Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	call_v	read_v	see_v	2,105	5	3.0627	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89032	Good company being a collection of various, serious, pious meditations; Christian experiences, sayings, sentences; useful for instruction, consolation and confirmation. / By John Melvin, M.A. preacher of the word at Udimer in Sussex.	Melvin, John, M.A.	1659 (1659)	Wing M1656; Thomason E2124_1; ESTC R210169	44,421	139

Good Company BEING A COLLECTION Of Various Serious Pious Meditations Christian Experiences Sayings Sentences useful for Instruction Consolation and Confirmation By JOHN MELVIN M. A. Preacher of the Word at Vdimer in Sussex Job 5.27 Loe this we have searched it so it is hear it and know thou it for thy good Erubescit quisque pravam mutare sententiam ne aut inconstans putetur aut diu errâsse seipso Judice teneatur August Nullum majus malum libertate errandi Id. LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst and sold at his shop over-against the great Conduit at the lower end of Cheapside 1659. To my beloved Parishioners the Inhabitants of Udimer such sufficiency of Grace as may bring them to fulness of Glory Gentlemen and Neighbours IN Athens was a Law called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereby all strangers were compelled to get them Patrons and the custome of Dedicating Books in antient and warrantable If therefore bountiful charitie good esteem of Gospel truths intire love to the Author be inducements to choos a Patrone I need not go far for in my own Parish are all these besides the Gentleman lives amongst you who presented me and hath hitherto been as good as his promise to me and I hope he will continue so besides many other civil courtesies from him in particular and you in general for all which I acknowledge my selfe much ingaged To you therefore I dedicate these my poor pains to testifie the equall duty which I owe and the impartial respect I bear to all to make you all as one Patrone I had a farr and free Call to this place and I have spent almost one full Apprenticeship amongst you who have ever accepted my labours and respected my person though a stranger When you were pleased to make choise of me there was probability of a competent subsistence in reference to the present allowance and the obtained augmentation but this shortly passed over as a cloud without water and was never enjoied the charitable contribution of well-affected people hath been much lessened also by their death which as it is my loss so I hope it is their gain But O the misery of this place beyond others which is no small grief to many of you that out of one Impropriation of 200 l. per annum onely 30 l. should be the painful incumbents allowance and but 8 l. of that pretended to be due the rest lookt upon as a gratuity This is harder measure then the most rigid Sequestrators use to their most supposed enemies allowing them the fift part and tying them to no duty I refer all Impropriators to the serious and timely consideration of these places Mal. 3.8 9 10. Act. 19 37. not onely the light of the Word but the light of Nature condemns it And let men remember that the antient and best Laws of this Nation so and though a toleration at present yet we shall be judged at last by God's Law not man's Adrichomious reports that Ahaz Diall was made of the Brazen Altar of whole burnt Offerings Fecit ex Altari holocausti aeneo 2 King 16 17. it was but poor reparation to set up a Diall with 12 hours in lieu of the 12 brazen Oxen which was under the great sea Thus carnal men conceive Out of Mr. Fullers Pisgah pag. 400. they may safely steal God's Dove stick down a feather in the room thereof Nature will be content with little and Grace with lesse for the just live by faith and comfortably too We must look upon the Apostle 1 Tim. 6.6 7 8 9. I shall onely remember you who are as a remnant left of this sharp but short Visitation of the same Apostles precept Gal. 6.9 this is the main end of my calling and the mark I aim at in publishing and dedicating this to you that by a conscionable observance and kind acceptance you may gain much profit and I much comfort In it you have the variety of many not the prolixity of few points Multum loqui est rem superfluis agere verbis Aug. Ep. 121. In presenting you with this Tract I will put you in mind of the charge of noble Alexander who conquered a great part of the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To esteem the whole world as their Country good men as their Country-men the bad as strangers Upon presumption of which I shall not fear to expose my brood as the Eagles do theirs to the raies of the open Sun Give me leave therefore as your loving Monitor to commend unto you the constant reading of the Scripture which may be called your Husbands Jesus Christ's Love-letter all other books being but scribling and pamphlets in comparison of that and to read it all pari pietatis affectu with the same holy reverence and affection yea to translate Scripture into your life that your working and walking may be Scripture explication for as David saith Psal 119.96 I have seen an end of all perfection but thy Commandement is exceeding broad And you have lived in an age to see a glorious King out-live his own and Kingdoms earthly glory besides many other great alterations O that your heart may be a repository to lay up carefully treasure this broad Commandement when all earthly perfections prove false and fading your souls may be furnished with holiness here and happiness hereafter and that you may be sensible that nothing can satisfie but grace or glory or God him self The way to heaven is not strewed with Roses but like the crown of Christ here on earth set with Thorns not smiles and loving embracements from the world but wounds and strokes do await all those who have received the press-money of the Spirit are enrolled for the Christian warfare and every soul must expect that of Jacob to Joseph Gen. 49.23 Therefore the Scriptures not onely makes us wise to salvation 2 lim 3. ver 15 16. and valiant for the truth Jer. 9.3 in these sceptick times but they present us with sundry platforms of the righteous conflicting with many troubles and in all your trials support and anchor your souls with these Scriptures Psal 34 19. Rom. 8.28 whatsoever God takes away from us if he give us a new heart we may conclude he is upon the giving hand and that he hath somewhat else to give when he hath given a love unto and a longing after his truth in the mean time these meditations may be a help to you in bearing all affliction a help to patience in suffering to faith in believing to hope in waiting for the salvation of the Lord. Here are Cordials for the reviving of spirits and medicine for the cure of distempers Antidotes against the infection of spreading and soul-destroying errors caveats against Hell-damning drowning sins Exhorting you to glorifie God in every condition and to have good thoughts and to speak good Words of God who minds us nothing but good and though he should strip you naked yet