Selected quad for the lemma: soul_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
soul_n	blood_n	sin_n	wash_v	5,624	5	9.0032	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A12210	Yea and amen: or, pretious promises, and priviledges Spiritually unfolded in their nature and vse. Driving at the assurance and establishing of weak beleevers. By R. Sibbs D.D. master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and preacher of Grayes Inne London. Reviewed by himselfe in his life time, and since perused by T.G. and P.N.	Sibbes, Richard, 1577-1635.; Goodwin, Thomas, 1600-1680.; Nye, Philip, 1596?-1672.	1638 (1638)	STC 22521; ESTC S102402	91,199	446

truths that most satisfie the soule at such a time must be above the naturall capacity of the soule therefore saith the Apostle It is God that establishes and God by his Spirit that seales us up unto the day of redemption because divine truths of themselves in the bare letter cannot stirre up the heart it is only the blessed Spirit which is above our spirits that must quiet the conscience in all perplexities the Lord can soone still the soule when he settles spirituall truths upon it therefore go to him in thy distresse and trouble of minde send up ejaculations to God that hee would seale the comfort revealed in his word to thy soule that as it is true in it selfe so it may be true to thee likewise This is a necessary observation for us all Oh we desire in the houre of death to finde some comforts that bee standing comforts that may uphold us against Hell and judgement Know that nothing will do this but spirituall truths spiritually knowne but holy truths set on by the Holy Ghost upon the soule Oft therfore enter into thine heart and examine upon what grounds and motives thou beleevest Consider well what it is thou beleevest and upon what evidences and withwhat light otherwise expect not to find sollid peace What course may a Christian generally take when hee wants comfort and inward refreshing There are in 1 Iohn 5. three witnesses in heaven three in earth to secure us of our estate in grace The three witnesses in heaven are the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost And the three witnesses in earth are the Spirit the Water and Bloud and these three on earth and those three in heaven agree in one Now by the Spirit here is meant the feelings and sweet motions thereof the water may well be the Laver of Sanctification by bloud is understood the sufferings of Christ for our justification When therefore wee find that extraordinarie seale I spake of before the joyes of the Spirit of God that it is not in us What shall we doe shall wee despaire then No then goe to the water when the witnesse of the Spirit is silent goe to the work of the Spirit see what gracious dispositions are found in thee I but what shall we do if the waters be troubled in the soule as some times there is such a confusion that we cannot see the Image of God upon it in sanctification Then goe to the bloud there is alwayes comfort goe to the fountaine set open for Iudah and Ierusalem to wash in that is never dry If we find much sinne upon our consciences and no peace in our hearts apply the bloud of sprinkling that will give rest When thou findest nothing but corruption and filthinesse in thy soule when thou seest neither joy nor sanctification of Spirit goe to the Lord Jesus and hee will purge thee from all guilt and wash thee with clean water But to goe on Who hath sealed us and given us the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts This is the third word borrowed from humane Contracts to set forth Gods gracious work in the soule Annointing wee had before sealing now here is earnest The variety of expression shewes there is a great remainder of unbeliefe in the soule of man which causeth the blessed Spirit to use so many words to manifest Gods mind and assure the soule of salvation stablishing annointing sealing and earnest And indeed so it is howsoever we in the time of prosperity when all things goe well with us are apt to presume our estate is good yet in the houre of death when conscience is awaked we are prone to nothing so much as to call all in question and beleeve the lies and doubts and feares of our owne deceitfull hearts more than the undoubted truth and promise of God Therefore the Lord takes all courses to establish us he gives us rich and pretious promises hee gives us the holy Spirit to confirme us in those promises he seales us with that Spirit and gives us a comfortable earnest thereof and all to settle these wretched unbeleeving hearts of ours So desirous is God that wee should be well conceited of him that hee loves us better than wee love our selves Hee prizeth our love so much that he labours by all meanes to secure us of our eternall welfare as knowing that except we apprehend his love to us wee can never love him againe nor delight in him as we ought to doe Now the Spirit is an earnest of our inheritance in heaven wee are sonnes here indeed but wee are not heires invested into the blessed estate we have title to God doth notkeep all our happinesse till another world but gives us somewhat to comfort us in our absence from our husband hee gives us the Holy Ghost in our hearts as a pledge of that glorious condition which wee shall one day have eternally with him this is the meaning of the words But to shew you more particularly In what regard the Spirit is called an earnest First of all you know an earnest is used for security of a Contract So the holy Spirit doth secure us of the blessed estate we shall have in heaven for ever Secondly an earnest is part of the bargaine a part of the whole which is secured though it be a very little part yet it is a part So it is with the Spirit of God in its gracious work upon our hearts the joy of the Spirit is a part of that full joy and happinesse which shall bee revealed hereafter to us Thirdly an earnest is little in comparison of the whole So the Spirit in the work and graces therof is little in regard of that fulnesse which wee shall have in heaven But though an earnest be smal in it selfe yet it is great in security A shilling secures a bargaine of a thousand pound we see Wee value an earnest not for its owne worth so much as for that which it is a pledge of for the excellent bargaine and rich possession which it doth interest us unto So the Spirit of God with its blessed effects in the soule the joy and peace of the Spirit chearing and reviving perplexed sinners this earnest I say though it be little in it selfe yet it is great to us in respect of the assurance that we have by it Againe it hath the terme of an earnest because an arnest is given rather for the security of the party that receives it than in regard of him that gives it So God gives us the earnest of his Spirit grace and comfort in this life not so much for God for hee meanes to give us heaven and happinesse when wee are dissolved As he hath passed his promise so hee will undoubtedly performe the same Hee is Lord and Master of his word Hee is Jehovah that gives a being to his word as well as to every other thing But notwithstanding having to doe with mistrustfull

sinck as Lead in the bottome of the Sea which hath no consistence till it come to the Center to Hell Did you ever feele the joy of the Spirit in holy duties after inward striving against your lusts and getting ground of them this is a certaine signe that God hath sealed you But you will say How can that be a seale A seale continues with the thing but the joy of the Spirit comes after the work of the Spirit and abides not with us I answer though wee have not alwayes the joy of the Spirit yet we have the Spirit of joy which though it be not knowne by joy yet may be discerned by its operation and working A Christian may have a gracious work of the Spirit in him and yet want the delight and joy of the Spirit therefore when that failes look to thy sanctification and see what resemblance of Christ is formed in thee See 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 heart be humble and broken if thou have a heavenly disposition like to thy Saviour when the joy of the Spirit ceaseth goe to the work of the Spirit and from the work of the Spirit to the voyce of the Spirit Canst thou cry to God with strong supplications or if thou canst not pray with distinct words canst thou mourne and groane The Spirit helps our infirmities when wee know not what to ask This sighing groaning is the voyce of Gods Spirit which hee will regard wheresoever he finds it This made Iob in his distresse to swim above water If one be in the midst of extremity and can seriously seek to God it is an undoubted signe that such a one is sealed especially when the corruption of his soule joynes with Sathans temptations the more to afflict him for a sinner in the midst of stormes clouds of darknesse then to cast anchor and quiet his soule in Christ argues great faith So when a temptation closes with our corruption and affliction yeelds ground to further the temptation then to pray and rely securely upon God is a gracious signe for Sathan useth the afflictions we are in as temptations to shake our faith as thus Canst thou be a child of God and be so exercised so vilified so persecuted Didst thou belong to Christ would ever these crosses losses and miseries have befallen thee deceive not thy selfe Thus affliction is a weapon to temptation for Sathan to help his fiery darts with he having such a dangerous party in us as our own corruption doth us the more harme continually How shall a man know whether God hath a part in him I answer If he can run against the streame if he find his soule resisting Sathans temptations raising him above afflictions standing out and combating with corruptions to the uttermost whē he can check his carnal heart that drawes him downwards saying Why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou disquieted within me it is a good signe David found inward corruptions and outward afflictions joyning with Sathans temptations to depresse his spirit hereupon he chides his owne soule Why is it thus with thee why art thou dejected in this manner and then he layes a charge upon it Trust in God Whatsoever hardship wee meet with in the world yet there is hope in God still though we can find little comfort below yet there are rivers of consolation above it argues a gracious heart to quiet ones selfe in God in the worst times I beseech you let us labour to have our soules sealed with the Spirit of God to have further and clearer evidence of our estate in grace it is a blessed thing to have Christ live in us the enemies of our salvation are exceeding many and how soone death or judgement may ceaze us wee know not God will set none at his right hand but his Sheep those that have his owne Image on them his best Sheep have no outward mark but an inward the world sees not their beautie The Kings daughter is all glorious within How comfortably will the soule commend it self to Christ when it finds it selfe stamped with the Spirit of Christ when he can chearefully say Lord Jesus receive my soule thou that hast redeemed me by thy bloud and sealed me by thy Spirit acknowledge thine owne likenesse in me though it be not as it should be yet there is somwhat of thine in me Beloved wee must not give false evidence of our selves as wee must not against others what a comfort hath a sealed soul in the houre of death and in all extremities what a difference is there betweene such a soule and others in the time of affliction as in the time of pestilence warre and persecution for Christ The soul that is sealed knowes that hee is marked out for happinesse in the world to come Whatsoever befalls him in this life hee knowes that God in all confusion of times knows his own Seale and that his destroying Angell shal spare and passe over those that are marked Ezech. 9. And though our bodies escape not yet our soules shall Iosias wee see was taken away from the evill to come and Lot was delivered from the judgement of the Sodomites If wee partake not of the sinnes of the wicked wee shall never partake of their plagues God hath a speciall care of his little ones in this life and if hee take them away yet their death is pretious in his sight hee will not part with them but upon speciall consideration he sees if they live it will be worse for them their pretious soules are in continuall danger hee sees it is best for them to be gathered to God and the soules of perfect ones in heaven therefore hee provides a shelter to free them from all stormes on earth And as hee hath an eye over them in regard of outward miseries so in respect of spirituall corruption and infection as Revel 7. Gods holy ones were sealed so many of such a Tribe and so many of such a Tribe to signifie that God hath alwayes some that hee will keepe and preserve from the leaprous contagion of sinne and Antichrist even in evill times God hath his little flock still In the obscure ages of the Church 900 yeares after Christ when there was little learning and goodnesse in the world and Egyptian darknes had over-spred the earth God had alwayes sealed ones marked out for himselfe whom he preserved from the danger of dark times why then should wee be afraid of evill tidings Let any affliction or death it selfe come Christ will know his own stamp in us he hath a book of remembrance for those that are his and when hee gathers his jewells they will bee highly set by God in common calamities suffers his luggage wicked men to goe to wrack but he will secure his jewels his darlings what ever come of it labour therefore to bee a sealed person But you will say what shall I account of my self if there bee

but a little signe of grace in me Be not discouraged you know in wax though the stamp be almost out yet it is currant in Law notwithstanding Put the case the stamp of the Prince be an old Coyne is it not currant though it bee crackt Suppose the mark of the Spirit should bee dim and blurred scarce discernable in us this ought to bee our shame and griefe yet some evidences of grace are still remaining there are some sighes and groanes against corruption which may continually support us if we mourne in our spirits and doe not joyne with our lusts nor allow our selves in them this is a divine impression though it bee as it were almost worne out the more comfort wee desire the fresher she should keepe this seale of comfort And labour to grow in faith and obedience that we may reade our evidence cleerely that it be not over-growne with the dust of the world so as we cannot see it Sometimes Gods children have the graces of the Spirit in them yet they yeeld so much to feares and doubtings that they can read nothing but their corruption When we bid them puruse their evidences they can see nothing but worldlinesse nothing but pride and envie because they grieve the holy Spirit by their negligence and distrust Though there be a stamp in them yet God holds the soule from it and gives men up to mistake their estates for not stirring up the graces of his Spirit in them Honour God by beleeving and he will honour thee by stamping his Spirit more cleerely on thee what a comfort is it to have the evidence of a gratious soule at all times When a man carries about him the marke of the Spirit what in the world can discourage such a soule On the contrary if a man have not something above nature in him when death judgement comes how miserable is his condition If a man be a King or an Emperour of the World and have not an interest in Christs righteousnesse ere long he shall be stripped of all and adjudged to eternall torments Oh the excellency of mans soule a Jewell more to be prized then a Princes Diadem It is the solly of the times to set up curious Pictures but what a poore delight is this in comparison of the ambition of a true Christian to see the Image of Christ stamped in his soule to finde the joy of the Spirit and God speaking peace to his inner man The transforming of our selves into the image of Christ is the best Picture in the world therefore we should labour for the new creature that as we grow downeward one way we may grow up towards Heaven another that as the life of nature decayes so the spirituall life may bee more active and working It should be our daily study while we live in this world to attain that holinesse without which no man shall ever see God There is besides the common broad Seale of God his privie Seal What is the reason that many proud hearted persons are damned the truth is they are all for externall contentments and despise the ordinances of GOD for though they stand upon their admission into the Church upon the common seales and prerogatives which in themselves are excellent yet relying on these things overmuch betrayes many soules to the Devill in the time of distresse It is an other manner of seale than the outward seale in the Sacrament that must settle peace in the conscience When once the beginnings of faith are wrought in us then wee may with comfort thinke upon our receiving of the Communion but the speciall thing to be eyed is the hidden seale If the externall meanes work no inward sanctificatiō in our hearts we shall be the worse rather than the better for them yet we must not be so prophane as to think slightly of Gods Ordinances they are of great consequence For when Satan shakes the confidence of a Christian and saith Thou art an Hypocrite God doth not love thee these help us to hold out why saith the soule I can speak by experience that I have found the contrary the Lord hath removed my feares he hath pardoned my sinne and accepted my person he hath given me many Pretious Promises to support my spirit Here is the excellency of the Sacrament it comes more home to me it seales the generall Promises of God particularly to my selfe for finding the inward worke of the Spirit in my heart and God having strengthned my faith by the outward seale I can defie Satan with all his accusations and look death in the face with comfort We should labour therefore to observe Gods sealing dayes when he uses to manifest himselfe to his people which though it may be every day if wee be spiritually exercised yet it is in the Lords day more especially for then his ordinance and his Spirit go together Now there is a sealing of persons and of truths besides the sealing of our estates that we are the children of God there is a sealing of every particular truth to a Christian. For where there is grace to beleeve the truth God seales those truths firmely to that soule by the comforts of his Spirit For example this is a truth Whosoever beleeves in Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life Now the same Spirit that stirs up the soule to beleeve this seales it fast upon the conscience even to death there is no promise but upon our beleeving the same it is sealed by God upon us for those truths only abide firme in the soule which the Holy Ghost sets on What is the reason that many forget their consolations the reason is they heare much but the Spirit settles nothing on their hearts What is the reason that lettered men many times stand out in their profession to blood whereas those that are more able and learned yeeld to any thing The reason is the knowledge of the one is set fast upon the soule the Spirit brings his seale and this mans knowledge close together whereas the learning and abilities of the other is only a discoursive thing swimming in the braine without any sollid foundation their knowledge of truths is not spiritual they see not heavenly things by heavenly but by a naturall light Those that would not apostatize must have a knowledge sutable to the things they know they must see spirituall things by the Spirit of GOD. Therefore when we come to heare the Word wee should not come with strong conceits of our owne to bring all to our wits but with reverent dispositions and dependance upon God that he would teach us together with his Ministers and close with his Ordinances so as to fasten truths upon our soules else shall wee never hold out for that which must stablish and quiet the soule must bee greater than the soule In time of tentations when the terrours of the Almighty encompasse us when God layes open our conscience and writes bitter things against us those