Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	heart_n	know_v	spirit_n	5,607	5	4.8036	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60368	Christian instruction directing to a more perfect and saving knowledge of God, in the foundation-principles of true religion. By way of question and answer. Meet to be seriously considered by all true Christians, for their help and furtherance in the great concerns of eternal life. By W.S.	Saller, William, d. ca. 1680.	1670 (1670)	Wing S398C; ESTC R218598	19,270	28

made Believers by grace or hath any man more than is freely wrought in him by the Spirit of God A. No man is more or can be better than the Spirit of grace maketh him yet doth it not follow hence that grace is conferred on any man partially or irresistably or that any unbelievers do want sufficient supplies of the Spirit of Grace to inable them to believe as hath before been proved Q. Who are Reprobated to destruction A. Such as turn the Grace of God into wantonness remaining in unbelief when the truth is made known to them resisting it for want of love to it not suffering Christ to dwell in their hearts by Faith but treading on him through the love of iniquity Jude 4. 2 Thess 2.10 11 12. Heb. 10.26 27 28 29. John 3.18 19. These Texts with many others do declare that such men are reprobated and for such causes only Q. But where the Spirit of grace is extended it is able to cure the souls of men of these sins and corruptions is it not so that they shall not perish A. It is so and it will and doth cure them that receive him but he neither wil nor doth cure those that continue to resist him as Reprobates do to their own destruction Gen. 6.3 1 Pet. 3.19 20. Acts 7.51 Q. Is there any profit in the knowledge of the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation A. Yea great advantage for he that continueth in Christ by unfained believing is under the Promises of Election and Salvation and cannot possibly miss thereof John 3.15 16. Rom. 8.1 John 15.24 Secondly In a state of unbelief and disobedience to the Gospel who ever is found is under the threatnings of Reprobation and condemnation and cannot possibly miss thereof John 3.18 19 36. Coloss 3.3 5 6. 2 Thess 1.8 9. Now the knowledge of this is a blessed means to encourage and quicken men to believing and holiness Q. Is not then the free grace of God the principal cause of Gods Election A. Yes unquestionably the free grace and love of God is the original cause of Redemption as well as of Election and likewise of all the mercy the Sons of men are made partakers of in one kind or other from first to last for there is nothing in the Creature that can be a cause to move God to be merciful if his own infinite compassions did not incline him to extend grace and favour to poor finners yet will he extend his mercies upon us by such means and upon such tearms as shall wholly agree with his own holy will and honour Tit. 3.4 5 6 7. 2 Tim. 1.9 10. Q. Is not the foundation of God sure the Lord knoweth them that be his and so consequently them that are not his A. Yea it is beyond all doubt that there is no counsel thing nor thought but it is perfectly fore-known to God yet will it by no means follow that his fore-knowledge of any thing is the cause wherefore it cometh to pass 1 Sam. 23.10 11 12 13. Deut. 31.21 Q. VVill the Lord give grace to save such men as he fore-knoweth will abuse it and perish A. Yea and that to so great a degree as might well prevent their destruction 2 Chron. 36.14 15 16. Isa 5.2 3 4. Ezek. 33.10 11. with many moe Texts of like import Q. VVherefore doth the all-wise God do so seeing he knoweth it will do them no good A. For many reasons but especially these two First his own rich mercy is and will by this means be exalted so high that they and all men shall one day know that his tender mercies would have prevented their ruine Psal 145.9 Ezek. 18.32 And secondly That when they do come to perish they may be altogether left without excuse Rom. 2.15 John 15.22 Q. Seeing these are the Counsels and VVayes of the most High what concerns me to believe and do that I may be found in a state of acceptation before him A. It eminently and in the first place concerns thee in all plainness of heart to search out the clear knowledge of his holy will in all things and firmly to believe the same for such a sincere Faith will interest thee into a state of acceptation with God 1 Chron. 28.8 9. Rom. 4.3 Secondly Live by Faith to bring forth the obedience thereof and in this path thou canst not miss of Glory 2 Cor. 5.7 8 9. Rom. 16.26 Q. Open this Life of Faith with clearness in some main and principal points for the safe direction of the soul in this path of peace and happiness A. Carry the Truths of God so upon thy heart that thy whole conversation may comport or agree with thy Faith as for example Consider God is in himself good and faithful and therefore all his words are so also however carnal sence may present them yet are they of a most divine quality Ps 119.127 128 138 140. All his Commandments are good and given for our good Deut. 10.13 Psal 119.165 And mind alwayes that every saying of his is most true Prov. 8.6 7 8. Therefore when he threatneth sinners he certainly intendeth their destruction unless they take warning and repent and upon such tearms as he hath promised to be gracious he will never disappoint the hopes of any man and when he directeth us to the use of any means he meaneth to bless that means if we use it for our saving good and when he calleth us to come unto him for any favour he intendeth the bestowing of it upon us if we come to him for it neither calleth he us at any time to any work but what he meaneth to assist us in the doing of no nor yet to suffer for Him or his Truth but with an intention to afford us grace and strength to bear us up under them as also to sanctifie them to us for good and to deliver us in the best season Therefore if thou wilt live by Faith lay up these and such like truths in thy heart to quicken thee to watch and pray to resist sin and fly snares And in all thy godly endeavours exercise Faith in and upon the rich Grace of God through the blood of Christ for those supplies of grace which are needful to mend thy heart and life daily And if thou run this race humbly faithfully and diligently thou mayest be as sure as thou art of thy being to arrive at last at that Haven of felicity and eternal peace where no sin temptation or sorrow shall ever come to molest or trouble thee more But if thou prize the pleasures of sin thy interest or credit with men thy ease or peace in the world so high as these things thou wilt not lose or hazard for Christ or his Kingdom and the righteousness thereof then know that that Lake of fire and brimstone will be thy portion at last from whence there is no redemption And from which the good Lord deliver us Amen FINIS

3.13 to himself as appears from the seventh and eighth Reasons going before and so hath brought us under the New Covenant Heb. 10.19 20 29. which is established upon better Promises Heb. 8.6 than the Old was Q. VVhat are the tearms conditions or promises pertaining to the Old Covenant A. These for substance are all the tearms of that first Covenant The man that doth these things shall live by them And Cursed is he that doth them not Rom. 10.5 Gal. 3.10 12. Q. VVhat are the promises or tearms of the New Covenant A. First in brief these are the New Covenant tearms He that believes shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be condemned But secondly The whole revelation of the Lords divine pleasure exprest in the Promises and Threatnings of the Scriptures are the New Covenant Tearms those only excepted that before were named appertaining to the First Covenant Q. But what is the New Covenant it self or how may it be understood A. Christ himself is said to be given as the Covenant Isa 42.6 and 49.8 Secondly the Blood of Christ is called the Covenant or Testament Mat. 26.28 Mark 14.24 Luke 22.20 1 Cor. 11.25 Thirdly Teaching mercy pardoning mercy and renewing mercy are called the Covenant Jer. 31.33 34. Heb. 8.10 11 12. From all which this is evident That the New Covenant is Free Grace not only tendred but extended by the Father through the blood of the Son to all men sufficient to enable them to believe acceptably and they that believe have eternal life given them and all that tends to fit them for that blessed inheritance while the obstinate unbelievers for their disobedience to the Gospel of Grace perish Q. Is Faith of necessity to this New Covenant benefit A. Yea in all come up to years of discretion and capeable to attain it as appears Heb. 11.6 7. Gal. 3.22 26. John 3.15 16 18 36. Q. Have Children no Faith suppose you A. We have no reason to believe they have or can have any seeing Faith comes by hearing Rom. 10.14 17. and there can be no reason to believe that Faith can possibly be raised in the soul without hearing or means equivolent to bearing sufficient to enlighten the understanding in the knowledge of the Truth Q. Do you believe Children are saved although they have no Faith seeing the Lord will not save persons of understanding without it A. Yea First because Christ tels us that Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 19.13 14. Luke 18.15 16 17. Secondly They being redeemed and so delivered from all danger of eternal ruine upon the Old Covenant account It is no way likely that the New Covenant which is better and more merciful will ever condemn such as never live to disobey it also the Scripture plainly manifesteth that the second Adam brought a Cure every way proportionable to the Disease the first Adam brought upon the world Rom. 5.12 c. and that the grace is much more abundant that comes by him which being true there is no place for a doubt concerning the estate of Infants but that it is well with them seeing they have no more disease but what hath originally befallen them if Children have no Faith Q. VVhat then is a visible Church of Christ or how may it be discerned from other Assemblies A. The visible Church of Christ is an Assembly of faithful Persons Saints by calling at least Q. VVho are Saints by calling A. Those that are won by the Gospel to believe and voluntarily give up themselves to the profession and practice of Religion and Godliness Ephes 1.1 Phil. 1.1 5 6 7. Col. 1.2 4 5 6 7 8. Q. VVhat Ordinances hath Christ appointed in his Church visible A. Prayer Preaching Baptism Laying on of Hands the Lords Supper with all Duties of Love in general and when necessity requireth Excommunication also 1 Tim. 2.1 Acts 12.5 2 Tim. 4.1 2. Mat. 28.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.20 Heb. 13.16 2 Cor. 9.6 7. 1 Cor. 5. John 13.14 15. Mat. 18.15 16 17.18 Q. At what age ought persons to be Baptized and received into Church-Communion A. The Scriptures have not exprest any age but the time when persons do indeed repent and with all the heart believe the Gospel Acts 8.36 37 38. Mark 16.15 16. Acts 2.38 41 42. and so saith the Common-Prayer-Book also in its Catechisme and that according to truth Q. Be those that are Baptized and so Members of the visible Church Heirs of Salvation A. Yea if they do as they profess in truth believe John 3.15 16.36 Q. VVhat is true Faith let us understand and know it seeing it is so necessary to Salvation A. True Faith believes unfainedly all that God saith how unlikely soever it appears to sense Gen. 15.6 Gal. 3.6 7 9. Luke 1.45 Q. VVhat is the nature of true Faith or how may it be known when it is savingly wrought in the heart A. It will work men to a suitable obedience and deliver them from the love and service of sin and therfore if any do live in the service of known sin they cannot be in the Faith nor yet the Servants of Christ John 8.34 39. 1 John 3.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Acts 15.9 Q. VVill not that Faith then justifie men which is without good works A. No it cannot because it is fruitless and dead Jam. 2.14 c. Q. Are we justified by Faith or by VVorks or by both together A. Nay we are justified by Faith without Works Rom. 3.20 27 28. and 4.2 3 4 5 6. For however the Faith that is without Works will not justifie yet the Works themselves add nothing toward our justification Q. VVherefore then are good VVorks of necessity A. They are not at all of necessity to justifie us nevertheless if we be without them our Faith is not true nor living no more than he can be a living man that hath no breath in his nostrils Q. But are VVorks of no use but only to prove our Faith true and of a living nature A. Yes we may and must work diligently as well as believe in order to the attainment of our Sanctification which is as necessary to Salvation as Justification is and Holiness is not gotten without diligent working John 3.3 4. Heb. 12.14 2 Pet. 3.14 Heb. 6.11 12. Q. VVherefore must we work in order to our growth in Holiness and not in order to our Justification A. In the one works profit not but contrarily tend to rob the Lord of the honour of his grace who forgiveth freely iniquity Rom. 4.2 3 4 5 6 7 8. but in the other works are profitable for the attaining of holiness as was shewed before and they are profitable to men and honourable to God Tit. 3.8 14. Mat. 5.16 Heb. 12.14 Q. But then wherefore must we believe in order to Sanctification seeing it will not prevent working A. All Works are altogether vain without grace and blessing from God which must be fetched by Faith from him through