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A77357 The vvorks of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge: now preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth. The second volumn. [sic] Viz. 1. Grace for grace; or, The overflowing of Christs fulness received by all saints. II. The spiritual actings of faith through natural impossibilities. III. Evangelical repentance. Bridge, William, 1600?-1670.; Yates, John, d. ca. 1660.; Greenhill, William, 1591-1671.; Adderley, William. 1649 (1649) Wing B4446; Thomason E471_2; ESTC R205749; ESTC R24233 190,835 267

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In a dream in a vision of the night when deep sleep falleth upon men in slumbrings upon the bed Then He openeth the ears of men and sealeth their instruction That He may withdraw man from his purpose and hide pride from man When man least thinks of it then God comes in a dream in a vision of the night when deep sleep falleth upon a man and in slumbrings upon the bed Then he openeth the ears of men and sealeth their instruction What does all this argue then But that grace grace is infused grace is supernatural Oh! there is a supernaturallity in saving grace Surely therefore all is in a way of Receiving all is Received That is a Second Argument Thirdly This truth is also argued from the Shortness of the means of grace Much means of grace appointed but take the means as it is in it self without Gods appointment or institution upon it you wil find that all means are too short to reach the end For example In the old Testament when the Lord would take in Jericho and break down the walls of Jericho He Commands Josh 6.4 The Rams horns should be blown Take the blowing of the Rams-horns as lying under Gods appointment and so this action was sufficient for to break down the walls but take the action of blowing the Rams-horns by it self and so it was too short So the Lord commands Naaman 2 Kings 5.10 To go and wash himself in the water of Jordan take this action of Naaman washing himself in the water take it I say without Gods Commandement take it with Gods Commandement Gods Appointment so it was sufficient to reach his Cure and heale him of his Leprosy but now take the action as it was in it self without the Appointment and institution of God and so it was too short to reach his Cure So in the new Testament Joh. 9.6 our Savior Christ He takes spittle and clay for to cure a mans eyes Take this under Christs appointment and so it 's sufficient to reach the cure but take it without and so short So God did appoint in Baptisme a man should be washed in water and in the Sacrament we should eat bread and drink wine for the begetting and increasing of Faith Take these actions as they lie under Gods Appointment and Institution they are able to reach this end but take these actions as they are in themselves washing in water and eating bread and drinking wine they are all too short all too short either to beget or increase Grace Well now why does the Lord stil appoint such means as in themselves are too short for the end whereto appointed Surely not only for this reason that he might teach us that the thing done is rather by the appointment then by the use of means but also to show thus much That though we do use the means yet notwithstāding in the use of the means we do not attain the thing by the use thereof but that in the using of means and waiting there we shall receive strength from God to do it to attain the end Whensoever therefore you consider the shortness of the means appointed conclude thus That all is in a way of Receiving therefore God hath appointed the means that are in themselves short Fourthly This Doctrine is further argued From the work and nature of Faith There is no Grace that the Scripture puts more upon than Faith Mark I pray In the old Testament all the Victories are put on Faith In the new Testament all the Cures if thou canst but Beleeve saies Christ According to thy Faith be it unto thee Yea Beloved if you look into the new Testament you shal find that the same works that are given to Christ are given to Faith Jesus Christ He is said for to Sanctifie the soul So doth Faith Faith purifies the heart saies the Apostle Jesus Christ He is said for to justifie a sinner So does Faith too Being justified by Faith Romans the 5th Jesus Christ He is said for to save the soul He is called our Savior So doth Faith too By Faith ye are saved What 's the Reason now that the Lord does especially set the Crown upon the head of Faith Some think it is for this Reason Because that Faith doth unite the soul unto Jesus Christ But so does Love Love is an affection of Union and all Grace unites to Christ as every sin seperates so every Grace unites Others think 't is for this Reason Because that as Faith sets the Crown upon the head of Christ So God sets the Crown upon the head of Faith and this is true For as the Lord does honor those persons most that honor Him most So He wil honor those Graces most that honor Him most But besides this I conceive the great Reason is this why the Lord does thus set all over upon Faith I say because that Faith in the nature of it is a Receiving Grace And therefore John having said in this 1. Chap. of Joh. and the 12. verse To as many as received Him He gave power to be called the Sons of God Explains himself by this afterward in the same verse Even to them that Beleeve on His Name So that Beleeving is nothing else but Receiving the Grace of God the nature of Faith being to Receive the Truth or the Receiving of Jesus Christ the proper work and nature of Faith being to Receive Now therefore when the Lord does put al upon Faith and Faith in it's nature is a Receiving plainly it holds forth this Truth unto us That all is in a way a Receiving all Grace in a way of Receiving Fifthly and lastly This Truth is argued also From the posture and true behavior of Prayer Mark Prayer is nothing else but the souls begging or petitioning for something from Heaven A begger you know when he begs he holds forth or he stretches forth his hand noting a willingness to receive So you reade in Scripture that when the soul is put into a posture of Prayer it is put into this posture Reade therefore what is said in Job 11.13 If thou prepare thine heart or est ablish thine heart for so the word signifies if thou prepare thine heart and stretch out thine hands towards Him That is if thou doest Pray unto Him thou stretchest out thine hands unto Him Now as one observes well As it were a derision or a mocking of God to praise God or to give God thanks for that which He doth not give but I have in my own power So it were also a mocking of God to pray to God for that which is not in His hands to give but in mine to do Now my Beloved What ever Grace or Holinesse a man hath he is to pray for pray for healing strength pray for quickning strength pray for confirming strength pray for strength to pray and seeing the posture of prayer is this to stretch forth the hands which notes receiving in that we are for to
And if you look into this first Chapter of John you find That those that are regenerate and borne again 't is said concerning them at the 13. verse that they are not borne of Bloods in the plural number your English hath it Blood in the singular You are not born of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Some there are and were that thought themselves to be the children of God because they came of godly parents because of their bloods because of their education Ioh. 8.33 So the Jews Wee are the Children of Abraham Some there are and were that think themselves the Children of God because of some Legal workings and monkish devotion all those legalities under the Gospel are called flesh Some there are that think themselves the children of God because of some more refined and raised and heroical actions That he might obviate all these saies he We are not born of bloods nor of the will of the flesh nor of the wil of man but of God You are for Free-will and you think Free-will hath a great stroke in mans Conversion but how can ye look this Scripture in the face No way of will not of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man If it be any will it must be either the will of the flesh or the wil of man but I tel you saies he We are not borne of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man no way of will but of God To the like purpose you have in James 1.17 Every good giving and every perfect gift is from above In some of your books you reade thus Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above But it is rather to be read Every good giving Every good gift and every good giving is from above Not only the Thing given is from above but the very Donation the very Exhibition the very Giving out of the thing that is good it is from above Every good giving and every perfect gift is from above So that plainly then there is an utter Insufficiency in Nature unto what is good As for the Al-sufficiency of Jesu Christ Rom. 8.29 Rev. 1.17 He is the first born among many Brethren He is the first fruit that sanctifieth all the rest I am the first and the last saies he The first is the cause of the rest The Sun is the first and the great light so the cause of all other light Jesus Christ He is called the first in this same Chapter 15. verse This was He saies John of whom I spake He that cometh after me is preferred before me for He was before me So ye reade it but it is He was my first preferred before me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for He was my first and therefore the first giving a Being unto all that follows Jesus Christ He does give a Being unto all our graces I am the way the truth and the life saies He. Joh. 14.6 I am the Way Would you go to Heaven You cannot go thither but you must go in some Way A man cannot go unto a City but he must go some way or other if he go by water go by land this way or that way still he goes some Way or other Saies Christ if you would go to Heaven I am the Way This same word Way it notes the means unto a thing and when He saies I am the way 't is as if He should say That look what ever means you do use in order to Heaven all those means they have their vertue and their power and their efficacy from me I but a man may be in a way and in a right way and yet notwithstanding if he have not some guide he may lose his way True saies He therefore I am the Truth and 't is observable how Truth lies between Way Life as if the way to Life were thorough Truth as if Truth were the great road or the thorough-fare to life saies Jesus Christ I am that too I am the Way and the Truth too I but though a man be in the right Way and have a guide he may fall sick and die and never come to his journeyes end Therefore saies Christ I am the way and the Truth and the Life too I even I am He that gives life unto all your motions and actions for Heaven all Grace from Christ He it is even He alone that hath every mans heart and soul under lock and key There are Three great doors that must ordinarily be opened before converting-Grace can get into the soul of man 1 Cor. 16.9 Job 33.16 Acts. 16.14 Rev. 3.7 The door of a Powerful Ministry A large and an effectual door is opened The door of the Eare He openeth the eare and sealeth instruction The door of the Vnderstanding and of the heart Lydias heart was opened Now if you look into the Scripture you will find that Jesus Christ hath the opening of all these doors He hath the key of David He openeth and no man shuts and shutteth and no man openeth in the 1. of the Revelation and the 18. He saies That He hath the keyes of Hell and of death No man goes into the grave but He opens a door to let him in and no man goes to Hell but Jesus Christ He locks him up there He locks him up there unto all eternity if He did not lock him in he would not be there unto all eternity So that whatsoever Grace or holiness there is in any mans heart He opens the door He lets it in 't is by His ordering and His sending thither And Beloved if Jesus Christ were not the great Lord-Keeper of His Fathers wardrobe why should those Names and Titles be given to Him which you find so frequently in Scripture Cast your eyes where you wil you shal hardly look upon any thing but Jesus Christ hath taken the Name of that upon Himself If you cast your eyes up to Heaven in the day and behold the Sun He is called Mal. 4.2 Rev. 22.16 Col. 1.18 Rom. 13.14 Ioh. 6.35 Ioh. 10.9 Ioh. 10.11 Ioh. 1.29 Luk. 15.23 Zac. 13.1 Isa 28.16 Pro. 3.18 The Sun of righteousness If you cast your eyes in the night upon the Stars or in the morning upon the morning star He is called The bright morning star If you behold your own Body He is called the Head and the Church the Body If you look upon your own Clothes He is called your Rayment Put ye on the Lord Jesus If you behold your Meat He is called Bread The Bread of life If you look upon your Houses He is called a Door If you look abroad into the fields and behold the Cattel of the fields He is called The good Shepherd He is called The Lamb He is called The fatted Calf If you look upon the Waters He is called A Fountain The Blood of Christ a Fountain If you look upon the
twenty third verse The time is come that the Sonne of man should be glorified Well but how Verely verely I say unto you except a corne of wheat fall to the ground and die it abideth alone but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit Thus he comes to his glory he must die first and so he must come to glory If any man serve me sayes he at the twenty sixth verse Let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be This is the way that Christ went and this way God took with Christ Love loves to be like unto Jesus Christ and Faith loves to go in the garment of Jesus Christ as with him so with the Saints And then againe fourthly Reas 4 God is pleased thus to order things in the dispensations of his grace and mercy That the comforts of his people may be the more sure and stedfast If our comforts hang at the girdle of the creature they are most uncertaine but if they be laid up in God in his promise upon his power then they are certaine He that is engag'd in the crowd must be carried too and fro in the crowd And he that is in a ship must be carryed as the ship is If a man stand upon a banke of Ice he is apt to slide but if he stand upon dry ground he stands more sure All the second causes they make but a banke of Ice and when a man stnads on them and his comforts on them he is apt to slide the only dry ground is Gods power and Gods faithfulnesse and his promise That a mans comforts therefore may not slide but may be more sure and stedfast God takes this course with his people putting a sentence of death upon the mercy and upon all the meanes that do lead unto it before he gives it out unto the soule I but you will say Object This shakes the very foundation of all my comfort for it this be true That when God intends any speciall mercy to the children of Abraham he does first put the sentence of death upon it and upon all the meanes that do lead unto it then surely I am none of the children of Abraham I never had any skpeciall mercy yet given unto me I do not find that it hath been so with me No what then Because your experience don't speake it Answ is it not therefore true Some would have the Sunne set by their watch and not their watch set by the Sunne some measure the truth of all the doctrines that they heare by their owne experience and if their owne experience speake them true then they are true otherwise not But I say what then It may be thou art a man or woman that the Lord never gave out a promise to thee not a promise to thy soule some there are in prayer that by the strength of their memory can reach in a promise and when Art and memory reaches in a promise into prayer the sentence of death does not then passe indeed but when the Lord gives out a promise to the soule then the sentence of death passes upon the businesse upon the mercy and upon the meanes that do lead unto it I appeal unto all the Saints here Whether ever had ye any great mercy in all your life but first of all there was a sentence of death past upon it and upon all the meanes that did lead unto it And therefore thought thou saiest this shakes the foundation of thy comfort truely better a rotten foundation should be shaken then stand But you will say Quest Is it so with the Saints in regard of all their Spirirtuall blessings too Yes Answ When ever did the Lord give an Ordiance to his people in the way of a speciall mercy but first of all the sentence of death came upon the businesse and upon all the means that did lead unto it When did the Lord ever give any grace to his people but first of all the sentence of death past when ever did the Lord give any incouragement in duty to any of his children but first a sentence of death past When ever did the Lord give any great injoyment of himselfe to any of his children but first a sentence of death past When ever was a poore soule made fruitfull but first a sentence of death past Oh! never any more barren then I never any more dead then I Our Lord and Saviour Christ he promises his Disciples that he would send them the Holy-Ghost the Comforter but before the Comforter came he goes away himselfe from them and they were left and never in such a sad condition as immediately before the Comforter came And if you mind it here though Abraham had many acts of Faith yet this act of faith is singled out from all the rest of the actings of Abrahams faith wherein Abraham is held forth as a patterne for all beleevers The grace of a godly man is his soules Resurrection We are risen being risen with Christ by grace we rise Now sayes the Apostle 't is in regard of the Resurrection is with seed that is sown it first dies and then it rises The Saints and people of God they have all their graces and all their comforts in a way of Resurrection This is the way therefore God takes with his people Onely take along with you these three or foure cautionall considerations First this is to be understood concerning the great and the speciall belssings and mercies which beleevers have There are some blessings and mercies that are more common and ordinary some that are more speciall and greater I do not say that this is true concerning every common and ordinary blessing that a beleever hath that he hath no blessing no mercy but first of all a sentence of death is put upon it and upon all the meanes that do lead unto it but I say its true concerning the great and the speciall blessings and mercies We reade of Abraham that he had other children it was not so in regard of them but Isaac was the great blessing it was so in regard of Isaac The children of Israel they had their daily bread and their water their daily provisions we do not find it in regard of them but they had Manna from heaven and they had water out of the Rock they had speciall water speciall bread so in regard of these And therefore if you look into Exod. 15. you shall find there at the last verse They came to Elim where were twelve Wels of water according to the twelve Tribes every Tribe had twelve and threescore and ten palm trees according to the number of those that went down to Egypt But now before they had these twelve Wels of water yea reade at the 22. verse that they went three dayes in the wildernesse and found no water at the 25. verse you reade of waters they had that were very sweet but before that the water was bitter it was called Marah And when they came