Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	faith_n	grace_n	repentance_n	2,335	5	7.5639	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85988	A soveraign antidote against sinful errors, the epidemical plague of these latter dayes. Extracted out of divine records, the dispensatory of Christianity: for the prevention and cure of our spiritual distempers. By Claudius Gilbert, B.D. and minister of the Gospel at Limrick in Ireland.	Gilbert, Claudius, d. 1696?	1658 (1658)	Wing G704; Thomason E939_4; ESTC R202212	152,383	185

Principle in the Habit and Source in the seed and beginning is first given to the Elect in their Regeneration and Conversion to be the original of all actual Graces in them this is called the new creature the new man created after Gods Image the divine Nature the forming of Christ within c. Of this children are capable if they be not of actual Grace which yet seems probable This is inherent Grace in the first principles and Habits thereof both gratis data and gratum faciens in an Orthodox not in a popish sense Secondly Inherent Grace in the Branches and streams in the Acts and Effects in the fruits and progress is variously denominated from the Objects Subjects manner of acting c. it s called faith to express the motion of the renewed soul towards God in Christ upon conjugal terms believing his Truth closing with his Person trusting his Promises depending on his Mercy deriving from his fulness observing him in all things which is called the life of faith It s called Repentance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it turns the whole soul from all sin to God Both in purpose and endeavour through his Spirit this and all other Graces are still concomitants and subsequents of faith in their gradual proportion It s called love to denote the affectionate embracing of God in Christ and in his people for Christs sake as the most amiable object It s called obedience as it acts the whole man to a free and full compliance with Gods Will revealed in his Word It s called Thankfulness as it affects the heart with the sense of Mercy received It s called self-denial as it moves the soul to prefer Christ before all things else and part with any thing for his sake It s termed Patience in regard of sorrowfull evils which it learns to bear submissively It s named humility with respect to its low thoughts of self submitted still to Christ It s nominated Temperance in regard of its care to avoid all excessive use of Creatures It s termed Zeal as it moves with fervour for good against evil It s termed Justice or Righteousness in respect of its readiness to give every one their due It s called Prudence as it regards all due means tending to right ends It s termed Wisdom as it s acquainted with the best things in their nature cause and end Thus Grace inherent hath its various appellations and distinctions both habitually and actually being the Grace properly meant in the Text as being that Grace which is capable of Growth The Knowledge of Christ is taken also in a sense more large or more strict 1. LArgely and commonly for a notional Knowledge void of saving Faith and Love such as puffs up an empty Brain 2. Strictly and specially for that saving applicative knowledge which includes all Grace by an elegant Hebraism verbs of sense and knowledge signifying both affectum effectum Natural knowledge of things is acquired by sense Reason or Authority Thus in spirituals this knowledge of Christs is spiritually sensible and rationally fiducial Its a conjugal knowledge which implies 1. Apprehension of the Truth of Christs proper Object 2. Credit and Assent thereto upon his divine Authority 3. Personal consent and particular Applications in mutual Acception and Reciprocation Grace and Knowlede in the Text may be understood 1. Distinctly Conjunctly 1. DIstinctly shewing the excellent Worth and needfull use of every Grace and of the knowledge of Christ 2. Conjunctly by a figure called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grace and Knowledge signifies gracious Knowledge as in that like phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grace and Apostleship for gracious Apostleship So the sense will be very emphatical suiting our purpose in characterizing this excellent Jewel so singularly transcendent beyond all other This precious Jewel is curiously set out in the golden ring of divine Records where you find it held forth in its radient Lustre whose glorious beams may be contracted for our clearer apprehension into plain description you may then observe it to be a conjugal acquaintance with Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour wrought in Gods Elect by the special operation of his renewing Spirit and effectually improved to Gods honor and mans good in every Relation toward God and Man This is the choice Jewel whose eminent worth hath been in all ages so incomparably prized by the Word and friends of God Every Page of Scripture sets forth the peculiar Eminency thereof every precept and Promise every prefiguration and Prophesie every President and performance points unto this This was under the Old Testament more ceremonially vailed and under the New is more Evangelically Revealed This is the centre wherein all the Lines of Scripture do meet All the Patriarchs aimed still at this Abraham saw his day and rejoiced Davi● is full of it Job was divinely advised to such an Acquaintance as to the source and sum of all good Paul accounted all loss and dung in comparison of this excellent Knowledge and rationally determined to know nothing else Peter sums all up in this Good Reason for it if we consider the Object and subject the cause and Nature the property and effect thereof which are all hinted in the former Description Reason 1. The proper Object adequate of this gracious Knowledge is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ a singular Jewel indeed in every consideration The Paramount and Non-such the chiefest of ten thousand both in his Person and Office in his progress and Purchase in his Relation and Influence 1. The Person of Christ is a noble Paragon considered as God as Man as God-man 1. CHrist is God blessed for ever the eternal Son of his eternall Father co-essential and co-equal with him the the Brightness of his Glory and the express Image or Character of his Person in whom dwells the fulness of the Godhead 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 substantially and bodily the only begotton of the Father full of Grace and Truth essentially one with the Father though personally distinct by an eternal Generation unutterable to man firmly to be believed on Gods Testimony and piously adored not curiously pried into The wonderful Wisdom of the Father who was his Delight before Time by whom in time he made the world and upholds all by the word of his power Essentially he is God of himself Personally God the Son of God the Father His proper Name is the Word of God the Wonderful Councellor the Father of Eternity He that doth what ever the Father doth and to be worshipped as the Father is worshipped He that sends the Spirit from the Father who being in the form and substance of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God To him be glory for ever Amen 2. Christ as Man is the Rare Object of this Knowledge For the word was made flesh and dwelt among

Bramble bear figs or a sinful man beget a sinless child Is not the spawn and brood of venemous creatures venemous also Can a dead corpse raise it self to Life or a soul dead in sin contribute ought to its own quickning Yet is this no excuse for any sin because man is condemned for the abuse and neglect of that which is given him The best of them goes not so far as he might Though he be spiritually dead yet is he naturally alive and the abuse of natural parts is a sufficient condemnation to every sinner though variously appearing Thus is God stil just merciful and true though man prove unjust unworthy and false He is stil beforehand with every man though unfaithful servants who improve not the talent lent them charge him to be a hard master As he is free in disposing of his gifts so will every abuse and neglect of each of them be duly reckoned for 22. Christs saving Grace is also abused 1. By the former Errors 2. By the Pelagians and Socinians ascribing mans salvation to his own merits the fruits of his own power and will 3. By the Papists and Arminians sacrificing also to their nets some owning merits de congruo before Conversion others only merits de condigno after conversion either ex propria Natura with some or ex pacto with others very few of them are found more modest 4. By the Quakers Behmenists and Notionists variously treading in their steps and disguising those old Errors with the colours of new Light of a Christ within pretended Raptures Chymical dreams and Magical deceits Their monstrously abstruse expressions and Fictitious Raptures were much magnified in that German Tragedy acted in various Scenes for many years especially from 1522. til 1540. and are now revived out of Paracelsus Behmen Wigelius and the like by their followers very perniciously now AGainst such a Poyson the gracious Knowledge of Christ will fortifie you by Scripture discovery of the Nature and Cause the Method and Means the Subject and Effects of that saving Grace 1. The Nature thereof is Gods Application of his special Favour unto his Elect Redeemed by Christ saving them from all sin on earth Inchoatively in Heaven consummatively 2. The Fountain cause thereof is his own pleasure the final his Honour exalted in his Son by his own Spirit applying the same 3. The Method observed is gradually to shew this favour 1. Primitively in his Election and Redeeming Love 2. Communicatively in his Adopting and Justifying his supporting and supplying Love from the beginning of Grace through perseverance unto Glory in Eternity 4. The means appointed and employed therein are 1. Christ the Principal The Spirits Operation as efficient and every Ordinance and Providence his Word especially as Instrumentally blessed of him thereto 5. The Subjects thereof are Gods Elect Redeemed by the Son Renewed by his Spirit whom he Adopts for Children justifying their persons and keeping them through faith by his Power unto Salvation supporting and supplying them stil by the earnest and first fruits of his Spirit til the full possession of all 6. The Effects thereof are the gaining of their hearts by Divine Love to mutual Returns to chuse him in Christ by his Spirit for their chief good and soveraign Lord delighting in him depending on him closing with him following of him drawing all from him reducing all to him loving what he loves hating what he hates with an harmony of mind heart and hand And all for his sake and to his Glory by his strength according to his Will THis Light will easily dispel all Cavils darkning the truth There are no merits but in Gods Mercy He rewards indeed but it s of Grace He pardons sin and doth it freely Yet he requires Faith and Repentance not to merit but to receive it emptying the soul of self to fill it with himself letting out sin to let in Christ casting out Satan to bring in his Spirit Purging out corruption by giving his Grace preparing for Glory He therefore bids them take heed lest they fall to keep them standing in the right use of Means He appointed the End and blesses the Means He promises and assures their standing not by their own but by his Might Thus all that the Father gave Christ shall come to him and him that comes to him he will in no wise cast out because this is the will of the Father that sent him that of all he hath given him he should lose nothing The father that gave them to him is greater then all none shall pluck them out of his hand Ergo. Object But may they not slip away Answ Yea if left to themselves as Adam was in the Covenant of Works But he hath made a better Covenant with them in Christ engaging his Grace to preserve and save to the utmost all whom he chose in him Redeemed by him and sanctifyingly renews by his Spirit This is all their Hope and all their Salvation though in a Winter of temptation it seems not to flourish He therefore writes his Law in their heart and puts his Spirit within them to cause them to walk in his Statutes that they shall keep his Judgements and do them He will uphold them by his right hand till he bring them to Glory He will Crown his own Grace in them and magnifie his strength in their weakness Object But doth not this Doctrine lead to presumption and Libetinism Answ Not at all though it may be abused as the best things are It leads genuinely to all Christian diligence and Grace as the sure only way to Glory This Assurance he gives not to all alike nor to any alike at all times Though his weak children be sure in his hand yet he lets them often stumble that they may know him and themselves better The Riches of his Grace appear still herein freely and fully surely and choicely What 's freer then pardon to an unworthy Rebel That Christ satisfied and that Faith is given to receive pardon is not that free also What 's fuller then such a pardon that justifies from all guilt Inchoatively progressively consummatively whether you say the pardon is Renewed or continued or confirmed to the Regenerate is it not stil full Doth he not blot out all scores and remit all faults by application of his Justifying Grace His correcting of them is the fruit of that Adopting Love which pardons them Because they are children they must have Physick and the Rod also What 's surer then this Grace which engages the Trinunity in the clearest Bond with the surest Ties with Word and Writing with his Hand and Seal with Promise and Oath yea with his own Blood to final performance on his side and theirs They may break indeed but he cannot break Though they act faithlesly yet he acts

A bare external painted form they have a shel of duty and carkass of Religion but without the Life and inward vigour Such are Pharisaical monkish Hypocrites varnished potsheards garnished Sepulchres Christ was troubled with such and so are we still Profession is grown into fashion shifted by many as men shift their cloaths They make use of God to serve their own turn and enjoy their Lust Such are on a round of duty like a Mill-horse in a course perfunctorily Religionis their task and Burthen They post from one Ordinance to another as to a stage longing to be rid of their trouble Used to a Road as a Carriers horse they carry their Load and take their turns But this gracious knowledge they are strangers to Their worship is much like the mongrel Samaritans that knew the Lord in a mixt formal way but knew him not aright Is not this a woful condition thinkest thou to baffle Christ thus Will this foppish way of dead performances be pleasing to him who is a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and Truth Did not Paul himself see the vanity of his utmost Pharisaical holiness wherein he rested before his conversion Hast thou not much more need to bewail thy coldness and deadness thy cursoriness and heartlesness A sacrifice without a heart was alwayes ominous as it proved among the Romans Wilt thon put off God as Heathens serve their Idols with a liveless worship If thou offer the lame and the torn is it not evil How far art thou from knowing of Christ that knowest not thy self but art well conceited of thy good meaing and thy good Duties Who hath required these things at thy hand Will not the Lord rebuke thee as he did Israel in the like case 4. It justly reproves the Justitiary Legalist that seems exact in his way of good works and rests thereon He is not so bad as the worst and therefore thinks himself as good as the best His seeming Justice equity and charity beguiles him as much as the Formalists painted holiness He hopes to be saved by his good Deeds and good Intentions as the Papists do thinking that Christ will make up for him what is defective Alas wretched soul wilt thou patch up thus a Linsey Woolsey Garment of thy own Righteousness mingled with Christs Merits Will thy fig-leaves cover thy nakedness Will thy crack'd peny make amends to God for millions of pounds due to him from thee Canst thou do any thing without sin Art thou not bound to be wholly his Canst thou satisfie his Infinite Justice or deserve his Infinite Mercy Did Christ merit that thou mightest merit Is he a Remote Saviour that thy self mightst be thine immediate Saviour Canst thou climbe to Heaven with a Ladder of thy making or waft thy self over into the Indie's in thy own Nut-shel of self-Righteousness Civil morality is good in it self but not to Justifie thy person as a piece of brass is good for something but not to pass for Gold nor to pay an Infinite ransom God gives indeed a Reward to his according to their works but not for their works sake Thou canst not be saved without good works and yet not by works If thou knewest Christ graciously thou wouldst know thy self to be unworthy and insufficient still See thy folly and thy misery in trusting to self thou loosest and slightest the only Pearl of Price 5. This point casts a very ghastly glance upon all profane licentious persons that turn Christs grace into wantonness and delight in a sinful Liberty Consider it thou Swearer and drunkard thou Lyar and unclean wretch thou scoffer and malicious thou proud and wanton thou slanderer and riotous Liver Why dost thou profess the Knowledge of Christ to abuse him thus Art not thou much worse then Pilate or Judas then the Jewes and Romanes in affronting and murthering of Christ Dost thou not give him ten blows for one good word destroying thy self in disgracing him Dost thou presume on his mercy still whilst thou delightest in the Devils work Doth the Name and Baptism of Christ give thee a Protection from Divine Justice whilst thou remainest still in open Rebellion Dost thou hope still to pacifie him with a few faint words of Lord hove mercy I am sorry and such like mock-speeches Is Repentance in thy own power or thy Life and Means that still thou puttest off Wilt thou lay the whole Burthen on the tyred horse and wave returning till thy elder age Wilt thou give Satan the creame and Christ the Refuse of thy time and strength Canst thou hope for Christs Salvation in the high Road to thy damnation Wilt thou still delight in the Devils work and yet hope for wages from Heaven Is not thy case very desperate to follow the Devil into every sin Couldst thou but see thy Infernal Guide that leads thee captive at his will what a dreadful sight would that prove to thee Hast thou lived so long under the Gospel as the Smiths Dog under the Anvil to deafen and harden thee Will not thy later end prove most desperate that hast made so much haste in the broad way to Hell If Grace prevent not miraculously thou shalt know that Christ to thy confusion whom thou wouldst not know to thy conversion 6. This Truth looks wishly on carnal Notionists who pretend much to the Knowledge of Christ and yet remain destitute of his Grace They have learned to prate about Christ and to use his Name for a Sanctuary to sin From vain Notions they speedily run into vile affections and their devotion lies most in their fancy Their Tongue is tipped with the Language of Canaan to deceive the simple in deceiving themselves This age abounds with such the Lord awaken them who are lulled asleep in the Devils Lap. Alas wretched soul what will be thy end and what is thy case in such delusions If thy head swel much with giddy Notions doth it not betoken a woful disease Whither will Satan transformed into an Angel of Light lead thee at the last How sad is it thus to poyson thy self so many more in mingling fancies with Gods holy Word perverted by thee to dream thy self into a fools Paradise whilst thou slightest Christ his Ordinances how woful is it Thou playest like a Gnat and Moth about the Candle till thou be consumed by the heat thereof Golden Imaginations do tickle thy thoughts whilst Satan is leading thee captive at his Will Are not such spiritual Judgements the worst of all to be given up thus to strong delusions to believe such Lies Is it not because thou receivest not the Truth in the Love of it that God gives thee up to thy own hearts Lusts How far art thou from a gracious knowledge that turnest his Grace into wantonness Didst thou know Christ