Selected quad for the lemma: love_n
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A41110
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A divine message to the elect soule delivered in eight sermons upon seven severall texts / by that laborious and faithfull messenger of Christ, Mr. William Fenner ...
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Fenner, William, 1600-1640.
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1647
(1647)
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Wing F685; ESTC R177004
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156,509
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316
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81 5. Obj. At what time soever a sinner repents he shall find mercy Ans It is true if he repent from the bottom of his heart but a man may have many a degree of repentance and yet never repent from the heart 81. Self-love may make a man do much 82 2. Doct. It may be this very day even this particular Sermon this instant hour may be thy day that art now in thy sinnes that if thou repent not at this very one Sermon thou neglectest eternal life for ever 82 Four Reasons of the point 1. Because Gods patience is in his own breast and who can tell how long it will last 83 Wherein Joel 2.13 is opened in five particulars 84 God usually giveth some signes of death beforehand 86 But the day of grace may end and a man never have any warning of it 86 2. Because Gods patience giveth no marks or incklings of its ending before it ends 86 3. Because God keepeth a strict account how many opportunities he hath vouchsafed 88 4. Consider it is a wonder that the day of grace is not ended already and that thou art not now in hell 90 The Contents of the Fourth Sermon upon Philip. 3.18.19 1. An explanation of the severall parts of the Text in five particulars 98 Doct. That those whose minds and thoughts run habitually on earth and earthly things their end must needs be destruction 99 6. Reasons 1. The curse of God is the desert of vain thoughts 99 2. The curse of God is the event of vain thoughts 99 3. That man whose thoughts are habitually on the things of the world can never truly repent 100 4. Because that man whose thoughts run habitually on earthly things hath no part in Jesus Christ 102 For the thoughts and affections of the heart are the feet of the soul 102 5. Because so long as a mans thoughts run habitually on the things of the world that man hath no true love of God in him 105 6. Because so long as a mans thoughts run after the world he can never depart from his sins 106 2. Uses 1. For humiliation because these vain thoughts bearing sway in the heart they make that mans end to be destruction 108 2. For the terrour of those men who suffer their hearts to be taken up with vain thoughts 111 Object But I think of God and of Christ of faith and repentance 113 Ans 1. Consider whether thy good thoughts be meerly cast into thy heart or whether they be raised by thy heart 113 A wicked man may have a thousand good thoughts and yet go to hell in the midst of them 114 2 Thou hast good thoughts but consider whether they be fleeting or abiding thoughts 116 There are two kinds of vain thoughts First vain because the matter and substance of them is vain Secondly vain for want of durance and lasting though not vain for the matter of them 116 3 Thou thinkest of God but consider whether thy thoughts be studied or accidental thoughts When a good thought commeth into a godly mans heart it leaveth a good impression behind it but when a good thought comes into a wicked mans heart it leaves no impression behind it 117 118 A godly man not only thinketh of God but he studieth how to think of God 119 4 Thou thinkest of God but consider whether thy thoughts of God be profitable or unprofitable thoughts 120 Thoughts are not free 121. Not free 1 From Gods knowledge 121 2 They are not free from Gods word 122 3 They are not free from the wrath of God 123 Three meanes in the use whereof we may rid our selves of vain thoughts 1 Love the word of God 123 2 Go unto God by prayer 124 3 Consider thou hast not so learned Christ 125 All vain thoughts arise from these three Heads 1 From the variety and abundance of the thoughts of the world 125 2 From the Fountain of corruption that is in mens hearts 126 3 From the damned malice of Satan and his temptations both within and without 126 1 Materially thoughts are vain 1 When the matter of them is vain 126 Such are the thoughts of the world calling or recreation these are evill 1 When we think of them primarily that is before we think of God 127 2 When we think of them too usually too often 129 3 When we think of them too savourly 130 4 When we think of them without counsel 131 5 When they are thought needlesly 131 2 Thoughts are vain formally when though the matter of them be never so good yet the manner of thinking them is evill 132 It is possible for a wicked man to go to hell though he perform the same things for the matter of them that a godly man doth 132 3 Thoughts are vain efficiently when the heart that thinketh upon them is earthly and vain 134 4 Thoughts are vain when the drift and end of the soul in thinking on them is vain 136 Wicked men will be thinking of God 1 To make God amends for their dishonouring of him by their wicked thoughts 137 2. To collogue with God and to flatter him 138 3. To smother and choke their own consciences 139 The Contents of the Fifth Sermon upon 1 Corinth 6.2 1. An explanation of the text together with the verses foregoing and following 144 Doctrine The Saints shall judge the world 146 Objection How shall the Saints judge the world 146 Answer 1. By their consent unto Christs judgement 146 2. By their applause of Christs judgement 147 3. By their Majesty then shall they shine as the Stars in the Firmament and the wicked shall be amazed at the sight of them 148 4. By their lives and conversations by their accepting of the Lord Jesus Christ shall judge the worlds rejecting of him 148 Four Reasons of the point 1. First because of that mysticall union that is betwixt Christ and his Saints so when Christ judgeth the world the whole body of Christ may be said to judge the world 149 2. In regard of their sufferings with Christ as they are judged by the world so they shall be judged of the world 149 3 For the greater terror to all wicked men at the day of judgement 150 4 Because the mouthes of wicked men may be stopped and that they may have no excuse for themselves 150 Use 1 For information in five particulars 1 Hence we may learn that the Saints by their now being Saints do now judge the world 151 Wherein Heb. 11.7 is cleared from an objection 2 Hence let the world learn that when any one sinner is converted there is one Judge more to sit upon them 153 3 Hence we may learn that it concernes all the world to take notice of every grace in Gods children because there is never a grace in any of the Saints but it shall make for the condemnation of them that want it 154 4 Learn hence that if the Saints then much more the world that begets them shall
the first till the last Saint that shall be upon the earth Surely the wicked shall never escape condemnation for 1. God the Father who judgeth by way of authoritie he will condemne thee all judgement cometh originally from him he that hath often commanded thee to repent and to come out of thy sinnes he shall condemne thee because thou hast not obeyed him 2. God the Sonne he will judge thee who judgeth by way of dispensation Act. 10. First Christ preacheth to thee repentance and remission of sinnes to which if thou yeeld not then know that there is a day appointed wherein he will judge thee That Saviour that thou sayest thou desirest if thou part not with thy lusts he himselfe will be thy Judge that will condemne thee 3. God the holy Ghost will judge thee that Spirit that now strives and wrestles with thee that suggests good motions into thy heart that puts thee in minde of repentance bidding thee leave and forsake thy sinnes and live holily but if thou wilt not this Spirit shall judge thee by way of conviction 4. The Word of God shall judge thee and that by way of forme it being the platforme according unto which Christ will judge the whole world Now suppose there be forty prisoners in the Gaole together one in for murther another for theft another for treason that man that knows the Law if there be equitie and justice in the Assise he I say that knows the Law knows who shall be hanged or quartered or burned or set free even so Beloved that man that looks through the Scriptures that reads this or that Chapter this or that sentence may know that or this man will to hell if he repent not Say I this of my selfe or sayes not the Scripture as much The fearfull and unbeleeving and all that love and make lies shall be cast into that lake that burneth with fire and brimstone for ever Rev. 21.8 By this text will the Lord Iesus come and judge the world and therefore as for all such as live and dye in their sinnes we may all know that they shall be all damn'd in fire brimstone for ever Hereby I know that all they that make no conscience of idle vain and earthly speeches and reproachfull words they shall give an account for them by this Text Mat. 12.56 Doth the Scripture say that all the wicked shall be turned into hell with all the Nations that forget God I know it shall be so by that text Psal 10. for all things shall be done according to the Scriptures Rom. 2.16 In that day saith the Apostle when God shall judge the secrets of menâ— hearts by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel that is just as Gods Ministers preach just as you find it written in the same Scriptures so will he judge at that day Beloved there is never a Text throughout the whole Scripture that commands you to leave and forsake your sinnes but it shall judge you if you doe not there is not one Text of Scripture that commands performance of any holy duty but it shall rise up in judgement against thee if thou performe it not Doth the Scripture say Be not drunk with wine wherein is excesse Eph. â— 18 It shall judge and condemn the drunkard that drinks excessively Doth the Scripture say Mortifie your members which are upon the earth fornication uncleannesse inordinate affectiâ—nâ— evill concupiscence and covetousnesse which is Idolatry Col. 3.5 If notwithstanding these sinnes live in thee this Text shall rise up and condemne thee to hell Doth the text say That the fathers to the children shall make known Gods truth Esa 28.9 Eph. 6.4 Parents bring up your children in the nurture and information of the Lord It shall rise up in judgement and condemne those parents that have not instructed their children to feare God Doth the tex say Thou shalt teach the word of God unto thy children and that thou shalt talâ—e of it when thou sittest in thy house and when thou goâ—st by the way when thou liest down and when thou risest up Deut. 6.7 It shall judge thee because thou makest no conscience of holy conference All these and the like Texts of Scripture shall rise up and stand in rank to condemne thee that hast not swayed thy heart and framed thy life according to the Scriptures 5. All the Ministers of God shall sit as Justices in common from the first Preacher of righteousnesse unto the last Moses shall judge thee Joshua David Esay Jeremy Hosea Daniel Paul Peter c. they shall all judge you just as Gods Ministers judge you here so will God he will take all their Sermons and clap them upon the heads of all rebellious hearers and so damn them for ever Lastly The Saints shall judge you yea all the Saints from one end of the world to the other they shall assist the just Judge of heaven earth and they shall be interpretive Judges Beloved how can the wicked escape condemnation that have so many thousands of Judges so many thousand exhortations and reproofes so many thousand admonitions and invitations so many thousand mercies proffers of Christ When God the Father Sonne and holy Ghost shall judge them when heaven and all the Angels in heaven and all the Saints on earth shall judge them and condemne them How canst thou escape Is there never a drunkard in this congregation Is there never a swearer never a prophane person never a mocker never a railer in this towne that refuseth to hearken to the word The men of Niniveh shall rise up in judgement against them and condemne them because they still live in their sinnes notwithstanding they have had not three dayes preaching nor fortie dayes space onely for repentance but many years of grace calling upon them The Queen of Sheba shall condemne many that live in these sinnes who went many hundred miles to hear the wisedome of Solomon for going and comming it was well-nigh two thousand miles but you have the word of Christ preached in your eares and saying the Kingdom of God is come among you but you will scarce step out of your dores to receive it or take any paines for it This one woman shall judge them There will be no way for the wicked to put off their judgement then the sonnes of Eli shall have none to advocate between God and them none to cloke or cover their wickednesse they shall then have no excuses for themselves for would they excuse themselves the Saints shall judge them would they send out excuses the Saints shall cut them off Would they in the first place say Alas I was ignorant I knew not how to pray or to read or to meditate on the Scriptures nor to chatechize my family I was dull and blockish to conceive such points as were taught me and if I did live in sinne it was ignorance that taught it me I was never book-learned Saith Augustine this Ignoramus that was as ignorant and as