Selected quad for the lemma: law_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
law_n	justify_v	righteousness_n	work_n	23,271	5	6.5234	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91733	Rules for the government of the tongue: together, with directions in six particular cases. [brace] 1 Confession of our faults to men. 2 Confession of Christ before men. 3 Reprehension of faults in others. 4 Christian communication. [brace] Vrbanity and eloquence. 5 Consolation of the afflicted. 6 Self-commendation, and a disproof of perfection in this life. Added, as a supplement, to the Rules for governing [brace] 1 the thoughts, 2 the affections, in the Precepts for Christian practice, or, The rule of the new creature, new model'd. / By Edward Reyner, minister of the Gospel in Lincolne.	Reyner, Edward, 1600-1668.; Reyner, Edward, 1600-1668. Precepts for Christian practice.	1656 (1656)	Wing R1230; Thomason E1594_2; ESTC R208861	220,132	401

is a prejudice to faith Joh. 5.44 How can yee beleeve saith Christ which receive honour one of another and seek not the honour that cometh from God only much less should we seek it 1 Thes 2 6 Paul sets us a good example therein Nor of men sought we glory neither of you nor yet of others 2 In respect of God when whatever wee speak of our selves that is good we do it for the glory of God wee commend our selves principally for this end that God may bee glorified in us and by us and for us and we give God the praise of all our praises and the glory of all the commendations men give us for our gifts or for our works and if God be glorified and his Name exalted we can be content to bee abased and to have our Names and Honours laid in the dust and to pass through dishonour as well as honour and bad report as good for Christs sake This my joy is fulfilled Joh. 3.29 30 saith John the Baptist He must increase but I must decrease Joh. 3.29 30 That self-commendationis lawful 1 Cor. 1.31 which is a gloriation in the Lord According as it is written let him that glorieth glory in the Lord that is 1 In Jesus Christ in the first place that hee is made unto us of God Wisdome Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 and that wee are in Christ and in God as reconciled to us through Christ 2 In the next place wee may glory in the graces which Christ hath conveyed into us and in the works Christ hath strengthened us to do and in glorying in these we glory in the Lord when wee speak of our graces and good works 1 As what wee have received from the Lord as the first efficient thereof or as our Heavenly Masters goods 2 As what wee have used or done for God his glory as the last end or as our Masters advantage This was Pauls care and aim not to glory in himself 2 Cor. 12.5 of his naturall morall ministeriall self no nor of his spirituall or sanctified self that is hee would not glory in these as either efficiently or finally his own as if hee had them from himself or used them for himself only nor of himself upon that account for them But hee gloried in the Lord as the only Author and Doner of them and that hee might have the whole praise honour and glory of them all We may glory in Christ as the Bridegroom of our souls and in our graces and good works as in the Jewels and ornaments Christ bestows on his Spouse wee should glory in Christs Righteousness as our title to Heaven and in our graces and the exercise of them as our evidences that Christ and his Righteousnesse is ours and that wee have thereby a good and sure title to life eternall 3 In respect of others when in commending our selves we aim at others good by way of example experience conviction incouragement or comfort when the commendation of our selves is thus ordered for matter measure manner and end then our own mouths and lips may warrantably prais●eus though another man do not or will not And those that thus commend themselves are approved of the Lord. Object 2 Doth not Job say Job 9.20 If I justifie my self my own mouth shall condemn mee If I say I am perfect it shall also prove mee perverse Ans Yet God restified of Job that he was perfect Job 1.8 2.3 might not Job say the same of himself and Job justified himself frequently in his book and continuedly in some Chapters why doth hee condemn himself for it now Ans Wee must find out an expedient sense to reconcile these seeming Repugnancies which is this 1 If I justifie my self saith Job that is before God If I should plead justification by my works in the Court of Gods justice then my own mouth would condemn mee for the justification of my self upon the account of my own righteousnesse would bee an accusation against mee and bring just condemnation upon mee Job 9.2 3. For how should man bee just with God If hee will contend with him that is If God will draw up a charge against him or call man to an account hee cannot answer to one thing of a thousand It was Davids petition to God Psa 143.2 Enter not into judgement with thy Servant for in thy sight shall no man living bee justified It was not permitted to an Abraham though the friend of God Rom. 4.2 to be justified by works Rom. 4.2 Job in these words as the best Epositors conceive holds forth that famous fundamental Truth of the Gospel to wit free justification before God not by the works of the Law Phil 3.7 8 9. Rom. 3.20 Paul accounted all his graces and good works but dung and drosse in the case of justification or in comparison of the Righteousness of Christ by which alone wee are justified in the sight of God 2 If I say I am perfect that is in my self If I should plead absolute perfection or boast that I have no sin it shall also prove mee perverse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word signifies to walk in crooked wayes or to wander from the true way or way of truth This will prove mee unperfect wicked a vagrant or wanderer from Gods wayes If I say I am perfect that is wholly free from sin I shall sin greatly and discover much imperfection pride vain-glory Hypocrisie and folly in saying so yea I should lye for I have confessed my sins Job 7.20 21. I have sinned and why dost thou not pardon my transgression who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my sin saith the wise man Hee challenges all the world for it Pro. 20.9 If thy people sin against thee for there is no man that sinneth not 1 King 8.46 There is not a just man upon Earth that doth good and sinneth not saith the Preacher Eccles 7.20 If wee say wee have no sin saith the Apostle John we deceive our selves 1 Joh. 1.8 9. and the Truth is not in us If wee confesse our sins hee is faithfull and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse All of us offend James 3.2 in many things and many of us in all things All wee have here is but in part wee know in part and we prophesie in part but when that which is perfect is come that which is in part shall bee done away 1 Cor. 13.9 10. which of the reall Saints ever said they have not sin Prov. 30.12 but only such persons whom God hath given up to strong delusions if not to a Reprobate sense The concurrent constant experience of all true Saints witnesse against this fancy dream or vain-conceit of absolute perfection in this life though Catharists Papists and spirituall Antichristians hold the same But Job did often and might justly 1 Justifie himself before

lyes and damnable for all lyars shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death y Rev. 21.8 Wherefore put away lying saith the Apostle and speak every man truth with his neighbour z Ephes 4.25 2 2 Truth spoken from the heart Have respect to moral Truth which is an agreement between heart and Tongue that is to speak what yee think and as yee think and to think what ye speak For the Tongue is but the Interpreter of the mind to declare that all that and only that which the mind dictates A good correspondence between the Heart and the Tongue is the character of a Citizen of Sion a Psal 15.2 hee speaketh the truth in his heart that is with or from his heart hee speaks what hee thinks his heart and mouth do harmonize consent and concenter in the truth of his speech The contrary hereunto is guile deceit and Dissimulation when the heart and Tongue are divided and wee speak what we do not think or think as we do not speak so the heart and the Tongue do vary yea contradict and give one another the lye The wicked speak with a double heart saith David b Psal 12.2 speaking one thing and thinking another 1 Tim. 3.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A double heart makes a double and deceitfull Tongue But a man is not what he saith with his lips but what hee thinks in his heart As Solomon speaks of him that hath an evill eye c Prov. 23.6 7. as hee thinketh in his heart so is he● eat and drink saith hee to thee but his heart is not with thee This veracity in the mouth is a fruit of sincerity or truth in the inward parts to speak what wee think and to think as wee speak which is a parcel of our conformity to Christ who did no sin neither was guile found in his d 1 Pet. 2.22 lips The wise man makes this the Character of one of the worst of men scil a hatefull hating man that hee dissembleth in his lips and layeth up deceit within him e Pro● 26.24 when hee speaketh fair or makes his voice gracious beleeve him not Ver. 25. for there are seven that is many abominations in his heart But though hee cover hatred in his heart Vers 26. with deceit in his mouth yet his wickednesse shall bee shewed before the whole Congregation God will give Dissemblers over to some great sin that they may bee publickly detected disgraced and detested of all Burning lips saith Solomon f Prov. 26 2● and a wicked heart are like a potsheard covered with silver dross Burning lips that is in shew of affection or profession of love to others yet without reality as Ezekiels hearers who with their mouth shewed much love Ezek. 33.31 but their heart went after their covetousnesse And a wicked heart intending or wishing evill to others and rejoycing when evill befalls them are like a potsheard covered with silver drosse fair speaking lips upon a false foul-meaning heart are no better than drosse upon dirt silver gilt upon clay Whereas the Tongue of the Righteous is as choice silver Prov. 10.20 therefore his words are of great price but the heart of the Wicked is little worth and his words are of no value Dissemblers are like painted Sepulchers which appear beautifull outwardly but within are ful of rottennesse and uncleannesse So these have fair and flourishing words without but rotten filthy hearts within They are as one saith nought on both sides having a bad mouth and a worse heart Dissembling is but like painting of an old rotten poste or of a wrinkled deformed face with fair fresh colours To cover a rough heart with a smooth Tongue is but as one compares it like drawing a fair glove on a foul hand As wee should pray with David to bee delivered Psal 120.2 from lying lips and from a deceitfull Tongue so that God would keep our lips from lyes and our tongues from Deceits and from disagreement with our hearts Secondly 2 Goodness in Speech have respect in the matter of your speech to goodnesse 1 That it bee good and sound not evil and corrupt 2 Profitable and useful not vain and idle 1 Let your speech be good and sound good matter and good words To this end 1 Speak of God and his Attributes as David did h Psal 145.1 Vers 5. Vers 6. Vers 7. I will extol thee O God my King I will speak of the glorious honour of thy Majesty I will declare thy greatness men shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodnesse and shall sing of thy righteousness Vers 8. that the Lord is gracious and full of compassion slow to anger and of great mercy thy Saints shall talk of thy power Vers 11. my Tongue shall talk of thy Righteousnesse all the day long saith David Psal 71.24 speak of the word of God when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way when you lye down and when you rise up i Deut. 6.6.7 David resolved it k Psal 119.172 my Tongue shall speak of thy word God commanded Joshuah that this book of the Law should not depart out of his mouth l Josh 1.8 you ought to keep your Bibles not only in your houses hands or hearts but in your mouthes also to speak thereof Gods Word will furnish you fully with matter of good Discourse upon all occasions To this end hide Gods word in your hearts and they shall bee fitted in your lips and you shall never want good subjects to speak of nor direction to speak aright The mouth of the Righteous speaketh wisdome and his Tongue talketh of Judgement why so the Law of God is in his heart therefore none of his goings or sayings shall slide Psa 37.30 31. Speak of the works of God both creational and providential as David did m Psal 145.5 I will speak of thy wondrous works men shall speak of the might of thy terrible Acts and of his Kingdome which is over all Vers 6.12 and everlasting and of the glory of it Speak of Jesus Christ and his benefits a large subject able to fill the hearts and mouths of all men My heart is inditing a good subject saith David n Psal 45.1 I will speak of the things which I have made touching the King that is not only King Solomon his son but touching Jesus Christ the King of Saints of whom Solomon was but a type and my tongue is the pen of a ready writer free and swift to express the renowned excellencies and just praises of Christ 2 Speak prudent words wise counsel and righteous things as doth the mouth of the righteous Prov. 10.31 3 Speak your own experiences to others Gods gracious dealings with you as the Psalmist did p Psal 66.16 come and hear all yee that fear God and I will declare

is just as well as merciful how can he justifie and save great sinners Second Ground The infiniteness of Christs Merits of his Death and passion or obedience which is sufficient to satisfie Gods Justice pacifie his Wrath and fulfill his Law perfectly and is as able to take away the sins of the whole World as of one man and more able to save you than your sins are to condemn you Act. 20.28 his sufferings being the obedience of a God or of him that was God as wel as man whereas your sins are but the finite acts of men poor silly shallow Creatures that are before him or in comparison of him as nothing Isa 40.14 Psal 130.7 8 yea less than nothing and vanity Set before them also the plentiousness of Redemption that is in Christ that he can and will deliver them from all their sins and from all the evils that accompany them or arise from them and the prevalence of his intercession in Heaven to make application of his Redemption and the benefits thereof to sinners on earth Heb. 7.29 whereby he is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him Tell them that to refuse Jesus Christ his merits and benefits who came from Heaven on purpose to save them from their sins and from Hell and to receive them to glory in Heaven is to refuse salvation and how can they escape great damnation who thus reject great salvation Comfort cost Christ dear for them and should they cast it away Obj. What though the merits of Christs Death be of infinite value and vertue they do not belong to us what shall we bee better for them Ans Set before them Third Ground The free gracious and general tender of Christ and of pardon peace grace joy and glory with him to all and every one that will receive him without respect of persons made in the Gospel and in the promulgation or preaching of it as God so loved the World Joh. 3.16 that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life And Mark 16.15 16 Go yee into all the world preach the Gospel to every Creature what is the Gospel He that beleeveth in Christ shall be saved and he that beleeveth not shall bee damned 2 Cor. 5.19 20 that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself not imputing to them their sins And Christ sends his Ministers as Embassadours to beseech sinners in Christs stead to be reconciled to God and commits unto them the word of Reconciliation To this end as Moses lift up the Serpent in the Wilderness so Christ is lift up upon the Pole of the Gospel in the sight of all sinners that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish If yee thrust these tenders of Christ and Salvation away from you when made to you yea threaped upon you then you judge your selves unworthy of everlasting life as the Jews of Antioch did Act 13.46 when they put the Word of God away from them Obj. How can we expect Christ should bee willing to receive us or to be received by us What face can we have to come unto him or what hope to be welcome Fourth Ground Set before them Christs gracious invitation of all to him that feel any want of him or have any desire to him as Come unto me all yee that labour and are heavie laden and I will give you rest I said Mat. 11.28 behold me behold me Isa 65.1 unto a Nation not called by my name that is as some interpret it I invited the Gentiles and called upon them to look after mee and come in to mee I am sought of them that asked not for mee I am found of them that sought mee not that is the Gentiles whom hee called to bee his people or to his Covenant of grace who before were not his people or had no relation to him either of name or interest Hee prevented their seeking of him by his seeking and finding them of his own good will and pleasure Together with Christs invitation set before them Christs promise of Reception and of non rejection to any that will come unto him All that the Father giveth mee shall come to mee saith Christ and him that commeth to mee Ioh. 6.37 I will in no wise cast out Joh. 5.40 and his complaint that men will not come unto him that hee might give them life Object Did ever any obtain mercy and pardon that were so vile and unworthy as wee are The fifth Ground Set before them the experiences or examples of Gods mercy manifested 2 Chron. 33.2 3 11 12 13. and of Christs merits applyed to the greatest of sinners as to Manasseh a mighty sinner witness his idolatry diabolicall arts of severall kinds his cruelty for hee filled Jerusalem with innocent blood 2 King 24.4 and hee made Judah and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem to erre and to do worse than the Heathen Yet for all this hee besought the Lord in his Affliction and humbled himself greatly before the God of his Fathers and he was intreated of him and heard his supplication And to Paul who was before a Blasphemer a Persecutor 1 Tim. 1.13 14.15 and Contumelious yea the chief of sinners But I obtained mercy saith hee and the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant towards mee To Mary Magdalen Mar. 16.9 out of whom Christ had cast seven Devils to whom he appeared first after his Resurrection Luk. 7.37 38. 48. 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. And to the woman in the City that had been a notorious sinner and to some of the Corinthians and if to such why then not to you why will you exclude or cut off your selves from Gods mercy and Christs merits which were held forth to others as bad or worse than you yet they imbraced the same why may not yea why should not you do the same Object Never any were plunged so deep in distresse of soul as wee are Is there any sorrow like unto our sorrow The sixth Ground Set this before them that some of Gods dear servants have drunk very deep of the cup of soul-troubles or of trembling of the wine of astonishment sc inward anguish horrours and terrours and gone down to their sense even to the gates of Hel whom God raised up afterwards and ravished with joy as if they were in Heaven having given them a full cup of Consolation to drink Such was Jobs condition Job 13.24 when God hid his face from him and held him for his enemy Vers 26 and writ bitter things against him When God skared him with dreams Chap. 7.14 15.20 and terrified him through visions so that his soul chose strangling and death rather than life when God set him as a mark to shoot at Job 30.18 so that he was a burden to himself and when hee went mourning without the Sun when the arrows