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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	body_n	sin_n	soul_n	4,646	5	5.4196	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A03698	The shield of the righteous: or, The Ninety first Psalme, expounded, with the addition of doctrines and vses Verie necessarie and comfortable in these dayes of heauinesse, wherein the pestilence rageth so sore in London, and other parts of this kingdome. By Robert Horn, minister of Gods Word.	Horne, Robert, 1565-1640.	1625 (1625)	STC 13825; ESTC S104237	130,560	160

against sinners The reasons God is a righteous Iudge who will send no Plague where is no Reason 1 cause of Plague nor visite with euill but where are euill doers And if a wise father will not punish where is no fault God onely wise will much lesse Secondly as afflictions come not by chance see Iob 5.6 So Reason 2 when man suffereth he suffereth for his sin Lam. 3.30 No suffering but for sinne that is for sinne vnpurged and vnrepented of and therefore no sinne no suffering A terrour to these dayes and manners in which we liue For Vse 1 what can this land standing not as it doth in tearmes of sinne with God looke for but the Lords comming in anger and with great Plagues against it And if the euill of sinne brought the last great Plague how can we but looke for a greater in the same kind whose sinnes are more and greater now then euer Or is it the best and onely way for the auoyding of Pestilence sicknesse famine warre and death with other notable iudgements and strange Plagues to auoide the cause with the occasions for which they are sent then what hope can we haue to be long free from all these whose hearts are so carnall and wayes without repentance by all kinds of sinne old and new we haue runne our selues into great debt to God and his iustice and what can wee looke for but that he should speedily and fearefully require it in our destruction one way or another the sinnes of all ages are deriued to vs and our land is the sinke of them all at this day For what contempt is there euery where of God his holy word in his seruice what disorder and negligence his blessed name how fearefully and commonly is it blasphemed in all tongues and mouthes how are his Sabbaths violated and how is Gods day made the diuels day by an vniuersall prophanenesse how is the land filled with outrages and strange slaughters what shedding of bloud openly by frayes and quarrels closely by extortion and cunningly by poysons Incest adulterie fornication with their In-mates go through the land and when was there greater or like excesse in apparell and building as now How much of the patrimonie of the land goeth away in smoke and fumes and how much do these smoke-mongers consume daily in that which doth them no good but great hurt theses are common so are robberies oppression and the spoyle of the poore lying is become a science and art of great gaine and for false witnesse in iudgement strengthened with periurie and bold swearing what is it but an office of friendship and filthie hire These and the like sins are the sinnes of our age and nation we keepe them in our bosome and hide them vnder our tongue and how can we thinke to be spared in such consciences and delight of sinning how can it be but that as one cloud followeth another till the Sunne consume them so iudgement should be after iudgement till we be consumed either by the comming of the last day of by an end of Englands best dayes except repentance that Sunne of our skie that expelleth where it hath a strong and right worke all mists nay clouds of sinne turne all into a cleare heauen vnto vs by other manners and a better conuersation in Christ there is small hope to auoyde a disease and not to forbeare the things that bring it and who can hope to be in fauour that careth not to please So how can we thinke to auoyde any Plague fostering the plague of sinne or hope turning against God which wee do by impenitencie to haue credit with him Therefore as I said in these manners and in this state of sinne we prepare our selues and are readie for any destruction that God shall send not to auoide it not auoyding the cause but to perish in it whether Pestilence sword famine or other death But must wee if wee will preuent the Plagues that are sent Vse 2 auoyde the cause for which they come the cause is sinne or the euill custome of sinne much desired and followed by vngodly persons then we must abhorre and forgo by speedie repentance all such death-threatning customes and courses of life that make carelesse sinners naked that is open to all the strokes of God Exod. 32.25 we must strangle our sinnes if we would not bee strangled in them by Gods iudgements hauing stained our vessels we must cleanse them by repentance and fauour nothing that may bring vs out of fauour with God And specially let vs thinke of this when any iudgement begins For if we put iniquitie out of our hand and let no wickednesse dwell in our tabernacle we shall lift vp our faces without spot to wit of shame we shall be stedfast and shall not feare Iob 11.14.15 and 22.23 The wicked thinke of nothing this way either when a Plague is begunne or hath long wrought but as a man ouercome with his wine careth not in what dangers he lieth downe Prou. 23.34 nor where he makes his pillow so they are indifferent so strongly doth the wine of sinne worke in their heads and whole man whether they be in a storme or calme whether God be with them or against them whether it be peace or destruction that comes from the Almightie But such in stead of preparing for God prepare for the curse of God to which they make haste and in stead of reuersing euils bring them Here we further see that sin is the onely cause as of the Plague Vse 3 so of all Plagues and miseries that lie vpon our bodies soules or consciences sin is the only thing that God burneth vp in the wicked and purgeth in his children by his corrections for take away sinne and ye take away the cause of all punishments which is onely sinne God drowned the old world in a sea of waters but first they were drowned in a sea of sinne Gen. 7.11.12.21 and Sodome burning in lust was burnt with fire Gen. 19.24 25. There is a Cup in Gods hand mixed with red wine and they drinke of it who haue made vp their measure with their scarlet or red sins yea the dregges of it are powred out but alwaies vpon those that are frozen in their dregges Psal 75.8 Zeph. 1.12 If God send a wasting Pestilence vpon a Land it is because that Land hath sinned against him and sin is though not the naturall yet the prouoking cause thereof so the Scriptures teach Exod. 5.3 Ier. 29.18 1. Chron. 21.1.14 Psal 106.28 Deut. 28.28 Ezech. 16.46.47 1. Cor. 11.30 Leuit. 26.14.15 If therefore we serue God coldly or not at all if wee bee rebellious to him and his Ministers if we trust to creatures in the streights of troubles if we serue God superstitiously after our owne waies not after his word if young and old in our streetes horribly sweare and blaspheme if our fulnesse of bread cause pride and contempt if we eate in the leauen of bitternesse and drinke

the wine of violence and wrong at the Lords Table and lastly if our Magistrates reuenge for themselues with the sharpe edge of their authority and not for Gods dishonor and the contempts of his truth how can it be but God must needs breake in by Pestilence or some other way and lay out sinnes vpon vs I say some other way for he doth not visit alway after one manner and with one kinde of iudgement but diuersly and with sundrie sorts of Plagues When therefore God beginneth his iudgements among vs let vs impute them to the right father the vncorrected and raging wickednesse of the land and not to a wrong cause as most doe Some when a contagious disease is sent are carefull to purge the body which is not to be omitted but haue no care to reforme the soule which should be first done for the cause of all infirmities is in it If God send troubles they take them away by policie but not the cause of them by repentance and when God scourgeth a nation they looke at the rod but little regard the striker So much for the promise made to the godly mans Person that which is made to his dwelling or those that dwell with him followeth Neither shall any Plague come nigh thy dwelling VVEe haue heard that no euill shall come to the Person of the godly man to hurt him for the Lord will inlarge his footing vnder him and put his owne arme betweene him and the graue if he be streightned any way he that sees him through the b Cant. 2.9 chinks of the doore will when he seeth time open a wide doore vnto him of large deliuerance and after many sea-blasts bring him to the hauen or rode where he would bee Psal 107.30 Now the Prophet sheweth that not onely his owne Person shall be safe but his dwelling also or dwellers with him for his sake for the house is taken here by a figure for those that are in it and so his meaning is when God shall visit for sinne with any of his sore Plagues both the righteous man and the righteous mans familie and houshould shall be safe and sound The Doctrine is manifest in the Text which is That a good mans familie shall bee safe for that good mans Doct. 1 sake and more generally it teacheth that the wicked fare better for the godly that dwell among them and that God oftentimes spares a house for his seruants sake that is in it So in that Psalme that blesseth marriage and containeth the richest veine of counsell to persons about to marrie or already married the Prophet in the name of God promiseth many outward blessings to the man that feareth the Lord that is that scrueth him with feare and is faithfull in his commandements which he calleth the walking in his waies Psal 128.1 and for that mans sake the promise goeth farther as it were in alonger chaine to his wife and children verse 3. not staying at him God promised Abraham that if tenne righteous persons could bee found in Sodome hee would not destroy it for the tennes sake Genes 18.32 and so long as Lot was in the Citie or till he his wife and daughters were gon out he could do nothing against it Gen 19 12 22. Cursed Cham for his good fathers sake had his safe abode in the Arke during all the time of the flood his fathers sincerity was his security or Arke or harbour against it Gen. 9.18 Heb. 11.7 Labans house was the better for Iacob Gen. 30.27 and so was Potephaers for Ioseph Iacobs sonne Gen. 39.3 So the Lord gaue vnto Paul that is kept in safety for Pauls sake all that sailed with him Act. 27.24 and they were in all two hundred threescore and fifteene soules besides himselfe the sixteenth verse 37. the onely person for whom all the other were saued The reasons Reason 1 The godly are the first borne of God written in heauen Hebrewes 12.23 that is as the first borne of men first open the wombe so these first open the wombe of God as his first borne viz. the wombe of his councell concerning his Saints and the wombe of his open workes such as are his creation and prouidence concerning the world for for their sakes he first made this vniuerse the beauty of it and variety in it for their sakes and till the number of them be accomplished it standeth to this day and but for them it should presendy receiue the doome of fire Now as God spareth this world generally for the faithfull that are in it or are to bee in it before the dissolution so more particularly hee forbeareth townes and houses for his childrens sakes that bee in them or make request for them as Abraham for Sodome that they may be spared Reason 2 Secondly the godly serue the Lord in truth and with reuerence and God blesseth the place where he is so serued being in the midst of two or three that so serue him Mat. 18.20 Reason 3 Thirdly they pray heartily for the wicked and God will doe much for his children that pray vnto him Gen. 18.26.28.29.30 Iames 5.16 Exod. 32.10 Gen. 20.7 Reason 4 Fourthly where the godly are there is a sweete perfume and incense of gracious admonition and many good instructions tending to godlinesse which refresheth the place and filleth the house where the wicked are and how can they but be better by such an ointment powred out also they shine in a light of good example to vnrighteous persons and leade in good waies and how can they that looke at their candle and direction but amend their liues somewhat by their coppy and how can it bee but iniquity must needs be somewhat curbed when it is so much and euidently reprooued by the righteous deedes of good men Vse 1 A strong motiue to our faith in God and feare of him seeing that by obedience to him and the reuerence of his name men may not onely put dangers from themselues but bee meanes of faluation to others when dangers come 2. Sam. 20.22 Eccles 9. 15. Now to deliuer one soule from death is a praise worthy thing how much more to deliuer or to bee meanes to deliuer a whole towne or Citie but this the Lord will doe for their sakes by way of honour that honour him in his commandements thus will he binde the preseruation of many to the neighbourhood of some few that feare him and thus will he manifest to the mightiest and most how much he loues his owne and can there bee a greater spurre to godlinesse and bridle from sinne then this It seemed an vnreasonable thing to one of the seruants of Nabal that Dauid and his men hauing beene a wall to Nabal and his shephards both by night and by day should be railed on as he was by his Master 1 Sam. 25.14.16 and he could not but say euill will surely come vpon him for it verse 17. And what greater honour then to be iustified by an enemie or to bee

of his rest vpon second causes or helpes externall on which all fearefull and vnbeleeuers cast themselues wholly for their refuge in troublesome times but will depend only and perfectly on God whom he maketh his confidence and the castle of his soule in aduersitie Psal 40.4 And here the Prophers example may teach the Prophets Doct. 1 themselues that the best way to turne soules to God is to teach them by their owne experience faith and feeling the best teachers of others are men of experience and they are likest to conuert others that first haue bene conuerted themselues So Psal 51.12.13 the Prophet first prayeth the Lord to teach him and then promiseth to the Lord to teach others being first taught of him and he assumeth when God shall stablish him with his Spirit in the receit of that fauour by a teaching spirit to turne others to God The Apostle Saint Paul speaking of himselfe and his other fellow Apostles saith that they are first comforted of God that they might be able in God to comfort others in euery affliction 2. Cor. 1.4 as if he had said till God had filled their pits they could not be spouts to others and when their cisterns were full their conduits would go and so they would teach others the comforts that they had learned themselues Christ biddeth Peter being conuerted himselfe not before he was conuerted himselfe to strengthen his brethren Luke 22.23 and he that first had learned the feare of God saith Come children hearken vnto me I will teach you the feare of the Lord. Psal 34.12 So it is plaine that the best conuerters of others are men of experience men that haue bene first conuerted themselues Pauls experience and doctrine put together wrought mightily to the edification of the bodie of Christ For as he that hath bene sicke and cured of an infirmitie being wise and tender hearted can better direct and will sooner helpe another to auoyd it or being visited with it to recouer of it then he that neuer knew the remedie of such a sicknesse nor eurer had occasion of the cure so they that haue bene cured of sinne themselues and haue felt the twitches of a sorrowfull heart wounded therewith and eased thereof are better able to preuent sinne in others or being in force to weaken it with teaching then they who liue still in their sinnes without all experience or desire of such a cure The reasons Reason 1 They who haue tasted how good the Lord is can best speake of his mercie and they can best preach his iustice that haue bene swallowed vp of his iudgements So the Apostle Iohn and the righteous Iob speaking of handling and seeing the word of life and God of life do say much more for our learning then if they had spoken of hearing onely 1. Ioh. 1.1 Iob 42.5 Reason 2 Secondly they that teach without experience and not in faith must needs teach coldly and faintly or if earnestly rather with a mind to preach themselues glorified then Christ crucified Now cold and faint exhortations die in the earn that onely or commonly pierceth to the heart that is earnest and experimentall I meane earnest not out of affectation but earnest indeed and out of a feeling heart for that gathereth with Christ the other scattereth from him An admonition to Ministers and in them to the Parents of Vse 1 the commonwealth and of priuate families to teach themselues if they meane profitably to teach those that are vnder them For how can they that haue no edge themselues cut into others and they must needs leaue much dulnesse vpon others that haue no whetting themselues Rom. 2.21 We must be followers of Christ if we would haue the people to follow vs to Christ 1. Cor. 11.1 We must make God our hope in trouble if we would not teach them by the doctrine of our ill example to leaue him in trouble for other Gods If God send pestilence among vs and we expresse our distrust in him by leauing our appointed standings forsaking the Lords watch how shall we perswade others to trust in God When the Captaines forsake the Campe what shall the common Souldiers do And when such flie that is distrustfully flie who shall tarrie The Leaders are as the partie coloured roddes at which they looke and their example is the colour by which they conceiue that are followers and therefore as those do so will these do Genes 30.29 A reproofe of those both publicke and priuate Ouerseers who Vse 2 in such cases neither teach themselues nor others For if Peter dissemble what shall Peters hearers do Galat. 2.12.13 It the high Priest be against Christ will the high Priests seruants be for him Math. 26.73 Luke 22.56 57 58. If the father be a thorne will his children be grapes Math. 7.16 If he be a swearer will they feare an oath and if he keepe no Sabbath will they keepe any Math. 12.33 Such haue spilt much Christian bloud which if their owne vessels had beene sound they might haue saued The same may be said of carelesse Magistrates who because they will amend no euill in themselues nor correct any in others with the sword of their authoritie prouoke the Lord to reuenge the breach of his couenant in the middest of vs sometimes by pestilence sometimes by warre by deaths by mortalitie of men and cattell by strange yeares by diuerse diseases and sundrie kindes of death The Prophet saith I will say as if he had said whatsoeuer others shall thinke or speake this will I say or thus am I resolued It was in the matter of his confidence in God when others in their troubles forsooke him And so when worldly men sought other resuges he made the Lord his house of rocke in aduersitie The doctrine is Doct. 2 Christians must runne to God in all extremities when multitudes tunne from him and though the many in sinne forsake him yet the few in Christ must cleaue fast to him in all alteration We must follow in good but not follow a multitude to do euill Exod. 23.2 and when many walke in the broad way of diuers distrusts we must keepe the narrow way of hope and faith in God distrusting nothing Math. 7.13.14 when foure hundred false Prophets flattered the King Micaiah Gods Prophet would not depart from the Lord by saying as they said to haue the fauour of two Kings 1. Kings 22.6.12.13.14 He trusted in God sitting sure in the good way of his word and neither the King on his throne verse 10. nor the many in another way could vnsettle him Choose you faith Ioshua to the many thousands of Israel whom ye will serue Ios 24.15 as if he had said your numbers shall not make me to digresse nor if ye serue other Gods to do so with the companie and to serue them but I and my house I and my companie and small number will serue the Lord. When many went backe and walked no more with Christ Iesus said to the

her wings and this similitude our Sauiour himselfe vseth speaking of the like affection to his people Math. 23.37 the meaning is that God is to his Church as a Hen to her chickens when any danger is neare For then he spreadeth the feathers of his fauour ouer her and then he carrieth his tender Church on high vpon the wing of his prouidence from troubles at hand Deuter. 32.11.12 Esay 46.3.4 The Hen when any danger is toward her yong brood by some sharpe tempest or aires or deuouring birds of the aire casteth her wings abroad for their preseruation So when any thing is threatned to Gods little ones by the tempests of the time by boisterous aires and by Satans outrage in wicked persons those impure not fowles of the aire but beasts of the earth God very presently and most graciously draweth them into a secret couer as it were some broad wing of safetie from all iniuries of men and diuels And this he doth by an extraordinarie worke or ordinarily by his word in the mouth of his seruants which is the wing that hee spreadeth ouer them and call by which he clocketh them to himselfe in this world The Doctrine that ariseth from hence is God still watcheth his Church to hide her in his prouidence against all troubles and harmes Doct. And what can the raine and flouds do against her whom hee hath builded vpon himselfe Math. 7.24.25 But the people that trust in Iehouah are so builded and he attendeth them with his eyes Psal 32.8 and at euery turne helpeth their wandrings He goeth in and out before them himselfe and knoweth all his owne by name Ioh. 10.3.4 He hath grauen them vpon the palme of his hands that is he can no more forget them then a man can forget that which he hath continually in hand and their walls are euer in his sight Esay 49.16 that is he alwaies looks vpon them to remember them with some turnes of his fauour and how can they be better watched or surer kept Men that watch a Citie must sometimes sleepe But hee that keepeth Israel will neither stumber nor sleepe Psal 121.4 The Reasons Reason 1 If birds can do this to their yong much more God if they that haue but receiued this tendernesse much more God that gaue it Or is not God nearer to vs then yong ones are to their damme We being members of his owne bodie and the apple of his owne eye Zachr 2.8 Reason 2 Secondly this text that compareth the prouidence of God I meane that by which he watcheth ouer his Church and peculiar people to the eye and wings of the Hen that are euer readie to succour her young doth proue that as his care is alway watchfull for their safetie so his power doth neuer sleepe while their safetie is in question Vse 1 A reproofe of fearefull persons who crie out and faint in light troubles as if they had no helper and who tye the prouidence of God to the things they see drowning their best eye sight in floods of vnbeliefe because they see not their hope The little finger of that heauy hand that was vpon Iob in the top of Gods fauour and losse of all outward things do●h more wring them and more vnsettle them then the whole did him who yet yeelded to God when the storme was at the worst saying though he kill me I will trust in him Iob. 13.15 that is in God who hath broken me almost vnto death Some binde the helpe of God so to one friend that if they loose him they count all lost with him some so limit his sto●e to one yeeres crop that failing of that they fare and take on as if his whole store-house were emptied some so rest in these vncertaine things of health beauty riches worldly credit and fauour this and that childe which thy loue rather aboue God then in him that if he take away one or more as they be affected to one or many they dispairefully giue vp all and neuer looke for merry houre againe and some if God cast them downe by sicknesse that hee may take them vp by his gift of health fret and charge God as if there were no heauen hereafter These and the like fearefull and vnbeleeuers both discredit Gods prouidence and falsifie his truth for how can they that be thus minded beleeue that God hath a continuall eye of care ouer them and large wing of defence for them when changes come A comfort to good Christians teaching them to expell distrustfull Vse 2 feare in all alterations though their enemies bee neuer so mighty yet he who is their defence on their right hand is mightier and they shall stand inuinsible against all men and diuels that would hurt them Mat. 16.18 Wisdome hath builded her house vpon so many and sure pillers of Gods defence that the whole and euery stone in it standeth as mount Zion Prou. 9.1 Psal 125.1 that is euery Christian as well as the whole Church of Christians is partaker of the safeties of Sion Euery true Christian is a liuing stone in this house 1 Pet. 2.5 and therefore if any such Christian as it were stone should be pulled downe the whole would come after Quest You will say but they are wronged Quest and sore thrust at and sometimes slaine Answ To which I answer first for their wronges Answ that it is not meant that no man should wrong them but that no mans wrongs should quell them and for assaults it is certaine they haue been and shall be assaulted daily but God will put vnder his strong hand that they shall not be ouercome 2 Cor. 4.8 9. and Christ denieth not but Men may kill their bodies yet the comfort is they that kill their bodies cannot damne their soules when they haue gone so farre they can goe no farther Mat. 10.28 Wisedome foresaw all this and therefore did she build her Castle so strong Prou. 9.1 If then the world be thy enemie because thou shewest thy selfe in a good cause feare it not nor all that it can make against thee for he that is in thee is greater then he that is in the world 1 Ioh. 4 4. his power is alwaies exercised for thy preseruation hee that set thee on worke will helpe thee and who is so mighty as the Almighty If God send sicknesse say it bee that of the Pestilence which is alwaies fearefull and for the most part deadly and if this sicknesse so sent light vpon thee thou hast no reason to cast away thy confidence in the greatest terrors of it for if with Dauid when by Absalom his rebellious sonne he was banished from the Arke and Tabernacle thereof at Ierusalem thou resigne vp all into Gods hands thy life or death as pleaseth him 2 Sam. 15.25 26. thou haft as good assurance as may be being kept by that visitation as by a chaine from the Arke of the publick Ministerie and from the Tabernacle thereof the great congregation either to bee restored