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A93754
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Sermon I. on Phil. IV. 11.
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Stafford, Richard, 1663-1703.
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1698
(1698)
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Wing S5131C; ESTC R233366
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22,642
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26
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there The Lord hath given me that knowledge even from the times of my Youth and the days of my former Years that what I did Read in that Book I should apply unto my self And I remember particularly that above ten Years since when I was in my Chamber and still as it is written Search the Scriptures for in them ye think that ye have Eternal Life John 5. 39. Of which Salvation the Prophets have enquired and searched diligently searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ did signifie 1 Pet. 1. 10. 11. So it was That not upon the outward customary or cursory reading but upon the searching Marke that yea upon the searching Diligently of the Scriptures I found how that the whole Current and Stream of the Promises and good things of God were therein declared and made unto the Poor and Needy For the Needy shall not alway be forgotten the expectation of the Poor shall not perish for ever Psal 9. 18. For the Oppression of the Poor for the Sighing of the Needy now will I arise saith the Lord I will set him in Safety from him that puffeth at him Psal 12. 5. I know that the Lord will maintain the Cause of the Afflicted and the Right of the Poor Psal 140. 12. When the Poor and Needy seek Water and there is none I the Lord will hear them I the God of Jacob will not forsake them Isa 41. 17â— Saith Jesus Christ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel unto the Poor Luke 4. 18. Blessed be ye Poor for your is the Kingdom of God Luke 6. 20. Hath not God chosen the Poor of this World Rich in Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath Promised to them that Love him James 2 5. There are Innumerable other places of Scripture to the same purpose But Observe here the Limitation and Restriction for the divinely Inspired Apostle doth not here say the Lord hath chosen all the Poor of this World but only those who as the Words immediately following add are Rich in Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath Promised to them that Love him So that none of the good things afore or hereafter mentioned do belong to such Poor as are Ungodly Ignorant or Sinners Again in the same Scriptures of Truth there are many Evil things spoken against the Rich of the People But ye have despised the Poor Do not Rich Men oppress you and draw you before the Judgment Seat Doe they not Blaspheme that Worthy Name by the which ye are called James 2 6 7. Go to now ye Rich Men Weep and Howl for your Miseries that shall come upon you Your Riches are corrupted and your Garments are moth eaten Your Gold and Silver is Cankered and the Rust of them shall be a witness against you and shall eat your Flesh as it were Fire Ye have heaped Treasure together for the last Dayes ye have lived in pleasure on the Earth ye have Nourished your Hearts as in a Day of Slaughter James 5 1 2 5. Wo unto you that are Rich for you have received your Consolation Luke 6. 24. Wo unto them that joyn House to House that lay Field to Field Therefore Hell hath enlarged her self and opened her Mouth without measure And their Glory and their Multitude and their Pomp and he that rejoyceth shall descend into it Isa 5. 8 14. Now the Scripture saith nothing in vain for all of it even to every tittle must be fulfilled and that Wo which is therein Pronounced against them and hangs over their Head will at length fall down upon them in Punishment and Misery They are inclosed in their own fat with their Mouth they speak proudly Deliver my Soul saith David by the Spirit from the Wicked which is thy Sword from Men which are thy Hand O Lord from Men of the World which have their Portion in this Life and whose Belly thou fillest with thy hid Treasure They are full of Children and leave the rest of their Substance to their Babes Psal 17. 10 14. Then said Jesus unto his Disciples Verily I say unto you that a Rich Man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven And again I say unto you It is easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a Needle then for a Rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of God Mat. 19 23 24. Therefore shall the Lord of Hosts send among his fat ones leanness Behold the Lord of Hosts shall lop the Bough with Terrour and the High ones of Stature shall be hewn down and the Haughty shall be Humbled Isa 10. 16 33. The Lord of Hosts hath Purposed it to Stain the Pride of all Glory and to bring into contempt all the Honourable of the Earth Isa 23. 9. How much she hath Glorifyed her self and lived deliciously so much Torment and Sorrow give her Rev. 18 7. The Lord God hath Sworn by himself saith the Lord God of Hosts I abhor the Excellency of Jacob and hate his Palaces Amos. 6 1. Here God whose thoughts are not your thoughts Isa 55 8. declares his abhorrence and hatred against them whom the World Loves and Respects Flatters and endeavours to please Surely Men of Low degree are Vanity and Men of High degree are a lie Psal 62 9. Observe here that Blunt expression and plain English if we may so say of the Holy Ghost Men of High degree are a lie Which seems to intimate forth that that opinion or Estimation which other People have of them or they of themselves as if there were some what in them which were more above or better then other Men is a meer lie and Falshood Yet now our Flesh speaking of those in Debt and Poverty is as the Flesh of our Brethren who were more Rich and Wealthy our Children as their Children Neh. 5 5. God hath made of one Blood all Nations of Men Acts. 17 26. Which includes High and Low Rich and Poor alike So it is in God's account now and as to the future Judgment he will make concerning them Will he esteem thy Riches no not thy Gold nor all the forces of Strength Job 36 19. That accepteth not the Persons of Princes nor regardeth the Rich more then the Poor for they are all the Work of his Hands Job 34 19. O that there were the same God-like mind in my kindred according to the Flesh for as to them and some others this following Scripture is Literally fulfilled in me Our Soâ— exceedingly filled with the Scorning of those that are at Ease and with the contempt of the Proud Psal 123. 4. Indeed it is fit and Requisite that there should be some order and Distinction amongst Men and Women in the World but then on the other hand for any one whatever to have hiâ— Heart lifted up above his Brethren Deut. 17 20. Or to despise the Poor James 2 6. is a Sinful and Wrong extream The Lord seeth not