Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	apostle_n	great_a	word_n	2,778	5	3.7624	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A26034	The best treasure, or, The way to be truly rich being a discourse on Ephes. 3.8, wherein is opened and commended to saints and sinners the personal and purchased riches of Christ, as the best treasure, to be pursu'd and ensur'd by all that would be happy here and hereafter / by Bartholomew Ashwood.	Ashwood, Bartholomew, 1622-1680.	1681 (1681)	Wing A3999; ESTC R16623	259,580	565

are Sanctifyed are all of one Heb. 2. 11. Thirdly For this end he was actually designed of God and made over to his People in the Everlasting Covenant decrees purposes and determinations of God 1. Cor. 1. 30. He is made of God unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption He is made of God Non in creatione sed in ordinatione saith Paraeus Not created so according to his Divine Essence as some Hereticks assert but ordained and given of God to this end to be Sanctification that is the Author of Sanctification and therefore he is said to save to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. which can never be accomplish'd without Holinesse For without holinesse no man can see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. Fourthly For this work was the Lord Jesus promised by the Father to come unto Sion and turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Rom. 11. 26. This Scripture is quoted out of Isa 50. 10. from which the Apostle varies following the Septuagint Translation then in great use rather than the Hebr. seeing it retaines t●e sense though different in words In Isa 't is The Redeemer shall come to Sion and unto them that turn from Transgression The Apostle saies He shall come out of Sion and turn away ungodlinesse from Jacob To reconcile which Peter Martyr thinks the Septuagint might mistake Lashub To turn for Leshabe To them that turn But this is not likely that those Learned Doctors could be so mistaken in the Original and therefore 't is a far better answer that Beza and Grynaeus do give That the Prophet speaketh of the Effect of Christs coming which is a turning away from Sin And that the Apostle speaks of the Cause of their turning from Sin which is Christs taking away of Sin for none can turn from sin till Christ do remove Sin And this is the end of his coming into the World To this end he is promised Mal. 3. 2 3. He shall sit as refiners fire and purify the Sons of Levi. The Sons of Levi are Firstly meant of the Apostles Secondly I suppose of all the Saints But so much is clear that the Lord Jesus is promised to be a refiner to his People in Gospel times and to purge away their filth and dross and to make them Holy Fifthly For this end it was the Lord Jesus Christ gave himself up to Redemption-work Eph. 5. 25 26 27. As Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might Sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the word Here we have 1. One great end of Christs Obedience and Suffering 't is to make his People Holy 2. Here 's the efficient Cause of this Holinesse that is By the Spirit of Christ The blood of Christ purges away the guilt of sin Meritoriously and the Spirit of Christ purifies the filth of sin Efficiently signifyed by Water as 't is often us'd in Scripture Joh. 4. 10. 14. Chap. 7. 38 39. 3. Here 's the instrumental cause of this Holinesse the means by which it is wrought and carryed on and that is by the word the immortal seed of the Soul This he undertook and was intended to do in the Covenant of Redemption betwixt the Father and him Isa 42. 1 2 3 4. He shall not fail till he hath set Judgment in the Earth that is Holiness for so 't is taken Joh. 16. 8. And this work is the Lord Jesus here engag'd to do Some take the word Ethmoch I uphold passively for the Fathers dependence and Christs Faithfulnesse He leans or stays upon his undertaking this work and trusts to his performance of what he undertook to do Others take it actively for the Fathers upholding and carrying Christ through this great work of Redemption and Sanctification In both senses 't is true The Lord Jesus stands engaged to carry on Redemption-work and is throughly furnished with grace to accomplish it Heb. 10. 7. Christ readily consents to the fulfilling of the Fathers will and what that was you have Isa 42. 7. To open the blind eyes and to bring out the Prisoners out of the Prison which is meant of the work of Redemption and Regeneration and it was the will of God the Father that Christ should do this 1. Thes 4. 3. This is the will of God even your Sanctification And this he stood bound to do to promote and perfect the power of Holinesse in all his Children Now what Christ did undertake he finished Meritoriously whiles on Earth Joh. 17. 4. I have finished the work thou hast given me to do And for the application of it he is in Heaven to see it perform'd and this is the work of his Intercession Joh. 17. 17. Sanctify them through thy truth thy word is truth This Christ Intercedes for in Heaven and therefore 't is the fruit of his Purchase for he Intercedes for no more in Heaven than what he dyed for on Earth Sixthly His Authoritative sending the Spirit of Holinesse to his people shews his right to it by his Purchase Joh. 16. 7. I will send him to you That is after the finishing of his work and re-instalment in Glory Joh. 7. 39. For the Holy Ghost was not yet given because Christ was not yet glorifyed Lastly Were not holinesse purchased for saved Souls Christs Redemption-work would be imperfect neither could Souls ever answer the ends for which he dyed Without Holinesse were procured and compleated by Christ there could be no Salvation For First Man cannot Sanctify himself We are all as an unclean thing and our Righteousnesse as filthy rags Isa 64. 6. And who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean no not one Job 14. 4. Indeed the Scripture sometimes speaks after this manner Make you a clean heart Ezek. 18. 31. Make you a new heart So Isa 1. 16. Wash ye make ye celan But there is Mans Duty not his power It shews the subject not the Author or this holinesse and where you find such Exhortations they are to lead men to Christ for the getting of this Holiness wrought in them as 1 Pet. 2. 4. To whom come as as to a living stone c. Secondly Without this holiness be wrought in Believers they can never be capable of answering the ends of Redemption which are First To enjoy Union and Fellowship with God Joh. 11. 52. 1 Joh. 1. 3. Heb. 8. 10. Now without Holiness no Fellowship with God 2 Cor. 6. 14 15. 1 Pet. 1. 15 16. For his Person is Holy and his offerings and services are Holy Secondly To reconcile together in one all things in Heaven and Earth Col. 1. 20. But no Fellowship with Angels or Saints in Heaven without holiness for they are holy Creatures Thirdly To be brought into the nearest Union and Conformity to himself Rom. 6. 4 5. But without Holiness this cannot be Fourthly To be a Name and a praise unto God Eph. 1. 12. But without Holiness no glorifying of God Fifthly To bring Souls to the possession of the purchased

THE BEST TREASURE Or THE WAY to be Truly Rich. BEING A Discourse on EPHES. 3. 8. Wherein is opened and commended to Saints and Sinners the Personal and Purchased Riches of Christ as the best Treasure to be pursu'd and ensur'd by all that would be happy here and hereafter By Bartholomew Ashwood Late Minister of the Gospel Author of The Heavenly Trade Riches and Honour are with me yea durable Riches and Righteousness Prov. 8. 18. For ye know the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was Rich yet for your sakes he became Poor that ye through his Poverty might be Rich. 2 Cor. 8. 9. In Christo igitur sitae sunt omnes nostrae Divitiae In Christo sita spes nostrae gloriae Daven LONDON Printed for William Marshal at the Bible in Newgate-Street at the corner of Ivy Lane 1681. TO THE READER THE Wisdom and Grace of God in Christ Jesus are frequently in the Scripture expressed by the name of Riches and Treasures These it is the duty of Believers in all Ages diligently to search after to enquire into and possess for themselves And it may be more Diligence or with more Success as unto the doctrinal Revelation of them hath not been used in this Enquiry in any Age than in that wherein we live But still they continue Unsearchable though not absolutely as unto their Truth Reality and Substance or such a possession of them as may enrich us unto a Meetness for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light but as unto their unmeasurable Dimensions their Breadth and Length and Depth and Height in Degrees of Fullness Wherefore after the utmost and most diligent search made into these things by the best and wisest of the Sons of men there is still and ever will be new work for the Church whilst it is in this world to enquire farther after and into these Treasures Nothing but the sight of Christ himself in Glory can give us a full comprehension of them Whilst we are here below no man can exercise his spiritual Wisdom and Faith about a more noble a more useful and beneficial object They do best for themselves who are most conversant herein and will be sound to be the most spiritual and thriving Christians And therefore those who are not only wise for themselves herein but do moreover communicate unto others the knowledge that they have obtained of these unsearchable Treasures and their insight into them that they also may be made Partakers of them do deserve well in an eminent manner of all that do believe Among these the reverend Author of the ensuing Discourse if I mistake not doth deserve our Praise and our Thanks to God for him and his Labours For as he hath given Evidence that he was himself in a good measure admitted into the enjoyment of these unsearchable Riches so he hath with great skill and spiritual wisdom unfolded and laid them open unto the view of others And this he hath done so briefly plainly and practically that the most learned will find nothing in his Discourse to be despised and the generality of Believers whose Edification he designed will meet with that which will be to their Vse and Advantage The times also wherein we live do render this and discourses of the like Nature exceeding seasonable For the Vncertainty of the continuance of all other Riches should stir us up to look with diligence after an indefeasible Interest in the certain and unsearchable Riches of Christ For as these alone are sufficient for us in every Condition so we know not but that e're long they alone will be left unto us blessed are all they who are possessed of them Besides the Opposition that hath been made of late by some unto these and the like Mysteries of the Gospel doth give a value unto a sober Testimony given unto them Of this Nature is the ensuing Discourse which that it may be useful to the Reader unto all the ends whereunto it was designed by it's worthy Author shall be the Prayer of his Servant in the work of the Gospel John Owen THE BEST TREASURE From EPHESIANS 3. 8. Vnto me who am less than the least of all Saints is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ CHAP. I. The Occasion of this Discourse with an Introduction to the Words and Explication of them and the main truth contained in them RICHES are desired by most but true Treasures obtained by few through the mistaken Notion thereof 'T is sad to see how sollicitous many are after Vanities and like the Jews in Egypt are scattered abroad through all the Land to gather Stubble whilst tryed Gold lies neglected and the Pearl of Price little valued O the Projects and vast expence of Time and strength to reach things that are not when the infinite Concerns of Eternity and welfare of an immortal Soul cannot get a room in one serious thought or a few minutes of shortening time to attend them 'T is lamentable to behold not only the blind World but those that profess themselves Wise like the Spider working out their Bowels to weave Cobwebs and with the Dog in the Fable letting go the Substance to catch at Shadows and running themselves out of breath to sit down in sorrow The affecting sense of this Folly hath made me scatter some Balls of true Gold to prevent if possible the dangerous haste of such deceived Souls and to allure them to better and more unsearchable Treasures that are to be found in and fetched from the Lord Jesus This is the Design of the ensuing Discourse on this portion of Scripture which I shall briefly open and then draw forth the main Conclusion I intend to prosecute The Apostle layes down these words as an Argument by which he endeavours to strengthen the Faith of those believing Ephesians in and to quicken their Affections to the Gospel of Christ taken from the blessed Advantages it brings to all that do receive it It makes a Discovery and overture of unsearchable Riches to them let them be never so poor destitute of the affluences and good things of this World yet by believing through this Gospel they shall come to attain to inestimable Treasures even the unsearchable Riches of Christ In the Words you have four parts First A Discovery of the admirable Love of God to fall'n man particularly to the blind perishing Gentiles in not only giving Christ to save them but in opening Christ to them even his secret and boundless Treasures The unsearchable Riches of Christ Secondly Here 's the way by which these are opened and brought to light which is by the Gospel in the Administration thereof by his Messengers That I should preach 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strictly taken 't is to preach the Gospel or good news but generally it takes in the whole work of the Ministry Thirdly Here 's the great expence of Grace the Lord Jesus is at to bring forth his

the Spirit too for Christ is not divided He that hath Christ hath the Father and the Spirit for these three are one Now a Soul that hath the Spirit of Christ may know it by the effects of it The Spirit of Christ is a quickening Spirit it begets a principle of Life The Soul that was dead to God and holiness now hath a new life a heart to move after God it works from other motives even from love to God Dost thou find thy heart always dead to every act of Grace No heart to pray hear c. and is this habitual O then here 's no fruit of Christs Spirit The Spirit of Christ is a sin-opposing spirit always quarrelling with Lust always convincing troubling humbling the Soul for sin Gal. 5. 17. Tit. 2. 11 12. It gives no peaceable possession to it but always opposes it as fire doth water Where the Spirit of Christ is 't is a leading guiding Spirit Rom. 8. 14. Christians what is it leads you Is it your own Spirits if you have received the Spirit of God you may know it by those Scripture ways it takes to put you upon duty such a one is co●vinced by the word and perswaded and help'd by the word to this and the other duty Again The Spirit of Christ is a praying Spirit A Soul that is in Christ cannot live without prayer though no eye see it and no good come by it yet he cannot omit secret prayer Zach. 12. 10. Rom. 8. 15. 'T is not enlargement of affections parts abilities and expressions in prayer but the inditings of the Spirit inward breathings sighs and groans of the Spirit A man may pray like a Saint or an Angel and yet not have a jot of the Spirit of prayer but it is the encouragement of the Spirit to wrestle with God by Christ the inward suggestions of hope when a Soul can go to God as to a Father when the very heart goes out to God in prayer and when prayer is wing'd with Faith and Love These are the effects of a Spirit of prayer and the fruit of a Souls reception of Christ Thirdly They that have obtain'd an interest in Christ have crucified the flesh with the lusts there of Gal. 5. 24. They and only they that are in Christ have crucified the flesh that is the body of death original sin The general Nature of sin the universal extents of sin come under the workings of this Crucifixtion O try Souls ●ath the Axe been ever laid to the root of sin Have you ever found felling stroaks upon the bodie of your Corruptions are you baptiz'd into the death of Christ and as he died for sin so do you die to sin and by vertue of his death and wounds do you fetch power and strength from him to crucifie it There 's a difference between the curbing and the crucifying of sin sin may be chain'd up imprison'd and not crucified Hypocrites that are under a seeming change do restrain and confine sin yea they may punish sin but do not crucifie it The crucifying of sin is the giving it a deadly mortal wound fetch'd from the blood and death of Christ Faith fetches vertue from the Grave of Christ to destroy the power of sin nothing so mortally stabs this Leviathan as a believing reflection on our propriety in Christs Crucifixtion and a laying hold on promises by Faith in order to the application of the benefit of a crucified Christ Rom. 6. 4 6. Our old man is crucified with him The putting our lusts into the side wounds and grave of Christ A levelling the Ax to the body of sin doth strange work to the crucifying of it Trie then are your corruptions Pride Passions Earthliness as strong as ever deceive not your selves this will never assure your interest in Christ till sin be destroyed 't is true when the wound is given sin doth not immediately die but the bodie of sin is dying and the believing Soul finds his corruptions hath less strength every day as a man that loseth his blood weakens more and more so a Soul that crucifies Lust finds it to weaken day by day Fourthly Another effect of a Souls union with Christ is this There will be some resemblance of Christ 1 Joh. 4. 17. As he is so are we in this World As Christ was Crucified in the flesh so are his Crucified to the flesh And as Christ was risen and justified in the Spirit so are they sanctified by the Spirit and have the nature and Image of Christ Hence we are said to be made conformable to the Image of his Son Rom. 8. 29. They that are Christ's are in some measure of truth like him 1 Joh. 3. 3. They have something of Christ's Nature and Spirit Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus Phil. 2. 5. Christ's mind was off from and above the World and herein lies as great an evidence of interest in Christ as in any thing that Soul is dead to and wonderfully loose from the World Gal. 6. 14. Christ's mind was heavenly he favour'd the things above his meat and drink was to do his Fathers will If you are Christ's you will be of the same mind nothing in the World will so much delight you as to do something for God Christ's mind was heavenly to do his work and hasten home and if you are Christ's this will be your mind to dispatch your work and hasten home Christ was full of mercy humility meekness If you are interested in Christ so it will be with you Lastly They that are interested in Christ do interest Christ in themselves and in all that is theirs 2 Cor. 8. 5. They first gave themselves to the Lord Such do devote and make over themselves and all to Christ and glad they have any interest parts capacities that Christ will accept of they cannot keep back a part no were it a thousand times dearer Christ shall have all Can. 6. 3. I am my Beloveds and my Beloved is mine The keeping back of part lost Ananias and Saphira they were undone and damned for ever Act. 5. If Christ be yours you will entitle him to all you are and have And thus are we come to a Conclusion in this matter That Soul that can come to seal to those things is a happy Soul O blessed Soul indeed Then mayst thou boldly say The Lord is my helper God Christ the Spirit the Promises the Kingdom and glory is mine Thus much for the use of Examination CHAP. XXX Containing a Vse of Exhortion pressing Believers to several duties HAving already dispatch'd Motives Counsels and Directions to Sinners about their coming to this Christ I shall only apply this last use of Exhortation to those who are interested in this rich and glorious Jesus Christians you that are made happy in your Relation to Christ and invested with a Title to these glorious Treasures of all persons you are most obliged to duty Christians be you advis'd and exhorted to