Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	grace_n	great_a	soul_n	4,875	5	4.7291	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57149	The pastoral office opened in a visitation-sermon preached at Ipsvvich October 10, 1662. / by Edward, Lord Bishop of Norwich.	Reynolds, Edward, 1599-1676.	1663 (1663)	Wing R1269; ESTC R20427	17,158	64

is the wheat Jer. 23. 28. Ours but Hay and Stubble His Gold and silver and precious stones 1 Cor. 3. 12. More Particularly the Matter of our Preaching is Christ crucified and the glad tydings of Remission and Salvation through him Acts 8. 5. 1 Cor. 2. 2. The Credenda all Recapitulated in the doctrine of Christ the Agenda all supplied by the Grace of Christ the Petenda all granted in the Name of Christ the Communicanda all seals of the Love of Christ. He is Lux Cibus Medicina as Bernard speaks If I be Ignorant Christ is my Light if I be Hungry Christ is my food if I be sick Christ is my Physick Si scribas non sapit mihi nisi legero ibi Jesum Si disputes out conferas non sapit mihi nisi sonuerit ibi Jesus Our Ministery now is altogether Evangelical for though we Preach the Law yet it is ever in a subserviency unto the Gospel that by the Convictions thereof we may betake our selves unto Christ for shelter from the Curse which the Law threatneth and for Grace unto the duties which the Law prescribeth Our Saviour seemeth unto me to dictate the right Method of preaching the Gospel in that three-fold Conviction of Sin Righteousnesse and Judgement John 16. 8 9 10. 1. The Spirit accompanying the preaching of the Gospel doth convince men of their sinne and the wrath due unto them for the same untill they shall believe in Christ for the wrath of God abideth on unbelievers John 3. 36. 8. 24. Till Faith transferr the sinne upon the Sacrifice it remains upon the sinner Hereby the Soul is awakened and the Heart shaken and made restlessly Inquisitive after some way of escape from the wrath to come Acts 2. ●7 2. The Spirit by the Gospel convinceth of Righteousness in Christ who albeit he was reckoned amongst Malefactors John 19. 7. Isay 53. 12. yet there was in him Righteousness abundantly enough to justifie and save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him in as much as having finished the work of Redemption on earth he is gone to his Father and is not sent back again but is sat down at his right hand pleading the propitiation which here he wrought In his death believers suffered 2 Cor. 5. 14. Rom. 6. 6. In his Resurrection they were justified Rom. 4. 25. and In his Ascension they have a virtual possession of Heaven Eph. 2. 6. 3. The Spirit by the Gospel convinceth of Judgement whereby I understand Debitum Subjectionis unto Christ as a Judge or Prince to whom all Judgment Authority and power is committed John 5. 22. 27. Matth. 28. 18 that we having been delivered from the wrath to come and having received so great a Gift as the Righteousnesse of Christ ought to be subject unto him who died and rose again that he might be Lord both of the dead and living Rom 14. 9. having demolished the kingdom of Satan and Judicially cast out or dethroned the Prince of this world John 12 31. and destroyed him Heb. 2. 15. so that being translated from the power of darknesse into the kingdom of Christ Acts 26. 18. Col. 1. 13. we ought to be reduced unto the obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10. 5. and to observe and doe whatsoever he commandeth Mat. 28. 20 for the doctrine of Grace and Salvation is a doctrine of Holiness Tit. 2. 11. 14. In this Method ought the Gospel of Salvation to be preached that neither the discovery of sinne may drive men unto despair but cause them to flye for Sanctuary unto the Righteousness of Christ and free Grace of God in him and that the magnifying of Free Grace and the Gift of Christs Righteousnesse may not induce a neglect of Holiness Rom. 6. 1 2 14 15 but that the Love of Christ may constrain them not henceforth to live unto themselves but unto him that died for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5. 14. Now for the Manner how this part of the Ministery of Reconciliation is to be be dispensed we are to preach the word 1. Demonstratively 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so as to commend our selves to every mans conscience in the sight of God and they may confesse that God is in us of a truth 2 Sincerely not handling the word of God deceitfully nor complying with the Lusts of men to gratifie them in their wayes as the Priests of Ahab did rather displeasing men with that doctrine which profits then pleasing them with that which betrayes their Souls as a Physician doth not so much consider what will please his Patients palate as what will cure his disease The Apostle professeth in one place That if he pleased men he should not be the servant of Christ Gal. 1. 10. and yet in another place he saith that he pleased All men in All things 1 Cor. 10. 33. But this was not mentiendi desideriô but cômpatientis affectu not out of Collusion but Condescension to gain save edifie profit them 3 Wisely so as to fit the word to the state of those that hear us to give every one his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 24. 45. the Apostle preached 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cor. 3. 10 3. 10. we must not preach comforts so as that profane persons may mistake them as theirs nor threatnings so as to make sad the hearts of those whom the Lord hath not made sad 4 Boldly not fearing the faces of men in the work of God Jer. 1. 8. not concealing any part of Gods Counsel because haply it may be unwelcom to those that hear it but freely and confidently 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to deliver the whole Counsel of God as Micaiah to Ahab as Amos to Jeroboam Most wicked men are of Vitellius his mind they love to hear nothing nisi jucunda laesura But if they have the boldnesse to commit sin should not we have the Courage to reprove it There is a Majesty in the word which can humble an Ahab a Felix a Belshazzer which can strike an awe and rrverence into the heart of a Joash towards Elisha and of Herod towards John the Baptist 2 Reg. 13. 14. Mark 6. 20 God hath threatned to confound us if we be dismayed in his work Jer. 1. 17. He hath promised to be with us Matth. 28. 20. to stand by us 2 Tim. 4. 16. in the discharge of so great a trust and will give testimony to the word of his grace Acts 14. 3. His word rightly administred is as nails goods arrows a two edged sword dividing asunder soul and spirit joynts and marrow a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart 5 Meekly affectionately with all Love and tenderness to the souls of our Hearers in meeknesse instructing those that oppose themselves 2 Tim. 2. 25 with the spirit of Meeknesse Restoring those that are overtaken in a fault Gal. 6. 1. A Preacher as a Chirurgian should have an Eagles eye to discover the state of the Soul a Lions

with their doctrine they build and with their lives they destroy The Minister who will winne his people must not only doctorem virtutis se praebere sed ducem as Lactantius ut si praecipientem sequi nolint sequantur antecedentem The salt which is it self unsavory will hardly season other things I conclude this point with that wholsom passage of Hierom ad Nepotianum Let not saith he thy works shame thy doctrine lest they who hear thee in the Church tacitly answer Why doest thou not thy self what thou teachest others He is too delicate a teacher who perswadeth others to fast with a full belly A Robber may accuse Covetousness Sacerdotis Christi os mens manusque concordent a Minister of Christ should have his tongue and his heart and his hand agree I shall conclude all with Two words of Exhortation one to my Reverend Brethren in the Clergy and the other to the people To my Brethren That they would with all their might set about this most necessary work of feeding the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made them Overseers therby testifie their love unto Christ who by that Love doth adjure us to feed his sheep and lambs John 21. 15. 16 17. If we would not be an Anathema Maranatha for not loving of Christ we must do that which he by so strong an argument as the Love of him doth injoyn Is it possible for a man to love the father and to starve the children Is it possible to love the Lord and to neglect his doubled and redoubled command Is it possible to love God and to hate our brethren Or do we not hate our brethren when we betray their souls to perdition O let us lay to heart that most solemn and tremendous charge of the Apostle I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom preach the word be instant in season out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine 2 Tim. 4. 1 2. Let us consider the dreadfull Accompt which at that fiery Tribunal of this Great Judge will be required of us Heb. 13. 17. the woe which we incurr if we neglect it 1 Cor. 9. 16. and the horrid guilt of the blood of souls which thereby we contract Ezeck 3. 17 18 20 their blood will I require at thy hand Let us consider the unvaluable preciousness of the souls committed to our charge of more worth then all the world beside Mat. 16. 26. insomuch that Heathen men have said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is the property of a Reasonable soul saith Antoninus the Heathen Emperour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to preferre nothing before it self O what a doleful thing will it be to have the everlasting perdition of such precious souls to lie upon our betraying of them Consider the Inestimable price wherwith they were purchased even the Blood of God Acts 20 28. and how fearfull a thing it will be for the Blood of Christ to cry out against us for destroying those souls which that blood did purchase Consider the continual Dangers these precious souls are exposed to the vigilancy of a cunning a powerfull a malicious adversary who goeth about seeking to devour them 1 Pet. 5. 8 the baits snares examples and entanglements of an evil world the swarms of Innumerable inward lusts which warr against the soul. O how vigilant should we be to fore warn arm them against the assault of so great dangers Lastly consider we the weight and greatnesse of that Crown of Righteousness and glory which the Chief Shepherd reserveth for all those who willingly and with a ready mind feed the flock of God They who turn many to Righteousness shall shine as Stars for ever and ever 1 Pet. 5. 4. Dan. 12. 3. What a Glorious Testimony will it be before the throne of Christ at the last day when so many souls shall stand forth and say This was the hand which snatched us out of the fire This tongue was to us a tree of life his Reproofs and convictions awakened us his Exhortations perswaded us his Consolations revived us his wisdom counsel'd us his example guided us unto this Glory Some are apt to charge Clergymen with ambitious pursuance of dignities and preferments Behold here a preferment worthy the climbing after a dignity worthy to be contended for an holy an Apostolical Ambition as St. Pauls expression importeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 15. 20. which is as much as Ambitioso conatu praedicare Evangeliū preaching the Gospel where it had not before been heard was the Apostles greatest honor which ambitiously he did aspi●e unto To the People 1. We exhort them to pray for their Ministers since they have a Service upon them which without divine Grace none are sufficient for that God would by his special assistance enable them to discharge so great a trust God commands it we beseech it our weakness wants it your souls require it the more you pray for your Minister the more you will profit by him You help to edifie your selves you help him to study and pray and preach for you while you pray for him 2 To take heed that the labour of your Ministers for your souls be not by your carelesseness all in vain Do not with our Sermons which cost us so hard labour as David did with the water of the well of Bethleem spill them on the ground and let them cry from thence like the blood of Abel against you So long as he keeps to his Commission and delivers the Counsel of God you cannot despise the work of your Minister but you do therewithall despise the blood of your Saviour If your souls be dear in their eyes should they be vile in your own Will you by your wickedness turn the prayers of your Pastors into curses their Sermons into a favour of death and their tears into the blood of your own souls Shall they begg mercy for you and will you reject it Shall they tender Grace unto you and will you resist it Shall they open for you the door of Life will you shut it against your selves Shall Christ by them beseech you and will you by your Impenitency refuse him Is it not a Reasonable Request though you will not love your Ministers yet not to Hate nor destroy your selves Must he Teach and you not Learn Must he open his lips and you shut your ears are Sermons preached to be praised onely and not obeyed Must he Reprove Sin in you and will you Reprove God in him Shall he take up the weapons of God to withstand sinne and will you take up the weapons of lust to withstand God! Is it good to kick against the pricks Will Gods word be impunè despised Can his Law be put to flight where it doth not perswade can it not curse Do we provoke the Lord to jealousie are we stronger then he Shall the Minister in the name of God forewarn us of the wrath to come and shall we belye the Lord and say It is not he Shall we blesse where God curseth and promise peace where God proclameth warre Shall we sell our selves to sin and make a Covenant with Hell and death as if we could sin securely and choose whither we would perish or no Will not the Lord make us know at the last whose word shall stand His or Ours O that the Love of Christ might constrain us and his Goodness lead us unto Repentance that when Christ doth beseech us we would be perswaded not to deny him Did Satan dye for us Did the world or the flesh ever redeem us were they scourged or mocked or crucified to save us O that Christ should be perswaded to dye for us and we should give him his blood back again and choose rather to dye our selves Consider what I say and the Lord give you understanding in all things FINIS Fuller Miscellan l. 6. c. 17 Quodammodo ante diem Judicii Judicant Hieron Ep. ad Heliodorum Serm. 15. in Cantic