Selected quad for the lemma: order_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
order_n	day_n	observe_v	time_n	2,384	5	3.6895	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66426	The several ways of revelation a sermon preached at St. Martins in the Fields, Octob. 7, 1695 : being the seventh of the lecture for the said year, founded by the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esquire / by John Williams ...	Williams, John, 1636?-1709.	1696 (1696)	Wing W2733; ESTC R7609	14,474	36

D r WILLIAMS's SEVENTH SERMON AT Mr. BOYLE'S Lecture 1695. The several Ways of Revelation A SERMON Preached at St. Martins in the Fields Octob. 7. 1695. BEING THE Seventh of the LECTURE For the said YEAR Founded by the Honourable ROBERT BOYLE Esquire By JOHN WILLIAMS D. D. Chaplain in Ordinary to His Majesty LONDON Printed for Ri. Chiswell and Tho. Cockerill Sen r Jun r At the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard and at the Three Legs in the Poultrey M DC XC VI. HEB. 1.1 2. God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son c. IN these words we have as I have before shewed 1. A description of Revelation 't is God's speaking or declaring his Will to Mankind 2. The Certainty of that Revelation 't is by way of Declaration God who at sundry times c. spake 3. The Order observed in that Revelation as to Time Manner and Persons In time past by the Prophets and in the last days by his Son 4. The Perfection and Completion of all 't is in these last days by his Son It 's the Third that I am at this time to enter upon viz. The Order observed in that Revelation c. Where according to the Method laid down in the beginning of these Lectures 1. I am to consider the several ways by which God did reveal himself in time past by the Prophets as by Inspirations Visions c. 2. I am to shew the difference between Divine Inspirations on one hand and Diabolical Illusions Natural Impressions and Delusory Imaginations on the other 3. I am to consider the several Periods of Divine Revelation before the Law under the Law and under the Gospel and the gradual Progress of it from first to last from the lower to the higher degree and the perpetual respect one had to the other 4. I am to shew why God did thus gradually and at sundry times proceed in revealing his Will to Mankind and not at first as fully and perfectly as by his Son 1. I am to consider the several Ways by which God did reveal himself in time past by the Prophets When we are treating of Revelation we are to consider that it is like Light to be known by it self and that the best way therefore is to take the Scripture it self for our Guide in the matters belonging thereunto without which how Learnedly soever men may discourse upon this Argument 't is to as little purpose as if we should go about to compile a History of the Invisible World and of all the Transactions in it from time to time which we have no Conversation nor Acquaintance with We see how Vain though Ingenious the Attempts of many Inquisitive Persons have been notwithstanding the Improvements by Telescopes c. for their assistance to give us any tolerable Account of the Solar and Lunary Worlds and after much and indefatigable Pains they are not able to say this is Land and that Water or whether neither of the two And we talk as much at random when we leave the beaten Track of Scripture and think to find out by our own Reason what we must understand by Revelation alone We can only think and discourse of such Subjects as we keep that Clue in our hand and therefore laying aside all manner of Conjectures and the Speculations of the Jewish or Christian Rabbies upon the Argument in hand I shall solely keep my self to the Rule of Scripture All I pretend is to compare Scripture with it self and to try if by putting these things together and laying them in order I can contribute any thing to the Explication of so obscure and intricate an Argument There are several Terms made use of in Scripture with reference to this Subject and for the signification of the way by which God did reveal and make himself known to Mankind and they are Inspiration Vision Dreams and Voices 1. Inspiration So Job 32.8 saith The inspiration of the Almighty gave them men understanding And the Scripture is said to have been given by Inspiration of God 1 Tim. 3.16 Now it seems to be called Inspiration because it is insensibly communicated and breathed as it were into the Soul as the Soul was into the Body to which the Phrase in Job has a plain reference where the same word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used which is used Gen. 2.7 when God is said to breathe into Adam the breath of life And by which term it is properly and evidently distinguished from all the other Species of Divine Communications For all the rest are sensible ways whether by Representation as Visions or Dreams or by Action as Voices but this comes as Life came into the Body or Air comes into the Lungs without any such kind of Perception or Sensation Now there is a Threefold Inspiration 1. That which is purely Natural So 't is said of God who hath put wisdom into the inward parts Job 38.16 And he is said to instruct the plowman to discretion Isa. 28.26 This is no other than a Disposition infused and connatural with the Soul it self and that afterward in process of time ripens and comes to be a Power or Principle and even a Habit by action and observation 2. There is a Providential Inspiration when God by some After-Act of his Providence and for some special Service doth either give Life to such a Natural Power and Inherent Disposition or else infuses a new Disposition or Power into the Soul This seems to have been the Case of Bezaleel and Aboliab and others into whom God is said to have put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of Work and yet of the same persons 't is said whose heart stirred them up Exod. 32.1 2. That is God did chuse them out as being of themselves well disposed and fitted for that Employment and after an Extraordinary Manner and by a Supernatural Assistance qualified them further for it And from the Consideration of the difference between Men and Men and indeed between a Man and himself when from some imperceptible beginning he comes to advance beyond others and even beyond himself in Knowledge Wisdom and Success the World has been inclin'd to think there was somewhat of a peculiar Inspiration in it Whence that Saying of the Heathen Orator Nemo Vir Magnus sine afflatu Divino unquàm fuit No one ever came to be a Great Man or attained to any extraordinary Eminence in Knowledge or Skill but by a Divine Illumination 3. There is an Inspiration purely Supernatural that is immediately wholly and only from God Of this sort is that Divine Influx commonly known by the term of Regeneration when God so changes the Heart by the Powerful Operation of his Holy Spirit that it 's said to be New Ezek. 36.26 But that which is more to our purpose is when God in Daniel's Phrase chap.