Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A65936
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That great duty and comfortable evidence (keeping our selves from our iniquity) opened and applied in some sermons upon Psal. 18, 23 / by John Whitlock.
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Whitlock, John, 1625-1709.
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1698
(1698)
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Wing W2029; ESTC R26359
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57,005
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130
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not a competent measure of knowledge of the necessary principles and duties of Religion and of the nature of the Graces of the Spirit Is not this the sin of many among us And as to the profane loose debauched person that goes on in his wicked course of Drunkenness Uncleanness Swearing Sabbath-breaking and keeping wretched company his own peculiar reigning sin is carnal Security and Presumption and that either presuming on the mercy of God and Merits of Christ in general without Faith applying laying hold of and resting upon the Grace of God and Merit of Christ and without Repentance and turning from Sin to God thereby evidencing the truth of their Faith Mens blessing themselves and saying in their Hearts they shall have Peace tho' they walk in the Imagination of their own Heart and add Drunkenness to Thirst Deut. 29.19 Or else presuming and promising themselves that they can and will Believe and Repent hereafter before they dye Are not these O thou profane sinner thy beloved reigning sins which will prove damning ones unless thou be delivered and inabled to keep from them The meerly civil or morally just and honest person in his dealings with Men he that is free from Debauchery and open acts of Profaneness and is just yea it may be Charitable also a good Common-wealths-man a good Neighbour these are all highly commendable Qualifications yea necessary duties inseparable from true Faith and Repentance and signs of true conversion when proceeding from and accompanied with those Graces and Love to and Fear of God and Heart and Life-Holiness But yet Men may be civilly just charitable useful in their places and be still in an unconverted state Now the special beloved reigning sins of such as these are resting in these as their justifying righteousness being ready to say as the Pharisee Luk. 18.11 12. I am not as other men are c. and taking up with these instead of true conversion and a saving work of Grace without Faith Repentance Love to God and New Obedience and keeping up Communion with God in the Duties of Religion See whether these be not your Iniquities and Reigning sins and if they have been or be Pray Believe and endeavour to be delivered and kept from them And as to the formal Professor he may not only be Civil but also much in Duties of Religion make an high Profession be a Baptized person Hear Read Pray perform Family and Secret Duties receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper join in full Communion with the True and Best Reformed Churches of Christ and yet be in an Unconverted state Now the reigning sin of such persons which is their Iniquity is resting in a form of Godliness without the power and practice of it suitable to their profession separating duties of Piety from duties of Justice and Charity performing some first table duties but neglecting those of the second Table which God has joined and which in conjunction the Grace of God in the Gospel doth teach and require Tit. 2.11 12. Is this the sin of none of you If it be a beloved reigning sin in you it will ruin you as surely as open profaneness and the neglect of the duties of Piety Pray and Believe that you may be delivered and kept from this being your Iniquity And as to the close Hypocrite who may deceive himself as well as others who may have much Knowledge great Gifts in Prayer and speaking of the things of God yea if a Minister in preaching opening and confirming the Truth and confuting Error and may have experienced all the common works of the Spirit such as Illumination Convictions legal Terrors and legal Humiliation partial Reformation and flashy stony-ground Affections a person having all these may yet be in an Unconverted state Now the special reigning sin of such is Pride in and Boasting of their Gifts or resting in Knowledge and Gifts without Grace taking up with the common works of the Spirit before mentioned instead of a thorough change and sound Conversion And as to persons Converted there are sins which may be called their Iniquities which tho' they are not beloved and reigning ones yet may be very prevailing in them so as that they may frequently fall into and be foiled by them and these may be considered according to their lower or higher standing in Christ whether as Young Converts and Weak Christians or as Stronger more Ancient and of longer standing in Christ As to Young Converts or Weaker Christians the sins that are like to prove their Iniquities are unsettledness and fickleness in Judgment being taken with Novelties tossed to and fro being led by Affection more than Judgment indiscreet zeal without knowledg and spiritual prudence to poize and regulate it Suffering the duties of their general and particular Calling to interfere and hinder one another scrupulousness and uncharitable censuring of others pride of duties gifts inlargements and trusting in them too much And in Weak Doubting Christians indulging doubts and fears listening to Satan entertaining hard thoughts of God refusing the comforts the Word of God holds forth Are none of these your prevailing Corruptions tho' not your beloved ones but if they be prevailing ones they are very Dishonourable to God uncomfortable and prejudicial both to your selves and others Pray you may be kept and endeavour to keep your selves from them And as to Stronger and more Ancient Christrians the sins that they are in danger to be beset with as their peculiar sins are too much rigidness towards young beginners expecting too much from them as much Knowledge and Prudence as they themselves or other Ancient Christians have not bearing with their Infirmities want of Pity and Compassion towards such as are under Doubts and Fears which may provoke God to cause even strong Christians some time or other to feel them that they may learn more to pity such weak doubting tempted deserted but good Souls for ever after Again another special sin of Stronger Christians or those that think themselves so is using or indeed abusing Christian Liberty by going to the utmost extent of it to the offence of others grieving some and wounding the Consciences of others occasioning them to sin by their example not caring if they do but satisfie themselves how much others may be dissatisfied grieved offended and damaged Yea Worldliness is an iniquity that is very apt to seize and grow upon Ancient Professors as also Spiritual Sloth and Slumber Deadness of Affections Dulness and Drowsiness of Soul in Holy Duties decays of Grace loss of First Love and of former Zeal and Tenderness You stronger and more ancient Christians search whether some or other of these be not your Iniquities which tho' they be not allow'd or reigning sins yet oft and very far prevail over you IX Those Sins which may properly be called Mens own Iniquities may oft be found in or about the Duties they should or do perform In regard either of the Omissions of Duties and Ordinances or Carelesness in