A Christian Dictionary, Dictionary 1 · Part 86
L. I.
Liberty. sig: pro
Freedome from any seruitude or bondage.
2 Freedome from the bondage of Sin and Sathan, and from the seruitude of Moses Law. Gala. 6, 1. Stand fast in the Liberty wherein Christ hath set you free. 1 Pet. 29, 16. Gal. 5, 13. This is Christian Liberty begun and vnperfit; beeing bought for vsus by the price of Christs blood, and reuealed vntounto vsus by the Gospell.
3 A full and perfect deliuerance, from the very corruption of Sinne, and of the Graue too, and from all misery whatsoeuer. Ephe. 1, 14. Which is the Redemption of that Liberty purchased vntounto the praise of his Glory. This is the accomplishment of the former Liberty. It is called [Glorious Libertie.] Rom. 8, 21. Because the Saints being once freed from all miseries, shall be glorified in Heauen.
4 That condition of Gods Children, from whom the vaile of the heart is taken away, and that yoake of darknesse (which by the sin of one man beeing put vppon vsus) was made more heauy by another yoake of Moyses Law, encreasing and strengthening naturall blindnesse in vsus before conuersion. 2 Cor. 3, 17. Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty. 1 Pet. 2, 16.
5 A freedome or power, which is giuen vntounto the Christian about things indifferent, to vse them, or not to vse them, keeping our selues within bounds of Charity and Edification. Rom. 14, 19. Here of the Apostle entreateth. Rom. 14. throughout. Also 1 Cor. 6, and 8. and 1 Cor. 10.
Christian Liberty, what it is?
Christian liberty, is a spirituall benefit purchased by the death of Christ, to the setting free of the faithfull which beleeue in Christ, not onelyonly from the a1 Cor. 7, 23.preceptes and traditions of men, as binding the conscience, and b1 Cor 9. 19. Gal 5, 1. Rom 8, 1.from the yoake of the whole Ceremoniall Law of Moyses; but also from cRom. 7, 4, 5. Also Rom. 5, 15. 16, 17, 18the curse and rigorous exaction of the Morall Law, euen from the whole wrath of God, due to our Sins, by the Iustification of Faith; and finally, dRom 6, 13, 14, 15.from the dominion and raigne of sinne, by the Sanctification of the Spirit: That ye may eLuke 1, 74.serue and obey the will of God without all terrour and slauish feare, in all quiet tranquility of minde, and cheerefulnesse of Conscience, vnderunder sure hope of eternall glory. Therefore they are much deceiued, whosoeuer thinke Christian Liberty to consist in freedome of the doctrine and obedience of the Morall Law, or from the yoake of any lawfull authority, ciuill, or ecclesiasticall, that men may liue licentiously as themselues list, vsing their liberty as a cloake of wickednesse.
a people set at Libertie. sig:
Such a people, as through grace are made partakers of Christian Liberty. 1 Pet. 2, 9. An holy Nation, a people set at Liberty.
Life. sig:
A power, to moue and doe actions tending to selfe-preseruation. Acts 20, 24. My Life is not deere vntounto me. Iohn 1, 3, 15. This is Life of Nature.
2 The free motion of the minde and will of Man, towardes God, to doe the workes pleasing to him. Rom. 8, 2, 6. The wisedome of the Spirit, is life. This is the Life of Grace, which when it is perfect in Heauen, it becomes the Life of Glory: and of Spirituall Life, is then made Eternall.
3 A mans Life. Math. 10, 39. He that looseth his Life, shall finde it.
4. The valiant enduring of dangers for Christ and his word. Cor. 2, 4, 10. That the Life of Iesus might be made manifest in our bodies.
5 Blood, which quickneth the Flesh. Gen. 9, 4. The Flesh with the Life, ye shall not eate, &c.
the Life of God. sig:
That Life, whereby God liueth in his Saints, or a godly Life. Ephe. 2, 12. Strangers from the Life of God. This is also called the Life of the Spirit, and the Life of Christ.
what a godlie Life is.
A godly Life, is that power which God by the Spirit of his Sonne, putteth into the hearts of the elect, at their regeneration, enabling them to moue themselues towardes God (who before were dead in sinnes) that they might begin to thinke, speake, and doe in some measure, the things pleasing vntounto God. This Life beeing once begun, it is still preserued and continued (without returning to death of sin) vntounto the next World; and therefore is called Life eternall. Rom. 6, 7, 8, 9, 23. The gift of God is eternall Life.
New-Life. sig:
An vnblameable and pure Life, framed (not after the lust of the Olde-man) but after the will of God in his Word. Rom. 6, 4. Walke in newnesse of Life.
Life euerlasting. sig:
Heauenly happinesse and glory. This is likened to Life, because of all earthly thinges, Life is most precious; and this Life is euerlasting, because it endures for euer. Rom. 6, 23. Eternall Life is the guift of God.
2. Christ himselfe. 1 Iohn 5, 20. This same is that Life eternall.
Life, as it is affirmed of God. sig:
That most single and perfect Diuine-being, who of himselfe vnderstandeth, loueth, and willeth thinges infinitely; applying himselfe to these actions of his owne free accord, and is the cause and Fountaine of all Life, beeing a motion, both bodily and spirituall in all his Creatures which liue and moue, and hauehave being. Hence he is called that Life, and Life eternall, and the liuing God, who liues for euer. 1 Iohn 1, 2. That Life was made manifest. Iohn 1, 4. and 5.
to be aliue to God. sig:
To be quickned, and moued of the holy Spirit, to doe what pleaseth God. Rom. 6, 11. But ye are aliue to God.
to liue to God sig:
To consecrate and order our whole Life after the will of God, and vntounto his glory. Rom. 14, 8.
to liue with Christ. sig:
To hauehave communion and fellowship with the Grace of Christ for newnesse of Life, or with his glory for eternall Felicity. Rom. 6, 8. We shall Liue with him. 2 Tim. 2, 11. If we dye with him, we shall liue with him.
to bee made aliue in Christ. sig:
To hauehave our dead bodies quickned, by that Diuine power of Christ, whereby his members shall be raised at the last day. 1 Corin. 15, 22. Euen so in Christ shall all be made aliue.
to see Life. sig:
To enioy and possesse it: as not to see, doth signifie not to enioy. Iohn 3, 36. Hee that obeyeth not the sonne, shall not see life.
bread of life sig:
Vitall, and liuely bread, liuing and giuing life to others, and so is Christ onelyonly. Iohn 6, 35. I am that bread of life.
book of Life sig:
The decree of eternall election. Reuel. 10, 14. Sée Booke.
liuing stones. sig:
True Christians, which liue by faith in the sonne of God. 1. Pet. 2, 5. Ye also as Liuely stones.
2 Christ himselfe, the Author of true and spirituall life. 1. Pet. 2, 4. To whom comming, as to a Liuing stone.
to Liue after the flesh. sig:
To liue after the euill desires of our corrupt Nature. Rom. 8, 13. If yee Liue in the Flesh, yee shall dye.
Light of the liuing. sig:
This common Light wherein we liue, while we are in this world. Psal. 56, 13. That I may walke before God, in the Light of the liuing.
to Liue. sig:
To mooue, and do the actions of life by a selfemoouing power, ingendered of God.
2 To bee in health, to liue, and to like well. Iohn 4, 5. Go thy way, thy sonne liueth.
3 To preserue one aliue, against the daunger of death. Gen. 17, 18. O that Israel might liue in thy sight. Gen. 42, 2. That we may liue, and not die.
4 To recouer life and strength after some disease.
5 To liue well and happily, or to flourish, and prosper. 1. Sam. 10, 24. Let the King liue. Psalme 38, 19. Mine enemies liue, and are mighty.
to Liue by that which comes out of Gods mouth. sig:
To liue or maintaine this bodily life, by Gods decree, appointment, and blessing (being depended on) and not onelyonly by naturall meanes, and secondary causes. Mat. 4, 4. Man liues not by bread onelyonly, but by eueryevery word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
to Liue to ones selfe. sig:
In the Gouernement of life, to follow his owne will alone, and not the will of God for the rule of it; forgetting Gods glory. Also, without thinking of this, that he must render account of his life vntounto God, vntounto whose power alone, all men are subiect. Rom. 14, 7. None of vsus liueth to himselfe.
as the Lord liues, and as thy soule Liues. sig:
That thing, which is affirmed and spoken to be so true, as that the Lord liues, or as that person liueth, which is the speaker of it. Ruth. 3, 13. I will do the duty of a Kinsman, as the Lord liues. 1. Sam. 1, 26.
Light. sig:
That creature of light, shining throughout, ouer the whole earth. Gen. 1, 3. God sayde, let there bee light.
2 Sunne, Moone, and Starres, which be (as it were) the vessels of this light. Gen. 1, 16. Therefore he made two great lights.
3 God, who is like light, both for the brightnes of his maiesty & his most pure & single Nature, being of infinit knowledge & holines, without any darknesse of ignorance or sin. 1. Ioh. 1, 4, 5. God is Light. Ioh. 1, 5. That Light shineth in darknes. And elswhere [Light] doth signifie, God the Creator of Light.
4 The word of God well vnderstoode, which serues as a light to shew vsus the way we are to walk to heauen. Psal. 119, 108. Thy word is a Lanterne to my feete, and a Light to my paths. Iohn. 3, 20, 21.
5 Christ himselfe, who is full of Light, and enlightneth eueryevery man that commeth into the world with reason and naturall vnderstanding; and all elect men, with true faith, and holynesse. Iohn 1, 8. He was that true Light, that enlightneth euerie man that commeth into the world. Ioh. 9, 5. I am the Light of the world. Iohn 1, 8.
6 The wise and faithfull Ministers of the Gospell, who in respect of their sound Doctrine and good life, are likened to light. Math. 5, 16. Ye are the Light of the world.
7 The Doctrine of the Gospell. Actes. 26, 23. And should shew light vntounto this people, and to the Gentiles. Some vnderstand this of aeternall life.
8 All beleeuing Christians, which are thēselues enlightened vntounto the sauing knowledge of God, giuing Light to others by their godly conuersation. Ephe. 5, 8. Ye are Light in the Lord.
9 Some knowledge of God and of his Glory. Cor. 2, 4, 6. To giuegive the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God.
10 Holinesse of life. Mat. 5, 16. Let your Light so shine before men.
11 Ioy, Gladnesse, and Comfort, which commeth by Gods mercifull benefits & deliuerances; as Darkenesse, signifieth, Sorrow and Misery. Ester 8, 16. And to the Iewes, came Light, and Ioy, Gladnesse, and Honor.
12 That force of reason and vnderstanding, which is kindled in our mindes, to acknowledge him the author of so great a benefit. Iohn 1, 4. And that life was the Light of men.
13 That glorious and blessed life in Heauen, which is endlesse. Col. 1, 12. The inheritance of the Saints in Light.
14 One, that deliuereth out of aduersities. Psal. 27, 1. The Lord is my Light.
Workes of Light. Sée Armour of Light.
Light of Gods countenance. sig:
Gods fauour, declared by his blessings and graces; as mens fauour is declared, by their countenance. Psal. 4, 7. Let the Light of thy countenance shine vponupon vsus.
2 The knowledge or presence of God. Psal. 90, 8. Thou settest our sinnes in the Light of thy countenance.
to walke in the light. sig:
To follow Gods word, as our guide, in our trauell to eternall blessednesse. 1. Iohn. 1, 7. But if we walke in the Light.
See Lippes.
Little flock sig:
The people of GOD, small in number and in worldly reputation. Luke 12, 32. Feare not Little Flocke.
Little sister sig:
The Church of the Gentiles. Cant. 8, 8. We hauehave a Little Sister.
Little ones. sig:
Such as be of poore & mean estate in the world. Math. 18, 6. Whosoeuer shall offend one of these Little ones.
Little faith. sig:
A small portion and degree of Faith, much troubled with ignorance and doubtings. Math. 8, 26. Why do ye donbt, ô ye of Little faith?
Little strength. sig:
A small measure of spirituall grace, whereby the heart is but meanly strengthned to God-ward. Reuel. 3, 8. Thou hast a Little strength.
Little Fores. sig:
All occasions, and appearances of euill. Cant. 2, 15.