Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	grace_n	jesus_n	lord_n	11,571	5	3.7769	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33947	A second generall epistle to all the saints wherein is unfolded the covenant of grace, as its a law in the spirit, of light, liberty, righteousness, holinesse, power and glory : as likewise as it is a law of peace, love and edification : published for the good of those who love peace and holinesse / written by T. Collier.	Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691.	1649 (1649)	Wing C5297; ESTC R12986	48,646	138

with him in glory and you never enjoy the end of your faith until you come into the perfection of this glorious salvation Chap. XII The law in the spirit a law of peace THere is a false and fleshly joy and glory likewise which arises from the law in the flesh and that either 1. When creatures glory in sin and prophanenesse and ungodlinesse such a glorying is not good it will prove their shame Or 2. When men glory in the world in their profits pleasures and honours this glorying likewise is after the flesh Or else 3. When men glory in external priviledges as they call them although they are indeed but delusions as ordinances formes performances c. This likewise is but a fleshly glorying and that which Christ fore-told Mat. 7. 22. Luk. 13. 26 27. and the Apostle rejected Phil. 3. Or else 4. When men are gotten into such a notion as that now al is good every worke of the flesh and deed of darkenesse is now justifiable and they glory in it why al these are but fleshly gloryings And to such I say Glory not lie not against the truth for a day is coming when al flesh shal vale it selfe unto this excellent glory and al other glories shal perish as grasse as dung upon the earth and if mercy prevent not al these gloryings wil prove your shame Because you have rejoyced in lying vanities you have made lies your refuge and covered your selves under falshood And to you I say who have tasted how gracious how pure how glorious the Lord is Let not the wise man glory in his wisdome nor the rich man in his riches nor the strong man in his strength but let him that glorieth glory in this that he knows the Lord and his interest in him That the Lord is his portion his relation to him that he is his son his delight that he is heir with Christ to the same inheritance to the same glory and this is a glory wil out glory al fleshly gloryings in which men of the earth are taken up withal Or else 5. when this man of sin gets higher in filling the fancy with high apprehensions and glorious imaginations and seeming revelations to amazement in the creatures apprehension that it thinks certainly its the glorious God but the trial is it ends al in flesh fils the soule with pride and selfe-exaltations and is but like unto new wine put into old bottles that burst them al to peeces and by this meanes the evil one takes an advantage to blow them up root and branch and so to put an end to that which seemed to be in them whereas the discoveries of the spiritual law makes soules in whom it is the more humble the more spiritual the more conformable to it selfe and the more this glorious law appeares the more it changes the soule into its owne glory the more is flesh and fleshly exaltations subdued Chap. XIII It is likewise a Law of peace I Shal adde two or three particulars further in the discovery of this Covenant in the spirit And First It s a Covenant a Law of peace It s not onely a law of grace and love but it s likewise a law of peace hence it s called in Scripture a Covenant of peace Ezek. 37. 26. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them and it shall be an everlasting covenant c. This everlasting Covenant of grace is a Covenant of peace in the spirits of Saints he is our peace who hath broken down that middle wall of partition between us c. Ephes 2. 14. This Covenant of peace may be considered either 1. As it workes the soule into a peace and unity with the Father that now the soul who was once afarre off is made neare through the bloud of this Covenant and so being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and the kingdome of God within the Saints is a kingdome of righteousnesse peace and joy This is that the Apostle so often mindes in his Epistles Grace mercy and peace from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ This is that peace of God which passeth al understanding of nature and flesh this is that peace which produceth joy which is unspeakable and full of glory Now the soule being in a Covenant of peace can goe boldly to the throne of grace there to have communion and fellowship with the God and Father of peace being made through grace a son of peace 2. This law of peace works the soul into a peace with all creatures possesseth it with a disposition of peace and love He is now at emnity with none ready to doe good to all to pray for enemies and those who oppose themselves being possest with that law in the spirit which is pure peaceable gentle easie to be entreated full of mercy and good fruites James 3. 17 18. without partiality without hypocrisie and the fruit of righteousnesse is sowne in peace in them who love peace This disposition is planted in them as much as in them lieth to live peaceable with al men Thus are Saints not onely a people of grace but a people of peace the fruit of righteousnes being sown in peace in them they recompence not evil for evil but overcom evil with goodnes 3. This law of peace affords peace and quietnesse to the soul in al conditions under al trials and temptations when others hearts shal fail them for fear and for looking after those things which shal come upon the face of the earth They shall lift up their heads with joy being possest with peace knowing that their redemption and deliverance draweth near Thus are Saints quieted in their spirits through this spirit of peace Isa 32. 17 18 19. And the worke of righteousnesse shall be peace and the effect of righteousnesse shall be quietnesse and assurance for ever And my people shall dwell in peaceable habitations and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places When it shall hail coming downe upon the forest and the City shall be low in a low place Here is a glorious Covenant of peace and quiet and this shall be effected when the spirit is poured forth vers 15. which wil produce such sweetnesse quiet and peace in Christians and that when the City is low in a low place and hail comes down upon the forest that is earthy creatures and hypocrites shall be filled with trouble perplexity and amazement then shal Saints live in rest and quiet peace shal come they shall rest secure nothing shall make them afraid Blessed are they which sow beside al waters in this water of life whose effect will be in such a soule quietnesse and peace for ever Chap. XIV Of the Law of Love 2. THis law in the spirit as its a law of peace so it s likewise a law of love it s the royal law of love love being the great command the ancient command commanded not onely in the letter

unto it Yet it is that I have said often and must now speake it againe that its such a law such a discovery as in it all carnall ones and hypocrites shall be left behinde in it the one below it still opposing living upon something of flesh the other in the notion of it only running beyond it and so with the dogge returning to his vomit and the sow that was washt to her wallowing againe in the mire This is indeed the narrow and strait gate and way of life few there be that finde it But some perhaps may hereby object and say Sir What you say seemes to savour of the flesh of a low darkened and enslaved spirit and is indeed Barbarisme to a soule In lightnesse we know that all things are good and that which you call sinne is good and all motions and workes are alike good from whence comes sin doth not it come from God is there any power besides God or that which is ordained by him and therefore are not all things and actions alike good I answer First It is true there is no power but is of God yet there are those who in that power act things which the Most High hath sentenced with death and not only the things but those who practise them that not only in Scripture where we finde this truth in the Saints experience I protest saith Paul by my rejoycing in Christ Jesus our Lord I dye daily and this spirituall death which many are ignorant of was and is one great part of the mystery of the Crosse of Christ within us this likewise is the experience of those who live in light they have received the sentence of death within them I meane the death of sin and flesh and for this they waite till it be accomplished Againe although all things had their first rise and being from him and still subsist by him yet the corruption of those things flowes from it self and not from him and besides God hath set up two creations two Adams the one after the flesh the other after the spirit the one being but a figure of the other the one is of the earth earthly the second is the Lord from heaven In the one to declare himselfe a just God in sentencing and condemning all sinne and flesh because in that first creation after the flesh sinne and flesh workes In the second declaring himself not only a God sentencing sinne and flesh but likewise a God of purity and holinesse such a one with whom the throne of iniquity can have no fellowship and this I am sure is the Saints experience nothing eclypses the glorious enjoyment but wars and fightings within them from lusts What need we make so much of sinne God is good and be seeth no iniquity in his people It s true God seeth that is suffereth no travell against nor iniquity in his people to hurt them to separate them from him but it is as true that those who have this testimony within themselves cannot see sin and flesh working in themselves with delight and pleasure Shall we sinne because grace abounds God forbid How shall we who are dead to sin continue any longer therein Fifth false Light Fifthly I might come to visions and revelations too for here will Antichrist this mystery of iniquity appeare likewise for he must come with signes and lying wonders God giving up men by strong delusions to believe a lye Not that I am against visions or revelations from God but the working of Satan will be in lying visions and wonders filling the fancy with toyes and fleshly exaltations The discoveries and revelations of God are revelations full of light power and truth tending to the dethroning of flesh and the exalting of God drawes up the soule into a more spirituall conformity to and communion with God it doth not occasion fleshly exaltations like unto the man of sinne who exalts himselfe above all that is called God saying I am Christ and so deceives many but I passe this at present Sixth false Light Sixthly I shall descend downwards againe to some further discoveries though more fleshly this false light presents a universall will and power in all men to accept and receive grace from God that one man might obtain mercy as well as another all having alike power or at least power enough to receive grace that faith is but an act of reason and they are unreasonable men that doe not believe not knowing that it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy not knowing that it s he that worketh to will and to doe of his good pleasure not experiencing that mighty power of God in those who believe so giving all glory to God but rather laying the stresse of all upon the creature gives all to the creature whereas souls rightly taught by that spirit of light see al not onely love and grace but wil and power flowing from that fountaine And hence it is that as streames flowing from the fountain returne thither againe so those who truly live in grace returne al to that fountaine of grace I am nothing I can doe nothing al flowes from that fountain Thus the Lord alone is exalted in that soule Seventh false Light Seventhly This false light presents God to the understanding to be but a piece of reason and so that there is indeed no God but reason rules al things and upholds al things questioning if not denying the naming of GOD though I shal not question but that some may do it through curiosity finding some new or nise tearme for singularities sake through some temptation yet minding the same thing whereas the discoveries of God are plaine and familiar to his creatures Hence the wisedome of the Gospel is called the simplicity of the Gospel though a mystery in it selfe and indeed farre above the reach of reason I meane the reason of the natural man of the first Adam which is of the earth earthly Thus from the notion of high mystery wee fal downe under the lowest part of the creation of the invisible God by our reason in the creation to judge of God to be but reason who is indeed the fountaine the Creator of reason and of the whole Creation Eighth false Light Eighthly From hence creatures come to conclude at last that the whole creation is God that God is al things and that al things is God that the creation is but God brought forth into forme and that this forme or body of Gods shall again become invisible and as at first so at last there shal be nothing but God no Saints no happinesse no glory no misery but all things returning into that one thing God not seeing God by his power bringing forth a creation that is not himselfe to serve his pleasure an old creation on which he will manifest his justice a new creation on which he will make knowne his grace and glory glorifying some with himselfe which are not

the same Kingdome of the same glory in a measure they have it already and the fulnesse is reserved in heaven for them Fifthly And till this glory be compleated in them they have liberty upon all occasions to have free accesse into the presence of their Father to make known al their wants al their wrongs free accesse to the throne of grace there obtaining mercy and finding grace a a great helpe a great comfort in time of need that which the world is ignorant of and goes without when the prayers of unbelievers are turned into sin yet the prayers of his people are his delight a great encouragement to the Saints in all their troubles to make knowne their wants to their Father Thus my dear ones have I given you a briefe hint of the sons liberty and spirituall freedome if the same spirit hints it to your enjoyments then it wil be glorious if the Son shall make you free then are you free indeed then stand fast and be not entangled with any yoke of bondage for freedome is glorious its glorious in possession more glorious in expectation when you shall be delivered from every thing wherein is but the least appearance of bondage and be compleated in perfect freedome which will be your glory Chap. IV. Of false Liberty I shall now descend to speake something very briefly of that false liberty and law in the flesh flowing from that spirit of Antichrist now reigning and ruling in the hearts of the children of disobedience for as there is a law in the spirit so there is a law in the flesh rebelling against this law in the minde and leading captive to the law of sinne this law or power of darknesse working in the flesh I shall discover briefly under these following considerations 1. The more common and carnall sort of people who account themselves Christians too they have a liberty but it s a false liberty a liberty to doe evill to fulfill the lusts of the flesh and the desires of the fleshly minde Now this fleshly liberty in the hearts of the more naturall and carnall minded flow from one or both of these two principles First From a blinde misunderstanding of the good of the pleasure and satisfaction the soule apprehends in those fleshly things for alwaies false liberty flowes from false light and true liberty succeeds true light now the minde being naturall and the light which is in it indeed but fleshly and darknesse it selfe now in this false light the soule mis-judging and so cals evill good and good evill it takes a false liberty sutable to its light the soul seeing a good a pleasantnesse a sweetnesse as it imagines in sinne and the world in the service of Satan it takes its liberty to act in it a false liberty flowing from a false light for the actings of al men are sutable to what they see unless given up to a spirit of slumber so as to quench the true discoveries that sometimes God makes forth to them and they cannot but owne it therefore all you carnall Libertines had need to looke about your selves for at present you seem to be given up to a great judgement blindnesse of minde not to see good when it cometh but to cal evill good and darknesse light to hardnesse of heart to sin and follow the lusts of the flesh with liberty of minde thinking God to be like your-selvs but he will reprove you and set your sins in order before you 2. Or from a mis-apprehension and application of Gods gracious love in giving Christ hence the natural creature hearing of free mercy grace and love to sinners drawes this conclusion That now it may take liberty to sinne the more freely Why Because God is mercifull and Christ died for sinners And thus creatures abuse mercy trampling under foot as much as in them lyeth the grace of God a high delusion and a body requitall of grace and love to offend grace because it is grace to sinne because God is mercifull Oh horrid wickednesse What shall we sinne because grace abounds God forbid But this false liberty in and after the flesh will produce a bad requitall if grace prevent not See Rom. 2. 4 5. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodnesse and forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that the goodnesse of God leadeth thee to repentance but after thine hardnesse and impenitent heart treasurest up to thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God 3. Come to the more zealous and their liberty is in the flesh likewise a liberty to be servants of men a liberty to serve God as they thinke and themselves too in a fleshly way of obedience And to but hear of this liberty in spirit is bondage unto them and thus it seems to be their liberty to be slaves to others Lords to other lawes then this law of true liberty in the spirit to fulfil a fleshly righteousnesse seemes to be their liberty to be subject to the wils of men and so to become the servants of men seemes to be their liberty a liberty which truly is and will end in bondage and this false liberty flows likewise from false light 4. Come to others who have pass't through this life of zeale to the wils of men and to their owne wils they having gotten a notion not only of grace and love but of this spirit of liberty and onely a notion they presently apprehending as they thinke that all is now good they seeing no actions to be differing to them but all seemes to be alike they freely take a liberty from this false light to act after the flesh it is their liberty to be prophane carnall loose unprofitable and so indeed they make use of their liberty which is a carnall one as an occasion to the flesh they sinne as they say not only because grace abounds but because the spirit teacheth them so to doe which is a spirit of liberty and indeed it s to be doubted that they are possest with such a spirit of liberty after the flesh that all bonds of righteousnesse and true liberty are broken and in this I may speak in the Apostles words Phil. 3. 18. For many walke of whom I have told you often and now tell you weeping that are enemies to the crosse of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is their belly whose glory is their shame who minde earthly things And thus poore creaturs being given up to work al wickednesse with greedinesse doe not only act those things themselves but have pleasure in them that doe them so that to walke humbly with God is become in their eyes not onely a bondage but a scorne and those who talk of it barbarous a thing so low as not to be understood Thus whereas Saints have a liberty from sinne these have a liberty in sinne Saints have a liberty to be the Sons of God these have a liberty to be the sons of Satan of darknesse