Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	earth_n	heaven_n	loose_v	6,038	5	10.6252	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A97361	Seaven sermons. [sermons 1 and 2 only] preached vpon severall occasions. Viz. 1 The Christians prayer for the Churches peace. One sermon on Psal. 122.6. 2 One sermon on 1 Sam. 2.30 3 Baruchs sore gently opened; Gods salve skilfully applyed. In two sermons on Jeremy 45.5. 4 The araignement of coveteousnesse. In three sermons on Luke 12.15. By John Stoughton, Doctor in Divinitie, late of Aldermanburie, London.; Sermons. Selected sermons	Stoughton, John, d. 1639.	1640 (1640)	STC 23311_PARTIAL; ESTC S117838	33,512	94

nothing can make the ballance euen and cast the scale to the Church but Prayer And so much the more because God seemes to bee asleepe in all their stormes we should say therefore as they to Jonah Arise and pray wee should goe and awaken every Christian to Prayer that so wee may awaken God that seemes to sleepe and neglect and let his Churches bee plunged in misery Againe we may bee invited with the consideration of the issue of it the ship of the Church may bee still tossed and tumbled but because Christ is in it it can never perish The Romans lost many a battell and yet were conquerours in all their Warres So it is with the Church of God they have and may loose many a battell but in the conclusion the Church will conquer vnlesse man could wrastle with God and beat him out of heaven they shall never overcome his Church or his truth-upon earth Now hee is a madde man that will side with a badde cause when hee is sure the good cause will prevaile Lastly to close all doe but consider some Circumstances in the bowels of the nature of prayer to invite us to it It is almost the onely thing left that we can doe for them when we see them in compassed round about with dangers and there is no way to make an escape Let us doe as Dedalus that when he could not escape by a way upon earth went by a way of Heaven Let us goe by the way of heaven and that is by prayer that is the onely way that is left and it is so easie a thing and of so little cost that no man should sticke at it to give a subsidie of prayers and sighes this way Yea every man should doe this in his private closet and family Pray that God would looke upon his Churches to restore peace where it is not and to establish it where it is this is of so easie a cost mee-thinkes no man should sticke at it As a story hath it there were a great many bookes of the Sybills brought by a man to a King of the Romans and hee proffered them to the King at such a rate at a very great price and the King would not give it then the man burnt the one halfe of his bookes and asked double the price that he did for the whole the King refused againe and he did the like with halfe of them and doubled the price of all again and then the King considering the value of them gave him the price I am afraid if wee forbeare to bid prayers for the peace of Ierusalem the time may come wee may be content to bid blood and our estates and yet not doe them one halfe quarrel so much good as we may now by prayer Againe consider what a soule blot it will bee and what a brand it will set vpon vs if we be defectiue in this kind It is a perfidious thing to betray the Church and will leaue a great staine and a shame vpon us for ever It is high time to pray and therefore in my apprehension you should thinke it high treason not to pray he is a desperate deadly traytou● to the state of Ierusalem that is not a daily and devout Oratour for the peace and welfare of Ierusalem and it will leaue such a slaine and ignomony behind that will not easily be recompenced It is an observation of one that wrote the History of the Grecians relating what worthy acts many nations had done the Lacedemonians did this valiant act the Athenians did other noble acts and many other countries other worthy acts and when it was demanded of him what his owne country-men of Cumin had done he had nothing to say of them but that they had done just nothing Consider that if when wee have heard that others have done so much for the Church and that in the Story it should bee said wee have done just nothing wee have not so much as prayed throughly for them what a staine would this bee it will bee as great a staine and brand to vs and as little honour to be registred in Stories if wee should doe nothing in this kind as it is for Pilate to have his name written in the Creed FINIS A SERMON VPON 1 Sam. 2. 30. By JOHN STOUGHTON Doctor in Divinity late of Aldermanbury London Quanto major Honor datur Tanto majus Periculum comparatur August Ser. 62. ad frat in Eremo LONDON Printed by John Dawson for Iohn Bellamie and Ralph Smith and are to be sold at their shop at the three golden Lions in Cornehill neere the Royall Exchange 1640. A Methodicall Analysis of the principall things treated of in this Sermon as it was perfected by the Author 1 SAM 2. 30. 1. Jntroduction 1 Context The Judiciall Processe of God against Eli 1 The sinne of Eli. 1 Of his Sonnes 2 Of himselfe 2 The sentence of God against him wherein 1 Gods gracious exaltation of him 2 His just Degradation 2 Text. Wherein observe 1 Elies Pattent for Honour 2 The Revocation of that Pattent 3 The reason of that Revocation 1 Elies Sinne 2 Gods Iustice Observations of his Honour 1. From 1 The severall postures of it 1 The toppe of Honour 2 The fall of Honour 3 The rise of Honour 2 The Charactaristicall nature of it The State of Honour Rule of Honour 2. Tractation 1 Doct. The service of God in the Ministerie is a very honourable function 1 Explication 1 What Ministry 1 Legall 2 Evangelicall 2 How is it honourable In respect of the qualitie of it there is a Double 1 Honour 1 Civill 2 Spirituall 2 Title to it from the 1 Person 2 Office 2 Probation 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Scripture 2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reason All things in their function are honourable 1 They serve an Honourable Lord the King of Heaven 2 They serve in an Honourable ●mployment 1 As Gods Legats 2 As Christs Colleagues 3 Their gifts are Honourable 1 Of Knowledge 2 Of Eloquence 3 Of Conscience 4 Their reward is Honourable 3 Application 1 Consolation 2 Instruction 1 Of the Church 2 Of the Magistrates 3 Of Ministers 4 Of Candidates 5 Of the People 1 The Peoples Duty 1 Acknowledge their Honour 2 Carry themselves accordingly 1 Jn a due respect 2 Jn a noble Stipend 3 Jn a facile obedience 2 Motives 1 Equity of the Duty 2 Greatnesse of the Sinne 1 Against God 2 Against themselues 3 Sharpnes of the punishment A SERMON VPON 1 SAM 2. 30. Wherefore the Lord God of Israell saith I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy father should walke before me for ever but now the Lord saith bee it farre from me for them that honour me J will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed BEsides other things this is one maine part of the Chapter The Iudiciall processe of God against Eli in which wee may obserue these two steps or degrees First wee have

regard the prayers of his servants but wee must not give over presently we must hold out and waite upon him A nobleman you will waite upon if you have any suite vnto him and you will be glad if he giue you an answere at last and shall wee thinke much to waite upon the doores of God to giue the great Lord of Heaven and earth a little attendance this is but to serue our owne turne if we doe not waite We must waite if God saith as hee did to Moses Let 〈◊〉 al●●e why trouble you mee we must resolve with Iacob not to let God goe till he blesse vs this holy violence is good if modest and constant For a 〈◊〉 to helpe every one of vs to a serious performance of this duty In a word lay aside our carnall 〈…〉 rity and lay things to heart obserue the estate of the Church of God and lay it to heart or else we shall never doe it the saying is that which the eye sees not the heart rues not if wee mind not these things thinke not vpon them if they doe not make an impression into our hearts we shall never faithfully make our expressions vnto God Take heed of the world least it doe with us as the Ivy with the oake which twists about it and hinders it from thriving So the world twists about many a godly man and Christianity dies within him take heed we be not too busie with worldly affairs that theychoak not all thoughts of better matters There is a story of King Henry the Fourth and the Duke of Alva the King asked whether he had not observed the Eclipses No saith he I have so much to doe upon earth that I have no leisure to looke up to heaven A great many men have so much to doe upon earth that they have no leisure to thinke of heaven or any thing belonging to the Church of God they have so much to doe in the puzzleing affaires of this life and have such a roule of them hanging one upon another that when one hath done another comes and woes them that they never have time to thinke of Gods Church to lay to heart their duty in that kind Many men while heaven and earth are on fire about their eares and the Church of God in ruine and themselues in danger yet themselues are in the dust minding nothing but earth As Archimides the great Mathematician when the city was besieged himself did more by his curious art to hinder the taking of it then all the rest of the city could doe to defend it and the Generall of the enemy gave a speciall charge to preserue Archimides Now the city being able to resist no longer was taken Archimides hearing nothing all this while the souldiers broke into the house where he was yet he takes no notice nay they broke into the study where he was and the souldiers seeing him so busie drawing his lines in the dust not once mooving nor taking any notice of them one of them seeing him not regard them out of a scornefull nature thinking him disregarded drew his sword and run him through and killed him whose death the Generall of the enemy greatly lamented Let us not bury our selves in the dust of worldly thoughts and suffer the Churches to perish but let us shake off this dust from us and mind our duty in regard of the Church of God and contend with God for the welfare of it For a few Motiues besides what I haue said concerning Jerusalem and the nature of a Christian and the nature of Prayer It is that which God exacts at our hands It is of that nature that it hath beene the practise of Christians and we should not bee like them but should degenerate from them if we doe it not It is that which becomes every one and and it is the injunction of the Church there is none that are baptized but they are bound by their sureties to be taught the creed and the Lords Prayer and the ten Commandements and they doe not love their creed that wil not offer vp their praiers for the Church They that are of the same faith should breath out the same breath of prayer and they doe not keepe the ten Commandements that doe not say the Lords Prayer that doe not offer vp their prayers for the Church of God were wee of the same faith and heart with the Church of God our affections could not possibly but breake out that way Observe the motive in the Text They shall prosper that love thee Let no man flatter himselfe they that pray not for the Church of God love not the Church of God Let them prosper that love thee that is that pray for thee the one is the counter-pane of the other if we doe not love it we will not pray for it and if we do not pray for it we doe not love it Yea if we pray not for the Church wee loose our share in the prayers of the Church you will say that man hath a great estate that hath a part in every ship at sea and yet to have an adventure in all the prayers that are made to heaven are better then all the world all the Churches praiers are for all the living members of it the blessings will be to them for a man to have a venture in every ship of prayer of all the churches throughout the world I would not for my part leaue my share in it for all the world and that man hath no share in it that will not afford a prayer for the Church They shall prosper that love thee Certainly they shall prosper they that doe love the Church it shall goe well with them and they shall prosper and if they doe not they shall not prosper As Mordecal said to Hester if thou doe not helpe thou shalt perish but the Church of God shall have deliverance So the Church of God shall in the end prosper but they that pray not for the Church of God shall not prosper but perish In a word the cause is great and we have great propriety in it and it concernes us neerely though we bee remote in place and the sea part them and us The communion of the good and the contagion of the evill of the Church redounds to every particular member And the times are such that a man would thinke they are times of prayer Their enemies are as malignant as ever and not onely so but potent and the Church of God all Millitant in their warfare against their enemies and inferiour every way to their enemies both in armes and counsell their minds are not so sodered together breaches are made amongst them which makes way for there ruine and I know not what can ballance this but onely prayer Joshua though he bee the weakest yet if Moses be a praying in the Mount he may prevaile There is nothing can counterpoize the odds that is betweene the Church of God and the enemies of it

And it is our duty not onely to pray our selues but we must 〈◊〉 and provoke 〈…〉 so to doe rouze and awaken others to joyn in prayer for the peace of the Church Now when I say we are bound to pray there are 2. other things included in that aswell as Prayer which is the maine thing There is one thing implyed inwardly that our hearts should worke to Ierusalem our pulses beate that way our desires and wishes should be for it For prayers are the expressiō of the heart otherwise they are but empty There is another thing included too outwardly they that pray as they ought will indeavour to attaine what they pray for It is not to bee beleeved that a man prayeth for the peace of the Church when hee doth that which is contrary to the peace of the Church our indeavours therefore must goe along with our prayers or else it is no way sutable Our indeavours in every kind our counsell should worke we should lay our heads together to work the welfare of the Church our examples should bee presidents and patternes to others to provoke them to good workes Every one that hath any authority his authority should goe that way for the setling and furthering the peace of Ierusalem else we doe but mocke God in our prayers To adde one word concerning both the particula●s wee should pray our selves and then stirre up others in the same way to performe the same duty And both of these must be done in the due manner 1. Sincerely not out of by-respects To pretend God and the Church and to looke to a mans purse and to his owne private respects is base and sordid 2. Wee should doe this also earnestly and frequently not as if wee cared not for it but put our strength to it 3. Wee must doe it constantly not by fits grashopper-like to skip up and fall downe againe presently but to hold a constant course of prayer To mention one thing more Who is it that are bound to doe all this I expressed it in the point Every Christian the true Christian and every one that is such must know it is a part of his duty Bee hee of what s●ati●n soever h●e will there may be a greater obligation upon some then others but there is an obligation upon all The Magistrates in their places it is a principall piece of their service to pray for and to promote the peace and welfare of the Church and the people are not therefore excused for it belongs to them also The Ministers in their places must be leading persons in their duty and in the provocation of others to it and yet others are not thereby excused but every member of the Church as well as those must pray Of what condition soever whither l●●ned or vnlearned whether men or women th●ro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but may bee sould●ers in this servico women may worko here their affections may be strong and every one hath a sharo in it it belongeth to all I will adde no more for the explication of the point and I will be also briefe in the prooft of it The Scripture is very cleare and doth lay many strong obligations vpon us for the performing of this duty and we see many presidents for it of such affections that haue beene in the Saints of God toward the Church of God that they were carried away with the good of it to the neglect of themselues I will onely point you to some two or th●●● p●●●● out of the historicall part of the Bible both testimonies and examples I. Testimonies it is a most incomparable example of Moses in Ex●d 32. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 me 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this thou ●●st ●●itten then suffer thy 〈◊〉 to ●●●ish and thy name to bee dishonoured by it Moses was so farre tender of the good of the Church of God that he could 〈◊〉 beene 〈◊〉 in a high ext●●●●ll affection rather to haue lost himselfe then God should have lost so much honour as would haue bin by this meanes In the 5. Chapter of Iudges and the 23. verse The spirit of God which is the spirit of blessing yet thunders out curses against those that had no affection toward to Church Curse ye Meroz saith the Angell of the Lord yea Curse ye him bitterly because hee came not out to helpe the Lord against the mighty Not to bee sensible of the condition of the Church and not to put in with our best indeavours for it bringeth a heavy curse from the mouth of blessing i● selfe II. And you may see two excellent examples of a man and a woman In the 1 Sam. 4. 19. The wife of Phinehas had the Church written in her heart more deepely then the sonne of her wombe Shee was newly delivered of a son but tooke no pleasure in him because the Arke of God was taken The other is of a man that may plead as much exemption as any he was a souldier and yet was a braue president in this case in the 2 Sam. 11. Chapter 11. verse Vriah one of Davids worthies would not goe home to his house onely upon this apprehension the deepe thought he had of the estate of the Church My Lord Io●● saith he to David is in the field and all Israel in battell and shall I goe home to take my pleasure As the Lord liveth I will not All other pleasures were nothing to him in respect of the welfare of the Church And in those Doctrinall parts of the Old testament Psal 20. 5. and 51. 18. and 53. 6. The Psalmist in the middest of the heate of the prosecutions of his owne welfare hath many out-lets and breakings out of heart O send salvation to Zion build up the walls of Ierusalem Even when he was most busie to serue his owne turne he cannot forget the state of the Church of God Remember David in the midst of all his afflictions Minding not so much his owne particular as the whole house of God and therefore he said hee would not goe vp to his bedde till he had found out a place for the Lord to dwell in So in Psal 102. 13. Haue mercy vpon Zion for th● time to favour her is come Such is the property of Gods servants that the Church cannot lie in the dust but there is a tender pitty in the hearts of Gods people in Psal 137. 5. an excellent place If I forget thee O Ierusalem let my right hand forget her cunning if I preferre not Ierusalem before my chiefe ioy And so in the prophecy of Esay that remarkable place in the 62. chap. for Zions sake I will not hold my peace I will not be silent untill her righteousnesse bud forth you that are the Lords remembrancers give him no rest vntill hee haue made Ierusalem the praise of the whole earth It is an office acceptable with God and all men that are of the Church are of that office to bee Gods remembrancers for his Church to put him in mind of it In