Selected quad for the lemma: life_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
life_n	believe_v	jesus_n	lord_n	8,211	5	3.8236	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B06542	A brief, and plain apology written by John Wheelwright: wherein he doth vindicate himself, from al [sic] those errors, heresies, and flagitious crimes, layed to his charge by Mr. Thomas Weld, in his short story, and further fastened upon him, by Mr. Samuel Rutherford in his survey of antinomianisme. Wherein free grace is maintained in three propositions, and four thesis [sic] ...	Wheelwright, John, 1594-1679.	1658 (1658)	Wing W1604; ESTC R186427	40,565	36

an act of the Will And they ground both these Acts upon a free Promise of Grace efficaciously applied by the Holy Ghost These are the words of Mr. Calvin upon Gal 3.7 Faith is not an imagination of our own forging it is an assuredness which we conceive of Gods Goodness when he cometh unto us and uttereth familiarly his love that he beareth to us This hath been the constant Definition of Justifying Faith given by our Orthodox Divines in Luthers time and of many since Fides est certa persuasio et 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quâ cum servatorem amplectimur hâc fiduciâ quod crucifixus mortuus sit in propitiationem pro peccatis non aliarum tantum sed et meis Melanchthon Beza with many others describe Faith after that manner and generally this is part of the description of it Faith is a certain perswasion of Gods mercy towards us in Christ which they could not do did they not ground it upon an absolute Promise All our Expositors of the Creed who make this part of the meaning of that Article I beleeve in Jesus Christ to be I beleeve that Christ is mine and place it before that act of the heart by which we rely on Christ do found it upon an absolute Promise Mr. Perkins in his Exposition of the Creed saith That no man can put his confidence in God till he be first perswaded of Gods mercy towards him in Christ This is Mr. Dikes Judgment on Phil. 5. First we must beleeve that Christ is ours before we can be able to commit our selves to him for the will and affections follow the understanding Mr. Cotton in his N. Covenant declares himself fully to be of this Judgment and saith Faith to receive Christ is ever upon an absolute Promise pag. 56. which is as much as I affirm Object 1. The Promise propounded in the Gospel for the begetting of faith is conditional Beleeve and be saved Answ That is not the Gospels first Promise There is an absolute indefinite Promise I take an absolute Promise for that which shall certainly be accomplished in Gods Elect precedent to this viz. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand to which the command of Beleeving in the conditional Promise hath relation As in the Covenant of Works first there is an absolute Law given and then a conditional Covenant made Do this and live So in the Covenant of Grace first there is made an absolute Promise of Salvation through Christ taking absolute in that sense which I have named and then a conditional Covenant Beleeve and be saved When I am commanded to beleeve the Gospel or beleeve on the Lord Jesus Christ it is intended that I beleeve this absolute Promise not only Historically but Applicatorily and that I receive and relie upon Christ promised and then I shall not perish but have everlasting life The act of faith is not terminated in the Promise but in the simple term Christ Object 2. There is no absolute Promise of Salvation through Christ in all the Gospel Answ That is not so The first Gospel Promise of Grace and Life was absolute The seed of the Woman shall bruise the Serpents head Gen. 3.15 This is renewed to Abraham In thee shall all Families of the Earth be blessed Gen. 12.3 Is not this a simple categorical Proposition and Declaration of Gods good will in Christ to the World And this was Gospel which was preached unto Abraham Gal. 3.8 To make things more clear Take an absolute Promise for that which shall certainly be accomplished and then the Gospel alwaies begins with an absolute Promise both of end and means to wit Salvation and all means tending thereunto with relation to Gods Elect of which kind are the Promises before mentioned Gen. 3.15 and 12.3 Let an absolute Promise be taken for that which shall receive its accomplishment without any gracious precedent act of ours and then the beginning of our Salvation to wit a new heart a new spirit and faith it self is absolutely promised Jer. 3.33 34. Ezek. 36.26 27. If by Salvation be meant the continuance perfecting and consummation of Salvation in Gods eternal and everlasting Kingdom that is indeed promised upon condition we put forth acts of faith repentance holiness and righteousness throughout the whol course of our lives all which conditions as hath been said are absolutely promised Ezek. 36.27 Conditiones N Faederis non tantum praeceptae sunt sed etiam promissae Embd. Min. in the Synod of Dordt Object 3. The Promises to save absolutely and upon condition of beleeving are inconsistent Answ 1. To promise the beginning of Salvation absolutely and the continuance and accomplishment of Salvation upon condition of an holy penitential faith stand well together 2. To promise absolutely that is assuredly the continuance perfecting and consummation of Salvation upon condition we actually beleeve repent and obey is not inconsistent because the conditions are absolutely promised Object 4. The absolute Promise of Salvation through Christ propounded in the Gospel is not particular and personal but general and indefinite and therefore if we beleeve it by particular application we beleeve more than is revealed Answ Though the absolute Promise of Salvation through Christ be general and indefinite yet is it made particular to every Elect Person in his effectual call This Promise is held forth with a commandment to apply it and make it particular So saith Zanchy Lib. 5. De Naturâ Dei Cap. 2. and Mr. Perkins upon Gal. 2. When we are commanded to beleeve on the Lord Jesus Christ this is one act that is required of us to beleeve that Christ is ours 1 John 5.13 Whilst this Gospel is in preaching in our effectual Vocation the Lord sends the spirit of Adoption into our hearts gives us a new heart and a new spirit which new spirit perswades us to beleeve and apply the Promise and Christ promised and it is all one as if he should call us by name Isa 43.1 John 10.3 They who are thus perswaded by Christ not only outwardly by his Word but inwardly by his Spirit in their hearts have a good ground to beleeve that the Promise belongs unto them and that Christ is theirs nor do they herein beleeve more than is revealed To beleeve what Christ commands is no Enthusiasme Object 5. If all to whom the Gospel is preached are commanded to beleeve that the absolute Promise belongs unto them then are Reprobates commanded to beleeve a lye Answ Zanchy upon Hos 2.1 and Mr. Perkins in his Treatise of Predestination answers thus in effect Let Reprobates beleeve and they shall not find it false but true But because our act of Beleeving works no change in the Object and our beleeving makes not a thing true but it must be true before we beleeve it is not satisfactory to me Before I set down mine own apprehensions with humble submission to better Judgments I think it requisite that some things should be premised 1. I imbrace it for an

with the word of truth James 1.10 The immediate testimony is I conceive an act of the spirit by which he doth dictate and strongly suggest with a soul-ravishing inward voyce to a believing penitent humble over-coming Saint that he is the child of God his sins are forgiven or the like being compared to hidden Manna a white stone a new name Rev. 2.17 which doth exceedingly confirm Faith and it is not I suppose the portion of every good Christian but a special benefit given by God who is a most free agent before in or after sufferings for the name sake of Christ or some special service done unto him as God sees meet Sundry of our learned godly orthodox Divines do acknowledge such a testimony as Dr. Preston Mr. Bolton Mr. Elton with others and divers of the Martyrs had experience thereof as I doubt not many Christians have at this day This is part of the Comforters office 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which is taught in the Word he shal bring to remembrance John 14.26 The spirit of truth never revealeth any thing in this kind immediately for the confirmation of Faith which is not revealed in the words of truth He shall not speak of himself saith Christ he shall take of mine and shew it unto you Joh. 16.13 14. This immediate Testimony differs not from that which is mediate by the Word in the thing testified but in the manner of testifying and stablisheth the Soul by making a deeper impression filling it with joy and with the holy Ghost 3. By spiritual sense and experience There is in Gods Children not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 1.9 By reason of use they have their senses exercised Heb. 5.14 and that by divine objects 1. They are many times made very sensible of the grace mercy and love of God unto them in Christ The love of God is shed abroad in their hearts by the holy Ghost which is given unto them Rom. 5.5 The Lord doth again and again lift upon them the light of his countenance and in the light of his favour they see the light of all felicity Psal 36 9. Christ doth manifest himself unto them in the Spirit Joh. 14.21 They hear see look upon and handle the word of life 1 Joh. 1.1 They taste and see that the Lord is good 2. They have frequently and for the most part as of sin so likewise of the work of Gods grace in them sense and experience The wind of the Spirit blows into the gardens of their Souls and the spices of saving graces with a fragrant smell flow out Cant. 4.16 The Sun of Righteousness shines into the hearts of Beleevers acts upon the saving graces of his own spirit excites and stirs them up from whence a sweet scent goes out as from some costly perfumed Oyntment When Faith love joy godly sorrow for sin humility patience with other saving graces are vigourously acted it exceedingly affects the Saints who are very sensible of it The Virgins love Christ not only for the savour of the oyntment of his own Righteousness which they perceive and receive by faith but even of these good oyntments powred into them Cant. 1. The Spouse in the Canticles David Paul with others do largely express the great sense and feeling they had of the gifts of Gods Spirit in them accompanying salvation as an Argument of that fellowship which they had with Christ 3. Beleevers have an experimental knowledge of the gracious Works of Gods Providence about them which doth likewise confirm their Faith So had David 1 Sam. 17.37 So had Paul 2 Tim. 4.17 18 For though there be no marks set upon the outward acts of Gods Providence whereby they may be discerned to proceed from Gods eternal and fatherly love yet do the children of God behold them in and through the covenant of Grace as testimonies of Gods favour and feel them to be such by their gracious effects knowing by experience that chastisements and corrections for sin are for their good Psal 119.71 So that the long experience which we have of Gods grace upon us his work of grace in us the gracious works of his providence about us is a special means to strengthen our faith This for the substance is all that I have ever Taught or held forth concerning evidencing a good estate I am not for the sole witnessing of the Spirit with Enthusiasts nor of Faith alone with Solifidians nor of works in the first place with you but of al these Three in one and that in the Apostles order 1 Joh. 5. The Spirits inward effective testimony of Gods grace towards us in Christ in giving him unto us in the free simple promise with a command to beleeve begets faith faith produceth works of sanctification sanctification confirms faith Promises are so many Declarations of Gods good Will towards us and it is the spirits office to apply them I do humbly conceive That when the Spirit of Promise applyes the absolute Promise of Grace that by way of excellency is called The spirits witness otherwise I do not see how the spirits witness should be a distinct witness from water and blood If the conditional Promise made to beleeving be applied that is the witness of blood let the conditional Promise made to sanctification have its application that is the witness of water He who hath one of these three witnesses hath them all in some degree and he that wants one wants them all for all these three are brought in by Christ when he comes into our hearts in our effectual call as witnesses of his gracious presence So that a Christian can reason thus I have the spirits witness I am a beleever I am a Saint therefore Christ dwells in me and I in him This is the sum of all concerning Evidencing That act of Faith by which we beleeve that Christ and his Righteousness is given to us and we receive him is begotten by the inward testimony of the spirit in an absolute promise confirmed by works of sanctification the immediate testimony of the holy Ghost spiritual sense and experience Because I would not acknowledge your works to be good Evidences which you will needs have to appear before Gods Grace or Faith appear you are highly displeased and labour to make the Court Churches and all the world beleeve that I taught That sanctification is no good Evidence and if a man conclude a good estate from sanctification which he sees in himself he shall never be saved 4. The Fourth Errour which you charge me to have delivered is That they who hold not according to this Doctrine are Antichristians enemies to Christ and under a Covenant of Works If by this Doctrine you had meant That Doctrine which indeed I taught owned by me in my first Three Propositions you had done me wrong I did never expresly nor implicitly affirm That they who were not of my judgement about the grounds of