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	law_n	love_v	6,424	5	6.4721	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61692	A short discovery of certain truths of God according as they are revealed through the manifestation of the eternal light of the Son of righteousnesse, which are, a reply against two things in an epistle, and, an answer to certain queries contained in a book, intituled Christian queries, to quaking Christians, subscribed by one J.B. : also queries propounded, to be answered by the authour of the same book, or any other / by John Story.	Story, John, d. 1681.	1664 (1664)	Wing S5753; ESTC R4917	25,813	34

not abolished or made void through faith in Christ Jesus as it is written Do we through faith make void the Law God forbid Rom. 3. 31. Through faith we establish the Law for it is by virtue of faith in the Gospel that Christians are fully enabled to practice those religious duties which were commanded under the Law viz. to love God with all their heart and with all their mind for our Saviour calls this the first and great Commandement saying the second is like unto it thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self and on these two commandements hang the whole Law and the Prophets Mat. 22. 37 38 39 40. these religious duties with many other righteous practises of the people of God under the Law are indeed binding to Christians under the Gospel First Christians ought to live and continue in sincere desires after God at all times and to pray unto him not onely at morning evening and at noon day but at all seasons and hours wherein they shall find the immortal birth of life inclining their hearts to seek after him and his spirit to help their infirmities without the help of which Christians cannot pray ask or seek aright as it is written Rom. 8. 26. 27. We know not what we should pray for as we ought but the spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered and the motions of this immortal life and spirit of our heavenly Father is not limitted to dayes set times places or houres of dayes but when and what time it inclines and moves Christians are to follow and as they seek through and by its assistance they shall find and as they ask in the life and nature thereof they shall receive theirs hearts desire and obtain the thing which they pray for Secondly It is lawfull for Gods people to set apart a time for religious exercise as did Daniel and the rest of the servants of the Lord who notwithstanding the great afflictions and persecutions which attended them for righteousnesse sake and for their practice in the worship of God yet did they continue not only to professe him openly but to worship him after their accustomed manner as appears by the Scriptures which I. B. hath instanced Dan. 6. 10 13. with several other Scriptures which might be mentioned whose example herein I desire the Lord may instruct all Christians in sincerity to follow and continue in the practice of the doctrines exhortations of the Apostles and Ministers of Christ who exhorted the Saints not to forsake the assembling themselvs together as the manner of some was Heb. 10. 25. but as the day approacheth exhort one another in which practice the true Christians ever did walk and continue notwithstanding the cruel persecution grievous afflictions that were inflicted upon them by ungodly men of this world for so doing viz. their continuing in the profession of Christianity and practice of meeting together to wait upon and worship the Lord in Spirit and truth for which holy practice so great were the sufferings and afflictions by them indured as may be read at large in Ecclesiastical Histories that Fox saith in the book of Martyrs what fires what tortures without respect either to age or sex they were inforced to feel then did the earth without doubt bewail her children and the round world which containeth all things being imbrued with their bloud made a dolefullamentation for them and the day it self provoked to mourn was amazed for them when the very barbarous Nations rejoyce for their sakes which received and harboured them when they were afraid and fled from us keeping them as it were in a most loving and amiable captivity to which I may say Alas alas that ever any that professe the same Christ as these persecuted Christians suffered for should now Acts and Monuments lib. 1. fol. 92. become persecutors and not only of such as in words deny him but even of such as confesse and believe in him to be the only Saviour of the world Surely the true Christian soul that seriously considereth will be greatly afflicted and the heart that sees it cannot but mourn in the beholding of the woful apostacy darknesse and delusions in which many thousand Christians are fallen who professe Christ in words and yet walk so far contrary to the light of Christ and are so far out of his nature which is to shew kindnesse mercy and love to all men not only to them that believe but to them that believe not even with long patience to instruct them that they may believe and repent but the heart that is possessed with the true knowledge of the woful backsliding from the ancient doctrine and truth of the Gospel in which those persecuted Christians walked both in and after the Apostles dayes beholding this dismal night that is come upon multitudes of Christians cannot but even take up a lamentation and cry Alas alas that ever any who professe Christ should be so far void of his bowels and mercies and should have so far lost all tendernesse of conscience that they should even now persecute their brethren who professe and believe in the same God and Christ as they in words professe and believe having no other reason for their so doing but only because they differ from them in some ceremonial and outward practices of Christianity Alas alas that ever the Devil the enemy of mankind should so far delude and deceive men who agree in the outward profession of one God and Christ which is the main and weighty matter in the outward profession of Christian Religion Oh that ever they should be so far darkned and misled to afflict and persecute about the smaller matters or outward practices of Religion whenas it ought to be a duty incumbent upon all who professe the name of Christ to perswade one another in the power of the Gospel and if the true Christian cannot overcome the errour of the mind in the false Christian after this manner he ought notwithstanding to walk in love towards him and leave him to the Lord who is that great Potter that hath power over all men to change from errour to truth and out of death into life when and what time soever he pleaseth Thirdly Christians are to mind in that serious and weighty duty of Prayer the motions and leadings of Gods Spirit through which their infirmities are helped and they not praying in their own name or will but in the name of Christ their prayers become effectual and God answers them in the things they pray for as it is written John 14. 13 14. Fourthly It is a duty incumbent upon all true Christians to use family duties viz. to pray unto him as they are led thereunto by the heavenly birth and Spirit which of him they have received And parents ought to instruct their Children by word and godly example as they may find the Spirit of Christ lead them so to do by the virtue and authority of which their

A Short DISCOVERY Of certain TRUTHS of GOD According as they are revealed through the manifestation of the eternal light of the Son of Righteousnesse Which are A Reply against two things in an Epistle And An Answer to ce●tain Queries contained in a Book Intituled Christian Queries to Quaking Christians Subscribed by one J. B. Also Queries propounded to be answered by the Authour of the same Book or any other By JOHN STORY But sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts and be ready alwaies to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meeknesse and fear 1 Pet. 3. 15. Printed in the year 1664. A Pamphlet or little book being come to my hands intituled Christian Queries to Quaking Christians c. By one who subscribes himself I. B. with an Epistle to the Reader from one who subscribes himself I. A. And I having duly weighed and seriously considered both the Epistle and the Queries I return this following Reply against two things in the Epistle with an Answer to the Queries First to the Epistle in the Frontispiece of which I. A. saith Go little book improve thy Scripture skill Advance the truth and throw down all self-will Reply IT is not in the power of that little book or any other writing how holy or good soever they may be in themselves either to advance the truth or beat down the self-will haughty pride of man farther then they are accompanied with the living word Spirit and power of the Lord God therefore may I say much more it is not in the power of that little Book either to throw down self-will in any in whom it is not yet subdued or to exalt the truth in general because its only queries gathered by the Authour from the Letter of the Scriptures without and no message of heavenly prophesy doctrine or exhortation received by the Authour from the Lord through the divine inspiration of his light and Spirit within whose light Spirit and power operating in the hearts of men is that only means which becomes effectual to accomplish the things before mentioned viz. the laying low the pride of all flesh and the exaltation of the name and t●uth of God in the world Therefore may I say it 's a very vain and idolatrous exhortation which I. A. hath given to I. B. his little book And I. A. further saith Let light without be guide to light within Reply If by this exhortation I. A. means that light without should guide the true light which shines in the hearts of Saints which I cannot but gather from the forementioned words then I must needs say 't is a very absurd and foolish exhortation and being spoken upon a divine account it is very full of idolatry and evil and greatly contrary to the Gospel and exhortation of Gods Embassadours to the Saints upon earth which was that they should abide in the light or anointing that was in them 1 John 2. 27. And the Apostle preferreth the light that God hath caused to shine into their hearts so far beyond any perishing thing or light without that he exalts it as that excellent means by which he the Saints received the knowledge unto everlasting life 2 Cor. 4. 6. Where he saith God who commanded light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ Many more testimonies proving the same truth might be instanced And though the holy Scriptures without and the Saints practises are as lights in the world yet far be it from all true Christian men so to idolize them as to set them in esteem above the light which is sufficient to guide or to esteem them equal with the light and Spirit of Christ within from which the Scriptures were given forth which are but branches of that holy ●oot and as it were fruits of that heavenly tree viz. the appearance of God in the hearts of his people If I. A. had bid people mind the doctrines and exhortations of the holy Scripture which testifies of and exhorts to Christ the true and never erring light in the hearts of his followers he had done better But what I have already in love said I shall leave to his more serious and better consideration 1. Query How and by what means may salvation be attained whether by adhering to light within us or by faith in Christ without us 1 if the later be not the best way why is it that the Scriptures do so often bid us to believe in Jesus Christ and that by so doing we may be saved 3 Joh. 15 16. Acts 16. 30 31. 2 or if the former be the better way if so I would then ask farther Answ Salvation is to be obtained through believing and walking in the obedience unto Christ Jesus who is that only true and saving light which lighteth every man that comes into the world Iohn 1. 9. And all mankind who cometh out of that night of darknesse which hath overshadowed the whole world and from under the cloud of errour that hath covered all the inhabitants of the earth must both believe receive and walk in the light of the Lamb Rev. 21. 24. which is the best and most excellent way though we must confesse as Jesus the true light of the world is God blessed forever our vessels are not able to contain him because his presence is infinite and fills heaven and earth and as he is thus infinite in himself we must confesse that he is as real without us as within us yet the true knowledge and faith which we with all the Saints have in Christ unto our salvation is not of him at a distance without us but even in him as he is near at hand by his light and spirit revealed within us according to what the Apostle saith Rom. 1. 19. That which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them And Col. 1. 27. the Apostle saith To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery amongst the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory Therefore I say the hope which we with all true Christ●ans have whereby we may attain heaven where all felicity and happinesse is enjoyed for ever is not by any knowledge of Christ at a distance without us but as he is inwardly revealed by his light and Spirit in our hearts and they who thus know him have and do experience the virtue of his precious bloud which was shed for many to wash away their sin and to purge them from all their transgressions And this is that knowledge which a man may have and not dye for the soul that hath it lives to God in this world and shall reign with Christ to all eternity in the world to come And because this is the best and most excellent way for Christians both to believe

in and receive Christ unto their everlasting salvation therefore it is that the holy Scriptures testifie of Christ being revealed unto the Saints in this way but neither the Scriptures which thou hast instanced nor any other exhorts Christians to believe in Christ as he is at a distance without them but the contrary Rom. 10. 6 7 8. 2. Query Whether the light within us be a sufficient guide to direct us unto true happinesse and what this light is whether in every man or how to be attained 1. if this light be sufficient to salvation of what use are the Scriptures And why are we at all exhorted unto faith which implyeth something at a distance and not yet enioyed Heb. 11. 1. 3. Answ The light of Jesus within us is a sufficient guide to direct and lead us which all them that walk in it out of darknesse and misery to the inheritance of glory and joy with the sanctified in Christs spiritual K●ngdome according as our Saviour who is this light testifieth of himself John 8. 12. where he saith I am the light of the world he that followeth me shall not walk in darknesse but have the light of life and Zechariah prophesying of him whose light is sufficient to guide men out of errour and darknesse saith Luke 1. 78 79. through the tender mercy of our God the day spring from on high hath visited us to give light to them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace By these two testimonies may this truth be confirmed viz. that the light of Jesus which shines within us is sufficient both to direct and lead us to true happinesse Secondly this true light in which we walk give testimony to the world and say it is that unto which all mankind must be turned that come to receive remission of sins Act. 26. 18. is no other but even Jesus the everlasting son of God as the Scriptures testifieth John 1. 9. and John 8. 12. Rev. 21 24. Thirdly This true light lighteth every man as it is before already proved John 1. 9. And he that desires to attain the knowledge of Jesus the true light let him not say in his heart who shall ascend or descend Rom. 10. and 6. 7. for Christ the light is near whose beams in a small measure shines in the darknesse of his heart according to John 1. 4. 5. and may be known by its operation of manifesting the secret evils there which are reproved and through it he comes to have a descerning between the inward thoughts and desires which would incline his heart towards God and those which would or doth cause his heart to decline from God therefore he that would attain to the knowledge of Christ whose light gives him in some measure the knowledge of himself as is before said must in love and obedience to Christ whose light convinceth him of sin confesse and forsake his sin in which obedience man comes to receive that heavenly power of God which begets him again out of sin and death and makes him partaker of the divine nature and life of Christ the light in which he comes to see light to have the excellent knowledge of that everlasting son through which in some measure he saw the filthinesse of sin and the motions of it in his heart while as yet he had not the knowledge of the light neither could it comprehend Fourthly Because this light is sufficient of great use are the Scriptures which testifieth of and directeth to this light and exhorteth Christians to the growing in faith and belief in Jesus who is the true light and Saviour of the world and able to save to the utmost Heb. 7. 25. Heb. 5. 9. 3. Query Whether is this light the conscience of every man or 3. is it Christ in every man if so why then are not all men saved for if he that hath not this light be out of Christ as you say then all that have this light must of necessity be in Christ and consequently saved 2 Cor. 13. 5. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Answ This light is not the conscience of every man neither is it the conscience of any man but is that heavenly light by which God lightens the consciences of the sons of men to distinguish between good and evil as I have already said And all they that believe in and obey the motions of Gods Spirit by the light of his Son he will lead them out of all darknesse and errour and guide them in the way everlasting and he will give them richly to possesse the evidence of his light and Spirit upon their consciences that they are his children Herein they come to partake of that peace which never shall have an end Secondly though we do not say that every man knows or hath received Christ within yet we say the beams of his light lighteth all men in which his grace that bringeth salvation hath appeared to them 1 Tit. 2. 11. And hereby his good Spirit is tendered to instruct them notwithstanding they rebell against him Neh. 9. 20 26. And this is the cause that all men are not saved viz. their not believing in but rejecting the light of his salvation and rebelling against his Spirit which should instruct them in the way thereof through which Spirit all men that continue in sin shall be left without excuse whose destruction is of themselves 4. Query Whether that way which you teach and the doctrines you maintain and propagate be consonant to and may be defended by the word of God contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament whether it be not necessary to haue some rule of trial by which we may try the spirits whether they be of God or no 1 John 4. 1 2 3. And 2. whether the Scriptures be not sufficient thereunto or is there any better way to be propounded for such a tryal and 3. if there be any better way why are we directed by the Prophet Esaiah to the Law and to the testimony and if any man speak otherwise it is because there is no light in him as Esai 8. 20. and 4. why were the Bereans commended for searching the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Act. 17. 11. Lastly if the Scriptures are not to be the rule for all Doctrines why is it that the Apostle doth so severely and that over and over again pronounce a curse against all such as should preach any other Gospel then what he had already preached which is onely to be found in the Scriptures as Gal. 1. 7 8 9. Answ The doctrines which we maintain and propagate are consonant to and may be defended by the forceable arguments of truth and holy records thereof contained in the Old and New Testament First It is necessary to have a rule of tryal to try the spirits whether they be of God as I. B. hath already instanced 1 Iohn 4. 1 2 3. And he that in