Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	believe_v	faith_n	lord_n	3,568	5	3.9247	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B08802	Faith & experience:, or, A short narration of the holy life and death of Mary Simpson, late of Gregories Parish in the city of Norvvich: who dyed, anno 1647 in or about the thirtieth yeare of her age after 3 yeares sicknesse and upwards. Containing a confession of her faith and relation of her experience, taken from her owne mouth. To which is added a sermon preached at her funerall, upon Rom. 14. 6,7. / by John Collings.	Collinges, John, 1623-1690.; Collinges, John, 1623-1690. Life & death of a true Christian deciphered in a sermon.	1649 (1649)	Wing C5316A; ESTC R231574	44,489	160

my spirituall condition he would have troubled me with three things as he did Christ by queries First how I knew that I was a child of God And secondly how I could make out my interest in Christ whether it it was fancy or delusion or whether reall Next thirdly he would have Her strēgth against Sathan perswaded me that I laye under the guilt of some sinne that was not pardoned my answer was to the first I knew I was a child of God by his Word Works God made it out to me to the second I answered that God had assured me of an interest in Christ by a promise of the spirit bearing witnesse with abundance of of consolation that I was his spouse thy maker is thine husband c. To the third I answered God pardoned all sinnes in respect of himselfe at once I only did lye under the guilt of some sins but God came in abundantly with a promise that God acquitted me from all And so Satans objection was fully answered and I abundandly delivered Another temptation was about the time of Gods taking away my neare relation which was a sister of mine he took an advantage by the weaknesse of my body oftentimes to trouble me with many thoughts of her death and the manner of it both sleeping and waking and I was in some question about her eternall condition at first I thought it was rather some peece of Nature than any temptation but as soone as I saw it was a temptation I set my selfe to seek God against it And I had this answer from God after a few thoughts in seeking that the Lord would rebuke the devourer for my bodies sake and from this scripture that the God of Satan would bruise Satan under my feet shortly and for my sisters condition and the manner of her death God gave this word Is thy eye evill because mine is good shall I not doe with mine owne what I will aye said my soul if she were his I could be the better perswaded to give her up to God then God told me he lookt not as man lookt but if there were any work of God he would owne his owne work but however he caused me to leave her Her stooping to Gods soveraignty to his prerogative royall who judgeth righteous Iudgement I saw a necessity of frequenting the best meanes once in speciall I saw abundance from God to Her care to honour her Parents in what she might with security to her conscience incourage me in that way my Father and Mother commanded me to goe one way to hear and I was put upon it to goe another way for which they were very fierce and violent the Lord was pleased to put me upon it to inquire what I should doe in this particular and while I was thinking the fifth commandement came into my thoughts honour your Father and Mother c. Then I began to Thinke what honour was due to them being desirous to give them that honour that I was commanded if they commanded with God I was ready and willing to obey them with cherefulnesse but seeing they commanded contrary to God I saw the command of God greater than their command and I went to the word and God met me there in such a way that he gave me incouragement to goe through opposition and difficulty in time to come whatever I should meet withall though they were stripes I was willing to give my back to the smiters rather than to give up my conscience to be racked the opposition of the creature is not much when Gods makes it easy This other experiences I have had of Gods power and goodnesse in a way Her resolutenesse for God where I met with opposition So that its good to be resolute for God though you may lose some favour with the creature yet yee shall be double gayners if you may injoy the favour of God the light of his countenance is better than life The next thing I saw was that there was a faith which was according to sight like that of Thomas He beleeved because he saw and another faith beyond sight which was to beleeve upon the sight of the actings of grace plentifully upon my soule When God withdrew the sence of his love so that I did not injoy the dayly incomes of Gods love I was constrained to live upon the immutability Strong Faith and unchangablenesse of God Notwitwstanding the great mercy and favour of God formerly convayed I was constrained with David to cry out Restore A desertion to me the joy of thy salvation and then I apprehended that Christ was absent at which time I lived solitary and in the Darke I lookt Her carriage in it upon Christ as a husband but yet as a husband going a Journey and hid behind a curtaine so that my soule was as the spouse restlesse in looking out to inquire after him but in time he sent many love letters to me which were these To you that feare my name shall the Sunne of righteousnesse arise with healing in his wings Though I did not feare him perfectly and as I ought yet I had some desires to serve him in truth And another was Hee that shall come will come and will not stay yet sometime by reason of his absence I wondred what my temper was and said what is God about to teach me oh that I knew his mind and I would doe it oh that I knew what my present condition were and in time God graciously came in with this scripture and perswaded me with Gal. 2. 20. Paul that the life I now lived was by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himselfe 2 Cor. 13. for me And that his grace was sufficient Her recovery out of her desertion for me and at last I saw him behind the curtaines I saw him but could not injoy him at last I found him whom my soule loved God hath not set me a president in respect of my bodily affliction but he hath caused me not to repine against him if he make me a president to others so I may be serviceable and be made instrumentall for the good of any poore soule my soule is satisfied Her sweet Gospell-spirit in her sad Affliction and I am abundantly willing to submit so God may be glorified and any poore soule edified it is satisfaction enough to me so I may be an instrument in Gods hand for any spirituall good The paths of God are pleasant paths I could wish it were more and more my meat and drink to doe the will of my father I feare more that too much impatience should break forth for an earnest desire for heaven than any thing for I found some deceit in my heart in that particular break out once And I have cause to feare there is more of the fire if the Lord doe not quench it I being once in my owne apprehension and in the sight

Decemb. 2. 1648. I Have perused the precedent Discourse of the Life and Death of a vertuous and godly Christian entitled Faith and Experience and a Pious and profitable Sermon preached at the solemnizing of her Funerall and approve them both very worthy the Printing and Publishing Iohn Downame FAITH EXPERIENCE OR A short Narration of the holy Life and Death of Mary Simpson late of Gregories Parish in the City of NORVVICH Who dyed Anno 1647. In or about the thirtieth yeare of her age after 3 yeares sicknesse and upwards CONTAINING A Confession of her Faith and Relation of her Experience taken from her owne mouth To which is added A Sermon preached at her Funerall upon Rom. 14. 6 7. By John Collings M. A. Phil. 1. 23. For I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better Ver. 21. For to me to live is Christ and to dye is gaine LONDON Printed for Richard Tomlins and are to be sold at his house at the Signe of the Sun and Bible in Pye-corner 1649. To the Glory of her Sex AND Excellency of her AGE The truly Noble and Vertuous Gentlewoman Mrs Philip Hobart daughter to Sir John Hobart Knight and Baronet late of NORFFOLKE Noblest Lady IF it were nothing but the daily Engagement I stand in to that root of which you are a branch and to your selfe as a Member of this Family It were enough I trust to claime a pardon for this Dedication and I might rather seeme to deserve a check for my so long negligence than my present presumption But the sutablenesse of the subject in these sheets is such that I dare be confident you will be pleased not only to patronize but also practise it in what you see it yet leading you further to perfection It holds out unto you a precious Example of one that began so soone to live to God that she is already living with him Lady It is a record of the life and death of one not unknown in her latter dayes unto you one far below you in respect of birth and greatnesse while she was here but infinitely more above you now And of one who I dare say thirsted not so much afrer your greatnesse then as you doe after her grace and glory now What vanities are the excelling things of this life They have a scantnesse in their fulnesse a glut in their enjoyment and a short time to live The greatest riches is in the truest poverty and to be nothing is to be most I am confident Noblest Lady that you have in some measure learned not to call the Proud Blessed nor think that true happinesse consists in worldly greatnesse It were sweet if we could learne to eye the creatures as God eyes them and judge them greatest that are most gracious How the world valued this deceased Saint I know not Sure I am it was done unto her as God useth to do to them whom he delighteth to honour Why should not we look as God looketh and not judge the Peacocke better meat than the Partridge because he hath gayer feathers Read here Noble Lady the love Christ beares to his Lambs and learne from hence what it is to seeke the Lord early How many of Gods precious ones attaine not so much peace in threescore as she had in thirty yeares We use to say more worke is done in two houres in the morning than in the rest of the day She set out early to seek him and she quickly found him whom her soule loved She quickly redeemed her lost time because she had not lost much A young Saint and an old Devill is Satans slander of the way of the Lord which the Wise man saith is strength to the upright Learne hence also Noblest Lady the benefit which you will in time reap from your begun practice of seeking the Lord in secret How often did this removed Saint meet with God when she was alone in the Mount God speaks his mind more freely to us and so we may also do to him when he and we are alone Let those whose God is their pleasure or belly spend the time in painting and dressing which you are better spending in seeking the face of him who will be found of them that seek him You will find your face will shine more than theirs and what but this hath made it already to doe it I cannot but thankfully admire the goodnesse of God which hath already so taken off your Infant-yeares from the Vanities of youth and I trust fully perswaded you of the truth of that which the world cals Heresie That those are most excellent who are most holy The follies of dresses and paints and dances are so far under Religion that they are below a spirit that is but truly Noble And I rejoyce to say it below yours Lady we are not sent hither to eat and drinke and rise up to play we needed not a rationall soule for such sensuall emploiments You will yea I dare say you have found more sweetnesse in an houre spent with God than in many spent in such company as doe no good and such discourses as administer no grace to the hearers Pursue Interests and designes as Noble as your spirit is remember alwayes that it is a designe too base for a divine soule to pursue Creature-Contentments Why should we court the world that is made for our servant and wait upon a vanity that will Weary us to serve it but never satisfie the expectation of them that pursue it Goe on Rarest Jewell to make Religion your businesse and above all be much in seeking God You have the key of Heaven if you have but the gift and grace of praying Let it be your designe now as much to excell the Saints as it hath been hitherto to excell the companions of your age pursue it as your worke to get as much love from Christ as you have honour from the witnesses of your accomplishments Let not your ambition rest in indearing your selfe to creatures but as you are already the crowne of your noble Parents and the honour of those that labour for your soule so still goe on and rest not till you be a jewell set in Christs diademe As you have been a Noble Example to this Family in teaching them it is no dishonour to learne the Principles of Religion by which as I dare say your humilitie hath excelled the most of your Equals if not in age yet in greatnesse who too usually can be content to be ignorant so no body knowes it So you have also discovered more perfection of Knowledge at thirteen than the most can boast of at threescore So now haste on to perfection and labour to excell as gloriously in a strict walking with God Remember Noblest Lady those that walke nearest the Sun have most light and heate Perfect the joy of your Noble surviving Parent And to this end Let me humbly crave that you would continue to

refreshments A Gospell-spirit of his spirit to carry me on in a way of obedience to his gracious and holy Law and Commands and then though I had matter enough within my selfe to condemne my self by reason that grace which in me was weak my flesh being full of all imperfections yet I knew all was made up in Christs perfection I made use of the Law for a rule to walk by not expecting Her opinion of the Law and of those that reject it to fullfill it So that the law must have Dominion over a man for a rule as long as he liveth who so casts the Law of God behind his back surely hath not partaken so far as I can conjecture of the saving grace of God and this I saw that Christ came not to destroy the law but to fullfill it Christ is the end of the law to every one that beleeveth we are not to throw it by as of no use but in what we fall short to make use of him that is of Christ to make it up the more I made use of the Law the more I saw that it was holy just and good For wee should not walke as doe others as men without a rule there is infinite cause that we should look to our Lords Commandement as Christ kept the Commands when hee was upon earth so doubtlesse he would have his people keep them when we have such a blessed Mediator to stand up in the gap if in any thing the Christians engagement to keep the Law law condemns us he steps in and undertakes for us he gave full satisfaction for the condemning power of it but hath left the practical part of it for us to make use of I was troubled with in my self if at any time I thought any thought A watchfull and zealous frame of Spirit or did any deed contrary to the command of God yea how hath my Soule been grieved because other men kept not the law of God I found the actings of God in me and toward me I prayed in another manner then before that Her sense of God when I askt any thing for my selfe or others agreeable to Gods will especially in straights I found a holy boldnesse and confidence that God would answer and he did answer abundantly beyond what I can expresse not because of my request but because Iesus Christ Her experience of Gods hearing her prayer and her right construction and use of it interceded he took my broken and imperfect requests shattered expressions and presented them blamelesse before God not because I prayed but because he delighted to shew mercy and so ingaged and incouraged me to wait upon him in his service My soule can testify I have had as much from God in the way of that ordinance as any I have been filled as full of consolation by God in that ordinance A rare experience as my soule could possibly attaine unto I never wanted any thing for my selfe or others but I went to God for there was none greater in heaven or earth I could resort unto I find him to be a fountaine never drawne dry oh that none would goe to the Cisterne when there is so much in the Fountain To looke at Cisternes The use of Cisternes as they are in themselves they are nothing but they may be made use of to Gods glory when used by God and lookt at through God the Fountaine whatever is done by the creature God doth but by a secondary meanes So that it is in and from the Lord that we have all that we injoy and when God brought me to the bed of affliction then he was pleased to make a report a new of all that he had done for my soule which made my heart to burne within me in love to God and Sweet apprehensions with desire to make known to others how good the Lord was to my soule all his dealings with mee to soule and body I apprehend are in much love so that the place I found experimentally true Rom. 8. 28. Gods gracious Rom. 8. 28. dispensation in fitting me for affliction was exceeding great so that I may say with Job that nothing came upon me but the thing I feared God was pleased to tell mee what he was about to doe and that in a way of answer to prayer I could conclude as confidently that affliction should come as if it had been upon me already and God gave me a strong resolution to abide his pleasure whatever it was And after some time of prayer he gave a promise sutable to the condition he was about to bring upon me the promise was happy is the man whom thou correctest c. And he hath taught me four things necessary Four things sutable to an afflicted condition and sutable to every afflicted condition whatever The first is to eye the hand of God in the affliction for the seeing the hand of God made mee silent in his presence and made me willing to submit to him The second thing was that he shewed me his face and presence which is better than life Thirdly He brought off my will to submit to him as to a father from many speciall places of divine writ Fourthly He made me more than in an ordinary way to Gods gracious dealing with her in relation to Affliction 4 Ends of Affliction apprehended by her drawe nigh to God to know why hee did contend with mee one end was for sin sin hath a being though not a reigning power in me for which cause I have cause to lay low A second end was for exercise of faith and patience and other graces A third end was that I might have liberty to take occasion to make a report to others what God hath done for my soule that by this meanes I might bring some honour to God A fourth end was that I might be set upon that evangelicall worke of setting forth the high prayses of God which work though I could do it to the utmost here yet it s nothing to what shall be in heaven And therefore I desire to blesse God that there is an eternity to praise him in In my affliction God hath verified many places of Scriptures which I see to be experimentally true that I did not see before so that I am constrained to say oft and againe What am I and what is my fathers house that the Lord should bring me hitherto and with David Lord what is man that thou art mindfull of him or the sonne of man that thou shouldest visit him Another Mercy in judgment thing I have observed in my affliction that God hath wonderfully chayned up Satan in this affliction He was never let loose upon me but twice in all my affliction he came forth often like a lion but in a chaine roaring for his prey but God stopt his mouth that he could get no dominion over me Those two times he was let loose The first time was about

habit will not live from her when she dyes to the world she hath drest her head and then is more lovely in his Eye but by that time the day of judgment comes she wil be wholy and compleatly drest to come out to Dinner and everlasting banquetting in the chambers of love with the King of Glory Lastly When he dyes he is the Lords by neare Relation this is an undoubted consequence of the other but yet a little more Death breaks all Relations but the Relation that is betwixt God the beleeving soule and its knife is not sharp enough to cut this asunder see this but in two instances 1 Josh 2. God sayes Moses my servant is dead Dead yet my servant we cannot say such a one my servant is dead or if we doe say so it is but an improper phrase of speach for if he be dead he is not my servant he does me no worke he takes none of my wages We can say such a one that was my servant is dead but if the person be dead the cord of our Relation is broken Job speaking of death Job 3. sayes There the servant is free from his Master But God sayes Moses my servant is dead though he be dead yet he is my servant And we may say concerning any holy man or woman concerning this remarkable Saint such a one Gods deare Servant is dead Dead yet Gods servant she hath changed her room and work yea and her wages too but not her Master she is but taken to be his chambermaid in glory from being his Kitchin-maid in the world her work was before below staires now it is above Take but one instance more it is Joh. 11. 11. Christ sayes Our friend Lazarus sleeps he sleeps yet he is Our friend O sweet we say when such a one dyes we have lost a deare friend But God loseth not his relation by his Saints death he is our friend then more than ever and so are we his And thus I have gone through the severall branches of the Doctrine And now what a sweet doctrine were here for application if I had any time but I must but hint at things and lay the letters and leave them to God to stampe upon your hearts I will apply it or rather shew you how you may apply it by way of Instruction Reprehension Exhortation and consolation First of all by way of Instruction Use 1 and so it might be very profitable 1. To shew you the infinite love of God to poor dust and ashes That he will be pleased to owne us in life and death to come and dwell in houses made of clay nay not in all the houses of clay neither some he will not bestow the paines to make them cleane and tenantable for himselfe some great famous built houses built of free stoned Nobility Gentry learning and honour adorned with parts and esteem in the world he leaves to be an habitation for Owles and Ostriches and comes and dwels in the poor Cottages of his Elect ones The poore of this world hath God chosen God loves the house well in which he will dwell you only have I knowne above all the Nations of the Earth c. O mercy that God should say to one that it may be hath not a rag to cover him with nor a place where to lay downe his head Here is the soule in which I have chose to dwell to pitch my name there who are we that Our Lord should come to us we have not a room either in head or heart fit for to entertaine him If he will come he must bring his stoole to sit down on and be welcomed with his own meat and yet he will come and be a father an husband a friend and call us his servants his children his spouse yea his members Think O think what honour it is to be allied to the family of Heaven yea incorporated in it It is a big word amongst men when they can say my Cosen of Essex or Norfolk c. to be allied to Earles Dukes c. We think we mightily speak our honour when he can speake it is it not a far greater when we can say My brother of heaven nay my Father my Lord my husband c Such honour have all his Saints Secondly It might instruct us Inst 2 of the happinesse of beleevers both in life and death we are the Lords possession there is no feare of a bad Landlord Are we his purchase his redeemed ones no feare of any slavery then his yoke is easy his burthen is light his service a perfect freedome Is he our Father our Master our Husband our friend we have then one that is able to help us willing to succour us ready to pitty us a kind father a loving husband a carefull master The Lord is our Shepheard what can we want Surely nothing that All-sufficiency can help us to We are the Lords in our life Nor is our portion in this life Whether we live or dye we are the Lords we are yet his friends his servants Jos 1. 2. Joh. 11. 11. We are yet his temple in which he doth more manifest his glory than in our tabernacle while it comes to be dissolved we are yet his purchased possession Eph. 1. 16. Dying loseth us not that friend O happy truly happy and Blessed are they that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours It was a lesson that John was commanded to write do you remember it It was written for your Instruction and comfort Whether ye live or die ye are the Lords Thirdly this may Instruct us Instit 3 that there are but a very few that are true beleevers that in death shall be the Lords No more then those that live to the Lord and dye to the Lord. And ah how few those are 1. What shall become of all prophane wretches all drunkards swearers adulterers all those rabbles of wretches Rev. 20. v. 8. Eph. 5. 5. 1 Cor. 6. 8 10. that in stead of living to the Lord live to the Devill to their base lusts and corruptions and all their study is how to obey the flesh in the lusts of it Ah Lord what will become of these poor wretches when they dye when you shall cry out Animula quo vadis poore soule whither goest thou It was a dreadfull passage I lately heard to have been the dying breath of such an one Now goes my prore soule to pay all its debts 2. What shall become of all those that live to the world and make their gain the End of their life whose whole life sounds nothing else But what shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we put on What will you gaine friends when to gaine the world you shall weep over your lost poore soules how will you ransome your selves from the pit And so for any other that make any thing below God the End of their lives And ah where shall we find a man concerning