Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	let_v	lord_n	soul_n	14,434	5	5.5092	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34242	The confession of faith ; and, The larger and shorter catechism first agreed upon by the Westminster Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and now approved by the General Assembly of the kirk of Scotland to be a part of uniformity in religion between the kirks of Christ in the three kingdoms.; Westminster Confession of Faith.	Dickson, David, 1583?-1663. Summe of saving knowledge.; Church of Scotland. General Assembly.; Westminster Assembly (1643-1652). Larger catechism.; Westminster Assembly (1643-1652). Shorter catechism.	1671 (1671)	Wing C5769; ESTC R27273	112,419	253

imbrace not this righteousness 〈◊〉 is pronounced Iohn 3.18 He that be●●●veth not is condemned already because he hath 〈◊〉 believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of 〈◊〉 And this is the condemnation that light is 〈◊〉 into the World ●nd men love darkness rather 〈◊〉 light Hence let the penitent desiring to believe ●●ason thus What doth suffice to convince all the Elect 〈◊〉 the world of the greatness of the sin of not ●●lieving in Christ or refusing to flee to him 〈◊〉 relief from sins done against the Law and ●●om wrath due thereto and what sufficeth 〈◊〉 convince them that righteousness and eter●●l life is to be had by Faith in Jesus Christ or 〈◊〉 consenting to the Covenant of Grace in him and what sufficeth to convince them of Judgement to be exercised by Christ for destroying the works of the Devil in a man and sanctifying and saving all that believe in him may suffice to convince me also But what the Spirit hath said in these or other like Scriptures sufficeth to convince the Elect world of the foresaid sin and righteousness and Judgment Therefore what the Spirit hath said in these and other like Scriptures serveth to convince me thereof also Whereupon let the penitent desiring to believe take with him words and say heartily to the Lord Seeing thou saye●t seek ye my Face my soul answereth unto thee thy face Lor● will I seek I have hearkned unto the offer of an everlasting Covenant of all saving mercies to be had in Christ and I do heartily embrace thy offer Lord let it be a bargain Lord I believe help my unbelief Behold I give my self to thee to serve thee in all things for ever and I hope they right ●and shall save me the Lord will perfect that which concerneth me Thy mercy O Lord endureth for ever forsake not the works of thy own hands Thus may a m●n be made an unfained believer in Christ. For strengthning the mans Faith who hath agreed unto the Covenant of Grace BEcause many true believers are weak and do much doubt if ever they shall be sure of the soundness of their own Faith and Effectual calling or made certain of their Justification and Salvation when they see that many who profess faith are found to deceive themselves let us see how every believer may be made strong in the faith and sure of his own Election and Salvation upon solid grounds by sure warrants and true evidences of faith To this end among many other Scriptures take these following 1. For laying solid grounds of faith consider 2 Pet. 1.10 Wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make sure your calling and election for if ye do these things ye shall never fall In which words the Apostle teacheth us these four things for help and direction how to be made strong in the faith 1. That such as believe in Christ Jesus and are fled to him for relief from sin and wrath albeit they be weak in the faith yet they are indeed Children of the same Father with the Apostles for so he accounteth of them while he called them brethren 2. That albeit we be not sure for the time of our effectual calling and election yet we may be made sure of both if we use diligence for this he presupposeth saying Give diligence to make your calling and election sure 2. That we must not be discouraged when we see many seeming believers prove rotten branches and make defection but we must the rather take the better heed to our selves Wherefore the rather brethren saith he give all diligence 4. That the way to be sure both of our effectual calling and Election is to make sure work of our Faith by laying the grounds of it solidly and bringing forth the fruits of our faith in new obedience constantly For if ye do these thing● saith he ye shall never fall understand by these things what he had said of sound faith ver 1 2 3 4. And what he had said of the bringing out of the fruits of faith ver 5 6 7 8. To this same purpose consider Rom. 1.8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit ver 2. For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and death ver 3. For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinfull flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh ver 4. That the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Wherein the Apostle teacheth us these four things for laying of the ground of faith solidly 1. That every one is a true believer who in the sense of his sin and fear of Gods wrath doth flee for full relief from both unto Jesus Christ alone as the only Mediator and all-sufficient Redeemer of men and being fled to Christ doth strive against his own flesh or corrupt inclination of nature and studieth to follow the rule of Gods Spirit set down in his Word for the man whom the Apostle doth here bless as a true believer is a man in Christ Jesus who doth not walk after the flesh but after ●he Spirit 2. That all such persons as are fled to Christ ●nd do strive against sin howsoever they may ●e possibly exercised under the sense of wrath ●nd fear of condemnation yet they are in no ●anger for there is no condemnation saith he ●o them that are in Christ Iesus who walk not ●fter the flesh but after the Spirit 3. That albeit the Apostle himself brought 〈◊〉 here for examples cause and all other true ●elievers in Christ be by nature under the ●aw of sin and death or under the Covenant ●f Works called the Law of sin and death ●ecause it bindeth sin and death upon us till ●hrist set us free yet the Law of the spirit of ●●e in Christ Jesus or the Covenant of Grace ●o called because it doth inable and quicken man to a spiritual life through Christ doth set the apostle and all true believers free from the Covenant of Work● or the Law of sin and death so that every man may say with him The Law of the Spirit of life or the Covenant of Grace hath freed me from the Law of sin and death or Covenant of Works 4. That the fountain and first ground from whence our freedom from the curse of the Law doth flow is the Covenant of Redemption past betwixt God and God the Son as incarnate wherein Christ takes the Curse of the Law upon him for sin that the believer who could not otherwise be delivered from the Covenant of Works may be delivered from it And this Doctrine the Apostle holdeth forth in these four branches 1. That it was utterly impossible for the Law or Covenant of works to bring righteousness and

every one th● continueth not in all things which are written 〈◊〉 the Book of the Law to do them Now to be under the curse comprehende●● all the displeasure of God with the danger 〈◊〉 the breaking forth more and more of his wrat● upon soul and body both in this life and afte● death perpetually if grace do not prevent th● full execution thereof Hence let every man reason thus Whosoever according to the Covenant o● Works is liable to the curse of God for break●ing the Law times and ways out of number cannot be justified or find righteousness by the works of the Law But I may every man say according to th● Covenant of Works am liable to the curse 〈◊〉 God for breaking the Law times and ways 〈◊〉 of number Therefore I cannot be justified or have ●●ghteousness by the works of the Law Thus may a man be convinced of righteous●●●● that it is not to be had by his own works 〈◊〉 by the Law ● For convincing a man of Judgment by the Lavv consider 2 Thes. 1.7 THe Lord shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels ver 8. In flaming 〈◊〉 ●aking vengeance on them that know not 〈◊〉 and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord 〈◊〉 Christ. ver 9. Who shall be punished with ●●erlasting destruction from the presence of the 〈◊〉 and from the glory of his power ver 10. ●hen he shall come to be glorified in his saints 〈◊〉 to be admired in all them that believe Wherein we are taught that our Lord Jesus ●ho now offers to be Mediator for them who ●el●eve in him shall at the last day come armed ●ith flaming fire to judge condemn and de●●roy all them who have not believed God 〈◊〉 not received the offer of grace made in 〈◊〉 Gospel nor obeyed the Doctrine thereof 〈◊〉 remain in their natural estate under the ●aw or Covenant of Works Hence let every man reason thus What the righteous Judge hath fore-warn●d me shall be done at the last day I am sure 〈◊〉 just judgement But the righteous Judge hath fore-warned ●e that if I do not believe God in time and obey the Doctrine of the Gospel I shall 〈◊〉 secluded from his presence and his glory at t●● last day and be tormented in soul and body 〈◊〉 ever Therefore I am convinced that this is 〈◊〉 Judgement And I have reason to thank God heartil● who hath forewarned me to flee from the wrat● which is to come Thus every man may be by the Law or C●●venant of Works convinced of judgment 〈◊〉 he shall continue under the Covenant 〈◊〉 Works or shall not obey the Gospel of ou● Lord Jesus For convincing a man of sin righteous●ness and judgment by the Gospel AS for convincing a man of sin and righ●teousness and judgment by the Gospe● or Covenant of grace he must understan● three things 1. That not believing in Jesu● Christ or refusing of the Covenant of Grace offered in him is a greater and more dangerous sin then all other sins against the Law● because the hearers of the Gospel not believing in Christ do reject Gods mercy in Christ the only way of freedom from sin and wrath and will not yield to be reconciled to God Next he must understand that perfect remission of sin and true righteousness is to be had only by faith in Jesus because God requireth no ●ther conditions but Faith and testfiies from ●eaven that he is well pleased to justifie sinners ●pon this condition 3. He must understand ●hat upon righteousness received by faith ●udgment shall follow on the one hand to the ●estroying of the works of the Devil in the ●eliever and to the perfecting of the work of ●anctification in him with power and that ●pon refusing to take righteousness by Faith in ●esus Christ Judgment shall follow on the o●her hand to the condemnation of the misbe●●ever and destroying of him with Satan and ●is servants for ever For this end let these passages of Scripture ●mong many others serve to make the great●ess of the sin of not believing in Christ appear ●r to make the greatness of the sin of refusing ●f the Covenant of Grace offered to us in ●he offering of Christ unto us let the fair offer ●f Grace be looked upon as it is made Isa. 55. ● Incline your ear and come unto me saith the ●ord hear and your soul shall live and I will ●ake an everlasting Covenant with you even ●he sure mercies of David That is if ye will ●elieve me and be reconciled to me I will by Covenant give unto you Christ and all sa●ing graces in him repeated Acts 13.24 Again consider that this general offer in ●ubstance is equivalent to a special offer made ●o every one in particular as appeareth by ●●e Apostles making use of it Acts 16.13 ●elieve on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house The reason o● which offer is given I●h 3.16 For God so lov●● the World that he gave his only begotten Son th●● whosoever believeth in him should not perish bu● have everlasting life Seeing then this grea● salvation is offered in the Lord Jesus whosoever believe not in him but lo●k for happines● some other way what doth he else but observ● lying vanities and forsake his own mercy whic● he might have had in Christ Ion●h 2.8 ● What doth he else but blaspheme God in hi● heart as it is said 1 Iohn 5.10 He that believeth not God hath made him a liar because 〈◊〉 believeth not the record that God gave of his Son and this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son and that no si● against the Law is like unto this sin Christ testifies Iohn 15.22 If I had not come and spoke● to them they had not h●● sin but now they hav● no cloak for their sin This may convince 〈◊〉 man of the greatness of this sin of not believing in Christ. For convincing a man of righteousness to be had only by faith in Christ ● consider how Rom. 10.3 4. IT Is said that the Iews being ignorant o● Gods righteousness and going about to establis● their own righteousness have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God and so they perished for Christ is the end of the La● 〈◊〉 righteousness to every one that believeth and ●cts 13.34 By Christ Iesus all that believe are ●●stified from all things from which ye could not be ●●stified by the Law of Moses and 1 Iohn 1.7 〈◊〉 blood of Iesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from 〈◊〉 sin For convincing a man of judgement if a ●an imbrace this righteousness consider ● Iohn 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God was ●●nifested that he mi●●t destroy the works of the ●evil and Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the 〈◊〉 of Christ who through the eternal Spirit 〈◊〉 himself without spot to God purge your consci●ce from dead works to serve the living God But if a man

life to a sinner because it was weak 2. That this weakness and inability of the Law or Covenant of Works is not the fault of the Law but the fault of sinfull flesh which is neither able to ●ay the penalty of sin nor to give perfect obedience to the Law presuppose by-gone sins were forgiven the Law was weak saith he through the flesh 3. That the righteousness and salvation of sinners which was impossible to be brought about by the Law is brought to pass by sending Gods own Son Jesus Christ in the flesh in whose flesh sin is condemned and punished for making satisfaction in the behalf of the Elect that they might be set free 4. That by his means the Law loseth nothing because the righteousness of the Law is best fulfilled this way First by Christ giving perfect active obedience in our name unto it in all things Next by his paying in our name the penalty due to our sins in his death And lastly by his working of Sanctification in us who are true believers who strive to give new obedience unto the Law and walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Warrants yo believe FOr building our confid●nce upon th●s solid ground these four Warrants and special motives to believe in Christ may serve The 1. whereof is Gods hearty invitation holden forth Isa. 55.1 ● 3 4 5. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come and buy without money and without price ver 2. Wherefore do ye spend your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not Hearken diligently unto me and eat ye that which is good and let your soul delight it self in fatness ver 3. Incline your ear and come to me hear and your soul shall live and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David ver 4. Behold I have given him for a witness to the people a leader and commander to the people c. Here after setting down the precious ransom of our Redemption by the sufferings of Christ and the rich blessings purchased to us thereby in the two former Chapters the Lord in this Chapter 1. Maketh open offer of Christ and his grace by proclamation of a free and gracious market of Righteousness and Salvation to be had through Christ to every soul without exception that truly desires to be saved from sin and wrath ●o every one that thirsteth saith he 2. He inviteth all sinners that for any reason stand at distance with God to come and take from him riches of grace running in Christ as a River to wash away sin and to slacken wrath Come ye to water saith he 3. Lest any should stand back in the sense of his own sinfulness or unworthiness and ina●ility to do any good the Lord calleth upon such persons in special saying He that hath no money come ● H● craveth no more of his Merchant but that he be pleased with the wares offered which are grace and more grace and that he heartily consent unto and imbrace this offer of grace that so he may close a bargain and a formal Covenant with God●punc Come buy without money saith he Come eat that is consent to have and take unto you all saving graces make the wares your own possess them and make use of all blessings in Christ whatsoever maketh for your spiritual life and comfort use and enjoy it freely without paying any thing for it Come buy wine and milk without money and without price saith he 5. Because the Lord knoweth how much we are inclined to seek righteousness and life by our own performances and satisfaction to have righteousness and l●fe●punc as it were by the way of works and how lo●th we are to embrace Christ Jesus and to take life by way of free grace through Jesus Christ upon the tearm● whereupon it is offered to us therefore the Lord lovingly calls us off this our crooked and unhappy way with a gentle and timous admonition giving us to understand that we shall but lose our labour in this our way Wherefore do ye spend your money saith he for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not 6. The Lord promiseth to us solid satisfaction in the way of betaking our selves unto the grace of Christ even true c●ntentment and fulness of spiritual pleasure saying Hearken diligently unto me and eat that which is good and let your soul delight its self in fatness 6. Because faith cometh by hearing he calleth for audience unto the explication of the offer and calleth for believing of and listening unto the truth which is able to beget the application of saving faith and to draw the soul to trust in God Incline your ear and come unto me saith he To which end the Lord promiseth that this offer being received shall quicken the dead sinner and that upon the welcoming of this offer he will close the Covenant of Grace with the man that shall consent unto it even an indissolvable Covenant of perpetual Reconciliation and Peace Hearken and your soul shall live and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you Which Covenant he declareth shall be in substance the assignation and the making over of all the saving graces which David who is Jesus Christ Act. 13.34 hath brought for us in the Covenant of Redemption I will make a Covenant with you saith he even the sure mercies of David By sure mercies he means saving graces such as are righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Adoption Sanctification and Glorification and whatsoever belongs to Godliness and life eternal 8. To confirm and assure us of the real grant of these saving mercies and to perswade us of the reality of the Covenant betwixt God and the believer of this word the Father hath made a fourfold gift of his eternal and only begotten Son First to be incarnate and born for our sake of the seed of David his type for which cause he is called here and Act. 13.34 David the true and everlasting King of Israel This is the great gift of God to man Iohn 4.10 And here I have given him to be David or born of David to the people Secondly he hath made a gift of Christ to be a witness to the people both of the sure and saving mercies granted to the redeemed in the Covenant of Redemption and also of the Fathers willingness and purpose to apply them and to make them fast in the Covenant of Reconciliation made with such as imbrace the offer I have given him saith the Lord here to be a witness to the people and truly he is a sufficient witness in this manner in many respects 1. Because he is one of the Persons of the blessed Trinity and party contracter for us in the Covenant of Redemption before the World was 2. He is by Office as Mediator the Messenger of the Covenant and hath gotten commission