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	work_n	6,340	5	6.3714	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89274	Mercies for man. Prepared in, and by Christ, even for such as neither know them, nor him. Discovered, that they might know, and enjoy them. Or a discourse of the interest there is for all men in, and by Christ in the end, and usefulmesse of the beleevers peculiar priviledges and service. In which is also some information about that service to which the grace of God, that bringeth salvation to all men, instructeth, and obligeth the beleever for the good of them all, according to capacity, and opportunity given him. Likewise some directions for, and concerning Christian magistrates. In the opening some instructions arising from the Apostles exhortation to Timothy, 1 Tim. 2.1, 2. Delivered in November 1653. at the Munday meetings at Black-Friers: and because what then was spoken, met with some publick opposition, this is now published for further satisfaction. Written by Thomas Moor, Junior.	Moore, Thomas, Junior.	1654 (1654)	Wing M2605; Thomason E744_1; ESTC R207022	135,708	156

me shall come to me even such as now will not come to him that they might have life though graciously drawn by the Father as vers 35 36. Them will he bring to be slain for ever before his face because they would not that he should reign over them who is their lawfull Lord and unto whom they were all given that through him they might have been saved But then it follows as another part of the Fathers will concerning him That whosoever seeth the Son and believeth in him or as v. 37. he that cometh to him speaking in the present tense for as the same verse saith All shall come either here or hereafter but he that now in this day of Gods grace and patience cometh in the Fathers drawings which answers the Fathers giving to Christ Joh. 17. 2. or at least is that in which they are made capable subjects of such giving It is the will of the Father concerning Christ that he should give unto such eternal life For God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son the Saviour of it 1 Joh. 4. 14. That whosoever of the world so loved by him and to whom love is so testified in and through the Son doth through this grace beleeve in him implying that all so loved by him do not so answer his love again that they should not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3. 16. And this is the reason that such prayers for the peculiar blessings of eternal life to be conferred on persons are only to be prayed for for those on the behalf of whom there is also such peculiar matter of Thanksgivings to be made And such and of like nature are those Thanksgivings to be joyned with prayers of the first sort as already mentioned and is to be seen in the Scriptures quoted and although in them there be many things acknowledged and commemorated to Gods glory and for our encouragement to pray those prayers unto him which are peculiar priviledges of the Saints for whom such further things are directly desired as they only are capable of yet for as much as those peculiar mercies acknowledged as well as those desired are in respect of their end and tendency for the good of all men as we see in that example of our Saviour Joh. 17. 18 21 23. and those of like nature Psal 4. 1 2. c. 56. 9-13 116. 16-18 even these Thanksgivings also in a like sense as the prayers of this sort forementioned may be truly said to be made for all men According to that of our Saviour Joh. 11. 41 42. Father I thanke thee that thou hast heard me And I know that thou hearest me alwayes but because of the people that stand by I said it That they may believe that thou hast sent me Therefore his praise is of him in the great Congregation because of Gods furnishing and upholding and hearing him for their good Psal 22. 22 25. And for this cause he will confesse to him among the Gentiles and sing unto his name Again he saith Rejoyce yee Gentiles with his people and laud him all ye Nations Rom. 15. 8 9 10. there also is further to be considered That the bottome matter of all Thanksgivings the foundation and root of all those things for which thanks is to be given to the Father by Jesus Christ That from which all the other springs is nothing else but that which is true in Christ for all men namely Gods so loving the world as not to spare his only begotten Son But to deliver him to death for us all That he by the grace of God should taste of death for every man and give himselfe a ransome for All A Testimony in due time This being true and cordially done and the ends and vertues of this with the Father is the only cause and reason That with him in and through him he gives all things pertaining to life and godlinesse Rom. 8. 32. with 2 Pet. 1. 1 3. So as whosoever believeth in him and so receiveth and closeth with him in the knowledge and faith of what he hath done and is become for all men and the love of God in him to Man-ward doth therein receive and is made capable of further receiving that eternall life in him by faith of it in him for them and with him to be given them and so in a first fruits of spirituall enjoyment Joh. 3. 16. and 1. 12. 1 Joh. 5. 11 12. Rom. 5. 6-11 Therefore this is made the bottome matter of all the Thanksgiving and acknowledgement as being the foundation root and cause of all the rest Col. 1. 14. In whom we have redemption through his bloud even the forgivenesse of sins So Eph. 1. 7. Psal 130. yea this the bottome of the rejoycing song to Eternity Thou wast slain and out of the bowels and vertues of this and of the love of God to Man-ward and that was so to us even when we were dead in sins and trespasses through Christ Jesus it issued And in the discoveries and presentation of this was effected That they were redeemed from among men c. Rev. 5. 9. with 1 Pet. 1. 18. Eph. 2. 4 5 8. Joh. 3. 16. Tit. 3. 4 5. And for this namely That done and perfect in Christ and that cordially to this end That the other might be done in them as 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. 21. And the furniture and faithfulnesse of Christ in the name of the Father for being a testimony to men in due time affording means and therein inlightning reproving teaching according to mens needs and capacity for the bringing them back to God All men have cause to praise the Lord for his goodnesse and for his wonderfull works to the children of men And if they will not yet let the Redeemed of the Lord whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy do it for themselves and them Psal 107. 1 2 8 15 16. c. For he hath broken the Gates of brasse in peeces and cut the Bars of Iron asunder slaine the enmity in himselfe that was between God and mankind that he might reconcile man to God Eph. 2. 16. So that There is great Thanksgiving to be made directly for all men to the glory and praise of God and the incouragement of his people to pray in faith for those good things in their behalf and for the good of them and for good things to be directly bestowed on them according to their needs and capacities that may tend to the furtherance of the great Designe of God for the good of all men And that not onely for the great love of God in the gift of his Son and the redemption wrought in him for them But also for all those mercies and accommodations of the naturall life means leading to repentance and forbearance hitherto extended and his good Spirit accompanying the same inlightning reproving c. And all to bring men to God That they might seek him and live as

shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven Phil. 2. Mat. 5. 13. 15. Dearly beloved saith Peter 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul having your conversation honest seasoned with gravity and sincerity single and chaste to God and your main design to glorifie him amongst others and for their good that the Gentiles in the day of their visitation may glorifie God who when the instructions and reproofs of the Gospel begin to light on their hearts will presently turn their eyes upon you supposing if there be indeed truth in this Gospel and in the instructions thereof leading them so to worship God If there be such preciousnesse in Christ such sweetnesse and satisfaction in the love of God to Man-ward therein discovered that then those that do indeed know it and have tasted the graciousnesse of the Lord as you have professed among them must needs be men in their conversation full of honesty walking in all good conscience towards God and men not loving the world nor the things thereof not easily provoked by any injuries of any sort extending onely to themselves but willingly rather suffering wrong not high-minded self-willed or conformed to this world in the customes wayes or fashions of it according to their former lusts in their ignorance And if accordingly they behold your light herein shining your lamps burning and you as strangers travellers and as men ready waiting for the appearing of your Lord this will be a great and effectuall means to lead them to glorifie God and acknowledge As we have heard so we have seen in the house of our God they wil then beleeve his word and the instructions thereof to be good and true whereas on the other hand if they behold the contrary in you it will be an occasion of stumble to them and lead them to blaspheme the holy name called upon by you Oh therefore ly down and deny your selves in this and be willing to take up your crosse daily that you may follow him in pursuance of his Design for the good of all men And to provoke and constrain you hereto Consider these Motives 1 You are debtors to all men Greeks Barbarians wise unwise bond and free And that upon this account you have been acquainted with that grace of God that brings salvation to all men Rom. 1. 15. Tit. 2. 10 11. It s that grace that you have received for to such I speak and in the receiving which you have been saved who were sometimes such as the worstamongst whom you live but that grace that is in God towards them in its appearing to you hath saved you And therein you have received that word of Reconciliation in some distinct understanding of it and fitnesse to hold it forth according to which your selves have been reconciled to God that holds forth matter of concernment to every one of them that one dyed for all and rose again And that this was not onely sufficient but effectuall with the Father in the publick Person as if all had dyed And that all this was so effectuall with the Father for them and cordially that it might be effectuall in them that they which live every man in his proper age should not henceforth after this grace is manif●sted to him live to himself but to him that dyed for them and rose again that in that Death and Resurrection of Christ God was in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe and now by his Ambassadors doth on that ground perswade them to be reconciled in themselves by Christ whom he hath sent to blesse them in turning every one of them from all their iniquities Tit. 3. 3 4. 2 Cor. 5. 14 15-21 Act. 3. 26. such is the word of Reconciliation he hath put in you Tidings of great joy to all people Luke 2. 10 14. you are herein according to your measure made Stewards of the manifold grace of God Moreover it is required of Stewards that a man be found faithfull 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. 1 Cor. 4. 1 2. Do not you therefore with-hold good from them to whom it is due or put your light under a bushel that was given you to shew light to all the house 2 Yea let the love of Christ and so of God in Christ to all men be herewith considered as effectually witnessed in that he hath done for them and doth to them according as declared in this Gospel committed to your trust and it will constrain you True it is it doth not constrain or lead to such love or service of love but upon principles of certainty and truth it leads not to run at an uncertain or to fight as those that beat the Air nor are there other principles of certainty and truth but these and their companions upon which it so perswades that is to say The love of Christ doth not constrain or lead any man to preach the Gospel to or perswade any other man to be reconciled to God for whom the testimony of it doth not assure him upon principles of certainty and truth That Christ dyed and rose for him and that so effectually with the Father and cordially in respect of its tendency towards him as foreshewed It s true many do preach and exhort and fight very much that do not thus judge but on what account or the love of what leads them to it we examine not doubtlesse some one thing some another But let this love which you have seen and believed to be in God towards all men in sending his Son the Saviour of the world be considered by you and from these principles of truth received in your judgement it will constrain or hemn you in to this service by filling you with the same love and zeal for their good that will not be letted or hindred by any thing seeing also your understanding from the same principles is furnished with knowledge of the greatnesse of the terror of the Lord against those which turn such grace into wantonnesse tread under foot such precious bloud denying him that bought them bring on themselves destruction which terror you could not otherwise have rightly read but in that face of Christ For who knoweth the power of his Anger surely none But here we have a rule given us according to which you may have some discerning of the nature and greatnesse of it according to thy fear or worship that name and grace of thine declared in and through thy Son according to which thou mightest have been feared or worshipped by those men to their everlasting health and comfort such is and will be thy wrath against all ungodly men that turn thy grace into wantonesse Psal 90. 11. Therefore in the beliefe of the exceeding greatnesse of his love to Man-ward you have a view of the greatnesse of his Terror against all such ungodly ones as turn it into wantonnesse and therefore while

doth spare any time in this naturall life such vessels of wrath as are wholly fitted and given over to destruction though sometimes some he may for wise and holy ends as Rom. 9. 22. yet it is generally true The forbearance of the Lord is salvation and it is better to be A living Dog than a dead Lion Secondly The beginnings or first comings forth of his judgements of that nature have alwayes a merciful tendency to warne and admonish to jealousie of themselves and turning to him that so the full coming forth of them may be prevented Hos 5. 15. Amos 4. 12. Rom. 11. 11. And further to instruct us to this see the frame of spirit found in those holy men of God that well knew his mind when God bad Moses let him alone that his wrath might waxe hot against that people to consume them yet he besought the Lord again for them and the Lord was intreated of him and repented of the evill he thought to do unto them Exod. 32. 9 10 11 14. So in those instances in Jeremy after he was forbidden to pray for the people Chap. 7. 16. yet see how he makes supplication for them Chap. 10. 23 24. yea after he is forbidden again Chap. 11. 14. yet see with what earnestnesse and affection he makes his prayer again for them Chap. 14. 7 8 9. yea God himselfe after he had forbidden him the third time Chap. 14. 11. yet instructs him to teach them to humble themselves before him and acknowledge their iniquity and turne to the Lord in the latter end of that Chapter with whom they might finde mercy and healing of their backslidings in turning according to the movings and leadings of his grace as Chap. 3. 12. 14. 22. Though persisting in their stubbornnesse his minde could not be turned towards them Chap. 15. 1 2. Prayers then are to be made for all men in a time when God may be found as is shewed We come secondly to consider by whom they are to be made this is not expresly answered or spoken to in this verse but in verse 8. it is which gives us occasion here to consider it And it is there answered in an indefinite and generall terme That men pray every where And that may be understood First either with relation to the foregoing verse for the understanding the word Men There Paul tells us he was appointed a Herauld or Cryer a Teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity and here he wills therefore that men every where pray c. And so by men we may understand all men every where even among the Gentiles to whom he was sent as Act. 17. 30. God now by his Gospel commandeth all men every where to repent Yea to seek the Lord verse 27. So here Paul proclaims liberty and therefore also admonisheth and calls upon them all and every where to make prayers to God by Jesus Christ to seek him while he may be found and call upon him while he is neer as Isa 55. 6. That so they receive not this grace of God in sending the Gospel among them in vain as 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. Or secondly it may be understood with relation to the following verses for understanding the word Men. In those following verses 9 10. He addes this exhortation to the women also that they demean themselves as women professing godlinesse and not onely amongst or towards all men but also in the Church or Generall Assemblies of Beleevers of which he signifies they were whom he so requireth or exhorteth Understand men in the 8. verse equivalently and as opposed to women verse 9. And then it is all men indefinitly and generally unto whom these instructions and exhortations were primely and especially dedicated to prepare instruct and furnish them to seek the good of others that is men professing godlinesse the whole Church the Assemblies or Fellowships of Beleevers they all and every one of them men and women are to joyn together in both Prayers and Prophesyings for the good of all But in the publick Assemblies of them together in one place that men only speak as the mouth of the whole in presenting Supplications Prayers Intercessions and Thanksgivings for all men as well as in crying or proclaiming Gospel to them or teaching them in such general Assemblies verse 10 11. with 1 Cor. 14. 34 35. yet women also are to be teachers of good things to others especially the aged women and that as their greatest ornament Tit. 2. 3 4. yea they may and it s commendable in them not onely joyne with men but be fellow-helpers and labourers with them in the Gospel in both instructing and helping forward with their prayers for the good of all men and that with and among even in some private Societies and meetings of their brethren though not every where as may be seen in comparing Phil. 4. 3. with Act. 1. 13 14. However then they are of the number by whom Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks are to be made for all men though not by them as the mouth of the rest in every place not in such general or publick Assemblies where the Church or whole Congregation is met together in any one place yet they with the rest as before and so all Beleevers not Timothy or some prime ones amongst them only but all indefinitely and together yea one and other of them that have knowne and beleeved the great love of God in Christ to manward are especially required and called upon to pray for others even for all men and according to this two-fold reading of vers 8. this we shal finde plentifully in other Scriptures That all men every where and in all Ages have an effectual doore opened for their liberty or allowance afforded them and are exhorted and called upon to seek and pray unto God and that more especially now since the full coming forth of the Gospel in the name of Christ but that it is especially required and expected of Beleevers who only are and are therefore furnished with knowledge and tasts of his graciousnesse to manward the love of Christ instructing and constraining them to make their prayers unto God in the name of Christ for others also even for all men To the first part of this Proposition see Act. 17. 27 with Isa 55. 1-4-6 7. God furnishes with all the mercies of this natural life that men in and by them might be led to seek him c. and by his Gospel more strongly obligeth and calleth them with the Declaration of his Sonne by whom the way is made for them and who is given for a witnesse to the people to seek the Lord while he may be found to call upon him while he is near even such as are walking in their wicked wayes harbouring their unrighteous thoughts labouring for that which is not Bread are there graciously invited and admonished thereto upon such good ground so equivalent to this that men pray every where without wrath

tendencie are for all men Of this nature is that prayer of our Saviour Joh. 17. 9. he saith He doth not pray for the world that is directly and in the first place in these Petitions or for these Blessings to be conferred on them they being not capable subjects of them But for them that the Father had given him through the prevalency of the heavenly Call out of the world not that they might be taken out of the world but still a seed or generation of them preserved in the world and therein kept from the evill of it verse 15. And that they might be sanctified through the truth to peculiar service of him in the world as he had sent them into the world even as the Father sent him in respect of his Ministration to be the light of the world verse 17 18. with Joh. 9. 5 Mat. 5. 14. And this not onely for the first Apostles but also for all those that should after believe through their word that they may be one with him and his Father in their Design love and endeavour for the good of the world All this saith he vers 21. 23. he prayes for for them That the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them namely all such as through grace receive this word as thou hast loved me so that all these prayers in respect of their end and tendency were for all men And with this agrees Psal 67. God be mercifull to us and blesse us and cause the light of thy countenance to shine upon us That thy way may be known upon earth and thy saving health among all Nations The first verse we may take either as a prayer especially and more peculiarly for all the Israel of God but then for all of them not onely of the Jewes but of the Gentiles also even all such as in his calling are perswaded to come to him to receive him according to the manifestations afforded them to know the grace of God in truth in every Nation for such there are even children of the Kingdome as good seed sown all over the world And then compared with the next verse it instructs that peculiar and special particular blessings as before protections in and preservations from the evill of the world sanctification and furniture through his truth according to the manifestations given them the light of his countenance shining upon them in more abundant opening his glorious grace as appearing in or through his Son unto them And in and with all this his mercifull pardoning and passing by their iniquities that otherwise might keep these good things from them they being of a higher nature and deeper dye than other mens sinner That these things are to be desired and prayed for onely for the Israel of God to be directly conferred upon them according to their needs and capacities But to this end these prayers are to be prayed for them that in Gods gracious answering and so by them as they are by Gods providence sent to or scattered among all Nations His way may be known upon earth and his saving health among all Nations to the end that all men even all the people may praise him Or Secondly we may take the first verse as a Prayer generally for all Israel after the flesh for the whole Nation as a Nation to whom God had made known his Word his Statutes and Judgements as he had not done to other Nations and upon whom his Name was called that by them it might be proclamed and known to other Nations a Prayer for such peculiar National blessings protections and Salvations among other Nations and more abundant manifesting himselfe amongst them as a people called by his Name but then in such a sense it was a prayer peculiarly and only for that Nation so Numb 6. 23 24 c. The blessing where-with the whole House of Israel was to be blessed and so compared with the next verse it instructs us That peculiar or special general or National blessings such as by which among other Nations they may be known as a People whom God hath respect unto for his Name-sake are to be prayed for for such Nations as upon which the name of God in Christ is called that have his Word Ordinances and hold the profession and acknowledgement of him though too generally not in truth nor in righteousnesse and so to be more abundantly and especially desired for upon such as on whom his Name is more abundantly or more rightly called but to this end they are so to be prayed for and blessed in his Name that so by means of or through them His way may be known upon earth and his saving health among all Nations to the end that al the people may praise him And such is that prayer of Solomon 1 King 8. 59 60. which is much of the end and summe of all the former Petitions that he may maintaine the cause of his Servant and of his people Israel at all times That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God and there is none else which is that which being known by all or any of the ends of the earth wil move them to look to him and be saved Isa 45. 22. so that even these prayers for peculiar Nationall blessings though directly only for those Nations on whom his name is called as wel as also those fore-mentioned prayers for peculiar particular and personal blessings though directly only for the Saints and Servants of God in the world yet and upon a like account the one and the other are prayers made for all men for as much as one maine and last end of the things desired and of the desiring of them is for the good of all men even for their best good Of this nature are those prayers for all Saints exhorted to Eph. 6. 18 19. Praying alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints and for me that utterance may be given me to what end that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mysterie of the Gospel which is equivalent with this 1 Tim. 2. 7 8. Paul being appointed and furnished a Herauld or Cryer of this Message to the Gentiles he wils therefore that men pray every where namely that he and others with and after him may be ever furnished to preserved and blessed in this service for the good of all those Gentiles amongst whom they are sent And that this is the first sort of Prayers and first sense in which prayers are to bee made for all men that is meant in this text also appears by the scope of the text as fore-considered 2 Those prayers that are made directly against them in their evil purposes and wayes against his Name his Gospel and people or against some particular persons and whole Nations of them in such their evil enterprises are yet for them in respect of their end

passing by even unto blood as well as also neither despising nor fainting under his chastisements but suffering patience to have its perfect work in all tribulation which bringeth forth the quiet and peaceable fruit of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby Heb. 12. 1 3 4 9. Recompence to no man evil for evil nor railing for railing but contrarywise blessing knowing that ye are thereunto called that ye should inherit a blessing 1 Pet. 3. 9. Provide things honest in the sight of all men as much as is possible live peaceably with all men Dearly beloved avenge not your selves but rather give place unto wrath yea if thine Enemy hunger feed him c. Rom. 12. 17 18 19. Ye have heard saith our Saviour An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth but I say unto you that ye resist not evil that is with evil as Rom. 12. 17. Nay rather suffer wrong and suffer your selves to be defrauded then strive to avenge or right your selves yea love your Enemies bless them that curse you bless and curse not Mat. 5. 38 39 44 45. Luke 6. 27 28 29. 1 Cor. 6. 7 8. And to all this also That grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men instructeth and teacheth the believing receiver of it and therefore not onely in Rom. 12. it 's one of those things to which we are exhorted by the mercies of God vers 1. both as the motive and motion to the doing of it but in Tit. 3. compared with chap. 2. it 's added to that before mentioned as one of those things which that grace teacheth To speak evil of no man to be no brawlers but gentle to shew all meekness to all men for we our selves were sometimes foolish disobedient deceived serving divers lusts living in envy and malice hateful and hating one another but after the kindeness and pity of God our Saviour towards man appeared not by works of righteousness which we have wrought but according to his mercy he saved us c. 3. They are also in all godliness and honesty To follow peace espectally with all that call on the Lord out of a pure heart 2 Tim. 2. 22. To endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Eph. 4. 3. That unity or oneness into which the Spirit of God bringing and opening the testimony of Jesus bringeth the believing receiver thereof in which There is one Body one Spirit even as they are called in one hope of their calling one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all c. But unto every one of them is given grace in the manifestation of the Spirit or gifts of grace to profit withall diversly according to the gift and good pleasure of Christ in the exercising of which by each and so in their several administrations as well as in their acknowledgement Faith and Fellowship in those things forementioned in which there is such absolute oneness The unity of the Spirit is to be endeavoured to be kept in the bond of peace Eph. 4. 3 7. with 1 Cor. 12. Therefore the Apostle exhorting to be of one minde addes Live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you to preserve you in that one minde heart and way and so through faith unto the salvation ready to be revealed 2 Cor. 13. 11. See this exhortation explicated Phil. 2. 2 3 c. If any consolation in Christ any comfort of Love any fellowship of the Spirit c. Then fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one minde it follows as a direction to the shewing forth and walking in this as well as to the way in which they might be preserved and grow therein let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory but in lowliness of minde let each esteem other better then themselves alwaies fitter to be born with tendered and served So Rom. 12. 2. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love in honour preferring one another look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others Phil. 2. 3 5. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and there by many be defiled Heb. 12. 15 16. which roots of bitterness envies evil surmises and such-like may be occasioned divers wayes as sometimes by partiality or respect of persons among brethren generally or with reference to such instruments as by whom the word of the Lord hath been brought or opened to us as when one saith I am of Paul another I am of Apollo another I am of Cephas which occasions some to run out in another extream and they will not onely be of neither of these but they will be of Christ immediately and as not needing or loose from any of their brethren or such instruments Therefore the Apostle admonishing the Thessalonians To know them which are over them in the Lord and admonish them and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sakes he addes And be at peace among your selves 1 Thess 5. 12 13. And how they may be so in observing the forementioned counsel he explicates 1 Tim. 5. 17 21. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the word and doctrine It follows I charge thee before God and the elect Angels that thou observe these things without preferring one before another doing nothing by partiality namely in the things forementioned as well as also in those things mentioned vers 19. 20. Against an Elder receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses them that sin especially of the Elders or such as should go before others in the word of the Lord and in things common and publick tending to publick scandal or harm and being so convict as aforesaid or it evidently appearing rebuke before all that others also may fear Likewise such roots of bitterness and breach of the peace among Christians may be occasioned through too harsh censuring or judging one another in the doing or not doing things that are in themselves so circumstantial and may be either done or let alone as that eating or not eating Rom. 14. or in the manner of the observance of some of Gods Ordinances Therefore the Apostle counsels us vers 17 18 19 20. whatever things they are in which the Kingdom consisteth not as righteousness peace and joy in the holy Ghost are the things in which it doth consist and in which he saith He that constantly and stedfastly serveth Christ is acceptable to God and profitable to men for any other thing he would not have us be stiff or earnest to bring men to our practice until grace set free thereto nor in judging them if they joyne not with us lest so we destroy the work of God but on the other hand to follow after those things that make for peace

and things wherewith one may edifie another And in so doing if in any thing the whole or part be otherwise minded then is right God shall in due time reveal even that unto them Nevertheless whereto we have attained through the light and instructions of the Gospel that Vision of all the Key of knowledge for the opening all particular Precepts and Ordinances Let us walk or go an end by the same Rule not laying down any of his Ordinances because others cannot joyne with us in them though we may and are to lay down any thing meerly indifferent and so any thing circumstantial in Ordinances as to the maner of observance as far as is indifferent and may be without evil when and as it may be for the greatest good of our brethren and to avoid offence yet not to throw by any of his gracious appointments but to go on in such observance of them as grace teacheth us minding the same thing without severity or rigidness towards or judging of our brethren that are scrupulous in many of the things we do Phil. 3. 14 15. Divers other occasions we might have mentioned of disturbing and breaking the peace among believers which therefore as well as because they are otherwise hurtful and in themselves very evil we are admonished of as idleness or being tatlers busie-bodies not diligently and so as may be in and with fervency of Spirit serving the Lord minding their own business that after any consideration in spiritual or temporal affaires which God by his providence layes before them and according to the instructions of the Gospel requires of them but being slothful and negligent therein and medling with the matters of others 1 Thess 4. 11. 2 Thess 3. 6 10 11 12. 1 Tim. 5. 13 14. 1 Pet. 4. 15. Those exhortations are to this purpose good and needful Rom. 12. 9 10 11. as also they have reference to the foregoing verses likewise readiness to entertain or harbour evil reports or thoughts of others or keeping in minde the weakness evils or things injurious to us found in any of our brethren with many the like which I shall not particularly mention will be occasions of disturbing the peace and quiet of the believers in all godliness and honesty among themselves To conclude therfore I may say as the Apostle Peter Finally that our prayers for all men for our selves and others be not hindered Be all of one minde having compassion one of another love as brethren be pittiful be courteous c. 1 Pet. 3. 7 8 9 10 11. Let all bitterness wrath clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice and be ye kinde one to another tender hearted forgiving and forbearing one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you who did forbear and walk tenderly towards you before you did acknowledge any evil and until by his goodness you were moved thereto and then gave you forgiveness entertained you into fellowship again without upraiding And let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory nor in hypocrisie or with partiality Eph. 4. 31 32. Phil. 2. 3 4. Rom. 12. 9 11. Jam. 3. 17. That so you may be at peace among your selves for God is not the Author of confusion but of peace 1 Cor. 14. 33. Thus having seen what it is for the believer to lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty We come in the next place to consider 2. How the believers leading a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty tends so much to the good of all men We shall shew it in these two things 1. It tends much to the believers own advantage profit and furniture for the good of others 2. It tends to the adorning the name and doctrine of our God and Saviour and so manifesting the truth and goodness of the Gospel and way of it before them 1. This tends much to the believers own advantage furtherance and growth in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ which is for the good of all and to be made to appear unto them Therefore the Apostle exhorts Timothy To exercise himself to Godliness to give himself wholly to these things that he might be a good minister to others by growing himself being nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine whereunto he had attained that his profiting might appear to all for in doing this saith he thou shalt save thy self and them that hear thee 1 Tim. 4. 6 7 15 16. Great is the gain of godliness if the believer walk honestly in it and be content with what he hath 1 Tim. 6. 6 11. It 's the way in which the believer shall certainly meet with strength against preservation and deliverance from the evil of Satans temptations and his snares laid in something or other of this world after which we are naturally lusting Eph. 6. 10 16. 1 Pet. 5. 7 8 9. Yea Satan will be herein deprived of the opportunity he desires for getting advantage over us 2 Cor. 2. 2 10 11. This I say then Walk in the Spirit in the light instruction motion and direction of the Spirit which is in and with the testimony of Jesus and of the glory of God as manifested in the face of him taking and shewing of the things of him and so lifting up and glorifying him and so by that Vision of all leading into all truth instructing and directing to and in all godliness and honesty Walk in the Spirit if we live in it and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5. 16. Yea it 's the way by which we shall get more victory and be dayly more instructed and strengthened to turn from those idols of iniquity set up in our hearts that hinder our Prayers Ezek. 14 4 7. 1 Pet. 3. 7. and to wait for his Son from Heaven 1 Thess 1. 3 9 10. and so meet with saving to the utmost Rom. 1. 16. 17. 1 Cor. 15. 1. 3 4. Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God 1 John 5. 4 5. Whose keepeth his word in him verily is the love of God perfected 1 John 2. 5. Therefore thy word have I hid in my heart saith David that I might not sin against thee And again Order my steps in thy word and let not any iniquity have dominion over me Psal 119. 11 133. For by that Law of liberty or joyful sound as then witnessed in the Law Oracles and Prophets was he warned and in keeping thereof had great reward as to the discovery and purging out secret iniquity and preventing presumptuous transgression Psal 19. Yea hereby these things being in us and abounding a more abundant entrance shall be administred to us into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Yea they will make us that we shall be neither barren nor unfruitful therein but he that lacketh these things is blinde and cannot see afar off and hath

other branches forementioned of leading a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty he plainly declares That whatsoever good thing any man doth in either service or suffering for his name sake or for the good of others this grace doth and will instruct them to know and assuredly expect they shall receive their reward from the hand of their great Master the Lord that hath ordered them to such service and so shall others for the wrong they do whether Bond or Free Subject or Governour for there is no respect of persons with God and therefore to be patient contented though such reward be not equally administred from the hands of men yea to rejoyce in the glory to be revealed expect and wait for the kingdom to come and therein and then look for the great and total salvation of all those that love and wait for his second appearing who shall certainly appear to their glory and then render every man according to his work and therefore not to seek great things as glory kingdom or ease and freedom from trouble in this world but to be contented here to serve and suffer as those longing and yet patiently waiting for his appearing knowing that when their Lord comes and all his Saints with him they shall sit down with him in his kingdom Eph. 6. 7 8. Col. 3. 23 24 25. 1 Tim. ● 11 12 15. 2 Tim. 4. 6. 7 8. Isa 66. 5. Heb. 9. 28. 3. The believer being adorned with such demeanor as aforesaid further declares or manifesteth That such is the great satisfaction and consolation that is found and met with in Jesus Christ in the believing mindefulness and consideration of him according to that which is already done in and by him to make way for the goodness of God to be extended in and through all his dealings and as a standing witness as before in which the name of God is so gloriously declared and in minding also the hope laid up for them in Heaven as they have been instructed in it in the word of the truth of the Gospel and so in that expectation and looking for it begotten in them from the consideration of that already done yea the promise of this life and that to come given them in Christ appropriated to godliness such the comfort and encouragement of Gods love therein met with such the fellowship of the Spirit c. therein enjoyed that these waters being drunk will and do certainly and abundantly preserve from thirsting after other waters and make careless of themselves or their own things yea willing to lay down and deny themselves in any thing that his will may be done and for the prosecuting the great designe that is according to it the one thing needful for our selves and others more knowledge of and conformity to his grace and therefore cheerful in whatever we may suffer therein and knowing that the will of God is one and good perfect and acceptable this grace instructs and leads to desire that may be done and to rejoyce in the doing of it or in it being done though in things unpleasing to the flesh even in tribulations Great peace have they it appears in such demeanor as aforesaid not by sence but by faith that love Gods Law nothing shall offend them they manifest to all men that that teacheth them though free yet not to use their liberty in Christ as a cloak of maliciousness or pride That so with well-doing they may put to silence the ignorance of folish men knowing that so is the will of God 1 Pet. 2. 13 15 16 c. Psal 119. 164 165 166. 2 Cor. 4. 15 18. and 5. 1. 7. 4. They likewise shew forth in such their demeanor as aforesaid how that grace teacheth them to account of themselves as Strangers Travellers and Pilgrims here and that as those that are seeking and looking for another and better Country Kingdom and Glory even one to come the new Heavens and new Earth in which dwells Righteousness They should not nor have cause to be mindeful of the Country out of which they are called nor solicitous or careful for the things of it onely their dayly bread in it as he sees good for them that is their Conductor and Leader in and through it such protection accommodation and preservation by the way and according as every dayes need requires and as may in the wisdom of their Leader most tend to their furtherance in the journey and their strengthening and accommodation in their service and suffering for him Heb. 11. 8 9 10 13 14 15 16. 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. Seeking the Kingdom of Heaven and the Righteousness thereof not being careful in any thing else but presenting their needs and committing their matters to him to adde all other things as he sees good and in a subserviency to the main designe and the great things of his love to which is the desire of the Soul in all Psal 119. 17 18 19 20. Mat. 6. 32 33 34. with Phil. 4. 5 6. 5. They likewise manifest to all men in such their demeanor that this grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men teacheth even the believers To look at themselves as great sinners and very unworthy and so much the more as their evils are against such grace conferred on them and therefore have no cause to boast or lift up themselves above others but great need themselves to come with them dayly to that common fountain owning their evils and seeking pardon and healing on the account of and through that precious blood and prevalent mediation which is also for others to come unto God with them by and that the heart being seasoned with the apprehension of Gods great goodness and the infinite vertues of the blood of Jesus in so gracious pardoning healing and helping them that will make them that they cannot be rigid towards or against others and move them to be kinde tender-hearted forgiving as Christ hath forgiven them Mat. 18. 21 33. Eph. 4 32. And so also by such love so like to the love of God in Christ and so expressed in such lowliness and meekness they are manifested before all men to be his Disciples And the name of God and his grace exceedingly magnified and commended in them Yea 6. They do also by such demeanor as aforesaid testifie That they are evermore by that grace of God in Christ minded and in heeding of it made sensible of their own weakness and the subtilty evil and poyson of the temptations of Satan and the World and therefore will not nor dare presumptuously sin against God in rushing into temptations or willingly entangling themselves with the occasions of them being instructed warned and awed by that grace to serve the Lord with fear and though with rejoycing also being made willing and cheerful in all their service through the sweetness and powerfulness of the Arguments of his grace and also confident rejoycing in hope and so patient in tribulation