Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	read_v	scripture_n	see_v	3,134	5	3.6292	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57346	The cursed family; or, A short tract, shewing the pernicious influence of wicked prayer-less houses, upon this church and kingdom Humbly tender'd by way of subserviency to His Majesties Royal Proclamations, and Acts of Parliament, for preventing and punishing immorality and prophaness. By THomas Risley Master of Arts, and sometime fellow of Pembrook-Colledge in Oxford. With a prefatory epistle by the reverend Mr. John Howe.	Risley, Thomas, 1630-1716.; Howe, John, 1630-1705.	1700 (1700)	Wing R1539; ESTC R218001	38,264	98

thou art sure to Perish Take up then such a like resolution as the Lepers before Samaria did 2 Kings 7. 3 4. And there were four Leprous Men at the entring in at the Gate and they said one to another Why sit we here until we dye c Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous Man his thoughts c. Isa. 55. 7. 3. Wicked and Unconverted Men are lyable to Gods Curse in Reading the Holy 3. In reading Gods word and good Books Scriptures and good Books For they are in the dark and without faith the Eye of the Soul They have Eyes and see not they have Ears and hear not They want a right End Gods Glory the good of their own Souls and of their Family whereunto God hath commanded his word and good Books to be read in Families Deut. 6. 1 2 3 c. Particularly Wicked Men deprive themselves of Gods Blessing in reading his word and good Books 1. For want of Prayer to God for it Psal. 119. 18. Open thou mine Eyes that I may behold wonderous things out of thy Law It may be that some Wicked Men are of good Natural Parts to discourse of Religion But what is that without Grace in the heart to relish the Spiritual matters thereof What is a Golden Head and a Stony Heart 2. By reason of Ignorance The Natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God c. 1 Cor. 2. 14. 3. Wicked Men in reading Gods word and good Books are upon uncertainties for they fix upon no Duty they are all in Generals for want of the applying Act of Conscience They as Men read Maps of Forreign Countries without Knowledge of the Globes 4. Wicked Men expose themselves to Gods Curse in Reading Scripture and good Books by converting their Knowledge into empty discourse or unprofitable Disputes And Seculum quo nullum anquam seracius Religionum fuit Sterilius Pietatis Lisius De Const. Ep. ad Lect. what more vain and carnal in these Opinionative times What Lipsius said of his Countrey-men is as true of our selves i. e. Never any Age more abounding with Religions and Barren of Piety We have cause to fear that Interest is the Religion of many Professors whereunto they sacrifice their Cares and all their Abilities Acts 19. 28. Great is Diana of the Ephesians Ah what confusions have Opinions wrought amongst us in England And no wonder seeing they Lodge in that Wild and Restless faculty of the Soul Namely Imagination from whence all perturbations of Church and State proceed 4. Hereunto in the last place may be 4. In receiving friendly Reproof and Advice added Friendly and Neighbourly Reproof and Advice which though it be the best of Christian Charity Levit. 19. 17. Is made the worst use of by Wicked Men. 1. They either make a mock of it Or 2. Snuff at it as a piece of Censoriousness and Impertinency Or 3. Count their Friend their Enemy and at the next meeting can hardly afford him an Ordinary Salutation This is the Cursed condition of wicked Men even in respect of spiritual things He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame and he that rebuketh a Wicked Man getteth himself a blot Prov. 9. 7. 3. The Third Thing in opening the former Description of Gods Curse on wicked Men 3. General Gods Curse is extended to Time here And to Eternity hereafter is the extent of it in respect of the Duration of it which is 1. To Time here 2. To Eternity hereafter 1. To Time here in all the fore-mentioned particulars with relation had to Persons Governours and Governed and to things Temporal and Spiritual with many particulars under both Heads I come to speak of the latter part of the Duration of the Curse of God on wicked Men which is extended to Eternity hereafter There is not a day free nor an hour so long as they be out of Christ from the justly deserved Curse God is angry with the Wicked every Day Psal. 7. 11. Upon the Wicked he shall rain snares Fire and Brinstone and an horrible Tempest this is the Portion of their Cup Psal. 11. 6. Who could sleep quietly in his Bed with a drawn Sword hanging over his Head by a twine thread But ah poor Creatures Hell Fire for ought they know is kindling for them while they are Treasuring up unto themselves wrath against the Day of wrath and while they say Peace and Safety sudden destruction is coming upon them 1 Thess. 5. 3. But is this the worst of their misery Can it end with time can Death and the Grave put an end to it No no Evil pursueth sinners The Curse is extended to Eternity O woeful State of Wicked Families O that they would consider of it before they come out of the Low Ebb of Time into the vast Ocean of Eternity 2. Therefore this Curse is extended to The Ext●●me Malediction the longest line of Eternity This is the amazing sentence full of horrour Depart ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25. 41. Will not this word Eternity pierce the hardest heart Will it not awaken the most presuming sinner out of the Mare Mortuum or Dead Sea of Security O the dreadful thoughts of Eternity Eternity in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone Eternity is not made up of Millions Quibusannis potest saturariaeternitas cui nullus est finis Lact. lib. 1. Cap. 12. of Years You may as soon Gird the expanded Heavens or Drink up the Ocean as Measure Eternity Which made one cry out What years can sotiate endless Eternity Men would not live in their Houses as they do if they did truly believer That except they repent Gods Curse after this wicked life is ended will abide upon them for ever Rom. 6. Last The wages of sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord i. e. Of sin Indefinitely taken any sort of sin every sin unrepented of Quest. But sinful Man's time upon Earth is but for a while that he sins compared to Eternity VVhy should he suffer Infinite and Eternal Punishment for Finite and Temporary sins Answ. Sin and Punishment may be considered three ways 1. In respect of themselves 2. In respect of Duration 3. In respect of their Object 1. In respect of themselves Sin considered in it self as it is a Privation of Holiness and Righteousness is finite not Infinite because that Holiness and Righteousness wherein Adam was at the first Created was Finite suitable to the Creature And Punishment considered in it self Intensive is Finite But if Punishment be considered Extensive it is Infinite that is to say Punishment for its Entity or it s Being is Finite And for its Duration in that Being It is Infinite Or thus in short Sin is of Infinite Continuance in Hell and Its Punishment is Answerable Were the life of sinful Aequm est ut ille qui

brings me to the next Particular viz. 3. And Lastly Wicked Men provoke 3. The value of Riches God to Curse them for the Value they make of Riches God placed Man over those Sublunary things and now sinful contemptible Man will stoop as low as Hell for them How strangely are Men Infatuated to Dote upon Dirt and Dross Who would think that a Reasonable Creature placed his Happiness on Thick Clay on Wind on that which is not Habb 2. 6. Eccl. 5. 16. Prov. 23. 5. Yet so we find it Luke 12. 19. Soul Soul take thine ease c. To place God and the Creature in the same Rank and Order and to Worship the Creature joyntly with the Creator is no less sin then Idolatry but to set the Creature above the Creator i● Atheism If this were not so the Worlds Trinity would not have so many Votaries and Sacrifices of Souls and Bodies How can such Men and Women as these be in God's Favour Can that Man or Family have the Blessing of God upon them and theirs which bow down to the Gods of Silver and Gold Ah What is Man without Divine Grace How sensual how Sad Effects of over valuing this World base how brutish in choice and affection This Rate which Carual and Forthly Men set on Temporal Things openeth a wide door to all manner of sin Bribery Oppression Dissembling Lying Perjury Flattery Oppressive Tyrannical Law-Suits Temporizing and Unhappy Disposing of Children to Services to Trades to Preferments and to Marriages But is this all No worse is behind 2. Wicked Men and their Houses lyable to God's Curse in Spiritual Things for Wicked Men and their Families are subject to God's Curse not onely in Temporal Things but in Spiritual Things that is when they perform the Outward Duties of Religion As Prayer Hearing the Word coming to the Sacrament Reading God's Word Reading Good Books and Conference about matters of Religion 1. When Wicked Men Pray Their Prayers are an Abomination He that turneth In respect of Prayer away his Ear from hearing the Law even his Prayer shall be an Abomination Prov. 28. 9. The Sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to the Lord but the Prayer of the upright is his delight Prov. 15. 8. That the Actions of Wicked Men whether Natural Civil or Religious are obnoxious to God's Curse hath been mention'd before Under another Head namely The Vocation or Employments of Wicked Men. Now as to the Matter in hand concerning outward Religious Works of Unregenerate Men whether publick upon the Lord's Day or private in the Family take notice of these following Particulars to prevent mistakes least any harden their hearts in Omission of outward Duties 1. That those Persons sin more who Pray not at all in their Houses then such as make Prayer It is better to do that which is Materially Good then that which is both Materially and Formally Evil. It is better to have a Form of Worship and Religion then Atheistical Prophaneness It is better to have Leaves of Profession then nothing but the Cursed Fruits of a Corrupt Tree It is more Eligible ex natura rei to exercise Common Gifts and Operations of the Spirit and some Feeling in the Conscience than to be Barren of All Gifts and Dead to all outward Duties of Religion Isa. 43. 23. Amos 5. 25. Thou hast not brought me the small Cattel of thy burnt-offerings c. Have ye offered unto me sacrifiee and offerings c 2. That God is pleased to Reward with Temporal Blessings such as Pray and Humble themselves for their sins though they be not true Believers and sincere therein God is pleased to Encourage all sort of sinners to observe and set up Outward Duties of Religion and they shall fare the Better It is not without Reward to perform some Formalities of Worship though done in Hypocrisy 1 Kings 21. 29. Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me c. Here is a Great Temporal Mercy given to Ahab during his Life I will not bring the evil in his days 3. Consider That none be hardened in their Omission of the Externals of Religion I say let them know That sin is in the Person before it Infect the Performance In the Subject before it corrupt the Action Therefore let the blame be laid where it ought not upon Religion nor the Duties thereof but upon the Professor and his bad Life 4. Seeing the condition of Unregenerate and Wicked Men is so contagious that it pollutes all their Outward Religious Actions let them make hast to get out by the use of all means of God's appointment in order to their Conversion As by Prayer Hearing the Word Reading the Word Reading Good Books and by Good Company as before-mentioned For although the Prayers of the Wicked and Unregenerate be unpleasing to God yea an abomination yet it is their Duty to Pray that they may be turned from their Wicked ways that so their Persons and Performances may find acceptance through Christ. O let all sorts of Prayer-less Families Pray that they may Pray in Faith and that they may become sincere and down-right Christians If you have any Bowels of Compassion for your own Souls and the Souls of your Children get out of the Cursed Condition of Wicked Men. Who would lead a Wicked Life if he were sensible of his Misery and the Curse of God upon the House of the Wicked 2. Wicked Men are subject to Gods Curse In hearing the Word They are the bad 2. In respect of Hearing the Word ground which receiveth seed among Thorns and Briers Such Earth as beareth Thorns and Briers is rejected and nigh unto Cursing whose end is to be burned Heb. 6. 8. As they come unprepared to hear so they depart without profit The fault is not in the Seed but in the ground which receiveth it The life of the Wicked is compared to untilled rough thorny fallow ground Jer. 4. 3. What Fruit can be expected from it How can the Seed of the word and a wicked heart agree Who would live in the condition of a wicked Man Who trembleth not to be under Gods Ordinances without a blessing what heart dreads not to be subject to Gods Curse Who would not be afraid to hear the blessing pronounc'd and have no share in it Come then to the word for Grace to make thee a New-man to reform thy wicked course of Life Come to Bethesda there is hope of thy cure of thy conversion though thou hast a long time been in this case If thou art willing to be made whole if thou art willing to become a New Creature the work will be done Jo. 5. 6. Let nothing hinder or discourage thee because of thy wickedness or being Obnoxious to Gods Curse in hearing the word but let it much more perswade and quicken thee to a constant and conscionable attendance upon the word There is hope of Grace in the use of means of Grace but by refusing the means