Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	earth_n	lord_n	soul_n	10,053	5	4.7640	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42363	The Christians great interest: or A short treatise, divided into two parts the first whereof containeth, the tryal of a saving interest in Christ. The second, pointeth forth plainly, the way how to attain it: wherein somewhat is likewise spoken to the manner of express covenanting with God. By W. Guthrie, minister of the gospel in Scotland.	Guthrie, William, 1620-1665.	1681 (1681)	Wing G2273; ESTC R218716	96,110	156

cases Psal 9. 6. Psal 42. 5. Psal 4. 2. 5. It is observable here that sometimes the man will halt and be silent to hear some indistinct whispering of a joyful sound glancing on the mind or some news in some broken word of Scripture which it may be the man scarcely knoweth to be Scripture or whether it is come from God or Satan to delude him yet this he hath resolved only to hear what God the Lord will speak as upon another occasion Psal 85. 8. 6. More distinct promises comes into the mans mind whereupon he assayeth to lay hold but is beaten off with objections as in another case the Psalmist is Psal 20. 3. 6. But thou art holy But I am a Worm Now it is about the dawning of the day with the man and Faith will stir as soon as the Lord imparteth the joyful sound Psal 89. 15. This is the substance of the Covenant which may be shortly summed up in these words Christ Jesns is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him We can speak no further of the mans exercise as a preparatory work for what followeth is more than preparatory Yet that the exercise may appear compleat and full we shall add here That after all these things the Lord it may be after many answers of divers sorts mightily conveyeth the sound of his Covenant to the heart and determineth the heart to close with it and God now draweth him so to Christ Joh. 6. 44. and so shapeth out the heart for him that the conception cannot miscarry for now the heart is so in breadth and length for him as that less cannot satisfie and more is not desired like that of Psal 73. 25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee or whom have I desired on earth besides thee The soul now resolveth to die if he command so yet at his door and facing to him-wards We have drawn this preparatory work to some length not tying any man to such a work so circumstantiate only we say the Lord dealeth so with some and where he so convinceth of sin corruption and self emptiness and maketh a man take salvation to heart as the one thing necessary and sets him on work in the use of the means which God hath appointed for relief I say such a work rarely shall be found to fail of a good issue and gracious result Object Hypocrites and reprobates have great stirrings of Conscience and deep convictions about sin setting them on work sometimes and I do suspect any preparatory work of the Law I ever had to be but such as they have Answ It will be heard to give sure essential differences between the preparatory work in those in whom afterwards Christ is formed and those legal stirrings which are sometimes in Reprobates If there were not some gracious result of these convictions and wakenings of conscience in the Lords people and other marks of which we shall speak afterwards it were hard to adventure upon any difference that is clear in these legal stirrings Yet for answer to the Objection I shall offer some things which rarely will be found in the stirring of reprobates and which are ordinarily found in that Law-work which hath a gracious issue 1. The convictions of hypocrites and reprobates are usually confined to some few very gross transgressions Saul grants no more but the persecuting of David 1 Sam. 26. 21. Judas grants only the betraying of innocent blood Mat. 27. 4. But usually these convictions by which the Lord prepareth his own way in the soul although they may begin at one or more gross particular transgressions yet they rest not there but the man is led on to see many breaches of the Law and innumerable evils compassing him as David speaketh in the sight of his sin Psal 40. 12. and withal that universal conviction if I may call it so is not general as usually we hear senseless men saying that in all things they sin But it is particular and condescending as Paul afterwards spake of himself he not only is the chief of sinners but particularly he was a blasphemer a persecuter 1 Tim. 1. 13. 2. The convictions which Hypocrites have do seldom reach thier Corruption and that body of death which breeds an averseness from what is good and strongly inclineth to what is evil Ordinarily where we find Hypocrites speaking of themselves in Scripture they speak loftily and with some self conceit both as to their freedom from corruption Joh. 9. 34. The Pharisees say to the poor man Thou wast altogether born in sins and dost thou teach us as if they themselves were not as corrupt by nature as he They speak of great sins as Hazael did 2 Kings 8. 13. Am I a Dog that I should do this great thing And also in their undertakings of duty as that man spake Mat. 8. 19. I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest See how the people do speak Jer. 42. 2. to 7. They undertake to do all that God will command them so that they still go about in any case to establish their own righteousness not submitting unto the righteousness of God But I may say that convictions and exercise about corruption and that body of death inclining to evil and disenabling for good is not the leas● part of the work where the Lord is preparing his own way They use to judge themselves very wretched because of a body of sin and are at their wits end how to be delivered as Paul speaketh when he is under the exercise of it afterwards Rom. 7. 19. 3. It will ordinarily be found that the convictions which are in hypocrites either are not so serious as that some other business will not put● them out of head before any satisfaction be gotten as in Cain who went and built a City and we hear no more o● his Convictions Gen. 4. Felix went away until a mor● convenient time and we hear no more of his trembling Act● 24. 25. Or if that work become very serious then i● runneth to the other extremity and despair of relief leaving no room for any escape So we find Judas very serious in his Convictions yet he grew desperate and hanged himself Mat. 27. 4 5. But where the Lord prepareth his own way the work is both so serious as the person cannot be put off it until he find some satisfaction and yet under that very seriousness he lyeth open for relief both which are clear in the Gaolers words What shall I do to be saved Acts 16. 30. This serious enquiry after Relief is a very observable thing in the preparatory work which leadeth on to Christ yet we desire none to lay too much weight on these things since God hath allowed clearer differences between the precious and the vile Object I still fear I have not had so through a sight of my sin and misery as the Lord giveth to many whom he effectually calleth especially to great Transgressors such as I am Answ It is true

They never close with Jesus Christ in that contrivement and him alone as a sufficient covering of the eyes as is said of Abraham to Sarah Gen. 20. 16. They still hold fast somewhat of their own at least to help to procure Gods favour and salvation Their heart doth still speak as that young mans speech Luke 18 18 21. doth insinuate What want I that I may inherit life Beside that they do still retain their former lovers and will not break their Covenants with Hell and Death imagining they may have Christ with these things equally sharing in their heart contrary to that A man cannot serve two Masters Mat. 6. 24. Either Christ must be judged absolute Lord and worthy to be so or nothing at all And so it is clear their heart is not shapen out for that way of salvation by Christ whom God hath alone made Lord here in whom all fulness shall dwell But where justifying faith is the soul of a man and his heart doth close with Christ and him alone having no confidence in the flesh Phil. 3. 3. Psal 62. 5. he trusteth only in God As also the man here giveth up with other lovers as they stand in competition with Christ they resolve not to be for another Hos 3. 3. They call him Lord which a man can only do by the Spirit of Christ 1. Cor. 12. 3. 2. As Hypocrites and Reprobates do never close with Christ alone so they do never close with full Christ as he is annointed to be a King to rule over a man in all things a Priest to procure pardon and to make peace for man upon all occasions a Prophet to be wisdom and a Teacher and Counsellor in all cases to man So they do not receive Christ especially in the first and third offices But where true justifying faith is a man closeth with whole Christ in all his offices judging all his will good holy just and spiritual Rom. 7. 12. and right concerning all things Psalm 119. 128. making mention of his righteousness only Psal 71 16. The man also giveth up himself to be taught of him Mat. 11. 29. So that Christ is made to the true believer with his own consent wisdom righteousness sanctification and compleat redemption 1. Cor. 1. 30. And although he hath not all these things formally in exercise when his heart goeth out after Christ yet upon search and tryal it will be found with him as I have said 3. Hypocrites and Reprobates do never close with Christ and all the inconveniencies may follow him they stick at that with that man Mat. 8. 19. 20. But where true justifying saith is a man doth close with him on all hazards he resolveth to forego all rather than to forego Christ Mar. 10. 28. he reckoneth all to be loss and dung for the excellency of Christ Jesus as his Lord and to be found in him Phil. 3. 8. We might give other differences also as that true faith is operative purifying the heart Acts 15. 9. working by love Gal. 5. 44. Whilst Hypocrites do only cleanse the outside of the platter Mat. 23. 25. and do all to be seen of men Mat 6. 5. not seeking the honour that is of God only and so cannot believe John 5. 6. We might also shew that true faith is never alone in a man but attended with other saving graces But because these things will co-incide with what followeth and here we are shewing that a man may take up his gracious state by his faith and the actings thereof on Christ we pass these things The second great mark of a gracious state and true saving interest in Jesus Christ is the new creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature That new creation or renovation of that man is a very sensible change although not in those who are effectually called from the womb or in their younger years because those have had this new creature from that time in them so as this charge in after period of time is not discernable yet in those who have been regenerated and brought unto Christ after they were come to greater age and so have been more palpably unde the power of darkness before they were translated into the Kingdom of Christ Col. 1. 13. But in all who do warrantably pretend to Christ this new creature must be although some do not know experimentally the contraries of every part of it so as others do because they have not been equally in regard of practice under the power of darkness This new creature is called the new man Gal. 3. 10. which doth hold out the extent of it It is not simply a new tongue or a new hand but a new man There is a principle of new life and motion put in the man which is the new heart which new principle of life sendeth forth acts of life or of conformity to the image of him who created it Col. 3. 10. So as the party is renewed in some measure every way This renovation of the man who is in Christ may be reduced to these two great heads First There is a renovation of the mans person soul and body in some measure 1. His understanding is renewed so as he judgeth Christ Preached in the Gospel to be the wisdom and power of God a wise strong contrivement beseeming God 1 Cor. 1. 23 24. He knoweth the things of God really and solidly not to be yea and nay and uncertain fancies but all to be yea and amen solid certain substantial things having a desirable accomplishment in Christ and resolving much in him 1 Cor. 2. 15. 2 Cor. 1. 18. Natural men educated under Gospel ordinances although they have some notional knowledge of God Christ Promises the motions of the holy Spirit c. so as they may Confer Preach and dispute of these things yet they look on them as common received Maxims of Christianity from which to recede were a singularity and disgrace but not as real solid substantial truths so as to adventure their Souls and Everlasting being on them The understanding is renewed also to take up somewhat of God in the creatures as bearing sparks of his glorious attribute● Psal 10. 1. They see the Heavens declaring his Glory and Power and somewhat of God in providence an● dispensations that fall out His wondrous works declaring that his Name is near Psal 75. 1. The understanding also taketh up the conditions and cases of the soul otherwise than it was wont to do As we find the Saint● usually speaking in Scripture O my Soul thou hast sai● unto the Lord c. Psal 16. 2. My Soul said thy fac● will I seek Pral 26. 8. Why art thou cast down O my Soul Psal 42. 5. Psal 43. 5. Return unto thy rest O my soul Psal 116. 7. 2. The heart and affections are renewed The heart is made a new heart a hear● of flesh capable of impressions having a copy of his law stamped on it and

it expedient especially if there remain any doubt about the thing that by viva voce and express word they determine that controversie and say of the Lord and to him that he is their refuge and portion Psalm 91. 2. Psalm 142. We find the Saints doing so and we may imitate them especially 1. In the time of great back-sliding people were wont to renew the Covenant with God and we should do so also Our heart should go after Christ in the promises of reconciliation with God for he is our peace upon all occasions and our Advocate and we are bound to apprehend him so when we transgress 1 Joh. 2. 1. and to express so much by word as Saints did in their formal renewing of the Covenant 2. When people are in hazzard then it were good that they should send out their heart after him and express their adhering unto him for securing their own heart We find Joshua doing so when he was to settle in the land of Canaan in the midst of snares Joshua 24. so David doth in his straits Psal 57. 1. 3. When men apprehend God to be at a distance from them and their Soul be under withering and decay then it is safest heartily to close with Christ and embrace him by faith for securing of the Soul and it were good to put it out of question by the expressing of the thing This is the ready way to draw sap from Christ the root for recovering of the Soul and for establishing the heart before him The Spouse in the Song of Soloman doth so thus asserting her interest in him when in such a condition Professing and avouching him to be hér beloved Cant. 5. 4. At the celebration of the Lords Supper men should thus cordially close with God in Christ and speak and express so much For that is a feast of Love And then and there we come under a solemn profession of closing with God in Christ personally and openly and do receive the seal of it it is therefore beseeming at that time to bring up both heart and tongue to second and answer our profession apprehending God to be our God and resigning over our selves to be his and at his disposing We shall not confine the Lords people to times and season of this duty The Lord may bind it upon them at his pleasure Only there is hazzard that by too frequent express covenanting with God men turn too formal in it Therefore it is not so fit that people should cordially at full length renew that explicite transacting with God but rather to declare unto God that they adhere unto the Covenant made with him and that they do maintain and will never revoke nor recal the same and withal they may hint the sum of it in laying claim unto God in Christ as their own God and this they may do often even in all their addresses to God and probably this is the thing designed by the Saints in their so ordinary practice in the Scripture whilst they assert their interest in God as their God and portion And it is fit that men in all their walk hold their heart at the business by heart-cleaving to God in Christ The life we live in the flesh should be by faith in the Son of God Gal. 2. 20. As to the second thing viz. what is preparatorily required of him who is expresly to transact with God Here besides what we spake before as previous to a mans closing with Christ Jesus we only add 1. That he that would explicitly bargain with God must know that to do so is warranted and allowed by God as we shewed before If this be wanting a man cannot do it in faith and so it will be sin unto him Rom. 14. 23. 2. The man must labour to bring up his heart to the thing that it do not belye the tongue It will be a great mocking of God so to draw near him with the lips whilst the heart is far off from him Isa 29. 13. The third thing to be considered in this express verbal covenanting with God is the way how it is to be performed and managed And beside what was said before in heart-closing with Christ I add here 1. The man should do it confidently not only believing that he is about his duty when he doth it But also that God in Christ Jesus will accept his poor imperfect way of doing this duty he do accept a man according to what he hath if there be a willing mind 2 Cor. 8. 12. a mite is accepted since it is all the poor womans substance Mat. 12. 44. yea if it can be attained the man should believe that the issue and consequence of this transacting shall prove comfortable and all shall be well and that God who engageth for all in the Covenant since he hath determined the man to this happy choice will in some measure make him forth-coming and will perfect what concerns him Faithful is he who hath promised who will also do it 1. Thess 5. 24. If this confidence be wanting the matter will be done with much fear and jealousie if not worse and will still prove a disquieting business to the man 2. It should be done holily It is called the Holy Covenant Luke 1. 72. The holy things of David Acts 13. 34. Here it were fitting that what is done in this express transacting with God should not be done passingly and on the by but in some special addresses unto God the thing should be spoken unto the Lord Psal 142 5. It is beseeming in so great a business that a piece of time were set apart for confessing and supplication before God yea also the person so transacting with God should labour to have high apprehensions of Gods greatness and soveraignty 2. Sam. 7. 22. although he thus humble himself to behold things in Heaven and Earth and these high and holy thoughts of him will and should be attended with debasing and humbling thoughts of self although admitted to this high dignity 2 Sam. 7. 18. It is no small thing to be allyed unto and with the great God of Heaven and his Son Christ as David speaketh when King Saul did offer his Daughter unto him 1 Sam. 18. 22. Yea further there should be special guarding and watching that the heart keep spiritual transacting with God there is great reason for this holy way of performing the duty For men are ready to forget themselves and to shape the Lord according to their own fancy and to turn carnal in the business since it is a marriage transaction held out in all the ordinary expressions of love as in the Song of Soloman Isa 62. 5. Zeph. 3. 17. The fourth thing we shall speak a word unto is what should follow upon this express verbal Covenanting with God I say beside that union and communion with God in Christ following upon believing if a man explicitly by word transact with God 1. He should thenceforth be singularly careful to abide close by