abroad upon the Saints for their enjoyment and everlasting happiness All this preheminence whereunto Christ is exalted above Saints and Angels and every other name doth instead of casting a cloud upon it bring clear light and reason for the further confirming us in the truth that Saints are partakers with Christ of the Divine Nature it self dwelling in them For as Christ received fulness glory and spirit immediatly from the Father so we receive of that very fulness glory and spirit

to himself he put beauty and comliness upon her which stood in gifts and graces and powers purity of administrations forms and fellowships and these were as so many ornaments and jewels which he gave to her as to an espoused virgin or wife of youth and now while her glory and beauty was but fresh and new upon her she is carried away into captivity under the yoke and power of Mystical Babel thus the Church was figured under the Law by Israel in Egypt and Babylon by Jacob serving Laban by the heir of all in the house of servants by the free-womans barrenness despised by the fruitful bond-woman and as the wisdom of the Father appointed that this state of Sions captivity should be the time of Sions widdow-hood so he gave her light spirit communion and other qualifications as suited with that desolate state that is dark servile and carnal principles carnal in respect of more spiritual under this state the heavens were covered with a cloud the world lay as forsaken of God and given into the hands of blind guides cruel shepherds and beasts of prey all the earth dry and no dew upon it no voice of God no vision no lightning from God to amuse aw or awake the world all things all men all the world were as if no God no Lord no Redeemer only there was a silent whispering of the spirit in Saints some few beams of true light some seed and life of God lay hid in their faith God in tender love gave them so much as preserved them in life but for any high choice or sublime discoveries of more spirit and glory such he reserved for her next and better state as knowing them not proper to a state of widowhood wherein the worship and communion of Saints was most in bitter complaints conflicting weak faith strengthning of graces little in visions and high enjoyments of God This is the state that not long since was Second step or change The second change of state upon the Church is her coming forth out of this spiritual captivity This comes to pass when Jesus Christ ariseth as it were from sleep and stirs up himself in the faith and spirits of Saints and opens the Book of the vision of God and pours out a vial of light upon the Kingdom of the man of sin which stains and confounds all his humane Inventions Pharisaical justification and fair fleshly shews wherewith the Saints were enticed and cals up the Saints into more Evangelical ways principles and worships As thus The Church was figured under the Law by Israels coming out of Egypt and the house of Jacob from the land of Babylon by the free-woman having in her womb a son of promise by one coming out of the wilderness leaning upon her beloved In this second state God administers more grace brings forth some better things raiseth up into clearer light into a more excellent refined potent spirit puts upon them a new habit and takes off the old and cloaths them with change of raiment finer faith sweeter spirits clearer rays of light and other qualifications as do agree unto and sente with this their better state Now the Heavens begin to be opened the shadows long stretched upon all the earth do fly away the Kingdom of God begins now to appear on Earth as well as in Heaven the Skyes drop down righteousness the Earth springs forth and buds The spirit says come the Spouse says come and all that hear say come Lord Jesus come quickly Now the Lord reveals deeper secrets deeper counsels nearer embraces imparts things that could not be born before old things are forgotten all things begin to be new the Church is now upon her way to Sion Whilst she dwelt with the Daughter of Babylon that Mother of Whoredoms her strength then was to sit still now she is come forth she sits still no more every step she treads is on towards the heavenly land into more light more faith more glory and this seems to be the present state of the Church in our day and in this generation Wherein I conceive the present estate of Saints is such as answers that holy figure under the Law of the Cluster of Grapes brought out of Canaan into the Camp of Israel and of Moses seeing the Land at some distance from Mount Pisgah so the Saints in this day are at some distance from the Land of the Sabbath yet are come within view of it and so near unto the borders of it as to pluck some Grapes from the Tree of Life and to look into the lengths and bredths of it our Fathers saw the day afar off but we see it nearer they saw heavenly things much in images letter and teachings without we begin to see them by their springing forth within us all their faith knowledge of Mysteries understanding of Scriptures opinions of Light did but represent Christ his righteousness and spirit at a distance as without them yet there was a substance a seed in all which was the blessing the faith knowledge and spirit which God is now putting into Saints presents things more at hand in union and within us yet there are things more excellent then these reserved for the third state of the Church this second state is the state that now is The third is to come Third step or change and it is a state wherein the Lord himself comes into his Temple and consumes quite out of it the Mysterie of Iniquity by the brightness of his appearing in it and gathers together on an heap all humane Inventions curious Arts the wisdom and disputings of this world wheresoever he finds them in Sion or Babel in the Temple of God or Synagogue of Antichrist in the faith and worships of Saints or in the blind Idolatries of the world he burns them all up as hay and stubble and scatters them out of the earth as chaff before the wind and now the faith knowledge and gifts of the two former states do pass away as being proper for Saints in weakness at a distance seeing and knowing love righteousness and spirit afar off and love and union perfecteth finisheth and swalloweth up all Communion of Saints with Christ in gifts and graces is now changed into communion with him in spirit it is so now but will then appear to all though denied of many Ordinances Temples Teachings Governments which all held forth a prospect of Heaven and Glory without us shall now give place when he comes himself into us who is the end of all Law and Gospel-ministrations So what the first state saw afar off through thick veils weak faith carnal rudiments conflicting graces the second sees to be at the dore through purer faith increases of spirit clearer beams from the East opening of prophesies and promises the third shall see feel taste handle and enjoy within them and this is the Kings Daughter coming into the Kings Chamber in garments of wrought gold All things are now in motion the

Lord is in motion to Sion Knowledge light discerning which are but beams from the Lord are in motion from less to more glory and perfection as the Lord approacheth and draws nigh External administrations governments worships and interests whether Civil or Spiritual Divine or Antichristian are all in motion from more to less from something to nothing as he who is the end and putting away of them all steps on Princes are flying into holes Antichrist running from form to form from Temple to Temple out of common ways into more refined ways out of gross water-baptism into reformed water-baptism out of that into spirit-baptism and so is running on towards this last Sense is withdrawing up into Reason Reason into Faith Faith into enjoyment of God dwelling in Man Spirit in Saints and the life of God revealed in us This concludes the account and reasons of the darkness that hath been so long upon the Church of Christ wherein as other Mysteries so this great Gospel-Mysterie hath been hid from us that is That the Spirit or Divine Nature of Christ it self dwels in Saints FINIS One word to the Reader FRIEND WHAT I have here presented will find acceptance or unpleasedness with thee according as thou art If it seem dreadful to thee 't is not because it is so but because thou knowest it not as it is The life that acts all the world is twofold either true or false one is rooted in the Truth and Being of God and is something above and beyond the highest reach of Reason the purest form of knowledge the most raised and spiritual gifts all these being but of this Creation which must cease and perish away The false life is rooted in the invention and flesh of man yet form and appearance comes forth habited like the true life with fair shews in the flesh outward holiness goodly words concerning zeal for forms of godliness for the letter of Scripture for conformity to a rule without none like unto it none had in more admiration of their undiscerning and carnal Disciples yet all this may have no more but flesh in it that is the spirit of a man only elevated and drawn up through the sharpness and vigour of his own reason and the letter of the Scriptures into no more but the dead image of spiritual things that is into the knowledge profession and worship of God in a natural way What thou hast here read presents thee with that which is the true difference and note of distinction whereby this twofold life is distinguished and known one from the other and whereby the life state and profession of some Professors stands separate and divided from others as far as spirit is above flesh or the life of Christ above the life of Reason Knowledge gifts a form of godliness reformation of many things the life of a Saint is not in these these are things external and obvious to the generation of this world a Saints life is a secret hidden and inaccessible thing that natural reason and all the wisdom of this world cannot find it out nor come where it is it is something more then word letter or knowledge better believed and felt then reasoned out or expressed Therefore before thou givest judgement upon what hath been here offered I do intreat thee call in for thy direction the rule of Christ judge not according to appearance but judge righteous judgement wherein thou art minded of a twofold Judge one that judgeth of persons of things of the truth of God and of the God of truth according to appearance or after the flesh that is after the sight of his eyes or after the hearing of his ears Isa 11.3 that is in thy judging or respecting of these and all spiritual things set not up as Judge either thy present frame of spirit or the light of thy learned reason for so thou judgest after the sight of thine eyes Neither let the Traditions of thy Fathers the cry of many Pastors the Learning of the Schools nor the Doctrines and Commandments of men have authority to judge for thee in these things for so thou judgest after the hearing of thine ears but look upon weigh and try every spirit work and doctrine here or abroad according to the truth as it is in Jesus And whatsoever hath been said of Old Man and New Man of crucifying to the flesh of justification in Christ of living to God of union with Christ or in-being of spirit c. let these or any other things first have a fair trial how far they are rooted in God how far not how much he is all in them or how much he is denied by them either in his Nature or his Grace and then judge them and me for their sake to be true or false precious or vile accordingly And as for my self if these things were only opinion or result of my own spirit then they were mine or mans and I should reserve them to my self but being given unto me and withdrawn at the pleasure of an higher hand I do only serve to administer them to whosoever they are appointed for THOMAS HIGGENSON FINIS