Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	faith_n	true_a	word_n	11,859	5	4.4387	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10038	The godly mans inquisition lately deliuered in two sermons before the right honourable Henry, Lord Montague, late lord high treasurer, priuie counsellor, &c. other gentlemen of worship, at Kimolton on their annuall feast day. By R. Preston, Preacher of Gods word.	Preston, Richard, d. ca. 1624.	1622 (1622)	STC 20285; ESTC S111971	37,702	74

his holy name to pray vnto him to make profession of his Religion to embrace him the true Iehovah and as the onely God by a liuely faith c. This large signification of seeking the Lord is not onely thus meant and expounded here but else-where in Scripture Hos 3.5 Psal 24.6 and 27.8 While he may be found These words include the present occasion and time of seeking for according to the time that God will be found we are to seeke Now if we seeke according to certaine rules after prescribed he will be found presently and therefore we are to seeke presently 2 Cor. 6.2 Now is the acceptable time now is the day of Grace Otherwise there is a time when the Lord will withdraw himselfe and will not be found though we seeke earnestly as the Prophet did for a Man to execute iudgement Ier. 5.1 and performe righteousnesse in Ierusalem and found him not In few words the meaning is this O yee Iewes by your disobedience and daily transgressions you haue lost the Lords fauour and countenance abused his gracious offers delaying time and procrastinating Repentance and you haue made vnto your selues Idolls that are no Gods Now the Lord once againe offereth himselfe in his mercies to your view neglect not the occasion but serue seeke call vpon and worship him if it come to passe that meanes and time slip away through carelesnesse then all your hopes are in the winde and you may seeke God but he will neuer be found as a mercifull and tender Father but rather as a terrible and a fearefull Iudge Seeke This word presupposeth a former losse Doct. 1. we need not seeke God Sinne is the cause of the losse of Gods fauour vnlesse formerly we had lost God Hence I gather this Theoreme that by corrupt nature and multitude of transgressions we are loosers not seekers of God we are rather strangers and wanderers from him then Inquisitors of and true conuerts vnto him In the corruption of nature we lost the comfortable presence of God which in our innocencie we enioyed by loosing our selues we lost him and secondly in the daily admitting and committing of sin after grace receiued we loose his sight and presence Sinne is a make-bate Reason and a schismatique that rendeth asunder the sacred bond of peace betweene the Creator and his creature it shorteneth his arme and withereth the fresh boughes of his loue It maketh a separation betweene him and vs as the Cloud betweene the brightnesse of the Sunne and vs It casteth vs into darkenesse and thrusteth vs behinde the doore as Iael did Sisera that we might loath to see the face of God as Sisera did the face of Barak and Deborah Iudg. 4.18.19 So long as the Ephesians continued in their sinfull Idolatrie they lost God for it is said Eph. 2.12 that they were without Christ being aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel strangers from the couenant of promise hauing no hope and without God And so soone as our progenitour Adam had transgressed the Commandement in eating of the forbidden fruit he went and hid himselfe in a bush as if Gods presence had beene too hot for him Gen. 3.8 Adam and his wife hid themselues from the presence of the Lord amongst the trees of the Garden fearefull they were to heare him speake and ashamed to see his face and therefore they seeke starting-holes to hide themselues the further from him In the same taking are all his of-spring to this day if the old serpent get any of vs to plucke an apple from the prohibited tree that is if he winne our consents to sinne he hath his desire and we become vagabonds on the earth and fugitiues from the face of God And euer the more we offend the further we are from God being either like Pilgrimes now wandering vp the steepe Mountaines of pride now downe the low vallies of despaire now through the shadie groues of wantonnesse now through the broad fields of licentiousnesse now through the thornie thickets of worldly cares now through the filthie channels of carnall lusts roouing sometimes here sometimes there without mate and guide the Deuill leading vs whither he list or like Marchant aduenturers imbarkt in the ship of securitie sometimes hoysing vp the sailes of noysome desires sometime filled with the merry gale of vaine and worldly pleasures somtimes delighted with a whistling aire of filthy lucre euer and anon running vpon the Syrtes and quicksands of sinne to the great danger not so much of the losse of life and wracke of goods as the wracke of Conscience which is the greatest shipwracke and the losse of Gods lone and affection which is the greatest losse Thus sinfull men that we are whilest with the Prodigall we become trauellers and Marchant aduenturers to see the fashions of the world abroad we become like to Ionas Ion. 1.3 who fled to Tarshish from the prefence of God There be three things that make men forsake one anothers societie Philo. de profugis Hatred Feare Shame for hatred the enuious man hates the companie of him that prospereth and so doth one enemy hate another Iacob fled from Laban because of his iniustice and Idolatrie he hated them For feare Children will runne from their Parents and seruants from their Masters for feare Iacob fled from Esau and Dauid from Saul For shame the Adulterer keepes his Cabin and is couched in a chamber Gen. 3. and for shame Adam skulted in the groue of Paradise Tell me thou fugitiue sinner for which of these things doest thou seeke to estrange thy selfe from God there is no cause of hatred in him for he is wholly delectable Cant. 5.10.16 the fairest of ten thousand there is no cause of feare in him for he is the Father of mercies and the God of consolation Ephes 2.4 he is rich in mercy especially to them Gal. 4.6 who haue receiued the spirit of adoption to cry Abba Father there is no cause of shame in him Psal 24.8.9 25.3 for he is the Lord of Glorie Nay rather vile sinner be ashamed of thy sinnes and blush at thy transgressions whereby thou hast lost thy selfe and a mercifull God thou by thy wicked life hast turned thy backe vpon thy Master and set thy selfe so farre at oddes with him that thou shalt draw downe no loue from him vnto thee vnlesse thy Repentance and humiliation for thy sinne be as the Loadstone to pull him to and winne him againe Obiect But how can a man wander from God Ob or lose him Wheresoeuer I am God is there present he filleth both heauen and earth Ier. 23.24 Psal 27. Psal 139.2.3.4 he is with me at my sitting rising lying downe in the thoughts of my heart words of my tongue wayes of my feete nay in my reines and bones His presence cannot be auoided who sitteth on the Circle of heauen 1 Reg. 8.27 Isa 66.1 and beholdeth the

namely Gods protection and enioyment of his Realme and thus they are giuen vp to Sathan 1 Cor. 5.5 1 Tim. 1.20 Fourthly Others take their horse and trauell uell about worldly businesse vpon the Lords day pretending that they can pray and serue God on Horse-backe in their iourney as well as the best But all these are deluded by the Deuill whom they serue they are cut off from the priuiledges of Gods house 2 Cor. 5.18 Ephes 4.12 Rom. 4.11 Act. 14.27 The ministery of reconciliation the bodie of Christ edified the seales of Righteousnesse which are by faith And the preaching of the word which is called The doore of faith is shut against them And is it not a strange thing that whilest they runne from God from his presence his protection his Church and Congregations they should thinke to meete with God and finde him where he is neuer had I may say assuredly they shall find him in his iust Iudgement and he will meet with them in their hypocrisie to giue them a full reward they may goe on a while but in the meane time God is fetching a stroke against them which like a flaile the higher it is lifted when it fals will giue the greater blow and make the deeper wound Vse 2 Vse 2. The Assemblies of the Saints is Gods first house where he will be found For instruction then should we with gladnesse goe into Bethel for Gods name is there heard Psal 122.1 Christ is there present Mat. 18.20 and the presence chamber is filled with the glory of the Lord. 1 Reg. 8.12 The Prophet Dauid saw and conceiued such speciall and extraordinary benefits comming to his soule by seeking the face of the Lord in his house that he alwayes wished himselfe there Psal 27.4 One thing I haue desired of the Lord that I will require that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the beautie of the Lord. This was a matter which he desired aboue all things and for the obtaining whereof he was very importunate with God My soule longeth Psal 84.1.2.4.10 and fainteth for the Courts of the Lord blessed are they which dwell in thine house c. Oh that the same minde were in vs to come before the Lord in publique meetings and in them to be partakers of the exercises of pietie then we would say with Iacob surely this place is reuerent whatsoeuer we haue thought of it Gen. 28.16.17 c. It is no other but the house of God euen the gate of heauen This is the first house where God must be sought Secondly A Christian mans familie The second house where God must be sought is the priuate familie of euery Christian It sufficeth not to be diligent in the Church vnlesse a man be the same at home this was holy Iobs care that his family might be Gods house Iob 1.5 as appeares by his daily sanctification of his children And of Ioshuah Iosh 24.15 the Scripture truely relateth That he and his house feared God Intimating that while their houses were receptacles of Gods worship they themselues as they were Gods dutifull seruants so they were serious seekers of the Lords eternall loue and mercie Our Sauiour saith that wheresoeuer two or three are gathered together or consent in any thing in his name he will be there present though it be in a mans secret family Adams house where God was worshipped and sacrifices offered Gen. 4. was Gods house whence Cain complaines he was cast out for euery denomination is from the worthier part therefore make thy house Gods house and so thou shalt haue God neare thee with his sweete fellowship and fulnesse of blessednesse Quest But what might I doe that my house may be the Lords house Quest to the end I may seeke and finde him there Answ To this purpose are required of thee these things Ans 1. If thou wilt make thy house Gods Church and so finde the Lord at home then see that all the members in thy familie be the true members of the Church looke to this with a diligent and heedfull eye if there be but two righteous persons in thy house God will there shew thee his face after a sort but when thy whole familie may be baptized with the name of a Church because there is not so much as a Canaanite or an vncircumcised person in it then it shall be as a sweete sauour in his sight and his glorious countenance will there be most radiant and bright 2. Entertaine none into thy familie but such as the Lord hath first entertained into his take none into thine house which are not of the houshold of Faith This is the sweeping of the house and making faire of the doores gates for Gods entrance Psal 101. The Prophets eyes were to the faithfull of the Land that he might picke out the choicest of them for the Lords seruice and his prayer was for the Israelites that they might be corner stones polished and grauen to make a Princely Pallace 3. After this ground-worke is laid then the housholder must build thereon dealing in his familie as the Pastor in the Church either by way of teaching by words and example or by praying or by correcting First teaching and instructing of the familie is required and that partly in reading partly in deliuering precepts out of the Word It is Gods Commandement Deut. 6.7 To whet the Law continually on our children and to traine them vp euen from their childhood in the Scriptures Secondly Calling them to account for things deliuered by Catechizing is needfull This is the driuing of the nayle to the head this hinders vaine thoughts words and exercises this banisheth much folly and ignorance that is bound vp in the hearts of children and seruants Thirdly Application of Gods workes past or present on our selues or others to moue vnto confidence in God by the workes of his mercie and to feare to offend by the workes of his iustice is also requisite this was holy Abrahams practise Gen. 18.19 for which God would not hide his secret workes from him Fourthly Edification of the family with Psalmes and melodie to the Lord is fit and conuenient Col. 3.16 as the Apostle teacheth vs. Againe as the Master of the house must teach by words so by example like Dauid walking in the vprightnes of his heart in the midst of his house for the eye of the familie is vpon the gouernours thereof as the eye of the Church vpon her Pastor Secondly there must be daily praying in the familie at least euery morning and euening solemnly on our knees making confessions of sins and requests vnto God together with thankesgiuing Euening and morning Psal 55.17 and at noone will I pray and make a noyse saith Dauid And Daniel three times a day prayed and praysed God in his house Dan. 6.10 Lastly there ought to

THE GODLY MANS INQVISITION LATELY DELIVERED IN TVVO Sermons before the Right honourable HENRY Lord MONTAGVE late Lord High Treasurer priuie Counsellor c. and other Gentlemen of Worship at KIMOLTON on their Annuall feast day BY R. PRESTON Preacher of Gods Word LONDON Printed by Iohn Dawson for Iohn Bellamie and are to be sold at his shop at the two Grey-hounds in Corne-hill neere the Royall Exchange 1622. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL Sr FRANCIS STANTON Knight R. P. wisheth to his present prosperitie the addition of many dayes in the fruitfull feare of the Lord Iesus c. RIght worshipfull These two following Sermons being preached before an honored assemblie whereto I was a stranger I could not conueniently dedicate them to any person or particular partie thereof least ignorance of their conditions and want of knowledge and acquaintance should accuse me of presumption and too much boldnesse The remembrance therefore of your selfe of your countenance and fauour towards me became a sudden obiect emboldening me to send them abroad vnder your name because as I am conscious of your pious practises so I haue and doe know you a Patrone of Religion and godlinesse esteeming it your greatest gaine to know Christ Iesus and to be found in him In these Sermons you shall find nothing sauouring of Affectation or inclining vnto ostentation but rather affection to the soules of the Flocke for from the heart-roote in Iesus Christ doe I desire their saluation The subiect of them is The godly Mans Inquisition wherein you shall see the estate of man by reason of sin and corruption layd open viz. that he is a stranger to the Lord a vagrant from the Common-wealth of Israell a lost sheepe in bondage vnto sinne and Sathan without Christ a child of wrath a prodigall c. And because to loose the fauour and countenance of God is of all conditions the most miserable a vassallage without exception I haue in the second place set downe the meanes how to get out which is diligent seeking of the Lord in prayer faith feare repentance holinesse of life Wherein also that the dutie may be the more set forward the place the matter the way the manner the measure the end and time of seeking are in their due places propounded And whereas there be certaine times when the Lord will specially be found and certaine times when he will not be found I haue in the last place laid downe both exhorting all men in the conclusion to take the present day least the ouer-passing of it through negligence keepe them eternally from it and so bring them into euerlasting separation from the presence of God This is an Abbreuiation of the sequents which I haue presumed as shaddowed with your allowance to publish Be you pleased to accept it be no seuere examiner but a mild pervser and also a practiser of the continents and let affection to the matter somewhat mediate with your iudgement to censure not as you see but as I meane I confesse of my selfe that I am vnable to carry the least sticke to the Altar and vnworthie of all others to prescribe either dyet or direction to any that hath but touched the hem of Christs garment yet am I not ashamed to humble my selfe to others view that by the mercie seene on me who haue beene thus sarre led into the secrets of God they may be likewise encouraged to presse within the border of the Mount when the horne of saluation shall be blowne As I am I craue your pardon for my boldnesse and the continuance of your fauour leauing these Sermons to your vse and practise and your selfe to the Lord in whom I rest euer bound vnto you in all humble obseruance Ri PRESTON THE GODLY MANS INQVISITION ESAIAH 55.6 Seeke the Lord while he may be found THe foundation of my speech for this time is grounded on this short line and few words of the Prophet Isaiah and they well resemble that excellent constructure of our SAVIOVR laid downe in his Gospell by Mathew Seeke first the kingdome of God c. Mat. 6.33 Where by first we vnderstand primarily chiefly before all and aboue all things so that God and his kingdome of grace must be sought principally and require the first-lings of all our labours For as all Obligations which runne indefinitely without limitation of time saith the Maxime in Law are presently due Simil ●●● so we in the like kinde so we in the like kinde stand bound to God And although in this Text is prefixed no certaine day yet it tells vs that wee are ingaged to euery day and therefore all holy men vrge the present day Ier. 35.15 Gal. 6.10 Turne euery man now from his euill way Doe good while ye haue time While it is called to day Heb. 3.7.13.15 Ioh. 12.35 exhort one another To day if you will heare his voice Walke in the light while you haue the light c. The Mariner sailes while the gale is fauourable The Smith strikes while the Iron is hote The Traueller walkes while it is day and the Lawyer takes his time viz. euery tearme time Now it is alwayes Tearme-time with Christians this present day is our Tearme and so is euery day If then we would haue our cause to be heard Christ to be our Aduocate and God to giue sentence on our side let vs seeke him diligently and betimes Isa 8.13 let vs earely in the morning sanctifie the Lord in our hearts and make him our dread The Prophet hauing set downe in the former part of this Chapter Coherence the sufficiencie and efficiencie of Christ without whom nothing is auaileable to saluation for in him is the fulnesse of the God-head bodily and likewise hauing described the calling of the Gentiles Col. 2.9 and how they should acknowledge Christ and seeke the Lord Here in this verse from the occasion taken from the Gentiles he exhorts the Iewes to emulation Seeke the Lord while he may be found as if he had said seeing the Gentiles are so zealous and so much enkindled to search the Lord why should you Iewes that are the Lords peculiar people be frozen Tit. 2.14 and cold in this dutie Seeke the Lord c. In these words I will obserue these three particulars first Quid secondly quem thirdly quando The interpretation for the first quid is the action seeke And this is taken from the course and practise of men who hauing lost any thing of moment and value betake themselues to diligent enquirie and seeking of the same neuer desisting till they finde So they that purpose to giue vp their names to Christ seeke God diligently neuer giuing ouer their Inquisitions til they be well assured of his presence To seeke God in this place signifieth many things as to labour to be reconciled to God in Christ to turne to him by repentance and humiliation of soule to worship and serue him according to his word to inuocate