Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	call_v	great_a	lord_n	3,043	5	3.4503	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A46888	The strong man armed cast out and his goods spoiled, or, The poor man sitting at Jesus's feet clothed and in his right mind being a true convert's testimony of the power of the Lord in turning the soul from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God ... / formerly given forth in writing unto my relations and acquaintance the professors called Independents in Nottinghamshire, declaring the cause of my leaving their assemblies ... by James Jackson, formerly a parish priest and a teacher amongst the Independents and now ... made willing to take up the daily cross and walk with the despised followers of the Lamb in scorn called Quakers.	Jackson, James, fl. 1674-1708.	1674 (1674)	Wing J75; ESTC R34953	24,289	34

THE Strong Man Armed CAST OUT And his GOODS SPOILED Or the Poor Man sitting at Jesus's Feet clothed and in his Right Mind Being a True Convert's Testimony of the Power of the Lord in turning the Soul from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God Wherein is clearly manifested that there is Light in every Man and Woman which discovers their Conditions bears a faithful Testimony against Sin is the Reprover of all Unbelief and Unrighteousness both in Heart and Life and is the Mighty Power of God for Salvation to all that believe in it and obey it And herein it is evidently proved That they are none of the Ministers of Christ that Oppose this Doctrine with one infallible Character of the Real Gospel-Ministers and most of the weighty Objections answered Formerly given forth in Writing unto my Relations and Acquaintance the Professors called Independents in Notingham-shire declaring the just Cause of my leaving their Assemblies Together with a tender Invitation to all the Honest-hearted to come out of their dead Forms and walk in the Light of the Lord. By James Jackson formerly a Parish Priest and a Teacher amongst the Independents and now through the exceeding Riches of God's Love am made willing to take up the Daily Cross and walk with the despised Followers of the Lamb in Scorn called Quakers This is a Marvelous Thing O ye Priests and Professors that ye know not whence he is and yet he hath opened mine Eyes Was it ever known that ever any man opened the Eyes of one that was born blind Printed in the Year 1674. TO My Loving Friends Kindred AND ACQUAINTANCE The Tender Sober and Conscientious Professors amongst the People call'd Independents in the County of NOTTINGHAM THe Scriptures declare of a Man which had an Vnclean Spirit who had his dwelling among the Tombs and no man could bind him no not with Chains because he had been often bound with Chains and Fetters and the Chains had been plucked asunder by him and the Fetters broken in pieces And being driven of the Devil into the Wilderness he was so unruly and fierce tearing his Cloaths and cutting his Flesh that no man could tame him But after the Lord Jesus had healed this poor Creature and effected such an extraordinary Change as caused Astonishment and Admiration in the Beholders for it is said That when they who had known him before now saw such a palpable Alteration he that was called Legion Sitting and Cloathed and in his Right Mind they were afraid and Jesus said unto him Go home to thy Friends and tell them how Great Things the Lord hath done for thee and hath had Compassion on thee And truly Friends this day in my Particular is this Scripture fulfilled in your Eyes my Vngodly Dissolute Debauched and Extravagant Course of Life hath been known to most of you when I sinned after strong Convictions serious Admonitions and Reproofs Vows Promises and Resolutions against known Scripture-Rules Inward Light and Religious Education breaking and violating all these Bonds and Obligations which as so many Chains and Fetters one would think might be sufficient to tame and restrain the unruly Lusts of Youth whereby the Souls of some of the tenderest and chiefest of you have been grieved exceedingly wounded and exercised endeavouring and earnestly travelling with Prayers and Tears for my Recovery Wherefore seeing the Lord hath passed by me when I was in my Blood and pittied me and said unto me Live For it was the Lord only who saw my Way and healed me and restored Comforts to me and my Mourners by the effectual Calling of his Grace REVEALING HIS SON IN ME and hath spared me as a Living Monument of his Patience Endless Mercy and Compassion I therefore in the powerful Constrainings of this Love am unwilling to eat my Morsel alone or to hide my Talent in the Earth but with Sampson having tasted some Sweetness and Strength from the Lord do commend my Experiences unto you my Friends and Relations declaring unto you how great Things the Lord hath done for me and had Compassion on me in turning me from Darkness into his Marvellous Light and from the power of Satan into the Kingdom of his dear Son To whom be Glory Praise and Obedience for evermore James Jackson THE Strong Man Armed CAST OUT And His Goods Spoiled c. IN the time of my greatest Pollution and Iniquity while I fulfilled the Lusts of the Flesh with Greediness for many years before that Change and Reformation was discerned in me at which ye rejoyced even in the worst of my time I testifie in the Presence of the Lord that then I met with real and immediate Reproofs Rebukes and Convictions from something that did often Awaken Judge and Condemn me in my own Conscience but knew not what it was nor whence it came and because Iniquity was risen in me to an exceeding masterless height these Rebukes which I know were from a contrary Principle to Sin prevailed not although at some times they were as Powerful and Terrible as the Hand-Writing upon the Wall before Belshazzer whereby my Countenance hath been changed my Thoughts troubled so that the Joynts of my Loins were losed and my Knees smote one against another then thought I to redress this Sorrow by going into Merry and Pleasant Company essaying to divert that inward Perplexity by outward Jollaty as Drinking Gameing Musick c. but those Diversions were unable to still and quiet these Tempestuous Surging Waves and were no more effectual to heal the Wound of my Sin-smitten Conscience then if a man should endeavour to quench Fire by pouring Oyl thereon for I found by woful Experience that these unwarrantable Courses encreased the Flame and added yet more Weight to the first Burden Then have I many times solemnly vowed promised and resolved To break off and cease from all Ungodly Practices and in keeping and observing these Covenants I have found some Ease and Quietness for a time but as soon as new Sins were committed then arose fresh Occasions of Sorrow Trouble and Terror and after this manner I continued many years until the Lord was pleased of his infinite Wisdom and Faithfulness to hedge up my Way with Remarkable and Extraordinary Providences blasting all Purposes and Designs and caused Afflictions Losses and Disappointments to come upon my outward Estate Horror and Perplexity upon my Soul a most Violent and Raging Feaver upon my Body and at the same time above an Hundred Miles from all Relations Friends and Kindred at which time being in a most Wretched Deplorable and Succourless Condition sinn'd my self almost out of all the Comforts of this Life and any Hope of Interest in a better being under this great Distress and cast out to the loathing of my own Person and had all my Sins set in order before me whereupon I was forced seriously to consider my Wayes and found no place to escape the Wrath of the Highly-provoked God at which time

I had no Benefit of any Outward Help Teaching or Counsel but he who before had been my Reprover was then my only Teacher who sealed Instruction upon my Soul whose Voice I heard which did shake and shake the Heavens and the Earth also and caused me to cry out Lord What wouldest thou have me to do And being brought to the Foot of God could truly say Speak now Lord for thy Servant heareth And abiding in this broken and shattered State I clearly felt the Judgment of the Lord powerfully at work in my Soul as an Ax at the Root of the Tree and as a Refiner's Fire till the Life and Power of Sin was slain subdued and mortified perfectly in my Will and Affections then was the Lord Jesus revealed in me whom I had pierced the New Birth Discerned which is created after God in true Holiness and the Immortal Pure Precious Seed of the Eternal God which ever before had been pressed down trodden under and held in Bondage arose yea the Tender Plant of his own Right Hand sprung up in me panting and vehemently breathing after and never since could be satisfied but with his Living Presence Behold these things worketh the Lord oftentimes with men looking upon men And if any say I have sinned and perverted that which is Right and it profitted me not he will deliver his Soul from going into the Pit and his Life shall see the Light And this is the Sum of the Confession which I was not ashamed to witness in your publick Assemblies both at Nottingham and other places in the year 1668. Objection But it is probable some of you will object saying After this Change was wrought thou didst Joyn to our Assemblies Owned us Prayed with us Preached amongst us and seemed to enjoy Refreshings and Satisfaction in our Assemblies wherefore then art thou now departed from us and gone to the Quakers Answer 1. Notwithstanding that great and notable Work begun in my Soul and in some measure effected by the Mighty Power of the Lord yet was there after some time a certain Deadness Coldness and Darkness drawn over me again occasioned through Weakness Unwatchfulness and Formality whereby that good Condition was lost nevertheless I found and felt tender Breathings moving in me thirsting and seeking for renewed Testimonies of the Love of God then in the Simplicity and Uprightness of my Heart not knowing a more likely way to obtain Satisfaction I joyned to your Society and can truly affirm though I now see it was no better then seeking the Living among the Dead that the Lord was pleased in the Condescensions of his Love many times to stoop down and reach forth from the openings of his Bosom Refreshings and Nourishment to that tender Babe of his own begetting yea while I frequented your Assemblies Answ 2. And as I continued Faithful and Obedient to that measure of Light and Knowledge which was revealed in me it is well known to all or the most of you what Censures Opposition and Contradiction both I and the plain Scripture-Truths which I declared in your Assemblies suffered from many of your Brethren charging me That I was leading into Quakerism long before I understood either by word or Writing what the Quakers held Answ 3. But however these Censures occasioned a free and impartial Search into the Quakers Principle Doctrine and Practice for verily before I was as much afraid of the Quakers as ye can be But standing single in the Will and Counsel of the Lord desirous to prove all things and hold fast that which is good abandoning all Consultations with Flesh was resolved to cease from Man and to cleave unto the Truth as the Lord should reveal and discover the same to me waiting in this Unbyassed Unprejudiced and Dis-engaged Frame examining carefully the Principle Foundation Doctrine and Practice of this Despised Holy People great Clearness and Satisfaction arose in my Soul for as Face answered Face in a Glass so were the Truths delivered by them owned and embraced by the Witness of God in my own Conscience and the same Spirit Light Life and Power which is manifest in them I came to feel in a measure in my own Particular And yet for all this before I came to any visible Closure with them I sate down and counted the Cost and am made willing freely to endure the Cross and undergo the World's Reproach and Shame knowing that whoever will be Christ's Disciple must deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow him And truly Friends the Day of the Lord's Power is come and felt whereby I am made willing to forsake Fathers and Mothers Brethren and Sisters Parsonages and all kind of Ecclesiastical Promotions Friends Honours Pleasures Profits Houses Lands Goods yea and Life is self to follow the Lamb and fall in with his Interest as it is only witnessed and embraced by and amongst the Children of Light by the World called Quakers Answ 4. But if it were possible I desire to make clear to your Satisfaction that there was sufficient Ground for me and so there is for you who have any Tenderness and Breathings in your Souls after the Lord to separate your selves from the Tents of those Ungodly Men your Teachers who are no better then Filthy Dreamers Blind Guides and Belly Gods who belch out nothing but Blasphemies Lyes Slanders False Accusations and Evil Speeches against God and Christ his Wayes Truth and People and this I see and declare against them in the Light For verily there is and I witness it an Honest Gracious Tender Principle in many of you called Independents which kindles in you perfect Hatred against Sin and unsatisfied real Breathings and Pantings after the Sensible Living Presence of the Lord But your Leaders cause you to Err and ye are scattered upon the dark and barren Mountains And this I testifie in the Name of the Living God That it will be so with you while ye follow these Wandring Stars Clouds without Rain Seducing Spirits your Pastors and Teachers who are Ravening Wolves and Ministers of Antichrist whom ye ought not to receive into your Houses nor bid them God speed For 1. They are altogether Ignorant of the True God and all the Knowledge that these men pretend to have of the Deity is attained by Reading and Hear-say for they will confidently affirm That Vision and Immediate Revelation is ceased Judge ye therefore what Knowledge these men have of God when the Scriptures say No man knows the Father but they to whom the Son reveals him 2. They Reproach and despise Jesus Christ the only Son of God of whom the Scriptures witness and testifie to be the True Light which enlightens every man that comes into the World But they are not afraid to say The Light in every man is but a Natural Light and at the best not able to save those who believe in it and obey it And to discover themselves more plainly to be the Ministers of Antichrist they are

of the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-Stone in whom all the Building fitly framed together groweth into an Holy Temple in the Lord. So that these receive immediate Light Life Power Teaching Guidance Rules Refreshings Revelation Peace and Satisfaction from that Word which was before the Worlds were made even that Life Power Foundation Root Spring and Fountain in and by which the Holy Prophets and Apostles were Quickened Enlightened Anointed Inspired and gave forth the Scriptures which is Christ Jesus the Word of God the Power of God the Son of God the Light Within the only Saviour of the World 2dly Their Faith is the Faith of the Son of God Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of it It is not a Dead Historical Faith but the Spirit and Life of Faith and no less then the Resurrection and Life of the Immortal Seed Enlightening Quickening Reforming and Renewing the whole Man And this is that Faith by which Sin is subdued slain and mortified perfectly the Heart purified the World conquered the Soul sanctified justified and saved perfectly But the Faith of all others is an Unholy Dead Imperfect Faith it sanctifies but in part as they say and so will never save to the uttermost 3dly Their Knowledge is Spiritual and Experimental from the immediate Unction of the Holy Ghost what is known proceeds not from Hear-say but divine Revelation All that are born of the Spirit are taught of God and need not that any say Know the Lord for they all know him from the greatest to the least This is Life Eternal to know God who is Light yea the Father of Lights and that the Light within is the Son of God whom he hath sent so to know as to live and abide in his Light is Life Eternal And this is that Mystery which is hid from the Wise and Prudent and is revealed unto Babes for the World by all its Wisdom knows not God neither doth the Carnal Man though never so great a Schollar discern the things of God for they are Spiritually discerned And as Christ was Bodily in the World and the World knew him not no not the great Doctors and Leaders of those several Sects and Religions in that day as the Samaritans Herodians Scribes Pharisees and Sadduces they knew him not and therefore the man that was born blind wondred This is a Marvelous Thing saith he that ye know not from whence he is and yet he hath opened mine Eyes It was never known that any man opened the Eyes of one that was born blind Even so it is now Christ is spiritually in the World and the World knoweth him not no not the Popes Prelates Presbyters Priests and Pastors of all the Religions in the World they know him not but say It is the Devil or at best but the Light of Nature and so they know not from whence he is yet hath he inlightned Thousands And it was never known that the Devil or Nature converted any to the Lord that have been Naturalized to Sin 4thly Their Humility which is the emptying of themselves of all their own Righteousness Wills Wisdom and Self-Exaltation and is a real inward spiritual Abasement and Subjection to the Life Power Kingdom of Christ Jesus manifested in Spirit ruling and dwelling in their mortal Bodies And so this True Humble Meek and Low Frame of Spirit proceeds from their experimental Knowledge of Christ's living Presence in them whereas they that know God and Christ only by Reading and Hear-say with a Literal and Historical Knowledge they are blown swell'd and puffed up with Airy Notions Vain Boastings and Self-Conceitedness 5thly Their Unity which consists not only in the Oneness of Opinion and Judgment but proceeds from Unity of Spirit And their Love one to another is not from a Natural but a Heavenly and Spiritual Principle It is not the Love of one man to another but it is the Love of God shed abroad in their Hearts which maketh them all of one Mind and all speak write and witness the same thing For as the Vital Spirits in the Natural Frame have its Operation through every Member it makes the Eyes Ears Tongue Hands and Feet to see hear speak work and walk and yet but one Soul that moves and quickens all through its speedy Entercourse into every Member and Part of the Body so is it here the Love Peace Concord and Unity amongst these is remarkable it flows from the Fountain of Love and influenceth the whole Body which makes them in all their Wayes Doctrine and Practice but as One Man And though but a Poor Weak Harmless Innocent and Inoffensive People are rendred through their Unity and Love as Terrible as an Army with Banners 6thly Their Patience is invincible To them is this Grace given Not only to Believe in the Name of Jesus but also to Suffer for his sake And as the Lord hath made them Blessed and Glorious Instruments in his Hand to do his Will so hath he made them contented to be perfected through Sufferings For though the Lord hath been especially present with them yet the World hath been especially against them not for their own sakes for they are the only Innocent and Harmless People upon Earth but for Christ's sake in them yea because there is more of God among these men then others therefore are they hated of all men and every where amongst all Religions evil spoken of for the World most hates where there is most of God therefore the Single-hearted may guess where there is most of God by observing where the greatest Hatred of the World lies 7thly Their Faithfulness to the Truth Wayes and Interest of Christ How have they gone up and down in Weariness and Labours in Hunger and Nakedness in Dangers and Deaths to bear a Faithful Testimony against the Sin Vanity False Worship and Abomination of the Times When did they shrink in the least or turn back from their Duty when Loss of Estate Liberty yea Danger of Banishment attended it When did they Deny their Master or his Commands or Betray his Interest before King or Counsel Table Judges Justices or Bishops by Subscribing Engaging Swearing Bowing or Complying to the Wills and Humors of men Nay they have witnessed a Good Confession and spoken of his Testimonies before all these and were not ashamed When did they meet at Night for fear of being seen or creep in at Back-Doors into Cellars Holes and secret Places to hide themselves from the Knowledge of the Adversary But the time would fail me to speak of their Self-denyal Temperance Sobriety Innocency Doctrine Order Worship their Spirit of Prayer and Watchfulness Holiness Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost The King's Daughter is all Glorious within and her Rayment is of pure Gold Therefore in Truth and Sincerity to them I will say Who is like unto thee O People saved by the Lord the Shield of thy Help the Sword of thy Excellency